# Sign Regulations in Avondale, Arizona

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Avondale, Arizona, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Avondale, Arizona (AZ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/avondale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AZ/Avondale/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH28ZOOR_ART9SI)

## At a glance

Avondale, Arizona regulates 27 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Low-Profile Wall Identification Signs in the R-O, C-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, OTAB, Cashion, CP, A-1, Cashion Business zoning district are capped at All: 3.5 ft tall and RO: 20 SF; C-O, Cashion, CP: 40 SF; C-1: 40 SF; C-2: 60 SF; C-3: 80 SF; OTAB: 20 SF; A-1: 40 SF, with a Set back at least 5 feet from property line setback (Sec. 28-203(d)(2)). Most commercial signs in Avondale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 3 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| Single-Family Residential Districts | 3 | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Multi-Family Residential Districts (R-2, R-3, R-4) | 3 | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Manufactured Home Park District (MH) | 2 | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| R-O, C-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, OTAB, Cashion, CP, A-1, Cashion Business | 10 | 6 ft (OTAB and CC/BLVDD: 5 ft) | C-O: 75 SF; C-3: 250 SF; CC/BLVDD: 200 SF | — |
| CC/BLVDD, OTAB | 5 | 5 ft | CC/BLVDD: 200 SF; OTAB: 100 SF | — |
| C-3, CC/BLVDD, PAD | 1 | 65 ft (exception: up to 110 ft with FPSE) | 800 sq. ft. per face (exceptions: up to 1,400 sq. ft. with FPSE) | — |
| PAD | 1 | 65 ft (exception: up to 110 ft with FPSE) | 800 sq. ft. per face (exception: up to 1,400 sq. ft. with FPSE) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign Walker | — | — | — | 5 feet from curb/edge of pavement if no sidewalk. | Up to 5 sign walkers per permit | Allowed on private property with owner's permission, not in drive aisles or vehicular areas; on public right-of-way must be 5 ft from curb/edge; not on street or median. | — | 28-195(c) |
| Temporary Sign - General Minor | 3 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | No further than 2,640 ft. from use; not on roof, not attached to permanent sign | — | 28-202, 28-198, 28-203(c) |
| Variable Message Sign | See underlying sign type | See underlying sign type | — | — | — | Where specifically permitted (see sign type) | — | 28-197(d) |
| Classic Sign | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt | — | — | City's revitalization area | — | 28-200 |

### R-O, C-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, OTAB, Cashion, CP, A-1, Cashion Business

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary Elevation) | — | R-O: 50 SF; C-O: 75 SF; C-1: 100 SF; C-2: 200 SF; C-3: 250 SF; OTAB: 100 SF; Cashion: 100 SF; CP: 75 SF; A-1: 150 SF | — | — | See additional requirements | Primary building elevation | — | 28-203(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Secondary Elevation Facing Public Street) | — | As per primary, or 0.5 SF per linear foot | — | — | See additional requirements | Secondary elevations facing public streets | — | 28-203(d)(1) |
| Low-Profile Wall Identification Sign | All: 3.5 ft | RO: 20 SF; C-O, Cashion, CP: 40 SF; C-1: 40 SF; C-2: 60 SF; C-3: 80 SF; OTAB: 20 SF; A-1: 40 SF | — | Set back at least 5 feet from property line | 1 per master planned development | Per master planned development, set back at least 5 ft from any property line and out of sight visibility lines | — | 28-203(d)(2) |
| Directory Sign | 6 ft (OTAB and CC/BLVDD: 5 ft) | 12 SF (OTAB and CC/BLVDD: 10 SF) | — | Freestanding directory signs behind required setbacks | Per tenant directory/complex | On site, multi-tenant developments (not allowed in R-O); locations approved during site plan | — | 28-203(d)(3) |
| Monument Sign (Single-Tenant) | C-O, C-1, Cashion, A-1: 6 ft; C-2: 8 ft; C-3: 10 ft | C-O, C-1, Cashion, A-1: 40 SF; C-2: 60 SF; C-3: 80 SF | — | 5 ft from property line, out of sight visibility | 1 per street frontage (2 if two arterial frontages) | In front of single-user developments; 5 ft setback from property line | — | 28-203(d)(4) |
| Monument Sign (Multi-Tenant) | C-1, Cashion, CP, A-1: 8 ft; C-2: 12 ft; C-3: 14 ft | C-1, Cashion, CP, A-1: 60 SF; C-2: 80 SF; C-3: 100 SF | — | 5 ft from property line | See additional requirements | In front of multi-user developments, 5 ft setback from property line. 1 per frontage (additional for >800 ft frontage) | — | 28-203(d)(5) |
| Blade Sign | 1 ft height x 3 ft length | 3 sq. ft. | 3 ft | — | 1 per user | Hung directly outside business primary entrance; suspended from overhang or covered walkway; at least 7 ft above grade | — | 28-203(d)(9) |
| Traffic Directional Sign (On-site) | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On-site; monument style | — | 28-203(d)(8) |

