# Sign Regulations in Fountain Hills, Arizona

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fountain Hills, Arizona (AZ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/fountain-hills
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-18
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27451370#27451370)

## At a glance

Fountain Hills, Arizona regulates 30 sign types across 5 zoning districts. A-Frame or T-Frame Sign (Residential)s in the R-190, R1-43, R1-35, R1-35H, R1-18, R1-10, R1-10A, R1-8, R1-8A, R1-6, R1-6A zoning district are capped at 3 feet tall and 6 sq. ft. per sign, max 9 sq. ft. aggregate, with a ≥2 ft from curb/edge of pavement in right-of-way setback (Sec. Section 6.08(A)(1); 6.08(C)). Most commercial signs in Fountain Hills require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| OSC, OSR, OSP | 4 | 8 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| R-190, R1-43, R1-35, R1-35H, R1-18, R1-10, R1-10A, R1-8, R1-8A, R1-6, R1-6A | 5 | 8 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| M-1, M-2, M-3, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, MH | 7 | 8 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| C-O, C-C, C-1, C-2, C-3, IND-1, IND-2, UT, PAD, L-1, L-2, L-3, TCCD | 16 | 12 inches | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 3 feet for single-family, 5 feet for other districts | 24 sq. ft. for residential, 60 sq. ft. for other districts | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-190, R1-43, R1-35, R1-35H, R1-18, R1-10, R1-10A, R1-8, R1-8A, R1-6, R1-6A

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame or T-Frame Sign (Residential) | 3 feet | 6 sq. ft. per sign, max 9 sq. ft. aggregate | — | ≥2 ft from curb/edge of pavement in right-of-way | 1 per property + up to 5 off-site turning signs | Anywhere on property; max 5 additional off-site signs at turning movements from property to major street (not Shea Blvd); must be ≥2 ft from curb in right-of-way | — | Section 6.08(A)(1); 6.08(C) |
| Yard Sign (Single-family) | 3 feet | 6 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from curb in right-of-way | 2 per property + up to 5 off-site turning signs | On private property or common areas (not within parking/loading area). Off-site in right-of-way (not Shea Blvd) sunrise to sunset, ≥2 ft from curb. | — | Section 6.08(A)(17); 6.08(C) |
| Flag (Residential) | Height permitted by district | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 flagpole, up to 2 flags | On private property; hung only on holidays | — | Section 6.08(A)(7) |
| Post and Board Sign (Developed, ≤5 acres) | 5 feet | 6 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from curb | One per lot per street front | On private property or right-of-way (≥2 ft from curb, not in triangle, not on sidewalk) | — | Section 6.08(A)(12) |
| Post and Board Sign (Undeveloped >5 acres) | 8 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from curb | One per lot per street front | On private property or right-of-way (same as above) | — | Section 6.08(A)(12) |

### M-1, M-2, M-3, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, MH

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame or T-Frame Sign (Residential and Multifamily) | 3 feet | 6 sq. ft. per sign, max 9 sq. ft. aggregate | — | ≥2 ft from curb for right-of-way locations | 1 per property + up to 5 off-site | On property; rules as per residential for off-site signs | — | Section 6.08(A)(1); 6.08(C) |
| Yard Sign (Multifamily) | 5 feet | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per property; 2 per unit for 2-3 unit condos | On property or common area; off-site at turning movements, as residential | — | Section 6.08(A)(17); 6.08(C) |
| Flag (Multifamily) | Height permitted by district | 24 sq. ft. for residential uses, 60 sq. ft. for other uses | — | — | 1 flagpole per unit; 2 flagpoles for model home complexes | — | — | Section 6.08(A)(7) |
| Post and Board Sign (Developed, ≤5 acres) | 5 feet | 6 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from curb | One per lot per street front; one per unit for 2-3 unit condos | On property; may be in right-of-way (≥2 ft from curb) | — | Section 6.08(A)(12) |
| Post and Board Sign (Undeveloped >5 acres) | 8 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from curb | One per lot per street front; one per unit for 2-3 unit condos | On property or right-of-way | — | Section 6.08(A)(12) |
| Banner (Multifamily >10 units) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per occupancy | Within property owned or leased by use | — | Section 6.08(A)(4) |
| Monument Sign (Multiresidential) | 8 feet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | One per lot/parcel per each full 300 ft of street frontage | Entry feature; along street frontage, not within right-of-way; min separation 150 ft from other monument signs | — | Section 6.08(A)(10) |

