Digital Signage Need to Know: Quality LED Signs Managed Responsibly Improve the Community

- Scott Hofheins

LED signs have been given a bad rap over the years for being “tacky” and threatening to turn peaceful towns into “Las Vegas”. Although progress has been made as local leaders realize this new technology can be regulated reasonably, the old “Las Vegas” stigma still continues to affect the industry. There are a couple of reasons why, and I would like to focus on the few here to help educate both existing and potential LED sign owners.

I saw a local news clip last week on LED signs in Florida. Unfortunately, some of the first words you hear in the segment are “tacky” and “distracting”. As I watched the clip, I was not surprised to see it go immediately to shots of Las Vegas with the reporter narrating about how you wouldn't want the place you live to look “like this”. It moved on to clips of LED signs, Hulk Hogan's new restaurant, and interviews with city leaders. It included some great examples of why LED signs still have a less than perfect reputation.

Quality
All but one or two of the LED signs in the clip had some sort of quality issue. This is a major problem for LED signs and it effects the industry as a whole. High quality LED signs that are working correctly do not look “tacky” or “distracting”. It’s the broken, sub-par signs that give everyone else a bad name. Even if a sign is physically working, it doesn’t mean it looks good. The news clip showed modules issues, color inconsistency, LED binning issues, missing pixels, etc... 

No LED sign is perfect, but many of the signs in the story looked like this wasn’t the first time they had issues. Surprisingly, one of these was a sign for a Hulk Hogan restaurant. It illustrates the fact that expensive and big, doesn’t equal higher quality.

I know I speak for many in the industry who would plead with anyone getting an LED sign to Do Your Homework. Your business image is counting on it There are great manufactures right here in the USA that can provide you a quality sign. You may pay a little more, but it’s worth it. I’m not saying that every single US manufacturer is guaranteed to be great, but your research is much easier to do when it’s domestic and you can talk directly to the people making your sign.

Content
Poor content is almost as bad as a broken sign. People expect more from LED signs these days, and the viewers will only get more picky as the technology improves. The content must be clean, readable, relevant and beautiful. Showing a 30 second long firework animation won’t get people into your business anymore. You need real content, with real information. People are looking to LED signs as they would look at their smart phone: quick, relevant information that they can use.

If you’re doing your own content, make sure it’s on par with the other signs out there. Having talent in house is good, as long as they keep the sign fresh with updated content. If you don’t have your own designers or time to do the content yourself, use a content creation service. It’s worth the investment.

If you have an old or lower quality sign, don’t be afraid to experiment with colors and fonts that DO look good on your display. White backgrounds are usually a bad choice for a low quality sign. Keep it simple and strong with dark backgrounds, thick text and deep colors. Blues and greens work well, but stay away from light blue, light green, light yellow, etc... Find what works with your display and stick to it.

Brightness
This is a big one for me. I still see a number of signs out there that are way too bright at night. I believe most of this is due to a lack of education on the subject, but there are still some out there who think that brighter = better. This is simply not the case at night.

When a sign is too bright, your audience will have less time to read the message. They may see the beacon of light from 5 miles away, but they will not be able to actually read the text until much closer than normal. If your sign is lighting up the freeway it’s too bright. It may be cool to say “hey our LED is so bright it lights up the street”, but that’s about all it’s doing. This is one of the bigger reasons for negative attitudes toward LED signs.

Take the time to really look at your sign at night. Is your audience spending their time seeing just the sign, or the actual content. You want them to see the content. Compare the brightness of the LED sign to the brightness of other lighted signs in the area. The LED sign should be just a bit brighter, but not much.

Most LED signs give you the ability to change the brightness settings. Some use automatic sensors, and others use scheduling or a mixture of both. Sensors are not always the best method, as they can be affected by ambient light, and their own values (how much it dims according the light value) can’t be set for every situation. If you can set these values, do it.  If your sign utilizes a brightness schedule, adjust it. Every time I see these signs, I feel bad for the business because they may be unknowingly losing potential customers at night because they can’t read the sign.

Reasonable Regulations
I’ve always been a proponent of empowering the people, but I’ve found that it’s not always smart to directly confront the city code. If you want reasonable regulations, you have to be reasonable too. Being a good example, and using an LED sign in a reasonable way gives you much more power than if you drop in a huge sign, and literally try to run it like “Vegas”. You’re only hurting yourself at that point. The Hulk Hogan sign in the news story was a good example of what NOT to do in my opinion, but not for the reasons you may think.

