Temporary signs.
Chandler City Code § 39-10
in effect39-10. - Temporary signs.
39-10.1 Purpose. The City of Chandler finds that the proliferation of temporary signs is a distraction to the traveling public and creates aesthetic blight and visual clutter that threatens the public's health, safety and welfare. The City also recognizes a legitimate need for temporary signs for a wide variety of functions or special occasions. The purpose of these regulations is to allow temporary signs in such a manner that limits the distractions to the traveling public and eliminates or reduces aesthetic blight and visual clutter caused by temporary signs.
39-10.2 General regulations for all temporary signs.
A. Temporary signs shall be allowed only in compliance with the provisions of this section.
B. Temporary signs shall not be attached to any public facility such as government signs and supporting poles, utility poles, street lights, light poles, and trees on public property.
C. Temporary signs shall not obstruct view or paths in a manner that creates a hazard for pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
D. Temporary signs shall be of sufficient weight, made of durable material and be properly secured to withstand wind gusts, storms and other natural elements.
E. No temporary signs shall be mounted on a building roof.
F. No temporary signs shall emit sound or odor except for seasonal decorations.
G. No temporary signs shall have animated or moving parts, except for seasonal decorations and air-activated signs as provided for in Section 39-10.3(B).
H. No temporary signs shall imitate traffic control signs, or obscure actual municipal or other public traffic control signs or devices.
I. No temporary signs shall be placed upon private property without the property owner's approval.
J. No temporary signs located in single family residential zones shall be illuminated, except for seasonal decorations.
K. Search lights, strobe lights, intermittent or flashing illumination, holographic projections, laser light displays, beacons and other similar temporary signs or effects shall be prohibited.
L. The Zoning Administrator may remove or cause to be removed any temporary sign erected, displayed upon, or projecting into public property that is not expressly allowed by this section or protected by state statute, or which presents a critical safety hazard requiring immediate action.
M. Exceptions to general regulations for all temporary signs provided herein and specific temporary sign types as provided for in Section 39-10.3 may be permitted when approved as part of a City sponsored public event or special event permit as provided for in Chapter 32 of the Chandler City Code.
39-10.3 Regulations for specific temporary sign types.
A. A-Frame or T-Frame signs.
1. Area and height: The area of any single sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area nor exceed four (4) feet in height.
2. Location, number of signs and duration:
a) Each business or nonresidential use located in a commercial or industrial district may place one (1) sign per street frontage within the building envelope and shall maintain a minimum five (5) foot clearance to allow unobstructed pedestrian use of the privately owned pedestrian pathway located therein. Said sign shall be displayed only during business hours. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an unlimited number of signs may be displayed when said signs are located within a permitted outside display area.
b) Each business or nonresidential use which occupies a building that fronts onto and abuts the edge of the public right-of-way may place one (1) sign per street frontage on the public sidewalk within the building envelope. The placement of said sign shall maintain a minimum five (5) foot clearance to allow unobstructed pedestrian use of the public sidewalk. Said sign shall be displayed only during business hours.
c) Each single family lot or model home may place one (1) sign anywhere on the property, and each single family lot or model home cluster may place one (1) additional sign at each turning movement beginning at the subject property and extending for a maximum of one (1) mile distance from said property up to a maximum of ten (10) signs. Said signs shall be placed away from the street and no closer than five (5) feet from the curb behind the public sidewalk or no closer than five (5) feet from the edge of pavement when there is no public sidewalk. Said signs shall be displayed only on days when the property is open to the public (e.g. garage/yard sale, open house, and model home business hours).
d) Each multiple family development, mobile home park, or mobile home subdivision may place one (1) sign within the building envelope of the building containing the office. Said sign shall maintain a minimum five (5) foot clearance to allow unobstructed pedestrian use of the privately owned pedestrian path located therein. Said sign shall be displayed only during office hours.
e) Each quasi-public or institutional use not located in a commercial or industrial district may place one (1) sign within the building envelope and shall maintain a minimum five (5) foot clearance to allow unobstructed pedestrian use of the privately owned pedestrian pathway located therein. One (1) additional sign may be placed at each turning movement beginning at the property and extending for a maximum of one (1) mile distance from said property up to a maximum of ten (10) signs. Said signs shall be placed away from the street and no closer than five (5) feet from the curb behind the public sidewalk or no closer than five (5) feet from the edge of pavement when there is no public sidewalk. Said signs shall be displayed only when said property is open to the public.
3. Approval process: No sign permit shall be required.
B. Air-activated signs.
1. Area and height: Signs shall not exceed fourteen (14) feet in height.
2. Location:
a) Signs shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from the public right-of-way or a distance that is equal to the height of the sign, whichever is greater.
b) Air-activated signs shall only be allowed on nonresidential properties, except for seasonal decorations on residential properties, which do not require a permit.
3. Number of signs: No more than two (2) air-activated signs per street frontage may be displayed concurrently. For the purpose of calculating the number of signs, segments of multiple pennants hung on the same premises shall collectively be considered one (1) sign and segments of streamers hung on the same premises shall collectively be considered one (1) sign.