### CC/BLVDD, OTAB

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Primary Elevation) | — | CC/BLVDD: 200 SF; OTAB: 100 SF | — | — | See additional requirements | Primary elevation (no max # of elevations in CC/BLVDD; OTAB: max 3 elevations) | — | 28-203(d)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Freeway facing elevation) (CC/BLVDD only) | — | 200 SF | — | — | — | Freeway-facing elevation | — | 28-203(d)(1) |
| Directory Sign | 5 ft | 10 SF | — | — | See plan | On-site, as approved in plan | — | 28-203(d)(3) |
| Single-Tenant Monument Sign (CC/BLVDD) | Determined during design review | Determined during design review | — | — | 1 per main street frontage (max 2) | For single-user developments over 5 acres, on Avondale Blvd, Van Buren St, or Roosevelt St. | — | 28-203(d)(4)(B) |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign (CC/BLVDD) | Determined during design review | Determined during design review | — | — | 1 per main street frontage (max 2) | For multi-user developments over 5 acres, on Avondale Blvd, Van Buren St, or Roosevelt St. | — | 28-203(d)(5)(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Avondale

- No sign or sign structure shall be erected or maintained in the public right-of-way, within an easement (other than an easement specifically for a sign), or be attached to any street light, street sign, traffic signal, utility pole, utility box, fire hydrant, bus shelter or other structure in the public right-of-way except where explicitly allowed by this article.
- No sign or sign structure shall be erected in such a manner that any portion of its surface or supports will interfere in any way with the free use of any street, sidewalk, fire escape, fire lane, exit, or accessible route, as defined in the most current Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).
- No sign or sign structure shall obstruct any street, sidewalk, private driveway, drive aisle, parking space, pedestrian path, or trail.
- No sign or sign structure shall project into or over any public sidewalk, street, alley, or other public place except within specific zoning districts as allowed by this article.
- No sign or sign structure shall obstruct traffic by obscuring the vision of motorists. A minimum sight distance triangle of thirty-three (33) feet shall be maintained at all street and driveway intersections; larger sight distance triangles as deemed necessary by the city engineer.
- No sign or sign structure shall extend above a building's parapet except within certain zoning districts as specified.
- No permanent freestanding sign or structure shall be located within five (5) feet of an interior property line.
- No illuminated wall-mounted sign shall be permitted on a building elevation abutting any residential district or use unless separated by a public street.
- No temporary sign shall be placed on, attached to, or hung from any permanent sign.
- No temporary sign or display shall be placed on the roof of any building.
- No sign or sign structure may be placed on private property without expressed, written consent of the landowner.
- No temporary sign shall be placed on, attached to, or hung from a tree without prior approval from the zoning administrator or authorized designee.
- No sign shall be animated by mechanical or atmospheric means, except where explicitly allowed by this article.
- The use of reflective material is prohibited.
- No sign shall be painted directly onto building façades or walls, except as provided for certain zoning districts and specific conditions.
- No sign shall be painted on, mounted to, or affixed in any way to an awning and/or canopy, except as provided for certain zoning districts; interior illuminated awning signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Attachments to any permitted temporary sign, including, but not limited to, balloons and ribbons, are prohibited.
- No permanent off-premise signs shall be permitted except as explicitly authorized.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Outlining of a building by means of exposed incandescent lighting is prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited, except where explicitly allowed.
- Variable message signs are prohibited, except where explicitly allowed.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Illegal signs, as defined by this ordinance (excluding signs required for governmental purposes), are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Avondale

- Flags, pennants, or insignias of any nation, state, county, city or other government entity or religious organization.
- Temporary decorations, displays or banners celebrating the occasion of recognized local events.
- Official traffic, fire, and police signs, both temporary and permanent, including changeable message signs, traffic control signs, street signs, traffic signals and devices and markings of the State of Arizona and the City of Avondale or other authorized public agency, or the posting of notices as required by law.
- Window signs (subject to area/duration/placement limits in commercial and employment districts).
- Non-illuminated directional or informational signs that do not include directions to commercial establishments and do not exceed three (3) feet in height and six (6) square feet in area.
- Political signs.
- Ideological signs.
- Lost pet signs (subject to quantity, size, location, duration restrictions).
- Garage, yard, and estate sale signs.
- Real estate signs.
- Open house directional signs.
- Contractor signs (subject to timing, size, number, removal on construction completion).
- Address signs as specified for all buildings in any zoning district (subject to size, placement and design guidelines for residential, multi-family, and commercial/employment).
- Neighborhood and community event signs (subject to size, duration, and location restrictions).
- Signs for approved seasonal sales uses (on-site identification and traffic directional signs; restrictions on area, number, and timing).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan (sometimes referred to as master sign plan) may be required at the city's discretion for development or redevelopment projects as a component of a development application.
- Deviation from the allowed sign densities, heights, area, and separation distances in a comprehensive sign plan may be administratively approved up to 25%; greater deviations require city council approval.
- Comprehensive sign plans are required for projects proposing freeway pylon signs.
- The comprehensive sign plan, if required, must include detailed items like property owner authorization, statements of design continuity, site plans showing signage, elevations and graphics, written sign standards, and any additional requirements by the director.
- Modifications to Freeway Pylon Sign standards require a Freeway Pylon Sign Exception (FPSE), which must be granted by city council—this cannot be administratively approved.
- Any amendments to an approved comprehensive sign plan that do not exceed 25% variation over base Zoning District requirements can be administratively approved; larger amendments require city council approval.
- The final location of specific types of signs (e.g., low-profile wall identification signs, directory signs, monument signs, etc.) must be approved during the site plan review process and/or may be required to be approved as part of the center's or project's comprehensive sign plan.
- Center identification wall signs: The number and location must be approved as part of the center's comprehensive sign plan.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 9 zoning districts in Avondale — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Avondale+AZ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-avondale

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