Sign Variance Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 3 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
SB24.1adopted
Permit World Consulting Services Inc. (the "Applicant") has submitted a sign variance application requesting one variance required to allow the Chief Building Official (the "CBO") to issue a sign permit for one third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), on the property municipally known as 4925 Steeles Avenue West (the "Subject Premises"). The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 10.0 metres and would contain two rectangular sign faces displayed in a back-to-back configuration, each not exceeding 3.25 metres by 6.05 metres, with a maximum sign face area of 20.0 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1 to this report. The Subject Premises is designated Employment ("E") Sign District, which allows third party electronic ground signs. A variance to section 694-25.C(2)(d) is sought to permit the erection and display of the Proposed Sign closer to the property line than what is required under the Sign and Zoning By-laws. The Sign By-law contains criteria to be used in evaluating variance applications for signs. Specifically, §694-30A states that an application for variance may only be granted where it is established that the Proposed Sign meet each of the eight established criteria. The Sign Variance Committee (the "SVC") is required to conduct an evaluation and determine that party seeking the proposed variances meets all the mandatory criteria, on the basis of the information presented by the parties before the SVC. After reviewing the Applicant's submissions and the additional information provided by City staff, the CBO determined that there are sufficient reasons to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the variance, as described further in Attachment 1.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Granted the requested variance to section 694-25.C(2)(d), subject to two conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report (June 8, 2026).
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee grant the requested variance to section 694-25.C(2)(d), subject to two conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB24.2amended
Pattison Outdoor Advertising (the "Applicant") has applied for five variances required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit to erect and display a single-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), on the premises municipally known as 825 Milner Avenue, in Ward 25 - Scarborough Rouge Park (the "Subject Premises"). The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 10.0 metres and would contain one rectangular sign face measuring 5.76 metres by 2.88 metres, with sign face area of 16.59 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1. The Subject Premises is designated as Employment ("E") sign district, which allows for third party electronic ground signs. However, variances are necessary due to the Proposed Sign's location, its proximity to sensitive sign districts and its distance from an existing third party sign. The Sign By-law contains criteria to be used in evaluating variance applications for Proposed Signs. Specifically, §694-30A states that an application for variance may only be granted where it is established that the Proposed Sign meet each of the eight established criteria. The Sign Variance Committee is required to conduct an evaluation and determine whether the party seeking the proposed variances meets all eight of the mandatory criteria, on the basis of the information presented by the parties before the SVC. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional City staff research, the CBO has determined that, in the opinion of the CBO, there is sufficient basis to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the five variances, each subject to three conditions, as described further in Attachment 1 to this report.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused the requested variances to sections 694- 24.A (14), 694-25.C (2)(c), 694- 25.C(2)(e), 694-25.C each subject to three conditions, as further described in revised Attachment 1 to the report (June 8, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building and granted the following variances to sections 694- 24.A (14), 694-25.C (2)(c), 694- 25.C(2)(e), 694-25.C(2)(f) and 694-25.C(2)(g)[1], each subject to three conditions, as further described in revised Attachment 1 to the report (June 8, 2026) as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 825 Milner Avenue, but with the following modification, that each variance is subject to three conditions, Conditions 1 and 3 are both as described in revised Attachment 1 to the report (June 8, 2026) and Condition 2 is now as described as follows: Condition 2: That adequate screening, in the opinion of the Chief Building Official, shall exist between the Proposed Sign and the existing third party sign located to the north of the Premises.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee approve the requested variances to sections 694- 24.A (14), 694-25.C (2)(c), 694- 25.C(2)(e), 694-25.C(2)(f) and 694-25.C(2)(g)[1], each subject to three conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit for the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB24.3deferred
This report addresses an appeal of the decision of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building ("CBO") concerning an application for a Sign Variance (the "Proposed Sign Variance"), described in Attachment 1 to this report. The Proposed Sign Variance was originally applied by Madison Group (the "Applicant"), The Proposed Sign Variance pertains to two illuminated first party wall signs displaying static copy (the "Proposed Signs"), which would be located on the uppermost storey of the west tower, one on the north and another one on the south elevations, at the premises municipally known as 15-35 Mercer Street (the "Subject Premises"). The Proposed Signs would each have one rectangular sign face, measuring 3.03 metres vertically by 14.01 metres horizontally, and overall height of approximately 156 metres. After conducting a review and public consultation in accordance with the requirements of the Sign By-law, the CBO made a decision to refuse to grant the requested variance on the basis that the Proposed Sign Variance did not meet all of the mandatory criteria in §694-30A. Specifically, the CBO determined that the Applicant failed to establish that the Proposed Sign described would be compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area, would not alter the character of the premises or surrounding area and would not be contrary to the public interest. After the issuance of the CBO's decision refusing to grant the variance requested for the Proposed Sign Variance, the Applicant filed an appeal of the CBO's decision. As a result of the Applicant filing an appeal of the CBO's decision, the Sign Variance Committee ("SVC") is now conducting an appeal de novo, meaning that the SVC are required to conduct an evaluation to determine whether the Applicant has demonstrated that the Proposed Signs meet all eight criteria, on the basis of the information presented to the SVC. The SVC may make a decision to refuse or grant the variances requested by the Applicant, or to grant different variances, or impose conditions which the Applicant did not include in their application.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Adjourned consideration of this matter to the November 27, 2026 meeting.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant the variance to 694-21.D(4)(a) of Chapter 694, Signs, General, requested to allow for the issuance of a permit for the erection and display of the Proposed Signs on the Subject Premises, as described in detail in the revised Attachment 1 of this revised report (June 18, 2026).