Opening in a shopping center means meeting two sets of sign rules: the landlord’s criteria and the town’s code. Both must approve your sign before it goes up, and most landlords want a permanent sign soon after you open. Planning early is the difference between opening with your sign lit and opening with a banner.
Gogi Signs builds shopping center signs for tenants across New Jersey and New York City. This guide covers what landlords require, how towns fit in, a planning timeline and the permit rules in NYC.
In this guide
Two Sets of Rules
Landlord approval usually comes first
The landlord’s criteria control the look of the center. The town’s code controls what is legal. You have to meet both, and where they differ, the stricter rule wins. Some New Jersey towns tie sign size to frontage. Montclair, for example, limits sign area to the width of the storefront, according to its signage page.
Get the Full Sign Criteria Before You Design
Ask for the complete criteria as soon as you sign the lease, and read them before anyone draws your sign. Here is what one national landlord, Brixmor, sets in its storefront sign criteria:
- Letter height. 24 inches for smaller stores, and 24 to 36 inches for stores over 3,000 square feet.
- Width. No more than 80 percent of the usable storefront.
- Construction. Individual lit channel letters on a raceway hidden from the front.
- Colors. Set return colors, a set white face and a set LED color temperature.
- Controls. A photocell and an exterior on and off switch, with signs not controlled only by a time clock.
- Timing. A permanent sign within 60 days of opening, with a fine of $150 a day for missing signs.
Our sister company in New York explains how landlord limits affect letter size in what size should channel letters be.
Letter height and width are usually set by the landlord
A Planning Timeline
Start when you sign the lease, not when you get the keys
- Lease signing. Get the criteria and the landlord contact.
- Site survey. Measure the sign band, check power and photograph the facade. See our site survey.
- Design. Draw the sign to the criteria and the town code.
- Landlord approval. Submit drawings and wait for written approval.
- Town permit. File with the town after the landlord signs off.
- Fabrication. Build the sign once both approvals are in.
- Installation. Ideally before opening day.
Survey the Storefront Before Final Drawings
Center drawings are not always accurate. Measure the sign band, find the power source and check what is behind the facade before the drawings are final. A raceway that does not fit or a missing circuit can add weeks. See our channel letters for the most common center sign.
Coordinate the Electrical Scope
Ask who brings power to the sign location: the landlord, your general contractor or the sign company. Confirm the circuit, the switch location and any photocell or timer the criteria require. Lit signs need listed components and an electrical inspection. Our guide to electrical sign inspections explains what inspectors check.
Submit a Complete Landlord Package
- Elevation of the sign on your storefront, to scale.
- Section drawing showing letters, raceway and mounting.
- Colors and materials with codes.
- Electrical details and controls.
- Installer insurance certificate, if the criteria ask for one.
Lighting controls are often part of the criteria
Municipal Approval Is Still Required
Landlord approval is not a permit. In New Jersey, the town handles zoning approval and the construction permit, and some towns add design review. Our guide on avoiding permit delays shows how to keep this step short, and our sign permits team can file for you.
NYC Permits and Sign Hangers
Sources: NYC Department of Buildings
In New York City, a permit is required to install a business sign unless it is painted on the building or smaller than six square feet and not lit. Special sign hangers can install signs up to 150 square feet and 1,200 pounds, and master sign hangers can install signs of any size, according to the Department of Buildings. A licensed sign hanger is not needed for signs up to 75 square feet and 25 pounds, and signs may project 18 inches over the sidewalk if double faced and 12 inches otherwise, according to a Department of Buildings overview.
Grand Opening Banners
Most centers control banners. Brixmor allows banners only with written approval and for no more than 30 days. Your town may also require a permit for a grand opening banner. Read our guide to temporary sign regulations and see our vinyl banners.
Light color is often specified, so every sign matches
Plan Installation Around an Operating Center
Centers stay open while you install. Expect rules on work hours, lift placement and protecting customers and parked cars. Give the property manager notice and share the installer’s insurance. A clean, quick install keeps the landlord on your side for the next request.
Readable From the Parking Lot
Customers often see your sign from across a parking lot or from the road. Strong contrast, simple fonts and the largest letters the criteria allow do the most work. Pixel Wraps, our sister graphics shop, uses the same rules for moving vehicles in how to design vehicle graphics people can read in traffic.
Common Reasons Landlords Send Drawings Back
- Letters too tall or too wide for the sign band.
- Wrong return or face colors.
- A visible raceway when the criteria require a hidden one.
- A cabinet sign where the center requires individual letters.
- Missing electrical details or controls.
- No installer insurance certificate.
Each rejection can add a week or more. A sign company that has worked with your landlord before can usually get it right the first time.
Who Pays for What
In most leases, the tenant pays for its own sign, built to the criteria, plus the permit and installation. The landlord usually pays for the center’s own signs and directories. Some leases include a sign allowance or require the landlord to bring power to the sign band. Read your lease and ask before you budget. Every Gogi price includes the survey, design, fabrication and installation.
Tenant Checklist
- Get the full criteria at lease signing.
- Survey the storefront and power.
- Design to the criteria and the town code.
- Get written landlord approval.
- Get the town permit.
- Fabricate and install before opening.
- Plan banners within the landlord and town limits.
Common Questions About Shopping Center Signs
What are shopping center sign requirements?
They are the landlord criteria in your lease, covering sign type, size, colors, lighting and installation, plus the town code for permits and legal limits.
How long does it take to get a shopping center sign?
It depends on approvals and the town. Start when you sign the lease, since landlord review, the permit and fabrication all take time. Some landlords want a permanent sign within 60 days of opening.
Do I need landlord approval before a sign permit?
Yes, in most centers. Landlords usually require written approval of drawings before the sign is built or permitted.
Can I put up a grand opening banner?
Usually, with limits. One national landlord allows approved banners for up to 30 days, and your town may require a permit.
What size letters can I use?
Your criteria set the range. One national landlord uses 24 to 36 inch letters and limits the sign to 80 percent of the storefront width.
Do shopping center signs need a permit in NYC?
Yes, unless the sign is painted on the building or smaller than six square feet and unlit. Larger signs also need a licensed sign hanger.
Tenant Signs Approved by Landlord and Town
We handle the survey, drawings, approvals, permits and installation. See our channel letters, then request a free quote.
