Sign Permit Information

Permanent sign design standards, such as wall or monument signs, must meet the standards of the specific development where the business is located.  The following blue accordion lists each commercial development's sign standards located in the Town. 

Sign Standards for Commercial Developments

ATA Blackbelt building (SW corner La Canada and Naranja)(PDF, 2MB)

Canyons at Linda Vista Trail aka El Corredor (NE corner Oracle Rd and Linda Vista)(PDF, 5MB)

Canada Hills Shops (La Canada and Lambert NE corner)(PDF, 282KB)

Capin Car Wash aka Mister Car Wash (Oracle Rd and Cool Dr)(PDF, 134KB)

El Conquistador Executive Office Plaza (SW corner Oracle Rd and Greenock)(PDF, 6MB)

Entrada De Oro (Southwest corner Oracle and Magee)(PDF, 5MB)

Famous Sam's Arby's (Oracle and Magee)(PDF, 3MB)

Hacienda Bella aka Dome Bldg (8444 N Oracle Rd)(PDF, 365KB)

Icagen formally Sanofi Aventis (Innovation Park)(PDF, 1MB)

Innovation Corporate Center (Innovation Park Dr. north of Tangerine Rd)(PDF, 9MB)

Canada Crossroads (NE corner La Canada Dr and Lambert Ln)(PDF, 54KB)

Linaker Offices (east side of Oracle Rd north of Magee)(PDF, 29KB)

Linda Vista Plaza (west side of Oracle Road, between Desert Sky and Linda Vista Blvd)(PDF, 52MB)

Magee Plaza aka MPG Automotive (west side of Oracle Rd. north of Magee Rd)(PDF, 716KB)

Mercado at Canada Hills (East side of La Canada Dr. north of Lambert Ln)(PDF, 7MB)

Mercado Del Rio (north side of Pusch View Lane, west of Oracle Rd)(PDF, 4MB)

Mountain View Plaza (Sun City in Rancho Vistoso)(PDF, 29KB)

Oro Valley Hospital aka Northwest Medical Center(PDF, 21MB)

Oracle at La Reserve (west side of Oracle at La Reserve Dr)(PDF, 2MB)

Oracle Crossing (west side Oracle Road South of Magee Rd)(PDF, 2MB)

Oracle Road Office Development (east side of Oracle Rd north of Suffolk)(PDF, 453KB)

Oracle Suffolk Office Complex (Southeast corner Suffolk and Oracle)(PDF, 764KB)

Oracle Vista Centre (Golder Ranch Fire at Linda Vista)(PDF, 181KB)

Oro Valley Marketplace (SW corner Oracle Rd and Tangerine)(PDF, 17MB)

Oro Valley Self Storage Facility (NW corner Oracle Rd and Calle Concordia)(PDF, 1MB)

Plaza De Vida (West side of Oracle Rd, north of Cool Drive)(PDF, 825KB)

Placita De Oro (west side of First Ave south of Tangerine Road)(PDF, 3MB)

Plaza Serena (West side of Oracle Rd, south side of Cool Dr)(PDF, 57KB)

Pulte Office Building (east side of Oracle Rd north of Hardy)(PDF, 234KB)

Pusch Ridge Centre (East side of Oracle Rd south of Pusch View Lane)(PDF, 577KB)

Rancho Vistoso Center Sign Criteria (NW corner Oracle Rd & Rancho Vistoso Blvd)(PDF, 4MB)

Rancho Vistoso Planned Area Development Sign Standards (all of Rancho Vistoso excluding developments with their own criteria)(PDF, 3MB)

Rooney Ranch aka Home Depot Center (Oracle Rd and First Ave. NW corner)(PDF, 35KB)

Rooney Ranch aka Target Center (Oracle Rd and First Ave. SW corner)(PDF, 7MB)

Safeway at Vistoso Plaza (Rancho Vistoso Blvd and Tangerine Rd)(PDF, 263KB)

San Dorado (east side of Oracle Rd. at First Ave.)(PDF, 3MB)

Shoppes at Oracle (east side of Oracle Rd. south of Hardy Rd)(PDF, 11MB)

San Jose Plaza Sign Criteria (east side Oracle Road, north El Conquistador Way)(PDF, 5MB)

Shops at Oro Vista (SE corner of La Canada Dr and Lambert Ln)(PDF, 5MB)

Steam Pump (west side of Oracle Road north of La Reserve Dr)(PDF, 6MB)

Sun Center (west side of Oracle Road north of Ina Rd)(PDF, 3MB)

Taco Bell at Rooney Ranch (In front of Home Depot)(PDF, 5MB)

Two Oracle Place (NE corner of Oracle Road and Ina Road)(PDF, 11MB)

Vistoso Commerce Plaza (west side of Oracle Rd south of Vistoso Commerce Loop)(PDF, 609KB)

Vistoso Office Park (Rancho Vistoso Blvd and Arrowsmith)(PDF, 72KB)

Create or Change Sign Standards for Tenants

Below are instructions for how to apply for the several different types of sign permits.

