Sign type
A fascia sign, a freestanding pylon, a projecting blade sign and a temporary banner are each treated differently.
EDMONTON · SIGN PERMITS
Sign permits,
coordinated.
Sign permitting is the part of a signage project that most often causes delay—usually because it gets considered after the sign has already been designed and ordered.
This page explains, in general terms, what affects sign permit requirements in Edmonton and how Frontage handles the process. It is general information, not legal or regulatory advice: requirements are set by the City of Edmonton and the applicable authority for your property.
What affects the requirements
Size and height
Overall area and how high the sign sits are among the most common factors in what is allowed.
Illumination
Lit signage brings additional considerations, including electrical requirements and how the sign affects its surroundings.
Zoning and location
What's permitted differs by the zoning of the property and its context—commercial arterial, industrial park, or a site near residential.
Mounting and structure
How the sign attaches, and to what, can determine the documentation the application needs.
Landlord sign criteria
On leased property, a separate private approval process usually applies alongside the municipal one.
What an application usually involves
Site information
Address, legal description and details of the property and existing signage.
Scaled drawings
Sign dimensions, materials, mounting detail and how the sign sits on the building or site.
Site plan or elevation
Showing sign placement in relation to the building, property lines and other signage.
Electrical detail
For illuminated signage, how the sign is powered and connected.
Owner authorisation
Documented consent from the property owner where you are a tenant.
Response to review
Answering questions or revising drawings if the reviewer comes back with comments.
How Frontage handles it
Checked before design is locked
We look at the likely requirements at the start, so the design doesn't have to be reworked later.
Drawings prepared to suit
Production drawings are prepared in a form the review process can work from.
Application submitted and tracked
We submit, follow up and keep the file moving rather than leaving it with you.
Landlord approvals in parallel
Private sign criteria are handled at the same time, not after.
Production timed to approval
Production is scheduled so you aren't paying for a sign that can't legally go up yet.
Official City of Edmonton information
Sign requirements are set by the City of Edmonton and can change. For the current official requirements and application details, see the City's sign permit information. If you'd rather not work through it yourself, send us the details and we'll take it from there.
Common questions
Does every sign need a permit?
No. Requirements depend on the sign type, its size, whether it's illuminated, the zoning of the property and how it's mounted. Some smaller or interior signage falls outside permitting entirely. The only reliable answer comes from checking your specific sign against your specific site.
Who applies for the permit?
We prepare and coordinate the application as part of the project, working from the drawings and site information the process requires. You remain the property owner or tenant of record.
How long does approval take?
Timelines vary with the sign type, the completeness of the application and current review volumes. We build a realistic allowance into the schedule and keep you updated rather than promising a date the city hasn't given.
What if my landlord also has sign rules?
Most leased commercial properties have written sign criteria that sit on top of municipal requirements. We work within them and get landlord approval in writing before production starts.
Can you guarantee approval?
No, and neither can anyone else. Approval rests with the reviewing authority. What we can do is design to the requirements, submit a complete application and respond quickly to anything that comes back.
Related services
Sign installation
What happens once the approvals are in place.
Building signs
The sign types most likely to need a permit.
Our Edmonton sign company
How permitting fits into the wider service.
NOT SURE WHAT YOU NEED?
Tell us the sign and the address. We'll figure out the approvals.
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