Guide for sign installation and repair companies · checked 30 October 2026
How sign companies run a job, from site survey to lit-at-night photo
A sign job is a wall you have not drilled yet, a city that wants stamped drawings, a landlord who signs the proof, a UL label, a 20 amp circuit and often a crane. This guide covers the permits, the electrical and lifting rules, the records and the software, with a source on every number.
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Short answer
Sign companies usually run the shop on a sign and print management tool (shopVOX, Corebridge or Cyrious Control) for quotes, proofs and production, and add a field service tool for surveys, installs and repair calls. National account work often arrives through the brand's facilities platform, such as ServiceChannel, with its own check-in and photo rules. What the software has to hold is sign-specific: survey measurements per elevation, the landlord-signed proof, a permit per municipality, power supply and LED module counts, the UL label photo, crane and electrician assignments, and a per-site photo package for the brand.
48 to 60 in
ADA tactile characters: baseline of the lowest line at least 48 in, highest line no more than 60 in above the floor
source: US Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards Chapter 7 (703 signs)
20 A
Minimum rating of the sign branch circuit under NEC 600.5, and it may serve no other load
source: EC&M, Article 600: Electric Signs and Outline Lighting
20 ft
If any part of a crane or load could come closer than this to a power line, OSHA 1926.1408 controls apply
3 business days
Notice Georgia 811 asks for before any digging, including a monument or pylon footing
How a job runs
One sign installation and repair job, from first call to paid
The order the work really happens in, and what has to be written down at each step so nothing is argued about later.
- 1
Take the enquiry or the national account work order
A local job starts as a call or a web form: business name, address, sign type (channel letters, cabinet, monument, pylon, EMC, vinyl, ADA interior), and whether old signs come down. National work arrives as a PO or work order from a sign network or the brand's facilities platform, with a store number, a not-to-exceed amount, a due date and the brand's photo spec. Log both against the site, not just the customer.
- 2
Survey every elevation
Per elevation: wall material (brick, block, EIFS, stucco, metal panel, glass), sign opening width and height, mounting height to the bottom of the sign, existing signs and their removal, power source location and distance, access for a lift or crane, overhead lines, and photos with a tape or measuring stick in frame. Decide raceway or direct mount here. For freestanding signs, note setback from the right-of-way, sight lines at driveways, and whether a footing means a locate ticket.
- 3
Design, quote and get the proof signed
Produce the drawing with letter heights, colors labelled, profile showing raceway or attachment, and the square footage breakdown the city will check. Quote fabrication, install, electrical, permits, engineering, lift or crane, and removal and disposal as separate lines. The customer approves the proof; in a shopping center, the landlord also signs and dates the drawing before the city sees it.
- 4
Pull the permits
File the sign permit with the city or county, plus an electrical permit for illuminated signs. Many cities want a site plan with property lines and distance to the right-of-way, a building elevation, the sign profile, and sealed engineering for freestanding signs above a height or area threshold. Track the application date, fee, reviewer comments and the permit's expiry, which is often six months if the sign is not up.
- 5
Fabricate to the listing
Build the cabinets or letters to the shop's UL listing, order LED modules, power supplies by wattage, acrylic and vinyl by color, and steel for pylons. Label each piece by elevation and letter set. Apply the UL label and the manufacturer marking before the sign leaves the shop.
- 6
Schedule the install with the right crew and equipment
Book the crew, the bucket truck or crane, and a licensed electrician for the connection. Confirm the crane operator's certification, the power line distance, the 811 ticket for any footing, the permit card on site, and the store manager's access window. Brands often want installs outside trading hours.
- 7
Install, connect and photograph
Remove and dispose of the old sign, patch penetrations, mount to the drawing, seal fasteners, and connect to the dedicated sign circuit with a disconnect within sight or lockable open. Bond the metal parts. Photograph the UL label, the power supply mounting, the disconnect, every elevation, and the sign lit at dusk. National programs often require progressive photos of footings, anchor bolts and wiring, sent the same day.
- 8
Pass inspection and hand over
Call for the electrical inspection and the sign or building final. Hand the customer the warranty, the timer or photocell settings, and the drawing. For a brand, submit the photo package and close the work order on its platform the way it asks (for example a check-out call or app).
- 9
Invoice and set up the service side
Invoice the deposit, progress and balance, or per site for a rollout. Record the sign on a site register with its power supplies, module type, photocell or timer, and install date, so the first lamp-out call, an LED retrofit or a maintenance contract starts with the facts instead of a truck roll to find out.
