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Business Signage Regulations

Signs play an important role in supporting businesses and can impact the look and feel of the region. Discover the different types of signs allowed in the RMWB, how they’re regulated, and how to make sure you have the correct permits.

How to apply

You can apply for a development permit online or in-person at the Planning and Development office at 9909 Franklin Ave., Fort McMurray.

Your application will require the following documents:

  • A site plan with sign location
  • A sign plan with dimensions
  • A certificate of title

Temporary Signs

A temporary sign may or may not be portable in nature and is located on a parcel of land for a limited or specified period of time. Temporary signs must be:

  • Positioned at least 5 metres away from fire hydrants.
  • Set back 1.2 metres from the edge of the road, curb or sidewalk, whichever is nearer.
  • Placed safely to avoid endangering vehicles or pedestrians.

Temporary signs cannot be situated within a corner visibility triangle.

A-board signs (also called sandwich board signs) are self-supporting two-sided a-shaped signs that are set on the ground without a supporting structure. 

Dimensions

  • Maximum height: 1 metres 
  • Maximum width: 1 metres 
  • Maximum area: 0.8 square metres per sign face 
Dimensions of an a-board sign

Placement

A maximum of one sign per business can be placed on sidewalks during the hours the business is open to the public. Additionally, the sign:

  • Must be at least 10 metres away from another a-board sign.
  • Can not extend beyond the edge of the sidewalk nor be placed on sidewalks that are less than 1.5 metres wide (subject to relaxation where a grassed boulevard is adjacent to it) 
  • Can not impede or obstruct the view of vehicular or pedestrian traffic. 

A-board signs can not contain third-party advertising.

Portable signs are used for short-term advertising and can be readily relocated. They require a sign development permit valid for up to six months.

Dimensions

  • Maximum height: 3.1 metres 
  • Maximum area: 4.6 square metres per sign face, up to a total of 9.2 square metres  
Dimensions of a portable sign

Placement

A portable sign must be within the parcel of land for which it was approved to be placed. Additionally, the sign:

  • Must be a minimum of 7.5 metres from any entrance or exit to the parcel.
  • Must be at least 30 metres from another portable sign.
  • Must be at least 10 metres from any permanent sign.
  • Should not be hazardous to vehicles or pedestrians.
  • Must not interfere with parking or loading areas.
  • Must avoid the corner visibility triangle
  • Must be at least 1.2 metres from the edge of the road, curb or sidewalk.
  • Should not obstruct the view near intersections, ramps or curves.
A sample of a portable sign.

On double-fronting lots, each frontage may have one portable sign.

Portable signs can not contain third-party advertising.

Election signs inform the public of upcoming elections and candidates for municipal, school board, provincial, or federal election, a vote associated with a local Indigenous government, or any election held pursuant to the Local Authorities Election Act. 

Dimensions

  • Signs can be up to 2 metres tall, 3 metres wide, and have a maximum area of 3 square metres. 
A sample election sign.

Placement 

  • All Election Signs must meet the safety requirements outlined in section 5.2 of the Bylaw. 
  • The Municipality can direct sign owners to remove or repair signs that pose safety risks or are not in compliance with the Bylaw. 
  • In cases of immediate safety risks, the Municipality can remove signs without notice. 
  • Election Signs must comply with relevant federal, provincial, and municipal legislation. 
  • Signs must be temporary and can include Portable Signs, following the provisions outlined in Section 7.8 of the Bylaw. 

Election candidates can find more information about election signage in Campaign Guidelines.

Permanent Signs

These signs are permanently fastened or affixed to a building or the ground.

Billboards are large outdoor advertising structures that stand independently of buildings and may contain first-party or third-party advertising. 

Billboards are permitted throughout the entire region to display third-party advertising, however there are regulations that must be followed. 

Billboards may consist partially or entirely of a digital component but should follow the digital copy and illumination provisions of the bylaw.  

Dimensions

  • Maximum height: 10.7 metres 
  • Maximum width: 8 metres
  • Maximum area: 23 square metres
  • Minimum ground clearance: 2.7 metres above the ground

Billboards may be designed with two sign faces, either back-to-back or in a V-shaped arrangement, to maximize visibility from multiple directions. 

