# Sign Regulations in Scottsdale, Arizona

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Scottsdale, Arizona (AZ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/scottsdale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AZ/Scottsdale/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=VOLII_APXBBAZOOR_ARTVIIISIRE)

## At a glance

Scottsdale, Arizona regulates 19 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Monuments in the Residential Districts (Table 4.100.A), Open Space (O-S), Planned Residential Development (PRD), Planned Community (P-C) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 24 sq ft per face, with a Minimum 15 ft from back of curb setback (Sec. Sec. 8.512, Table 8.512.A; Sec 8.513.A).

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (Table 4.100.A), Open Space (O-S), Planned Residential Development (PRD), Planned Community (P-C) | 6 | Max building height (A), 36 ft (B) | 60 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-family Residential (R-5), Resort/Townhouse Residential (R-4R) | 5 | 36 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts (Table 4.100.B), Industrial Districts (Table 4.100.C), Mixed Use Districts (Table 4.100.D), Planned Convenience Center (PCoC), Planned Neighborhood Center (PNC), Planned Community Center (PCC), Planned Airpark Core Development (PCP), Parking P-1 District, Parking P-2 District, Special Campus (S-C), Western Theme Park (W-P) | 11 | 36 ft | Varies by zone, up to 250 sq ft; C-O/P = 24 sq ft (unless DRB exception) | — |
| Planned Regional Center (PRC) | 4 | 36 ft (60 ft w/ DRB approval) | Depends on business front; up to 250 sq ft; max height 36 ft (can be 60 ft w/ DRB program) | — |
| Service Residential (S-R), Commercial Office (C-O) | 1 | 18 ft (S-R), 36 ft (C-O) | S-R: 12 sq ft per business front; C-O: 24 sq ft per business | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD), Downtown (D), Type 1 Area, Type 2 Area, Type 2.5 Area, Type 3 Area, Special Campus (SC) | 1 | 36 ft (can be 60 ft for some with DRB) | 1.5 sq ft per lineal ft business front; see DRB exceptions | — |
| Planned Community (P-C), Planned Residential Development (PRD) | 1 | 8 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 9 sq ft per panel | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Districts (Table 4.100.A), Open Space (O-S), Planned Residential Development (PRD), Planned Community (P-C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Max building height (A), 36 ft (B) | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall of business it identifies. | — | Sec. 8.502, Table 8.502.A, Sec. 8.501 |
| Entry Sign | 10 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | Within 10 ft of primary entrance | — | Sec. 8.503.D.1 |
| Address Sign | 12 in (copy); backer panel max 3 in greater than copy size | — | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 8.503.D.2 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 5 ft | 24 sq ft per face | — | Minimum 15 ft from back of curb | 1 per street | Abutting street; 1 per street | — | Sec. 8.512, Table 8.512.A; Sec 8.513.A |
| Freestanding Sign - Entryway Wall/Monument | 5 ft (entryway wall signs up to 8 ft with DRB approval) | 24 sq ft per face (48 sq ft per land division >40 acres) | — | Within 25 ft of back of curb or edge of pavement | 1 per side/driveway | Each side of entry driveway/street for wall; median or adjacent for monument | — | Sec. 8.512, notes; Sec 8.516.A |
| Freestanding Sign - Landscape Wall | 5 ft (up to 8 ft with DRB approval, not higher than 2 ft above avg wall) | 24 sq ft per face (48/72 for over 40/100 acres with DRB approval) | — | — | 1 per street | Abutting street | — | Sec. 8.512, Table 8.512.A, note 2 |

### Multiple-family Residential (R-5), Resort/Townhouse Residential (R-4R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 36 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall it identifies | — | Sec. 8.502, Table 8.502.A |
| Freestanding Sign - Tower Sign | 15 ft (if >=300 ft street width and >=30,000 sq ft GFA) | 50 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street | Abutting arterial, 300'+ street width | — | Sec. 8.514 Table 8.514.B |
| Freestanding Sign - Mid-size Monument | 8 ft | 50 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street | Abutting arterial | — | Sec. 8.514 Table 8.514.B |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 5 ft | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street | Per street | — | Sec. 8.514 Table 8.514.B |
| Freestanding Sign - Landscape Wall | 5 ft | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per street | Per street | — | Sec. 8.514 Table 8.514.B |

### Commercial Districts (Table 4.100.B), Industrial Districts (Table 4.100.C), Mixed Use Districts (Table 4.100.D), Planned Convenience Center (PCoC), Planned Neighborhood Center (PNC), Planned Community Center (PCC), Planned Airpark Core Development (PCP), Parking P-1 District, Parking P-2 District, Special Campus (S-C), Western Theme Park (W-P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 36 ft | Varies by zone, up to 250 sq ft; C-O/P = 24 sq ft (unless DRB exception) | — | — | — | On building it identifies | — | Sec. 8.502, Table 8.502.A |
| Suspended Canopy Sign | Same as wall sign | Same as wall sign per business | — | — | — | Parallel to face of building, does not project beyond canopy, valance, etc. | — | Sec. 8.503.A.1 |
| Canopy Fascia Sign | Same as wall sign | Same as wall sign per business | — | — | — | On canopy fascia/purlin, max 12 in from fascia, not above/below fascia. | — | Sec. 8.503.A.2 |
| Entry Sign | 10 ft | 1 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | Within 10 ft of primary entrance | — | Sec. 8.503.D.1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 5-12 ft (for >100,000 sq ft or per table) | Varies by project GFA: up to 60 sq ft/face at 12 ft for >100,000 sq ft; otherwise 24-60 sq ft/face, see tables | — | 15 ft from back of curb | 1 per street | Abutting street, see street classification/width | — | Sec. 8.515.B.1-B.4 |
| Freestanding Sign - Tower Sign | 15-25 ft (varies by GFA; see tables) | Up to 120 sq ft/face for >100,000 sq ft GFA & 25 ft max height (see tables) | — | 15 ft from back of curb | 1 per street | Abutting arterial/collector with 300'+ width (for tower sign) | — | Sec. 8.515.B.2-B.4 |
| Freestanding Sign - Mid-size Monument | 6-12 ft (see tables) | 30-40-60 sq ft/face depending on project GFA and street classification (see tables) | — | 15 ft from back of curb | 1-2 per street | Abutting arterial/collector as per table | — | Sec. 8.515.B.2-B.4 |
| Freestanding Sign - Landscape Wall | 5 ft | 24 sq ft/face | — | 15 ft from back of curb | 1 per street | Abutting street | — | Sec. 8.515, tables |

