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Sign Permits - Declaration of Intent
The purpose of the Tucson Sign Code is to regulate outdoor advertising,
outdoor advertising signs and outdoor signs of all types, to provide fair and comprehensive regulations that will foster a good visual environment for
Tucson, enhancing the fragile desert in which we live and creating an aesthetic and enjoyable appearance for our visitors and our residents.
Signs By District
Allowable signage is determined by districts as established and designated by the Tucson Sign Code of the City of Tucson. These districts govern the number, size, type, location and other provisions
relating to signs within the various sign districts. The following are the sign districts in the City of Tucson
Freeway Business District: Commercial, office or industrial uses within 250 feet of I-10 or I-19
right-of-way or any other freeway which may be established. Maximum on-site sign area: 4 square feet of sign area per foot of street frontage.
General Business District: A readily identifiable geographic area or other areas usually
fronting on an arterial or collector street. Maximum on-site area: 3 square feet per foot of street frontage.
Historic District: All sign permit applications must be approved by the appropriate Historic
District Board. Maximum area of any sign: 8 square feet. One sign is permitted per street frontage. A business having more than two street frontages is permitted three signs.
Industrial District: A readily Identifiable geographic area in which the primary uses are the
manufacturing, servicing or storage of goods. Maximum on-site area: 4 square feet per foot of street frontage.
Medical/Business/Industrial Park District: A planned complex of two or more acres and
consisting of multiple buildings and tenants that share parking, private streets and signage. Maximum on-site area: 2 square feet per foot of street frontage.
Multiple Family Residential District: More than five residential units per acre including
apartments, condominiums, townhouses, mobile home parks and public uses with less than 100,000 square feet of floor area. Maximum area per complex: Total sign area not to exceed 50 square feet.
Municipal Park District: See the Tucson Sign Code for information.
Pedestrian Business District: The Pedestrian Business District is a major pedestrian activity
center which is oriented primarily toward pedestrian traffic. Maximum on-site area: 3 square feet per foot of street frontage.
Scenic Route District: This district includes all uses within 400 feet of any scenic route as
designated in the Major Streets and Routes Plan. All signs in this district shall comply with applicable provisions of the Land Use Code and must be approved by the Zoning Review
Department of Development Services.
Single Family Residential District: Single family residences, public uses, schools and
churches. Maximum area for single family residences: one (1) square foot. Maximum area for public uses, schools and churches: 20 square feet per street frontage.
Special Districts: A comprehensively planned development approved via resolution by Mayor
and Council. Sign plans proposed in Specific Plan and Redevelopment Plan areas will be reviewed for consistency with qualitative plan objectives and approved by the City Planning
Department prior to issuance of a sign permit. Maximum on-site area: 3 square feet per foot of street frontage.
Sign allowance is determined by:
- Business/commercial developments - Maximum area: .75 square feet per lineal foot of frontage with a maximum of 100 square feet of total signage per tenant.
- Home occupation - Maximum area: one (1) square foot.
- Multifamily complexes - 20 square feet per street frontage.
Definition of a Sign
A sign is every advertising message, announcement, declaration, display, illustration, insignia, surface
or space erected or maintained in a location outside any building and visible to the public or attached to the interior wall of a shopping mall for identification, advertisement or promotion of the interest of
any person, entity, product or service. Signs within individual mall stores or inside individual business establishments are excluded from this definition.
Permits Required
A sign permit is required to erect, reinstall, alter, change the copy, repair or relocate a sign within the
city limits. In addition, a sign permit is required for the use of banners, pennants, balloons and portable signs. Sign fees are based on the square footage of the sign.
Annual Sign Regulation Fee
The sign regulation fee is charged for each new sign erected and for each existing sign maintained in
locations outside a building either freestanding or attached to a wall or the interior or exterior window surface of a building or attached to the interior wall of a shopping mall or courtyard for identification,
advertisement or promotion of the interest of any person, entity, products or service.
Fee
On site signs - $13.00 per premise plus $0.12 per square foot for all signage on premise.
Off site signs - $26.00 per premise plus $0.18 per square foot for all signage on the premise.
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Political Election Sign Rules
Sec. 3-63. Political Election Sign Rules
Political election signs, except for political headquarters signage, are required to satisfy the following
restrictions:
(a) Maximum area: Political election signs cannot exceed six (6) square feet in
single-family residential districts and cannot exceed fifty (50) square feet in all
other districts.
(b) Maximum height: Political election signs cannot exceed ten(10) feet in height.
(c) Removal: Political election signs shall be removed not later than fifteen (15) days after the election to
which they refer, except that winners of a primary election need not remove their signs until fifteen
(15)days after the general election.
(d) Locations: Political election signs may be placed on private property only and cannot be placed
without the permission of the property owner as provided in section 3-20. Political election signs
cannot be placed in the public right-of-way or on public property. Political election signs cannot
obstruct the view of motor vehicle operators or create a traffic hazard as provided in section 3-78.
(e) Permits not required: Political election signs that comply with the requirements of this section do not
require a sign permit and do not count against a property’s otherwise allowable signage area, provided
that the person or organization planning to erect political election signs first files with the building
official the name, address and telephone number of a person who shall be responsible for the proper
erection and removal of the signs.
(f) Maintenance: Political election signs must be maintained as provided in Article IX of the City Sign
Code
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