Dimensions for a billboard sign

Placement

  • Must be positioned at least 100 metres away from residential districts. 
  • Must be a minimum of 30 metres away from another billboard or other permanent sign. 
  • Must be at least five metres away from a road.
  • Must be at least 150 metres away from any other billboard or freestanding sign along a provincial highway. 

Supports for billboards must not be located within a corner visibility triangle to ensure they do not obstruct sightlines for drivers and pedestrians. 

Billboards may be approved for up to five years in a single location.

Illumination

  • Please follow the digital copy and illumination provisions of the bylaw.
  • Constant lighting is permitted, but flashing, intermittent or lights used to produce animation are prohibited. 
A sample freestanding sign.

Fascia signage is a type of sign attached directly to the face of a building. These signs do not extend above the building's roof or parapet wall and are used only for identifying the business within that building, not for advertising other businesses. 

Size and usage
  • Fascia signs should not cover more than 25% of the façade or storefront area. 
  • Fascia signs on multi-unit residential buildings are limited to 2 square metres and should only display the building's name, address and vacancy info.
  • Advertising for home businesses or occupations is not allowed. 
Dimensions for fascia signs

Placement and location

  • Must be located between 2.7 metres and the roof line of the building. 
  • Signs must not block or obscure windows. 
  • In multi-tenant buildings without a clear division of frontage, signs should remain within a designated area and not extend past the building's walls. 
  • Signs can be placed on any exterior wall—front, side or rear. 
  • There must be at least 2.7 metres of clearance from the bottom of the sign to the ground. This increases to 4.4 metres if the sign extends over a traffic lane, loading area or parking lot, ensuring safety and visibility for both pedestrians and vehicles. 
  • Fascia signs that include electrical components and are located near windows must maintain a clearance of: 
    • 0.9 metres from the sides of the window. 
    • 0.3 metres from the bottom of the window. 
    • If protective measures are in place to avoid contact with the electrical parts of the sign, these clearances may be adjusted. 
Design
  • In buildings with multiple commercial units, all fascia signs must have a consistent character and size to maintain a cohesive appearance throughout the property. 
  • Signs should not project more than 0.3 metres from the face of the building or from any supporting structure. 
  • Signs must not extend beyond the limits of the wall to which they are attached. 
  • Wiring and bulbs should not be exposed to maintain a neat appearance and ensure safety. 
Advertising restrictions
  • Fascia signs are strictly for identification purposes, such as displaying the business name or logo. 
  • Advertising for businesses or services not located at the sign's location is prohibited on fascia signs. 
Illumination and digital features
  • Fascia signs may be illuminated to enhance visibility but must not use flashing or intermittent lighting, or lights used to produce animation to avoid creating distractions, except in specific cases:
  • If a fascia sign includes digital elements, such as LED displays or changeable messages, it must adhere to specific guidelines regarding brightness, transitions and other features to ensure the sign's digital elements are safe and non-disruptive. 
A sample fascia sign.

Fence signs are flat and attached to a fence or similar structure but not attached to a building. They are intended for identification purposes, like naming a property or displaying the owner’s details.

Only first-party advertising is allowed on fence signs, which means the sign can only promote or give information about the entity located at that specific property.

Dimensions

  • Maximum height: 1.0 metre (but not taller than the fence itself or exceed the maximum fence height allowed in the district)
  • Maximum width: 4 metres
  • Maximum area: 2 square metres. 
A sample fence sign.

Placement

  • Must not extend or encroach onto municipal or public property, ensuring the signs remain within private boundaries. 
  • Installation on utility poles, street furniture or as attachments to other signs is not allowed. 
  • Only one sign is permitted per frontage, helping to prevent visual clutter. 

Freestanding signs stand independently of a building or structure and are supported by their own frame, poles or base. They are used mainly for the identification of goods and services located on site.

Size

  • Maximum height: 10.7 metres

Advertising area

  • Up to 14 square metres for advertising one to three businesses. 
  • Up to 23 square metres for advertising four or more businesses or if the sign has multiple faces. 
  • Third-party advertising is limited to up to 20% of the sign area to maintain focus on primary advertising. 

