# Sign Regulations in Tempe, Arizona

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tempe, Arizona (AZ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/tempe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-28
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AZ/Tempe/codes/City_Code?nodeId=CH3ADSI)

## At a glance

Tempe, Arizona regulates 7 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Directorys in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 24 square feet (Sec. Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 35 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| RCC district | 2 | 10 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| MU districts | 2 | 10 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Single-Family Districts | 2 | 4 feet | 16 square feet total, 4 square feet individual | — |
| Multi-Family Districts | 2 | 8 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| Commercial, Mixed-Use and Office/Industrial Districts | 2 | 10 feet | 40 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address | — | At least 4 inches in height | — | — | — | Visible from public access | — | Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B |
| Directory | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Properties occupied by 3 or more buildings | — | Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B |
| Flag | 35 feet | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Residential use properties | — | Section 4-903B, General Notes |

### Single-Family Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address | — | At least 4 inches in height | — | — | — | Visible from public access | — | Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 16 square feet total, 4 square feet individual | — | — | — | Single-family residential district | — | Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B |

### Multi-Family Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address | — | At least 4 inches in height | — | — | — | Visible from public access | — | Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B |
| Portable Sign | 8 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Multi-family residential district | — | Section 4-903B, Table 4-903B |

## Prohibited signs in Tempe

- Signs in public right of way that are not governed by state law
- Signs mounted on a building roof
- Signs that are mounted, attached, or painted on trailers, boats or vehicles that are parked immediately adjacent to a street frontage
- Signs having intermittent or flashing illumination, animated or moving parts, or that emit sound except as allowed under Section 4-903 (sign type C and F)
- Freestanding changeable copy signs, except as allowed under Section 4-903 (sign type C, E, F, and I)
- Banners, pennants, wind-driven spinners, streamers, balloons, flags, search lights, strobe lights, holographic projections, laser light displays, beacons, inflatable signs, except as otherwise provided in Section 4-903 (sign type K) and approved banner signs installed pursuant to the City's banner program
- Signs imitating official traffic control signs, or any sign or device obscuring such signs or devices
- Signs mounted on, or applied to trees, utility poles, or rocks
- Signs placed on private property without the property owner's written approval
- Signs placed on City owned property

## Signs exempt from permit in Tempe

- Traffic or other governmental street signs, such as railroad crossing signs and notices, as may be authorized by the City and do not require permits
- Signs of public utility companies indicating danger or that serve as an aid to public safety, or that show the location of underground facilities or other public facilities and do not require permits

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Standards for signs in the RCC district and all MU districts shall be established through sign criteria approved through a Development Plan Review, pursuant to Section 6-306
- When a site is developed as a complex or center, a comprehensive sign package shall be provided for the property, and approved through development plan review
- For tenants of a complex or center, sign permits will only be issued for signs that comply with the previously approved comprehensive sign package, or receive approval through development plan review
- A comprehensive sign package requiring a modification may be approved by staff with the written authorization of the complex or center's property owner

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

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