# Sign Regulations in El Mirage, Arizona

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

- **Jurisdiction:** El Mirage, Arizona (AZ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/el-mirage
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

El Mirage, Arizona regulates 26 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding/Monument Sign (Non-Residential)s in the MU, UC, TD zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and Up to 48 sq ft (<5 acres); up to 60 sq ft (≥5 acres), with a 3 ft (front), 6 ft (side/rear) setback (Sec. § 154.133(G)). Most commercial signs in El Mirage require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NR, RA, SN, MP | 9 | 25 feet | Per aggregate calculation; not more than 300 sq ft per business | — |
| MU, UC, TD | 17 | Up to 65 feet along Northern Avenue, 40 ft elsewhere (60 ft Olive Ave) | Up to 400 sq ft (standard location); up to 672 sq ft for digital/static billboards along Northern Avenue. | — |
| CP, EI | 17 | Up to 65 feet along Northern Avenue, 40 ft elsewhere | Up to 400 sq ft (standard location); up to 672 sq ft for digital/static billboards along Northern Avenue; Off-premise sign: 32 sq ft. | — |
| TROD | 17 | 65 feet (Northern Avenue); 40 ft elsewhere | Up to 400 sq ft (standard location); up to 672 sq ft for digital/static billboards along Northern Avenue. | — |
| Residential subdivisions or multi-family residential developments | 4 | 6 feet | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 30 ft (NR, RA, SN, MP); 35 ft (MU, UC, TD, CP, EI); 100 ft for U.S. or AZ flag (special conditions). | 5 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### MU, UC, TD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Mounted Sign (Attached) | 25 feet | Per aggregate calculation; not more than 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 attached sign per street frontage per business | On facade/exterior wall; 1 per street frontage per business. | — | § 154.132 Table S; § 154.133(A) |
| Billboard/Off-Premise Sign | Up to 65 feet along Northern Avenue, 40 ft elsewhere (60 ft Olive Ave) | Up to 400 sq ft (standard location); up to 672 sq ft for digital/static billboards along Northern Avenue. | — | Request must comply with off-premise rules if approved. | — | As allowed per arterial/permitted roadways | — | § 154.133(C) |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive or parking entry | Drive or parking entry | — | § 154.133(D) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (Non-Residential) | 8 feet | Up to 48 sq ft (<5 acres); up to 60 sq ft (≥5 acres) | — | 3 ft (front), 6 ft (side/rear) | 1 per street frontage or 1 per 200 ft frontage | On premises, see setbacks, address required. | — | § 154.133(G) |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 feet | 12 sq ft per side | — | Min 1 ft from curb/sidewalk or 5 ft if no sidewalk. | 1 per qualifying frontage | On property or within right-of-way (with restrictions); not on paved portion or sidewalk (except in TROD with requirements). | — | § 154.134(A) |
| Banner Sign | Not above prevailing roofline or building height limit | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Affixed to wall/fence where feasible. | — | § 154.134(B) |
| Weekend Directional Sign | 3 feet | 4 sq ft | — | Min 1 ft from curb/edge | — | At least 1 ft behind curb/edge of road. | — | § 154.134(E) |
| Yard Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 8 feet | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On private property, not in ROW. | — | § 154.134(G) |

### CP, EI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Mounted Sign (Attached) | 25 feet | Per aggregate calculation; not more than 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 attached sign per street frontage per business | On facade/exterior wall; 1 per street frontage per business. | — | § 154.132 Table S; § 154.133(A) |
| Billboard/Off-Premise Sign | Up to 65 feet along Northern Avenue, 40 ft elsewhere | Up to 400 sq ft (standard location); up to 672 sq ft for digital/static billboards along Northern Avenue; Off-premise sign: 32 sq ft. | — | Off-premise: not in ROW or sight triangle | Off-premise: 1 per intersection leg | Billboard on permitted arterial (see § 154.133(C)); Off-premise sign only in EI, located at arterial intersection, within 60 ft R/W. | — | § 154.133(C) |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive or parking entry | Drive or parking entry | — | § 154.133(D) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign (Non-Residential) | 8 feet | Up to 48 sq ft (<5 acres); up to 60 sq ft (≥5 acres) | — | 3 ft (front), 6 ft (side/rear) | 1 per street frontage or 1 per 200 ft frontage | On premises, see setbacks, address required. | — | § 154.133(G) |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 feet | 12 sq ft per side | — | Min 1 ft from curb/sidewalk or 5 ft if no sidewalk. | 1 per qualifying frontage | On property or within right-of-way (with restrictions); not on paved portion or sidewalk (except in TROD with requirements). | — | § 154.134(A) |
| Banner Sign | Not above prevailing roofline or building height limit | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Affixed to wall/fence where feasible. | — | § 154.134(B) |
| Weekend Directional Sign | 3 feet | 4 sq ft | — | Min 1 ft from curb/edge | — | At least 1 ft behind curb/edge of road. | — | § 154.134(E) |
| Yard Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 8 feet | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On private property, not in ROW. | — | § 154.134(G) |

