I think it depends on the site. I am just starting a school in south Jersey and everybody is wearing shorts, masons, EC, door guys. The company policy where I work says no shorts, but there have been exceptions made. I was in Jacksonville, FL a few weeks ago and there was no way I was wearing jeans when it was 90 with 90% humidity all the time, and my project manager OK'd this. I understand the point of first impressions but if you appearence is otherwise neat I don't see it as an issue. I will show up on a site with my Carhartt shorts and a company polo shirt and look neater than most of the other guys on the site.
