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Central Saanich
Bylaw No. 2182, 2024 - Sign
Sign Bylaw 2182
2
SIGN BYLAW No. 2182, 2024
1.
AUTHORIZATION
The Community Charter, under sections 8.4 and 65, authorizes local government to regulate and
impose requirements in relation to the erection, placing, alteration, maintenance, demolition
and removal of signs, sign boards, advertisements, advertising devices and structures.
Furthermore, section 526 of the Local Government Act authorizes a local government to
regulate the number, size, type, form, appearance and location of signs.
In addition to requiring a Sign Permit under this bylaw, in some circumstances a Development
Permit may be required.
2 INTERPRETATION OF SIGN REGULATIONS
1
In this Part:
"Address Sign" means a permanent structure displaying the name or civic address of the premises
on which it is located.
"Animated Sign" means a sign which uses change of lighting or moving parts to depict action or
create special effects or a pictorial scene but does not include a digital sign displaying only time and
temperature.
"Awning" means a rigid frame to which is attached a flexible fabric forming a canopy, hood, or roof
mounted onto a building-face, no part of which extends above the lowest eave or any other part or
a roof, the clearance between grade level and the lowest part of which is not less than 2.2 metres,
and no part of which extends more than 0.6 metres into a required front, side or rear yard.
"Awning Sign" means a sign which is attached to the face of an awning.
"Billboard or Finger Sign" means a sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service,
or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the lot on which the sign is
located.
"Canopy" means a fixed non-retractable roof structure over service station or marina fuel pumps,
or other open and exposed installations.
"Canopy Sign" means a sign attached to or forming part of a canopy but does not include a marquee
or roof sign.
"Eave" means the projecting lower edge of a roof overhanging a building face.
"Fascia Sign" means a sign which does not project more than 15 centimetres from the building face
to which it is attached.
"Free Standing Sign" means a sign not exceeding 6.1 m in height which is self-supporting, or is
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supported by a structure independent of any building or other structure.
"Home Identification Sign" means a sign identifying the residence by occupant or number.
"Home Occupation Sign" means a sign identifying a permitted home occupation use.
"Marquee" means any fixed structure projecting from the face of building for the purpose of
affording protection to the public from the weather, but does not include an eave.
"Marquee Sign" means any sign, affixed approximately at right angles to a building face and wholly
beneath a marquee, with a minimum clearance of 2.2 m from finished grade.
"Political Sign" means a sign erected to promote the voting at an election in favour of a particular
candidate or in support of a particular cause.
"Portable Sign" means a sign designed to be moved from place to place without involving any
structural or support changes, including any vehicle whose primary function is advertising.
"Projecting Sign" means any sign other than an Awning Sign which projects more than 150
millimetres which it is attached.
"Real Estate Sign" means a sign indicating that the property on which it is located is for sale or rent
or has been sold or rented.
"Roadside Stand" means a stand on farm premises from which agricultural produce is sold.
"Road Side Stand Sign" means a sign on a Roadside Stand.
"Rotating Sign" means a sign moving about its own axis.
"Sandwich Sign" means a self-supporting sign which can be moved by a person from place to place,
usually consisting of two rigid sheets of wood, metal or like material, hinged at the top and set
loosely upon the ground.
"Sign" means a letter, numeral, work, picture or attention drawing device, excluding traffic control
devices, displayed out of doors in such manner as to be visible from a highway.
"Sign Area" means the total area within which the face of a sign could be completely contained. The
area of a free standing sign shall be exclusive of any supporting structure but shall include the sum
of all faces visible to the public.
"Site Sign" means an unlighted sign not exceeding a total area of 0.28 m2 which is located on a parcel
and relates to or identifies a use on that parcel.
"Temporary Sign" means a sign put in place for a limited period of time but in no case exceeding 12
months advertising the construction, lease, subdivision, design, or sale of the property at which the
sign is located.
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"Traffic Control Device" means a stop sign, signal, line, barrier, traffic control signal, traffic control,
flashing signal or device placed or erected under the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act or the
Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw of the Municipality for the purpose of regulation and control
of traffic.
"Unlighted" means not illuminated either by an internal source of light or indirectly from an external
source of artificial light.
"Wall Sign" means any sign painted directly upon a wall or other part of any building or structure.
"Window Sign" means a sign affixed to the inside of a window in view of the general public.
2
Sign areas specified in this bylaw are references to the area of the entire face or faces of
a sign displaying a message of any kind, including any frame or trim surrounding the
message area, but excluding any supporting structure not displaying any portion of the
message.
