Sign Permits in Clovis & Fresno: What Businesses Need to Know

Putting up a business sign in Clovis or Fresno isn’t as simple as hanging it on the wall. Both cities require a permit for most commercial signs, and the rules cover size, height, placement, and lighting. Skip the permit and you risk fines, a red tag, or being told to take the sign down after you’ve already paid for it. Here’s how it actually works — and how to make it painless.

Why a permit is required

Cities regulate signs for safety and appearance. A sign that’s wired into the building has to meet electrical code. A freestanding sign needs a foundation that won’t fail. And every city has design standards that keep corridors from turning into a wall of clutter. The permit is how the city confirms your sign meets all of that before it goes up.

Sign permits in Clovis

In the City of Clovis, the Planning Division handles sign permits and design review. That means your sign is checked against the city’s sign ordinance for size, height, and how it fits the site — not just whether it’s built safely.

Sign permits in Fresno

The City of Fresno also requires a sign permit for commercial signage, and the fee depends on the type of sign and the review involved. A couple of reference points from Fresno’s fee schedule:

Item	Typical Fresno fee
Banner permit	About $182
Commercial sign plan review	About $318

These figures are for reference and can change — your actual fees depend on the sign type and scope of review. We confirm the current numbers when we prepare your permit package.

Note that a temporary banner and a permanent illuminated sign are two different things to the city. A banner is quick and inexpensive to permit; a wall sign or freestanding sign needs a full plan review and, if it’s lit, an electrical sign-off.

What the city looks at

Whether you’re in Clovis or Fresno, the review generally covers:

• Size and area — how big the sign is relative to your storefront or lot.
• Height — especially for freestanding monument and pole signs.
• Placement and setback — how far the sign sits from the property line and driveways.
• Illumination — lit signs need electrical review and safe wiring.
• Design standards — some corridors and centers have extra rules for materials and style.

One provider, one job

Here’s the part that saves you the most time and stress: you don’t have to manage this yourself. Excel Sign Company handles the whole thing as a single project — the scaled drawings, the permit, the fabrication, and the installation. You’re not hiring a designer, then a permit runner, then a fabricator, then an install crew and hoping they all agree.

• We measure your site and design a sign that fits the code, not one that gets rejected.
• We prepare the drawings the city needs and submit the permit for you.
• We build it in-house near Clovis.
• We install it and handle the final inspection.

That’s the whole point of using one local provider: the permit isn’t a mystery you have to solve, it’s just part of the job.

Get started the right way

Whatever sign you have in mind — channel letters on the building, a monument sign at the street, or a banner for an event — start by talking to someone who knows the Clovis and Fresno rules. Browse all our sign products and services, then call (559) 298-6028 or request a free quote and we’ll map out the permit and the build together.