# Sign Regulations in Douglas, Arizona

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Douglas, Arizona (AZ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/douglas
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-28
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AZ/Douglas/codes/Zoning?nodeId=ART7SUDIREIG)

## At a glance

Douglas, Arizona regulates 8 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Permanent Subdivision Signs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 32 square feet (Sec. Sec. 708(b)). Most commercial signs in Douglas require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential District | 5 | 12 inches | 32 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential uses: NC, OP, GC, IP, LI, HI, and AA | 2 | 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Sign Regulations | — | — | — | — | — | No sign shall be supported from any street, alley, sidewalk, or public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 702, Sec. 703, Sec. 704, Sec. 705, Sec. 706, Sec. 707, Sec. 708, Sec. 709, Sec. 710, Sec. 711, Sec. 712, Sec. 806, Sec. 1909, CHAPTER V. |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| One- and Two-Family Dwellings Sign | 12 inches | 1 square foot | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 708(a) |
| Permanent Subdivision Sign | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance, not in conflict with any required clear vision area. | — | Sec. 708(b) |
| Permanent Multi-Family Dwellings Sign - Free-standing Masonry Wall Sign | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Not on or projected over any portion of the street, sidewalk, or public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 708(c)(1) |
| Permanent Multi-Family Dwellings Sign - Wall Sign | 5 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 708(c)(2) |
| Mobile Home and Trailer Parks Sign | 4 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance, not in conflict with any required clear vision area. | — | Sec. 708(d) |

### Nonresidential uses: NC, OP, GC, IP, LI, HI, and AA

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free-Standing Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet per sign face | — | — | 1 | Not on or projected over any portion of the street, sidewalk, or public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 709(a) |
| Wall Sign | 5 feet | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 709(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Douglas

- No sign shall be supported in whole or in part from any street, alley, sidewalk or other public right-of-way.
- No part of any ground sign shall be erected within or project over any part of public street, alley or sidewalk.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape, nor shall any sign be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at or near any intersection of streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of its position, shape, color, or illumination, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or with any device mounted on a police or fire protection vehicle; or which makes use of the words, 'STOP', 'LOOK', 'DANGER,' or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with mislead or confuse traffic.
- Every illuminated sign shall be so placed as to prevent any light or reflection from being cast directly on any adjoining residential district.
- Moving signs or flashing signs or any signs or advertising structures which have any visible moving part or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by any means, including intermittent electrical pulsation; excepting clocks, barber poles, public service information signs, and time or temperature signs.
- Signs which are obscene, hazardous to traffic, initiative of official government signs; (i.e., Stop, Danger, Caution, etc.) or obstructive to visibility so as to create a hazard to the public.
- Windblown signs, such as posters, pennants, streamers, balloons or other inflated objects, except as provided for in Section 705(k).
- Temporary signs except as permitted in Section 705.
- Except for time and temperature signs, no reflective type bulb or power spot bulb shall be used for, on, or in a sign except as herein and otherwise provided. All lamps or bulbs exposed to direct view shall be limited to twenty-five (25) watts or less capacity. On time and temperature signs each bulb is limited to thirty-three (33) watts capacity. Strings of light bulbs and spotlights are included in this section, except for holiday decorations.
- Off-premises signs including billboards, except as provided in Section 705(f).
- No sign shall be erected in a residential zoning district containing information other than property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants or premises, home occupations, or as hereinafter permitted in Section 708.
- Sandwich signs or A boards.
- Roof sign.
- No sign shall be located less than six (6) feet horizontally or twelve (12) feet vertically from overhead electrical conductors which are energized in excess of four hundred forty (440) volts.
- Any signs creating traffic safety problems determined by city engineer, building inspector or police department.

## Signs exempt from permit in Douglas

- Professional name plates not exceeding two (2) square feet in area.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property in all districts but bearing no advertising matter, not to exceed three (3) square feet in area.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, directional signs for hospitals or emergency services, of governmental agencies, legal notices, crossing signs and danger signals.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and dates of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other non-combustible material not to exceed eight (8) square feet in area.
- Real estate signs in residential districts not exceeding three (3) square feet in area, which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located.
- Signs for the purpose of directing the public to 'open house' events, providing for sale, rental, or lease of premises other than upon which the sign is located provided said signs do not exceed three (3) in number and may remain for the life of the active development but in no instance for longer than two (2) years after the issuance of the building permit for the project being advertised.
- Sign for conditional uses permitted and approved under the provisions of the Code shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area and be located not closer than ten (10) feet to any adjoining lot.
- One (1) temporary, non-illuminated sign for major projects under construction not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area.
- Temporary political signs not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet advertising candidates or issues may be erected during the campaign for a period of sixty (60) days prior to the election in which such candidates or issues are to be voted upon.
- One (1) non-illuminated home occupation sign not exceeding two (2) square feet.
- Temporary signs which are intended for use at grand openings of new businesses only and limited to a maximum period of fourteen (14) calendar days, size of this sign shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.
- One (1) temporary sign per subdivision not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area, message limited to the identification of the subdivision and its sales agent.
- Garage/Yard sale signs: Permission must be granted by property owners for sign posting on their property for garage sales occurring on another property.
- Future Development Sign: A sign that announces the proposed development of property, prior to the issuance of building permit.
- Going Out of Business Sign: A sign indicating that the business displaying the sign will cease and be discontinued at a specific location.
- Window Signs: A sign or signage placed in windows so as to attract the attention of persons outside of the building where the sign or signage is placed.
- One (1) temporary, non-illuminated sign per residential lot, not exceeding three (3) square feet in area per contractor or sub-contractor working on the lot, not to exceed six (6) square feet in aggregate area.
- Holiday lighting.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan may be submitted by the developers of proposed shopping centers, industrial parks, industrial and commercial subdivisions, hotel conference centers and other uses as approved by the Community Development Director. This plan shall include the location, size, height, lighting and orientation of all proposed signs, in addition to any other information deemed necessary. This sign plan may be submitted in conjunction with the required preliminary Site Plan for the development.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Douglas, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Douglas+AZ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-douglas

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