3 SIGN PROHIBITIONS
1
No person shall erect, construct or place any of the following signs:
(1) any sign projecting above the lowest part of a roof;
(2) projecting signs;
(3) rotating signs;
(4) animated signs;
(5) wall signs;
(6) portable signs, other than sandwich signs; and,
(7) bill board or finger signs, excepting signs supplied and installed by the municipality.
2
No sign shall be constructed or placed in a position which is likely to block, obstruct, or
interfere with traffic of any kind, including pedestrians, or with traffic control devices.
3
No sign shall be placed on or over any real property owned by the Municipality or a street
unless the approval of Council is first obtained and Council may as a condition of such
approval require the applicant to enter into a licence agreement with the Municipality.
4
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle on any lot for the principal purpose of
displaying a sign attached to or forming part of the vehicle, and no person shall permit
any such vehicle to remain on any lot of which he is the owner or occupier.
4 SIGN PERMITS
1
Notwithstanding paragraphs 4.2 to 4.2 inclusive, the following signs may be erected or
placed on any lot within the Municipality and without first obtaining a permit:
(1)
unlighted real estate signs of not more than 1.49 m2, provided that no such sign
shall be located within 3 metres of an interior side lot line, nor within 1.5 meters
of a lot line abutting a street;
(2)
one unlighted temporary sign of not more than 3 m2, displaying the name of the
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contractors or consultants engaged in the construction, alteration, or demolition
of a building or structure, provided that such signs are removed prior to final
inspection of such building or structure under the Building Bylaw of the
Municipality. No such sign shall be located within 3 metres of an interior side lot
line, nor within 1.5 metres of a lot line abutting a street;
(3)
one unlighted sign of not more than 0.14 m2 indicating either ENTRANCE or EXIT,
at either the entrance or the exit of an off-street parking area, such sign to be
located on the lot;
(4)
signs on private land directed toward the prevention of trespassing, of not more
than 0.06 m2;
(5)
window signs which do not exceed fifteen percent of the total window area;
(6)
site signs and signs displaying only a civic address;
(7)
political signs provided that they are removed no later than seven days after the
day of the polling to which they relate;
(8)
signs or notices exhibited by the authority of the Government of Canada, the
Province of B.C. or any municipal authority;
(9)
seasonal agriculture produce signs, no greater than 0.557 m2 erected for a period
of six months or less on the lot on which the advertised produce is grown;
(10)
unlighted roadside stand signs conforming to the following requirements:
a. all signs must be physically attached to the stand; and
b. no sign or combination of signs shall have an area exceeding 3.0 m2; and,
(11)
sandwich signs.
2
No person shall erect, place, construct, relocate or alter any sign in the Municipality
without first obtaining a permit.
3
Every applicant for a sign permit shall submit to the Inspector an application in writing
accompanied by plans and specifications showing:
(1)
the overall dimensions of the sign;
(2)
the sign area;
(3)
the dimensions of the supporting structure for the sign;
(4)
the overall height of the sign and the clearance beneath it, both measured from
finished grade;
(5)
the proposed location of the sign in relation to the boundaries of the lot upon
which the sign is to be located; and,
(6)
the estimated market value of the sign.
4
No sign permit shall be issued for any sign in a development permit area except in
accordance with a development permit.
5
The permit application and the permit shall be in the form prescribed from time to time
by the Building Inspector.
6
The Building Inspector may grant and issue sign permits.
7
The Building Inspector shall issue a sign permit together with any building permit that is
required in accordance with the Building Bylaw for the building or structure on which the
sign is to be located.
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5 SIGN REGULATIONS
1
Within Agricultural zones no sign except the following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
where a farmer's market store is licensed, and permitted by the B.C. Agricultural
Land Commission;
a. fascia signs occupying up to the full length of the building face, facing upon
the parking area or street frontage only; and
b. a single freestanding sign provided that:
i.
if the lot is a corner lot and access to the building is from both
frontage streets, two freestanding signs are permitted;
ii.
sign area is limited to 0.2 m2 to each 0.3 metres of lot frontage; and
iii.