If you’re going to fight a battle, you need to have the best weapons to ensure victory. The quality of the sign in this case does them no favors and only supports the notion that LED signs are “tacky”. The discoloration and module issues on the sign detract from the content, and even though the content is colorful and attention getting, it loses significant power on a broken sign.

I have a better scenario. Imagine a high quality 12-16mm with great color balance, and deep high contrast colors. The content is classy and tasteful with smooth fades between the messages, and subtle but effective animations supporting the content, but not overdoing it. This is much better for the operator, the community, and the reputation of LED signs. Instead of people saying “hey that’s a cool looking sign, but it’s kind of cheesy”, they will see the quality and say “that’s a really good looking sign, I wonder why our city doesn’t like these”.

Quality Hardware, Effective Content, Visibility at Night, and keeping it Classy will improve the look of your LED sign and your business. If you are on the lookout for an LED sign, please do your research and make sure you're getting the best quality you can, at a reasonable price. There are good resources out there (like this blog) that will help you with this. Remember, sacrificing quality for a cheap price is a short term plan in a long term game. Lead by example, and look good doing it! 

-SH

I hope this post has been informative and helpful. As usual, I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

National Electrical Code Compliance and YOU!

- Mike Prongue

    
My dear wife, a former fire inspector and fire fighter once attempted to share “sage advice” with me regarding fire codes with the statement “behind every fire code is a tragedy”. Government regulation, regardless of an individual’s political opinion, has at its core the intention to help further and validate an industry and more importantly, in the case of safety regulation - to save lives.

The Electronic Message Center (EMC) industry, Digital Sign Industry, is not exempt from this regulation and most business owners familiar with these requirement look toward the National Electrical Code (NEC) particularly Section 600, for guidance and conformance. Like any regulation there are ambiguities regarding the NEC but EMCs are required to be inspected to NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory) standards. That is clear.

In the early development of the NEC, the term UL, for Underwriters Laboratory, was used in lieu of today’s reference of  "NRTL". Many UL equivalent organizations have come to the forefront since OSHA changed its terminology to reflect it’s choice of “NRTL” in 1988, a few examples are: MET, CSA, NSF, TUV, ETL (Intertek) and others.

Regardless of the NRTL chosen to inspect and approve the EMC at the factory, this inspection has to occur and the inspection is to the same standards regardless of the NRTL used.

When a code inspector signs off on an installation, a NRTL certification listing label number is the permission required for him to not open up the display and inspect the components contained therein.  Without this certification listing the local code enforcement body can ask that the EMC be removed.  Some sign companies lean heavily on the NRTL certification of the power supplies alone, to convince the inspector that the EMC conforms to the NEC. This is bypassing the intent of the NEC and opens the sign company up to liability if damage, injury or death were to occur as a result of a faulty EMC product.

In addition to false claims by sign companies engaged in the actual installation, many overseas manufacturers are quite liberal with use of the NRTL certification label. Displaying a UL certification label (for example) on a website could cause the reader to think the total EMC is UL certified rather than just subcomponents such as a power supply. This is not the same as the completed, total EMC assembly having a UL certification. The same non-compliance penalty exists regarding removing the EMC from the structure after installation due to non-compliance of the certification requirement.

Many documented issues exist regarding EMCs produced offshore and their claim to be NRTL approved- ETL, MET or others.  If it does not have a NRTL certification listing label number issued by the manufacturer, the EMC project should be suspect. If it does have a listing label number and the sign dealer wants to be sure it is legitimate, every NRTL has a toll-free line to validate the certificate.  Many offshore produced EMC units have the claim to be NRTL certified but investigation of this claim will prove that only subcomponents have been inspected to NEC standards.

Also, with regards to offshore produced EMCs, this writer has been told by many company representatives that the EMC model submitted for NRTL inspection bears little resemblance to the EMC models eventually delivered to the USA. The components offered for inspection are top-grade, the electrical connections and wiring are to standard, and installation has been completed with meticulous detail. This sets up a NRTL quandary similar to the magician’s trick of “three cups and a pea”. What cup is the NRTL certification under?

It’s the responsibility of the sign dealer to make sure their product meets the standards of the National Electrical Code.  You get what YOU inspect.

**Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Electrical Safety Certification Marks explained: NEC/OSHA/NRTLs and more...

