7A.10.2. PERMANENT SIGNS

   A.   Permanent Signs - Zone Category Standards

TABLE 1 - ZONES CATEGORIES AND PERMANENT SIGN TYPES Sign types below may be permitted in the zone categories below with additional standards. Individual zones within a zone category or another specified zone may prohibit a sign type or have more restrictive standards for that individual zone .
Permanent Signs	Residential Category IR, RH, SR, SH, RX-1, RX-2, R-1, MH-1 zones	Multifamily Residential Category R-2, R-3, MH-2 zones	Non-residential Category O-1 zone	General Business Category O-2, O-3, P, RV, NC RVC, C-1, -2, -3, OCR-1, -2, MU, U zones	Industrial Category P-I, I-1, I-2 zones
Access Point	P, 2	P, 2	P	P	P
Awning	P, 1	P	P	P	P
Billboards	5	5	5	P, 4, 5	P, 4, 5
Canopy		P, 7	P	P	P
Dwelling Unit	P	P
Freestanding Monument		P	P	P	P
Freestanding Monument low profile	P, 3	P	P	P	P
Freestanding Pole				P	P
Freeway				P	P
Parking Lot	P	P	P	P	P
Projecting	P, 6	P, 6	P, 6	P, 6	P, 6
Wall	P, 3	P	P	P	P
P = Generally Permitted - See Section 7A.10.2.C for Additional Standards . 1. Restricted to home occupation use in all zones except IR and MH-1 2. Not permitted for home occupation use 3. Restricted to nonresidential use 4. Restricted to C-2, C-3, I-1, I-2, zones 5. Prohibited locations: On property with the following zoning: Rural Residential zones , Urban Residential zones (all); Office zones (all); “RVC” Rural Village Center Zone , “NC” Neighborhood Commercial Zone , “C-1", Commercial Zone , “P” Parking Zone and “RV” Recreational Vehicle  Zone , Commercial zones , Mixed Use  Zones (all); “P-1" Park Industrial Zone of Division 7, Industrial Zones ; Scenic Corridor Zone , Airport Environs Zone (unless prior approval in writing by Federal Aviation Administration) and Historic Preservation Zone Overlay zones . 6. Signs shall be permitted only within a Historic or Pedestrian District in compliance with Section 7A.11.1.I and 2.D respectively. 7. Limited to 20 sq. ft.

 

