What New Business Owners Should Know About Landlord Sign Criteria

Opening a new business is an exciting milestone. From selecting a location to designing the interior, every decision helps shape how customers will experience your brand. One of the most important—and sometimes overlooked—parts of opening a storefront is understanding your landlord’s sign criteria.

Landlord sign criteria establish the rules for what types of business signs may be installed at a shopping center, office building, industrial property, or mixed-use development. Reviewing these requirements early can help you avoid design changes, permitting delays, and unexpected costs.

The good news is that sign criteria are not meant to prevent your business from standing out. They are usually created to maintain a professional, consistent appearance throughout the property while still allowing each tenant to showcase its individual brand.

What Are Landlord Sign Criteria?

Landlord sign criteria are written guidelines that explain how tenant signage must be designed, manufactured, and installed.

These requirements may be included in your lease, provided as a separate sign program, or supplied by the property manager after your lease is signed. Depending on the property, the criteria may regulate:

• The permitted type of storefront sign
• Maximum sign dimensions
• Letter height and overall sign area
• Approved colors, materials, and finishes
• Illumination methods
• Logo and trademark use
• Sign placement on the building
• Electrical requirements
• Installation and attachment methods
• Window graphics, blade signs, and temporary signs
• Required landlord approval procedures

Some sign criteria are very detailed, while others provide only general design standards.

Why Landlords Have Sign Requirements

Commercial properties often contain many businesses with different logos, colors, and branding styles. Without consistent sign standards, the property can quickly appear cluttered or visually unorganized.

Landlord sign criteria help create a clean and professional appearance across the entire development. This can benefit tenants by making the property more attractive, easier to navigate, and more inviting to customers.

A well-designed sign program may also help:

• Maintain the architectural style of the building
• Improve visibility for all tenants
• Protect the property from improper installations
• Prevent oversized or distracting signs
• Create consistency throughout the shopping center
• Support the long-term appearance and value of the property

Although the criteria may create some limitations, an experienced commercial sign company can usually find creative ways to make your business highly visible while staying within the approved standards.

Review the Sign Criteria Before Finalizing Your Design

One of the most common mistakes new business owners make is designing a sign before reviewing the landlord’s requirements.

A logo may look great on a business card or website but may need to be adjusted for a storefront sign. Certain colors, fonts, cabinet styles, or lighting methods may not be permitted by the landlord.

For example, a property may require individually illuminated channel letters instead of a rectangular sign cabinet. Another property may allow only halo-illuminated letters or non-illuminated dimensional lettering.

Reviewing the criteria before beginning the design process helps ensure that your proposed sign is realistic, compliant, and easier to approve.

Landlord Approval and City Approval Are Separate

Receiving landlord approval does not automatically mean your sign is approved by the city.

Most permanent commercial signs must also comply with local sign codes and may require a sign permit, electrical permit, building permit, or planning department approval.

Your sign must typically meet both sets of requirements:

1. The landlord’s sign criteria
   
2. The city’s sign regulations

In some situations, the landlord may allow a sign that exceeds what the city permits. In other cases, the city may allow a sign that the landlord does not approve.

The final design must satisfy both parties before fabrication and installation can move forward.

Your Lease May Include Additional Signage Requirements

In addition to the formal sign criteria, your commercial lease may contain language related to signage.

The lease may explain:

• Who is responsible for sign costs
• Whether landlord approval is required
• When the sign must be installed
• Whether a specific sign contractor must be used
• Who is responsible for electrical connections
• Whether the sign must be removed at the end of the lease
• Who is responsible for repairing the building after removal
• Whether temporary opening signs are permitted

New business owners should review both the lease and the separate sign criteria document. Your property manager or leasing representative may also be able to clarify any requirements that are unclear.

Common Types of Landlord-Approved Business Signs

The type of sign allowed will depend on the building, tenant location, and property sign program. Common commercial sign options include:

Channel Letter Signs

Channel letters are individually fabricated letters or logos that are often internally illuminated with LEDs. They are commonly used on shopping centers, retail buildings, and restaurants.

Halo-Illuminated Signs

Halo-illuminated letters create a soft glow behind each letter. This option offers an upscale, architectural appearance and is frequently used in premium retail and office developments.

Non-Illuminated Dimensional Letters

Dimensional letters may be manufactured from acrylic, aluminum, or other durable materials. They provide a clean, professional appearance without internal illumination.

Cabinet Signs

Sign cabinets contain the complete sign face within a single structure. Although they can provide excellent visibility, some newer developments restrict cabinet signs in favor of individual letters.

