11.0.0
Signs
11.1.0 Approval Required
11.1.1
Signs shall be regulated as discretionary uses, and all provisions of this Bylaw with respect to discretionary uses shall apply except that signs that are part of a permitted use application shall be considered by a Development Officer and signs that are part of a discretionary use application shall be considered by the Municipal Planning Commission.
11.1.2
No person, building owner, tenant, or contractor shall erect, alter or relocate a sign within the Town without a valid development permit.
11.1.3
A sign for which a development permit issued shall display an identification tag provided by the Town for the purpose of identifying its lawful use.
11.2.0 Exemptions from Development Permits
11.2.1
The signs described below do not require a development permit but must conform to all other regulations of this Bylaw:
a. signs not clearly visible from a public roadway;
b. signs located no closer than 0.9 m to the inside face of a window except for neon signs which are specifically prohibited pursuant to s.11.3.3;
c. temporary real estate and contractor signs provided:
i. such signs are located on the same site as the development;
ii. the combined maximum area of all signs is less than 1.5 m2 in a residential district and 2.0 m2 in all other districts per frontage; and
iii. the maximum height of any sign is 3.0 m.
d. signs used to display a civic address, owner or building name provided:
i. such signs are no larger than 0.5 m2 in a commercial district; or
ii. such signs are no larger than 0.2 m2 in a residential or public district;
e. signs used temporarily for political campaigns during federal, provincial, municipal or school board elections, provided such signs are located on private property and are no larger than 1.0 m2 and no higher than 1.8 m and not illuminated;
f. signs erected under the authority of the Director of Environmental Services on public or private lands for the direction or control of traffic, pedestrians or parking;
g. temporary holiday signs and decorations erected between November 15 and January 31;
h. two temporary signs, neither of which shall be in place longer than 21 consecutive days and no longer than 42 days in a year, per 6 m frontage, each with the lesser of 1.5 m2 area or a maximum area of 20% of the window in which it is located, provided that the date the signs were erected are indicated on the bottom corner of each sign;
i. decal or painted window signs with a combined area the lesser of 0.3 m2 or 10% of the window in which they are located;
j. special event banner signs up to 7.5 m2 in area provided the signs and their locations are approved in writing by a Development Officer and the following conditions are met:
i. no more than 25% of each banner area shall be used for the name and logo of a commercial sponsor;
ii. the applicant shall agree to assume full liability and indemnify the Town for damage to persons or property arising from the display, mounting or removal of the banners; and
iii. the banner signs are displayed only immediately prior to and during a special event and in no case are the banners displayed longer than 14 days;
k. community notice board signs provided that the signs:
i. are approved in writing by a Development Officer;
ii. are used only to display educational material and non-profit community events or notices;
iii. are located in the PS, PP, CA, CB, CD, or CT districts;
iv. are no more than 2.0 m2 in area nor 3.0 m in height; and
v. are front-lit only.
l. international, national, municipal or provincial flags less than 3.0 m2 in area;
m. temporary warning, danger, or hazard signs;
n. one sign per business with size the lesser of 1.5 m2 or a maximum area of 20% of the window in which it is located where the window is set back more than 2.0 m from the property line.
o. signs designated by the Development Approving Authority to be historic, commemorative or interpretive in nature; and
p. signs erected pursuant to s.4.4.0.
11.3.0 Prohibitions
11.3.1
Signs that are not expressly permitted in this Bylaw are prohibited.
11.3.2
Without restricting or limiting the generality of the foregoing, backlit signs, balloon signs, billboard signs, portable signs, roof signs, canopy/awning signs, sandwich board signs and neon signs except neon signs permitted pursuant to s.11.3.3(i), are prohibited.
11.3.3
Signs shall not incorporate any of the following characteristics:
a. flashing, intermittent, animated and scintillating lights visible from a public roadway, or chasing borders, letters, symbols, or movement of any kind except on a clock;
b. changeable copy, except signs associated with a spectator entertainment establishment, religious assembly, service station or other similar use;
c. notwithstanding s.11.3.3(b), a trademark or emblem other than a trademark or emblem that is registered or copyrighted by the business, or that is expressly authorized to be used by the business.
d. notwithstanding s.11.3.3(b), an advertisement of a specific brand of product unless the brand of product is also the name of the business;
e. notwithstanding s.11.3.3(b), an attachment to or support provided by a deck, handrail, fence, tree, utility or light pole, structural support column or balcony:
f. a holographic, video medium or television;
g. fiberglass, plywood, styrofoam, particle board or other alternative building materials either finished or unfinished on exposed surfaces unless specifically permitted by the Development Approving Authority pursuant to s.11.4.4;
h. "dayglo", fluorescent, luminous or reflective paint or similar products except for signs authorized pursuant to s.11.2.1(f);
i. exposed neon tubing except the words "vacancy/no vacancy" with an area of 0.2 m2 or less and located in a CA, CD or CT District;
j. back-lighting, except as may be permitted pursuant to s.11.4.3 (c);
k. individual letters over 0.45 m in height;
l. length extending more than 80% of a business frontage;
m. more than two sides; or,
11.3.4
A development permit application for a projecting sign may be made only as part of a comprehensive sign plan except for a projecting sign that is to be altered or replaced.