-Deacon Wardlow

I often come across the question of what an acceptable Certified Mark is for UL compliance. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of confusion as to what an NRTL is, what the code requires and such. So here’s some quick clarification:

Specific Information on the 2011 NEC (National Electric Code) requirements:

The National Electrical Code (NEC) – or NFPA 70 – was updated in 2011, as part of its 3-year change cycle.  The NEC is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and is commonly adopted by U.S. state or local political subdivision, and enforced by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Many NEC requirements refer to “listed” or “labeled” devices, as defined in Article 100 of the NEC. The NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories) program accredits those organizations that, by whose labeling, the manufacturer indicates compliance with appropriate standards or performance in a specified manner.

What is an NRTL?

A Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) is an independent laboratory recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to test products to the specifications of applicable product safety standards – such as those from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and other standards-writing bodies. An NRTL's function is to provide an independent evaluation, testing, and certification of any electrically operated or gas- and oil-fired product. Intertek is recognized as an NRTL in the United States.

What’s the difference between the UL, CSA, and ETL/other Listed Marks?

All the marks demonstrates the product has met the minimum requirements of widely accepted product safety standards as determined through the independent testing of a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL). As part of that testing regimen, the product manufacturer has agreed to periodic follow-up inspections to verify continued compliance.

Aren’t manufacturers required to use UL for their compliance testing? Isn’t this mandated by the standards themselves?

The simple answer to both questions is "no." In fact, this misconception has misled many manufacturers, distributors, contractors and end-users to believe that UL must be used as the third-party testing partner. To satisfy the prerequisite of having your products tested by an independent organization, the true legal requirement is that the laboratory that performs the testing be a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) recognized by OSHA.

Some Useful Links:

OSHA recognizes four organizations to develop product safety:

1.    ANSI
2.    ASTM
3.    UL
4.    FM

Standards from the four are approved for use by ANY of the NRTLs OSHA lists/recognizes to test and certify products.

OSHA’s listing of NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories)

http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/

UL has both a standards development group AND a testing group. The landmark case which MET instigated in the 80s made it so UL no longer had a monopoly and other companies were allowed to be listed as NRTLs.

For further reference, please check the following websites:

OSHA article on NRTLs Approval of Products:
http://www.osha.gov/dts/otpca/nrtl/NRTLarticle.html

More on NRTL and legal use:

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Act of 1970, OSHA uses Federal regulation Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Paragraph 1910.303, Subpart S (29CFR 1910.303 (S)), which requires that all conductors and equipment are approved (listed), it also requires electrical equipment to be examined, to ensure it is free of hazards likely to cause harm to employees and be suitable for installation (by listing or labeling).

In addition to OSHA requirements, which cover only the workplace, the USA relies on local building codes to ensure safe residential housing. These codes are based on the requirements of the National Fire Protection Agency, standard NFPA 70, also known as the National Electrical Code (NEC). This code is adopted universally by state and local inspectors who are empowered by their authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).

Some common AHJ (Authorities Having Jurisdiction) personnel known for their strict enforcement of local electrical codes include the City of Los Angeles, the City of Chicago, the State of North Carolina, the State of Oregon, the State of Florida, the City of Orlando and New York City. In these locations' electrical inspectors "red-tag" electrical products that are not listed or labeled. The legal requirement for acceptability to the local AHJ is derived from Article 110 - Requirements for Electrical Installations. As a result, electrical inspectors will look for an NRTL listing, or a field label

The NEC code 800-4 additionally requires all equipment connected to a telecommunication networks to be listed. If equipment is not listed or labeled a supplier may be asked to pay for it to be field labeled on site before it is released for use, and lose a potential repeat order from the customer, due to the delays involved. In addition, AHJ inspectors who are IAEI members exchange information on manufacturers who they know are noncompliant.

Source: http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/tvi/tvi102.html

Make sure the manufacturer/reseller you’re dealing with knows the code and is 100% compliant. A failure on their part can cost you and your business money, reputation and more.

*Please comment here and/or email me directly with requests at deacon@vantageled.com. Vantage LED has white paper resources and more educational material on the website (http://www.vantageled.com), check out the site periodically as we’re constantly adding new material.

**Note all posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Permitting LED Signs - Part 3: Research the Code Yourself

This post is a continuation of my Permitting LED Signs series. Part 1 can be viewed here and Part 2 here

In this post, I will focus on obtaining and researching the code yourself. This will take a bit longer than calling the city but it can allow you to learn things that the city planners may not know, or just not tell you. I have personally come across this multiple times, usually in larger cities where I had to correct the planner on the code and confirm the right information.


