This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 0483ff75ad30 · verified 2026-06-05 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
1
Village of Valley Waters
By-law No. 26-18-01
A By-law Relating Signage
for the Village of Valley Waters
BE IT ENACTED by the Council for the Village of Valley Waters under the authority vested in it by
the Local Governance Act, SNB., 2017 c.18.,as follows:
Now therefore, the Council of the Village of Valley Waters enacts as follows:
1.
Short Title
1.1
This by-law may be cited as the "Sign By-law".
2.
Interpretation
2.1
Unless otherwise defined in this by-law, definitions from the Norton Rural Plan By-
Law, and any subsequent Rural Plan By-Laws for the Village of Valley Waters
shall apply to terms used in this by-law.
3. Purpose
The purposes of the following sign regulations are:
- To promote the effective use of signs as a means of c ommunication to allow
commercial enterprises to clearly identify their places of business;
- To minimize the potential adverse effects of signage on private and public
property;
- To address the issues of sign maintenance, repair, replacement
and removal; and
- To enable the fair and consistent enforcement of sign regulations.
4. Definitions
AWNING means a light detachable system of fabric, sheet metal, Plexiglas or other
material, entirely supported from a building by a fixed or retractable frame.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER for the purposes of enforcing this By-Law means a person
2
appointed by the Village of Valley Waters Council to enforce municipal by-laws,
including the CAO, and the Building Inspector.
CANOPY means any permanently fixed structure other than an awning, supported
solely from the building and which projects from the face of the building.
COPY means letters, characters, numbers or graphics which make up the message
on a sign, but does not include background colour.
FACADE means the exterior front face, or side face of a building or business
premises; whichever is the face on which the sign is to be placed.
FLAG means a polygonal piece of fabric that represents an organization but does not
include a flag representing a country of the world or any province, Canadian territory
or municipal corporation.
GRADE means the elevation adjacent to any sign or the elevation of the finished
ground surface directly below a sign.
SIGN means a structure, device, notice or visual representation including its
supporting system and other components, used or is intended or capable of being
used to attract attention for identification or information purposes and without
limiting the generality of the foregoing includes symbols, letters, figures, illustrations
or painted forms.
SIGN, FASCIA means a sign of permanent nature running parallel to the face of the
building to which it is displayed or attached.
SIGN, FREESTANDING means a sign standing apart from a building and having
independent supports.
SIGN, INCIDENTAL means a sign relating to the lot or use thereof designating
accessory uses, parking direction, identification or information.
SIGN, PROJECTING means a sign which is attached to and projects from the wall
of a building face by more than 30 cm.
SIGN, VEHICULAR DIRECTIONAL means a sign used to direct vehicular traffic to
parking areas of a building or business premises.
SIGN, WINDOW means a sign, picture, symbol or combination thereof, which is
painted, pasted or otherwise placed on the inside of a window.
3
5. Administration
5.1 This By-Law applies to the entire area within the bounds of the Village of
Valley Waters.
5.2 No person shall construct, set up, place, exhibit, erect, or relocate a sign in
the Village except in conformance with this By-Law nor without the
approval by the CAO. This By-Law applies to all signs on public and
private property.
5.3 Any sign erected in contravention to this By-Law may be removed at the
expense of the owner, applicant or lessee.
5.4 No signs, whether made out of paper, cardboard, cloth, canvas, plastic or
similar materials, shall be tacked, posted or otherwise affixed to the walls
of any structure, tree, pole, hydrant, bridge, fence or any other surface
within a public place. This section shall not apply to placards or notices
posted by or on behalf of the Village pertaining to municipal matters, or
police traffic control signs and notices.
5.5 Private signs are not permitted on Village property and any sign erected on
Village property may be removed at the expense of the owner, applicant
or leasee without notice.
5.6 Any sign which in the opinion of the CAO is a danger to surrounding
property or persons shall be repaired or removed without prior notice by
the Village and all expenses involved in such action shall be charged to
the owner of the sign.
5.7 Nothing in this By-Law shall be taken to relieve any persons from
complying with the provisions of any other by-law of the Village of Valley
Waters.
6. Application for Approval of a Sign
6.1 Applications, in writing, for a sign approval shall be made to the CAO and
shall include:
a) The civic address of the building, structure or lot on which the sign is to
be erected, altered, or relocated;
b) Written authorization by the owner, if the owner is not the applicant of
the subject property and/or building;
4
c) A drawing to scale for each side of the sign giving all pertinent materials,
dimensions, as well as the colour scheme;
d) A drawing illustrating the position of any sign to be painted on or
attached to a building or structure and the method of attachment;
e) A dimensioned site plan showing the sign and distances from all
adjacent property lines, driveway locations and other prominent
features when located on a property;
f) Details of the supporting framework and foundation base details; and
g) Details of any lighting.
