A logo sign is the sign that carries your brand mark rather than a description of what you sell — the name on the building, the logo behind the reception desk, the emblem on the monument by the driveway. We make them in our Pacoima shop, fifteen minutes from Van Nuys, and install them across the San Fernando Valley. Here are the options, what drives the price, and what Van Nuys and the rest of the City of Los Angeles require in permits.
The four kinds of logo sign
Dimensional letters and logos (non-illuminated)
Cut from acrylic, PVC or aluminum, ½ to 2 inches thick, mounted on studs so they stand off the wall with a shadow. The most popular exterior logo sign for offices, clinics and industrial buildings, and the fastest to permit because there is no electrical work. See dimensional letters.
Illuminated channel letters
Each letter and logo element is a fabricated aluminum can with LEDs inside — front-lit through an acrylic face, back-lit (halo) against the wall, or both. The standard for retail storefronts and any business that trades after dark. See channel letters.
Lobby and reception logo signs
Brushed metal or acrylic letters, often on a backer panel, sometimes back-lit. Sized to the wall behind the desk, usually 3 to 8 feet wide. See lobby signs.
Monument and pylon logo panels
For businesses set back from the street — auto shops, medical buildings, industrial parks along Sepulveda, Van Nuys Boulevard or Roscoe — the logo goes on a ground sign at the driveway. See monument signs.
What drives the price
- Size and letter count. Price scales with the total inches of letters and the complexity of the logo shape.
- Illumination. LED channel letters cost roughly two to three times the equivalent non-illuminated dimensional letters, because of the fabrication, wiring, power supplies and electrical permit.
- Material. PVC is the economical choice for interior work; acrylic and aluminum for exterior durability; brushed stainless or bronze for a premium lobby.
- Mounting. Stud-mount into stucco is straightforward; raceways, high fascias and glass or stone walls take more time and equipment.
- Permit and drawings. Included in our quotes for exterior signs.
As a guide, a small non-illuminated dimensional logo for an office suite starts in the high hundreds; an illuminated channel-letter storefront sign of typical size runs into the thousands. We quote from a photo of your building within a day.
Permits in Van Nuys and the San Fernando Valley
Van Nuys, North Hills, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood and most of the Valley are inside the City of Los Angeles, so exterior logo signs are permitted through LADBS; illuminated signs also need an electrical permit. Burbank and Glendale have their own sign codes and counters. Shopping centers add their own criteria on top. We handle all of it — see sign permits.
Making the logo work as a sign
Thin script strokes, gradients and tiny details that look good on a screen do not survive at building scale. We adjust stroke widths for LEDs, choose which elements to build in three dimensions and which to print, and match Pantone colors in vinyl or paint. You approve a mock-up on a photo of your own wall before anything is cut. Send a vector logo if you have one — here is what else we need.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a logo sign take? Interior dimensional logos: one to two weeks. Exterior non-illuminated: two to four weeks including permit. Illuminated channel letters: four to eight weeks.
Can you reuse my old sign’s electrical? Often yes, if the circuit is sound; we check it on the site visit.
Do you serve Van Nuys directly? Yes — Van Nuys is a 15-minute drive from our shop in Pacoima, with no trip charge.
Call (818) 723-4047 or request a quote with a photo of your building and your logo file.