Sign Variance
When your sign doesn’t comply with a Sign By-law, you have another option.
Sign Variances are a formal request for an exemption to the Sign By-law.
How Sign Variances Work
Review
Rouge Hill Consulting will review the proposal against the Sign By-law to identify what variances need to be sought. A member of our team will review the site conditions and signs in the neighboring area to make a case for the Sign Variance.
Based on this review and after coordinating with Municipal staff, RHC will provide you with an estimated likelihood of sign variance approval.
Application
Once the decision has been made to proceed with the Sign Variance, a rationale letter will be prepared alongside all required sign drawings and forms stating why the proposed signage should be exempt from the Sign By-law requirements. This typically involves a review of the Official Plan, the character of the surrounding area, any site-specific impacts such as traffic or illumination, and the extent of variance required.
Decision
The Sign Variance application once completed is sent for review to the Municipality. In some cases they may require a hearing to be attended which RHC would attend on your behalf.
At this point, the Municipality will make their decision on whether or not to approve the Sign Variance.
FAQs
What if the Sign Variance gets refused?
In the event of a decision from the Municipality to refuse the Sign Variance application, there is typically an option to appeal. Appeals are usually heard by Council Committees and involve a deputation from RHC to present the appeal. We find in most cases that the Municipality tries to work with the Applicant and advise if there will be any issues with the Sign Variance application prior to a refusal.
How long does the Sign Variance process take?
The length of the Sign Variance process varies widely based on Municipality. In the City of London, it can take a matter of days, whereas in Toronto, it can take up to 6 months depending on the complexity.
We recommend start your Sign Variance process as soon as possible as the process can be time consuming. The good news is we handle all the communication and legwork, and we always ensure your application is pushed through as quickly as possible.
How much does a Sign Variance cost?
Rouge Hill Consulting sets competitive prices to ensure projects can be completed reasonably and within budget. However, pricing depends on the Municipality and the complexity of the Sign Variance. Please contact us with project details pertaining to your sign variance for additional information.
Reach out to us directly
permits@rougehillconsulting.com
+1 (437) 833-7817
200 MANITOBA ST
TORONTO, ON