French signage regulations for businesses in Quebec, as of June 2025

The Quebec government has published new rules requiring French to take up most of the space on storefronts and outdoor commercial signs. The regulations were published on Wednesday and will come into force in June 2025. 

Businesses that currently display English signs will have to add larger French texts, including big name brands and multinational stores.

Stores like Canadian Tire will have to include generic terms or descriptions in French on their storefronts that take up twice as much space as the English brand name.

The regulations also strengthen French language requirements on product packaging. 

The new rules are part of Bill 96, which overhauled Quebec’s language laws in 2022 in an attempt to protect the French language. 

After presenting the new language regulations last January, Minister of the French Language Jean-François Roberge will require companies to adopt a “French first” policy on outdoor signs.

The sanctions will range from $700 to $30,000 depending on the severity of the offense.

English will not be banned, but must be accompanied by slogans or descriptions in French, since the regulations claim the French text must “have a greater visual impact” than any other language on the sign.

However, some sectors will be exempt, such as household appliances, because manufactures claim they aren’t ready to apply the new rules yet, which could lead to consumers having limited choices.

According to the CAQ government, surveillance and staff numbers will also be increased at the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) in the upcoming years.

In January, Roberge estimated the total cost to companies would range between $7 million and $15 million.