--- title: Four years since Reed - What's Next? description: It’s hard to believe that it was just four years ago today that the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of Reed v. Town of Gilbert, forcing virtually all communities in America to revise their sign codes to ensure they aren’t content-based. image: https://newsroom.signs.org/hubfs/Reed%20at%20Two%20Impact%20Still%20Being%20Felt.jpg --- [![Vital Signs: For planners and local officials who draft, debate and enforce sign ordinances](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vital%20Signs/020117_VitalSignsHeaderBlog_2017V2O-01.jpg?width=1080&name=020117_VitalSignsHeaderBlog_2017V2O-01.jpg "Vital Signs: For planners and local officials who draft, debate and enforce sign ordinances")](https://newsroom.signs.org/vitalsigns/) *Posted on* June 18, 2019 # Four years since Reed - What's Next? ![Reed at Two Impact Still Being Felt](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Reed%20at%20Two%20Impact%20Still%20Being%20Felt.jpg?width=785&name=Reed%20at%20Two%20Impact%20Still%20Being%20Felt.jpg)It’s hard to believe that it was just four years ago today that the U.S. Supreme Court decided the case of ***Reed v. Town of Gilbert***, forcing virtually all communities in America to revise their sign codes to ensure they aren’t content-based. In the aftermath of this landmark decision, ISA has helped thousands of planners learn how to draft and enforce sign codes that are ***Reed***-compliant and that protect the First Amendment rights of their citizens. This includes presenting at two National APA Conferences ([2016](https://www.planning.org/events/course/9103797/) and 2017) and hosting two widely-attended webinars with the APA (2015 and 2016) on the topic, including the issue in every [*Planning for Sign Code Success*TM workshop](https://pages.signs.org/are-you-planning-for-sign-code-success) (for Law CM credits), and offering presentations about "*Reed* regulatory principles" at 14 state and regional APA chapter conferences. However, many communities still haven't updated their sign codes to make them more content neutral, making them more vulnerable to potential lawsuits. In addition, the***Reed*** decision has also spawned other lawsuits involving additional aspects of sign regulations, including the on-premise and off-premise distinction and the preferential treatment of non-commercial speech over commercial speech, meaning that even those communities who immediately updated their sign codes after ***Reed*** need to stay alert. Contact ISA at [signhelp@signs.org](mailto:signhelp@signs.org) if your community would like complimentary assistance to have a sign code that is as constitutionally-compliant as possible. Topics: [Reed v. Town of Gilbert](https://newsroom.signs.org/vitalsigns/topic/reed-v-town-of-gilbert) [![ISA Planning for Sign Code SuccessTM](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vital%20Signs/ISA_PSCS_color.jpg?width=320&name=ISA_PSCS_color.jpg "ISA Planning for Sign Code SuccessTM")](https://pages.signs.org/are-you-planning-for-sign-code-success) [![David Hickey, VP Advocacy](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vital%20Signs/David_Circle_250.png?width=125&name=David_Circle_250.png "David Hickey, VP Advocacy")](http://mailto:%20david.hickey@signs.org) David Hickey VP, Advocacy [david.hickey@signs.org](mailto:david.hickey@signs.org) [![James Carpentier, AICP](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vital%20Signs/James_Circle_250.png?width=125&name=James_Circle_250.png "James Carpentier, AICP")](http://mailto:james.carpentier@signs.org) James Carpentier, AICP Director, State & Local Goverment [james.carpentier@signs.org](mailto:james.carpentier@signs.org) [![Kenny Peskin](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vital%20Signs/Kenny_Circle_250.png?width=125&name=Kenny_Circle_250.png "Kenny Peskin")](http://mailto:kenny.peskin@signs.org) Kenny Peskin Director, Industry Programs [mailto:kenny.peskin@signs.org](mailto:kenny.peskin@signs.org)kenny.peskin@signs.org | [@signcodeguy](https://twitter.com/signcodeguy?lang=en)   [![Sign Code Assistance Button](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vital%20Signs/030317_AssistanceButtonTransparent.png?width=520&name=030317_AssistanceButtonTransparent.png "Sign Code Assistance Button")](https://newsroom.signs.org/signcodeassistance) ## 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**](mailto: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)](http://www.signs.org) has helped hundreds of cities across the country develop modern, effective and enforceable sign codes. ### Get the latest updates delivered to your inbox In partnership with:  ![](https://newsroom.signs.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Vital%20Signs/srf_logo.jpg?width=132&height=60&name=srf_logo.jpg "srf_logo.jpg") © 2017 ISA. All Rights Reserved. [Terms of Use](http://www.signs.org/TermsofUse.aspx) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.signs.org/privacy-policy) | [Site Map](http://www.signs.org/ISASiteMap.aspx)