Number of signs

  • One sign per parcel. 
  • On parcels with multiple frontages or very wide frontages, up to three signs may be allowed under certain conditions.
Dimensions of a freestanding sign.

Location and spacing

  • Must be at least 30 metres away from other permanent signs. 
  • If the freestanding sign area contains more than 20% digital copy, the sign must be located a minimum of 100 metres away from a residential zone.
  • If the freestanding sign area contains less than 20% digital copy, the sign can be located a minimum of 10 metres away from a residential district provided that the digital copy is not projecting towards the residential zone.
A sample freestanding sign.

Proximity to intersections and roads

  • The sign or its support should not be closer than 3 metres to property lines or 5 metres to curbs and public roads. 
  • The sign must be a minimum of 30 metres from the cross section of an intersection. 
  • Supports should not be placed within a corner visibility triangle to maintain clear sightlines for traffic. 
  • If within 50 metres of a highway, the sign must be between 3 metres and 10.7 metres high to ensure visibility without obstructing views. 
  • In zones with less than 3 metres setback, the sign can be built up to the property line but must not overhang into a public space. 

Digital features

  • If including digital components, these must comply with the bylaw's digital copy and illumination standards to ensure safety and prevent light pollution. 
  • Digital elements should enhance the sign's effectiveness without overwhelming or distracting drivers and pedestrians. 

Murals are decorative designs or artwork displayed on the exterior wall or surface of a structure. The main purpose is for decoration or artistic expression and not to display a commercial message or depiction.  

  • Murals can be as tall as two storeys or 11 meters, whichever is taller. 
  • Up to 10% of the mural area can be used for first-party advertising, like the business or artist's name. 
  • The mural can cover the entire wall or surface. 

Offensive or intolerant language, hatred or ridicule of any race, religion or other segment of society is prohibited.

A sample mural.

Roof signs are placed on, against, or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet wall of a building. 

Dimensions and location
  • Maximum height: 4 metres from the roofline
  • Maximum area: 4 square metres
  • Signs must be at least 6 metres from utility lines. 
  • No portion of the sign can overhang the roof or building. 
Quantity and type
  • Maximum of one roof sign per building façade is allowed. 
  • Limited to identification signs only. 
Advertising restrictions
  • No third-party advertising is allowed. 
Visibility and integration
  • Supporting structures should not be visible to the public. 
  • Signs should be architecturally integrated with the building. 
Illumination 
  • Signs can be lit up but no flashing, intermittent, or lights used to produce animation. 
A sample roof sign.

Window signs are signs that are painted on, attached to, or installed inside a window. Window signs do not require a development permit if they are permitted within the district.

Location

  • Window signs must be placed inside the building. 
Advertising restrictions
  • No third-party advertising is allowed. 
Illumination and digital components 
  • Signs can be lit up but no flashing or intermittent lights are permitted. 
  • Window signs may include digital components, subject to the digital copy and illumination provisions 
A sample window sign.

Third-Party Advertising 

Third-party advertising is a sign that contains an advertisement for goods, products, services, or facilities not found in the same location where the sign is placed. 

Third-party advertising is not allowed in residential areas but may be put on billboards and freestanding signs. All third-party advertising signs must be approved by the Planning and Development Department.

Third-party advertising is NOT allowed on portable signs, fascia, roof signs, or fences.

Bylaw and Definitions 

In 2024, the land use bylaw was updated to include new provisions for signs in the region. In 2025, further changes to the provisions for window and freestanding signs were made. These changes ensure that the requirements for signs are simplified, easier to understand, and more flexible to support the business community.  

These regulations were developed based on feedback received from businesses, signage businesses, community groups, and residents throughout the region.  

Definitions 

Corner visibility triangle 

Means a triangle having development restrictions formed between two points on a corner lot as more completely described in Part 5, “Section 58 Corner Lot Restrictions” of this Bylaw. 


First-party advertising 

First-party advertising means a sign that contains advertisement to the specific business, service, or activity on the same parcel from where the sign is located. 


Frontage  

Frontage means the entire length of a street facing property line of a parcel. 


Parcel  

Parcel refers to parcel of land. 


Third-party advertising  

Third-party advertising means a sign that contains an advertisement for goods, products, services, or facilities not principally found on the same parcel where the sign is located. 

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