A sign approved at one address is a design reference, not evidence of permission at another. Before describing two places as having opposite rules, check whether you are comparing the same physical sign, use, district, measurement, and approval status.
This worksheet separates a real difference in requirements from a difference in definitions or site conditions. It makes no claim about how often neighboring governments disagree.
Normalize the question before comparing the answer
| Compare | Record for each site |
|---|---|
| Authority | Government responsible for the particular approval, confirmed for the parcel |
| Sign classification | Mounting, support, message use, lighting, and digital capabilities |
| Location scope | District, overlay, road relationship, and site-specific approvals |
| Measurement | Unit, starting point, ending point, and included parts |
| Rule status | Current provision, exception, variance, or existing-sign approval |
| Source | Edition, effective amendments, section, and confirmation date |
A hypothetical height comparison
Suppose two fictional projects each show a maximum top elevation of 108 feet on a survey. Site A's identified reference is elevation 100 feet, giving a height of 8 feet. Site B's reference is elevation 102 feet, giving a height of 6 feet. The top elevation is identical, but the measured height is not.
These invented dimensions illustrate subtraction, not any community's rule. A comparison keeping only “8” and “6” would miss the reference-point difference. The height guide explains what to label on the drawing.
Separate definition from permission
Industry names describe forms, but each code's definitions need checking. The ISA glossary is a terminology reference, not evidence that two governments assign the same legal category. Use the classification checklist before comparing a monument with a covered pylon.
Separate a general allowance from an exception. If an installed sign has an individual approval, copying its dimensions tells you nothing about the ordinary allowance for a new application. Ask for the permit record rather than inferring approval from a photograph.
Do not infer a cause from the result
Different outcomes do not, by themselves, establish different political preferences, safety findings, or drafting histories. To explain adoption of a provision, find the adoption record, findings, or supporting report. Without that evidence, describe the difference you can establish and leave its cause open.
Sharing a county also does not prove two municipalities are neighbors. A geographic comparison needs verified boundaries and a defined group. For a bid, compare the actual project sites.
Turn the comparison into a design decision
- Prepare the same description and drawing of the proposal for both sites.
- Complete the worksheet with source-backed answers and mark unresolved cells.
- Ask each office about unresolved classification or measurement questions.
- Identify design elements that can be shared and those needing site-specific changes.
- Keep separate approval and cost assumptions for each location.
If you cannot establish equivalent scope for two numbers, keep them out of a ranked comparison. Both may be correct while answering different questions.