### TROD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Mounted Sign (Attached) | 25 feet | Per aggregate calculation; not more than 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 attached sign per street frontage per business | On facade/exterior wall; 1 per street frontage per business. | — | § 154.132 Table S; § 154.133(A) |
| Billboard/Off-Premise Sign | 65 feet (Northern Avenue); 40 ft elsewhere | Up to 400 sq ft (standard location); up to 672 sq ft for digital/static billboards along Northern Avenue. | — | Min 1,000 ft from nearest billboard | Subject to zone/council limits | Permitted arterials, per additional standards | — | § 154.133(C) |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive or parking entry | Drive or parking entry | — | § 154.133(D) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign | 8 feet | Up to 48 sq ft (<5 acres); up to 60 sq ft (≥5 acres) | — | Not within 3 ft of front or 6 ft of side/rear property line. | 1 per street frontage or 1 per 200 ft frontage | On premises (see architectural requirements), see setbacks, address required. | — | § 154.133(G)(7) |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 feet | 12 sq ft per side | — | Within first 3 ft adjacent to curb, 5 ft clearance | 1 per qualifying frontage | In TROD, on public/private sidewalks if not obstructing walkway, within first 3 ft of sidewalk adjacent to curb, min 5 ft walkway clearance. | — | § 154.134(A) |
| Banner Sign | Not above prevailing roofline or building height limit | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Affixed to wall/fence where feasible. | — | § 154.134(B) |
| Weekend Directional Sign | 3 feet | 4 sq ft | — | Min 1 ft from curb/edge | — | At least 1 ft behind curb/edge of road. | — | § 154.134(E) |
| Yard Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 8 feet | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On private property, not in ROW. | — | § 154.134(G) |

## Prohibited signs in El Mirage

- Signs containing strobe lights.
- Abandoned sign structures, as defined by this chapter.
- Signs placed on or painted on a motor vehicle, boat or trailer parked with the primary purpose of providing signage not otherwise allowed by the chapter; prohibited is any sign displayed on a parked trailer, truck or other vehicle where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product, service, business, or other activity (except for business logos, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily and actively used for business or personal transportation).
- No sign advertising a principal business or use shall be installed on any lot other than that on which the principal business is located unless allowed by other code sections or as part of a city managed wayfinding program.
- Signs in which a property owner accepts a fee for posting or maintaining a sign allowed under other code sections unless specifically modified herein.
- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic lights, signs or signals or signs that interfere with the effectiveness of any official traffic light, sign or signal.
- Mechanically moving signs; any sign or display with actual mechanical motion powered by any means, including pennant strings, streamers, spinners, propellers, and search lights.
- Unshielded or flashing signs; any sign with flashing, blinking, or rotating lights, laser lights, search lights, or unshielded lighting. (Signs with change rate or dwell time of four seconds or longer are not prohibited on this basis).
- Any signs affixed to any structures, trees or other natural vegetation, rocks or poles (posters and handbills).
- Any sign which may be confused with or obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign or signal, obstruct the sight-distance triangle at any road intersection or extend into the public right-of-way.
- Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire exit, or that prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part.
- Signs located in a manner which interferes with pedestrian travel or poses a hazard to pedestrians.
- No sign which emits smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound or odor shall be permitted; open flames used to attract attention to a place of business or to an advertising sign are not permitted.
- No mirror device shall be used as part of a sign.
- Tethered balloons or other hazards to aviation.
- Where the code is silent, or where the rules do not provide a basis for concluding that a sign is allowed, said sign is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in El Mirage

- Signs which are not visible from a public roadway (but must comply with other building and construction provisions enacted by the city).
- Signs inside a building.
- Historical plaques or signs carved into a building or raised in integral relief on a building not exceeding four square feet.
- Signs required by federal, state, or city law/authority.
- Noncommercial flags.
- Painted and/or applied wall accents and decorations.
- Illuminated building accents and decorations.
- Public art. Murals defined as works of graphic art hand-painted or applied to building walls which contain no advertising, commercial messages, or logos, and not displayed in conjunction with a commercial enterprise which may obtain commercial gain from the display. (Murals require conditional use permit approval by Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.)
- For single family residential properties, up to two signs indicating address, number and/or name of occupants of the premises that do not exceed two square feet in area and located in an area not otherwise prohibited.
- For all non-single family residential properties, building or group of buildings may provide a street number sign as approved by the Zoning Administrator, clearly visible from the street — not computed as part of the total sign area and not requiring a permit.
- Decals and/or logos affixed to windows or door glass panels, such as those indicating membership in a business group or identifying credit cards accepted at the establishment.
- Directional or informational signs of a noncommercial public or quasi-public nature, and community signs.
- Sign repainting without changing wording, composition or colors; or minor nonstructural repairs.
- On-premise signs relevant to the function of the property that are not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel, or from any public right of way.
- Public signs. Signs erected by government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, and identification signs for public facilities and any signs erected by the city.
- Security and warning signs: on-premise signs regulating the use of the premises (e.g., “no trespassing”, “no hunting”, “no soliciting”), within specified size limits (does not exceed one sign two square feet in area in residential areas and one sign five square feet in area in commercial and industrial zones; limitations do not apply to conventional “no trespassing” signs per state law).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign program may be requested by the developer or owner of a planned area development, or by the developer, owner, or master lessor of a multi-tenant development or parcel that is a minimum of ten gross acres, or may be initiated by the city for a particular area.
- A master sign program application must be approved, conditionally approved, or disapproved through the conditional use permit process.
- A new master sign program approval is required for substantial revisions to the original approval, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
- Specific sign types, such as billboards or off-premise signs, require a conditional use permit, which may involve site plan review or hearings.
- Sign permits are generally required for permanent and certain temporary sign types as indicated in Table S. Applications must be on the official form provided by the city and may require submission of adequate information to prove compliance.
- Applications for variances from sign code must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator and acted upon by the Board of Adjustment.
- Applications for conditional use permits required for certain signs (e.g., electronic message centers, off-premise, billboards, murals) must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator and acted upon by the Planning and Zoning Commission and/or City Council.
- When signs encroach upon city right-of-way, an encroachment permit or other City Council–granted authorization may be required in addition to the sign permit.

## 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 6 zoning districts in El Mirage — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=El+Mirage+AZ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-el-mirage

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/el-mirage