Getting a Business Sign Approved in Palm Beach County

Who approves a business sign in Palm Beach County

The government that controls your property's location approves the sign. Palm Beach County has 39 incorporated municipalities, each with its own sign rules, and unincorporated areas follow the county's Unified Land Development Code. Your mailing address does not always tell you which one applies, so confirm the jurisdiction before you design anything.

Mailing addresses mislead. The Postal Service uses Lake Worth for six ZIP codes, but only part of that area is the City of Lake Worth Beach; the rest includes other towns and unincorporated county land. The same kind of mismatch happens elsewhere. The county property appraiser's record for your parcel shows the municipality, which is the reliable answer.

In unincorporated areas, the county's sign rules live in Article 8 of the Unified Land Development Code, which applies to all signs in unincorporated Palm Beach County unless a sign is specifically exempt.

Do you need a permit for a business sign

In most cases, yes. Permanent business signs generally need a building permit, and illuminated signs also need an electrical permit. In unincorporated Palm Beach County, every sign not specifically exempted needs a building permit, and exempt signs using electricity still need an electrical permit. Municipal rules differ, so check locally.

The county code also requires that every permitted sign be marked with its permit number in figures at least one inch tall, and it treats unpermitted non-exempt signs as illegal. Changing the copy or graphics on an existing permitted sign is not treated as an alteration under the county code, but enlarging, relocating or structurally changing it is.

Some small signs are exempt. In unincorporated areas, window signs covering no more than 20 percent of each window or glass door are exempt from review and building permits. Cities set their own exemptions, which is why the same window graphic can be fine in one town and need a permit in the next.

What approvals do you need before the permit

Before any government permit, you usually need approval from whoever controls the property: the landlord, the shopping center's sign criteria, a property owners association or a condo association. Larger developments often have a master sign plan that fixes size, placement, colors and letter styles. Private approval never replaces the government permit.

Palm Beach County's code defines a master sign plan as a coordinated program of all signs on a development site, including locations, dimensions, colors, letter styles and sign types. Many cities use similar plans. If your center has one, your sign must fit it, and changing it can require its own approval.

• Landlord or property manager written approval
• Shopping center sign criteria or master sign plan
• Property owners or condo association approval where it applies
• Any design review board required by the city or town

Which Palm Beach County towns have design review for signs

Several do, and the review can matter as much as the permit. The Town of Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Wellington all involve appearance or architectural boards in some sign decisions, and historic districts add another layer. The table summarizes what each jurisdiction publishes. Confirm current rules directly before designing.

Does a large sign need engineering

Often, yes. Signs and their supports must meet the Florida Building Code, which accounts for hurricane-force wind loads. For freestanding, monument and larger wall signs, expect the building department to ask for structural details, and in many cases engineered drawings. Ask your jurisdiction what triggers engineering before you finalize size and mounting.

Palm Beach County's code states that unless exempt, signs and supporting structures shall be installed in accordance with the Florida Building Code, and that all signs must be maintained in their permitted condition. Structural requirements are one reason a sign that looks simple can take longer and cost more than expected.

What goes into a sign permit application

Most sign permit applications ask for a site plan showing where the sign goes, drawings with dimensions and sign area, construction and attachment details, electrical details for lit signs, and proof of property owner approval. Some also require structural calculations and copies of any board approvals. Exact submittals vary by city.

• Site plan or storefront elevation showing sign location
• Scaled sign drawing with dimensions, colors and materials
• Sign area calculation against what the code allows
• Attachment and structural details
• Electrical details and a separate electrical permit for lit signs
• Landlord or property owner authorization
• Copies of any design review or historic approvals

How long does sign approval take

It depends on the jurisdiction and whether a board has to review the sign. A straightforward permit in a plaza with an approved master sign plan moves faster than a sign that needs design review, a waiver or a historic approval tied to a board's meeting calendar. Build review time into any opening date.

For unincorporated areas, the county's code sets a 30-day window for the Zoning Division to complete its review once a complete building permit application is submitted. Incomplete applications restart the clock in practice, so accuracy up front saves the most time.

Why do sign approvals get delayed

Most delays come from avoidable mistakes: designing before checking the code, missing landlord approval, sign area calculations that exceed the limit, incomplete drawings, or not realizing a design review board is involved. Fabricating before approval is the most expensive mistake, because a rejected sign has to be rebuilt or modified.

• Sign is larger than the code or master sign plan allows
• Landlord or association approval missing
• Wrong jurisdiction assumed from the mailing address
• Incomplete drawings or missing structural details
• Lighting that does not meet local rules
• Board review not scheduled into the timeline