diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandeditsign.java b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandeditsign.java
index e7159d2799d..b3fb0387efe 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandeditsign.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/java/com/earth2me/essentials/commands/Commandeditsign.java
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@ protected void run(final Server server, final User user, final String commandLab
     private boolean callSignEvent(final ModifiableSign sign, final Player player, final String[] lines) {
         final SignChangeEvent event;
         if (VersionUtil.getServerBukkitVersion().isHigherThanOrEqualTo(VersionUtil.v1_20_1_R01)) {
+            if (sign.isWaxed() && !player.hasPermission("essentials.editsign.waxed.exempt")) {
+                return true;
+            }
             event = new SignChangeEvent(sign.getBlock(), player, lines, sign.isFront() ? Side.FRONT : Side.BACK);
         } else {
             //noinspection deprecation
@@ -199,6 +202,11 @@ void setLine(int line, String text) {
                 boolean isFront() {
                     return side == Side.FRONT;
                 }
+
+                @Override
+                boolean isWaxed() {
+                    return sign.isWaxed();
+                }
             };
         }
         return new ModifiableSign(sign) {
@@ -221,6 +229,11 @@ void setLine(int line, String text) {
             boolean isFront() {
                 return true;
             }
+
+            @Override
+            boolean isWaxed() {
+                return false;
+            }
         };
     }
 
@@ -239,6 +252,8 @@ protected ModifiableSign(final Sign sign) {
 
         abstract boolean isFront();
 
+        abstract boolean isWaxed();
+
         Block getBlock() {
             return sign.getBlock();
         }
diff --git a/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml b/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
index 8affe63e35d..51af179a95f 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
+++ b/Essentials/src/main/resources/plugin.yml
@@ -714,6 +714,7 @@ permissions:
       essentials.sudo.exempt: true
       essentials.tempban.exempt: true
       essentials.exempt.protect: true
+      essentials.editsign.waxed.exempt: true
   essentials.nick.hideprefix:
     default: false
     description: Players with this permission will not have the nickname prefix applied to them