Aluminum and metal signs for parking lots, property and buildings
Printed aluminum, reflective parking signs, composite panels up to 4 × 8 ft, and laser-cut steel. Designed in Buffalo, MN with Minnesota's parking and posting rules in hand, and shipped ready for your own crew to mount.
For the signs that live outdoors
Metal is for the reserved stall by the door, the accessible sign at the head of the space, the no trespassing sign on the field road and the family name over the drive. For a whole lot, we design the reserved, visitor, customer pickup, loading and directional signs as one set in your colors and logo, with the accessible parking signs alongside them. You approve a proof, and our manufacturing partners print or cut each sign.
- Four materials
Aluminum in .040 and .080, reflective aluminum, aluminum composite, and 16-gauge laser-cut steel.
- Rules on the proof
Parking and posting signs laid out from the Minnesota statute and code text, with mounting notes on the proof.
- Ready to mount
Optional rounded corners and pre-drilled holes on printed aluminum, for posts, fences and walls.
Spec your sign
Typical turnaround: for printed aluminum and composite, most orders run a few business days after proof approval; we confirm the date with your quote. Laser-cut steel is made to order; production time depends on the material, and we confirm a ship date with your proof.
Not sure how big? The sign viewing distance calculator gets you close.
Get a free quote →Materials, thickness & sizes
| Material | Thickness | Indoor / outdoor | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed aluminum | .040 in | Both | Signs fastened flat to a wall, fence or gate, and indoor signs |
| Heavy aluminum | .080 in | Both | Signs on a post, and bigger panels |
| Reflective aluminum | .040 in, engineer-grade reflective sheeting | Outdoor | No parking, tow-away, loading and driveway signs read in headlights |
| Aluminum composite | 3 mm or 6 mm | Both | Panels up to a full 4 × 8 ft sheet: property ID, site maps, rules boards; reflective and dry-erase faces available |
| Laser-cut steel | 16 gauge (about 1/16 in) | Outdoor; weather-resistant powder coat | Address, farm, family name and business name signs in black, white, bronze or gold |
| Size (W × H) | Material or format | Common use |
|---|---|---|
| 12 × 18 in | .040 or .080 aluminum, or reflective | Reserved, accessible, no parking, loading and tow-away signs; the size the national and Minnesota MUTCD list for parking restriction signs |
| 18 × 24 in | .040 or .080 aluminum, or reflective | Visitor parking, lot rules, hours, gates, no trespassing |
| 24 × 36 in | .040 or .080 aluminum, or reflective | Property ID and rules signs on a wall, fence or post |
| 9 × 9 in | Security yard sign with stake options (material confirmed with your quote) | Small security and property notices by a door or in a planting bed |
| Up to 48 × 96 in | 3 mm or 6 mm aluminum composite | Site maps, directories, large property signs |
Stock aluminum sizes also come in landscape, and custom sizes are available. Printed .040 aluminum is UV printed with a gloss finish, single or double sided, with square corners or a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or 1 inch radius, and holes in the four corners, top corners, center top and bottom, a custom pattern, or none. Rounded corners also suit workplace safety signs, since OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 calls for rounded or blunt corners.
Our laser-cut steel signs are powder coated. Clean them with water, a neutral (pH 7) detergent and a soft cloth, never abrasives. A decorative address sign does not replace any official address marker your county or township requires.
Accessible parking signs in Minnesota
Three rulebooks overlap in a parking lot. Minn. Stat. 169.346 says what the sign must show, the Minnesota Accessibility Code (Minn. R. chapter 1341) says where it goes, and the 2010 ADA Standards apply alongside both. The MUTCD, the national traffic sign manual, does not apply to parking areas (its Section 1B.01). It does cover drives through a site that are open to public travel.
- What the sign shows
The international symbol of access in white on blue, plus a line stating that violators are subject to a fine of up to the amount set in the statute (Minn. Stat. 169.346, subd. 2(a)). Our proof uses the statute's wording for that line, amount included. The sign must be visible from inside a vehicle parked in the space, kept clear of snow or other obstructions, and nonmovable (subd. 2(b)).
- Height and placement
Mount it at the head end of the stall, centered, and within 96 inches of the head of the space. Minn. R. 1341.0502 then keeps the bottom edge of the sign between 60 and 66 inches above the stall surface. The ADA stops at the 60 inch minimum, so set your posts with Minnesota's 66 inch cap in mind.
Van spaces, access aisle signs, exemptions and the new statewide uniform sign are covered in our Minnesota ADA sign requirements guide. For the matching room and restroom signs inside, see ADA and braille signs.
Snow is part of the law here. Subdivision 2a makes it a misdemeanor for the owner or manager if the stall is not properly posted, or if plowed snow is knowingly allowed to block the stall or its access aisle, so plan where the plow piles go before you set posts.
| Sign | National MUTCD, 11th Edition | Minnesota MUTCD | Size (W × H) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accessible parking | R7-8 | R7-8M | 12 × 18 in |
| Van accessible plaque, mounted below | R7-8aP | R7-8bP | 12 × 6 in |
| Accessible parking with van accessible, one sign | None | R7-8cM | 12 × 24 in |
| No parking, access aisle | None | R7-8dM | 12 × 18 in |
These codes are a design reference only. Since August 1, 2025, a new lot, or any accessible parking sign you replace, calls for the statewide uniform sign the Minnesota Council on Disability is directed to select and propose, and it may not display the word “handicapped” or any variation of it (Minn. Stat. 169.346, subd. 2(c) and (d)). We have not confirmed its final design, so we do not assume it is R7-8M: confirm it with the Council and we will build your proof to it. Current as of September 2026. Chapter 1341 is being updated, so check with your building official, who has the final word, before you order.
