No Reason for Delay
Navigating the Sign Permitting Process
By Bob Egan
When it comes to sign permitting, the rule of thumb is pretty simple: The location may change, but the process stays the same.
Unfortunately, that process—that is, the process of getting your sign plans approved by the various municipal governments in which you do business—is often quite complicated. So when your company decides to move forward on a new sign program, it's in your interest to have somebody working on your behalf, interacting directly with township officials and ensuring that all designs get approved within the desired timeframe.
At Egan Sign, we provide our clients with precisely this kind of expertise. Dee Angstadt, our permitting guru, spends most of her days here helping clients get their signs approved by the local powers-that-be. Dee's years of experience help her navigate the sometimes muddy waters of municipal codes quite easily, but if there's one thing she stresses to her clients, it is this: Permitting is a great deal more complicated than one might think.
"A lot of our clients don't understand how long the process can be in certain areas," Dee says. "Every project is different. Everything about each project is different. But most projects aren't an issue at all. We know what we need to do and we're prepared for that process."
So what, exactly, is that process? I chatted with Dee recently to find out.
Step 1: Complete a Field Survey
We've found that when mistakes are made in sign programs, the failure to do proper field survey is often the reason why.
A field survey entails taking detailed measurements and photos of the buildings that will be outfitting with new signs, as well as all existing signage and areas for potential new signage.
"We do the field survey," Dee says, "so we have an idea of what we're going to be working with."
The field survey, as it turns out, may actually be the most crucial step of the entire process, giving Dee and the rest of our team all the info they'll need to get the project started right.
Step 2: Establish the Zoning Requirements
After completing the field survey, Dee will make contact with the local municipality to determine if permits are required for the project. Every township has different signage regulations, and those rules will determine how large your signage can (or can't) be. Zoning regulations also specify the type of signs allowed in terms of their construction, illumination and installation methods.
It's important, Dee says, to establish these sign requirements before signs are designed, as doing so will ensure that you don't waste any time on a design that will be denied by the municipality.
"Different municipalities will give you different regulations for signage," she says. "But there are also ways to get around those regulations through variances. We try to work with the municipalities and the clients to design signs that will get through the permit process just fine."
Step 3: Compile the Correct Documentation
Providing complete packages of documentation that accompanies the permit application according to the municipality's guidelines is a must—and timing is the biggest reason why. "We want to make sure the process doesn't get held up if it doesn't have to get held up," Dee says.
Just as municipalities have different regulations for the type of signs that are allowed, they have different requirements for applications as well. Failure to apply for a required permit –or failure to provide the correct documentation with a permit application—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.
Step 4: Maintain Contact with the Municipality for Permit Status Updates
By law, many municipalities have 30 days to approve or deny a permit. But as Dee has learned, in most cases, it does not take this long. That's why it's in your interest to occasionally follow up with the permitting office to see if your sign plan has been approved.
If you're lucky, the process might be completed within days, allowing you to move forward with your plan. Of course, if you're not following up on your application, this bit of luck may escape your notice, delaying your project.
"What we try to avoid is letting the application sit there," she says. "We don't wait for an answer. We'll touch base periodically and try to find out what the status is. And if we can get a verbal confirmation from them, we'll go ahead and put the sign into production. That can save us some time."
By following these four steps to sign permitting, your project can move ahead smoothly with minimal hassle and time.
About the Author: Bob Egan is the President of Egan Sign, and has been in the sign industry for over 21 years. Egan Sign specializes in regional and national sign management projects.
Contact Egan Sign and learn how Egan Sign can save you time and money on your large sign management projects.
