If you are putting up a permanent sign for a Phoenix business, you almost certainly need a permit from the City’s Planning and Development Department before the sign goes up. Wall signs start at $98 per sign and ground signs at $195, and engineered plans are required once a sign gets large. This guide walks through the rules, the costs, the timing traps and the order in which to do things, so your sign is designed once and approved once.
TL;DR
- Under the Phoenix Zoning Ordinance, all signs need a sign permit from Planning and Development unless the code lists an exemption.
- Base fees in the current City schedule: $98 per wall, marquee or projecting sign, $195 per ground (monument) sign, and $195 per temporary event sign permit.
- Large signs need engineered plans. A permit that sits unused can lapse, so schedule fabrication before you apply.
- Finalize your design for brand fit and legibility first, then confirm size, height and placement with the City’s Sign Section before you order anything.
Table of Contents
- What the Phoenix sign code is trying to do
- Do you need a permit?
- Who can apply
- When engineered plans are required
- What a Phoenix sign permit costs
- Timing: the clock starts when the permit is issued
- Temporary signs, banners and grand openings
- What happens if you skip the permit
- Step by step: from idea to installed sign
- Our perspective: permits are a design input, not a last-minute chore
- Where our work fits in
- Who to contact at the City
- Common mistakes to avoid
- FAQ
- Sources
What the Phoenix sign code is trying to do
Phoenix regulates the physical side of signs: size, height, placement, structure and safety. The City’s planning department describes the aim as a balanced visual environment, and the rules are about how a sign is built and where it sits, not what your message says.
Two parts of the Zoning Ordinance matter most to a storefront owner:
- Section 705 covers sign permits: when you need one, who can apply, what is exempt and what is prohibited.
- Section 1308 sets standards for the number, size, placement and physical characteristics of on-premises signs visible from a public way or adjacent property.
If you searched for a specific code number and could not find it, that is common. The sign rules live in those two sections of the Zoning Ordinance, not under one single “Phoenix sign” listing. Off-premise signs, such as billboards, follow separate rules in Section 705.2, and they are limited to certain districts and street types. Most small businesses only deal with on-premises signs.
Do you need a permit?
The default answer is yes. The ordinance states that unless it provides otherwise, a sign needs a permit from the Planning and Development Department before it is erected, displayed, relocated or altered. That includes changing an existing sign in a way that departs from what was approved.
Some signs are exempt. One example from the ordinance: a sign visible from a public street may not need a permit if its sole purpose is to provide on-site information, as the code words it. The list of exemptions has conditions, so do not assume. Read the exemption language in Section 705 or call the Sign Section.
You also need to think about the building you are in. If you lease, your landlord may have a master sign program with its own rules on top of the City’s. That is a lease question, not a City one, but it can change your design, so ask for the criteria before you commission artwork.
Who can apply
The application can come from the property owner, the tenant or lessee, or an authorized agent such as a licensed contractor, architect or engineer. In practice most small businesses let the sign company or contractor submit, because they know the drawings the City wants. You still own the outcome, so know what is being filed under your business name.
A complete submittal includes:
- The City’s sign permit application form.
- Detailed plans showing the scope of work and structural details.
- Proof of structural conformity when engineering is required.
The City publishes a Sign Permit Submittal Checklist and the application on its Signs page. Run your drawings against that checklist before submitting. Missing items are the easiest way to lose time.
When engineered plans are required
Engineering is mandatory for larger structures. Under Section 705, that means ground or pole signs over 35 square feet and 6 feet in height, and wall signs over 100 square feet. A modest storefront wall sign usually falls below those thresholds. A tall pylon or a large monument sign does not.
This is a budgeting point. Engineering adds cost and time, and it is easier to decide on a smaller, better-proportioned sign at the design stage than to discover the threshold after the artwork is final.
What a Phoenix sign permit costs
The City’s fee schedule (approved December 2025, effective January 2026) is the number to trust, not a third-party blog. The figures that matter most to a small business:
| Item | City fee |
|---|---|
| Wall, marquee or projecting sign | $98 per sign |
| Base ground (monument) sign | $195 per sign |
| Temporary event sign permit | $195 per event |
| Electrical inspection for an illuminated sign without a UL listing | $195 per hour |
Source for all four lines: the City’s PDD fee schedule. The schedule also has separate sign plan review fees, and options such as design review, a comprehensive sign plan or a variance carry their own charges. Fees change, so confirm the current figure with the Sign Section before you budget.
The permit fee is usually the smallest line in a signage budget. Fabrication, installation, engineering and electrical work cost far more. Treat the permit as a small, predictable cost and put your attention on getting the design right.
A cheap way to avoid inspection charges
If your sign is illuminated, ask the fabricator for UL-listing documentation up front. An illuminated sign without a listing can trigger hourly electrical inspection charges, which is an avoidable cost.
Timing: the clock starts when the permit is issued
A permit is not a permanent license. Under the ordinance, if work does not begin within 180 days of issuance, or is suspended for 60 days, the permit becomes void. You would need to reapply and pay again.
That shapes your sequence:
- Do not apply until artwork, materials and the fabricator’s schedule are settled.
- Keep dated records of progress: purchase orders, shop drawings, installation dates.
- If the landlord, a utility or a supplier delays things, talk to the Sign Section before the window closes, not after.
