What you need to know about Quebec’s new commercial signage regulations

The Government of Quebec has announced new regulations aimed at strengthening the presence of French in commercial signage. This measure, which will come into effect in June 2025, is part of a broader effort to protect and promote the French language in the public space.

For many businesses, this means it will be important to review certain storefronts, signs, and display elements to ensure they comply with the new requirements.

Here are 4 essential elements to understand in order to prepare properly.

1. French must be markedly predominant

The main objective of this regulation is clear: French must occupy a dominant place in commercial signage in Quebec.

Concretely, French must be visually much more present than any other language on a commercial storefront. In many cases, this means that:

• the French text must occupy more space,
• be more visible,
• and have a more marked presence in the overall composition.

The name of the business can still be in another language, but certain descriptive elements must be added in French to comply with the new rules.

This evolution will have a direct impact on:

• signs,
• windows,
• signage,
• and several elements of visual identity related to the physical business.

2. Businesses will have to adapt their signage

Some businesses will already be compliant, while others will have to adjust their storefront or display system.

In many cases, it will not be necessary to completely redo a visual identity. It could simply be a matter of: rebalancing the visual hierarchy, adding elements in French, or reviewing certain visibility ratios between languages.

The important thing will be to find a balance between regulatory compliance and brand consistency in order to maintain a professional and strong image.

3. Surveillance and sanctions will be strengthened

The government has also announced an increase in monitoring related to this regulation.

The Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) plans to strengthen its interventions to ensure that businesses comply with the new standards. Financial penalties may be applied in case of non-compliance.

For many brands, it will therefore be preferable to anticipate adjustments rather than waiting for official intervention.

4. A good transition requires a strategic approach

Adapting a commercial storefront does not consist solely of “translating text”.

Each modification must be thought out consistently with:

• brand identity,
• customer experience,
• readability,
• and overall visual impact.

A good adaptation allows you not only to respect the new rules, but also to maintain a strong and professional image.

At Design Grafico, we regularly support companies in analyzing their displays, reviewing their storefronts, and creating visual solutions that are compliant and consistent with their brand.

Bonus: See this transition as an opportunity to optimize your image

This new regulation can also become an opportunity to modernize your visual presence.

Many companies will take advantage of this transition to review their image, improve their signage, modernize their storefront, or strengthen the consistency of their physical branding.

A well-thought-out sign remains one of the first points of contact between a brand and its customers.

Conclusion

The new regulation on commercial signage will require several Quebec companies to adjust their visual presence to ensure a clear predominance of French.

Well prepared, this transition can become an opportunity to improve the clarity, consistency, and impact of your brand image.

At Design Grafico, we accompany companies in Montreal and across Canada in the analysis, design, and adaptation of their commercial displays in order to reconcile regulatory compliance with a strong brand identity.