No trespassing signs and Minnesota posting rules
Minnesota's posting rules change with what you are protecting. These set a sign size, letter height or spacing. We check the size and lettering on the proof. Where the signs go, and how far apart, is up to you.
| Situation | Statute | What the sign needs | Where and how often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land closed to hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation | 97B.001, subd. 4 | “No trespassing” or similar terms; letters at least 2 in high; signed by the owner, occupant or lessee, or showing their legible name and phone number | Once each year, every 1,000 ft or less along the boundary (500 ft or less in woods where the line is not clear), or at the primary corners of each parcel and at access roads and trails where they enter it |
| Locked or posted building | 609.605, subd. 1 | At least 8-1/2 × 11 in; a general notice warning against trespass | A conspicuous place on the outside of the building, or within the property |
| Construction site | 609.605, subd. 1 | At least 8-1/2 × 11 in; a general notice warning against trespass | A conspicuous place on the outside of the building or within the area, plus 1 more sign under 3 acres, 2 more for 3 to under 10 acres, and 2 more for each full 10 acres beyond the first 10 |
| Livestock biosecurity area | 609.605, subd. 5 | At least 11 in square; notice of a biosecurity area, with wording such as “Biosecurity measures are in force. No entrance beyond this point without authorization.” | A conspicuous place at each roadway entry |
One sizing trap: our 9 × 9 in security sign is under the 8-1/2 × 11 in minimum for a building or construction site, so use 12 × 18 or larger there. For posted land we print the owner's name and phone number on every sign, so nobody signs a stack by hand. More farm posting ideas are in our farm and ag signage guide.
Since August 1, 2026, purple paint on trees along the perimeter is an alternative to posting signs against outdoor recreation, but signs are still required once each year at the primary corners (Laws 2026, chapter 95, amending 97B.001). This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice.
From sign list to signs on the post
- Send the list: wording, sizes, quantities and where each sign goes. A photo or sketch of the lot helps.
- We lay it out: in your brand, and to the rule you or your building official tell us applies. The proof notes the mounting height where a rule sets one.
- You approve the proof: nothing is printed or cut until you sign off.
- It ships ready to mount: printed aluminum with the corners and holes you chose, steel with its mounting accessories.
- Your crew puts it up: we do not set posts or install. Your maintenance staff, contractor or you do the mounting.
Round out your signage
Yard Signs
Coroplast signs on stakes for events, listings and short runs.
Explore →SignageRigid Signs
Foam-board, PVC and composite panels for walls and displays.
Explore →ArchitecturalADA & Braille Signs
Raised text and braille for the doors inside the building.
Explore →ArchitecturalPlaques
Bronze and aluminum markers for parks, buildings and memorials.
Explore →Why businesses choose Shift
- Design first
Every order starts with professional design, not a template.
- Proof before print
You review and approve before production.
- One point of contact
Design through delivery, handled by one local team.
- Local & personal
A real person who knows your brand and is invested in it.
Metal and parking sign FAQ
12 x 18 inches suits most reserved, accessible and no parking signs. It is the size both the national and Minnesota sign manuals list for parking restriction signs, and larger is allowed. A van accessible plaque is 12 x 6, and Minnesota's one-piece accessible and van sign is 12 x 24.
The bottom of the sign sits 60 inches minimum and 66 inches maximum above the floor of the parking space, centered at the head end and a maximum of 96 inches from the head of the space (Minnesota Rules 1341.0502).
Use .040 for signs fastened flat to a wall, fence or gate, and .080 for a sign on a post. Road agencies go heavier than .040 on posts: MnDOT's 2025 sign spec starts at 0.063 inch aluminum for its smallest sign panels. Our reflective aluminum is .040, so tell us if a reflective sign is going on a post and we will talk through the options.
Where the MUTCD applies, regulatory signs must be retroreflective or illuminated. It covers drives through a shopping center, office park or school that are open to public travel, but not parking areas or their driving aisles. In the lot itself reflective is a choice, though MnDOT's sign manual draws its R7-8M accessible sign in retroreflective white and blue. We suggest reflective for anything drivers read after dark, like no parking, tow-away and driveway signs.
No. We do not install, set posts or file sign permits. These signs are made to go up without a sign installer: printed aluminum can ship with rounded corners and pre-drilled holes for posts, fences and walls, and steel signs include mounting accessories. We are happy to talk through your posts or wall before you order.
For land posted against hunting and other outdoor recreation (Minn. Stat. 97B.001): no trespassing or similar terms, letters at least two inches high, and a signature, or the legible name and phone number, of the owner, occupant or lessee, posted once each year. A building or construction site posted under Minn. Stat. 609.605 needs a sign at least 8-1/2 by 11 inches.
Who buys this & helpful guides
What customers say about our signs
Luke is very easy to work with, and the quality of work is exceptional. We have used SHIFT Design for: street signs, park signs, wraps, conference room privacy film, posters, banners, large 4x8 signage. Luke has the ability to do just about anything!
Luke at Shift Design has helped us out with vinyl graphics on vehicles, banners and signs. Always a great experience all around. Great communication, fair pricing and an awesome product. Very happy to work with Shift.
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