How to Get a Sign Permit in Calgary: What You Do and What We Prepare
You have picked a sign, agreed on the design, and then someone mentions the word “permit.” For many business owners this is the part of a new sign that feels most uncertain: which rules apply, what the City wants to see, how long it takes.
This guide walks through the process in plain language, using what the City of Calgary publishes about signs, and explains which parts we prepare for you and which parts sit with you as the business owner.
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Does Your Sign Need a Permit?
The City of Calgary groups signs into classes and sets different rules for each. Some signs need a development permit, some do not, and the answer depends on the sign type, its size, the land use district and whether it meets all applicable rules. The City’s own sign permits page is the starting point.
A few points from that page (checked on 2026-10-28) answer the most common questions:
Repairs and copy changes
“A development permit is not required to: Maintain or repair a legally existing sign; Change or reduce the copy area of a legally existing sign.” In practice this often covers putting new graphics into an existing, legal sign cabinet.
Fascia signs (signs on the building wall)
A fascia sign may not need a development permit when fascia signs are a permitted use in the land use district, “the sign area is not larger than 1.5 square metres”, and the sign meets all applicable rules. Larger fascia signs, or ones that do not meet the rules, go through an application.
Canopy and projecting signs
“All new canopy and projecting signs require a development permit.” The City also notes that businesses “can have only one projecting sign on a primary building wall.”
Freestanding and digital signs
Freestanding signs, signs with digital displays and third-party advertising have their own rules and generally go through an application. If you are considering one, check early.
The City adds that its web information “has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations.” That is why we check the requirements for each specific sign and site rather than relying on general rules.
The Permit Process Step by Step
This is how a typical permit fits into a sign project:
Site visit and measurements
The wall, the sign area and the building are measured. This data feeds every drawing.
Design approved
The sign size, type, lighting and mounting are settled: the permit describes exactly this sign.
Drawings and documents prepared
Elevations, sign drawings with dimensions, materials, mounting and electrical details are prepared for the application.
Landlord approval
In leased buildings the landlord usually approves the sign before the application.
Application submitted
The City accepts sign applications online through apply.calgary.ca (a myID account is needed) or in person at the Planning Services Centre.
Review, approval, installation
Once approved, the sign can be installed. Discretionary signs and signs needing relaxations also get a development completion inspection.
What the Application Needs
The City states that “specific drawing and supporting document requirements are listed on the permit checklist” and that “you must provide all the required drawings and documents when you submit your application.” In other words, the checklist for your sign class is the authority, and incomplete applications slow everything down.
What we prepare for you
Measured drawings of the sign on your building, sign dimensions and area, materials, the mounting method, and electrical information for illuminated signs. These come from the same files used for production, so the permit and the finished sign match.
- Elevation of the facade with the sign drawn to scale
- Sign drawing with dimensions and area
- Materials and construction description
- Mounting and fixing details
- Electrical details for illuminated signs
What sits with you
The business and property details the application asks for, the landlord’s approval where needed, and the City’s application fee. We handle all the sign permit paperwork: we prepare the drawings, specifications and documents and submit the application on your behalf. If you prefer to apply yourself, you get the complete package from us, ready to submit.
Fees and Timing
The City lists its fees on the sign permits page. At the time of checking (2026-10-28) it showed:
| Situation | Fees shown on calgary.ca |
|---|---|
| Permitted use, no relaxations | Permit fee CAD $95; total CAD $95 |
| Discretionary use or relaxations required | Permit fee CAD $636, advertising fee CAD $30, development completion inspection CAD $155; total CAD $821 |
On timing, the page shows 7 days for the building safety review step and notes that “timelines indicated are not a guarantee and depend on volumes, application completeness, and the applicant’s timely replies.” A sign permit expires 180 days after issuance. Fees and timelines change. Always check the City’s page for current numbers. Sign production itself takes about two weeks, so the permit is started as soon as the design is approved.
Practical Tips From the Workshop
Most permit delays we see come from avoidable things:
- Get the landlord’s sign criteria before the design, not after
- Decide the final sign size before drawings; changing it later means new drawings
- Check whether your fascia sign could stay within the City’s permitted-use limits
- Plan power for illuminated signs before the application
- Answer any City requests for information quickly; the clock depends on it
- Do not install before approval when a permit is required
None of these are complicated, but each one can add weeks if it is discovered late. That is why the permit question is part of the very first site visit, not something that comes up after the sign is built.
Signs in Plazas and Multi-Tenant Buildings
In multi-tenant buildings there are often two sets of rules: the landlord’s criteria and the City’s. The Land Use Bylaw allows the City to require that signs on a building or parcel comply with a comprehensive sign program set out in a development permit (s.70, unofficial online copy). Working within that program from the start avoids rejected designs.
In practice the order matters: the landlord approves first, then the City application goes in with the approved drawings. Trying to run both at once with different versions of the drawings is one of the most common causes of delay.
The guide landlord sign criteria in Calgary plazas explains what to ask your landlord for.
Start Early
Not every sign needs a permit, but many new exterior signs do, especially larger fascia signs, canopy and projecting signs. The City publishes the rules and the checklists, and a complete application is the fastest one.
You do not need to become a permit expert to get your sign. Send us your logo and a photo of the building, and the drawings and documents will be prepared as part of your project.
The most useful thing you can do as an owner is start early: ask the landlord for the sign criteria, settle the design, and let the permit run while the rest of your opening is being prepared. A sign that is approved and ready on time is one less thing to worry about in the last week before you open.
Sign Permit Questions
If your sign needs a permit, it should not be installed until the permit is issued. Planning the permit early keeps the installation date on track.
Yes, after the site visit we check the planned sign against the City’s published rules for your site and tell you before production whether an application is needed.
We handle all the sign permit paperwork: we prepare the drawings, specifications and documents and submit the application on your behalf. If you prefer to apply yourself, you get the complete package from us, ready to submit.
According to calgary.ca, a development permit is not required to change or reduce the copy area of a legally existing sign.
The City’s page showed CAD $95 for a permitted-use sign with no relaxations and CAD $821 in total for a discretionary use or relaxation (checked 2026-10-28). Check calgary.ca for current fees.
It varies. The City shows 7 days for its building safety review step and says timelines are not guaranteed. Starting early is the best protection.
No. All the permit paperwork is part of our service: we prepare the documents and submit the application for you. City application fees are paid by you.
Sources
- City of Calgary: Sign permits, accessed 2026-10-28
- City of Calgary: Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, Part 3, Division 5 (Signs), unofficial online copy, accessed 2026-10-28