### C-O, C-C, C-1, C-2, C-3, IND-1, IND-2, UT, PAD, L-1, L-2, L-3, TCCD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame or T-Frame Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 3 feet | 6 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from curb | Max 2 per business | 1 per business per entry; max 2 per business. Can be in right-of-way with conditions (not Shea Blvd median; ≥2 ft from curb; 4 ft clear passage on sidewalk in Town Center) | — | Section 6.08(A)(1) |
| Drive-Through Sign | 5 feet | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per drive-through lane | ≤5 ft from drive-through lane, ≥150 ft from residential (or screened) | — | Section 6.08(A)(6) |
| Flag (Commercial/Industrial) | Height permitted by zoning/Section 5.07(B) | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 flagpoles per property (up to 2 flags each) | Flagpole must fall within original property | — | Section 6.08(A)(7) |
| Freestanding Wall/Fence Sign | 6 feet | 24 sq. ft. | — | — | One per development entry | Attached to perimeter wall/fence of development | — | Section 6.08(A)(8) |
| Hanging or Under-Canopy Sign | 12 inches | — | 24 inches | — | One per occupancy | Under awning/canopy | — | Section 6.08(A)(9) |
| Monument Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 12 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (individual sign) | — | — | One per lot/parcel per full 300 ft of street frontage | Along street frontage, not within right-of-way, min 150 ft separation from other monument signs on property | — | Section 6.08(A)(10) |
| On-Site Directional Sign | 5 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | ≥20 ft from public street | As needed | At least 20 ft from public street and ≤5 ft from driveway/aisle | — | Section 6.08(A)(11) |
| Projecting Sign | 6 ft. | — | 3.5 ft. | — | One per building | On building outside relevant tenant space | — | Section 6.08(A)(13) |

## Prohibited signs in Fountain Hills

- Signs are prohibited in Town rights-of-way and public property, except where specifically allowed for certain sign types (e.g., A-frame, T-frame, post and board, yard signs), by special event permit, or as permitted by Arizona Revised Statutes 16-1019 for election cycles.
- Signs are prohibited in medians or on public property unless otherwise allowed by this chapter.
- Signs must not create safety, visibility, or access hazards, including obstructing visibility of traffic signs, signals, control devices, or blocking vehicular line of sight at intersections and driveways.
- Signs cannot block ADA access or required building/fire code ingress/egress.
- Signs must comply with horizontal and vertical clearance standards from electrical wires per building code.
- Signs may not interfere with or obstruct the architectural design of buildings, including covering architectural features or being placed on/above the roofline.
- Signs are prohibited on fuel tanks, storage containers, or solid waste receptacles (except manufacturer/installer/required legal signs).
- Signs cannot be affixed to trees, shrubs, posts, ladders, benches, or similar supports if visible from property boundaries or from the right-of-way.
- Signs may not be attached to standpipes, gutters, drains, or fire escapes, or placed to impair roof access.
- Temporary signs are prohibited within the Shea Boulevard right-of-way except as specifically allowed.
- Neon signs are prohibited except as allowed for window signs in commercial/industrial districts.
- Signs emitting sound are prohibited.
- Animated or moving signs, including televisions or streaming video, are prohibited.
- Mobile signs are prohibited except for sign walkers or as otherwise specifically allowed.
- Billboards and other off-site signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed.
- Nonelectrically illuminated signs are prohibited.
- Nonpublic signs in public right-of-way or public property are prohibited except as otherwise specifically allowed.
- Banners, pennants, streamers, feather signs, balloons, flags, searchlights, strobe lights, beacons, and inflatable signs are prohibited except as specifically defined and allowed.
- Signs imitating or obscuring official traffic control signs/devices are prohibited.
- Structurally unsafe, unsafely installed, or otherwise hazardous signs are prohibited.
- Signs not authorized by the property owner are prohibited.
- Electronic message centers are prohibited.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Flashing, blinking, or rotating lights, metal halide lighting, high-/low-pressure sodium bulbs, and mercury vapor sources are prohibited for sign illumination.
- No illuminated signs are permitted on vacant or undeveloped lots or parcels.
- Sign may not be erected or maintained except in compliance with Town Code and this chapter.
- Any sign not specifically authorized by ordinance is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fountain Hills

- Address numbers required by the Fire Code.
- Government signs.
- Traffic control signs, markings, and devices.
- Signs authorized or required by Arizona Revised Statutes.
- Public transportation signs.
- Signs specified as mandatory by any provision of the Fountain Hills Town Code.
- Street address numbers.
- Any sign four square feet or less in area not otherwise prohibited by this chapter.
- Repainting of signs.
- Minor, nonstructural repairs to signs or sign supports.
- Temporary signs.
- Window signs.
- Changes to a sign panel or copy on an existing sign.
- Required government signs for construction projects.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign plans may be used to establish unique signage criteria for a property or combination of integrated commercial properties.
- A sign plan may permit up to 10% deviations from allowed sign height/area if certain review criteria are met (unique site physical or architectural features, creative design, etc.).
- Applications for sign plans must include narrative, deviations, and graphic illustrations showing locations, sizes, bases, illumination, and materials.
- The Zoning Administrator is the approving authority for sign plans.
- Sign plans with creative design elements meeting specified standards may allow up to 10% additional sign area.
- Sign plans must be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator.
- Building Permit applications for signs must include property, building and occupancy info, sign dimensions, height, location, lighting, materials, and compliance info.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Fountain Hills — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Fountain+Hills+AZ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-fountain-hills

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