11.4.0 Design Standards
11.4.1
Signs shall conform to the Banff Design Guidelines.
11.4.2
Signs shall incorporate relief in the form of recessed or raised letters, numbers, or symbols except signs located in the CS District may or may not incorporate relief;
11.4.3
Lighting shall conform to the following:
a. permanent signs approved pursuant to this Bylaw may incorporate front lighting. Temporary signs shall not be illuminated;
b. front-lighting shall be limited to the greatest extent possible to the sign face with the light source concealed from view and shall be directed downward whenever possible to avoid light pollution;
c. back-lighting shall be restricted to the illumination of individual letters, symbols and borderlines contained on a fabric canopy sign, with the remainder of the sign area being opaque or non-translucent such that no light is emitted;
d. hanging signs shall not be suspended in such a fashion that will allow the signs to swing due to wind action. Signs shall be anchored to prevent any lateral movement that could cause wear on supporting members or connections;
e. light fixtures shall be simple in form and integrated with the building facade; and
f. all wiring, conduits and light sources shall be installed within building walls, located underground, or otherwise concealed from view.
11.4.4
Alternative building materials that may be incorporated in the construction of a sign include medium-density fibre board (MDF), high-density fibre board (HDF), high density urethane, limited application of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, metal, synthetic canvas or other materials considered by the Development Approving Authority to be acceptable, provided that the sign conforms to the Banff Design Guidelines.
11.5.0 Coordination
11.5.1
The design and placement of a sign shall be coordinated with both the architectural elements and other signs on a building facade.
11.5.2
Signs shall not obscure the architectural details of a building facade.
11.5.3
A comprehensive sign plan shall be submitted with a development permit application for a new commercial building. A comprehensive sign plan shall also be submitted if, in the opinion of the Development Approving Authority, the existing signs require coordination.
11.5.4
Menu boxes and directory signs shall not be counted towards the total number of signs permitted per business frontage. Menu boxes in this instance are restricted to a maximum area of 0.6 m2 or maximum height of 2.0 m and maximum distance of 4.0 m from the entranceway to the business. Directory signs, in this instance, are restricted to a maximum area of 0.2 m2 for each business identified, to a maximum overall sign area of 1.5 m2 and a maximum height of 2.4 m.
11.6.0 Location
11.6.1
Hanging signs and projecting signs shall have a clearance of 2.4 m.
11.6.2
A freestanding sign shall be set back a minimum of 0.3 m from any property line and no part of the sign may encroach onto adjacent property or public roadways.
11.6.3
Permanent window signs shall be installed in either the bottom or top 1/3 of the window in which they are located.
11.6.4
With the exception of directory signs, menu boxes and all signs located in the CD District, signs located on building facades shall be installed on the same floor and same frontage as the business to which they relate.
11.6.5
Wall signs, hanging signs, and projecting signs shall be installed within the middle 2/3 of a business frontage.
11.6.6
Where more than one sign per business frontage is permitted, a minimum separation of 0.9 m shall be provided between permanent signs.
11.6.7
Wall signs and window signs shall not exceed 7.5 m in height.
11.7.0 Abandoned and Unlawful Signs
11.7.1
Where a sign is found to identify a business incorrectly or is in an overall state of disrepair, a Development Officer may, by written notice, require the owner or person responsible for the sign to remove the sign, or alter or refurbish the sign, within a certain specified time period. This shall be subject to the right of appeal to the Development Appeal Board.
11.7.2
Where a sign contravenes the provisions of this Bylaw, a Development Officer may, by written notice, order the owner or the person responsible for the contravening sign to take such measures as are specified in the notice to alter the sign, so that it complies with the provisions of this Bylaw or remove the sign within a certain specified time period. Such order may be appealed to the Development Appeal Board.
11.7.3
Notwithstanding Sections 11.7.1 and 11.7.2, a Municipal Enforcement Officer may remove any unauthorized sign from a public roadway.