   B.   Permanent Signs - Maximum Sign Area And Special Zone  Standards Per Zone Category

MAXIMUM PERMANENT SIGN AREA PER Zone CATEGORY AND SPECIAL Zone STANDARDS
TABLE 2 Zone CATEGORIES	MAXIMUM SIGN AREA	SPECIAL Zone STANDARDS
RESIDENTIAL (RX-1, RX-2, R-1 MH-1) AND RURAL ZONES (IR, RH, SR, SH)
ALL PERMANENT SIGNS		1. On building having more than one street  frontage , the maximum allowable number and square footage of on-site signs area permitted for each street  frontage . The maximum allowance, however, is not transferable either in whole or in part from one street  frontage to another.
Residential uses. Non-residential uses located on local streets .	20 Sq. Ft.	1. No digital signs are permitted except for non-residential uses.
Non-residential uses on arterial or collector streets .	100 Sq. Ft.	1. Permanent freestanding sign's sign area may not exceed 32 square feet
MULTI-FAMILY  (R-2, R-3 AND MH-2 ZONES )
ALL PERMANENT SIGNS		1. Heritage landmark signs (HLS), all types. The first HLS on a premise does not count toward the maximum total sign area.
Residential uses. Non-residential uses located on local streets .	50 Sq. Ft	1. No digital signs are permitted except for non-residential uses.
Non-residential uses on arterial or collector streets .	100 Sq. Ft.	1. Permanent freestanding sign's sign area may not exceed 50 square feet
NON-RESIDENTIAL O-1 ZONE
ALL PERMANENT SIGNS	20 Sq. Ft.	1. A 20 sq. ft. sign is allowed per tenant in a multi-tenant complex. The maximum size of any sign is 20 sq. ft. A multi-tenant complex may have no more than two freestanding signs, which may be a tenant sign or a sign for the entire complex. 2. Signs on arterial and collector streets shall be illuminated by down lights only such as low pressure sodium lighting, halo-effect illumination, full cut-off LED lighting or other similar lighting technologies compatible with the Tucson Outdoor Lighting Code. 3. Signs shall not be illuminated between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Signs located on a local street frontage shall not be illuminated. 4. No digital signs are permitted except for non-residential uses.
GENERAL BUSINESS (O-2, O-3, P, RV, NC, RVC, C-1, C-2, C-3, OCR-1, OCR-2, MU AND U ZONES )
ALL PERMANENT SIGNS	3 feet for every lineal foot of street  frontage	1. If any portion of a parcel is within two hundred fifty (250) feet of a freeway : Four (4) square feet per foot of street  frontage . If any portion of a parcel is within two hundred fifty (250) feet of a freeway : Four (4) square feet per foot of street  frontage . 2. Design review: Within effectuated Urban Overlay Districts (UOD) mapped per the Unified Development Code (i.e. with "U" zoning), any single sign 50 square feet in area or larger, or any site where the total sign area exceeds 50 square feet, shall be reviewed under the design review procedure established by the specific UOD. 3. Heritage landmark signs (HLS), all types. The first HLS on a premise does not count toward the maximum total sign area. 4. Property where an approved site plan , development plan, or plat provides for a multi-family dwelling as the principal use , shall follow the standards of the Multi-family  Zone Category.
INDUSTRIAL (P-I, I-1, I-2 ZONES )
ALL PERMANENT SIGNS	4 feet for every lineal foot of street  frontage	1. Heritage landmark signs (HLS), all types. The first HLS on a premise does not count toward the maximum total sign area.

 

   C.   Permanent Signs - Additional Sign Type Standards

      The sign types below apply to the sign types in all zones but may have more restrictive standards by individual zones or zone categories.

      1.   Sign Types A through E

         a.   Access Point Sign

            An on-site sign located at or near the access point or other wayfinding location. This sign type is permitted in the residential category for non-residential uses, in a multi-family residential or non-residential category for non-residential uses and multi-family uses and is not permitted in the historic district .

            (1)   Size and Height allowed

               Up to 3 ft. tall and up to 6 sq. ft in area, unless section (3) below is met.

            (2)   Site Visibility Triangle (SVT)

               An access point sign must be outside of the SVT. The required minimum setback is 10 feet.

            (3)   Additional allowance

               If the Access Point Sign is located on a premise that has a street frontage of 125 feet or greater, or that has an area of one acre or greater, the Access Point Sign may be up to 4 ft. tall and 12 sq. ft.

         b.   Awning Signs

            (1)   General Standard

               A sign shall be constructed of cloth, plastic, or metal and permanently affixed to a structure intended to provide shade.

            (2)   Zone Category Standard

               Residential Zone Category (RH, SR, SH, RX-1, RX-2, R-1) For home occupation uses only. All other zones and zone categories permitted. See Section 7A.10.2 Table 1 for additional standards.

         c.   Billboards

            (1)   Permitted Locations

               On undeveloped property in the C-2, C-3, I-1, and I-2 zoned property and only within the general business zone category and the industrial zone category.

            (2)   Maximum Area Per Face, Including Embellishments

               (i)   Generally: Six feet by 12 feet.

               (ii)   Within 250 feet of a freeway : 378 square feet.

            (3)   Limitations

               (i)   No more than two faces per sign .

               (ii)   Vertical or horizontal stacking is not permitted.

            (4)   Maximum Height

               (i)   Generally: 16 feet.

               (ii)   Within 250 feet of freeway : 35 feet from freeway grade to top of sign .

            (5)   Minimum Clearance

               4 feet from grade to bottom edge of sign .

            (6)   Minimum Separation

               (i)   Generally: The minimum distance between a billboard and an existing billboard shall be 660 feet, measured in all directions and regardless of jurisdiction.

