Election sign regulations

By-law and Regulatory Services is responsible for the enforcement of the City’s Signs on City Roads and Temporary Signs on Private Property by-laws.

Any concerns or complaints regarding election signs should be directed to 3-1-1.

The Temporary Signs on Private Property By-law - City of Ottawa By-law No. 2004-239, as amended, Section 21 states:

1. No person or entity shall place or cause to be placed or allow to remain placed an election sign more than forty-five (45) days immediately preceding the election date in a municipal election, or, in the case of a federal election or provincial election, the sign may be placed upon issuance of the relevant Writ.
2. Every election sign together with its appurtenances shall be removed from the premise within seventy-two (72) hours following the election date.
3. No person shall place an election sign on private property that,
   1. is within three metres (3m) of an intersection,
   2. is within fifty centimetres (50cm) of a sidewalk, or where there is no sidewalk, within two metres (2m) of the roadway or within fifty centimetres (50cm) of the edge of a shoulder where such exists,
4. Sign dimension requirements contained in this by-law shall not apply to an election sign.

The Signs on City Roads By-law - City of Ottawa By-law No. 2003-520, as amended, Section 10 states:

1. Despite Sections 4 and 5 hereof, election signs may be placed on an inner boulevard, provided that,
   1. the sign is not placed more than forty-five (45) days immediately preceding the election date in a municipal election or, in the case of a federal election or provincial election, the sign may be placed upon issuance of the relevant Writ;
   2. no sign is placed within fifty centimetres (50) cm of a sidewalk, or where there is no sidewalk, within two metres (2m) of the roadway or within fifty centimetres (50cm) of the edge of a shoulder where such exists; and
   3. the sign and its appurtenances are removed within seventy-two (72) hours following an election date.
2. Dimension requirements contained in this by-law shall not apply to an election sign.

Note: It is forbidden to use election signs that constitute a safety hazard or utilize any sign type identified as a prohibited sign in any of the above-listed by-laws.

Election signs on provincial highways

Please contact the Ministry of Transportation for regulations governing election signs on provincial highways.

Election signs on National Capital Commission lands

Please contact the National Capital Commission for regulations governing election signs on its lands.

Election signs and campaigning on transit property

Please refer to the City’s Transit By-Law, for regulations for election signs and campaigning on transit property. OC Transpo is a federally regulated operation due to its interprovincial routes.

Candidates and their representatives are allowed access to apartments, condominiums, non-profit housing cooperatives and gated communities for the purpose of canvassing and distributing election material.

The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 outlines the following rules around campaigning in these locations:

• Candidates and their representatives are permitted access between the hours of 9 am to 9 pm.
• No landlord of residential premises can prevent a tenant from displaying campaign signs on their rented premises.
• No condominium corporation can prevent an owner or tenant from displaying campaign signs on their unit.
• The landlord, person, condominium corporation or agent may set reasonable conditions on the size or type of sign that can be displayed. They can restrict signs from being displayed in common areas.

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, Condominium Act, 1998 and the Co-operative Corporations Act, 1996 also provide candidates and their representatives access to the building for the purpose of canvassing.

An election campaign advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic, or other medium that has the purpose of promoting or supporting the election of a candidate. All election campaign advertisements purchased by or under the direction of a candidate must clearly identify the candidate.

Candidates may only advertise once they have filed their nomination with the City Clerk during a municipal election.

Mandatory information for broadcasters and publishers

Candidates must provide the following information to the broadcaster or publisher in writing:

1. The name of the candidate.
2. The name, business address and telephone number of the individual who deals with the broadcaster or publisher under the direction of the candidate.

Broadcasters and publishers are prohibited from running an election campaign advertisement unless the above-noted information is provided.

The broadcaster or publisher of an election campaign advertisement is required to retain the following information for a period of four years after the date the advertisement appears:

• The mandatory information that is required for broadcasters and publishers (the name of the candidate and the contact information for the person who deals with the broadcaster or publisher);
• A copy of the advertisement, or the means of reproducing it for inspection; and
• A statement of the charge made for its appearance.

