Moncton has distributed 50 free bilingual signs to local businesses. (City of Moncton)

Moncton has handed out roughly 50 free bilingual door signs to businesses that are trying to expand their services in both official languages.

The city rolled out a plan in June that offered businesses a free sign that would tell their customers when they were open and closed.

A survey last summer found that only four per cent of businesses had bilingual door signs.

Nicole Melanson, a spokesperson for the city, said the city would like that number to increase significantly.

“What we've given ourselves in terms of the action plan for bilingual signage, which was adopted by city council, is to kind of increase this type of signage to about a 45-per-cent ratio,” Melanson said.

Melanson said the signs all are designed to look the same but the business hours can be adjusted.

Businesses can apply for the free door signs on the city's website.

“It is a relatively inexpensive thing, I guess, when you think of all the expenses associated with a business,” she said.

“But also, for a customer, that they see themselves — both our visitors from out of town and for residents, because the city is proud of our bilingual status.”

Moncton became the first officially bilingual city in Canada in 2002.

But it is still trying to increase the number of bilingual signs outside of commercial businesses.

While Moncton is offering businesses free signs, the neighbouring city of Dieppe has opted for a different route.

Dieppe passed its bilingual sign bylaw in May 2010. The bylaw states that French will have to be either at the top of the sign, above the English text, or on the left of the sign with the English text on the right.

Dieppe gave businesses months to comply with the new rules and the city started fining companies in September 2011 for violating the bylaw.