Sign Permitting Tips
4 Simple Steps to Obtaining a Sign Permit
Obtaining signage permits can be tedious and challenging. Over the years, we at Egan Sign have honed best practices in sign permitting. Below are some key steps that we have found most helpful to our clients.
1: Perform a field survey of the property.
A field survey should be conducted accurately and thoroughly by a qualified sign technician. It entails taking detailed measurements and photos of the building, all existing signage, and areas for potential new signage. Majority of the time if a mistake is made with a sign job, a proper field survey was not conducted. ALWAYS perform an accurate field survey before beginning a job.
2: Establish the zoning requirements.
Make contact with the local municipality. This will help you determine if permits are required for your project and what information is required for submitting an application. Zoning regulations of the city, township or borough determine how large your signage can be. Zoning regulations also specify the type of signs allowed in terms of their construction, illumination and installation methods.
Be sure to establish the sign requirements BEFORE designing your signs. This will ensure that you do not waste any time on a design that will be denied by the municipality or require a variance application. If your design is created with the regulations in mind you can ensure a speedy permit approval process.
3: Compile the correct documentation to accompany the permit application.
Providing complete packages according to the municipality’s guidelines will help you avoid any delays in the approval process. Municipalities have different requirements for applications, so be sure to ask about them at the beginning of your project. Failure to apply for a required permit can result in daily fines from the municipality until the proper permit is obtained.
Commonly required permit information includes:
- Property owner’s address and contact information
- Property owner’s letter of authorization
- Estimated cost of the job (sign and installation)
- For wall signs: scaled drawing showing sign dimensions and location of the sign on the building.
- For freestanding signs: a site plan of the property showing property lines and placement of the sign with setback information.
- Details of all signs including size, colors, manufacturing materials, electrical specifications, attachment methods and/or foundation details.
4: Maintain contact with the municipality for updates on your permit status.
By law, many municipalities have 30 days to approve or deny a permit. In most cases it does not take this long, but it is important to submit permit applications in advance to ensure they are approved in time for your installation deadline.