Temporary Signs on Public Property (such as yard sales, art fairs, etc)

Temporary signs placed along a roadway

Are you or your community having a short term event that you need to advertise to the public with signs in the right-of-way? 

What is a right-of-way?

The right-of-way is a section of land maintained by the Town that usually contains streets, sidewalks, multi-use paths, and public landscaping and art.

Engineering staff issues right-of-way permits for all activities that take place in the Town's right-of-way. Permits are required for anyone performing work that will impact or infringe upon the right-of-way.

Permits for signs in the right-of-way are allowed as follows:

  • 3-day Temporary sign permit for an event such as a yard sale or arts and crafts fair, etc

    • Maximum size 4 square feet
    • Maximum height 30 inches tall
    • Allowed for no more than 3 consecutive days
    • Fee:  $12 for all 3 days
    • Permit is a self issue permit.  This means no waiting time for the customer
    • Tip:  In the customer portal select the Sign Permits category and then the 3 day sign permit
  • Temporary sign permit for longer term events are also available

    • 16 day permit
      • Size:  16 square feet
      • Height:  5 feet
      • Fee: $50 per sign plus installation fees by Public Works
    • 120 day permit
      • Size:  Same as 3-day permit listed above
      • Fee:  $375
    • Annual
      • Size:  Same as 3-day permit listed above
      • Fee: $1000
    • Kiosk
      • Per contract
      Full details about all signs in the Right-of-Way are listed in the Town's Zoning Code section 28.7.

Permit applications are accepted online through the Customer Portal

Questions, call 520-229-4850

 

Temporary Signs on Private Property (construction, flag poles, model homes, etc.)

Step 1.Temporary signs in Private Property (construction, flag poles, model homes, etc.)

Provide the following information:

  • Site plan of the property where the sign will be placed
  • Mark where the sign will be located
  • Show the nearest property line. 
  • Photo or drawing of the proposed sign
  • Include the width and height
  • List the total square footage
  • Include what type of material the sign will be made of i.e.: ¾” plywood, plastic, fabric, etc.
  • If the sign will be a freestanding sign include the following:
  • Size of posts
  • Depth of posts
  • Will posts be buried directly in the ground or in concrete
  • Height of sign from ground to top
  • Show how the panel is attached to the posts

Step 2.Prepare your project for electronic submittal by doing the following:

  • All documents must be in PDF format.
  • The security level in the PDF must allow the Town to apply stamps, markups and ultimately approvals on the document.
  • Do not mix portrait and landscape pages in the same document. Rotate all pages the same direction.

 Notice:  It is the applicant/owner's responsibility to ensure all private rules and regulations of the development are met.  Contact the property owner or manager to determine if your sign will be allowed.

Step 3.Submittals are accepted online through the customer portal

 You will receive an email letting you know the submittal has been received. If you do not receive an email response call 520-229-4800.

Step 4.Plan review is 10 business days

Step 5.Permit fees: $50 for each sign

Permanent Signs (wall, monument, etc.)

Step 1.Permanent Signs on Private Property (wall, monument, entryway, etc.)

Step 2.Review the specific sign standards for the commercial development where the sign will be located

Notice: It is the applicant/owner's responsibility to ensure all private rules and regulations of the development are met. Contact the property owner or manager to determine if your sign will be allowed

Step 3.Provide the following information:

  • Site plan of the property where the sign will be placed
  • Mark where the sign will be located
  • Show the nearest property line

Detailed Drawings of Proposed Sign(s)

  • Profile (side view)
  • Depth of letters and/or graphics
  • Show views and details of all structural members and attachment methods
  • Dimensions of whole sign or each component
  • Identify materials of sign construction
  • Color of each component (face, returns, trim cap, etc.) Ensure the color meets the standards of the specific commercial development.
  • Identify sign/letter type (pan channel, RPC, etc.)Building Mounted Wall Signs

Building Mounted Wall Signs 

  • Show each building elevation(s) of sign(s) 

Monument/Freestanding Signs

  • Provide details of the following:
  • Footing size
  • Reinforcement
  • Anchors
  • Hold downs

Sealed engineering calculations required for:

  • Site walls over 6’ in height (measured from top of footing)
  • Retaining walls over 4’, measured from  bottom of footing
  • Any wall height with applied surcharge loads (e.g. driveways, slopes, etc.)

Electrical

  • NEC 2017: Article 600
  • IBC 2018: Appendix H
  • Show # and size of branch circuits
  • Grounding/bonding
  • Disconnects
  • Panel of origin
  • Amperage load
  • Required voltage
  • Lighting type:  Internal, external, LED, Neon, Fluorescent, etc. 
  • Night view showing illumination effect.
  • Cut sheet of the LED component manufacturer showing the LED lighting is in compliance with code standards (see Zoning Code Chapter 28):
    • 4,400 Kelvin for internally illuminated signs 
    • 200 Nits for exposed LED (gas prices)  
  • Inspections will confirm a label has been affixed to the outside of the sign (at least on one letter) in an area visible to the inspector, confirming compliance with appropriate lighting levels as demonstrated below. 

