George:
Again you have a knack to drag out subjects like this.
Signs come in a few varities; UL listed and a collection of components that all may or may not be UL listed. Some non-listed signs are fabricated well; some are brutal. The non-listed ones show up at small stores.
Hence, as I have explained to a few sign fabricators, them assembling UL components into a 'box' does not a 'UL Sign' make.
Some have gone as far as doing a 'cut-n-paste' with a UL label from one of the components.
"Special permission" does not happen; a Notice of Violation is issued, and compliance is required.
BTW, the worst offenders are the 'nighttime neon phantoms'; skelton outline lighting & lettering in many, many languages; installed betewwn 4:00PM and 7:30AM. No permits, etc. This is also the one, IMHO that is the most dangerous.
