Commercial Signage Contractors for Tenant Improvements
Exterior and interior signs that meet landlord criteria, pass permits, and open on time.
Signage is often the last trade on a tenant improvement and one of the first things customers see. It also has its own approvals: the landlord’s sign criteria, a separate sign permit in most cities, and electrical inspection for illuminated signs.
Our network connects owners and tenants with licensed signage contractors who design, permit, fabricate, and install exterior and interior signs so they are ready when the doors open.
Types of Tenant Signage
A typical tenant improvement may include:
- Illuminated channel letters or cabinet signs on the building
- Monument or pylon panel replacements
- Window graphics and door vinyl
- Interior lobby and feature walls with logos
- Accessible room identification and wayfinding signs
Each type has different approval paths, so it helps to list them all early.
Landlord Sign Criteria
Most shopping centers and office buildings have written sign criteria. They typically control:
- Sign size, placement, and letter height
- Colors, materials, and illumination methods
- Mounting methods and raceway use
- Approval steps and submittal requirements
- Hours of illumination
Landlord approval usually comes before the city will accept a sign permit application.
Sign Permits
Most jurisdictions require a separate permit for exterior signs:
- Drawings showing sign size, location, and elevations
- Structural attachment details
- Electrical listing for illuminated signs
- Zoning review of total allowed sign area
- Inspections for attachment and electrical connections
Sign permits often run on a different timeline from the building permit, so start them early.
Electrical and Illumination
Illuminated signs need power and controls planned during the build-out:
- Dedicated sign circuits to the sign location
- Time clocks or photocells for scheduled illumination
- Listed sign components and disconnects
- Energy code requirements for sign lighting
- Coordination with the electrician before walls and ceilings close
Running the sign circuit during rough-in is far cheaper than adding it after the space is finished.
Accessible and Code-Required Signs
Interior signage is not just branding. Many signs are required by code:
- Tactile and Braille room identification signs at permanent rooms
- Accessible restroom and entrance signs
- Exit and stair signage tied to the life safety plan
- Occupancy load and other posted notices where required
- Mounting heights and locations that meet accessibility rules
These signs are checked at final inspection, so they need to be ordered with enough lead time.
Fabrication and Installation
Signs are custom fabricated, which affects the schedule:
- Shop drawings and color approvals
- Fabrication lead times that can run several weeks
- Lift or crane access for building signs
- Patching and sealing of wall penetrations
- Removal of the previous tenant's signage
Ordering signs as soon as approvals are in hand helps the store or office open with its name on the building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need landlord approval before a sign permit?
In most multi-tenant properties, yes. Cities often ask for proof of landlord approval, and the landlord’s criteria may be stricter than the city’s rules.
Are accessible room signs required in a tenant improvement?
Permanent rooms and spaces generally require tactile and Braille identification signs under accessibility standards, and inspectors check them at final.
How long does a new exterior sign take?
Design, landlord approval, permitting, and fabrication together often take several weeks or more, so start the process early in the build-out.
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