What to record
The fields every sign installation and repair job should capture
Site survey, per elevation
- Elevation name (front, left, drive-thru), wall width and height, sign opening width and height
- Wall material and backing: brick, CMU, EIFS or stucco (blocking or plywood backer behind it?), metal panel, glass
- Mounting height to bottom of sign, and to top of the parapet or fascia
- Mount type chosen: raceway, wireway, direct (flush) mount with pattern, standoff, or cabinet
- Existing sign: type, size, removal yes or no, condition of the wall behind it, holes to patch
- Power: location of the existing sign circuit or J-box, distance to the sign, breaker panel location, disconnect present yes or no
- Access: lift or crane needed, reach required, overhead lines within 20 ft, parking or lane closure
- Freestanding only: distance to right-of-way, driveway sight lines, existing footing reuse, 811 needed
- Photos: each elevation square-on, close-up with tape in frame, power location, old sign label, night photo if relevant
Approvals and permits
- Proof version, date sent, approved by and date; landlord signature and date on the drawing
- Sign area calculation per the city's method (single rectangle, multiple rectangles, letters only)
- Municipality, permit type (sign, electrical, building, right-of-way encroachment, historic certificate), application date, fee
- Engineering: sealed drawings yes or no, wind speed and exposure used, footing size and concrete strength
- Permit number, issue date, expiry date, inspections required and their dates and results
- 811 ticket number, date called, date lines marked, expiry
Electrical and install
- UL label present and photographed, listing file number, manufacturer marking
- Branch circuit: breaker size (20 A minimum), dedicated yes or no, disconnect location and type, lockable open
- Power supplies: brand, model, wattage, output voltage, Class 2 yes or no, quantity and where mounted
- LED modules: brand, model, watts per module, count per letter or cabinet
- Photocell, timer or astronomical clock: type, on and off settings
- Anchors and fasteners by wall type, penetrations sealed, bonding of metal parts confirmed
- Crane or lift: unit, operator name and certification number, power line distance, rigging used
- Electrician name and license number, inspection date and result
Service call and brand closeout
- Symptom: fully out, partly out (which letters or sections), flickering, timer wrong, face damage, EMC fault
- Diagnosis: failed power supply (model and wattage), failed module run (count), photocell, timer, breaker, wiring
- Parts used, parts to order, return visit needed
- Retrofit label applied where the illumination system was replaced
- Brand work order number, check-in and check-out times, not-to-exceed amount, photo package sent and accepted
Rules and standards
The rules that shape the work, with their sources
| Rule | What it means on the job |
|---|---|
| NEC 600.5: a sign outlet at each entrance, on its own 20 A circuit | Where a commercial building or tenant space is accessible to pedestrians, at least one sign outlet is required at each entrance. Service hallways and corridors do not count. The branch circuit must be rated at least 20 A, may serve several sign outlets, but no other load. source: EC&M, Article 600: Electric Signs and Outline Lighting |
| NEC 600.6: a disconnect within sight, or one that locks open | Each sign circuit needs an externally operable switch or breaker that opens all ungrounded conductors. It must be within sight of the sign unless it can be locked in the open position, and a portable lock does not count. Where a controller runs the sign, the disconnect sits within sight of or in the controller enclosure. source: EC&M, Article 600: Electric Signs and Outline Lighting |
| NEC 600.3 and 600.7: listed signs, bonded to the equipment ground | Signs must be listed and installed per the listing instructions. Metal parts connect to the circuit's equipment grounding conductor sized per 250.122. An auxiliary ground rod is optional, and the earth is never the fault current path. Signs over vehicle areas sit at least 14 ft up unless protected (600.9(A)), and wet location signs need drain holes. source: EC&M, Article 600: Electric Signs and Outline Lighting |
| NEC 600.4(B): label every LED retrofit | Since the 2017 NEC, a sign retrofitted with tubular LED lamps fed from the old sockets must carry a label that tells service staff the sign was modified, warns not to fit fluorescent lamps, meets 110.21(B), and is visible during relamping. source: EC&M Code Quiz, signs with a retrofitted illumination system (NEC 600.4(B)) |
| UL 48, UL 879 and UL 879A | UL 48 covers complete electric signs (channel letters, box signs, awning signs, changing message signs). UL 879 covers sign components, and UL 879A covers LED sign and retrofit kits. Signs too large for the General Coverage program can get a preliminary investigation and an on-site field evaluation. source: UL Solutions, sign certification (UL 48, UL 879, UL 879A) |
| What an electrical inspector checks on a sign | An inspector's list includes whether the sign is listed, a marking label showing the manufacturer and the input voltage and current rating, the 20 A circuit, a disconnect within sight or lockable open, and bonding of the metal enclosure. Inspectors may also ask whether the shop still holds its listing with a nationally recognized testing laboratory. source: IAEI Magazine, When is a sign not just a sign? |
