How New Construction Sign Permits Differ
For an existing business adding a new sign, the process is straightforward: design the sign, apply for a sign permit, get approval, install. For new construction, sign permits are more integrated into the building process:
- Electrical conduit must be stubbed out during framing — if you want an illuminated sign, conduit from the panel to the sign location must be installed inside the wall before drywall goes up. Adding it later requires opening finished walls.
- Mounting substrates must be planned — heavy signs need backing installed during framing (blocking or a structural steel plate) to give the mounting hardware something solid to anchor into.
- Sign permits may be part of the building permit package — some cities require sign drawings to be submitted with the building permit application. Check with your city early.
- CO (Certificate of Occupancy) timing — in some jurisdictions, all sign permits must be finalized before a CO is issued. An unpermitted sign can delay your opening.
New Construction Sign Timeline
| Phase | Sign-Related Task | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Design / pre-permit | Confirm zone, sign allowances, and design constraints | Avoid designing signs that won't be approved |
| Building permit submission | Include sign drawings if required by city | Some cities reject building permits without sign plans |
| Foundation / framing | Install conduit stub-outs for illuminated signs | Cannot be added later without opening walls |
| Framing | Install sign backing/blocking in walls | Structural support for heavy signs |
| After CO rough-in | Submit sign permit application if not done with BP | Must be approved before installation |
| Post-CO | Sign fabrication + installation | Can begin once permit approved |
| Final | Electrical inspection for illuminated signs | Must pass before sign is energized |
Tenant Buildout in Existing Buildings
If you're a new tenant in an existing commercial building doing a buildout, sign rules come from three sources:
- The city's sign ordinance — sets maximum size, types, and illumination rules for the zone
- The building's sign program — if the property has an approved sign program, your sign must conform to its specifications (font, color, size range, mounting height, etc.)
- Your lease — may specify what signage rights you have and require landlord approval before any sign permit application
The most common mistake: ordering a sign based on what you see other tenants using, without checking whether those signs comply with the current sign program. Sign programs change, and what the previous tenant had may not reflect current requirements.
Certificate of Occupancy and Sign Permits
In cities where sign compliance is tied to the CO process, an unpermitted or non-compliant sign can literally delay your opening. This is most common in:
- New construction projects in large cities with full plan review departments
- Properties in historic districts where design review is part of the CO pathway
- Multi-tenant developments with sign programs subject to planning department oversight
To avoid this: start your sign permit application at the same time as your tenant improvement permit. You don't need to have your sign fabricated — just submitted for review. If the city approves the sign permit before the CO inspection, you can install the sign and pass CO simultaneously.
What to Do Right Now If You're in Construction
- ✓Confirm your zone and sign allowances with your city's planning department before finalizing sign designs
- ✓Tell your general contractor to stub electrical conduit to all planned sign locations before walls close
- ✓Ask your GC to install sign backing/blocking at all planned sign mounting points
- ✓Obtain and read any applicable sign program before designing your sign
- ✓Submit your sign permit application as early as possible — parallel track with your TI permit
- ✓Apply for a temporary banner permit for your grand opening while the permanent sign permit is being reviewed
New construction signage checklist
Download our universal sign permit checklist — covers the additional items needed for new construction sign submissions.
Download Checklist →Timeline Planner →Disclaimer: New construction sign permit processes vary by city. Always coordinate with your GC, your architect, and your local planning department early in the project.