Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) has introduced updated Project Signage Guidelines, effective July 2026, for federally funded housing and infrastructure projects.

The guidelines apply to projects funded through HICC programs and Build Canada Homes (BCH), as well as new signs produced for projects under certain previous infrastructure funding programs.

What Sign Companies Should Know

Physical signage remains the default method for acknowledging federal funding, although digital signage may be permitted in certain circumstances, such as short-duration projects, remote locations, or sites where physical signage is not practical.

The updated guidelines establish requirements for the design, production, installation, and maintenance of project signs.

Key requirements include:

  • Project signs must identify the project and display the logos of applicable funding partners.
  • Funding partners must receive equal recognition on multi-partner signage.
  • Physical and digital signage must be bilingual and comply with the Official Languages Act.
  • French appears on the left in French-majority communities, while English appears on the left in English-majority communities.
  • Standard Government of Canada signage templates must be used.
  • Project titles should follow the prescribed layout and use Futura PT Bold, with Arial Bold permitted as an alternative.
  • Logos must follow the specified order and be displayed with equal prominence.

Production Specifications

The federal guidelines also provide specifications for sign production.

The standard template dimensions are 686 mm high by 1219 mm wide, including bleed and trim marks, although signs may be resized as required.

Recommended materials include:

  • 4 mm Coroplast for indoor or short-term outdoor applications;
  • 10 mm Coroplast or PVC integral foam for longer-term outdoor installations; and
  • aluminum or 12 mm exterior MDO plywood for arterial roads, highways, and other demanding applications.

Highway applications may also require reflective sheeting meeting the specified ASTM standard.

Installation and Maintenance

Project signs are generally to be installed 30 days before construction begins and removed no earlier than 30 days after construction ends.

Signs must be securely installed in a prominent location without creating traffic or other safety concerns. Appropriate provincial and municipal authorities should be consulted where necessary.

Signs must also remain clean, legible, and unobstructed throughout the project. Damaged or missing signs should be replaced using the latest approved design templates.

Existing Signs

Existing signs that were installed in accordance with previous federal guidelines may remain in place for the rest of the project. However, if an existing sign needs to be replaced, the new 2026 design must be used.

Canadian Suppliers and Materials

HICC strongly encourages funding recipients to use Canadian suppliers and materials for the production of physical project signage and plaques where possible.

Design Review

HICC offers an optional review service before signs are sent to production. Customized mock-ups can be submitted to the department to confirm that the proposed design complies with federal requirements.

Resources

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