What to know about digital signage in Tempe
Window signs can cover 25% of the glass
In Tempe, any sign in or on a window of a commercial, industrial or mixed-use building is limited to 25% of the window area, and glass doors count as windows. Permanent window signs within that limit need no permit. The code doesn't say whether a video screen behind the glass counts as a sign, so confirm with Code Compliance before you hang one facing the street.
Drive-through menu boards are their own sign type
A freestanding sign within five feet of a drive-through is sign type C: up to 45 square feet and 8 feet high, one face, and it may be lit and may transmit sound as part of a transaction. Only two are allowed per site, and they can't sit in a clear vision triangle.
Source: City of Tempe, Sign code, freestanding signs; ZDC Sec. 4-903
Freestanding changeable signs are mostly banned
Freestanding changeable-copy signs are banned except for a few types: drive-throughs, freeway signs, theatres, museums, service stations and fuel canopies. A restaurant or bar dining room doesn't qualify, which is another reason to keep screens inside.
Source: ZDC Sec. 4-902(B)(5)
Shopping centers have sign packages
A sign package is required for developments in mixed-use (MU-X) districts and for commercial centers with more than one tenant, so a tenant's sign has to match the approved package. Ask your landlord what yours allows before you buy a screen.
Source: City of Tempe, Signage
Where screens go
Indoor screens are the simple case: menu boards over a counter, promo screens at a register, wayfinding in a lobby. The sign rules we found cover window signs and freestanding signs, so the question only comes up when a screen faces out through glass. We plan placement before we mount anything.
Menu boards and promo screens
A restaurant menu board should read from the back of the line. We size text to the distance, group items so a price change touches one slide, and keep the layout simple enough that staff can edit it at the counter.
Promo screens work best with a few seconds per slide and one message each. Daily specials, happy hour and events can all be scheduled in advance.
- Screen size follows viewing distance.
- Commercial displays are built for all-day use.
- Scheduling lets a lunch menu swap to dinner on its own.
Players, content and updates
Each screen gets a small media player, or runs a player built into the display. The content lives in a service you log into from any browser. You change a price once and every screen updates. We set up your account, load templates and train your staff.
Cabling and power
Screens need power and a video or network connection. We hide the cable in the wall where the building allows it, or run it in a neat raceway where it doesn't. Network-connected players need a data drop, which we can add with structured cabling.
Maintenance
Screens run for years, but players need updates and menus change. We can set up a service schedule, replace failed displays and keep spares for common parts. Service calls are Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Often paired with
Signage often shares a rack and a network with TV and video distribution, and larger formats call for LED walls. See Enzo in Tempe for the rest of what we install here.