## Prohibited signs in Scottsdale

- No sign may be placed or maintained in the city except as provided in the ordinance; all contrary signs are declared to be nuisances.
- Only signs erected, maintained, or required by the City or other governmental entity are allowed in the public right-of-way or on public property, except as explicitly authorized.
- No signs shall be placed to interfere with the sight distance requirements of the Design Standards and Policies Manual.
- No signs shall be placed to interfere with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Only the City may place a sign on a City structure.
- Animated signs that move by any means or have animation, except flags, are not permitted.
- No sign shall obstruct any door, window, or fire escape of any building.
- No sign shall be erected in such a way as to interfere with or confuse traffic, present any traffic hazard, or obstruct the vision of motorists.
- No sign shall be erected or attached to any vehicle except for signs painted directly on the vehicle surface unless otherwise permitted. Vehicles primarily used for advertising are prohibited.
- Flashing, blinking, or rotating light emitting devices are prohibited for sign lighting.
- Exposed neon or similar cold or hot cathode, fiber, or rod illumination is prohibited for sign lighting.
- Exposed incandescent, fluorescent, metal halide, mercury vapor, and high and low pressure sodium lamps are prohibited for sign lighting.
- Exposed light emitting diodes (LEDs), except for indirect lighting, are prohibited for sign lighting.
- No illumination, animation, searchlights, amplified sound, reflective materials, or attachments such as balloons, flags, pinwheels, ribbons, or speakers are allowed on temporary signs, portable signs, or yard signs.
- Signs must be maintained in working order and repair at all times so that they do not constitute any danger or hazard to public safety, are free of peeling paint or fading, indiscernible text, images or symbols, major cracks, or loose and dangling materials.
- The property owner is responsible for removing illegal, damaged, vandalized, or unpermitted signs within specified timeframes after notice.
- Unsafe or defective signs creating immediate hazards may be removed by the Zoning Administrator without notice.
- Signs on vehicles parked in the right-of-way or used primarily for advertising are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Scottsdale

- Any noncommercial sign may be substituted for any commercial sign allowed by this ordinance, as long as the sign budget is not exceeded.
- Signs erected, maintained, or required by the City or other governmental entity are allowed in the public right-of-way or on public property.
- Signs for traffic management, street names, qualifying event banners, governmental purposes, special event permits, and valet licenses as specified are allowed in the public right-of-way or on public property.
- Maintenance of a sign (without changing wording, composition, or colors) does not require a permit.
- Relocation of a sign when required by a City construction project does not require a permit.
- Signs not visible from a separate lot or street do not require a permit.
- Temporary window signs affixed to the window pane do not require a permit.
- Any sign authorized by the Code that is equal to or less than six square feet does not require a permit unless required by other applicable sections.
- Address, building number, or building identification signs required by Chapters 31 and 36 of the Scottsdale Revised Code, with a maximum height of twelve inches, do not require a permit.
- Official traffic, fire, and police signs, devices, signals, and marking of the State of Arizona and City of Scottsdale, or the posting of notices required by law are permitted.
- Signs associated with approved special events are permitted in accordance with Chapter 22 of the Scottsdale Revised Code.
- Permanent window signs not exceeding two square feet per business, placed inside the building, do not require a permit or approval unless otherwise required.
- Political signs in the public right-of-way are governed by Arizona Revised Statutes, and subject to their control regarding removal and regulation.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Comprehensive sign programs, master sign programs, and community sign districts created by property owners are subject to Development Review Board approval.
- Development Review Board approval is required for sign illumination, method of attachment, placement, structure, and specific sign exception requests.
- A master sign program is required for multi-tenant buildings or complexes to provide unified design standards.
- Property owners or designees must submit a master sign program with specific design standards for approval.
- Upon approval of a master sign program, all signage within the property must comply with its design standards.
- Property owners in a community sign district must coordinate and submit a comprehensive sign program; a 75% majority of affected owners is required to form a community sign district.
- A comprehensive sign program for a community sign district allows for bonuses (in area and height) and must be submitted with complete standards.
- The City Council may also create community sign districts and coordinate comprehensive sign programs for public areas.
- Development Review Board approval is required for master sign programs that relocate permitted sign area to perimeter site walls.
- Development Review Board may approve increased sign area or height for building wall signs and other allowances as part of a master sign program.

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

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