# Sign Regulations in Tolleson, Arizona

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tolleson, Arizona (AZ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/arizona/tolleson
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/AZ/Tolleson/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CITOARZOCO_CH12LAUS_ART12-4ZO_REUSDI_S12-4-24SIRE)

## At a glance

Tolleson, Arizona regulates 29 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Commercial Office Residential Entertainment District (CORE) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall, 36 sq ft, and Max depth 18 ft wide, with a 5 ft from front property line, 10 ft from side property line setback (Sec. § 12-4-98(L)). Most commercial signs in Tolleson require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-Family Residential Districts (R1-35, R1-18, R1-7, R1-MH) | 5 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Multi-Family Residential, Mobile Home Park, and Recreation Vehicle Park Districts (R-2, R-MHP, RVP) | 4 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial - 1 District (C-1), General Commercial - 2 District (C-2) | 8 | 70 ft (+3 ft for architectural embellishments) | 400 sq ft (+20% for center ID) | — |
| Commercial Office Residential Entertainment District (CORE) | 11 | Max 10 ft for 1-story/14 ft for 2-story; min clear height 10 ft | Up to 100 sq ft for grand opening/event banners/flags | — |
| Light Industrial Park District (I-1), General Industrial District (I-2) | 6 | 60 ft (single tenant), 70 ft (multi-tenant) | 200 sq ft (single tenant); 400 sq ft + 20% (multi-tenant) | — |
| Planned Area Development District (P.A.D.) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 24 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Neighborhood Commercial - 1 District (C-1), General Commercial - 2 District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (Building-Mounted) | Top 33% of wall; no character over 8 ft; average height not to exceed 6 ft | Not to exceed 250 sq ft per sign | — | — | Up to 3 per building | Top 33% of the wall; may not project above roofline | — | § 12-4-132(G) |
| Freestanding Business Identification Sign | 12 ft (corner parcels: 16 ft) | 36 sq ft (corner parcels with 100 ft of street frontage: 48 sq ft) | — | Not closer than 10 ft to abutting lot; setbacks as above | 1 per street frontage; corner parcels may have 1 per frontage | Within property; must not overhang right-of-way or be closer than 10 ft to abutting lot line | — | § 12-4-132(B) |
| Center Identification Sign | 12 ft (corner: 16 ft) | 36 sq ft (subject to same as freestanding sign) | — | — | 1 per street frontage; subject to property frontage | Freestanding | — | § 12-4-132(C) |
| Freeway Monument Sign - Single Tenant | 60 ft (+3 ft for architectural embellishments) | 200 sq ft | — | Min 50 ft from non-freeway lot line, 100 ft from any residential property | 1 per 1,000 ft freeway frontage (up to 3 per site) | On-premise, abutting freeway right-of-way | — | § 12-4-132(F)(2) |
| Freeway Monument Sign - Multi-Tenant | 70 ft (+3 ft for architectural embellishments) | 400 sq ft (+20% for center ID) | — | Min 50 ft from non-freeway lot line, 200 ft from residential | 1 per 1,000 ft freeway frontage (up to 3 per site) | On-premise, abutting freeway right-of-way | — | § 12-4-132(F)(3) |
| Temporary Sandwich or Portable Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Outside business | — | § 12-4-133(B) |
| Sale/Lease Commercial/Industrial Advertising Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Building mounted or freestanding | — | § 12-4-133 |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq ft (commercial/industrial/other zones) | — | — | — | Building mounted or freestanding | — | § 12-4-133, § 12-4-132(I) |

### Commercial Office Residential Entertainment District (CORE)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | Projection max 12 inches | — | — | Building wall; front, rear or side; ground floor | — | § 12-4-98(F) |
| Awning Sign | — | Max coverage 25% of sloping plane; text on valance max 2 ft high; max width is 75% of awning width | — | — | — | Awning on ground floor | — | § 12-4-98(G) |
| Canopy Sign | Max height of text/graphics: 2 ft; clear height min 10 ft above sidewalk | — | Max 75% canopy width | — | — | On face of canopy | — | § 12-4-98(H) |
| Projecting Sign | Max 10 ft for 1-story/14 ft for 2-story; min clear height 10 ft | — | Max 6 ft projection, min 1 ft spacing from wall | — | — | Perpendicular to building façade | — | § 12-4-98(I) |
| Shingle Sign | 3 ft | 9 sq ft | Projection max 3.5 ft | — | — | Over entry, hanging from bracket | — | § 12-4-98(J) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 36 sq ft | Max depth 18 ft | 5 ft from front property line, 10 ft from side property line | 1 (or 2 if >200 ft) | Freestanding, ground-mounted | — | § 12-4-98(L) |
| Bracket Sign | Max 5 ft structure, max 3 ft sign height | 9 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 | Freestanding post and hanging bracket | — | § 12-4-98(M) |
| Sidewalk Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | — | 1 per ground floor tenant | On sidewalk, adjacent to business | — | § 12-4-98(N) |

