Design a sign for your business

To get a permit for a new business sign, you must submit sign plans with your sign permit application

You must design your plans on at least 11”x17” paper and show the:

• Number of signs you want to build
• Size
• Type of sign
• Location
• Method of construction and installation

Your plans must include a cover sheet with the building information, drawing index, and site plan. (See how to create a cover sheet for your plans.)

Sign specifications

Include sign measurements showing how much room the sign will take.

This should include the:

• Area of the sign
• Height of the sign (measured from the ground to the bottom of the sign)
• Projection (measured from the building face to the end of the sign)
• Dimensions of any lettering

Learn more about how to measure your sign.

Structural details 

If you plan to build your sign, you must show how you will construct it and how you will attach it to the building. 

Site and plot plan 

Include site plans with your sign location. Your site plans may show:

• Lot dimensions
• Property lines
• Streets and cross streets
• Building footprint
• Driveways or sidewalks (including width)

For non-painted, structural signs, you must show their locations on the building and on the lot. Include horizontal and vertical views.

Elevation drawings

You must include scaled elevation drawings with your plans. 

Your drawings should show the property as it exists now, and the property with your proposed sign.

Show different views: front, side, and rear.

Illumination plan

If you plan to use illumination, include details on what method of illumination you plan to use. 

Learn more about illumination methods.

Signature

The designer or person who prepared the plans must sign them.

For signs more than 400 pounds

If you plan to build a sign that weighs more than 400 pounds, you must get a stamp from a structural engineer.

Smaller, lighter signs do not need engineering calculations or special inspections

You do not need to include engineering calculations or get special inspection if your sign has all of the following characteristics:

• Weighs less than 250 pounds
• Less than 24 square feet in area
• Less than a 4-foot projection from the outside of the building
• Installed with expansion bolts with the required torque per manufacturer’s ICC report

Smaller signs installed with adequate bolts do not need special inspection

You do not need special inspection on welding or on anchor bolts if:

• Your sign is less than 24 square feet in area (even if it weighs over 250 pounds or has over a 4-foot projection)
• You submit structural calculations showing that the stress level is not more than 25% of the design allowable
• You install expansion bolts with the required torque per manufacturer’s ICC report
• There are at least 4 bolts per connection
• Bolts are at least 3/8” diameter and embedded at least 3 inches into the building