Election signs for the 2025 Canadian federal election can be placed on public and private property (with the permission of the resident or business owner) until 11:59 pm on Thursday, May 1.
The City of Ottawa has two signs by-laws that regulate election signs for municipal, provincial, and federal elections: the Temporary Signs on Private Property By-law (No. 2004-239)↗ and the Signs on City Roads By-law (No. 2003-520)↗. All signs must adhere to the regulations set out in these by-laws.
Election signs on public and private property must not be:
within three metres (3 m) of an intersection,
within fifty centimetres (50 cm) of a sidewalk, or where there is no sidewalk, within two metres (2 m) of the roadway or within fifty centimetres (50 cm) of the edge of a shoulder where such exists, or
placed on central medians, including in roundabouts.
Signs on both public and private property must be removed 72 hours after election day (11:59 pm on Thursday, May 1).
By-law and Regulatory Services is responsible for the enforcement of the City’s Temporary Signs on Private Property and Signs on City Roads by-laws. Any concerns or complaints regarding election signs should be directed to 3-1-1.
Please refer to the City’s Transit By-law (No. 2007-268)↗ for sign regulations on transit property.
Contact the National Capital Commission↗ (NCC) for restrictions of signs on NCC lands and the Ministry of Transportation↗ (MTO) for restrictions on provincial highways.