               (ii)   Within 250 feet of a freeway : The minimum distance between a billboard located within 250 feet of a freeway and an existing billboard shall be 1,980 feet measured in all directions and regardless of jurisdiction.

            (7)   Minimum Setback

               No billboard or part of a billboard shall be located within 200 feet of a residential zone boundary line.

            (8)   Orientation

               Billboard faces shall be oriented perpendicular to the road on which they are located.

            (9)   Prohibited Locations: See Section 7A.10.2 Table

               (i)   Any developed property. Billboards on undeveloped property may remain when there is new development as long as the entire site fully conforms to the Section 4.9.4.G.

               (ii)   Within 400 feet of the future right-of-way of Gateway Routes as designated in the Major Streets and Routes Plan .

            (10)   Prohibited Sign Copy Display

               Notwithstanding any other provision of the sign  standards, billboards may not change sign copy by any type of electronic process or by use of vertical or horizontal rotating panels having two or more sides whereby sign copy is changed by the rotation of one or more panels.

         d.   Canopy Sign

            (1)   Canopy signs are not allowed to extend above the roofline.

            (2)   Canopy signs are counted as a part of the sign allotment.

         e.   Dwelling Unit Sign

            (1)   Zone Category Standards

               (i)   Residential, and Multi-family Residential Zone Categories - No more than one sign may be visible from the exterior the property. The sign shall not exceed one square foot in size.

               (ii)   O-1 Non-residential Zone Categories - No more than one (1) sign may be visible from the exterior of the property. The sign shall not exceed one (1) square foot in size. Freestanding signs may be the monument and low profile types only.

      2.   Sign Types F through O

         a.   Freestanding Signs

            (1)   General Standards

               (i)   Monument type sign , general requirements:

                  (a)   Maximum faces: Four per sign .

                  (b)   Maximum area: 50 feet per face.

                  (c)   Maximum height: Ten feet from grade.

                  (d)   Minimum setback : 20 from curb to leading edge of sign .

               (ii)   Low profile type sign , general requirements:

                  (a)   Maximum faces: Two per sign .

                  (b)   Maximum area: 60 square feet per face.

                  (c)   Maximum height: Eight feet.

                  (d)   Minimum setback from curb to leading edge of sign : Two times the height of the sign .

                  (e)   Minimum continuous base (clearance from grade to bottom of sign ): Two feet.

               (iii)   Freestanding pole sign requirements:

                  (a)   Maximum faces: Two per sign .

                  (b)   Maximum area: 72 square feet per face.

                  (c)   Maximum height: 12 feet.

                  (d)   Minimum setback : 30 feet from curb to leading edge of sign .

            (2)   Freestanding Signs , All Types

               (i)   One freestanding sign for each street  frontage .

               (ii)   One additional freestanding sign on that street  frontage for each additional 150 feet of street  frontage in excess of the first 300 feet.

               (iii)   For each sign placed on the frontage of a local street , the total allowable number of freestanding signs for the arterial or collector street  frontage shall be reduced by one.

            (3)   Zone Category Standards

               (i)   Residential Zone Category (RX-1, RX-2, R-1, AND MH-1 ZONES )

                  (a)   Nonresidential uses may have a freestanding sign .

                  (b)   Monument and low profile only are permitted.

                  (c)   A sign that includes or consist of a three dimensional representation of a figure or object is prohibited.

               (ii)   Multi-Family  Zone Category (R-2, R-3, AND MH-2 ZONES )

                  (a)   Monument and low profile only.

                  (b)   Low profile maximum area is 50 square feet.

                  (c)   A sign that includes or consist of a three dimensional representation of a figure or object is prohibited.

               (iii)   Non-residential Zone Category (O-1 ZONE)

                  (a)   Monument and low profile only.

                  (b)   Maximum number: one per site or premise .

                  (c)   Location: On an arterial or collector street only.

                  (d)   Maximum faces: two per sign , back to back configuration only.

                  (e)   Maximum area: twelve square feet per face.

                  (f)   Maximum height: four feet.

                  (g)   Minimum setback : Twelve feet.

