Welcome Members

The mandate of the Downtown Orillia Management Board is to market, beautify,
maintain and develop the downtown core as a heritage shopping attraction
and as the primary regional centre for business in Orillia and area.

DOING BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN ORILLIA?

The Orillia BIA Board helps new and existing businesses gain access to several programs and navigate signage decisions that support the beautification and development of Downtown Orillia as a heritage shopping attraction. Below are key resource kits and information that support doing business in Downtown Orillia.

Welcome to Downtown Orillia! The Orillia BIA office is located at 23 Mississaga St. West, on the 2nd floor, and is here to help you in the success of your new business location. In fact, part of the process of opening a store in the Downtown is to come and speak to us. There is a lot of information we need to share with you, especially regarding signage. We have an open-door policy at the BIA office, so please stop in and see us anytime. We can help you with everything from your businesses Grand Opening, obtaining signage permits, supporting ongoing special events and staying up to date on news and information that supports business downtown. For more information you can also download our Welcome Kit.

Business Welcome Package 2021

GRANTS FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY

The Downtown Tomorrow Community Improvement Plan (DTCIP) was launched on January 1, 2017. This program seeks to encourage growth in Downtown Orillia, and includes the provision of $185,000 in grants to offset costs of development in the downtown core for projects such as façade improvements, signage, feasibility studies, building improvements and the creation of residential units.

The following five grant programs are now available:

Feasibility/Design Study Grant Program
Fees Grant Study Program
Façade Improvement Grant Program
Building Improvement Grant Program
Residential Grant Program

For further information on the DTCIP Program:

DOWNTOWN TOMORROW CIPS

DOWNTOWN TOMORROW CIP BROCHURE

OBTAINING SIGNAGE PERMITS

“My sign is the single most important piece of advertisement for my business”

All signs, including window and sandwich boards in the City of Orillia require a permit. In the downtown core, special design requirements apply and include: no backlit signs, raised lettering, muted colours and flat paint.

The downtown section of the Sign By-law was adopted in late 2000 to create a cohesive look to define the downtown core and create a sense of arrival. It protects existing businesses as well as new businesses and ensures their marketability. Business owners strive to create a space that is welcoming and a sign plays a pivotal role in its success. The sign by-law is based on the same principle – it’s about co-operating and working with your neighbours to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in the core. It’s no different than merchandising your store, it has purpose, it tells a story of who you are and what you do. The sign by-law helps tell downtown’s story. It’s an atmosphere that encourages people to stay longer, look around and enjoy.

TEMPORARY SIGN PERMIT

PERMANENT SIGN APPLICATION

BIA office approval is required before sign permit applications can be submitted to the City. Not obtaining approvals prior to sign installations could result in additional costs to redesign and reinstall non- compliant signage. BIA Staff are here to help you through this process and encourage you to contact us as a first step.

We understand that signs can be expensive, and for that reason the City has established a grant program. Please refer the downtown grants section for more information.

SUMMARY OF SIGN RESTRICTIONS IN THE DOWNTOWN SIGN PERMIT AREA

SIDEWALK DISPLAY PERMIT APPLICATION

To ensure Downtown Orillia remains accessible to everyone and the public is safely able to navigate sidewalks, businesses are required to apply for a permit each calendar for all objects placed on the city owned sidewalks.

SIDEWALK PERMIT APPLICATION FORM

SIDEWALK USE POLICY

RECOMMENDED HOURS OF OPERATION

The Downtown Management Board recommends
the following Standard Hours of Operations:
Monday to Thursday: 9:00 – 6:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 – 5:30 pm
Sunday: 10:00 – 5:00 pm

HAVE YOU REGISTERED
YOUR BUSINESS WITH US?

Stay up to date on events, Downtown promotions and
other community announcements by making sure
we have your business name, address, postal code,
phone number, email address, website, hours of
operation and business description.

CLICK HERE

Downtown Marketing

Downtown Businesses! The BIA office has a DSLR camera that we can use to take pictures of your business to add to your portfolio! If you would like us to visit your business to take some photos for you to use on your social media accounts, let us know by emailing office@downtownorillia.ca!

If your business would like assistance in creating graphics for your social media pages, or posters for your store, please reach out with the information you would like included to samantha@downtownorillia.ca.

DOWNTOWN WASTE REMOVAL

Garbage, recycling and compost pick-up is Wednesday morning at 5 am. Therefore, it should be placed in front of your store on Tuesday AFTER 4 pm. Recyclables must be separated (paper and containers). All garbage bags, cans and bundles MUST have a City of Orillia garbage tag attached. Tags have been sent to all of the property owners; be sure to ask your landlord well in advance for your tags. Additional tags are available from City Hall, the landfill site and selected merchants around town. If your garbage does not have a tag on it, it WILL NOT be picked up. It is your responsibility to tag every bag that you put out for collection.

Starting February 7, 2022, Orillia is moving to a clear garbage bag program. Residents and business owners are to place their garbage in a clear plastic bag instead of an opaque (black or green) plastic bag. Residents/Business Owners can use up to two small privacy bags such as a regular-sized shopping bag to hide items they don’t want others to see. Rigid garbage containers are still able to be used, but if the garbage bin is lined, it will need to be lined with a clear garbage bag.

For more information: SOLID WASTE COLLECTION GUIDE

PARKING PERMITS

Monthly parking permits are available from the City for one of the numerous municipal lots located in the Downtown core. For more information visit https://www.orillia.ca/en/living-here/parking.aspx

If downtown business members and their staff use metered spaces, they take prime parking locations away from people who are coming to shop in our beautiful Downtown. Let’s all work together to make our Downtown as user friendly as we can.

Board Meeting Deputations

Any person wishing to appear as a deputation to the BIA Board at a regular meeting must complete the “Deputation Request Form“.

The BIA Office will contact you by email regarding your request.

If a deputation request is granted, all presentation materials must be submitted to the BIA Office by 12:00 Noon on the Wednesday prior to the BIA Board meeting date.

Deputation Guidelines

There are some restrictions regarding delegations/deputations:

The subject matter of the deputation must be within BIA boundaries.
Any person who has previously addressed the BIA on a topic will not be allowed a second deputation unless the person can prove that there is new information to present to the Board.
A maximum of three speakers will be permitted per deputation.
Each deputation will be limited to a maximum of 15 minutes.
No more than two deputations shall be scheduled for any BIA meeting, subject to the necessity to deal with matters of an urgent nature.
Deputations shall not promote a specific business.

Deputation Process

Deputations are scheduled at the beginning of regular BIA meetings only. If you are chosen to present a deputation, you do not have to read your deputation to the BIA. They will have already received a copy of your written submission. Instead, simply state the reason you are appearing, the solution or action you are seeking and the reason for your request.

Following your deputation, members of the BIA Board will then have the opportunity to ask you any further questions but they shall not enter into a debate. BIA Board Members will only interrupt a deputation on a point of order.

After the BIA Board has heard your deputation and the members have asked you any questions that they might have, the Chair will ask you to take a seat in the gallery. Any motions arising from a deputation shall be considered under the “Motion” heading of the agenda. BIA Board Members will then discuss the matter and determine an appropriate course of action.