Installing a sign at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can I put up my own sign? | In some cities, for a simple sign. Chicago allows it unless the sign needs stamped drawings; Houston only for a minor non-electrical sign where the owner does all the work; Jacksonville, Nashville, Phoenix, Sacramento and San Diego let the property owner file; Columbus lets a residential owner-occupant do the work on their own home. |
| Where must a contractor pull the permit? | Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio require a contractor registered with the city, and Austin requires whoever installs the sign to be registered with the building official, with exemptions such as painting or refacing an existing sign; Las Vegas requires a City and State of Nevada license for any sign needing a construction permit; San Francisco issues the permit to a C-45 or D-42 contractor. |
| Who wires a lit sign? | Chicago needs a registered electrical contractor, Dallas a registered electrical or sign electrical contractor, Fort Worth a State of Texas Master Electrical Sign Contractor’s License and Los Angeles a C10 or C45 contractor. Seattle requires a licensed electrical contractor unless the owner does the work. |
| Is there a separate installer license? | New York City requires a licensed Sign Hanger, except for signs under 75 sq ft, ground-supported signs, directional signs and temporary construction signs. |
What each city says
Each line is taken from the city page, which links the code text.
| City | Who can file or install | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Except for listed exemptions such as painting or refacing an existing sign, a person may not install, move, structurally alter, structurally repair or maintain a sign unless registered with the building official (§25-10-231). | City Code §25-10-231 |
| Charlotte | Sign contractors file online through AccelaMeck, which needs a Mecklenburg County bond account; customers without one can use the county’s manual process for a nominal fee. | Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, signs |
| Chicago | A business owner can install a sign themselves, unless the sign needs stamped drawings under 14E-6-600.28; then a licensed general contractor must be listed on the application. Electrical work needs a registered electrical contractor. | Department of Buildings, sign permits |
| Columbus | An installation permit goes only to a properly licensed person, firm or corporation, or to a residential owner-occupant doing the work with their own hands on their own home; a city sign erector license is needed for any illuminated exterior sign and for a non-illuminated exterior sign of more than ten square feet (C.C. 3381.03). | City Code Chapter 3381 |
| Dallas | A contractor must be registered before any sign permit can be issued, and electrical signs need a registered electrical or sign electrical contractor. | Building Inspection, Signs |
| Fort Worth | The permit holder needs a Contractor Registration on file; illuminated signs also need a State of Texas Master Electrical Sign Contractor’s License, non-illuminated ones do not. Owners putting banners on their own commercial property are exempt. | Contractor Registration |
| Houston | A licensed sign contractor, or the business owner only if they do all the work on a minor non-electrical sign. | Houston Sign Administration |
| Jacksonville | A property owner or an approved licensed and registered contractor, through the JAXEPICS online portal. | Building Inspection Division, sign laws |
| Las Vegas | Any sign needing a construction permit must be installed by a contractor licensed by the City and the State of Nevada. | Unified Development Code 19.08.120 |
| Los Angeles | Permits for illuminated signs are issued only to a licensed C10 or C45 contractor (P/BC 2023-078). | LADBS P/BC 2023-078 |
| Nashville | The owner of the property where the sign will be displayed, or the owner’s legal representative; once the sign is built, the person who built it certifies to the Department of Codes Administration that it was legally constructed (Metro Codes). | Metro Codes, sign permit process |
| New York City | A licensed Sign Hanger, except for signs under 75 sq ft, ground-supported signs, directional signs and temporary construction signs. | DOB, sign permit requirements |
| Phoenix | The owner, tenant or lessee, an authorized agent, a contractor licensed by the State of Arizona, a registered architect or a registered engineer may file (§705). | Zoning Ordinance §705 |
| Sacramento | The property owner or a licensed contractor (form CDD-0274). | Form CDD-0274 |
| San Antonio | Only a registered or city licensed contractor may obtain a sign permit (§28-29). | City Code §28-29 |
| San Diego | The record owner of the property, the owner’s authorized agent, or another person with a legal right to use the property (§129.0805, §112.0102). | Municipal Code §112.0102, §129.0805 |
| San Francisco | The permit is issued to a C-45 contractor (any sign, including illuminated electrical signs) or a D-42 contractor (non-electrical signs and awnings). | SF.gov, sign or awning permit steps |
| Seattle | Applications go through the Seattle Services Portal; electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor unless the owner does it. | SDCI, Sign, Awning & Billboard Permit |
Cities not listed
For Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Indianapolis, Miami and Philadelphia, the city page does not yet state who may file or install, so this page says nothing about them. Ask the permit office before you book the job.
Each answer is taken from the city page, which links the code text it was read from.
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