Vital Signs: For planners and local officials who draft, debate and enforce sign ordinances
Posted on June 23, 2022

Want to Learn About Sign Codes?

Since 2011, nearly 8,000 planners and local officials have received training on developing effective and enforceable sign regulations from ISA’s on-staff experts. Eligible planners earned CM credits by attending ISA webinars, ISA sessions at APA conference sessions, and ISA’s Planning for Sign Code Success workshops.

 

WEBINARS AND RESEARCH

These ISA webinars were developed for planners on key sign code issues:

When working with ISA, planners receive the latest research and resources provided by the Sign Research Foundation (SRF), including the foundation’s latest publication, Saving Historic & Vintage Signs: Best Practices for Regulating These Community Icons.

 

UPCOMING WEBINARS

The State of Content-Neutral Sign Codes

With the Austin v. Reagan decision issued by the U.S. Supreme Court in April 2022, communities across the country will revisit their sign ordinance to see if they are constitutionally compliant. SRF’s upcoming resource on The State of Content-Neutral Sign Codes (out August 2022) will help local officials do just that, as will the accompanying webinar (September 2022).

Signs & Social Equity Webinar – August 18, 2022 at 2:00 pm EST

Signs and sign regulations play critical roles in working to ensure that everyone is able to participate, prosper and reach their full potential in our society. SRF’s webinar on Signs & Social Equity will cover issues involving gentrification of urban areas, the ability to communicate in multicultural neighborhoods, and directing people with disabilities to the accessible features and spaces in buildings and their community. Participants will learn how the sign regulations they draft and enforce can – if done right - help promote more open and inclusive communities.

Glossary of Signage Terms Webinar

SRF has created the Glossary of Signage Terms that captures commonly used, essential sign, graphics, & visual communication industry terms. This resource is already available for download, and a webinar is planned for the coming months. 

 

IN-PERSON SESSIONS

In 2021, planners received in-person sign code education from ISA experts at regional APA conferences, including the AZ/Western States APA, GA/TN Joint APA and the TX C3 APA (TX/KS/OK/NM/LA/MO) Conferences.

Planners can find ISA in-person this fall for educational sessions at the AZ, CO and FL APA conferences on various sign code issues.

Planners will soon be able to participate in Planning for Sign Code Success workshops again, and we look forward to meeting you in-person and having discussions about the challenges you face in regulating signs in their communities and how to overcome them.

 

Connect

If you’d like to have an educational event in your community, let us know, and we’ll make it happen! Please email David.Hickey@signs.org or call 540.539.3176.

 

Subscribe

To stay in the loop about upcoming webinars, APA educational events and the newest research, please subscribe to receive email from ISA using the form in the green box below.

 

David Hickey, VP Advocacy

David Hickey
VP, Advocacy
david.hickey@signs.org

James Carpentier, AICP

James Carpentier, AICP
Director, State & Local Goverment
james.carpentier@signs.org

Kenny Peskin

Kenny Peskin
Director, Industry Programs
kenny.peskin@signs.org @signcodeguy

 

Sign Code Assistance Button

Sign Code Assistance, Education and Training

Is your community considering revising its sign code? Or are you looking for education and training for an upcoming APA meeting?

Contact signhelp@signs.org to receive expert and complimentary sign code assistance:

  • Research on sign-related issues
  • Sign code education and training 
  • Planning, legal and technical sign code resources and advice

The International Sign Association (ISA) has helped hundreds of cities across the country develop modern, effective and enforceable sign codes.

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