Freestanding signs are located a minimum distance of 3 metres
from any lot lines not abutting a street, 7.62 metres from any lot
line abutting residentially zoned property, and so that no part of the
sign projects beyond the property line;
(2)
sandwich signs;
(3)
on a lot on which is located a licensed veterinary hospital or clinic, a fascia sign
located on the face of the building and not exceeding 2.4 metres in length, or one
freestanding sign not exceeding 1.2 m2 located at least 1.5 metres from any lot
line, and with a maximum height 3.65 metres, either of which may be illuminated;
and,
(4)
home occupation signs.
2
Within Rural Estate zones, no sign except the following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
address signs; and,
(2)
home occupation signs.
3
Within Residential zones - Low Density , no sign except the following signs shall be
permitted:
(1)
home occupation signs; and,
(2)
one unlighted temporary sign per lot not exceeding 0.6 m2.
4
Within Residential zones - High Density no sign except the following signs shall be
permitted:
(1)
address signs;
(2)
one unlighted temporary sign with a sign area not exceeding 0.6 m2, at each unit
for sale, rent or lease; and,
(3)
home occupation signs.
5
Within Commercial zones no sign except the following signs shall be permitted, unless
otherwise specified:
(1)
fascia signs and freestanding signs complying with Subparagraph 5.1(1);
(2)
marquee signs;
(3)
sandwich signs; and,
(4)
awning signs.
6
Despite 5.5 within the C-4 zone, no sign except the following signs shall be permitted:
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(1)
canopy signs over pump islands, not extending above the canopy, nor hanging
below the bottom edge of the canopy;
(2)
freestanding signs complying with Subparagraph5.1(1)(b);
(3)
marquee signs;
(4)
sandwich signs; and,
(5)
awning signs.
7
Despite 5.5 within the C-5 zone, no sign except the following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
fascia signs conforming to Subparagraph 5.1(1)(a);
(2)
freestanding signs conforming to Subparagraph5.1(1)(b);
(3)
marquee signs;
(4)
sandwich signs; and
(5)
awning signs.
8
Despite 5.5 within the C-6, C-6A, W1 and W2 zones no sign except the following signs
shall be permitted:
(1)
fascia signs on waterfront side of commercial building, with a minimum height
above lowest floor level of 1.8 metres;
(2)
canopy signs over fuelling pumps, conforming to 5.1(6)1.
(3)
one freestanding sign with a maximum area of 1 m2 with a minimum clearance of
2.43 metres, and maximum height of 3.65 metres;
(4)
sandwich signs; and,
(5)
awning signs.
9
Despite 5.5 within the C-8 zone, no sign except the following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
address signs;
(2)
fascia signs on front face of building conforming to Subparagraph5.1(1)(a);
(3)
freestanding signs conforming to Subparagraph 5.1(1)(b);
(4)
marquee signs;
(5)
sandwich signs; and,
(6)
awning signs.
10
Within Institutional zones , no sign except the following signs shall be permitted, unless
otherwise specified:
(1)
a bulletin board not exceeding 1.2 m2 located within the front yard;
(2)
address signs; and,
(3)
awning signs.
11
Despite 5.10 within Park zones , no sign except the following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
address signs;
(2)
fascia signs on the entrance face of buildings; and,
(3)
awning signs.
12
Within Industrial zones , no sign except the following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
fascia signs conforming to Subparagraph 5.1(1)(a);
(2)
freestanding signs conforming to Subparagraph 5.1(1)(b);
(3)
sandwich signs; and,
(4)
awning signs.
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6 REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICULAR SIGNS
1
Home occupation signs must not exceed dimensions of 0.1 metres by 0.6 metres, must
not be illuminated, and must be located not less than 1.5 metres from any lot line.
2
Awning signs must not extend above the lowest eave or any other part of a roof, must
not extend more than 0.6 metres into a required yard, and must have a clearance above
finished grade of at least 2.2 metres. No part of the sign may project more than 50 mm
from the surface of the awning and no part of the sign area may exceed 0.6 metres in
vertical dimension.
3
Fascia signs must not exceed 0.6 metres in vertical dimension if the message is displayed
horizontally, or 0.6 metres in horizontal dimension if the message is displayed vertically.
4
Sandwich signs may be displayed during business hours only and shall be removed from
the sidewalk or other public area at the close of business each day. The sign area must
not exceed 1.5 m2 and the total sign area 3.0 m2, and only one such sign is permitted per
business except where specifically permitted by this bylaw.
5
Address signs must not exceed a height of 1.2 m nor a width of 1.5 m, and must be
constructed of solid masonry or be erected on masonry piers. Such signs may be indirectly
illuminated and the lettering must be engraved or carved in heavy timber or metal.