6.2 Whenever in the opinion of the CAO the nature of the proposed work
requires technical knowledge, a drawing signed and sealed by a
professionally certified Engineer illustrating details of sign attachment and
assembly for freestanding, awning, canopy and projecting signs shall be
required. All signs shall be erected in accordance with the National
Building Code.
6.3 The CAO shall ensure that the signage proposal conforms to this and all
applicable By-Laws and legislation.
6.4 If on examination of the information presented, the CAO is satisfied that
the application is consistent with this By-Law and all other by-laws and
legislation, they may approve the application for a sign.
7. Refusal of a Sign Application
The CAO shall refuse to approve a sign application for any sign if:
a) the proposed sign does not comply with the provisions of this By-Law or
any other applicable By-Law or legislation or would make any existing sign
non-compliant;
b) the building or structural supports on which the sign is to be located or
attached is determined to be incapable of supporting the sign, or if the
information submitted regarding the construction of the sign or supporting
structure is not sufficient to enable the CAO to adequately determine the
capability of such support;
c) the proposed sign would, in the opinion of the CAO, obstruct or otherwise
5
interfere with any traffic control devices, or the visibility of motorists;
d) an applicant has failed to provide the information required by this By-Law
to the CAO; or
e) the proposed sign directly interferes with the visibility of adjacent signs.
f) The CAO may revoke a sign approval where there is a violation of any
condition under which the sign approval was issued, or If the sign license
was issued in error.
8. Application to the Planning Advisory Committee
8.1 An applicant for a Sign License may make application to the Kings Regional
Planning Advisory Committee should the applicant wish to make
application to vary the requirement of this or the Rural Plan By-Law in
accordance with the Community Planning Act.
8.2 The CAO, at his discretion, may submit an application to the Planning
Advisory Committee where additional guidance is required prior to the
issuance of a sign license.
9. Application Exemptions
9.1 This By-Law exempts the following from sign approval requirements:
a) Signs located inside a building and not visible from the exterior of
the building;
b) Signage that forms part of appliances and fixtures such as gas
pumps, pop machines and telephone booths and like appliances and
fixtures;
c) Signs or public notices erected or authorized to be installed by the
Village or Provincial or Federal legislation;
d) Re-painting, replacement of the fascia panel or normal
maintenance of existing previously approved signs for an existing
business;
e) Signs denoting access and parking for persons with disabilities;
f) Non-advertising commemoration plaques, cornerstones or tablets;
6
g) One vehicular directional sign not exceeding 2500cm2 in area and
one metre in height to be located at each entrance and exit to public or
private parking;
h) Signs not exceeding 3m2 for the purpose of advertising any political
party or candidate participating in an election for public office;
i) Any sign which does not exceed 2500cm2 in area and which
identifies the name and address of a resident or which regulates the
use of property such as "no trespassing" signs;
j) Any Real Estate sign on a property offered for sale and which does
not exceed 1m2 in area in any Residential zone or 3m2 in any other
zone;
k) Window signs in accordance with Section 15.9 of this By-Law.
l) Signs not exceeding 3m2 used for the purpose of advertising
specific community events at the discretion of the CAO.
9.2 The above exempted signs shall, in the opinion of the CAO be safe,
secure, and not hinder the use by the public of any street and shall not
be constructed erected, altered or maintained in violation of this By-Law.
10. Prohibitions
9.1. Without restricting or limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following
signs are specifically prohibited:
a) Billboard sign;
b) Any roof sign
c) Any sign which obstructs any part of a doorway, window or balcony with
the exception of permitted window signs;
d) Any sign that has affixed to or contains any flashing, animated, rotating,
moving or oscillating electrical components, except for electronic
message boards unless approved by a Development Agreement entered
into in accordance with the Community Planning Act;
e) Any flashing, animated or chasing border signs or part thereof;
7
f) Any sign that imitates in any way, shape, form, words or lighting, a traffic
control device;
g) Any sign that uses dayglo fluorescent, luminous or reflective paint or
similar products;
h) Any signage erected within the triangular area formed by the intersecting
street lines joining the point on either street a distance of 6 metres from the
intersection as shown in figure 1;
Figure 1
8
9.3 No sign shall be placed, erected, structurally altered, located or
relocated so as to be closer to an energized utility line or utility line
equipment than the distances specified in the following table:
Phase to Phase Voltage of Energized
Electrical
Utility Line or Utility Line Equipment
Dist
anc
e
Up to 750 v
900
mm
750 v - 100 000 v
3.6
m
100 001 v - 250 000 v
5.2
m
250 001 v - 345 000 v
6.1
m
11. Repair and Removal
11.1 When an owner, tenant or occupant of any premises vacates the
premises, such person shall remove all signs, including any supporting
system, within 30 days of vacating the premises.
