How to Get a Sign Permit in Montréal, QC
Yes, you need a sign permit to install, replace or change a commercial sign in Montréal, QC. Each of Montréal’s 19 boroughs (arrondissements) reviews the application, applies its own urban planning by-law and sets its own fee. You apply online on montreal.ca or at the borough permit counter, with scaled plans, facade photos and a valid occupancy permit for the business.
This guide summarizes the City’s commercial sign permit page (in French, updated September 2026). Select your borough on that page, because the rules differ.
Do you need a sign permit in Montréal?
The City requires a commercial sign permit to:
- Install a commercial sign.
- Change the structure of a sign, and in some boroughs its message.
- Replace a sign.
Some boroughs add more cases. Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Anjou require a permit to move an existing sign. Ville-Marie and Le Plateau-Mont-Royal require a new permit when a new operator wants to keep an existing sign. Ville-Marie does not require a permit to change only the message or to install a small sign.
A commercial sign permit is not the same as a permit for an advertising (billboard) sign. For advertising signs, contact the borough where you want the sign.
The Ahuntsic-Cartierville page gives examples of the standards that a borough by-law sets. The total sign area depends on the use, the size of the business and the floor level. A sign on a window or a door must not cover more than 30% of the opening. Some signs must use individual letters. Portable signs are not permitted, except for a new business under some conditions. Other boroughs set their own standards.
Sign permit requirements in Montréal: drawings and documents
Before you apply, get a valid occupancy permit for the commercial activity, or proof that you applied for it recently. Without it, most boroughs do not accept the sign application.
Most boroughs ask for these documents:
- Scaled, professional-quality plans that show the facade width, the sign dimensions, the sign location on the facade, the anchorage method, the structure and the materials. See our sign permit drawings service.
- Photos of the facade and of the neighbouring facades.
- A certificate of location (certificat de localisation).
- In many boroughs, authorization from the building owner or the condominium syndicate.
- A power of attorney from the operator if a sign company or consultant applies for you.
- An engineer’s plan when the sign is on a pole or a base, or projects more than 0.5 m from the wall. One borough page asks that the engineer is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. See our sign engineering service.
How to apply for a sign permit in Montréal
- Find your borough on the City sign permit page.
- Get the occupancy permit, or apply for it.
- Prepare the plans and documents for that borough.
- Apply online with the commercial sign permit form. You need a montreal.ca account and an organization profile. Online, you pay a fixed amount by credit card. The borough then asks for the balance or gives a refund.
- Or apply at the borough permit counter. Some counters accept applications by appointment only.
- Answer the examiner’s questions. If the site is in a PIIA area, the borough sends the file to its planning advisory committee.
Montréal sign permit fees by borough (2026)
These fees come from the City page updated on September 1, 2026. They are for each sign. Confirm the amount on your borough page before you apply.
| Borough | Fee for each sign |
|---|---|
| Ahuntsic-Cartierville | $237 minimum ($15/m²) |
| Anjou | $150 minimum ($15/m²), plus $100 PIIA study in commercial and industrial sectors |
| Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce | $317 analysis fee (certificate of authorization) |
| Lachine | $100 minimum ($10/m²) |
| LaSalle | $300 |
| Le Plateau-Mont-Royal | $273 |
| Le Sud-Ouest | $355 minimum ($40/m²), plus $209 if PIIA applies |
| L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève | $316.50, plus $233.20 if PIIA applies |
| Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve | $320.85 minimum ($39.33/m²) |
| Montréal-Nord | $263 |
| Outremont | $240 |
| Pierrefonds-Roxboro | $120 permanent, $65 temporary |
| Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles | $187.50 minimum ($13.25/m²) |
| Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie | $354 minimum ($41/m²) |
| Saint-Laurent | $248 |
| Saint-Léonard | $327 new sign, $179 change without more area |
| Verdun | $221 minimum ($23/m²) |
| Ville-Marie | $203 minimum ($15/m²) |
| Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension | $317 minimum ($20/m²) |
Other approvals you may need
- PIIA review. Some sectors and buildings have heritage, architectural or landscape value. There, the borough reviews the sign under its by-law on site planning and architectural integration programs. The PIIA approval page explains the steps. The planning advisory committee (CCU) makes a recommendation, and the borough council approves or refuses the project. PIIA review adds fees and time.
- Provincial heritage approval. The Ville-Marie page states that some buildings and sectors are protected under Québec cultural heritage law. In that case, you also need an authorization from the Québec ministry of culture.
- Variance or by-law check. If the sign does not meet the borough by-law, change the design before you apply. A sign code check finds problems early.
Sign permit timeline and inspections in Montréal
Review time depends on the borough, the season and the complexity of the file. Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie gives an average of 6 to 8 weeks after it receives all documents. Le Plateau-Mont-Royal contacts the applicant within 14 days. A PIIA review takes longer.
After you get the permit, install the sign on time. Each borough sets its own rule. For example, the Saint-Léonard certificate stays valid for 6 months, and work must start in the first 3 months. Other boroughs give 3, 6 or 12 months. Ville-Marie and Le Plateau-Mont-Royal keep the permit valid while the operator and the signs do not change.
For more on the process, read our Toronto sign permit guide and what a sign permit consultant does.
Need help with your Montréal sign permit?
Rouge Hill Consulting prepares sign permit drawings, engineering and applications for businesses and sign companies across Canada. Send us your address and sign artwork through our contact page. See our sign permit services for what we include.
