AODA Compliant Signs in Ontario — Requirements & Local Printing

If you own or operate a business in Ontario, you're legally required to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). And a big part of compliance involves signage — specifically, braille signs, tactile signs, and accessible wayfinding. Get it wrong and you're looking at fines. Get it right and you're opening your business to everyone.

Niagara Stands Out produces AODA-compliant signage from our shop in Port Colborne, Ontario. We serve businesses, property managers, municipalities, and institutions across the Niagara Region and beyond. Here's what you need to know about AODA signage requirements and how to meet them without overpaying.

What Is AODA and Why Does It Apply to Your Signs?

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) is Ontario's accessibility legislation. Its goal is to make Ontario fully accessible by 2025 (now extended). The act covers five standards: customer service, transportation, employment, information/communication, and — the one that matters for signage — the Design of Public Spaces Standard.

Under this standard, businesses and organizations in Ontario must provide accessible signage in specific locations and formats. This isn't optional. The Ontario government can and does issue compliance orders and fines for violations.

Who Must Comply?

• All Ontario government offices and agencies
• All Ontario businesses with 1+ employees (obligations scale with size)
• All new construction and major renovations
• Schools, hospitals, and healthcare facilities
• Multi-residential buildings (condos, apartments)
• Retail, hospitality, and commercial spaces

If you have a physical location in Ontario where the public enters, AODA applies to you. Period.

AODA Signage Requirements — The Specifics

Braille Requirements

Grade 2 (contracted) Braille is required on signs identifying permanent rooms and spaces. This includes:

• Washroom/restroom signs
• Room number/name signs
• Floor level identification in stairwells and elevators
• Exit signs (tactile versions near exit doors)
• Accessible entrance identification

Braille must be placed below the corresponding text, with specific spacing requirements. Braille dots must be raised between 0.6mm and 0.9mm and spaced according to the Braille Authority of North America standards. This is precision work — which is why you need a producer who knows what they're doing.

Tactile (Raised) Characters

Along with braille, AODA signage requires tactile (raised) lettering. These are characters that can be read by touch — raised at least 0.8mm from the sign surface. Requirements include:

• Font: Simple sans-serif (Arial, Helvetica). No decorative fonts.
• Size: Characters between 16mm and 50mm tall, depending on viewing distance.
• Case: Upper case for tactile characters.
• Finish: Non-glare. Matte or satin surfaces only.
• Contrast: 70%+ contrast ratio between text and background.

Pictograms and Symbols

The International Symbol of Accessibility (wheelchair symbol) must be displayed at all accessible entrances, washrooms, parking spaces, and routes. Pictograms on AODA-compliant signs must be accompanied by tactile text and braille descriptions.

Mounting Height and Location

AODA signs must be mounted at specific heights and locations:

• Centre of sign at 1200mm-1500mm above finished floor
• On the latch side of the door (the side with the handle)
• 150mm from the door frame
• Consistent throughout the building (don't mix mounting locations)

Contrast Requirements — The Part Most People Get Wrong

AODA requires a minimum 70% contrast ratio between text/symbols and their background. This is where a lot of businesses fail. They choose trendy colours that look nice but don't meet the contrast threshold.

Safe combinations that always meet AODA contrast requirements:

• Black text on white background (100% contrast)
• White text on dark blue background (~95% contrast)
• Black text on yellow background (~85% contrast)
• White text on black background (100% contrast)

Combinations that often FAIL: grey on grey, light blue on white, dark green on dark blue, red on black. If you're not sure, send us your brand colours and we'll calculate the contrast ratio for you.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Ontario takes AODA seriously. Penalties include:

• Individuals: Up to $50,000 per day of non-compliance
• Corporations: Up to $100,000 per day of non-compliance
• Directors/Officers: Personal liability up to $50,000 per day

Beyond fines, there's the practical reality: an accessibility complaint can trigger an inspection, and inspectors don't just look at the one sign — they audit your entire premises. It's far cheaper to get it right upfront.

How We Produce AODA-Compliant Signs

At Niagara Stands Out, we produce AODA signage using a combination of UV printing and precision routing/embossing. Our process ensures:

• Grade 2 Braille accuracy (verified against Braille Authority standards)
• Tactile character height of 0.8mm-1.5mm (exceeds minimum)
• Contrast ratios verified with digital measurement
• Non-glare matte or satin finish on all compliant signs
• Durable materials (acrylic, photopolymer, or aluminum) rated for 10+ years

Browse our AODA braille signs collection for standard options, or contact us for custom orders.

Common AODA Signs Niagara Businesses Need

Washroom Signs

The most commonly ordered AODA sign. Male, female, all-gender, and accessible washroom signs with tactile text, braille, and international pictograms. Required in every commercial, institutional, and multi-residential building in Ontario.

Room Identification Signs

Conference rooms, offices, classrooms, examination rooms, storage rooms. If a room has a permanent function, it needs an AODA-compliant identification sign.

Stairwell and Floor Level Signs

Each floor level in a stairwell must have a tactile sign indicating the floor number. These must be on the latch side of the stairwell door, mounted at the correct height.

Exit Signs

Beyond the illuminated exit signs required by the Ontario Fire Code, AODA requires tactile exit signs mounted adjacent to exit doors at touch height.

Elevator Signs

Floor indicators, control panel labels, and lobby identification signs all have AODA and CSA B44 (elevator code) requirements. Elevator signs are often the most technically demanding due to multiple overlapping codes.

New Construction vs. Retrofit

New buildings in Ontario must be fully AODA-compliant from day one. Existing buildings have more flexibility but are still required to provide accessible signage during renovations, when replacing signs, or when a complaint triggers an audit.

For Niagara businesses doing renovations — and there's a lot of renovation happening in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and the growing communities across the region — AODA compliance needs to be part of the building plan, not an afterthought.

What About the Ontario Building Code?

The Ontario Building Code (OBC) Section 3.8 also has accessibility requirements that overlap with AODA. In most cases, AODA is the stricter standard, so if you meet AODA, you meet OBC. But there are edge cases — especially around barrier-free path of travel signage — where OBC adds requirements. We design to meet both.

Ordering AODA Signs from Niagara Stands Out

Here's how the process works:

1. Tell us what you need. Room names, washroom types, floor numbers, special signs. A building floor plan helps.
2. We quote and design. We'll recommend materials, sizes, and mounting methods for your specific building.
3. Proof approval. Digital proof showing layout, colours, braille placement, and contrast verification.
4. Production. 5-7 business days standard. Rush available for urgent compliance needs.
5. Delivery or pickup. Shipped across Ontario. Local Niagara pickup from our Port Colborne shop.

We also offer installation guidance and can recommend local contractors for mounting if needed.