Glendale sign permit requirements

What the Glendale sign code and sign ordinance allow, summarised from 35.4.300 - SIGNAGE. Every figure below shows the ordinance's own wording, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.

Check before you build. This is an informational summary, not legal advice, and sign rules change. Confirm with Glendale's planning department before ordering or installing a sign — most codes also vary by zoning district.

Is a permit required?

Sec. 35.4.308

Permit required for permanent business signs (e.g., wall, monument, pylon). No permit required for window signs, directional signs, A-frame, yard signs, and other listed exemptions.

“All required permits shall be obtained prior to erecting, placing, constructing, altering, or changing the copy on any sign within the City except as specifically identified in this Section.”

Wall sign — maximum area

Sec. 35.4.311, Table 4.300-5

General Commercial: 2 sq ft per 1 linear foot of business frontage or 50 sq ft, whichever is greater; max 150 sf for businesses <20,000 sf, 250 sf for 20,000-40,000 sf, 450 sf for >40,000 sf

Table 4.300-5: Total Building Sign Area

Maximum Total Sign Area Allowed	The maximum total sign area allowed per business having an external business entrance is limited by the size and frontage of the building on which the sign(s) will be placed. The table below shall be consulted to determine the permitted total business signage area by use category or special condition.* Business frontage is determined by the measurement of the portion of the business facing the street or public access driveway or public alley. Multi-story building lineal footage is limited to the ground floor lineal footage measurement except as modified by the subsections below. The individual area of each building sign placed on a building shall be counted towards the total permitted Building Sign area allowance, unless otherwise noted herein.
Use	Total Square Feet of Building Signage Allowed
Single Residence	N/A
Multiple Residence	1.25 square feet per 1 linear foot of leasing office space frontage or 50 square feet, whichever is greater, but in no case more than 60 square feet per multiple residence development.
Professional Office	1.5 square feet per 1 linear foot of business frontage or 50 square feet, whichever is greater. Maximum square feet based on business square footage: 60 sf maximum signage for businesses <5,000 sf; 150 sf maximum signage for businesses 5,000 sf to 20,000 sf; 250 sf maximum signage for businesses 20,000 sf to 40,000 sf; 450 sf maximum signage for businesses >40,000 sf
General Commercial and Public/Semi-Public	2 square feet per 1 linear foot of business frontage or 50 square feet, whichever is greater.** Maximum square feet based on business square footage: 150 sf maximum signage for businesses <20,000 sf; 250 sf maximum signage for businesses 20,000 sf to 40,000 sf; 450 sf maximum signage for businesses >40,000 sf
Business/Industrial	1.75 square feet per 1 linear foot of business frontage or 50 square feet, whichever is greater.** Maximum square feet based on business square footage: 200 sf maximum signage for businesses <40,000 sf; 350 sf maximum signage for businesses 40,000 sf to 80,000 sf; 500 sf maximum signage for businesses >80,000 sf
Non-residential uses having only an internal business entrance and no external wall facing a public street or public access driveway or public alley shall be limited to business identification signage on a multi-tenant building wall mounted sign as set forth in subsection 35.4.311(G)(9) *Multi-tenant building, wall mounted signs shall adhere to subsection 35.4.311(G)(9)

Reproduced from Sec. 35.4.311, Table 4.300-5. Check it against the source before ordering.

Freestanding sign — maximum area

Sec. 35.4.310(H)

Freestanding monument: 80 sq ft (110 for parcels over 20 acres) along Major Arterial Roads/Parkways; 60 sq ft (80 for parcels over 20 acres) along Arterial Roads; 32 sq ft (60 for parcels over 20 acres) along all other roads

“Placed along Major Arterial Roads and Parkways (including Bell Road and Grand Avenue): Eighty (80) square feet or one hundred ten (110) square feet for parcels over twenty (20) acres.”

Freestanding sign — maximum height

Sec. 35.4.310(H)

Freestanding monument: 14 ft along Major Arterial Roads and Parkways; 10 ft along Arterial Roads; 8 ft along all other roads

“Placed along Major Arterial Roads and Parkways (including Bell Road and Grand Avenue): Fourteen (14) feet.”

Projecting sign — maximum area

Sec. 35.4.311(J)

Projecting (blade) signs limited to 5 sq ft maximum sign area

“Projecting signs are limited to a maximum sign area of five (5) square feet.”

