Business Signs Vienna: Design, Permit and Installation from One Source
In brief
digtatur plans and designs signs for shops, practices, restaurants and offices in Vienna: aluminium composite or acrylic plates, 3D illuminated letters, light boxes and projecting signs. We create the design and a photo mock-up, coordinate permit, production and installation with experienced sign-making partners. The price depends on size, material, lighting and installation, so you get a fixed quote after a short on-site check.
A sign is often the first contact with your business, even before your website or Instagram. It has to be readable from a distance, match your brand and, in Vienna, meet the city's rules. That is where many projects fail: the sign looks great but cannot be permitted, or it is permitted but nobody can read it.
As an advertising agency in Vienna we start from your brand. We adapt logo, typeface and colours, show you a photo mock-up on your real façade and clarify which permits are needed. Production and installation are coordinated with specialised sign makers, so you have one contact person.
Below you will find the main sign types, the Vienna rules with official sources and answers to the most common questions.
3D illuminated lettersIndividual LED letters, preferred by the City of Vienna on decorated façades.Light boxBack-lit panel sign, highly visible after dark.Projecting signMounted at a right angle to the façade, in Vienna at least 2.50 m above the pavement.Company / practice plateAluminium composite or acrylic with stand-offs for entrance, stairwell or reception.
Example visualisations, not client projects.
What you get
Design from your brand
Logo, type and colours adapted for distance and lighting, not just copied from your letterhead.
Photo mock-up first
See the sign on your real façade before ordering, by day and by night.
Permit included in planning
We consider protection zones, size and projection in the design. Our partner handles the application to MA 19 and MA 46.
One contact person
We coordinate design, production and installation, including on-site scheduling.
Matches your online presence
Sign, Google profile, website and social media share the same look.
Fixed quote
After the on-site check you get a fixed price for design, production and installation, with no hidden items.
What types of business signs are there?
Sign type
Typical use
Lighting
3D / individual letters
Façade above the shop, reception
none, front-lit or halo-lit
Light box
Shop front, restaurants
LED back-lighting
Projecting sign
Shopping streets, visible to passers-by
double-sided, lit or unlit
Company / practice plate
Entrance, stairwell, door
usually unlit
Window lettering
Glass, opening hours
none
Indoor and wayfinding signs
Office, practice, reception
optional
The right type depends on façade, street and audience. In Vienna not every type is allowed everywhere, see the next section.
Does a sign in Vienna need a permit?
In many cases, yes. According to the City of Vienna:
Over public ground (pavement, road and the air space above) a sign, lamp or awning needs a permit from MA 46. The application must be filed at least 5 weeks before installation.
Signs under 3 m² are permitted by MA 46, over 3 m² and in protection zones by the building authority. MA 19 (Architecture and Urban Design) reviews the design; for listed buildings the Federal Monuments Office is also involved.
Projecting signs must hang at least 2.50 m above the pavement. MA 19 guideline values: max. 0.5 m² in protection zones, 1 m² outside, 1.3 m² in shopping streets, projection max. 1.8 m.
Individual letters are generally preferred by MA 19 over light boxes and flat panels and are mandatory on decorated façades.
Not permitted: flashing or changing lights, advertising on canopies, and a disruptive cluster of signs.
A-frame boards on pavements have been banned in Vienna by an ordinance since 1980.
We consider these points in the design. Our sign-making partner files the application with drawings and photos. Whether and to what extent a permit is granted is decided by the authority.
How much does a business sign cost in Vienna?
A serious flat price is not possible without dimensions and façade. Costs have four parts:
Design and photo mock-up (logo adaptation, variants, day and night view)
Production: size, material (aluminium composite, acrylic, stainless steel, aluminium profile) and lighting are the main cost drivers
Installation: height, surface, lift or scaffolding, electrical connection
Official fees of the City of Vienna
For official fees the City of Vienna (MA 46, 2026) lists for example €21 federal fee per application, €11 administrative fee for the permit and, for light boxes over public ground, a usage fee of €63.09 per m², side and year, payable even when the box is switched off. LED strips and neon tubes cost €15.77 per metre and year. Protection zones and the 1st district may have different rates.
