Guides
Quebec French sign requirements: what a sign shop must check
Quebec French sign requirements for sign shops: the Charter, its commerce regulation and Bill 96, marked predominance, trademarks, records and OQLF orders.
What to take away
- The Charter of the French Language makes French mandatory on public signs and commercial advertising in Quebec.
- The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) enforces sign language rules and can order corrections or removal.
- A compliant bilingual sign must show French with marked predominance, usually meaning the French text is at least twice as large as the English text.
- Sign shops outside Quebec still need to follow these rules when shipping finished signs to Quebec clients.
- Failing to comply can lead to inspection orders, replacement costs and repeat-offence penalties.
The regulator and its reach
The Charter of the French Language gives the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) authority over public signs in Quebec. OQLF inspectors can enter a business, photograph a sign and issue a notice to correct it. A sign shop in Toronto that fabricates a storefront sign for a Montreal client is still subject to OQLF rules because the sign is displayed in Quebec.
Three texts set the rules a sign shop works to. The Charter of the French Language states the principle in section 58: public signs, posters and commercial advertising must be in French, and may also be in another language provided French is markedly predominant. The Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business, in force since 22 December 1993, sets out how that applies and lists the exceptions. Bill 96, the 2022 Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, amended the Charter and tightened the rules, including those on trademarks in another language shown on storefronts.
This provincial authority differs sharply from U.S. signage law, which mostly handles accessibility through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. A Quebec sign shop must treat the OQLF as the regulator with authority over the finished sign, regardless of where the client's head office sits.
French-first rules for storefront signs
Every public sign, poster and commercial advertisement in Quebec must be in French. French must appear on permanent signs, temporary signs, vehicle wraps and digital displays. If a sign maker adds English or another language, French must remain markedly predominant. The OQLF interprets this as a visual test: for a business name, the French version is generally at least twice the size of the other language.
Montreal and Quebec City issue their own sign permits, but neither city can allow an English-only storefront sign. A client's request for English-only signage does not protect the shop. For U.S. shops comparing permit procedures, a separate guide covers sign permits.
| Sign display or use | French language requirement |
|---|---|
| Storefront business name | French text, and marked predominance if another language appears |
| Commercial advertising | French required; another language allowed only if French is markedly predominant |
| Vehicle wraps on commercial vehicles | Same marked predominance rule applies |
| Digital signs and menus | French text must be visible and at least as prominent as any other language |
What a compliant sign carries
Trademarks need a separate check. A recognized trademark may appear in another language, but after the Bill 96 changes a storefront sign that shows a trademark in another language must also carry enough French, such as a generic French description of the business, for French to be markedly predominant in what passers-by see. Confirm the current wording of the regulation with the OQLF before quoting a trademark-led design.
A compliant sign carries the French business name in letters at least twice as large as any English translation. The French text must be legible from the street and placed in a visible position. On a bilingual sign in Montreal, the French wording usually sits above or to the left of the English wording. The proof from the sign shop must show the actual size ratio, not just a note that French is included. If the sign is lit, the French text must remain readable when the sign is illuminated at night. The colour of the French text is not a compliance factor. This focus on language content differs from U.S. accessibility rules, which are outlined in ADA Sign Requirements.
Records a sign shop should keep
The OQLF can ask for documents after an inspection. A sign shop should save the final artwork, the client's approved proof, and any correspondence about language changes. For each Quebec-bound sign, keep a record of the French font size and the size of any other language text. These records prove that the shop did not alter the French version after approval.
Keep delivery addresses and installation cities for at least two years after the sign is installed. Shops that handle Cross-border sign work should also keep a note that Quebec law applied to the display site.
- Save the final artwork with French text marked as primary.
- Record font size and scale for each language on bilingual signs.
- Keep the client's written approval of the French version.
- Log the installation address and city in Quebec.
- Retain any OQLF notice or correction letter.
What happens if you skip it
Skipping the French rule creates a concrete risk. The OQLF can issue a notice requiring the sign to be changed within a set time. If the business owner or sign shop ignores the notice, the OQLF can refer the file for penalties. A repeat violation can lead to a court order to remove the sign. For a sign shop that produced an English-only sign for a Quebec storefront, the client may demand a replacement at the shop's expense.
Quebec courts have upheld OQLF orders, so an appeal is rarely a successful delay tactic. Before subcontracting installation, confirm who is responsible for language compliance, because liability often follows the shop that designed the sign. For a related decision, see Sign Shop Installation.