THE INITIAL STEPS
Google is a major resource when getting this done. Be sure to get all the information listed below before diving into the sign code. It will save time in the long run.

1. Determine your property’s Zoning District:
Many cities now have zoning maps online. They are not always up to date, but serve as a good guide. Find your city website and look for any link that has to do with Zoning or Planning. This will usually guide you to the zoning map. If you have trouble, you can always just google “zoning map” and “city name”, or call the city as detailed in Part 2. Most maps will have a Key, that will let you know your zoning code. (like GC for General Commercial, or R1 for Residential - Type 1).

2. Determine who regulates your sign code:
When you look at the zoning map, you may find that your property isn’t actually in the city boundaries. You will then need to contact the County and determine your Zoning District and get the sign code and regulations. Counties usually have a website too with this information.

3. Get your property “Plat Map”:
This is a map of your property lines and measurements. It can usually be found by calling your County Tax Assessor/Collector or going to the website and doing a “property search”. Many counties have a direct link to online mapping services (sometimes call GIS) that will allow you to search a live/updated property map.

OBTAIN THE SIGN CODE
You are now ready to get the sign code.The City or County websites will usually have a link in the Zoning, Development, or Land Use section. Search google for “Sign Code ‘city name’ “ or “ Municipal Code”.
There are also two very common code providers online. Both sites have many codes hosted and are used by many cities to host the code directly.
www.municode.com.
www.amlegal.com


LOCATE THE SPECIFIC SIGN CODE SECTION(S) IN THE MAIN CODE
Most codes have 3-5 main areas that deal with the sign code specifically:

• General Regulation.
• Rules Specific for Zoning Districts
• Rules Specific for “Special Districts” like historic areas or “downtown” areas.
• Prohibited Signs.
• Exemptions and Misc. Regulations.

Different cities organize these differently, some examples:

Example #1 Some may have a large General Regulation section, that covers every type of sign. It will only list “exceptions” to the main regulation for each zoning district. Each zoning district has its own “prohibited” signs section.

Example  #2 They might have a very small General Section but each zoning district has a full description of what is allowed, and what is not allowed. It also has a Special Exceptions section where certain entities are allowed different regulations. Typically this will apply to Churches and Schools.

Example #3 Some codes only include specific sign regulations for specific Zoning districts. Any districts not listed falls under the General Regulations.

READ THE CODE AND GET YOUR SPECIFIC REGULATIONS
I always start with the prohibited section. Sometimes this only applies to certain districts, but sometime it can apply to the entire city. Unfortunately some places do try to prohibit LED signs altogether. You can save time by reading this section first.

Read through the General Section, and your specific regulations for your zoning district. You are trying to answer the following questions:

• What types of signs are allowed?
• Common terms for general signage:
• Monument Signs: Low lying signs, usually with a wide base no visible pole or structure. Think neighborhood subdivision entrance sign.
• Pole Signs, or Pylon Signs: Signs on poles, usually higher up off the ground.
• Building or Roof Sign: Identification signs mounted to the building itself.
• Multi-Tenant Signs: Signs with multiple business advertised. Think strip mall, or shopping center.
• Common terms for LED signs:
• Electronic Message Center
• Electronic Changeable Copy Signs
• LED Message Center
• Electronic Marqee
• Scrolling Message Center
• Scrolling Sign

• Are there any specific restrictions to LED signs?
• This can be display time, animation, or brightness restrictions. Some cities require a “Special Use Agreement” that you must sign, agreeing to adhere to the restrictions.
• How is the allowable surface area calculated?
• This is usually done by the amount of street frontage your property has. This is the reason you have the “Plat Map” to get an official measurement of your street frontage. Typically this is something like: “...2 square ft allowed, per linear foot of street frontage, not to exceed 50 square feet...”
• What is counted as “sign” surface area, and what is counted as just “structure”?
• See my post in Part 2 regarding this. Signs vary greatly in shape size. How does your city measure oddly shaped signs?
• How high can the sign be?
• How many signs (of each type) can you have on the property?
• If you have more than one “street frontage” you are often allowed signs on each frontage.
• Where can the signs be located?
• How far back from the property line does the sign need to be?
• This is often called setback. It is usually in the General Section. If you can’t find it, ask the city planner.
• If LED signs are not allowed, is there a variance process?

Often, the code will reference other sections like: “...these signs are allowed per section 11.202.3, with the following restrictions...” This can be tedious, but stick to it and read through the sections.