### Light Industrial Park District (I-1), General Industrial District (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Identification Sign (Building-Mounted) | — | 50 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Building wall | — | § 12-4-133 |
| Freestanding Business Identification Sign | 12 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 12-4-132(B), § 12-4-133 |
| Center Identification Sign | 12 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | — | Freestanding | — | § 12-4-132(C), § 12-4-133 |
| Freeway Monument Sign | 60 ft (single tenant), 70 ft (multi-tenant) | 200 sq ft (single tenant); 400 sq ft + 20% (multi-tenant) | — | See § 12-4-132(F) for specific setbacks | See § 12-4-132(F) | Abutting freeway right-of-way; onsite | — | § 12-4-132(F) |
| Sale/Lease Commercial/Industrial Advertising Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Building mounted or freestanding | — | § 12-4-133 |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq ft (commercial/industrial/other zones) | — | — | — | Building mounted or freestanding | — | § 12-4-133, § 12-4-132(I) |

## Prohibited signs in Tolleson

- All permitted signs must identify only the premises and activity upon which it is displayed; signs shall not be used for the selling of commodities on or off premises. (§12-4-131(B))
- All structural alterations to existing signs and the erection of new signs must comply with sign regulations. (§12-4-131(C))
- Whenever the name of a business changes, the signs on the premises must be modified to bring them into conformance with current regulations. (§12-4-131(C)(1))
- Whenever a vacant parcel develops, all existing signs and billboards must be removed prior to issuance of a building permit; only signs identifying the new development in compliance are permitted. (§12-4-131(C)(2))
- No part of any sign or sign structure is to be located in or overhanging a roadway, driveway, right-of-way line or property line. (§12-4-132(E)(2))
- No part of any freestanding or projecting sign or structure is to be located closer than ten feet to an abutting lot, except as otherwise permitted by code. (§12-4-132(E)(3))
- No signs may be located where they would obstruct doors, windows, fire escapes or create a safety hazard. (§12-4-132(E)(4))
- Illuminated signs must have the light source shielded and must not cause glare or reflection onto adjacent properties and streets. (§12-4-132(D))
- Signs may not be mounted on roofs or projected above the highest point of a building. (§12-4-135(E))
- Signs attached, mounted or painted on vehicles for advertising at or near a business or activity, other than for business identification, are prohibited. (§12-4-135(F))
- Electronic message display (EMD) or digital signs are prohibited unless permitted by City Council via a use permit application; EMD signs are not allowed in residential districts or with residential uses within any district. (§12-4-135(A))
- Signs with audible devices are prohibited. (§12-4-135(B))
- Signs which interfere with or confuse traffic or present a traffic hazard are prohibited. (§12-4-135(C))
- Signs projecting more than 30 inches from the perpendicular wall to which they are attached are prohibited, except projecting signs entirely under an awning, canopy or roof overhang. (§12-4-135(G))
- Signs announcing proposed development of property prior to issuance of a building permit or after issuance of certificate of occupancy are prohibited. (§12-4-135(H))
- Signs must not be located in a manner that is hazardous to public safety, obstructs clear vision, or interferes with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (§12-4-132(I))
- Maintenance of signs in good order and repair is required; signs that are a hazard, deteriorated or abandoned must be removed or repaired or may be removed at owner’s expense. (§12-4-134(A)-(B))

## Signs exempt from permit in Tolleson

- The display of flags of any nation, political subdivision, religious institution, school or other public and quasi-public agency is exempt from these sign regulations. (§12-4-131(A))
- Non-illuminated, temporary signs under six square feet for the purpose of sale or lease of the property upon which it is located are exempt from these sign regulations. (§12-4-131(A))
- Signs not visible beyond the boundary of the property upon which located are exempt from these sign regulations. (§12-4-131(A))

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A common sign plan must be filed with the Zoning Administrator for all sites occupied by more than one tenant or requesting digital signage. (§12-4-98(C))
- After the filing of a common sign plan, all tenant signs must meet the requirements of the common sign plan. (§12-4-98(C))
- The common sign plan must include standards of consistency for lighting, colors, letter/graphics style, location, construction materials, and maximum dimensions/proportions for the property. (§12-4-98(C)(1)-(6))
- Digital signs in CORE and digital billboards in general require a use permit and approval, and a common sign plan for properties requesting such signage. (§12-4-98(D)(2), §12-4-132(H))

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

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