Campaign Signs

On March 30, 2007, to address sign proliferation and to preserve the aesthetics of Scottsdale’s streetscapes, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 7181 which prohibited all signs in the public right-of-way. On April 4, 2011, the State of Arizona adopted House Bill 2500 (Arizona Revised Statutes 16-1019) which restricted Arizona municipalities from enforcing local temporary sign laws as it relates to Political Signs during election season. On July 5, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 10727, updating the Sign Ordinance by regulating all temporary signs not by the content of the message, but by the zoning district and duration of activity occurring on-site.

Refer to Sign Ordinance Section 8.102.B and Section 8.600 for the City’s temporary sign requirements.

During the period established under Arizona Revised Statutes 16-1019(H), the State’s Political Sign requirements apply. During this period, the city strongly encourages campaign and election representatives to be sensitive to the City’s regulation on sign placement and public safety by installing signs on private property and not in the public right-of-way; installing signs that does not constitute a hazard to traffic and pedestrians; and installing signs that does not obstruct or impede sidewalks, pathways, and any traffic safety triangles at street corners and driveways. Refer to the Scottsdale Parcel Information Map to look up the approximate locations of property lines.

Residential Districts Political Sign Requirements

Maximum Area: Up to 16 square feet
Maximum Height: 5 feet, or 10 feet in height if placed behind a dedicated scenic corridor easement or abutting the Loop 101 Pima Freeway frontage road.

All Other Districts Political Sign Requirements

Maximum Area: Up to 32 square feet
Maximum Height: 5 feet, or 10 feet in height if placed behind a dedicated scenic corridor easement or abutting the Loop 101 Pima Freeway frontage road.

Outside of the period established under Arizona Revised Statutes 16-1019(H), the Scottsdale Sign Ordinance applies. The city’s temporary sign requirements are regulated by the zoning district and the duration of activity occurring on-site, and not by the content of the message. On-Premise Commercial Activity Post-and-Panel Signs and On-Premise Non-Commercial Yard Signs are the sign types commonly used for Campaign/Political Signs.

All temporary freestanding signs are required to be placed on private property outside of the public right-of-way. Actual right-of-way dimensions will vary depending on the type of street improvements and street design. Refer to the Scottsdale Parcel Information Map to look up the approximate locations of property lines, easements, zoning district, and aerial photography. Because of this variation between the location of property lines and the back-of-street improvements, all temporary freestanding signs must be setback a minimum of 20 feet from the back-of-street curb or back-of-street improvement (see Figure A) or on private property, whichever is the more restrictive requirement. All temporary freestanding signs over 2 feet in height must be placed outside of the 25-foot safety triangle at street corners (see Figure B).

On Dec. 6, 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 8853 which established two Sign-Free Zones as authorized by Arizona Revised Statutes 16-1019(F). In the Sign-Free Zones, the State Law's limitations on local enforcement for campaign, political, and ballot signs do not apply.

View the Scottsdale Interactive Map that shows the City's two sign-free zones.

Enter an address in the map search area or zoom in to a location to find the zoning of a lot, and to measure distances.