11.8.0 General Sign Regulations
The types of signs and the respective maximum number and size are as follows:
11.8.1
CD District
a.
|
Business Location |
Sign Type |
Maximum Area |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
less than 7.5 m |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
||
|
1 |
0.4 m2 |
|||
|
1 |
1.5 m2 |
|||
|
7.5 m & greater |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
||
|
1 |
0.4 m2 |
|||
|
2 |
1.5 m2 |
|||
|
Second Storey |
less than 7.5 m |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
|
|
1 |
1.0 m2 |
|||
|
- |
Hanging or Projecting Sign |
- |
||
|
1 |
0.6 m2 |
|||
|
7.5 m & greater |
2 |
1.0 m2 |
||
|
- |
Hanging or Projecting Sign |
- |
||
|
1 |
0.6 m2 |
|||
|
2 |
0.6 m2 |
|||
|
less than 7.5 m |
|
|
|
|
|
7.5 m & greater |
|
|
|
b. At the discretion of the building owner, a business or establishment that does not have frontage may erect one sign selected from the following types: wall, window, canopy, hanging or projecting.
c. A sign erected pursuant to s.11.8.1(b) shall be included in the maximum number and size of signs allocated per frontage as outlined in s.11.8.1(a).
d. A sign described in s.11.8.1(b) shall be located on the front of the building in which the business or establishment is located.
e. Each frontage may contain only one sign for any business or establishment that does not have frontage.
f. A canopy sign containing more than one side shall have its total sign area calculated by summing the sign areas on each side. The total sign area shall not exceed the maximum area specified in s.11.8.1(a).
g. A business having more than 7.5 m of frontage may combine any two permitted signs into one sign provided that the total sign area does not exceed 2.0 m2 on a first storey and 1.5 m2 on a second storey.
h. Any sign for storefront cannabis retail shall comply with any and all provincial and federal acts, regulations, policies and guidelines as may be amended from time to time.
11.8.2
CA, CB, CR and CT Districts
a.
|
Business Location |
Sign Type |
Maximum Area |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
less than 15 m |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
||
|
1 |
0.4 m2 |
|||
|
1 |
1.5 m2 |
|||
|
15 m & greater |
2 |
0.6 m2 |
||
|
2 |
0.4 m2 |
|||
|
2 |
2.0 m2 |
|||
|
1 |
2.0 m2 |
|||
|
|
|
No Signs Allowed |
|
b. The total number of signs per frontage can be increased at the discretion of the Developing Approving Authority provided the area of all signs does not exceed that shown on the table above and with respect to freestanding signs, they are contained within one freestanding sign structure.
c. No freestanding sign shall be greater than 3.0 m in height.
d. A canopy sign containing more than one side shall have its total sign area calculated by summing the sign areas on each side. The total sign area shall not exceed the maximum area specified in s.11.8.2(a).
11.8.3
CS District
a.
|
Business Location |
Sign Type |
Maximum Area |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
First Stoorey |
less than 15 m |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
|
|
- |
- |
|||
|
1 |
1.5 m2 |
|||
|
- |
- |
|||
|
15 m & greater |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
||
|
- |
- |
|||
|
2 |
2.0 m2 |
|||
|
1 |
2.0 m2 |
|||
|
Second Storey |
less than 15 m |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
|
|
1 |
1.0 m2 |
|||
|
- |
- |
|||
|
- |
||||
|
15 m & greater |
1 |
0.6 m2 |
||
|
1 |
1.0 m2 |
|||
|
- |
- |
|||
|
- |
||||
|
|
|
No Signs Allowed |
|
b. No freestanding sign shall be greater than 2.5 m in height.
c. A canopy sign containing more than one side shall have its total sign area calculated by summing the sign areas on each side. The total sign area shall not exceed the maximum area specified in s.11.8.3(a).
11.8.4
a. Notwithstanding subsections (c) and (d), signs used to display a civic address, owner or building name shall not be larger than 0.2 m2;
b. Signs advertising an approved home occupation or supportive living housing are not permitted;
c. Signs advertising an approved bed and breakfast home or bed and breakfast inn are restricted to one free standing sign or one wall sign located on a first storey with a maximum size of 0.4 m2.
d. Signs identifying the name of a multi-dwelling complex are restricted to one wall sign located on the first storey or one freestanding sign with a maximum size of 0.8 m2.
e. No freestanding sign shall be greater than 2.0 m in height.
f. No sign shall be closer than 3.0 m to any property line.
11.8.5
PB, PE, PP, and PS Districts
a. Unless part of a comprehensive sign plan, signs are restricted to one wall sign located on the first storey or one freestanding sign per frontage subject to the following size and height regulations:
|
Type of Sign |
Frontage Adjacent to a Residential District |
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.0 m2 |
1.5 m2 |
|
|
1.0 m2 |
2.0 m2 |
b. No freestanding sign shall be greater than 2.0 metres in height.
[Amended 6.27.2024 Bylaw 483; Amended 9.11.2018 Bylaw 421]