Building and zoning
What is a sign permit?
In short
Authorisation for exterior signage, typically charged per sign face and assessed against local size, illumination and setback rules.
What else is this permit called?
The same document is issued under different names depending on the jurisdiction. A sign permit may appear locally as: signage permit, outdoor sign license. If your city uses a name not listed here, it is worth checking the issuing agency rather than assuming it is a different requirement.
Who needs one?
A sign permit is triggered by what a business does rather than by its legal form. The conditions that trigger it are: has signage.
We publish 216 records of this type from 213 jurisdictions in 50 states. In 68 of them it applies to each business the record covers; in the other 145 it applies only in the circumstances the record sets out.
How much does a sign permit cost?
Across the 81 records that publish a dollar figure or band, fees run from $5 to $2,471. The middle half fall between $50 and $281, and the median is $100. A further 125 set the fee by a formula or schedule rather than a single figure. Agencies publish these on different bases — per year, one time, per sign or banded by size — so the spread shows how far published fees range, not one like-for-like price. Each jurisdiction's page states the basis for its own fee.
The lowest and highest published sign permit fees
Single dollar figures only, one per jurisdiction — its lowest where it publishes several. 37 jurisdictions publish one.
| Jurisdiction | Fee | Basis as published |
|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | $20 | one-time zoning review fee, per sign permit application — a separate building permit, with its own fee, is also required for signs costing more than $250 |
| Providence, RI | $25 | one-time, per application (the same Zoning Certificate fee); an additional Building Permit valuation fee applies if the sign requires structural or electrical work |
| Gillette, WY | $30 | per sign permit, including LED signs but not video |
| Fayetteville, AR | $48 | one-time, per sign |
| Davenport, IA | $50 | one-time, per sign |
| Aurora, CO | $385 | flat, per permit (all sign types) |
| Canyon County, ID | $425 | per application (Type "A" administrative level application, "Signs (when exceeding height/size requirement)", Resolution No. 25-011); a sign that also needs a building permit pays the Table 1-A building fee |
| Kane County, IL | $425 | per sign permit |
| Riverside County, CA | $455.64 | fixed, Sign (BSN-BSIGN), form 284-035, rev. 12/2022 |
| King County, WA | $2,334 | per sign, in two parts: $1,597 plan review plus $737 inspection (2026); multiple similar wall signs attached to the same structure pay one fee |
How long does a sign permit last?
The term stated most often is “one-time, per sign”, in 59 records. Terms differ by jurisdiction, and each record on a jurisdiction's page states its own.
Which businesses need it most often?
The number of jurisdictions whose sign permit record names each type of business.
Where we hold sign permit records
Jurisdictions with a published record of this type, by state.
- Texas35
- Illinois8
- California7
- Florida7
- Idaho6
- Iowa5
- Indiana5
- Nebraska5
- New Mexico5
- Ohio5
- Tennessee5
- Washington5
- Arizona4
- Delaware4
- Hawaii4
- North Carolina4
- New Jersey4
- Nevada4
- Oklahoma4
- Wisconsin4
- Alaska3
- Arkansas3
- Connecticut3
- Kansas3
- Kentucky3
- Louisiana3
- Maryland3
- Maine3
- Michigan3
- Minnesota3
- Mississippi3
- Montana3
- North Dakota3
- New Hampshire3
- New York3
- Oregon3
- Pennsylvania3
- Rhode Island3
- South Carolina3
- South Dakota3
- Utah3
- Vermont3
- West Virginia3
- Wyoming3
- Colorado2
- Georgia2
- Massachusetts2
- Missouri2
- Virginia2
- Alabama1
Where to find local sign permit requirements
Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.