Amendments to the Province of Quebec’s Charter of the French Language regarding signage in French came into force on November 24, 2016.

All new outdoor signs installed after November 24, 2016 will thus have to comply with the new regulatory requirements. Existing businesses will have a 3 year grace period within which to comply. Accordingly, by November 24, 2019, all outdoor signage in Quebec must comply with the new rules.

The regulations apply to all public signs outside a building, inside a building if they can be seen from outside, or on independent structures.

The aim of the modifications is to ensure that all signs include “a sufficient presence of French”. French-language words must be added to any non-French trademarks on outdoor signage by adding: a generic term, a description of the products or services of the business, or a slogan. Businesses with proper names or the name of a place in their name are exempt from these requirements.

Furthermore, the Regulation provides that the French elements of the sign must have a similar permanent visibility and be readable in the same visual field as compared to the non-French trademark. The French words do not have to be bigger than the non-French trademark. But they must be integrated into the existing sign, and they must be well-lit if the trademark is well-lit.

Businesses can be fined up to $20,000 for non-compliance, assuming that it is a first offence.