In the case of ground signs, an inspection of the footings is required in most municipalities before the concrete may be poured. If the bases were poured without a permit or inspection, then the city may ask an engineer to sign off on the footings; and for the engineer to see the footings, they may have to be excavated, which will be very costly and disruptive to the client’s business.
Bylaws change over time. Often, a sign that would have been allowed several years ago is no longer permitted today. In retrofit and replacement scenarios, if the original sign did not go through the permit process at the time, then it may well not be compliant with the bylaw.
If a sign is not in compliance with the current bylaw, then the sign company may apply for a special variance or follow option (b) and replace the sign with one that is compliant; either way, there will also be additional costs for the client. Variances are granted based on certain criteria and are never guaranteed, so it is important for both the sign company and the client to be prepared for this outcome and the need to substitute a new, compliant sign. That said, permit specialists are well-versed in sign bylaws and the variance process and may help win approval.
Specialized knowledge
Some sign companies are large enough to establish their own in-house permit application department, which can become familiar with the ins and outs of municipal regulations and approvals. In other cases, sign shops work with experienced outside permit specialists on a project-by-project basis; these professionals not only are generally very knowledgeable about application requirements and time frames, but also have established the right contacts to make the process run more smoothly.
If neither of these options is viable, then it is vital for signmakers to do their own research, educating themselves about their local bylaw’s permit application submission requirements and time frames. This might seem daunting and time-consuming, particularly in terms of taking signmakers’ focus away from what they do best, but in this way, they can pass relevant information along to their clients with confidence.
Finally, with regard to time frames, it is always a good idea to account for a ‘buffer.’ There will often be back-and-forth discussions with the city throughout the permit approval process, so allowing time for this will help manage client expectations.
Svetlana Levant is president of Permit World in Kitchener, Ont., which facilitates the processing of sign-related documents and drawings for municipal permits. She also sits on the board of directors for the Ontario chapter of the Sign Association of Canada (SAC). For more information, visit www.permitworld.ca.
