Election signs no longer allowed on public property across Muskoka

FILE - A person waves a small Canada flag. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns)

There’s a new set of election sign rules across Muskoka, and the message is clear: signs are no longer permitted on public property.

Several municipalities—including Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, Muskoka Lakes, and Georgian Bay—have adopted harmonized bylaws that ban election signs on public land during municipal, provincial, and federal campaigns. Lake of Bays regulations are under review.

Uniform Approach

While each municipality has their own set of conditions, the core change across Muskoka is the same: only private property, with permission, is fair game for election signage. The changes are intended to cut down on sign clutter and ensure candidates engage more meaningfully with residents by requiring permission from property owners before placing signs.

In Gravenhurst, the new bylaw was passed in November. For the first time, it regulates signage not just for municipal races but also for provincial and federal elections. Only private property is permitted for sign placement, and the town removed a proposed rule that would have regulated how far apart signs had to be.

Bracebridge council passed a similar bylaw the same month. It prohibits signs on any public space, including roadways, boulevards, utility poles, and trees. Additional rules include keeping signs at least 50 metres apart on private property when they promote the same candidate or party, and requiring signs to be taken down within 72 hours after election day. Violators could face fines or see their signs removed.

Public Property Ban

Huntsville followed suit earlier this year. In a January committee meeting and finalized in February, council voted in favour of banning all candidate signs on public property.

Meanwhile, Muskoka Lakes introduced more detailed restrictions, stating signs must be more than 328 feet away from voting locations and at least 164 feet apart. Like other municipalities, the township bans signs on trees, rocks, township facilities, and public utility infrastructure. However, signs are allowed on township road allowances if they are small (under four square feet), don’t obstruct views or traffic, and are placed more than 10 feet from the road shoulder. Additionally, all signs must be removed within 30 days of the election.

Voters will head to the polls for the federal election on April 28, with advance polls open the end of this week.