12. Maintenance
Every sign shall be well maintained in a safe condition at all times.
13. General Design Standards
Where possible, the design and placement of signs shall be coordinated with
the architectural elements of the façade and other exterior elements of the
building and signs shall be:
a) Single or double sided;
b) Designed with colors and materials coordinated with the building;
9
c) If illuminated, in accordance with the following:
i) Freestanding signs, fascia signs and projecting signs may be illuminated
by internal lighting, external lighting, floodlighting and neon unless
otherwise limited by this By-Law;
ii) External lighting shall be limited to the greatest extent possible to the
sign face with the light source concealed from view;
iii) All wiring and conduits to electric signs and lighting sources shall be
placed within the building walls, located underground or otherwise
concealed from view.
14. Standards for Permitted Signs
The provisions of this section shall apply to all permitted signs:
14.1 Fascia Signs
14.1.1 Number Permitted
One fascia sign is permitted to be erected on each exterior face of
a building fronting on a public street except in the case of a
commercial building containing more than one commercial unit on
one level, one fascia sign is permitted per business.
14.1.2 Sign Area
a) A fascia sign shall be limited in size to 15% of the area of the
façade of a building or business premises, as determined by the
CAO;
b) A fascia sign shall in no case extend beyond 75% of the width of
the façade of a building or premises, as determined by the CAO
and in no case shall exceed 47m2 in area.
c) A fascia sign exceeding an area of 10m2 and/or 1 metre in height
shall be limited to individual letters or shapes.
14.1.3 Location
Fascia signs are not permitted above the floor of a second storey.
10
14.2 Freestanding Signs
14.2.1 Number Permitted
One freestanding sign is permitted per property.
14.2.2 Location
a) No part of a freestanding sign shall be located within 2 metres
of any property line or driveway access or within 1 metre of any
building and in no case shall a freestanding sign be located so as
to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
b) All freestanding signs shall be sited in a landscaped area as an
integral part of the sign license, with such landscaped area to be
at least equal in size to the sign area.
14.2.3 Sign Placement, Area and Dimensions
a) A freestanding sign, including the signage structure, shall be
limited to a maximum area of 7.5m2 or 3.75m2 per side of the
sign.
b) The sign must have a minimum clearance of 1.2 metres from the
average grade adjacent to the sign to the bottom of the sign
structure so as not to obstruct visibility.
c) The total width of the sign including the posts shall not exceed 4
metres.
d) Freestanding signs shall not exceed 5 metres in height above
grade.
14.3 Awning or Canopy Signs
14.3.1 General
An awning or canopy sign shall:
a) Be attached to, painted or placed upon a canopy or awning
and located on the exterior front face of the awning or canopy.
b) Not be located over a pedestrian walkway unless the lowest part
of the awning, canopy or sign structure is 2.75 metres above the
pedestrian walkway.
11
c) Not be located over a sidewalk unless prior approval has been
granted by Council and proof of insurance naming the Village as
co-insured has been provided to the Village.
d) In the case of multi-tenant buildings, one awning or canopy sign
is permitted per business over the main entrance of each
business premises provided that all awnings or canopies and
associated signage are designed of like materials, colors and
copy to create a unified signage image for the building.
e) Where more than one business premises fronts a street under a
single awning, there shall not be more than one awning sign per
business.
14.3.2 Sign Area
The maximum sign area to be placed on the awning is 40% of the
area of the awning or canopy as measured on a drawing of the
elevation or vertical plane of the awning and in no case shall the
sign area exceed 40 m2.
14.4 Under-Awning Sign or Under-Canopy Sign
14.4.1 General
An under-awning or under-canopy sign shall not project beyond the
front edge of the awning or canopy or below a height of 2.5 metres
above grade.
14.4.2 Sign Area
An under-awning or under-canopy sign shall be limited to a
maximum of 30 cm in height and not exceed more than 60% of
the length of the awning or canopy.
14.5
Construction Site Signs
14.5.1
Number Permitted
Two construction site signs per property are permitted as defined in
this By-Law during the construction process.
12
14.5.2 Location and Placement
A construction sign may be placed or erected on a site, building, or
on the business premises to which it relates in accordance with this
By-Law.
14.5.3 Sign Height
The maximum height from grade to the top of the sign shall be limited
to a maximum height of 5 metres.
14.5.4 Sign Area
A construction site sign is limited to a maximum area of 3.0m2.
14.5.5 Removal
A construction site sign shall be removed within 7 days following the
issuance of an Occupancy Permit by the Village.
