Illuminated Signs & LED Neon Signs in Calgary

In Calgary, signs on private property are regulated by the City's Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, and sign development permits are handled by the City of Calgary. According to the City:

• Fascia signs (attached to or marked on a building's exterior wall and projecting no more than 0.4 m) need no development permit if the sign type is a permitted use in the land use district, the sign area is no larger than 1.5 m² and it meets all the rules. A larger fascia sign, or one that doesn't meet the rules, needs a development permit (a relaxation can be requested, with a different process and fees).
• Projecting and canopy signs: all new projecting and canopy signs require a development permit. So do all digital message and other signs (Class E).
• No permit needed to maintain or repair a legally existing sign, or to change or reduce its copy area.
• Illumination: a sign's position, shape, colour, format or illumination cannot resemble a traffic sign, signal or other traffic control device, and lights cannot resemble those of danger or emergency services. In a residential area a sign cannot be directly lit from a light source on the sign itself, but it can be lit indirectly. A fascia sign on a secondary building wall may be illuminated, but must be indirectly lit if it faces a park or an adjacent residential property.
• Fascia position: on one- and two-storey buildings the designated area runs from 2.4 m above grade to the upper edge of the building; below 2.4 m only individual letters, symbols or logos attached directly to the building may be permitted, within set limits.
• Projecting signs: one per business on a primary building wall, with the edge nearest the wall within 0.30 m of it, the top no higher than 6 m above grade and at least 2.4 m of clearance below. The maximum sign area depends on the district, for example 2.3 m² in C-N1, C-N2 and C-C1, and 4.5 m² in other commercial or industrial districts.
• Window signs: including signs placed 0.9 m or less behind a window, the sign area cannot exceed 30% of the window's surface area.

Electrical permit: the City states that all electrical installations in new or renovated buildings require an electrical permit, applied for by a certified electrical contractor who holds an Alberta Master Electrician Certificate and a City of Calgary business licence, and that other permits may be required for work involving signs. The City's pages don't give a sign-specific electrical rule, so your electrician or the City's Planning Services Centre (403-268-5311) confirms what your installation needs.

Sources: City of Calgary – Sign permits, City of Calgary – Electrical permits for contractors, as of October 2026. This is not legal advice – the local authority makes the final decision.

A sign development permit application needs to show the sign's size, position and illumination. With your free design preview you get:

• your sign shown on a photo of your storefront
• dimensions, materials and light colour
• which elements light up and which are printed

You or your sign installer submit the application.

• Indoor LED neon signs come with fixings and a plug-in power supply – hang it up and plug it in, step by step in our installation guide.
• Outdoor signs, light boxes and hard-wired signs should be connected by a qualified electrician. In Calgary, electrical permits are applied for by a certified electrical contractor.

Tell us where the sign will go and we will tell you what you need for installation.

• LED neon signs – for café, bar and salon interiors in Kensington, Inglewood and on 17 Avenue SW
• Back-lit acrylic letters – halo-lit letters for boutiques, clinics and offices in the Beltline and downtown
• Channel letters – illuminated letters for the storefront, within the fascia sign rules
• Projecting signs – blade signs for walkable streets, within the City's projecting sign limits

All sign types at a glance

1. Send your logo, sketch or text – ideally with a photo of your storefront
2. Receive your free digital design preview
3. After your approval, production takes about 2–3 weeks
4. Insured delivery to your address in Calgary

Every sign is dimmable and comes with a remote control and a 24-month warranty. Shipping is included – nothing extra to pay when it arrives.

Do I need a permit for an illuminated sign in Calgary?
It depends on the sign type. A fascia sign of 1.5 m² or less that is a permitted use and meets all the rules needs no development permit; larger fascia signs and all new projecting and canopy signs do need one.

Can a sign be illuminated in Calgary?
Yes, but in a residential area a sign cannot be directly lit from a light source on the sign itself, and a fascia sign on a secondary building wall facing a park or residential property must be indirectly lit.

Do you install signs in Calgary?
Indoor LED neon signs come with fixings and a plug-in power supply, so you can hang them yourself. For outdoor signs, light boxes and hard-wired signs we recommend a local electrician or sign installer.

Can I see the sign on my storefront before ordering?
Yes. Send us a photo of your storefront and we will show you a free design preview with your sign in place.