The broadcaster or publisher must also permit the public to inspect these records during normal business hours.

In addition, broadcasters and service providers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Guidelines for TV and radio broadcasters and TV service providers during an election, as set out by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Broadcasters, service providers, and on-air personalities should also be aware of the Guideline’s recommendation that any on-air personalities who become candidates “should be removed from their on-air duties during the election period or on the date their candidacies are announced, whichever is later”. “Election period” is defined in the Radio Regulations, 1986 and the Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987, and in the case of a municipal election, it is defined as “the period beginning two months before the date of the election and ending on the date the election is held”.

A third party advertisement is an advertisement in any broadcast, print, electronic or other medium that has the purpose of promoting, supporting or opposing a candidate, or a “yes” or “no” question on the ballot. This does not include advertisements by or under the direction of a candidate.

All individuals, corporations and trade unions must register with the City Clerk before incurring any expense related to third party advertisements appearing during a municipal election.

All third party advertisements must contain the following information:

1. The name of the third party advertiser.
2. The municipality where the third party advertiser is registered.
3. A telephone number, mailing address or email address at which the third party advertiser may be contacted regarding the advertisement.

Mandatory information for broadcasters and publishers

Third party advertisers must provide the following information to the broadcaster or publisher in writing:

1. The name of the third party advertiser.
2. The name, business address and telephone number of the individual who deals with the broadcaster or publisher under the direction of the third party advertiser.
3. The municipality where the third party advertiser is registered.

Broadcasters and publishers are prohibited from running a third party advertisement unless the above-noted information is provided.

The broadcaster or publisher of a third party advertisement is required to retain the following information for a period of four years after the date the advertisement appears:

• The mandatory information that is required for broadcasters and publishers (the name of the registered third party; the municipality where they are registered; and the contact information for the person who deals with the broadcaster or publisher).
• A copy of the advertisement, or the means of reproducing it for inspection.
• A statement of the charge made for its appearance.

The broadcaster or publisher must also permit the public to inspect these records during normal business hours.

Candidates must remove election signs on both public and private property within 72 hours following Voting Day.

Any concerns or complaints regarding election signs should be directed to 3-1-1.

As part of the staff report titled “Election Signs By-laws Review” that was approved by City Council on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, staff heard concerns about the environmental impacts of elections signs. To address this, the Elections Office, in consultation with the Public Works Department, has put together the following information regarding the disposal of election signs including reusing, recycling and donating.

Disposal

Candidates and third party advertisers are responsible for the disposal of their election signs. Residents should contact the candidate or 3-1-1 for sign removal should an election sign remain on a resident’s property more than 72 hours following voting day in an election.  Election signs are not accepted in residential waste programs and must not be placed in a resident’s recycling or garbage bin. Signage that is left out with residential waste will not be picked up by collectors.

Reuse

Candidates and third party advertisers may choose to reuse their signs if they intend to run in a future election or by-election. Information on using leftover campaign inventory from a previous election can be found in the Province of Ontario’s 2022 Candidate’s Guide – Ontario municipal council and school board elections and 2022 Third Party Advertisers’ Guide.

Recycle

Candidates and third party advertisers are encouraged to consider environmental impacts when selecting materials for their election signs.

Signs made out of corrugated plastic (coroplast) are accepted for recycling at the City’s recycling processor, Cascade Recovery+.

In the weeks following an election, Cascade Recovery+ offers election sign recycling services for signs made of coroplast material to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Recycled signs may be turned into items such as auto parts, brooms, or ice makers.

Candidates and third party advertisers who wish to use this recycling service must coordinate with Cascade Recovery+ in advance of dropping off their signage by calling 613-742-1222.

Donate

Candidates and third party advertisers may also wish to consider donating old election signs to schools, community groups, or theatres for use in various art and design products. It is the responsibility of the candidate or third party advertiser to coordinate the donation to the group(s) of their choosing.