One of the bigger areas of dispute between businesses and their local government involves the topic of signs. While some communities are in a position to dictate the terms for business signage, many communities are unnecessarily rigid. Most communities should ask themselves:
• Is the commercial sign ordinance business friendly?
• Is the community at least open to considering non-traditional types of signs? Creativity should be encourage, not squashed.
• Is the cost of a sign permit reasonable?
• Are signs over the sidewalk allowed; why not. As long as the sign is secure why worry about which direction it is installed (flat against the building or over the sidewalk)?
• Does the community allow the use of neon…why not?
• Cities need to consider easing sign regulations that are unreasonable. Unless cities have a compelling reason to be restrictive; it should be a partner to the downtown business community; not an obstacle.
