These tend to be rejected for not meeting any criteria. Some might meet the explore criteria if they are particularly artistic and interesting, and can therefore be accepted, but frequently they are nothing special.
It isn’t “our perogative” to review a certain way. It’s down to what Niantic/Scopely want from their database.
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This is where I’m stuck: I haven’t found any official statement from Niantic or Scopely indicating that they don’t want this type of object in their database. I’ve watched several videos featuring executives and team members who describe a vision of the map mirroring the real world. While they clearly acknowledge that certain locations may be excluded for safety or privacy reasons, I haven’t seen anything—outside of reviewer speculation—that says longstanding neighborhood signs, which serve as established landmarks, are unwanted in the database.
If such a statement does exist and I’ve simply missed it, I’m happy to step back from this topic.
As neighborhood signs come in many shapes, forms, and additional features, I think this discussion should be centered to particular submissions in question.
Talking about a broad topic can go so far as discussing the general merits. The objects that exist that might not be inherently meet eligibility criteria but has context unique to itself in particular can bring about differences in decisions.
This is exactly my point too! The under side of this would be if the real world does not have great places for exercise, exploration, or socialization, these areas will be underserved if Wayfarer is the only go-about for game object submissions.
You will not find that statement.
Neighborhood signs aren’t a global thing and are so country specific and have to be judged as that.
The general rule that a POI has to fullfill one or more of the main criterias (great place to exercise, socialize or explore) is fix.
Every nomination has to be judged on it’s own merits.
Thats why we have community review. Let the people judge whether such neighbor hood sign is distinct enough or no. Its submitter job to provide enough evidence. And like above said each nomination should be decided on its own merit. Some neighbour sign are more artistic or historic than other. There is no way to generalize this. Personally i also submit this
Hi,
Do you have some examples of an estate sign you have had accepted and of one rejected?
No, I just reached level 37 on Pokémon Go and started reading through the submission guidelines more carefully. My first nomination was rejected, but I believe it was due to how I wrote the description—not the actual merit of the waypoint.
I’ve noticed that there seems to be a general community trend of rejecting neighborhood signs outright, but that doesn’t align with how my local community actually uses and values these spaces. I wasn’t trying to be combative—just offering a different perspective. One where these signs are evaluated based on their individual merits rather than dismissed as “too generic” by default.
I’m planning to write a more detailed post explaining my rationale. I’ll include photos of the neighborhood signs along my street to show how each one is unique, visually interesting, and reflective of community identity. I’ll also share context on how these signs function as focal points for neighborhood gatherings and how they’re part of well-traveled walking routes, especially important in areas where we lack accessible parks or running trails.
This may be something specific to Charlotte, where the sidewalks are beautifully maintained and used frequently for outdoor exercise. That might be why so many of us here are confused by the “house rule” of rejecting neighborhood signs—because in our area, these spots clearly support Niantic’s values of exploration, exercise, and social connection.
Since I read that you don’t appreciate simple rebuttals, I will try to elaborate. There is no “house rule” that neighborhood signs must be rejected. They simply do not normally meet any of the criteria of a great place for exercise, exploration, or being social. The sign is put there by the builder to identify the homes available for sale. Most of the signs just have the name of the development.
There are exceptions, like these three I submitted at the Brickyard entrance:
But a standard neighborhood sign has no component encouraging exercise, no component encouraging being social, and no component promoting exploration. The only one it might remotely fit is exploration. And really, would you go drive around Charlotte to see how many neighborhood signs you can spot? Would you take a visiting friend to see your neighborhood entrance sign? This is why we say that a neighborhood sign typically does not meet criteria, not because we have passed down some rule that they don’t.
If your nomination makes a case that your neighborhood sign does meet criteria in some way, I will read and consider it. But being able to walk past it, or being a place kids wait for the bus, or being where you can meet a neighbor does not make it meet criteria.
I would love for Wayfarer staff to make a clarification on these, but I don’t think they will. I will also stop responding since I can’t think of anything new to say, but had to address the accusation that those of us who don’t think these are eligible are gatekeeping with our own rules.
This comment also worries me as it implies there are multiples just on 1 street. If this is correct I can clearly see why they would be classed as ineligible unless something else changes that, like the art in @cyndiepooh post.
They are sounding more like elaborate versions of Street Signs.
There are 4 signs on a 3 Mile stretch.
The signs I’m referring to are more in line with the examples you just shared. One of them already has a PokéStop—it features a cannon incorporated into the signage. The others don’t, despite having visually appealing and distinctive elements.
We’re currently camping for Father’s Day, otherwise I would have already taken photos. Once I’m back home, I plan to submit them as PokéStop nominations and will also share the photos here so everyone can see the kind of neighborhood signs I—and likely many locals—have in mind when we use that term.
To give a sense of scale, I’m talking about four signs spread out over roughly a three-mile stretch. That doesn’t feel excessive to me, but I understand perspectives may vary—perhaps in some contexts, that is considered a lot.
Also, I want to clarify something that came up regarding “simple rebuttals.” I truly appreciate when people take the time to engage respectfully—thank you for that. My concern isn’t with concise responses, but with tone. I understand tone can be hard to read online, but several replies I’ve received have come across as a bit pedantic or dismissive. That’s what I was responding to—not the brevity of the messages themselves.
I’m not here to argue or be contrary. I’m simply sharing a local perspective that may differ from how these signs are typically discussed. In fact, after seeing the examples you posted @cyndiepooh, I’m not sure our views are all that different. It may just come down to regional variation—you may see signs like these as exceptions, while I see them as fairly common in my area.
For the UK view on it, wouldn’t say excessive but difinately more than the UK example I showed in your other thread. 2 in the Village, can’t be 100% certain but I believe the next Village to have similar is about 3.5 miles (5.6km in your measures 
).
You have mentioned on a few occasions the “local perspective” remember that as long as your nominations get past Emily (AI) then it will be locals that vote.
Good luck.
Technically, anyone from within the country can potentially see a person’s nomination for review. With a low backlog these days, I’ve seen submissions from all over, not just local.
I would really encourage you to search and read through the forum for previous discussions on this subject. You say you’re going to create your own topic about it. However, nothing you’ve said so far is different from any other new player trying to justify these as places for “more pokestops.” We have talked about these for years. People have made up their mind about how they do or do not meet criteria. Until the criteria changes, i don’t see individuals changing their “best judgment” on these.
What is the official definition of “artistic”?
This clarification is as close as they have come to defining “art”
Yes. I would point you to the same link Cyndiepooh used. The concept of “art” for business signs/logos has a similar alignment for neighborhood signs, in my best judgment.
Oh ok so there is no actual qualifier for artistry.
I still maintain that the only real reason anyone supports these is the “need more stops” mentality. They don’t meet any criteria no matter how many words you put down trying to claim they do.
I have posted a few times here and the other currently active “Neighbourhood Signs” thread.
Not being local I sort of saw the point in the OPs argument as the UK has something similar which are often accepted but these are markers for the entire Village not just an estate.
Just a though, would it be simpler if the criteria stated that nominations must be primary used for at least 1 of the big 3.
Something like this could be used for exercise, socialise and explore but it isn’t the primary function?
