As the 2026 municipal election approaches, candidates and third-party advertisers across Muskoka are required to follow the rules governing election signs.
Many municipalities either updated or adopted their sign bylaws last year, which means the rules apply to the 2026, October 26 municipal election.
The regulations for election signs apply to municipal, provincial, and federal elections throughout Muskoka.
In general terms, although you should check your particular municipality, campaign signs cannot be erected before the nomination period ends on August 21. All election signs must also be removed within 72 hours following election day.
The regulations apply to any temporary sign that promotes, supports, or opposes a candidate, political party, question, law, or by-law submitted to voters. Candidates, registered third parties, and their agents are responsible for ensuring all election signs comply with municipal regulations.
Under the rules, election signs must be maintained in good condition and cannot be illuminated, flashing, inflatable or animated. Individual sign faces are limited to a maximum size of 2.8 square metres (30 square feet), and signs must not resemble, interfere with, or be confused with official traffic signs or signals.
The regulations also outline content requirements. Candidate signs must clearly identify the candidate responsible for the message. Third-party advertisements must include the name of the registered third party, the municipality where they are registered, and contact information.
Signs containing indecent words, images, or symbols are prohibited, as are signs displaying a municipality’s logo, corporate image, trademark, or official mark.
Location restrictions form a significant portion of the bylaws. Election signs are permitted only on private property with the permission of the property owner in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and the Township of Georgian Bay. What differs is in the townships of Lake of Bays and Muskoka Lakes, which allow signage on public rights-of-way and boulevards, as long as they’re not close to municipal property, where the municipality could be perceived to be supporting one candidate over another, and as long as the signs don’t interfere with the flow of traffic.
Township of Lake of Bays Director of Corporate Services/Clerk Carry Sykes notes that the municipality decided to allow candidates to put up signs on municipal roadways and road allowances.
Sykes said rural municipalities are different in that if they eliminated candidates’ ability to put up signs on road allowances and rights-of-way, it would be harder for them because rural properties are not as easily accessible or as close to one another as they may be in urban areas.
“Our goal is just to balance the democratic process while maintaining public safety and the appearance of our communities,” she explained.
Candidates are limited to displaying no more than two official election signs on a single property, and signs from the same candidate or registered third party must be spaced at least 50 metres apart on that property.
The municipality prohibits election signs on public property, including highways, municipal lands, public utility facilities, official traffic signs, trees, stones and other natural features. Signs are also prohibited within sight triangles at intersections, where they could obstruct visibility for motorists and pedestrians.
Additional restrictions prohibit signs from blocking sidewalks, fire exits, windows, hydrants or emergency access points. Election signs are not permitted on roofs and cannot interfere with underground services.
To protect the neutrality of polling locations, election signs may not be placed on vehicles, trailers or other mobile devices parked within 100 metres of a voting place.
Municipalities also grant enforcement officers the authority to inspect properties, remove non-compliant signs and impound them. Candidates who receive notice of a violation have 24 hours to either remove the sign or bring it into compliance.
Impounded signs will be stored by the municipality for a minimum of 30 days. Candidates may reclaim them by paying the applicable fees. Signs that remain unclaimed after that period may be destroyed or disposed of without compensation.
Violations can result in administrative monetary penalties, fines under the Provincial Offences Act and additional enforcement measures. The regulations also make it an offence to obstruct bylaw enforcement officers carrying out their duties.
It is also an offence to remove or damage someone else’s sign.
Residents and candidates are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the rules before campaign signs begin appearing across Muskoka this summer.
You can find the sign bylaws for Lake of Bays HERE, and Huntsville HERE.
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