Blade Signs

Blade signs project outward from the building and can improve visibility for pedestrians. These signs are often used in downtown areas, mixed-use developments, and pedestrian-oriented shopping centers.

Window Graphics

Window graphics may display business hours, logos, promotional information, or privacy films. Many landlords regulate how much window area may be covered.

Sign Criteria May Affect the Cost of Your Sign

Landlord requirements can influence the overall cost of a commercial sign.

For example, individually fabricated aluminum channel letters will generally cost more than flat acrylic letters. Custom paint colors, specialty finishes, halo illumination, raceway restrictions, or concealed electrical components can also affect the final price.

Installation conditions may add additional costs as well. Signs installed on tile, stone, glass, architectural panels, or exterior insulation systems may require specialized attachment methods.

Providing the sign criteria to your sign company early allows the contractor to prepare a more accurate quote and recommend options that fit your budget.

Ask About Existing Electrical Access

Illuminated signs require an appropriate electrical connection.

Before ordering your sign, determine whether electrical power is already available at the proposed sign location. Some buildings include a dedicated sign circuit, while others require new electrical work.

Your sign company may need to coordinate with the landlord, property manager, general contractor, or electrician to confirm:

• The location of the electrical connection
• The available voltage
• Access above ceilings or behind walls
• Timer or photocell requirements
• Disconnect switch requirements
• Whether electrical work is included in the tenant improvement project

Addressing these details early can help prevent delays during installation.

Understand the Sign Approval Process

The landlord approval process varies by property. In many cases, the sign company prepares a formal sign drawing or submittal package showing:

• The proposed sign design
• Sign dimensions
• Letter and logo sizes
• Colors and materials
• Illumination details
• The sign’s location on the building
• Installation and attachment information
• Electrical specifications

The landlord or property manager reviews the drawings and may approve them, reject them, or request revisions.

Once landlord approval is obtained, the sign company can usually proceed with city permitting and engineering, when required.

Do Not Manufacture the Sign Before Receiving Approval

It can be tempting to approve fabrication quickly, especially when your grand opening date is approaching. However, manufacturing a sign before receiving written landlord and city approval can create significant risk.

If the design is rejected or modified, the sign may need to be remade. This could increase costs and delay your opening.

A professional sign company will typically confirm the required approvals before beginning fabrication.

Plan for the Sign Early in Your Opening Timeline

Commercial signs often involve several steps, including:

• Reviewing the landlord’s sign criteria
• Developing the sign design
• Preparing landlord submittals
• Making requested revisions
• Obtaining landlord approval
• Completing engineering, when required
• Applying for city permits
• Fabricating the sign
• Coordinating electrical work
• Scheduling installation
• Completing inspections

Starting the signage process early gives you more time to address approvals and design changes without placing unnecessary pressure on your opening schedule.

Ideally, new business owners should begin discussing signage shortly after signing the lease.

Can You Request an Exception to the Sign Criteria?

In some cases, a landlord may consider a variance or exception. However, approval is not guaranteed.

Exceptions may be considered when:

• A nationally recognized logo requires a specific color or shape
• The tenant has limited visibility
• The architectural conditions create installation challenges
• Another approved sign option would better complement the building
• A proposed design maintains the overall intent of the sign program

A professional sign company can help present the request clearly and provide drawings that demonstrate how the proposed sign will complement the property.

Work With an Experienced Commercial Sign Company

Landlord sign criteria can seem complicated, especially when combined with city permitting, electrical requirements, engineering, fabrication, and installation.

An experienced commercial sign company can help guide you through the entire process.

At RSL Signs, we help business owners review sign criteria, develop compliant sign designs, prepare landlord approval packages, coordinate permitting, manufacture custom signs, and complete professional installation.

Our goal is to create signage that supports your brand, complements the property, and provides excellent visibility for your new business.

Start Your Business Sign Project With Confidence

Landlord sign criteria are an important part of opening a commercial location, but they do not have to be overwhelming.

By reviewing the requirements early, coordinating with your property manager, and working with an experienced sign company, you can avoid unnecessary delays and move forward with confidence.

The right sign will do more than satisfy the landlord’s requirements. It will introduce your business, reinforce your brand, and help customers find your location.

If you are preparing to open a new business in Orange County or Southern California, contact RSL Signs to discuss your storefront sign requirements. We can review your landlord’s sign criteria and help develop a professional sign solution that meets your branding, property, and permitting needs.