City goes on illegal sign ‘blitz’ in North York

THE CITY’S MUNICIPAL licensing and standards division is cracking down on illegal, temporary advertising signs in North York.

Last month, the division went on a temporary sign “blitz,” removing seven signs on city property along Finch Avenue West and between 10 and 15 signs on Dufferin Street.

The signs were not permitted to be there, said Matias de Dovitiis, the assistant to Coun. Anthony Perruzza.

If a business does not apply successfully for a permit to put up a sign, they are sent a notice of violation and are asked to remove the sign within seven days.

“They have a few days to respond, and often they are removed, but then they go back — sometimes the signs pop back up,” Dovitiis said. “So they have to visit a number of sites over an extended period of time. They use the term “blitzing” because they go through areas to sweep through several times.”

The municipal licensing and standards division is currently creating a new bylaw that will regulate permanent advertising and other types of signage.

Temporary signs, however, will continue to be regulated by the current bylaw though the application process is currently under review.

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