Temporary signs, banners and grand openings
Temporary signs trip up more new businesses than permanent ones. Per the City’s temporary signage handout, a temporary event sign requires a permit, can go up no more than two days before the event, and must come down within one day afterward. The handout also sets safety requirements for banners, including 8 feet of clearance over public areas, and it restricts certain devices. Portable A-frame signs are prohibited in many contexts.
For a grand opening, that means:
- Decide the event dates first.
- Apply for the temporary permit ($195 per event on the current schedule).
- Order a banner that meets the clearance and wind requirements in the handout.
- Put removal on the calendar for the day after the event.
Signs placed in the public right-of-way fall under Section 3-8 of the Phoenix City Code, which makes it unlawful to place advertising on streets without a City permit. Do not put a sign in the right-of-way on the assumption it is fine for a day.
What happens if you skip the permit
It is not worth the risk. Unpermitted work can mean forced removal and fines, and the sign you paid for may have to come down. The ordinance cites fines of a minimum $250 per day for violations, so check Section 705 for the penalty language that applies to your situation. A neighbor, a competitor or a passerby can file a complaint, and the City has a dedicated line for sign complaints.
Step by step: from idea to installed sign
- Define the job of the sign. Is it for a driver at 35 mph, a walker, or someone who has already found you online? Distance and speed set letter height and how much copy fits.
- Check the rules for your site. Look at Sections 705 and 1308, then call the City’s Sign Section. Ask about size, height, number of signs and any landlord criteria.
- Design within those limits. Our signage design guidelines cover the legibility and production decisions that prevent costly reprints.
- Get engineering if you cross the thresholds. Ground or pole signs over 35 square feet and 6 feet high, or wall signs over 100 square feet.
- Submit the application and plans using the City’s checklist, through yourself or your contractor.
- Wait for approval, then build. Start work inside the 180-day window.
- Install, then inspect. The City issues a permit tag for signs that need a permit. Keep it with your records.
Our perspective: permits are a design input, not a last-minute chore
We come at signs from the brand side, not the permit counter. Clients bring us a logo and a lease, and often the first question is how big the sign can be. The honest answer is that the rules should shape the design from the start, not rescue it at the end.
Here is what we have seen go wrong, in general terms. A business develops a sign around a long name or a detailed mark, then finds that the allowed area makes the lettering small. Or the colors on the proof look right on a screen and print differently on the actual substrate. Or the sign is ordered before anyone has confirmed the dimensions. Each one is a reprint that a little planning would have avoided.
What we do is strategy first. Every project is bespoke, and you work directly with me, the creative director, from start to finish. We build the identity so it works at every size, from a business card to a storefront, and you own every asset with no licensing strings. That ownership matters for signage: your sign fabricator, your landlord and any future vendor should all be able to use your files without asking us for permission. If you want to know what to expect in a file handoff, our brand identity package checklist lists the file and license checks to run.
We do not file permits or fabricate signs. For that you want a licensed sign contractor, and the City’s Sign Section can answer questions directly. Our part is making sure what goes on the sign is clear, consistent and ready to produce.
— Charles
Where our work fits in
If your sign project is part of opening or refreshing a business, the sign should match everything else customers see. Our Brand & Identity work gives you a logo, color and type system and guidelines that a sign maker can follow, and our Print & Collateral service carries the same identity onto business cards, flyers and signage artwork. Prices are scoped per project, so reach out through our site and tell us what you are planning.
Who to contact at the City
The Planning and Development Sign Section handles permit questions at 602-495-0301 or pdd.signservices@phoenix.gov, and the department’s contact page lists a separate number for sign complaints. The office is at 200 W. Washington, 2nd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003, according to the City’s temporary signage handout. Have your address, sign dimensions and a sketch ready when you call. You will get a faster, more useful answer.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Ordering before confirming size. Check the code and the lease first.
- Forgetting the 180-day window. Apply when production is ready.
- Skipping UL documentation on illuminated signs.
- Treating a banner as exempt. Temporary signs have their own permit and safety rules.
- Relying on old fee numbers. Third-party sites often show outdated or broad ranges. Use the City schedule.
FAQ
Do I need a permit for a banner or A-frame sign in Phoenix?
A temporary event sign needs a permit, with strict timing: it goes up no more than two days before the event and comes down within a day after. Portable A-frame signs are prohibited in many contexts, so confirm with the Sign Section before buying one. The City’s handout has the details.
How much is a sign permit in Phoenix?
On the current City schedule, a wall, marquee or projecting sign is $98 and a base ground sign is $195. Temporary event permits are $195 per event. Additional plan review or inspection fees can apply, so check the fee schedule.
Can my sign company apply for me?
Yes. The ordinance allows an authorized agent, such as a licensed contractor, architect or engineer, to apply on behalf of the owner or tenant. Ask to see what is filed, since the permit is for your business and your site.
What happens if I do not start work after getting the permit?
If work does not begin within 180 days of issuance, or is suspended for 60 days, the permit becomes void under Section 705. You would have to reapply and pay the fees again.
Who regulates signs in Phoenix?
The City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department regulates them under the Zoning Ordinance. Its Sign Section handles questions and applications.
Sources
- City of Phoenix: Signs
- Phoenix Zoning Ordinance, Section 705 Signs
- Phoenix Zoning Ordinance, Section 1308 Signage standards
- Phoenix Zoning Ordinance, Section 705.2 Off-Premise Signs
- Phoenix City Code, Section 3-8 Advertising on streets generally
- City of Phoenix PDD Fee Schedule
- City of Phoenix temporary signage handout
- City of Phoenix: Contact Planning and Development