14.6 Advertising Flags
14.6.3 Location
The location of a flag including the supporting system shall be
entirely on private property and shall not interfere with fire escapes,
vehicular and pedestrian traffic, utilities, or public works.
14.6.4 Number Permitted
Only one flag is permitted per business premises.
14.6.5 Interpretation
Nothing in this By-Law shall be interpreted to regulate the display of
flags representing a country, province or territory of Canada or a
municipal corporation.
14.6.6 Flag Placement Area
A flag shall have a minimum clearance of 2.75 metres above grade.
13
14.7 Projecting Signs
14.7.3 Number of Signs Permitted
One projecting sign per business premises shall be permitted.
14.7.4 Location
A projecting sign may be located on the exterior front face of a
business premises.
14.7.5 Sign Placement Area
a) A projecting sign shall be placed a minimum of 2.75 metres
above grade and shall not extend above the roofline or top of the
second storey.
b) A projecting sign at 45 degrees is permitted at a corner of a
building.
c) The maximum height of a projecting sign shall be limited to a
maximum of 7.62 metres from grade.
14.8 Real Estate Signs
14.8.3 Number Permitted
One real estate sign may be placed or erected on a private
property offered for sale.
14.8.4 Location
A real estate sign may be placed or erected only on the property to
which it relates and the top of such a sign shall not exceed a height
from grade of 2 metres.
14.8.5 Sign Area and Dimensions
A real estate sign shall be limited to a maximum sign area of 1m2
per side in any Residential Zone or 3m2 in any other zone.
14.8.6 Removal
Real estate signs shall be removed within 72 hours of the posting of
the sold sign or after the property is sold, rented, or leased, or
otherwise removed from the market.
14
14.8.7 Illumination
A real estate sign shall not be illuminated.
14.9 Window Signs
14.9.3 Number Permitted
The number of window signs is not restricted.
14.9.4 Location and Placement
A window sign shall be placed on the interior of the premises and
shall be limited to windows located at the first and second storey of
a building.
14.9.5 Sign Area
Total window signage shall not occupy more than 25 percent of the
area of the window in which it is placed.
14.9.6 Illumination
Signs may be illuminated by internal lighting and neon tube.
14.10
Banners
Banner Signs shall:
a) Be limited to not more than 1 banner per property at any one time.
b) Not exceed 2m2.
c) Not be displayed for more than 14 consecutive days per month.
d) Not be displayed more than 56 days in any calendar year.
e) Not be affixed to existing signage, and not be erected in locations
which impede pedestrian and vehicle movements or visibility.
14.11
Sandwich Board Signs
Sandwich Board Signs shall:
a) be limited to one Sandwich Board Sign for each ground floor business
15
premises fronting on the road or street on which the sign is to be
placed.
b) Be designed in accordance with the guidelines included in Schedule
B of this By-Law.
c) Be displayed on private property of the business premises to which it
pertains, within 3 metres of the front entrance of the business premises
and shall only be displayed during the hours of operation of the
business premises to which it pertains.
d) Not exceed 1 metre in height and 50 cm in width.
e) Not contain any electrical components nor be illuminated.
f) consist of lettering that is printed, painted, stenciled or otherwise fixed
to the surface of the sign and the integrity of any removable or
adjustable letters, numbers or symbols including plastic numbers,
letters, symbols or chalk markings shall be maintained at all times.
g) Not be located in any required parking area.
h) Not be placed in a manner so as to be a nuisance or to restrict
pedestrian or vehicle movement. When placed on a sidewalk area
adjacent to a business premises, a clearance of a minimum of 1.0
metres adjacent to either a curb, property line, landscape features or
any other structure shall be provided.
14.12
Incidental Signs
14.12.3 Number Permitted
The number of incidental signs is restricted to 5 signs per
property.
14.12.4 Location and Placement
Incidental signs shall not be located within 2 metres of any
property line.
14.12.5 Sign Area
An incidental sign shall be limited to a maximum sign area of
2500cm2 in area per side.
16
14.12.6 Illumination
Incidental signs shall not be illuminated.
15. Penalties
A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this By-Law; or causes or
suffers or permits any act or thing to be done in contravention of or in
violation of any of the provisions of this By-Law, or neglects or refrains from
doing anything required to be done by any of the provision of this By-Law; or
fails to comply with an order or demand made pursuant to this By-Law;
commits an offence punishable under Part 2 of the Provincial Offences
Procedure Act as a Category B offence and shall be fined not less than $140
and not more than $320.
Each day such offence continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate
offence.
16. Enactment
FIRST READING BY TITLE:
SECOND READING BY TITLE:
THIRD READING BY SUMMARY AND ENACTMENTMENT:
Mayor
Village Clerk