                  (h)   A sign that includes or consist of a three dimensional representation of a figure or object is prohibited.

               (iv)   Industrial Zone Category (P-I, I-1, AND I-2 ZONES )

                  (a)   Freestanding signs , all types.

                     i.   One per street  frontage ; except, where a developed parcel has in excess of 300 feet of street  frontage , one additional freestanding sign may be erected for each additional 150 feet of street  frontage in excess of the first 300 feet of street  frontage  abutting the developed portion of said parcel .

                  (b)   Freestanding pole sign

                     i.   Allowed only in the general business zone category and industrial zone category.

                     ii.   Minimum setback : 30 feet from curb to leading edge of sign .

                     iii.   Pole cover : The sign  structure configuration must be equipped with pole covers or architectural embellishments that hide or conceal all structural components or braces (such as pipes, angles, iron, cables, internal back framing, bracing, etc.). Minimum requirement is 18 inches by six inches. The Pole cover or architectural embellishment shall require a plan check for construction specifications in accordance with applicable technical codes.

                     iv.   When allowed: Allowed only when there is a minimum of 225 feet of street  frontage , or 125 feet of street  frontage and four or more business addresses.

                     v.   Maximum number: Only one freestanding pole sign allowed per street  frontage per premises .

         b.   Freeway Sign

            (1)   Permitted only in the general business zone category and the industrial zone category.

            (2)   Permitted locations: Must be within 250 feet of a freeway  right-of-way .

            (3)   Maximum area: 360 square feet.

            (4)   Maximum height: 48 feet from freeway grade to top of sign .

            (5)   Minimum clearance : 14 feet from grade to bottom of sign .

            (6)   Maximum number: Within a PAD, one per 1,980 linear feet of freeway  frontage measured along the freeway center line, not transferable from one freeway  frontage to another. Within the general business zone category and the industrial zone category, one per premises .

      3.    Sign Types P through Z

          a.   Parking Lot Sign

            (1)   Sign types: A parking lot sign may be a wall or freestanding sign .

            (2)   Permitted locations: Parking lot signs are permitted wherever the sign type of which it is a part is permitted. The sign should follow the best practices for parking lot sign design.

         b.   Pole Sign - Freestanding

            (1)   Allowed only in the general business zone category and industrial zone category.

            (2)   Minimum setback: 30 feet from curb to leading edge of sign .

            (3)   Pole cover: The sign structure configuration must be equipped with pole covers or architectural embellishments that hide or conceal all structural components or braces (such as pipes, angles, iron, cables, internal back framing, bracing, etc.). Minimum requirement is 18 inches by six inches. The Pole cover or architectural embellishment shall require a plan check for construction specifications in accordance with applicable technical codes.

            (4)   When allowed: Allowed only when there is a minimum of 225 feet of street frontage , or 125 feet of street frontage and four or more business addresses.

            (5)   Maximum number: Only one freestanding pole sign allowed per street frontage per premises.

         c.   Projecting Sign

            (1)   Signs shall be permitted only within a Historic or Pedestrian District and in compliance with Section 7A.11.1.I and 2.D respectively.

            (2)   Signs protruding in the right of way shall be approved by the Department of Transportation.

         d.   Wall Sign

            (1)   Residential Zone Category

               Non-residential only. Not allowed for residential uses except as allowed as home occupation and multi-family residential.

            (2)   General Business Zone Category

               Maximum size:

               (i)   Generally: No more than 30% of the area of each wall may be utilized for wall signs .

               (ii)   A wall sign within 250 feet of a freeway shall be no more than 40% of the area of each wall .

            (3)   Industrial Zone Category

               Maximum size: no more than 40% of the area of each wall .

            (4)   Wall Sign General Standards

               (i)   May not extend above the top of the facade , eaves, firewall or roofline of a building or structure .

               (ii)   25% additional area of each wall over and above the allowable sign area may be utilized if no other sign types are used or if nonconforming signs are voluntarily removed.

               (iii)   Signs placed upon the face of a parapet or architectural feature are considered wall signs .

(Am. Ord. 11803, 12/8/2020)