Setting up signage for your storefront or physical location is a crucial part of owning a business. It makes your business easy to locate, attractive to people passing by, and helps to establish your brand and identity to everyone who passes through the area. However, there’s more involved in the process than just designing a beautiful sign and putting it up in front of your store.
Every town, city, and municipality in the United States has its own zoning codes and ordinances that cover things like where, when, and for what purpose you’re able to put signs up in public places, and if you neglect to get the proper permits and follow these guidelines, you could end up with a major mess on your hands. Luckily, at Bartush Signs, we’re experts in everything signage, including permits! Here are some of the general rules to follow when seeking permits for your signage.
Prepare in Advance
Getting permits for your signage is not something you want to leave to the last minute. You should be starting this process as early as you possibly can, basically as soon as you have an idea of what you want your signage to be and where you’d like to place it. Give yourself a cushion of at least a few weeks before your store opens, if not more, to allow for snags in the system, slow processing times, and other holdups that you might run into.
Check Local Regulations
Every state in the country has its own general regulations that you should be aware of, and the town or city that your business is located in probably has more specific ones that you’ll need to follow as well. As early as possible, look into your local regulations to be sure that you’re following them from the get-go and don’t need to scrap work or make changes later on!
Confirm If Your Sign Needs Permits
Some signs in certain areas need official permits while others actually don’t, and it’s important to know which type you’re dealing with! For example, in some areas of Pennsylvania, signs that are not visible from the public right-of-way don’t require permits, and you can save yourself the trouble if your signage happens to be located in such a place!
Have a Mock-Up
Once you’ve confirmed that your signage will need permits in order to be legal, have a mock-up with the details of your design and style of sign ready to go. Your municipal department will probably want to see this information as part of the permit process, and it’ll be much easier and smoother if you already have a mock-up ready to go!
Contact Local Zoning Department
Once you have all of your ducks in a row, it’s time to get in touch with the zoning department for your town or city and request a permit application! If you’re not sure where to go, reach out to your city offices, and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
Fill Out Application
Now it’s time to fill up your application for sign permits. Usually, you’ll need to include the dimensions, location, and construction materials of the sign. This is where you may also be required to submit mock-ups or plans showing the proposed design. You should also make sure you have your business license, occupancy permits, and approval from a licensed architect or engineer, as the application may require these. There may also be an application fee that you have to pay.
Rely on Bartush Signs
As you can see, applying for signage permits can be a bit of a grueling process! Instead of dealing with all of this yourself, you can choose the smart path and work on your next signage project with Bartush Signs. We don’t just help you design your sign and handle the installation– we’re also experienced experts on the permit process and can handle it so that you don’t have to! If you have any questions about this or any of the other services we provide, don’t hesitate to contact us here. One of our team members will be happy to help you!
