Sign Permitting Services in Birmingham, AL
Reliable Sign Services handles sign permits for the signs we design, build, and install across the Birmingham metro. We prepare the drawings, paperwork, and site information that cities and counties require, submit the application, and work with local agencies until the permit is issued. Your sign goes up legally, without the risk of fines or forced removal later.
We are a licensed contractor with the State of Alabama and have years of experience working with city, county, and state agencies. Permitting is included as part of our sign services, not an add-on you have to manage yourself.
How We Handle Your Sign Permit
- Code check. We confirm what the local ordinance allows at your address before design is finalized.
- Drawings and documents. We prepare a scaled site plan, sign specifications, and illumination details.
- Submission. We file the application with the correct agency and pay the required fees.
- Follow-up. We respond to reviewer questions and any conditions attached to the approval.
- Installation. Once the permit is issued, our crews install the sign.
What to Know About Birmingham Sign Permits
- Who issues them: The City of Birmingham’s Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits (PEP) handles most sign permits through its Online Permit Center.
- Review time: The city has 30 days to approve, deny, or conditionally approve a sign permit. The clock starts only when a completed application and fee are filed.
- What the application needs: Contractor, owner, and occupant contact details; a scaled site plan showing all existing signs on the property plus the proposed sign; and construction and illumination specifications.
- Other agencies: Birmingham DOT handles right-of-way permits, and ALDOT permits outdoor advertising signs along interstates and primary routes. These are added to the city permit, not substitutes for it.
- Prohibited signs: Birmingham bans feather, portable, and inflatable signs, roof signs, and signs on trees, utility poles, or public property.
- Digital sign rules: Dynamic displays may change no more often than once every 10 seconds, with static messages and no animation, flashing, or scrolling.
Birmingham rewrote its sign ordinance in October 2024. Read our full Birmingham sign permit guide for details.
Why Let Reliable Handle Your Permit
- Complete applications. Most permit delays come from missing drawings or a sign that was never allowed at that address. We check both before submitting.
- Designed to pass review. Our design team builds code requirements into the drawing.
- Licensed, bonded, and insured. We obtain all required city and county licenses and adhere to building codes.
- UL-listed signs. Our illuminated signs are built with UL-listed parts in a UL-listed facility.
Sign Permit FAQ
Do I need a permit for my business sign?
Most permanent exterior signs require a permit from the city or county. We confirm the requirements for your address.
How long does a sign permit take in Birmingham?
The city must decide within 30 days of receiving a completed application and fee. Fabrication and installation follow approval, so plan ahead of opening dates.
Do you handle permits outside Birmingham?
Yes. We obtain city, county, and state permits across the areas we serve.
Is permitting included in your sign services?
Yes. We handle permitting and code compliance as part of our sign services.
Service Area
We handle sign permits across the greater Birmingham metro, including Birmingham, Hoover, Pelham, Bessemer, and Alabaster, and throughout Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Tuscaloosa, and Bibb counties.
Start Your Sign Project
Call (205) 664-0955 or request a quote online and we’ll take care of the permit.