Kelvin Temp Photo.jpeg

Step 4. Prepare your project for electronic submittal by doing the following:

  • All documents must be in PDF format.
  • The security level in the PDF must allow the Town to apply stamps, markups and ultimately approvals on the document.
  • Do not mix portrait and landscape pages in the same document. Rotate all pages the same direction.

Step 5.Submittal are accepted online through the customer portal

You will receive an email letting you know the submittal has been received. If you do not receive an email response call 520-229-4800.

Step 6.Plan review is 10 business days

Step 7.Permit fees are based on the square footage of the sign

  • Sign square footage totals up to 25 square feet = $225.00
  • Each additional square foot $2.00
  • Electrical and structural review and Inspection fees are =$48.10 plus 25% 

A-Frame

Step 1.A-Frame Signs

Step 2.Complete the Building Permit Application and sign the A-frame Standards document

A-Frame Standards(PDF, 391KB)

Notice:  It is the applicant/owner's responsibility to ensure all private rules and regulations of the development are met.  Contact the property owner or manager to determine if your sign will be allowed. 

Step 3.Submit the information via our online customer portal. 

You will receive an email letting you know the submittal has been received. If you do not receive an email response call 520-229-4800.

Step 4.Plan review is 10 business days

Step 5.Permit fees:  $50 one-time fee

Banners

Banner details

A business may have banners installed on the exterior wall of their store or tenant space or on the private property of the development, for a total of 120 days per calendar year. The 120 days may be used all at once or divided out into four 30 consecutive day increments.

You may obtain one permit for the whole calendar year for $50 or a permit for each time frame at $50 each.

Sizes allowed are:

  • 60 square feet maximum for a banner hung on the wall of a building. Top of banner is not to exceed the roofline of the building.
  • 16 square feet maximum for a freestanding banner. Top of banner is not to exceed four (4) feet from grade. The banner must be attached to a solid perimeter frame in such a manner that the banner is taut and does not fold over.

Please note: The code allows one (1) freestanding sign per street frontage and/or one (1) wall sign. (Tip: This means you may have two banners installed at the same time but one must be on the wall and the other must be freestanding. Two banners displayed at once counts as two of the 30 day use allowances.)

Location: We will need a site plan showing the location of the banner. The banner must be on private property. Staff can print a map of your business location if needed.

Banners shall not be hung from another sign structure, landscaping, utility pole, or similar structure. Banner appearance and maintenance.

Materials: Banners must be made of durable mylar, nylon fabric, or similar material.

Colors: Banner lettering, images and background colors may be any color, including black or white, except fluorescent or iridescent colors.

The sign appearance shall be professional, neat and legible.

Additional Notes: We recommend you check with your landlord or property manager for private rules and restrictions that may or may not allow temporary signs.

Note: A separate larger special event freestanding banner is allowed for 3 consecutive days up to 60 square feet.

Step 1.Prepare your project for electronic submittal by doing the following:

  • All documents must be in PDF format.
  • The security level in the PDF must allow the Town to apply stamps, markups and ultimately approvals on the document.
  • Do not mix portrait and landscape pages in the same document. Rotate all pages the same direction.

Notice: It is the applicant/owner's responsibility to ensure all private rules and regulations of the development are met. Contact the property owner or manager to determine if your sign will be allowed.

Step 2.Submittals are accepted online through the customer portal

You will receive an email that your submittal has been received. If you do not receive an email response call 520-229-4800.

Step 3.Plan review is 10 business days

Step 4.Permit fees: $50 for applications defining all banner uses for 1 year. Otherwise $50 for applications submitted separately. 

Window Signs

Step 1.Window Signs

Step 2.Provide the following information:

  • A site plan of the property where the sign will be placed (Google Maps or Pima Maps will be sufficient)
  •  As a crime prevention measure, window sections shall remain visually unobstructed between 36 inches and 84 inches from the building floor in the following areas:
  1. Main customer doorway
  2. Sales transaction points if within sight of exterior
  • A floor plan of the store showing the location of the main customer door and the location of the cash register or sales transaction place inside the store
  • Letters, numbers or symbols no more than three inches high used for the business name, contact, hours or required public notices are exempt from the safety clear area and overall window sign size allowance.

  • A business may have 30% of their total store windows covered in signs.  Except for the safety clear area mentioned above, if applicable. 

Step 3.Prepare your project for electronic submittal by doing the following:

  • Convert all documents in PDF format
  • The security level in the PDF must allow the Town to apply stamps, markups and ultimately approvals on the document
  • Do not mix portrait and landscape pages in the same document. Rotate all pages the same direction

Step 4.Plans must be submitted through the online customer portal

Step 5.Plan review:  7 business days

Step 6.Permit fees:  $50 one-time fee

Step 7.Permit Issuance: Permits are issued through the online portal.  The person responsible for the permit (applicant or contractor), must print one full size set of: Stamped approved plans