| OSHA: installs are construction, routine swaps usually are not | OSHA told ISA in 2019 that the initial installation of a sign or pole will generally be construction, and so will retrofitting a sign with new lighting. Most routine removal and replacement of signs is typically not. Replacing a face because the occupant changed needs more facts. Which rule book applies decides the crane, lift and fall rules. source: OSHA letter of interpretation to ISA on sign installation, 1 October 2019 |
| Crane operators on sign installs must be certified | ISA says operators on sign installation need certification under 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, required since 10 November 2018, for equipment rated over 2,000 lbs. NCCCO, NCCER and OECP certifications qualify; riggers and signal persons must be qualified; recertification runs every 5 years. In-plant fabrication is general industry. source: International Sign Association, crane operator certification FAQs |
| Knuckle booms are cranes too (1926.1400) | Subpart CC covers articulating cranes such as knuckle booms. The exclusion for trucks that only unload material to the ground does not apply when the crane holds or stabilizes material for a construction activity or handles prefabricated components, which is what setting a sign cabinet looks like. source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1400, cranes and derricks scope |
| Power lines: the 20 ft check (1926.1408) | Before lifting, decide whether any part of the crane, load line or load could come within 20 ft of a power line. If so: de-energize and ground, keep 20 ft, or keep the Table A distance for the voltage (10 ft up to 50 kV) with a planning meeting, non-conductive tag lines, a warning line and one more measure such as a dedicated spotter. Assume every line is energized. source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408, power line safety for cranes |
| Bucket trucks and lifts (1926.453) | Only authorized persons operate the lift. Test the controls each day before use. Stand on the basket floor, never on the rail or a ladder. Wear fall protection with the lanyard attached to the boom or basket, never to the building or a pole. Set brakes, put outriggers on pads, and do not drive with workers raised unless the unit is designed for it. source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.453, aerial lifts |
| 811 before a monument or pylon footing | Georgia 811 asks diggers to submit a ticket at least three business days before any digging. In 2025 it took 1,318,854 locate requests, notified 6.9 utilities per request on average, and 12.8 percent of reported damages had no prior locate request. Other states set their own notice periods. source: Georgia 811, 2025 media fact sheet (PDF) |
| Sign codes measure area differently (Macon-Bibb and Raleigh) | Macon-Bibb counts the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination that encloses the whole sign, letters and background included, and counts only the largest side of a double-faced sign. Raleigh draws rectangles around the copy that must share sides, with at least 75 percent of the area inside one rectangle, supports excluded. The same letters can measure differently in two towns. source: Macon-Bibb County sign regulations, Chapter 25 (Zoneomics copy) |
| Height, setback and EMC limits (Macon-Bibb Chapter 25) | Freestanding business signs are capped at 25 ft or 35 ft by district, 70 ft overall, with up to 100 ft near interstate interchanges. No part may be within 2 ft of the right-of-way. Changeable copy signs must hold each message at least 6 seconds, change electronically in under 2 seconds, need dimmers, and may not sit within 200 ft of a residence. Lit signs are capped at 5,000 nits by day and 500 at night. source: Macon-Bibb County sign regulations, Chapter 25 (Zoneomics copy) |
| What a permit package contains (Valdosta GA) | Scale plan and elevation drawings with distances to property lines and rights-of-way, footing and connection details, and for illuminated signs the disconnect size and location, wire, conduit and load, installed by a Georgia licensed electrician. Freestanding signs over 100 sq ft and over 25 ft tall need drawings by a Georgia registered design professional stating IBC and ASCE 7 compliance, at least 100 mph wind, and soil bearing. The permit lapses if the sign is not up in 6 months. source: City of Valdosta GA, Section 230-5 sign permit requirements (PDF) |
| Landlord signature and sealed footings (Raleigh NC) | Raleigh's checklist requires the owner or landlord's signature and date on the drawing, a profile showing raceway and attachment, a square footage breakdown, existing signs labelled Existing or To be removed, and a sealed engineered footing detail for a ground sign over 42 in. Illuminated signs need an electrical inspection on top of the sign permit. source: City of Raleigh NC, sign permit checklist and acknowledgement form (PDF) |
| ADA 703: tactile and braille room signs | Raised characters are uppercase, at least 1/32 in raised and 5/8 to 2 in high. Braille is Grade 2, below the text, at least 3/8 in from other tactile characters. Baselines sit 48 in minimum (lowest line) to 60 in maximum (highest line). At a single door the sign goes on the latch side, with an 18 by 18 in clear floor space beyond the door swing. source: US Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards Chapter 7 (703 signs) |
