Signs
Supreme Court Case Could Transform Sign Regulations
If the Supreme Court upholds a lower court decision, cities could lose a long-standing right to regulate 'off-premises' billboards.
San Jose City Council Supports New Billboards
San Jose, California is suddenly taking a much more permissive approach to large billboards.
Another Chicago Skyscraper Sign Controversy
Regulations crafted in the wake of the Trump sign controversy of 2014 could be relaxed to let Salesforce leave its mark on the city of Chicago's skyline.
Chicago Should Legalize A-Frame Signs, Alderman Says
A-frame sandwich board signs are illegal in Chicago, but they're widely used anyway.
Toward a More Sightly Future for Public Notice Signs
Public notice signs rarely garner much attention. Atlanta's planning department is changing that by partnering with a private design firm. The result? More striking signage.
Artists Find Alternate Uses for Billboards in Los Angeles
With a surplus of unsold billboard spaces dotting Los Angeles, artists are using the empty spaces as canvasses for new forms of public art.
Miami Beach's Floating Billboards: A Nuisance on Water
The picturesque ocean front of Miami Beach is being sullied by digital billboards now floating off shore on boats, outside the reach of the city's authority.
Another Sign Code Goes Down in Flames
The sign code for North Redington Beach, Florida has been found in violation of the First Amendment, following a dispute with a local café.
Rolling Digital Billboards Hit New Orleans' Streets
A southern Louisiana company is bringing a mobile, four-sided digital billboard to the streets of New Orleans
New Jersey Town's Digital Billboard Ban Found Unconstitutional
Overruling an earlier appeals court decision, the New Jersey Supreme Court has found one township's prohibition on digital billboards to be unconstitutional.
FHWA Ruffles Feathers With Font Change for Highway Signs
After adopting the Clearview font in 2004, ending the Highway Gothic in use since the 1960s, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration reversed course in January and will again require the older font. This small change matter a great deal.
Cities Lose Supreme Court Case on Sign Regulation
The Supreme Court, in two separate opinions, unanimously ruled on June 18 against an Arizona town's sign regulation that denied the placement of a street sign based on its content. At question was a sign directing passers-by to a church service.
Sign Code Update: Finding the Sweet Spot
A case study in integrating form-based and street graphic approaches into the sign code, provided by the city of Lacey, Washington.
Friday Funny: 12 Signs that Bring Humor to the Brooklyn Streetscape
There are other ways to grab attention, even if you don't have the cash to spend on a giant sign that says T-R-U-M-P above the Chicago River.
The Once and Future Urbanism of Sandwich Boards
Chuck Wolfe traces the comeback of sandwich board signage in cities, explains how associated regulations work, and offers reasons why such signage should be carefully fostered.
Warning: I'm a Terrible Neighbor
A Colorado man has put up a sign warning potential buyers about activities that occur at his house.
Big Signs May Top Downtown Seattle Buildings
Seattle is considering a new policy that will allow companies to place large signs atop buildings downtown. It's part of an effort to lure companies downtown, but many locals are outraged.
The Art of Wayfinding
Slate looks at the history and importance of signage and wayfinding design.
Is Bright Right or Blight?
A proposal to create a new outdoor advertising district in San Francisco has some locals anticipating a retail revival, while others dread the possible billboard blight.
Smoke Signals
Could smoke rising from a barbeque pit be considered a sign, and thus be controlled under sign regulations? Zoning officials in East Berlin, PA say yes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
