Sign Permits

The City of Williams Lake regulates the use, erection, placement, display, alteration or movement of signs on all private property and the placement of Off-site signs and sandwich board signs on highway right-of-ways within the Boundaries of the City of Williams Lake.   Regulation of signs is under the “City of Williams Lake Sign Bylaw Number 2153, 2012“.  The goal is to ensure that the use and placement of signs does not create a hazard for pedestrians or motorists, that signs are well maintained and that the number of signs does not affect the attractiveness of the city.

To find out more information regarding the sign permit process please see this information pamphlet.

When do you Need a Sign Permit?

The Sign Bylaw requires that all awning signs, canopy signs, under canopy signs, fascia signs, freestanding signs, penthouse signs, projecting signs and portable signs have a permit.  This applies to all commercial signage and advertising, along with public institutions such as schools and churches.

Although Onsite directional signage, temporary signs for charities, sandwich board signs , political campaign signs, temporary real-estate signs, temporary construction signs, farm produce signs, neighborhood signs, and off-site public institution signs  do not require a Sign Permit, there are restrictions on their size and placement.  Please see the Sign Bylaw or contact the planning department for more information.

How to Apply?

In order to file an application for a Sign Permit, an applicant must:

1. Complete a building permit application form (available for pick up from the Development Services department at City Hall or on our website at: http://williamslake.ca/files/1/doc_app_building_permit.pdf

2. Include a cheque or cash for the application fee payable to the City of Williams Lake. The application fee is $25.00 for a sign valued at $1,000.00 or less and an additional $10.00 per $1,000.00 value for any sign valued over $1,000.00. 

3. Submit an application form, name of the sign installer, appropriate fees, a detailed site plan indicating the location of your sign in relation to the property lines,  and  a detailed drawing of the sign to the Development services Coordinator at City Hall.   Please note there may be further required submissions according to the Sign Bylaw.

We're here to help….

The Development Services Department offices are open 8:30am—4:30 pm,

Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays.)

Please feel free to stop in, call us at 250 392-2311