Phoenix sizes your wall sign at 1 square foot per foot of building frontage — minimum 50, maximum 500. Go over and your permit gets rejected. Enter your frontage and get a clear read before you build.
This checks on-premise wall signs in LA commercial/manufacturing zones. Off-site signs, billboards, and supergraphics are not covered. Digital/LED displays need separate review.
Width of your storefront along the street.
How LA sizes your sign
Phoenix keeps wall signs simple: under §705, you get 1 square foot of sign for every linear foot of your building frontage. Every business is guaranteed at least 50 sq ft even with a narrow storefront, and the ceiling is 500 sq ft. A 120-foot frontage gets 120 sq ft; a 30-foot shop still gets the 50 sq ft floor.
This covers wall signs up to 56 feet high. The catch is the special areas: Downtown character zones, Scenic Corridors (parts of Camelback Rd, 24th St), and Historic Preservation districts have their own standards. This tool applies the citywide §705 rule and flags when to check with a pro.
Questions owners ask
What counts as my frontage?
The linear footage of your occupied building space. Your wall-sign allowance is 1 sq ft per foot of that, floored at 50 sq ft and capped at 500.
Does my zoning change the number?
For commercial and manufacturing zones (C1, C2, C4, CM, M1, etc.) the wall-sign formula is the same. Residential zones and specific-plan areas have different rules — if your address is in one, we'll tell you and route you to a pro.
Digital / LED sign?
Digital displays face separate restrictions (Phoenix §705.4) and many areas restrict or ban them. This screen covers static and illuminated wall signs; a digital sign needs its own review.
Is this an official ruling?
No. It's a first-pass risk filter on the public Phoenix Zoning Ordinance formula, not a permit and not legal advice. Final dimensions are confirmed by a licensed Phoenix sign professional and Phoenix L&I.
Official Phoenix resources
This tool is a screening aid. For permits and the binding code, go straight to the city:
I just opened a small shop and English isn't my first language — where do I start?
You'll need a sign permit before installing an exterior business sign over the exempt size. Phoenix guarantees every business at least 50 sq ft of wall signage, so even a narrow storefront has room. Most owners hire a licensed sign company that pulls the permit as part of the job.
My building is taller than 56 feet — does that change things?
Yes. Wall signs above 56 ft in height require a comprehensive sign plan, which is a separate, more involved approval. The 1-sq-ft-per-foot rule here applies to signs at or under 56 ft.
Cost, timeline & temporary banners
What does a Phoenix sign permit cost?
Phoenix doesn't post one flat number — sign fees are based on staff time and vary by sign type (wall, ground/monument, billboard), with separate plan-review, permit, and inspection components. An extra electrical-component inspection fee applies if your sign lacks a UL Listing. Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor. Check the current Planning & Development Department Fee Schedule for the exact figure.
How long does approval take?
Simple signs (one or two) may be approved over the counter at the Development Center, at staff discretion. More complex sign plan reviews follow the building-plan track, which can run several weeks. Phoenix offers expedited/Express options for qualifying projects. Historic-district properties — Phoenix has 35+ — typically need Historic Preservation Commission review, which adds time.
Can I hang a "Grand Opening" banner first?
Yes, and Phoenix is relatively generous here: temporary signs announcing a new business opening are allowed for 60 days starting the day you apply for the permanent sign, with a possible 30-day extension. But the Grand Opening permit only issues if you have a valid building permit (or a valid Certificate of Occupancy application) for that address. All temporary signs need a permit first; banners and balloons are allowed, but A-frames, pennants, and streamers are not.
Source: City of Phoenix Planning & Development (Signs; Temporary Signage Information Sheet; PDD Fee Schedule); Phoenix Zoning Ordinance §705 and City Code Ch. 15.16. Fees and timelines change — confirm current figures with the City of Phoenix before filing.
Last inspected against the official code: June 2026 · monitored monthly