| ADA 216 and 307: which signs, and how they protrude | Signs that name permanent rooms and spaces need tactile characters; directional and informational signs only need to meet the visual rules. Overhead signs leave 80 in of headroom. Post-mounted signs with a leading edge between 27 and 80 in may not protrude more than 12 in. Accessible parking signs sit with their bottom edge at least 60 in above the ground. source: US Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 7: Signs (PDF) |
| Licensing: Texas electrical sign contractors | A Texas Electrical Sign Contractor must employ a licensed Master Electrician or Master Sign Electrician, carry at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate liability plus $300,000 products and completed operations, and renew yearly. The application fee is $110. source: Texas TDLR, apply for an Electrical Sign Contractor license |
| Licensing: California C-45 sign contractors | The C-45 classification covers fabricating, installing and erecting electrical signs including their wiring, non-electrical signs, pole and structure-mounted signs, painted wall signs and changes to existing signs. Other states license sign electricians separately or only through electrical contractor licenses, so record the license used on every job. source: California CSLB, C-45 Sign Contractor classification |
| EMC brightness: 0.3 foot-candles over ambient | ISA recommends that electronic message centers not exceed 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured at a distance set by the display's size. Many local codes adopt this method; others set nits, like Macon-Bibb. Record the dimming setting at handover. source: International Sign Association, EMC brightness level recommendations |
| National account photo specs are strict | Persona's McDonald's photo spec asks installers to send photos every day on site: open footing holes with a tape showing width, length and depth against the engineering, anchor bolts with the template, a level on the base plate front and side, wiring behind the wall for each letter set, power supply mounting, every sign lit, and photos labelled by letter size and elevation. source: Persona, McDonald's required progressive and completion photos (PDF) |
Rules vary by state, council and contract. Checked 30 October 2026; confirm against the source for your area before relying on it.
Numbers
Sign numbers that decide drawings, permits and installs
Most rows come from codes and standards linked here. The letter-height and power supply rows are worked examples showing the math; use your module maker's loading chart and the city's actual code.
| Item | Figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Sign branch circuit | 20 A minimum, no other load | NEC 600.5 |
| Sign over vehicle area | 14 ft minimum unless protected | NEC 600.9(A) |
| ADA tactile character baseline | 48 in min (lowest) to 60 in max (highest) | 2010 ADA 703.4.1 |
| ADA raised character height | 5/8 in to 2 in, raised 1/32 in | 2010 ADA 703.2 |
| Overhead sign headroom | 80 in minimum | 2010 ADA 307.4 |
| Crane power line trigger | 20 ft; 10 ft minimum up to 50 kV under Table A | OSHA 1926.1408 |
| Crane certification threshold | Rated capacity over 2,000 lbs | ISA on 1926 Subpart CC |
| Georgia locate notice | 3 business days before digging | Georgia 811 |
| Sealed footing trigger, Raleigh | Ground sign over 42 in | Raleigh permit checklist |
| Sealed drawings trigger, Valdosta | Over 100 sq ft and over 25 ft tall; 100 mph minimum wind | Valdosta 230-5 |
| Macon-Bibb freestanding height | 25 or 35 ft by district; 70 ft cap | Macon-Bibb 25.06, 25.05 |
| Macon-Bibb EMC | 6 s hold, under 2 s change, 5,000 nits day, 500 night | Macon-Bibb 25.08, 25.09 |
| Sign permit life | 6 months to erect (Macon-Bibb and Valdosta) | Local codes |
| USSC legibility index | About 30 ft of viewing distance per inch of letter; all caps need 15% taller | USSC 2018 |
| Worked example: letter height | 40 mph road: 59 ft/s x 9 s = 530 ft; 530 / 31 = 17 in letters | USSC 2018 worked example |
| Worked example: power supply sizing | 60 modules x 0.72 W = 43.2 W on one 60 W supply; check the maker's loading chart | Illustrative math only |
source: EC&M, Article 600: Electric Signs and Outline Lightingsource: US Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards Chapter 7 (703 signs)source: US Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 7: Signs (PDF)source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408, power line safety for cranessource: International Sign Association, crane operator certification FAQssource: Georgia 811, 2025 media fact sheet (PDF)source: City of Raleigh NC, sign permit checklist and acknowledgement form (PDF)source: City of Valdosta GA, Section 230-5 sign permit requirements (PDF)source: Macon-Bibb County sign regulations, Chapter 25 (Zoneomics copy)source: USSC Foundation, Guideline Standards for On-Premise Signs 2018 (PDF)
Where it breaks
Where spreadsheets and generic software fall over
The survey is a phone camera roll and a sketch on a notepad. The letters arrive and the wall is EIFS with no backing, or the power is on the other elevation, and the crew drives back.
