Outdoor Signs and Permitting

The last thing on people’s minds when they are considering outdoor signage for their businesses are sign permits.  They are interested in the colour, style and cost to mention but a few things running through their minds.  Often, it’s a part of a re-branding or moving into a new building.  The signage may only be a small portion of a much larger overall project.

I’d like to share a recent example that highlights the challenges that sign permitting can present and why it’s important not to leave it to the last minute.

I have been working on a project for a high end retail space that has just been completed after several years of development and construction.  They were looking for a sophisticated lighted sign for the exterior of their building.  I met my client in early March and we developed a great design that fit within the overall guidelines established by the city for signage.

Once we received the client’s approval we put together the permit applications (not a small task itself) and began what we believed would be the normal bureaucratic waiting period.  They quickly called us back and told us that their building had special restrictions for signage and unfortunately, that message was never conveyed to the owner when he bought the building.

To make matters worse, the canopy was installed at the point where the signage was allowed.  This made it necessary for the city to completely review what they would allow on the building.  To make a long story short, it is now mid May and we are still waiting for the city to decide what type of signs they will allow the owner to put up.

Once we have that approval, we will then have to begin the whole process of permitting again.  Our poor client will have been dragged through this bureaucratic process for months before we are finally able to give him the signage he deserves.