Building Signs: Sizes, Mounting, and Permits in Clark County

Business signs for buildings are the biggest first impression most companies ever buy. The sign on the wall tells people you exist, where the door is, and whether you look open and established. Get the size, the mounting, and the permit right and the sign works for years.

The short version: most building signs for business are either flat panel signs on aluminum composite, dimensional letters mounted to the wall, or lighted channel letters. Size is driven by how far away people read it. Mounting depends on the wall. And in Clark County, almost any permanent sign on the outside of a building needs a permit from the city or county before it goes up.

We print flat panel building signs here in Vancouver and we can quote and handle lettered signs for you. This guide explains the options so you can make a good call. When you are ready, send us a photo of the wall and the space you have and we will walk you through it.

What are the main types of business signs for buildings?

There are more styles than this, but almost every storefront and office falls into one of these four.

• Flat panel signs. A printed sign on Dibond, which is aluminum composite, mounted flat to the wall or inside a sign band. Full color, any shape, and the most affordable way to get your logo on a building. We print these in house.
• Dimensional letters. Individual letters cut from acrylic, PVC, or metal and pinned off the wall. Clean, professional, and not lit. We can quote these and handle the order for you.
• Channel letters. Hollow letters with LED lighting inside. Front lit, back lit halo style, or both. The standard for retail and restaurants that are open after dark. We can quote and coordinate these.
• Lighted cabinet signs. A box with a printed or cut face and lights inside. Common on older buildings and shopping centers that already have a cabinet you can reface with a new printed panel. We can quote a new face or a full cabinet.

Many businesses mix these. A flat panel on the side wall facing the parking lot, dimensional letters over the door, and a window graphic at eye level. If you are planning the whole front of a shop, our storefront sign guide covers how the pieces fit together.

How big should a building sign be?

Size comes down to one question. How far away is the person who needs to read it? A sign read from a parking lot can be modest. A sign read from a four lane road needs to be large.

A common rule of thumb in the sign trade is about 1 inch of letter height for every 10 feet of viewing distance for comfortable reading. So letters read from 100 feet away want to be around 10 inches tall. Letters read from the far side of a busy road might need 18 to 24 inches.

Two other limits matter. First, the physical space. Most commercial buildings have a sign band, a flat strip above the storefront, and your sign has to fit inside it. Second, the code. Cities cap sign area based on the width of your building frontage. More on that below.

A quick trick: tape paper cutouts or a cheap banner to the wall at the size you are thinking about. Then walk out to the road and look. It is the cheapest test you will ever run.

How are building signs mounted?

The wall decides the mounting. Here is what to expect for the common surfaces in Clark County and the Portland metro.

• Stucco and EIFS. Very common on newer strip centers. Panels and letters anchor through to the framing or a backer. Every hole gets sealed to keep water out of the wall.
• Brick and block. Masonry anchors into the brick or the mortar joints. Solid and simple.
• Metal siding. Signs usually mount to the ribs or to a backer plate so the panel sits flat and does not dent the siding.
• Wood siding. Screws straight into the sheathing or studs. Use stainless hardware so nothing rusts and streaks.
• Raceway mount. For channel letters, a slim metal box that holds the wiring and the letters. One set of holes into the wall instead of dozens. Landlords often require it.

Flat Dibond panels can be mounted with screws through the face, with standoffs that hold the panel off the wall, or with hidden cleats. Standoffs look sharp on an office building and give rain a path to run behind the sign instead of pooling on it.

Lighted signs need power. An electrician runs a circuit to the sign location, and the sign install connects to it. Plan this early because it affects the permit and the schedule.

Do you need a permit for a building sign in Clark County?

In almost every case, yes. The City of Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, La Center, and unincorporated Clark County each have their own sign code. The details differ, but the pattern is the same. A permanent sign attached to a building needs a sign permit before it is installed.

Here is what the permit process usually involves:

• A drawing of the sign with dimensions and total square footage
• A photo or elevation of the building showing where the sign goes
• A site plan showing the building frontage, since allowed sign area is usually a formula based on frontage
• Mounting details, and electrical details for a lighted sign
• Landlord approval if you lease the space
• A permit fee

Some things are usually exempt or handled more lightly, such as small address numbers, window graphics under a certain size, and temporary banners for a limited number of days. Historic districts and some downtown zones have extra design rules. The rules change, so do not rely on what a neighbor did five years ago. Call the planning department for your city, tell them your address, and ask what applies to you.

We provide the sign drawings and dimensions you need for the application.

Which materials survive Pacific Northwest weather?

Our weather is not extreme, but it is relentless. Months of rain, moss on anything that stays damp, and wind that works at loose edges. Choose materials that do not care.

• Aluminum composite (Dibond). Will not rust, rot, or warp. Printed with outdoor inks and laminated. Our go to for flat building signs.
• Acrylic and PVC letters. Hold color well and shrug off rain. Painted faces can be matched to your brand.
• Aluminum channel letters. The standard body for lit letters. Long lasting with LED modules that sip power.
• Wood. Looks great on a farm stand or a tasting room, but needs sealing and upkeep here. Go in with eyes open.

Grey winters are also an argument for lighting. From November through February it is dark by the time many customers leave work. If your business is open past 4 pm, a light aimed at your panel sign earns its keep. For more on what looks good through the rain, see our exterior business sign ideas.

How much do building signs cost?

Prices range widely because the sign types are so different. As typical industry ranges, not a price list:

• A printed Dibond panel sign for a storefront often lands in the hundreds of dollars, more for very large panels.
• Dimensional letters usually run from the high hundreds into the low thousands depending on size, count, and material.
• Channel letter sets are commonly several thousand dollars once you add lighting, raceway, install, and electrical.

Your quote depends on size, quantity, and material, plus install and permit work. If budget is tight, a sharp Dibond panel now and lit letters later is a plan many new businesses follow. Our post on small business signs on a budget lays out what to buy first.

Ready to order? See our outdoor business signs page for options, what to send us, and how to get a quote.

Questions people ask

How long does it take to get a building sign?

A printed panel sign is usually a few business days once the proof is approved. Lettered and lighted signs take longer because of fabrication and the permit review, often several weeks. Ask us for current turnaround when you quote.

Can I put up a sign without a permit if it is small?

Some very small signs and temporary banners are exempt in some cities, but the limits are specific and differ by jurisdiction. Check with your city before you install. An unpermitted sign can mean a fine and an order to take it down.

Do I need my landlord’s permission?

Almost always. Most commercial leases have a sign section that covers size, style, and sometimes a required installer. Read it first and get written approval. Many permit applications also ask for the property owner’s sign off.

Can you install the sign?

Tell us what you need when you request a quote. For flat panel signs we can advise on mounting or arrange install.

What file do you need for my logo?

A vector file such as AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF is best because it scales to any size without blur. If all you have is a small image, send it anyway. We can often redraw it for a small art fee.

Ready to put your name on the building? Send us the idea and a rough quantity and we will send a proof and a price.