Write down each section number and reference that pertains to your situation so you can quickly find the information later. The Copy and Paste functions on your computer can be very helpful with this. As you see a section that pertains to you, just copy and paste the section into a word doc, or email. This will help you greatly if you need to call the city to confirm something, or verify your information.

VERIFY WITH THE CITY/COUNTY
I recommend to always verify with the city planner. Write down any questions as you are reading, so you can be prepared when you call. Most planners are very nice and easy to talk to, but as I said in the previous posts, they MUST give you a specific reference in the code for any restrictions. It is not rude to ask nicely for these references, even if it sounds like the planner may not want to take the time to look it up. Make sure you are 100% comfortable with the answers, and your understanding of the code. Its worth the extra time to talk with them to make sure you are clear on everything.

Remember to always be polite. Arguing with a planner on how the code was made, or why it was written a certain way will not do you any good. Get the facts, and if you disagree with the regulations bring it up with the city council. If you feel that the planner isn’t very familiar with the sign code, politely ask to speak with someone who is.


Getting into the sign code itself can be a challenge but it is worth the extra effort to make sure you know the regulations for your property. Hopefully this series has provided good insight into the task, and can be a resource for a variety of people in a variety of situations.



* I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc. unless specifically stated.

Permitting LED Signs - Part 2: Calling the Local Government

This post is a continuation of my Permitting LED Signs series. Part 1 can be viewed here.

In this post, I will focus on calling your local government. This is usually the best method to start with. You can still run into problems and mis-information but it can save some time and effort and get you pointed in the right direction.

(1) DETERMINE WHO REGULATES YOUR SIGN

In most cases either the City, or County will regulate the sign code for your property address. However, there are some areas where you may be located in the County, but the City still regulates the sign code. This is usually called an ETJ, or Extended Territorial Jurisdiction.

• Start with the City Planning Department. Every city will have an organization like this in some form or another. They are in charge of zoning, and land use regulations. Go to your city website and look for any links that have to do with Planning and/or Zoning. Most sites will also have a “General Information” line to call if you can’t find the direct number on the website. 
• Tell them you are interested in permitting an LED Sign, and need to know who governs the sign code for your address. If they do not govern the sign code, they should be able to tell you who does (usually the County) and give you a number for their planning dept.

(2) TALKING TO THE PLANNER (CITY OR COUNTY)

When you are talking to the planner, use the following guide and keep a pen handy to write down any important information:

• Determine your Zoning District and write it down for verification.
• Determine if LED signs are permissible in your district. If not, ask them to point out the specific reference in the sign code.
• Determine the restrictions required so you can make sure to design and purchase the right size LED sign.
• The planner may also have access to your property “Plat Drawing” information. This land drawing shows property lines and measurements. If they have it you can get the length of your street frontage. If not they should be able to refer you to someone who can.

(3) IF LED SIGNS ARE ALLOWED
If LED signs are allowed, there will be certain restrictions based on square footage, height, content, and display times.

• The permissibility, height and square footage are usually determined by the Zoning District of your property, then by the linear street frontage of your property line.
• Be sure to ask them what makes up the "allowable sign area" or "sign square footage". Signs are not always rectangles. They can incorporate many shapes, sizes, trim, pole covers, etc...You need to know how these are dealt with in the city code. Some examples are shown below:

This method only counts the actual signage with text.

This method includes the entire sign design and pole cover

• Remember,  the methods used will vary so make sure you know how your specific city/county determines sign area.

(4) IF LED SIGNS ARE NOT ALLOWED
Sometimes LED signs are specifically prohibited and sometimes they are prohibited by a general description -  I.E. “No signs shall be installed that change messages or color by electrical means...”

• Be sure to ask the planner to kindly to direct you to the specific ordinance text that forbids them. There are usually multiple references; write them down so you can verify later.
• Many areas have “special use” permits and/or a “Variance Review” process that can allow organizations with disadvantages or special needs to use signs that wouldn't be allowed otherwise. Be sure to ask the planner about these options and any required paperwork.

(5) ALWAYS VERIFY
Verify the information you receive, good or bad. Humans do make mistakes, and if you feel in any way that the planner isn’t familiar with the sign code, ask to talk to a supervisor and verify. Always be very polite.

Sometimes trying to contact the city government can look overwhelming on the surface, but usually all it takes is a quick call to the general information line to get you in touch with the right person. The people you need to speak to are almost always in the Zoning/Planning department.