Make the survey a per-elevation form with wall material, backing, opening size, mounting height, power location and distance, and required photos with a tape in frame. The quote and the drawing read from it.
The permit lives in one person's inbox. Nobody sees that the city asked for sealed footing drawings, and the permit expires six months later with the sign still in the shop.
Keep one permit record per municipality and job with status, reviewer comments, fees, inspection dates and expiry, and alert on any application with no movement and any permit close to expiry.
A brand's rollout of 140 stores is tracked in a spreadsheet the brand also edits. Photo packages are emailed in batches and half are rejected for missing the night shot.
Track each site as its own job under one program, with the brand's photo list as a required checklist. A site cannot close until every required photo is on it, and the brand sees status in a portal.
A lamp-out call goes out with no idea which power supply or module is inside, so the first visit is diagnosis and the second is the repair.
Keep a sign register per site with power supply models and wattages, module type, photocell or timer, and install photos. The tech loads the van from it, and the diagnosis form updates it.
Installs get scheduled by who is free, not who is licensed. The electrician is not licensed in that state, or the crane operator's card has lapsed.
Store each person's licenses and certifications with states and expiry dates, and each truck's reach and capacity, and only offer crews and equipment that meet the job's requirements.
National account work orders have a not-to-exceed and a check-in rule, but the office learns about the overrun when the invoice is rejected.
Carry the work order number, NTE and check-in requirement on the job, warn the tech before parts or hours pass the NTE, and attach the proposal for the extra before doing it.
Checklist
The sign installation and repair operations checklist
Print it, or hand it to whoever runs the office side.
- Every job is tied to a site address, and national work carries the brand's work order number, NTE and due date
- Survey done per elevation with wall material, backing, opening, mounting height, power location and photos with a tape
- Sign area calculated the way that city measures it, and the square footage breakdown is on the drawing
- Proof approved in writing; landlord signature and date on the drawing where there is a landlord
- Sign permit and electrical permit filed, with fees, comments, inspection dates and expiry tracked
- Sealed engineering ordered when the city's height or area threshold is passed
- 811 ticket called and valid before any footing is dug
- UL label and manufacturer marking applied in the shop and photographed
- Crane operator certified and power line distance checked; lift controls tested that day
- Licensed electrician assigned for the connection, with license number on the job
- Dedicated 20 A sign circuit, disconnect within sight or lockable open, metal parts bonded
- Retrofit label applied on every LED retrofit
- Completion photos match the brand's spec, including the sign lit at night
- Sign register updated with power supplies, modules, photocell or timer and install date
Software options
What software sign installation and repair companies actually use
Judge each one on whether it fits the way your jobs run, not on the feature list. Bring a real job to every demo.
shopVOX
Sign and print shops that want quoting, proofs and production in one cloud tool
Pricing templates for materials, labor and sizes, online proof approval with revision history, a production board, and QuickBooks Online and Xero sync. The install and survey calendar is in Pro (listed at $249 a month plus $49 a user), and a Service Jobs add-on tracks installs, warranty work and site surveys on a job board and map.
Corebridge
Print, sign, graphics and apparel shops, including franchise networks
Cloud business management with material, labor and vendor pricing, proofs and revisions, visual job boards from design to delivery, and QuickBooks Online and Xero. Its site mentions install scheduling through calendar sync but describes no dedicated field app for surveys or service calls.
Cyrious Control
Established sign and graphics shops that have run it for years
Estimate to work order to invoice, profit shown before a quote is sent, parts lists with inventory checks, and job status dashboards. Listed for Windows and cloud. Users on sign forums report moving to Corebridge; check current support before committing.
ServiceChannel (provider side)
Sign service companies doing repair and maintenance for national retail and restaurant brands
Not something you choose: the brand uses it, and you work inside it. Providers receive work orders and check in and out by IVR phone call or the provider app, which moves the order to In Progress/On Site. Your own system still needs the job, parts and photos; plan to keep both in step.
Jobber
Small local sign installers and repair outfits with mostly short jobs
General field service software: quotes with online approval and deposits, drag-and-drop scheduling, job forms and checklists in the mobile app, recurring jobs and a client hub, with QuickBooks Online sync. It has no sign proofing, permit tracking, production queue or multi-site rollout view.
Questions to ask any vendor
- Can a site survey hold several elevations, each with its own wall material, opening size, power location and required photos, and can the quote and drawing read from it?
- Can I track a permit per municipality with application date, fee, reviewer comments, inspections and expiry, and get alerted before it lapses?
- Can a rollout of 100+ sites run as one program with a status per site, and can the brand see progress and photo packages without emailing spreadsheets?