Projecting sign — clearance

Sec. 35.4.311(J)

Minimum vertical clearance 9 ft; max projection 5 ft from face of building; min 4 ft horizontal from projecting edge to back of curb

“Projecting signs shall maintain a minimum vertical clearance of nine (9) feet.”

Window signs — maximum coverage

Sec. 35.4.311(K)

Window signs shall not exceed 30% of the exterior window area

“The area covered by window signs shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the exterior window area.”

Illumination

Sec. 35.4.306(N)

Signs may be illuminated or non-illuminated. The source of illumination shall not be visible from any street, sidewalk, or adjacent property.

“Signs may be illuminated or non-illuminated, unless otherwise restricted in this Section or applicable condition of approval. The source of the sign's illumination shall not be visible from any street, sidewalk, or adjacent property.”

Digital / electronic message centres

Sec. 35.4.310(F)

Electronic Reader Panel allowed for commercial uses; one freestanding reader panel per street frontage max 32 sq ft, 14 ft high; each message static minimum 8 seconds; no scrolling/flashing/animation; automatic dimmer; brightness increase max 0.3 foot-candles over ambient at property line. Digital billboards only allowed in approved PAD.

“Each message or image displayed on an electronic sign shall be static for a minimum of eight (8) seconds. Electronic signs shall display static text messages only, with no animation or effects simulating animation or video.”

Temporary signs and banners

Sec. 35.4.312(B)

Banners: max 14 consecutive days per occurrence, limited to 6 events per calendar year, min 10 days between display periods, removed within 3 days of occurrence; limited to 32 sq ft; one per establishment (one per tenant in multi-tenant); registration required

“All banners are limited to a maximum display period of fourteen (14) consecutive days per occurrence and limited to six (6) events per calendar year. There shall be a minimum of ten days between display periods. All banners shall be removed within three (3) days of the occurrence.”

Prohibited sign types

Sec. 35.4.305

Signs over public street/right-of-way (except as permitted); signs emitting sound; flashing/strobe/rotating/animated lighting (except digital billboards/electronic readers); signs on vehicles/trailers/boats displayed to attract attention; pennants, banners, balloons, flags (except as provided); temporary signs (except as permitted); billboards & digital billboards prohibited in Loop 101 Scenic Corridor

“Signs mounted, attached, or painted on trailers, boats, or motor vehicles when parked, stored, or displayed in a manner intended to attract the attention of the public.”

Which zoning district this describes

Sec. 35.4.311, Table 4.300-5

Values reported for General Commercial zoning (C-1, C-2, C-3). Code varies materially by zoning district and by road classification/frontage; building sign area category is 'General Commercial and Public/Semi-Public'.

Set out in the same table as wall sign — maximum area above.

Not covered in the sign chapter we read: wall sign — % of facade, freestanding sign — setback. That doesn't mean the city has no rule — it may sit elsewhere in the code.

Read the full ordinance Last checked 2026-07-30

Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us — corrections from local sign shops are how this stays accurate.

Common questions

Do you need a permit for a sign in Glendale, AZ?: Permit required for permanent business signs (e.g., wall, monument, pylon). No permit required for window signs, directional signs, A-frame, yard signs, and other listed exemptions.
How big can a wall sign be in Glendale, AZ?: General Commercial: 2 sq ft per 1 linear foot of business frontage or 50 sq ft, whichever is greater; max 150 sf for businesses <20,000 sf, 250 sf for 20,000-40,000 sf, 450 sf for >40,000 sf
How big can a freestanding sign be in Glendale, AZ?: Freestanding monument: 80 sq ft (110 for parcels over 20 acres) along Major Arterial Roads/Parkways; 60 sq ft (80 for parcels over 20 acres) along Arterial Roads; 32 sq ft (60 for parcels over 20 acres) along all other roads
How tall can a freestanding sign be in Glendale, AZ?: Freestanding monument: 14 ft along Major Arterial Roads and Parkways; 10 ft along Arterial Roads; 8 ft along all other roads
How big can a projecting sign be in Glendale, AZ?: Projecting (blade) signs limited to 5 sq ft maximum sign area
How much clearance does a projecting sign need in Glendale, AZ?: Minimum vertical clearance 9 ft; max projection 5 ft from face of building; min 4 ft horizontal from projecting edge to back of curb

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