The Community Services Department, Planning and Development Branch is responsible for regulating election signs on private property, while the Infrastructure Services Department, Municipal Engineering Branch is responsible for regulating signs on public lands, including streets, parks, boulevards and buffer strips.
Please refer to The Temporary Sign Bylaw, and Zoning Bylaw 8770 for a complete listing of all sign regulations.
What is an Election Sign?
An Election Sign is a temporary sign designed or intended to be displayed in connection with a: federal election or referendum; provincial election, referendum or plebiscite; or local government election. The purpose of the election sign regulations is to create a reasonable balance between communicating for election purposes, reducing sign clutter, and keeping our streets safe.
Election Signs may be erected:
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45 days prior to a local government election.
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In the case of a federal or provincial election, after the election writ has been issued.
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In the case of a referendum or plebiscite, after the relevant order, writ or direction has been issued.
Requirements for Election Signs
Election Signs do not require a sign permit but must conform to the following regulations:
- Must have no more than two sign faces;
- Each sign face must be no larger than 0.6 square metres in area on permitted City boulevards;
- Each sign face must be no larger than 0.84 square metres on residential properties;
- Must not be animated, illuminated, rotating, flashing or have moving lights or other electrical features;
- Must not have attachments such as balloons, kites, an electronic message centre or inflatable devices;
- Must not resemble traffic control devices;
- Must not be placed in such a way as to create a potential hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic and must not obstruct the view of any portion of a traffic control device or signal;
- Are not permitted on centre medians and traffic islands;
- Must be self supporting and cannot be attached to any City property such as fences, benches, bus shelters, trees, street light poles or traffic signal poles;
- For corner lots, election signs must not be located within 6.0 metres of the corner property lines;
- Must be removed within seven (7) days after the date of the election.
Election Signs are allowed on city boulevards if placed in the following manner:
- 2.0 metres from the curb (or 6.0 metres from the nearest driving lane if no curb exists);
- 1.0 metre from any City sidewalk or pathway;
- The top of the sign must be less than 1.0 metre above ground level;
- 30 metres from any intersection.
Where are Election Signs prohibited?
Election Signs are not permitted anywhere on the following roadways:
- Circle Drive (except between Warman Road and the CNR spur line west of Avenue C);
- Idylwyld Drive (except between 20th Street and the CNR overpass north of 39th Street);
- Airport Drive;
- Interchange at the south junction of Highways 11 and 16;
- 11th Street between Chappel Drive and west City limit;
- College Drive between Cumberland Avenue and east City limit;
- 22nd Street between Witney Avenue and the west City limit;
- Betts Avenue between Hart Road and the south City limit;
- 33rd Street between Steeves Avenue and the west City limit;
- Range Road, 3063 and 3064, between the north City limit and the south City limit;
- 71st Street between Idylwyld Drive and Wanuskewin Road;
- Millar Avenue between 60th Street and the north City limit;
- Attridge Drive between Circle Drive and McOrmond Drive;
- McOrmond Drive between Highway 5 and the north City limit;
- Agra Road between Central Avenue and the east City limit;
- Lowe Road between Agra Road and Nelson Road;
- Betts Avenue between 22nd Street and Hart Road;
- Battleford Trail between Hughes Drive and the west City limit;
- Claypool Drive between Airport Drive and the west City limit;
- Avenue C between 45th Street and Idylwyld Drive;
- 51st Street between Idylwyld Drive and Warman Road;
- Lenore Drive between Warman Road and Primrose Drive;
- Central Avenue between Attridge Drive and the north City limit;
- 8th Street between Moss Avenue and the east City limit;
- Boychuk Drive between 8th Street and Highway 16;
- Preston Avenue between Circle Drive (north) and 14th Street;
- Preston Avenue between Circle Drive (south) and the south City limit;
- Clarence Avenue between Circle Drive and the south City limit;
- Lorne Avenue between Circle Drive and the south City limit;
- Warman Road between 33rd Street and 51st Street;
- Wanuskewin Road between 51st Street and the north City limit.
Enforcement of Sign Regulations
The Temporary Sign Bylaw allows the City of Saskatoon to immediately remove signs in violation of the Bylaw. The Temporary Sign Bylaw and the Zoning Bylaw provide for the issuance of fines if requests for the removal of a sign are not met.
How do I report a sign that may be in violation?
For signs of private property, please contact the Community Services Department, Planning and Development Branch at (306) 975-2645.
For signs on streets or public property, please contact the Infrastructure Services Department, Municipal Engineering Branch at (306) 975-2454.