- Can I store licenses and crane certifications with states and expiry dates, and stop the schedule from assigning someone who does not qualify?
- Does the field app work offline on a roof or in a parking lot, and can it block job completion until the UL label, disconnect and night photos are taken?
- Can incoming POs and work orders from sign networks and facilities platforms be read into jobs, and can I export everything through an API if I leave?
Bring one real sign installation and repair job. We show it running in Fieldproxy.
Get DemoHow Fieldproxy is set up for this
Sign installation and repair on Fieldproxy: built around how you already work
Fieldproxy is set up around how a sign company actually works: a site with several elevations, a proof the landlord has to sign, a permit in every town, a shop queue, a crew that needs a lift, a licensed electrician and sometimes a crane, and a brand that wants its photos by tonight. Sign Store in Macon, Georgia, which does survey, permits, design, fabrication, install and service in house, ran survey, install and service orders with checklists on Fieldproxy. The full setup below goes further, from the first PO to the lamp-out route.
Module 1
Intake: enquiries and national account work orders
Local work and brand work arrive in different shapes, and both must end up as a job on a site.
- Records: Customer, Site (address, store number, brand, landlord contact), Job with type Survey, New sign, Rebrand, De-install, Repair, Maintenance, ADA interior
- Brand fields: program name, work order or PO number, not-to-exceed amount, due date, check-in rule, photo spec attached
- PDF POs from sign networks are read into a draft job with site, scope lines and NTE for the office to confirm
- Statuses: New, Survey booked, Surveyed, Quoting, Proof out, Approved, Permitting, In production, Install scheduled, Installed, Closed out, Invoiced
- Duplicate check by store number and address so the same site is not opened twice for one program
Module 2
Site survey app, per elevation
Most return trips start with a survey that missed the wall material or the power.
- One survey holds many elevations and, for rollouts, many sites; each elevation is its own repeating section
- Fields: wall material, backing or blocking, opening width and height, mounting height, raceway or direct mount, existing sign and removal, power location and distance, disconnect present
- Freestanding: setback to right-of-way, sight lines at driveways, footing reuse, 811 needed yes or no
- Access: lift reach needed, crane yes or no, overhead lines within 20 ft, lane or parking closure
- Required photos per elevation (square-on, close-up with tape, power location, old sign label) before the survey can be submitted; works offline
Module 3
Quote, proof and landlord approval
The proof is the contract for what gets built, and in a shopping center two people must sign it.
- Estimate lines: fabrication, install, electrical, permits and fees, engineering, lift or crane, removal and disposal, after-hours premium
- Proof record: version number, drawing PDF, letter heights, colors labelled with PMS or vinyl codes, square footage breakdown per the city's method
- Approval steps: customer approves, then landlord signs and dates; each step logged with name and time from a public link
- Revisions keep every prior version; production cannot start on an unapproved version
- Deposit request issued on approval, with the amount per your terms
Module 4
Permit tracker per municipality
Every town has its own forms, thresholds and expiry, and permits are where jobs stall without anyone noticing.
- Municipality record: sign code link, area method, sealed drawing threshold (for example over 42 in in Raleigh), electrical permit needed, typical review days, permit life
- Permit record per job: type (sign, electrical, building, encroachment, historic), application date, fee paid, reviewer, comments, resubmittals
- Documents: site plan, elevation, profile, engineering with wind speed and exposure, landlord-signed drawing, contractor license
- Inspection lines: footing, electrical, final, each with date, inspector and result
- Statuses: Not started, Drafting, Submitted, Comments, Approved, Issued, Inspected, Finaled, Expired
Module 5
Fabrication queue and materials
Install dates depend on the shop, and the shop depends on having the right power supplies and colors in stock.
- Production record per sign: stages Cut, Route, Form returns, Paint, LED layout, Wire, Face, QC, UL label, Crated
- Bill of materials: LED modules (model, watts, count), power supplies by wattage and output voltage, acrylic color and thickness, vinyl color code, steel for pylons
- Stock levels and reorder points for common power supplies and modules, reserved per job
- QC check before crating: lit test photo, UL label photo, parts labelled by elevation and letter set
- Shop calendar shows which installs are at risk when a stage slips
Module 6
Install scheduling with crane, lift and licensed electrician
The right crew is the one with the license for that state, the truck with the reach and a certified crane operator.
- People records: electrician license number, states and expiry; crane certification (NCCCO, NCCER or OECP) and expiry; lift authorization
- Equipment records: bucket truck working height, crane capacity, inspection dates; booked like people
- Job holds: required reach, crane yes or no, permit issued, 811 ticket valid, store access window, after-hours yes or no
- Schedule refuses an install until the permit is Issued and, for footings, the 811 ticket is current
- Store manager gets a confirmation with the date, window and what will be switched off
Module 7
Install checklist and electrical sign-off
The inspector and the brand both check the same things, so the crew should record them once.
