Illuminated Signs & LED Neon Signs in Ottawa

In Ottawa, the Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law (No. 2016-326) applies, and the City's Chief Building Official issues the permits. According to the City:

• A permit is required: no one may erect, operate or maintain a permanent sign on private property without a permit. Exempt signs include non-illuminated window signs and illuminated window signs that only show "open/closed" or "vacancy/no vacancy" messages – so an illuminated neon sign in your window needs a permit. Changing the copy of an existing lawfully erected sign does not.
• Zoning: different sign permissions apply in different zones, so confirm your property's zoning before you apply. The City's signs office can be reached at 613-580-2424, ext. 41162.
• Illuminated window signs: permitted if they show only static messages, are on the first or second storey, and are not on a building designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or on the City's Heritage Register. Their area counts toward the maximum wall sign area.
• No flashing: permanent signs may not contain flashing, blinking or intermittent illumination, strobes, or rotating or changing light beams.
• Wall signs: only on the first or second storey and projecting no more than 0.5 m from the wall. On or within 30 m of a designated or listed heritage building, where illumination is permitted, a wall sign may only be externally illuminated.
• Projecting signs: they may not rise above the roofline or project more than 1 m beyond the wall, and on a heritage-designated or Heritage Register building they may only be externally illuminated. A sign on or over a street also needs an encroachment permit, issued for a year or less with an annual fee.
• Electrical work: in Ontario almost all electrical work requires a notification of work (often called a permit) to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), filed before the work starts.

Sources: City of Ottawa – Permanent Signs on Private Property (By-law No. 2016-326), City of Ottawa – Permanent signs on private property, ESA – notification of electrical work, as of October 2026. This is not legal advice – the local authority makes the final decision.

A sign permit application needs clear drawings of the proposed sign. 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. Ottawa has plenty of sign installers who also fit signs made by others.

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

• LED neon signs – for bars, cafés, salons and shop windows in the ByWard Market, on Elgin Street or in Westboro
• Back-lit acrylic letters – a soft halo glow for boutiques on Bank Street in the Glebe
• Channel letters – illuminated letters for the storefront on Rideau, Somerset or Preston Street
• Projecting signs – visible along the street; mind the 1 m projection limit and the encroachment permit

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 Ottawa

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

Do I need a permit for an illuminated sign in Ottawa?
Yes, in general. No permanent sign may be erected on private property without a permit under By-law 2016-326. Only a few signs are exempt, such as non-illuminated window signs and illuminated window signs that only show open/closed messages.

Can I put a neon sign in my shop window in Ottawa?
An illuminated window sign needs a permit. It is permitted if it shows only static messages, is on the first or second storey, and is not on a building designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or on the City's Heritage Register.

Do you install signs in Ottawa?
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.