Skip to main content
Office of the University Controller Indiana University

26.0 - Capitalization of Signage

SUBJECT:

Capitalization of Signage

SOURCE:

Capital Asset Management

ORIGINAL DATE

OF ISSUE:

November 2007

DATE OF

LAST REVISION:

November 2007

CSOP NO:

26.0

RATIONALE:

To provide guidelines for the capitalization of signage.

CSOP:

Signage - Buildings

Signage - Land Improvements

Signage - Moveable Equipment

 

Signage - Buildings


Signage that is part of a new building's construction or renovation and intended to be permanently attached is considered to be included as part of the total building project and capitalized if the total project cost is Seventy-Five Thousand ($75,000) or greater.

Capital Asset Management considers signage to be permanently attached when removal of the signage would cause structural damage to the building, defacement to the property, damage to the sign and/or would require professional removal, such as the removal by a professional electrician.

Examples of signage in new building construction or renovations that could be permanently attached include:
  • Major building identification signs placed inside the building structure at each major entrance which list departments, offices and floors.
  • Wall-mounted directional signage which reinforces circulation within the building.
  • Room number, name and occupancy signage.
  • Exit and restroom signage.
  • Dedication signage.
  • Scoreboards, restaurant and menu signage that are permanently attached to the building structure.
Signage included in new building construction or renovations in which the total project cost is $75,000 should be capitalized to the following object codes:
Object Code Description
7300 Building & Attached Fixtures
7301 Building - Professional Fees
7303 Building - Improvements

If the total project cost for new building construction or renovations is not $75,000, signage should be expensed.

If signage is purchased independently of a building project and meets the above criteria for permanently attached the cost of the signage must be $75,000 or greater to be capitalized. If the cost of the signage alone is below $75,000 the signage should be expensed.

Signage - Land Improvements


Signage that is outside and not permanently attached to a building is considered a land improvement. Signage that is part of a land improvement project should be included in the total project cost and capitalized if the project cost is Seventy-Five Thousand ($75,000) or greater.

Examples of signage that could be considered land improvements include the following permanently affixed signage:
  • Identification signage which introduces and welcomes visitors to your campus or campus facility.
  • Directional signage which offer motorists and pedestrians the direction and information they need to make their way around your campus facility and grounds. Directional signs are placed to offer quick help at intersections, through parking areas, and multiple building complexes.
  • Signage located outdoors and not permanently attached to a building which identifies a building or locations on your campus.
  • Parking lot signs which identify entrances and exits to parking lot facilities.
  • Parking garage identification signage that is not permanently attached to the parking garage structure.
  • Scoreboard Signage that is not permanently attached to a building structure and/or surrounded by an outside arena which includes football field scoreboard, a soccer field scoreboard, a swimming pool scoreboard or a tennis court scoreboard.
Signage included in land improvement projects with a total project cost of $75,000 or greater should use the object code of the project not of the sign itself which include:
Object Code Description
7465 Land Improvements - Yard, Fencing & Barriers
7466 Land Improvements - Landscapings
7468 Land Improvements - Professional Fees
7477 Land Improvements - Gifts

Signage included in land improvement projects with a total project cost of less than $75,000 should be expensed.

If signage is purchased independent of a land improvement project, the signage must be $75,000 or greater to be capitalized as a land improvement and should use the following object code:
Object Code Description
7465 Land Improvements - Yard, Fencing & Barriers

If signage is purchased independent of a land improvement project and the cost of the signage is less than $75,000, the signage should be expensed.

Signage - Moveable


Signage that is not permanently attached to a building or permanently affixed outside of a building should be capitalized as moveable equipment if the sign has an acquisition value of at least $5,000 and a useful life expectancy of one year or greater.

Capital Asset Management considers signage to be moveable when removal of the signage would not cause structural damage to the building, defacement to the property, damage to the sign and/or would not require professional removal, such as the removal by a professional electrician.

Examples of signage that could be considered moveable include the following:
  • Free Standing Signage not permanently affixed
  • Marquee and/or Event Signage
  • Roadside changeable letter signage
  • Wall Signage not permanently attached to a building structure
  • Scoreboards
  • Restaurant and menu boards
Signage - Moveable should be capitalized to the following object codes:
Object Code Description
7000 Capital Equipment
7031 Capital Equipment - Federally Owned
7032 Capital Equipment - Other Owned

Signage - moveable with a unit cost of below $5,000 should be expensed.

See CSOP 8.0 Capitalization of Moveable Equipment .

DEFINITIONS:

Equipment- The term “equipment” includes delivery equipment, office equipment, machinery, furniture and fixtures, factory equipment and similar fixed assets.

Land improvement - GASB 34 defines land improvements to consist of betterments, other than building, that ready land for its intended use.
Permanently attached - When removal would cause structural damage, defacement to property, damage to the sign and would require professional removal, such as removal by a professional electrician.

CROSS

REFERENCES:

CSOP 1.0 Capitalization Rules
CSOP 8.0 Capitalization of Moveable Equipment

RESPONSIBLE

ORGANIZATION:

Organizations that purchase capital assets.