4. Duration: Each multiple family development, business or nonresidential use shall be allotted no more than thirty (30) cumulative days within each six (6) month period in a calendar year to display air-activated signs, banners, or feather signs. One (1) day shall be counted as being exhausted from the total allotment for each day that one or any combination of the aforementioned signs is displayed.
5. Approval process: A temporary sign permit shall be required to display any air-activated sign, except common party balloons shall not require a permit when they do not exceed a height of fourteen (14) feet from finished grade.
6. Other requirements:
a) Signs shall be fastened to the ground or a structure so that it cannot shift more than three (3) feet horizontally under any condition.
b) Signs shall require compliance with applicable building codes.
C. Banners.
1. Area and height:
a) Banners shall not exceed the square footage of installed and/or permitted wall signs as provided for in Section 39-9.
b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each vertical banner shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area.
c) Banners attached to buildings and vertical banners affixed to a structure located within a permitted outside display area shall not project above the roof line or exceed a height of twenty-five (25) feet from finished grade to the top of the banner, whichever is lower. Said banners shall maintain a minimum clearance of seven (7) feet above finished grade when placed upon an area open for common or general use of the public.
d) Detached banners in residential areas shall not exceed a height of eight (8) feet measured from finished grade to the top of the banner.
2. Location:
a) Banners shall not be attached to single family homes.
b) Detached banners shall not be displayed in single family residential areas except when located at neighborhood entrances.
c) Detached banners shall be setback a minimum of five (5) feet from the public right-of-way and driveways. Said setback shall not apply to banners affixed to a temporary construction fence.
d) Vertical banners shall only be displayed in permitted outside display areas.
3. Number of signs:
a) Each multiple family development, business or nonresidential use may display no more than one (1) banner per street frontage, which may be attached to a building or detached. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an unlimited number of vertical banners may be displayed when affixed to structures that are located within a permitted outside display area.
b) Each single family neighborhood may display no more than one (1) detached banner per neighborhood entrance.
4. Duration:
a) Each multiple family development, business or nonresidential use shall be allotted no more than thirty (30) cumulative days within each six (6) month period in a calendar year to display air-activated signs, banners, or feather signs. One (1) day shall be counted as being exhausted from the total allotment for each day that one or any combination of the aforementioned signs is displayed, except that the display of vertical banners located in permitted outside display areas and banners that are displayed during construction of a site or during a City funded or designated construction project that is located adjacent to the business or nonresidential use erecting said sign shall not be counted toward said allotment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an unoccupied tenant space in a nonresidential development may display a banner advertising the space as available to lease until said tenant space is occupied and shall be subject to permit application and renewal every twelve (12) months.
b) Detached banners located at neighborhood entrances shall be displayed only on days when a neighborhood event is open to the public (e.g. neighborhood yard sale, neighborhood cleanup).
5. Approval process: A temporary sign permit shall be required to display banners as provided herein, except no permit shall be required for:
a) Vertical banners; and
b) Banners that are displayed during construction of a site or during a City funded or designated construction project that is located adjacent to the business or nonresidential use erecting said sign, and which is promptly removed after construction is completed.
6. Other requirements:
a) Detached banners shall be secured to a freestanding temporary support structure, uprights, stakes or poles that are sufficiently anchored to withstand wind pressure.
b) Banners shall not be tethered to or otherwise affixed to trees or any other landscaping.
c) Any banner that is partially torn, loose or otherwise unsecured shall be deemed unsafe and shall be immediately refastened, removed or replaced.
d) Banners shall not be affixed to or displayed over a freestanding monument sign.
D. Feather signs.
1. Area and height: Feather signs shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area and shall not exceed twelve (12) feet in height from grade.
2. Location: Feather signs shall only be allowed in multiple family districts and nonresidential properties, and shall be setback a minimum of five (5) feet from the public right-of-way or a driveway. Said signs shall not be placed closer than twenty (20) feet to another feather sign or freestanding monument sign.
3. Number of signs: Each multiple family development, business or nonresidential use may display no more than two (2) feather signs per street frontage.
4. Duration: Each multiple family development, business or nonresidential use shall be allotted no more than thirty (30) cumulative days within each six (6) month period in a calendar year to display air-activated signs, banners, or feather signs. One (1) day shall be counted as being exhausted from the total allotment for each day that one or any combination of the aforementioned signs is displayed.
5. Approval process: A temporary sign permit shall be required to display feather signs as provided herein.
6. Other requirements:
a) Feather signs shall be securely attached to mounting poles which are secured to the ground.
E. Large temporary freestanding signs (17—160 square feet).
1. Number of signs:
a) Each nonresidential development or center that is greater than two (2) acres and each property that is currently undeveloped, used for agriculture or under construction may display one (1) large temporary freestanding sign per street frontage. Parcels with an excess of three (300) hundred feet of street frontage may display one (1) additional large temporary freestanding sign per three hundred (300) feet of street frontage. Said signs shall not be less than three hundred (300) linear feet apart, except signs posted on different parcels may be less than three hundred (300) linear feet apart from each other. The Zoning Administrator may allow a minor reduction from said separation of signs displayed on the same parcel upon finding that such a reduction is necessary to accommodate a special circumstance that is not self-imposed by the property owner or applicant. For example, said minimum separation would not be possible due to the location of an existing utility pedestal, street scupper, or driveway and the length of the property does not provide opportunity to exceed said separation. Said reduction shall not exceed thirty (30) feet.
b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, signs or notices required or posted by a government agency shall not be counted towards the number of signs permitted herein.