- Pre-start: lift controls tested, power line distance checked, crane plan, permit card on site
- Removal: old sign down, disposal noted, wall patched, penetrations sealed
- Electrical: dedicated circuit and breaker size, disconnect location and lockable, bonding done, power supply mounting, electrician name and license
- Required photos: UL label, disconnect, power supplies, each elevation, sign lit at dusk, plus brand-specific shots such as footing with tape or anchor bolts with template
- Customer or store manager signature; job cannot close until required photos and fields are complete
Module 8
Sign register, service orders and maintenance routes
Repair is faster when you already know what is inside the sign, and maintenance contracts are recurring revenue.
- Asset record per sign: type, location on site, install date, power supplies (model, wattage, count), module type, photocell or timer, warranty end, photos
- Service order diagnosis: symptom, letters or sections out, failed power supply model, modules replaced (count), photocell or timer fault, breaker, parts used
- LED retrofit records the kit, the retrofit label photo and the new wattage
- Maintenance contracts: sites covered, visit frequency, night lamp-out survey, timer and photocell check, face cleaning; visits generated automatically
- Lamp-out routes group nearby sites for one night drive, and each failed sign becomes a service order
Module 9
Multi-site rollout tracker and brand photo packages
A rebrand is hundreds of small jobs that the brand judges by one dashboard and a folder of photos.
- Program record: brand, sites, sign package per site type, target dates, subcontract installers by region
- Per-site status: Survey, Drawings, Landlord, Permit, Production, Install, Photos accepted, Invoiced
- Photo package per site built from the install checklist, named by site, elevation and sign, exported as one PDF
- Brand portal: program progress, per-site status, permits waiting, photo packages to review and accept
- Subcontract installers take sites in their region, upload photos and claim against the site
Module 10
Invoicing and reporting
Sign work is billed in deposits, progress and per site, and margin hides in return trips and crane days.
- Invoice types: deposit on proof approval, progress on fabrication, balance on install, per-site for rollouts, per-visit or monthly for maintenance
- National account invoices carry the work order number and stay under the NTE unless a proposal was approved
- QuickBooks or Xero sync
- Reports: jobs waiting on permits by municipality and days waiting, return trips by cause, crane and lift days per job, power supply failures by model, rollout progress by program
The AI agents, set up for sign installation and repair companies
| Agent | When | What it does | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document intelligence agent | A PDF purchase order or work order arrives by email from a sign network or a brand's facilities team. | Reads the PO number, store number, site address, scope lines, not-to-exceed amount, due date and photo requirements, and matches the site to an existing site record. | A draft job on the right site with scope lines, NTE and due date, plus a list of anything missing (for example no store contact) for the office to confirm. |
| Vision agent | A tech photographs a power supply nameplate, the UL label or the old sign on a service call or survey. | Reads the brand, model, wattage, output voltage and Class 2 marking from the nameplate, and the manufacturer and listing details from the label. | The sign register and the service order filled with the power supply model and wattage, and a parts request for the matching replacement. |
| Watcher agent | A permit has had no status change for longer than that municipality's typical review time, a permit is 30 days from expiry with no install booked, or a brand work order is near its due date with no check-in. | Checks permit records, install dates and brand due dates every day, and checks closed installs for missing UL label or lit-at-night photos. | A flag on the job and an email to the permit coordinator or project manager naming the site, the permit or work order, and what is late. |
| Dispatch agent | A job reaches Install scheduled with the permit issued and production complete. | Matches the job's required reach, crane need, state and hours against people's licenses and crane certifications, truck reach and availability, and the distance from other jobs that day. | A proposed crew, electrician and truck or crane booking for the office to accept, with the reason any qualified person was skipped. |
| Autopilot | A proof has been out three days without approval, a landlord signature is missing, or a deposit is unpaid. | Drafts a short chase to the right person with the proof link, what is waiting and the install date at risk. | A drafted email or text that a person approves before it sends, logged on the job. |
| Scheduler agent | Every Monday at 7 am for each active rollout program. | Counts sites by stage, lists permits waiting and photo packages rejected, and compares installs done with the program target. | A program status report emailed to the brand's project manager and your account lead. |
Straight answers
Sign installation and repair: FAQ
What software do sign installation and repair companies use?
