In short. If your sign is bigger, taller or more unusual than a standard storefront sign, start with a conversation, not a form. Send photos, rough sizes and any drawings. We send back a drawing with a firm price in Canadian dollars for your sign-off, and nothing is built until you approve it.
What counts as large or complex
- Pylon and monument signs. Freestanding signs at the road edge, including multi tenant signs for plazas and business parks.
- Building scale letters. Channel letters or logos sized to be read from a highway or across a parking lot.
- Blade and projecting signs. Double sided signs that stand out from the building face.
- 3D and sculptural pieces. Dimensional logos, shaped light boxes and one of a kind features.
- Sign packages. Every sign for a new building or rebrand: exterior identity, directional and wayfinding signs, tenant directories and plaques.
What to send
- Photos of the site, straight on if you can, with something for scale.
- Rough sizes or the space available, for example the fascia band height or the planter where a monument sign will sit.
- Drawings if you have them: architect or designer packages, site plans, elevations. PDF, DWG, DXF, AI and EPS files are all accepted.
- Your logo, ideally as a vector file.
- Any sign criteria from the landlord, strata or shopping centre, and the city or district.
How a complex sign project runs
- Brief. You send the files above. We ask what we need to price it properly.
- Drawing and firm price. We send a drawing with sizes, materials, lighting and mounting, and a firm price in Canadian dollars. You approve it or ask for changes.
- Permits. We can handle the sign permit application. Larger signs often need more than a sign permit; see below.
- Fabrication. Built to the approved drawing. Complex custom work can take up to 3 months.
- Delivery and installation. Installation is confirmed job by job. The electrical connection is made by a licensed electrician under an electrical permit.
Engineering and permits for big signs
The bigger the sign, the more the municipality usually wants to see. A few examples from our permit guides:
- Kelowna can require drawings sealed by a BC registered engineer, and freestanding sign foundations and structure must be engineer sealed.
- Lethbridge requires both a development permit and a building permit, with engineer approved drawings, for canopy, roof and projecting signs.
- Lake Cowichan may require a plan certified by a BC professional engineer or architect for the sign structure.
- Calgary requires a development permit for every new freestanding, canopy and projecting sign.
Large signs may also need a development permit, a variance where the design goes beyond the bylaw, or landlord approval. Look up your city in our sign permit guides by municipality, and we will flag what applies when we quote.
Lit signs and certification
Size does not change the electrical rules. In BC and Alberta, a lit sign must carry a certification mark from an accredited body for the finished sign, and the Canadian standard for electric signs is CSA C22.2 No. 207. Read more in our guide to cUL certified signs.
For architects, contractors and developers
If you are specifying signs for a project, send the sign drawings or the full package and we will price from it. Tell us the schedule and who approves the shop drawings, so the drawings and timeline can be planned around it.
Questions
How long does a large or complex sign take?
Simple signs take about 3 to 4 weeks. Complex custom projects can take up to 3 months, depending on design, engineering, permits and fabrication.
Can you handle the sign permit?
Yes. We can handle the sign permit application for you. Some municipalities also need a development permit, a building permit or engineer sealed drawings for larger signs.
Do you install large signs?
Installation is confirmed job by job, depending on the location and the sign. You can also use your own contractor.
Can you price from an architect's drawings?
Yes. Design packages and drawings are accepted for pricing. Send them through the quote form or by email to [email protected].