Placement and Installation of Election Signs within the City of Surrey

The City of Surrey understands the need for candidates to reach voters through signage during the election campaign. The temporary placement and installation of election signs is regulated by the City under its Bylaws.

Conditions

• Election Signs have been permitted to be installed beginning at 12:01am March 23, 2025.
• All signs must be removed by the candidate within 14 days following General Voting Day of April 28, 2025 (no later than 11:59pm May 12, 2025).
• Failure to comply may result in financial penalties along with removal of the sign(s) by the City. See penalties for non compliance below.

As per Section 7.1 of the City of Surrey Sign Bylaw, 1999, No. 13656, as amended:

(1) Neither a sign permit nor an inspection is required for a political sign located on private property during the periods set out in section 7.1(4), provided that:

• the sign owner obtains consent from the private property owner(s) to erect a political sign on their property;
• the sign area does not exceed 3 sq. m [32 sq. ft.]; and
• the sign does not restrict sightlines of vehicle drivers, bicycle riders and pedestrians in the vicinity of the sign.

(2) Notwithstanding Section 7.1(1), the sign owner and the owner of the lot or premises upon which the sign is located shall ensure that the sign is in compliance with all applicable provisions of this By-law.

(3) No political signs shall be erected or placed on any public property except as otherwise permitted in this By-law.

(4) The exemption provided for in section 7.1(1) only applies during the following periods:

• in relation to federal or provincial elections and by-elections, from the time the writ of election is issued until 14 (fourteen) days after the general voting day.

To clarify, this means that no political signs may be placed within the City’s road rights of way – including medians, sidewalks and boulevard or on City property such as parks, facilities or City-owned lots.

Penalties for non-compliance

It is the sole responsibility of each candidate and/or their political party to comply with the above noted requirements. Penalties for non-compliance include the issuance of fine(s) to the candidate and/or the property owner hosting the sign.  In addition, the City reserves the right to remove any signs that do not comply with the City bylaw.

Please be advised that, should the City exercise its right to remove a non-compliant election sign, the candidate and/or their respective political party will not be notified that their sign has been removed.  Subsequent to removal, the signs will be disposed of by the City.  To this end, the City is not obligated to store any signs it retrieves nor is it responsible for maintaining an inventory of election signs it retrieves, or otherwise.  In addition, the City’s full costs associated with sign removal and disposal may be charged to the candidate and/or their political party responsible for the placement of the sign.

Any election sign that is not removed by 11:59pm on May 12, 2025 (14 days following the April 28, 2025 election) will be removed and disposed of by the City, with all related costs charged to the responsible party (the candidate, their political party and/or the property owner hosting the sign).  

Removal of signs following the election

The City supports recycling of election sign materials, and has partnered with Metro Vancouver to accept these materials at no cost.  Various components of the signs including clean wood, plastic (including coroplast), and metals can be dropped off at the Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre located at 6711 – 154 Street.

The Recycling and Waste Centre will be open from April 29 to May 12, 2025 for drop-offs. 

• View hours of operation and a site map (visitor guide)

A completed Disposal Authorization Form must accompany each load of clean wood waste brought to the Recycling and Waste Centre.  Loads without a form will be subject to payment.

City contacts

If you have questions regarding the above, please contact the following:

• For questions regarding the City’s bylaws pertaining to the placement of election signs, please contact the office of the City Clerk at 604-591-4132 or by email at Clerks@surrey.ca.
• For questions regarding the recycling of your election signs, please contact Harry Janda at 604-590-7208 or via email at HSJanda@surrey.ca.