Signs in Cavan Monaghan Township

All signs in the Township are now regulated by the Township of Cavan Monaghan's  Sign By-law.
If you are considering installing a sign or changing a sign, it is important to know what the rules are.
Before submitting a sign permit application, please read and understand the information that follows.

Fees and Fines

Reference Sign By-law 3.5 - 3.9, 6.2, 6.5, Schedule "A" 

Fees
 Sign permit - all signs
 $75.00
 Variance Application Fee
 $250.00
 Fines
 
 Erection of sign without permit
 $500.00
 Sign not in compliance with By-law
 $500.00

Definitions

Here are some definitions from the Sign By-law that may help.

Definitions
 Alter, Altered, or Alteration
 shall mean any change to a sign with the exception of:
  • a change in the message displayed by a sign;
  • the rearrangement of numbers, letters or copy applied directly to the face of a sign and specifically designed and intended to be periodically rearranged; or,
  • repair and maintenance, including replacement by identical components; unless such works change the size, height or location of the sign or otherwise affect the structure of the sign.
 Applicant
 Shall mean a person who is applying for a sign permit under the terms of this By-law.
 Building Code
 Shall mean the Ontario Building Code Act, as amended and includes any regulations thereunder.
 Clear Height
Shall mean the distance between the highest elevation of the ground beneath a sign or awning and the lowest point of the sign (excluding support poles) or awning, as the case may be.
 Council
 Shall mean the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Cavan Monaghan.
 Corporation
 Shall mean the Corporation of the Township of Cavan Monaghan.
 Erect
Shall mean to attach, display, alter, build, construct, reconstruct, enlarge, or move, but does not include any change in the message displayed on a sign or any act performed to maintain a sign.
 Highway
Shall have the same meaning as that word is defined in the Highway Traffic Act.
 Lot
Shall mean a parcel of land that is registered as a legally conveyable parcel of land in the Land Titles Registry Office.
 Municipal Property
Shall mean property owned by or under control of the Corporation of the Township of Cavan Monaghan.
 Sight Triangle
Shall mean an unobstructed triangular area where the front lot line and exterior side lot line meet on a corner lot.
 Sign
Shall mean a name identification, description device, display or illustration which is presented upon a surface, structure and/or other component part that are used as a visual medium or display which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business.
 Sign Area
 Shall mean the area of the surface, structure and/or component part that is used as a visual medium or display. For the purpose of this By-law, any double-sided sign shall be deemed to have only one face, provided that the faces are identical, contiguous, and/or diverging at an angle of not more than fifteen (15) degrees.
 Sign Face
 Shall mean that portion of a sign on which a message is intended to be displayed.
 Sign Structure
 Shall mean those parts of a sign consisting of the supports or framework for the support of the sign.
 Street
Shall mean a highway as defined in the Municipal Act, 2001 and includes the travelled and non-travelled portion of a street allowance.
 Street Frontage
 Shall mean the limit of the street allowance and is the dividing line between a lot and a street.
 Third Party Advertising
 Shall mean a sign erected on or at a business premise intended to advertise a business that is conducted at another location.

First Step

There are three possible scenarios that determine who you need to deal with. 

Check them all carefully to determine which applies to your situation.

 County Road Signs
  • Signs placed on private property facing a County Road, will not be required to have a County Road Sign Permit but will require a Township Sign Permit.
  • Billboard signs are permitted on Rural and Agriculturally Zoned parcels with frontage on County roads and Provincial Highways subject to the regulations and permit requirements of the governing road authority. These will require a Township Sign Permit. To apply for a permit, go to Next Steps.  
  • Signs placed within the County Road allowance, will require a County Road Sign Permit only.
  • To apply for a permit, use the Peterborough County Road Sign Permit Application. https://www.ptbocounty.ca/en/governing/applications-licenses-and-permits.aspx 
 Ontario highway signs
  • Signs within the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Highway corridor management area, may require an MTO Sign Permit even when the sign is placed on private property. MTO must be consulted.
  • Signs placed on private property within the corridor and not subject to the next bullet, will require a Township Sign Permit. To apply for a permit, go to Next Steps. 
  • Billboard signs are permitted on Rural and Agriculturally Zoned parcels with frontage on Provincial Highways subject to the regulations and permit requirements of the governing road authority. No additional municipal permits are required.
  • You can go to the MTO Highway Corridor Management website to: 
    • See if you are within the corridor management area. 
    • Submit an inquiry 
    • Apply for an MTO Sign Permit. 
    • Other options.
 Township Signs

 All signs in the township are subject to a Township Sign Permit with the following exceptions.

  • Signs within County road allowances.
  • Signs not on private property or Billboard signs on Rural or Agricultural zoned properties, but within MTO corridor management area.
  • Signs specifically exempt within the Township Sign By-law.

Next Steps

  1. Decide what type of sign you would like.
  2. Decide how many signs you would like.
  3. Decide where you would like to place the sign(s).
  4. Decide if the sign going to be illuminated, and how it will be illuminated.
  5. Check the Sign Guide to make sure that you can do what you would like. 
  6. Check the Sign By-law to make sure that there aren’t some details you are missing.
  7. Apply for a permit as described below.

What kind of sign do I have?

The Sign Guide will help you determine what you can have, where you can have it, and whether a permit is needed. 

Go from left to right in the chart to do the following:

  1. Find the picture that shows the sign you are looking for.
  2. Read the description of the sign to verify it is what you are looking for.
  3. Check the Sign By-law column to see what the rules are for that sign.
  4. Check the zoning By-law column to see if the sign is allowed in your zone and if there are extra rules you need to consider.

  • Important Note: The Sign By-law and the Zoning By-law are the final authority. This chart is a quick reference to help you understand the rules more easily. There are some things found in the By-laws, that are missing or difficult to put in a chart format.

  • The pictures represent a type of sign. There may be variations in size, colour or sign structure. Read the descriptions carefully.

Permits

How do I apply for a sign permit?

 Gather all your information.
 
 What do I need?
  • A Site Plan depicting the location of all existing buildings and their entrances and the location of the proposed signs, and their distances to lot lines, entrances, any utility structures or overhead power lines.
  • The type, size and weight of the sign. “Sign Area” shall mean the area of the surface, structure and/or component part that is used as a visual medium or display. For the purpose of this By-law, any double-sided sign shall be deemed to have only one face, provided that the faces are identical, contiguous, and/or diverging at an angle of not more than fifteen (15) degrees.
  • The minimum clear height and the maximum height of the sign. “Clear Height” shall mean the distance between the highest elevation of the ground beneath a sign or awning and the lowest point of the sign (excluding support poles) or awning, as the case may be.
  • The type and operation of lighting, if any, of the sign. For flood lighting or overhead lighting, show how it will meet 3.14 of the sign By-law.
  • The means of support and manner of erection of the sign.
  • The location and size of other signs on the lot.
  • Existing and proposed use(s) of the premises.
  • The municipal address of the premises.
  • The name and addresses of the owner of the sign.
  • The name and address of the erector of the sign.
  • Other information as determined by the Chief Building Official or his/her designate with respect to the building including architectural and structural drawings as may be necessary to determine if the building is structurally capable, under the Ontario Building Code, of supporting the sign. This could apply in a number of instances, and would always apply to the following two instances:
    • Signs attached to a building 115 kg (253 lb.) or more.
    • Signs on the ground over 7.5 m (24.6 ft) high above the ground.
 Submit your Permit using Cloudpermit