ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Temporary Signs on Highways bylaw is being updated and The City of Calgary is looking into the use of temporary signs used on public property at the side of roads and boulevards. Temporary signs are often used to advertise community events, school and sport registrations, small businesses, campaigns and public information.

Online and in-person feedback was collected throughout October 2016 of how you view temporary signs in Calgary, how these signs influence your actions and how they impact Calgary’s streetscape.

View the Temporary Signs Review What We Heard Report to see the feedback that we received through engagement. Due to the volume of responses that we received, we have included the verbatim comments of the report in nine separate documents available in the document library.

Your input was used to help the project team make recommended revisions to the bylaw.

Highlights of the bylaw include, but are not limited to:

• A list of not-for-profit organizations, associations and community related groups which can use large mobile signs
• A more customer-responsive model to improve service delivery
• Clearer rules around distances between small and large signs, including election signs
• Clearer rules on the maximum size of signs near roads and on boulevards
• Clearer rules around the safe and responsible use of temporary signs and an updated list of infractions and fines
• Updated list of roads where signs cannot be used

Why was there no option in the survey for zero temporary signs?

We did not provide zero temporary signs as an option in the survey because courts in Canada have ruled that placing temporary signs on public property may be regulated and controlled, but cannot be prohibited. A ban of signs violates Section 2(b) of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states "Everyone has the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communications."

Feedback collected from engagement was used by the project team to develop amendment recommendations to the Temporary Signs on Highways bylaw (29M97). These amendment recommendations were presented to the Transportation & Transit Committee on May 17 and accepted. They were then presented to Council on May 29, 2017 where all but one motion for amendment were passed.

Changes to the bylaw have been consolidated and are posted on the City of Calgary website. Additional information can also be found here. Revisions to the Bylaw and the Report to Council are included in the Document Library, on the right side of this webpage.