What to know
- Toronto candidates can begin displaying election signs on Oct. 1 ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
- The City has rules covering sign placement, size, spacing and visibility, with violations subject to removal.
- Olivia Chow’s campaign says nearly 300 volunteers delivered more than 4,000 signs after midnight, with about 7,000 expected to be installed Thursday.
- Election signs must be removed by Oct. 29, 72 hours after Election Day.
Toronto’s lawns are about to become a little more political.
Starting Thursday, Oct. 1, candidates in the 2026 municipal election can begin putting up election signs across the city, marking the start of one of the more visible traditions of campaign season.
Everything to know on election sign rules
According to the city, signs can go on private property, including lawns and fences, with the permission of the property owner or occupant. They can also appear on some public property, including boulevards and public utility poles, although candidates have plenty of rules to follow.
Signs must be kept away from curbs and sidewalks, with additional restrictions around intersections and pedestrian crossovers. They cannot be placed on medians or islands, or next to voting places, City parks or City-operated facilities.
There are also limits on size. Most election signs cannot exceed 1.2 square metres or stand more than two metres high. They cannot be attached to trees, illuminated outside designated advertising spaces, carry the City logo or interfere with visibility for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Olivia Chow’s campaign, meanwhile, wasted little time getting signs onto Toronto lawns. The campaign says nearly 300 volunteers stayed up past midnight to deliver more than 4,000 signs, with approximately 7,000 expected to be installed by the end of Thursday.
And for Toronto voters, there is another familiar question: just how many signs will there be?
Election signage has become something of a running joke during Toronto campaigns in recent years, particularly when candidates take the concept beyond the traditional front lawn.
Few have embraced that visibility quite like mayoral candidate Edward Gong, whose previous campaigns have featured signs and advertising across the city, including prominent billboard campaigns and advertising in the downtown core.
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The City says it can remove signs that violate the municipal Signs Bylaw. Residents who spot a problematic sign can report it through 311, providing the candidate’s name, location and reason.
All election signs must be taken down by Oct. 29, 72 hours after Election Day. Candidates and property owners or occupants are responsible for removing them.
