Sign Codes and Permitting
We write the rules other projects follow, and we get signs approved under them.
Kolano Design wrote the signage code for Hazelwood Green, the criteria every tenant and developer on the site follows, and the signage plan for Pittsburgh's North Shore that governs stadium, venue and LED signage around Acrisure Stadium and PNC Park.
On individual projects, Kolano reviews the code early, finds what a site allows, and prepares the variance and approval packages that carry a sign through the Zoning Board, the Planning Commission and community review. Recent examples include Citizens Live at The Wylie, Sugar Bird at the Plaza at North Shore and The Park at SouthSide Works.
- Sign code synopsis for the site and its zoning district
- Signage master plans and tenant sign criteria
- Visibility studies and renderings for review boards
- Variance packages and hearing support
- Permit applications through installation
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Common Questions
What does a sign code consultant do?
A sign code consultant writes or interprets the rules for signs on a site or in a district: what sizes, types, heights and lighting are allowed. Kolano has written sign codes and tenant criteria for developments such as Hazelwood Green and for Pittsburgh's North Shore district.
When does a sign need a variance?
When it exceeds what the zoning code allows, for example a larger area, a greater height or a sign type the district does not permit. The owner then asks the Zoning Board of Adjustment for relief, usually with drawings, renderings and a visibility study that show why the sign is appropriate.
What is a signage master plan?
A signage master plan sets the family of signs for a campus, district or development: identification, wayfinding, parking and tenant signs, with standards for size, placement and materials. It keeps the place consistent as it builds out over years.
Can Kolano permit signs designed by someone else?
Yes. Kolano often handles permitting for signs designed by a brand or architecture team, refining the designs for code compliance and readability and carrying them through approval.
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