Few things are more frustrating than waiting three weeks on your landlord and then getting an email saying the sign package was rejected. Especially when you are paying rent and the build-out clock is ticking.
Here is the thing — most rejections happen for the same handful of reasons. Once you know what landlords are looking for, the package is easier to get through the first time.
Start with the document most tenants never read
Almost every commercial lease has a sign criteria document attached. It is a separate document from the lease itself, and a lot of tenants never open it. That document spells out exactly what is allowed: how tall the letters can be, what kind of lighting, what materials, what colors, where on the storefront the sign can go. If your design does not match what is in that document, it gets bounced.
The most common rejection reasons
Letters that are too tall. The wrong kind of lighting. A sign that covers too much of the storefront. A logo that is bigger than the words. A color that does not match the brand the landlord has on file. Materials that do not fit the rest of the property. A sign placed outside the area the landlord designated for signage.
And honestly — sometimes it is just that the package was incomplete. Landlords expect to see the storefront drawn to scale, the sign drawn in place, a note about materials and colors, and a clear explanation of how it will be installed and lit. If half of that is missing, the package comes back.
If your package was rejected and you are not sure what to fix, send me the rejection email and your drawings. I can usually point to the conflict in a few minutes.