My next post (Part 3) will be about researching and verifying the code and regulations yourself. This is usually a good idea, even if the city planner tells you the sign is permissible. Nobody wants to be in a situation where they’ve put down good money for a sign, only to find out that the planner gave you incorrect information.

-Scott Hofheins

* I welcome ALL constructive comments. Please feel free to comment and add anything I’ve missed, or additional tips you may have regarding this topic. Please visit www.vantageled.com for many other resources, white papers, and of course: Great looking LED Signs!

**All posts/thoughts/writings are strictly the viewpoint of me and me alone and do
not reflect nor speak for Vantage LED’s beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, etc.
unless specifically stated.

Permitting LED Signs - Part 1: General Overview

I’ve been working on a lot of permit research lately, so I felt a concise guide to permits (if that is even possible with any regulation) would be a great resource for those who are interested in getting an LED sign, and even for those who are working in the industry and are looking for some tips.

LED Signs are a relatively new product, but they are becoming more common with businesses choosing to replacing manual copy boards, and billboard companies switching over to “Digital Billboards”. Technology evolves very quickly, unfortunately state and local regulations do not. This means it is often a challenge to determine if your sign is permissible. However, there are some fundamental tools you can use to get past the bureaucratic hurdles if you're willing to talk to the right people, and spend some time researching the actual code.

Because LED signs didn’t exist or were in their infancy when many sign codes were written, much of the regulation depends on different interpretations of what defines an LED sign in the existing code. Are they manual “changeable letter boards” or “flashing signs” like the old movie theater using light bulbs, or are they “lighted signs” that happen to be able to change the message regularly? Fortunately many local governments are now revising the codes to include specifics on LED signs but there are many who are still use outdated sign code.

Additionally, there is no standard term for LED Signs in the industry. They have been called Electronic Message Centers, LED Displays, LED Signs, LED Message Centers, LED Reader Boards, Electronic Reader Boards, Digital Reader Boards, and host of other combinations. This can make it hard when searching through the city code, even when it’s available online.

Another factor is the distinction between billboards (Off-Site Advertising), and regular business signage (On-Site Advertising). The code that governs each varies greatly in most cities and counties. This series of articles will focus on regular business signage, but can still be useful for those researching Digital Billboard permits.

There are (4) major steps that need to be taken when researching. I will go more into the details in the next series of articles, but a general guide is below:


1. Find out your zoning district.

Every city/county has Zoning Districts that have their own rules on signage. Business “districts” will usually allow more signage options, while residential districts usually restrict signage all together, unless your are a school, church, or charitable organization.

Call or go to your City/County website and look for a “Zoning Map”. Usually available in the Planning, Zoning, or Land Use areas of the website. A google search for “city name” zoning map often provides good results.


2. Get your property line locations and measurements.

Many sign codes base the allowable size of your sign on the length of your property line “street frontage” and require a certain setback from the property line for installation.

You may already have a survey or “Plat map” of your property. If not, these records are kept by your county property tax assessors office. Most offices have a website where you can search a property address. The results will usually have a link to an online version of the “Plat map”. You can always call the assessor's office directly if you have any problems.

3. Review your sign code.

Many cities post there sign code online. Some host it locally, others use websites like www.municode.com or www.amlegal.com

Researching sign code can be a challenging task. Keep the following points in mind when reading through the code.

• Sign code is usually in the Zoning, Planning, Development, or Land Use section of the main city code.
• If the code is in electronic form it is usually searchable. Searching for Sign, or Signage will usually point you to the correct section.
• Most code presents the overall code first, then prohibited signs, then specific restrictions for each Zoning District. It’s always a good thing to look in the prohibited section first, to save you some time.
• There is usually a “Definitions” section in the code. If the code says “flashing signs are prohibited” you will want to look into the definitions section to determine if LED signs are considered in this group. If not, they may have a separate definition for LED signs. (see my comment on “terms” earlier in this article).

4. Verify
You can always call the city directly. Ask to speak with a city planner and let them know you are researching the permissibility of an LED sign on your property. Remember that anything the planner says about the restrictions must be backed up by a specific part of the code. You have the right to politely ask them for the code reference for any restriction they mention. Planners are also human and can make mistakes. Verify the information you receive, and if you feel like the planner is not familiar with the sign code, ask to speak to someone who is. Always be VERY polite.


I will go into more details on calling the city and researching the code yourself in Part 2 of this series. Hopefully this will be helpful to those that might be afraid to jump into the code themselves or are stuck in the process somewhere, looking for a solution.


-Scott Hofheins


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