Sign permits: what your sign company should handle
A finished sign that cannot go up is an expensive crate in a warehouse. In Florida, sign rules are set mostly by the city or county where the sign goes, and leased spaces add a landlord’s rules on top. Here is who usually does what, and what to get in writing.
What usually needs a permit
Most permanent exterior signs, such as wall signs, channel letters, cabinet signs, monument and pylon signs, need a sign permit. Lit signs usually also need electrical work done under a permit. Temporary banners, window graphics and changes of sign faces may have their own rules, or none. Size, height, setback, lighting and how many signs you may have all vary by city and county, so check with your local building or zoning office rather than relying on what another town allows.
The landlord comes first
If you lease, read the sign section of your lease and ask the property manager for the sign criteria. Many shopping centers set the type, colours, lighting and placement of tenant signs. Get the landlord’s written approval of the drawing before you pay for fabrication; the permit office may ask for the owner’s sign-off too.
What a sign company can handle
- Drawings to scale for the landlord and the permit office.
- The permit application and its fees, which should be listed on the quote.
- Electrical connection under the right licence, for lit signs.
- Inspections after the install, if your city requires them.
Ask the sign company which of these it does, which it leaves to you, and what happens if the permit is refused or the city asks for changes.
14 sign companies in our directory say they handle sign permits (as of November 6, 2026), and 11 sign companies publish a sign contractor licence number.
Get it in writing
Put on the quote who files the permit, who pays the fees, who gets landlord approval, and whether the timeline starts before or after the permit is issued. This is general information, not legal advice: when in doubt, ask the city or county.
How to choose a sign company in Tampa Bay
This is general information, not legal, insurance or contracting advice. Every job is different: confirm details with the sign company, your landlord, your insurer and the city or county permit office.