Most run the shop on a sign and print management tool such as shopVOX, Corebridge or Cyrious Control for quotes, proofs and production, and add a field service tool for surveys, installs and repair calls. National account repair work often comes through the brand's platform, such as ServiceChannel. Some run the field and shop side in one configurable platform such as Fieldproxy. The test is whether survey measurements, the signed proof, permits, UL label photos and the brand's photo package sit on one job.
Does an electric sign need a UL label?
Yes, in practice. NEC 600.3 requires signs to be listed and installed per the listing, and inspectors look for the listing mark and a marking label with the manufacturer and input voltage and current. Complete signs are listed to UL 48, components to UL 879 and LED retrofit kits to UL 879A. Very large signs can get a UL field evaluation.
What does the NEC require for a sign circuit and disconnect?
NEC 600.5 calls for a sign outlet at each pedestrian entrance to a commercial tenant space, on a branch circuit of at least 20 A that serves no other load. NEC 600.6 requires a disconnect that opens all ungrounded conductors, within sight of the sign unless it can be locked open. Metal parts are bonded to the equipment grounding conductor.
How high do ADA signs go?
Under 2010 ADA Standards 703.4.1, the baseline of the lowest tactile character is at least 48 in above the floor and the baseline of the highest is no more than 60 in. At a single door the sign goes on the latch side. Characters are uppercase, raised 1/32 in, 5/8 to 2 in high, with Grade 2 braille below.
Do sign crane operators need certification?
Yes, for installation. ISA says operators on sign installs need certification under OSHA Subpart CC, required since November 2018, for equipment rated over 2,000 lbs, through NCCCO, NCCER or OECP. Knuckle booms are covered when they set prefabricated components. Some routine sign maintenance may fall under general industry instead.
Is sign maintenance construction work under OSHA?
It depends. OSHA's 2019 letter to ISA says a new sign or pole is generally construction, and so is an LED retrofit, while most routine removal and replacement of signs is typically not. Changing a face for a new occupant needs a case-by-case look.
When does a pylon or monument sign need engineered drawings?
It depends on the city. Raleigh wants a sealed engineered footing detail for a ground sign over 42 in. Valdosta, Georgia requires drawings by a Georgia registered design professional for freestanding signs over 100 sq ft and over 25 ft tall, stating IBC and ASCE 7 compliance with at least 100 mph wind.
How is sign area calculated for a permit?
Each code sets its own method. Macon-Bibb uses the smallest square, rectangle, triangle, circle or combination around the whole sign, background included, and counts one face of a double-faced sign. Raleigh draws rectangles around the copy that must share sides, with 75 percent of the area inside one, excluding supports.
How tall should sign letters be?
The United States Sign Council uses a legibility index of about 30 ft of viewing distance per inch of letter height, and all-caps copy needs letters about 15 percent taller. Its worked example for a 40 mph road gives a 530 ft reading distance and 17 in letters.
How bright can an electronic message center be?
ISA recommends no more than 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured at a distance set by the sign's size. Some codes use nits instead; Macon-Bibb caps lit signs at 5,000 nits by day and 500 at night, and requires a 6 second minimum message hold.
Can Fieldproxy handle a multi-site rebrand?
Yes. Each site is its own job under one program, with survey, landlord approval, permit, production and install stages, the brand's photo list as a required checklist, and a portal where the brand sees status and accepts photo packages. Subcontract installers can take sites in their region.
Related guides
All sources on this page (36)
- source: US Access Board, 2010 ADA Standards Chapter 7 (703 signs)
- source: EC&M, Article 600: Electric Signs and Outline Lighting
- source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1408, power line safety for cranes
- source: Georgia 811, 2025 media fact sheet (PDF)
- source: EC&M Code Quiz, signs with a retrofitted illumination system (NEC 600.4(B))
- source: UL Solutions, sign certification (UL 48, UL 879, UL 879A)
- source: IAEI Magazine, When is a sign not just a sign?
- source: OSHA letter of interpretation to ISA on sign installation, 1 October 2019
- source: International Sign Association, crane operator certification FAQs
- source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1400, cranes and derricks scope
- source: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.453, aerial lifts
- source: Macon-Bibb County sign regulations, Chapter 25 (Zoneomics copy)
- source: City of Valdosta GA, Section 230-5 sign permit requirements (PDF)
- source: City of Raleigh NC, sign permit checklist and acknowledgement form (PDF)
- source: US Access Board, Guide to the ADA Standards, Chapter 7: Signs (PDF)
- source: Texas TDLR, apply for an Electrical Sign Contractor license
- source: California CSLB, C-45 Sign Contractor classification
- source: International Sign Association, EMC brightness level recommendations
- source: Persona, McDonald's required progressive and completion photos (PDF)
- source: USSC Foundation, Guideline Standards for On-Premise Signs 2018 (PDF)
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