A sign permit is really two reviews wearing one folder.
Getting a sign approved means satisfying a building department that it's structurally and electrically safe, and satisfying a zoning department that it's allowed to be there at all. Most delays come from treating those as one review instead of two. We handle both, for monument, wall, and pole signs alike.
Three things a sign permit almost always touches.
Whether it's a small wall sign over a storefront or a pylon sign at a shopping center entrance, the same three review threads tend to come up. Knowing which ones apply to your sign — and preparing for all of them up front — is most of what keeps a submission from stalling.
Structural Review
A sign has to stand up to Florida wind loads, and that applies to the sign structure itself, not just the building it's near. Monument signs need engineered footings; pole and pylon signs need engineered structural members. That engineering is typically documented with sealed calculations as part of the permit package.
Electrical Review
If the sign is illuminated — an internally lit cabinet, LED lettering, or any connection to a power source — the electrical work is generally reviewed and permitted separately from the structural building permit, with its own inspection before the sign can go live.
Zoning Sign Code Compliance
This is the review that most often catches people off guard. It's not about whether the sign is built safely — it's about whether it's allowed: size, height, setback from the property line, and how many signs the property is already permitted to have. It's a separate department and a separate set of questions from the building permit.
From design coordination to final inspection.
A sign permit moves faster when the design, the engineering, and the zoning review are all lined up before submission — not discovered as problems after a reviewer looks at it.
Design Coordination
- Confirm sign type — monument, wall, or pole/pylon
- Check zoning sign code against the proposed size, height, and location
- Coordinate structural engineering for the sign structure
- Flag electrical scope early if the sign is illuminated
Submission & Tracking
- Submit the structural, electrical, and zoning components as required
- Track each review discipline separately through the AHJ's portal
- Respond to reviewer comments on structural, electrical, or zoning grounds
- Keep the contractor or property owner informed of real status
Installation & Closeout
- Coordinate structural and electrical inspections
- Resolve any inspection comments before final sign-off
- Confirm the permit closes out cleanly with the jurisdiction
- Keep records on file for future signage changes
Sign codes vary block by block — we know the local ones.
Sign regulations are set locally, and two jurisdictions a few miles apart can treat the same monument sign very differently. Our sign permit work currently focuses on Orange County (Unincorporated), the City of Orlando, and Seminole County (Unincorporated), with additional Central Florida jurisdictions under active development. Visit our Jurisdictions page for the current list and what to expect in each.
Common questions about sign permits.
Do all signs require a permit?
Most permanent signs do. Building and zoning departments generally require a permit for monument signs, wall signs, and pole or pylon signs because they involve structural attachment or a freestanding structure, and often electrical work. Some temporary, non-illuminated signs may fall outside permitting requirements, but that depends entirely on the jurisdiction and the specific sign code, so it's worth confirming before you install anything.
What's the difference between a zoning sign review and a building permit for a sign?
A building permit confirms the sign is structurally and electrically safe to construct. A zoning sign review confirms the sign is allowed at all — based on size, height, setback from the property line, the number of signs already on the site, and how the property is zoned. These are two separate reviews handled by two different departments, and a sign can pass one and fail the other.
Does an illuminated sign need a separate electrical permit?
Generally, yes. If a sign includes internal or external lighting — an illuminated cabinet, LED components, or a connection to a power source — the electrical work typically requires its own permit and inspection in addition to the structural building permit for the sign itself.
Why does a sign need structural engineering?
Signs are exposed to wind loads year-round, and Florida's building code takes that seriously. A monument sign's footing and a pole sign's structural members both need to be engineered to withstand the wind loads applicable to the site, and that engineering is typically documented with sealed calculations submitted as part of the permit package.
Are monument, wall, and pole signs reviewed the same way?
No. A monument sign is a freestanding structure with its own footing, so it's reviewed differently than a wall sign, which attaches to an existing building and depends on that building's structure. A pole or pylon sign introduces its own structural and height considerations. Each type has its own set of engineering and zoning questions, even when the sign copy and size look similar.
Where does Gold Standard handle sign permits?
Our sign permit work currently focuses on Orange County (Unincorporated), the City of Orlando, and Seminole County (Unincorporated), with additional Central Florida jurisdictions in development.