Because of this recurring fee we also check individual letters on the façade for illuminated signs: depending on location this can be cheaper long term and easier to get permitted.
Which material is right?
Aluminium composite (Dibond): light, weatherproof, affordable, ideal for outdoor company and directional signs.
Acrylic glass: premium look with depth, often with stand-offs, good for practices, law firms and receptions.
Stainless steel or brass: very durable, elegant, higher price.
Aluminium profile with LED: for 3D letters and light boxes, energy efficient and long-lasting.
Vinyl: for shop windows, glass doors and opening hours.
Outdoors we use UV-resistant colours and films so the red of your logo is not pink after two summers.
How does a sign become readable from a distance?
The most common mistakes are too much text, thin type and low contrast. Our rules: one name, one symbol, at most one line of service. Bold type instead of fine lines, light on dark or vice versa. For illuminated signs we also test the design as a night view, because colours look different when lit. Phone number and website rarely belong on the façade; they go on the window or entrance plate.
Why your sign and Google profile belong together
People who see your sign often look you up on their phone next. Name, spelling and logo should therefore be identical on the sign, Google Business Profile, website and Instagram. A new sign is also a good reason to upload a fresh façade photo to your Google profile. This link between outdoor and online advertising is the difference between an advertising agency and a pure sign workshop.
How we work together
1
Request and photos
Send us photos of your façade and your logo via form or WhatsApp. The first consultation is free.
2
On-site check
We measure, check protection zone, power supply and mounting surface and clarify which permit is needed.
3
Design and photo mock-up
You receive variants on your real façade, by day and night, followed by a fixed-price quote.
4
Application
Our partner files drawings, elevations and photos with MA 19 and MA 46. The permit is granted by the authority.
5
Production and installation
Production by specialised sign makers, installation on the agreed date, joint handover with you.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions: Business Signs Vienna
How much does a company sign cost in Vienna?
It depends on size, material, lighting and installation. A small acrylic practice plate is much cheaper than 3D illuminated letters with electrical connection. After photos and measurements you receive a fixed-price quote listing design, production and installation separately. City of Vienna fees may be added.
Do I need a permit for my shop sign?
If the sign hangs over public ground, i.e. over pavement or road, yes: MA 46 is responsible, for areas over 3 m² and in protection zones the building authority. MA 19 reviews the design. We check this in advance; our partner handles the application.
How long does a permit take in Vienna?
The City of Vienna requires the application to MA 46 to be filed at least 5 weeks before installation, followed by a hearing. The actual duration depends on the project and completeness of the documents.
How high must a projecting sign hang?
According to MA 19 at least 2.50 m above the pavement. Guideline values are max. 0.5 m² in protection zones, 1 m² outside and 1.3 m² in shopping streets, with a projection of no more than 1.8 m.
Can I put an A-frame board on the pavement?
No. According to the City of Vienna, A-frame and triangular boards on pavements and roads have been banned by an ordinance since 1980. Alternatives are window lettering or a permitted projecting sign.
Are flashing LED signs allowed?
No. Flashing and changing light advertising cannot be permitted according to MA 19. Steadily lit letters or light boxes are possible if permitted.
What is the annual fee for a light box?
If it hangs over public ground, the City of Vienna charges a usage fee of €63.09 per square metre, side and year (2026), even if it is not lit. Protection zones and the 1st district may have different rates.
Light box or 3D letters: which is better?
Light boxes are usually cheaper to produce. 3D individual letters look more premium, cover less façade and are generally preferred by MA 19; on decorated façades they are mandatory. We show you both as photo mock-ups.
Do you also design the logo?
Yes. As an advertising agency we design logo, type and colours to suit the sign and your online presence. If you already have a logo, we adapt it for distance and lighting.
Do you produce the signs yourselves?
We handle the order, design and project management. Application, production and installation are done by specialised sign makers that we coordinate. digtatur remains your single contact.
Are business signs tax deductible?
Business signs are usually a business expense and can be claimed as an expense or via depreciation. Please clarify the details with your tax adviser.
Do you only work in Vienna?
Our focus is Vienna, where we know the city's rules. Projects in Lower Austria are possible by arrangement. Advice in German, English and Turkish.