2. Area, height, location and materials:
a) The sign face of signs displayed on properties that are currently undeveloped, used for agriculture or under construction shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area for the first acre or portion thereof. When the subject property exceeds one (1) acre in size, the sign area may be increased four (4) square feet for each additional acre or portion thereof not to exceed one hundred sixty (160) square feet.
b) The sign face of signs displayed on nonresidential developments or centers containing less than ten (10) acres but more than two (2) acres shall not to exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.
c) The sign face of signs displayed on nonresidential developments or centers containing ten (10) acres or more are shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet and may be illuminated. Such illumination shall be indirect lighting only.
d) Said signs shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet in height.
e) Said signs shall not be placed closer than fifteen (15) feet to a public right-of-way.
f) All signs shall be made of a rigid and durable material that will withstand the elements.
3. Approval process and duration: Signs exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area or eight (8) feet in height shall require a sign permit in order to ensure the structural safety of said signs. Said permit shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewable on an annual basis thereafter.
F. Midsize temporary freestanding signs (7—16 square feet).
1. Number of signs:
a) Each parcel may display one (1) midsize temporary freestanding sign, except when it is a corner lot, in which case two (2) such signs may be used, one (1) sign per street front. Parcels with an excess of three hundred (300) feet of street frontage may display one (1) additional sign along each street front for each additional three hundred (300) feet of said street front. Said signs shall not be less than three hundred (300) linear feet apart, except signs posted on different parcels may be less than three hundred (300) linear feet apart from each other. The Zoning Administrator may allow a minor reduction from said separation of signs displayed on the same parcel upon finding that such a reduction is necessary to accommodate a special circumstance that is not self-imposed by the property owner or applicant. For example, said minimum separation would not be possible due to the location of an existing utility pedestal, street scupper, or driveway and the length of the property does not provide opportunity to exceed said separation. Said reduction shall not exceed thirty (30) feet.
b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, an unlimited number of the following signs may be displayed, which shall not be counted towards the number of signs permitted herein:
i. Signs or notices required or posted by government.
ii. Signs leading to or displayed within a model home cluster which are not visible from an arterial or collector street.
2. Area, height, location and materials:
a) The sign face of said signs shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area.
b) Signs displayed on nonresidential developments shall not exceed a height of twelve (12) feet.
c) Signs displayed on residential properties shall not exceed a height of six (6) feet.
d) Signs located in the public right-of-way shall not be closer than ten (10) feet measured from the sign post to the curb or edge of pavement where there is no curb. The sign face of said sign may encroach no more than two (2) feet into said ten (10) feet setback.
e) No setback shall be required for signs displayed on private property.
f) In no event shall any portion of the sign be closer than one (1) foot to a public or private sidewalk.
g) All signs shall be made of a rigid and durable material that will withstand the elements.
h) No sign shall be installed in the public right-of-way without first determining that no underground facilities will be encountered as required by Arizona Revised Statutes sections 40-360.22 et seq., also known as the Arizona Blue Stake Law.
3. Approval process and duration: Signs exceeding eight (8) feet in height shall require a sign permit in order to ensure the structural safety of said signs. Said permit shall be valid for two (2) years and shall be renewable on an annual basis thereafter. No permit shall be required for all other midsize temporary freestanding signs.
G. Yard Signs (≤ 6 square feet).
1. Number of signs and location:
a) Each single family lot, model home cluster, and quasi-public or institutional use not located in a commercial or industrial district may place one (1) sign anywhere on the subject property, one (1) additional sign at each turning movement beginning at the subject property and extending for a maximum of one (1) mile distance from said property up to a maximum of ten (10) signs. Said signs shall be placed away from the street and no closer than five (5) feet from the curb behind the public sidewalk or no closer than five (5) feet from the edge of pavement when there is no public sidewalk. Said signs shall be displayed only on days when the property is open to the public (e.g. garage/yard sale, open house, and model home business hours).
b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, signs or notices required or posted by a government agency shall not be counted towards the number of signs permitted herein.
c) No sign shall be installed in the public right-of-way without first determining that no underground facilities will be encountered as required by Arizona Revised Statutes sections 40-360.22 et seq., also known as the Arizona Blue Stake Law.
2. Area and height: Yard signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area nor exceed four (4) feet in height.
3. Approval process: No permit shall be required to display yard signs.
(Ord. No. 4729, § I, 5-25-17; Ord. No. 4931, § 2(Exh.), 8-13-20; Ord. No. 5075, § 2(Exh.), 2-22-24)
Source: City of Chandler, Arizona, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/az/chandler/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTVIPL_CH39SICO_39-10TESIFetched: 11/1/2026