Neon signs for business in Toronto: what to choose and what the rules say

A neon sign does a different job from the letters over your door. It is the sign people photograph, the one that makes a window visible from the sidewalk after dark, and the piece that gives a reception area its identity. This guide covers the choices that matter and the rules to check first.

Glass neon or LED neon

We make both. The main differences, from our neon signs page:

LED neon is our default for busy venues and windows because it is tough and cheap to run. Glass neon is the choice for statement pieces where the classic glow matters.

Where neon works for a business

• Restaurants and bars. A logo or a line of text on a feature wall sets the mood. See our restaurant signs guide for how neon fits with the door sign and window graphics.
• Storefront windows. A neon sign in the window makes the shop visible from the sidewalk after dark.
• Offices and events. Brand walls in reception areas, plus signs for launches and events.

If you need a sign people can read from across the street, channel letters or a lightbox are usually the better tool. Neon is for the closer look.

Designing your logo for neon

Neon is a line medium. Logos that can be drawn as continuous strokes work best, and detailed or filled-in marks usually need to be simplified. We show you how we would adapt your logo before anything is made.

Signs are made on clear or coloured acrylic backing, cut to shape or rectangular, and mount to a wall, in a window, hang from cables, or stand freely. Controls include dimmer, timer and switch options. Colours cover the full range, including warm and cool whites.

Neon in a window: what Toronto's by-law says

Toronto's Sign By-law (Municipal Code Chapter 694) defines a window sign as a sign erected, painted, attached, inscribed or projected on the inside or outside of a window, or located within the glass, and visible through the window from the exterior of the building. A sign within a building is outside the chapter only if it is not a window sign, so a neon sign in a shop window is likely to count.

According to the copy of the chapter dated June 3, 2024:

• Certain first party window signs are exempt from a sign permit, outside residential districts, if the total sign face area of all such signs is no more than 25 percent of the window area (excluding its frame) and the sign is not above the second storey (third storey in the Chinatown Special Sign District).
• A sign that does not meet an exemption needs a permit from the Chief Building Official.
• Signs must display static copy only and may not move, in whole or in part, unless the chapter expressly permits it. Anything not expressly permitted is prohibited, so flashing or animated neon is not an option.
• Where a sign is lit, it may not be up-lit, and illumination may not exceed 300 nits between sunset and sunrise.

Source: City of Toronto, Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General. A sign that forms part of a window display is treated separately in the by-law, and the rules change, so check with the City before you order. Our Toronto sign permit guide explains what the City asks you to submit when a permit is needed, and we prepare the drawings and apply for you as part of the job.

Electrical notification for neon wiring

In Ontario, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) has a notification form for sign and outline lighting work. It covers wiring of sign and outline lighting installations, including skeletal neon and signs with a remote transformer or ballast, and the wiring that brings power to the sign. Source: ESA, Sign and Outline Lighting notification form 1011. Ask us how the electrical side of your job will be handled when you request a quote.

Landlords and plazas

If you are a tenant, your landlord or plaza often has sign criteria on top of the City's rules. We check them before we draw anything.

What it costs

We do not publish prices for neon signs. Every sign is quoted per job. These are the things that change the cost:

• Overall size and the total length of line in the design
• Number of colours
• Glass neon or LED neon
• Backing shape and mounting method
• Indoor or outdoor build

How to get a quote

1. Send a photo of the wall or window, taken straight on, and the address.
2. Send your logo or the wording you want.
3. Tell us if you are a tenant, so we can check your landlord's sign rules.

We come back with a drawing at actual size on a photo of your space, and a quote for the sign, including mounting hardware and installation.

Other cities

This guide covers Toronto. Mississauga, Markham, Vaughan and the other GTA cities have their own sign by-laws, forms and fees. Tell us the address and we will check the local rules before quoting.