Prescott Valley City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 13

09. SIGN REGULATIONS

13-09-010 Purpose

The purpose of this Article is to balance the need to protect the public safety and welfare, the need for a well-maintained and attractive community, and the need for adequate identification, communication, and advertising. It ensures proper design, construction, and maintenance, promotes positive conditions for communication, allows signs appropriate to the character of each zoning district, promotes traffic safety, and protects constitutional guarantees of free expression.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-010. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 37, 09/04/1980; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 178, 05/26/1988; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 874, 03/26/2020)

13-09-020 Definitions pertaining to signs

Term	Definition
Animated sign	Any sign (or part of a sign) employing actual motion, the illusion of motion, or light and/or color changes achieved through mechanical, electrical, or electronic means. Includes spinners, pinwheels, pennants, flags, and similar devices that respond to wind or other environmental input; other repetitive motion devices powered by electric or other mechanical motors; and other devices that produce the illusion of motion through illumination capable of simulating movement through flashing, or alternate or sequential light patterns.
Banner	Any fabric, bunting, pliable plastic, paper, or other light material attached to any structure, staff, pole, rope, wire or framing which are anchored on two or more edges or at all four corners. Flags are excluded from this definition.
Billboard	See off-site sign.
Building frontage	That portion of the building which lies parallel to the right-of-way.
Commercial tourism zone	Those areas of the Town designated by Council resolution as commercial tourism zones based upon the predominance of commercial tourism, resort and hotel uses within those zones.
Comprehensive sign package	See section 13-09-060.
Construction site sign	Sign located on a building site between when a permit issuance and certificate of occupancy issuance for the building.
Directional sign	Signs limited to directional messages, principally to direct and aid the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such as “one-way”, “entrance”, and “exit”, building address, etc., as well as providing directional information relating to points of interest, institution, facilities, and areas, and which contain no advertising, electronic changing information and are positioned as to not be a traffic or safety issue.
Directory sign	Any sign listing the names, uses, and locations of the various businesses or activities within a building or a multi-tenant development (not for the purpose of bringing same to the attention of vehicular traffic)
Double-faced sign	Any sign having copy on two faces of equal dimension with a 45 degree or less interior angle between the two faces.
Electronic message center sign	Any sign using light emitting diodes (LEDs) capable of electronically changing its message and/or graphic presentation by remote or automatic means, including static, fade, dissolve, travel, or scrolling modes. Static mode means no animation or effects simulating animation. Fade mode is where messages are changed by varying light intensity, where the first message gradually reduces intensity to the point of not being legible and the subsequent message gradually increases intensity to the point of legibility. Dissolve mode is where messages are changed by varying light intensity or pattern, where the first message gradually appears to dissipate and lose legibility with the gradual appearance and legibility of the subsequent message. Travel mode is where the message appears to move horizontally. Scrolling mode is where the message appears to move vertically.
Façade	Vertical wall surface extending above a porch roof, including a parapet wall.
Flag	Any rectangular piece of fabric, pliable plastic, canvass, or other light material attached to a pole or staff and anchored along only one edge or supported or anchored at only two corners.
Flashing sign	Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign which exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by blinking or any other means.
Freestanding sign	Any non-movable sign which is not affixed to a building and is mounted on its own self-supporting structure.
Freeway interchange area	Where ingress or egress is obtained to a state or federal highway or freeway; specifically delineated as lying within 300 feet of the right-of-way and between the two points of widening of the highway or freeway right-of-way approaching the interchange (see example).
Identification sign	A sign that includes, as copy, only the name of the business, place, organization, building, and/or person it identifies.
Illuminated sign	A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign, or directed towards the sign.
Integrated development project	A 25-acre or larger commercial or mixed-use development (i) with multiple businesses, property owners, and parcels; (ii) located adjacent to a numbered state highway; and (iii) with an approved comprehensive sign package.
Interior side building	That portion of the building adjacent to an interior lot line or which does not front on an exterior street side of the property.
International Building Code	The edition of the International Building Code adopted by the Town of Prescott Valley.
Maintenance	The replacing or repairing of a part or portion of a sign made unusable by ordinary wear, tear, or damage beyond the control of the owner.
Monument sign	Any freestanding sign, other than a pole sign, placed upon or supported by the ground (independent of any other structure, except footing).
National Electric Code	The edition of the National Electrical Code adopted by the Town of Prescott Valley.
Nonconforming sign	Any sign not currently allowed, but which was legally permitted when first constructed.
Obsolete sign	Any sign that no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, activity conducted, or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed.
Occupancy frontage	The width of that portion of a multi-tenant structure occupied by a particular tenant.
Off-site sign	Any sign directing attention to any business, commodity, service, entertainment, or event conducted, sold, or offered at a location other than the premises where the sign is located.
Parapet wall	A wall extending above the roof line of a building.
Parcel	A parcel of land shown on a subdivision plat, record of survey map, or parcel map, or a parcel described by metes and bounds, which constitutes a development site (whether composed of a single unit of land or contiguous units under common ownership or development).
Pennant	Any triangular or irregular piece of fabric, pliable plastic, canvass, or other light material, commonly attached in strings or strands (or supported on sticks or small poles).
Permanent sign	Any sign intended and constructed as to be of a lasting and enduring condition, remaining unchanged in character, condition, and position (beyond normal wear).
Pole sign	Any sign mounted on a freestanding pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign face is above ground level, but excluding flags. Includes signs whose pole or poles are sheathed with metal, aluminum, brick, or other material (pylon signs).
Portable sign	Any sign designed to be transported or moved and not permanently affixed to a building, structure, or the ground (including A-frame signs).
Roof line	The highest point of the main roof structure which shall not include cupolas, pylons, projections, or minor raised portions of the roof.
Shopping center	A group of three or more commercial establishments offering goods or services to the public and planned, constructed, or managed as one entity and providing customer and employee parking in a common parking lot.
Sign	Any object, device, display, structure, fixture, painting, emblem, or visual (or part thereof) visible from a public right-of-way and situated outdoors or on the inside face of a window which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event, or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, graphics, symbols, numbers, colors, or illumination (including projected images). Window displays, athletic scoreboards, and official government insignia or signs are excluded from this definition.
Sign face	The area or display surface used for the message.
State highway	A highway operated and maintained by the State of Arizona, and bearing an official state highway number or interstate highway designation
Temporary sign	Any sign designed for short-term use, including but not limited to portable signs and banners.
Town banner program	A program utilizing Town infrastructure and Town-owned property for placement of banners promoting or celebrating (i) Town-sponsored cultural and civic events, activities, and attractions; (ii) other cultural and civic events sponsored by non-profit groups reflecting general community and tourist interests; (iii) educational institutions connected with the community; (iv) sports institutions connected with the community; (v) scenic locations; or (vi) the community, its traditions, holidays, and accomplishments.
Wall sign	A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure so that the wall becomes the supporting structure for and forms the background surface of the sign, and which does not project more than 12 inches from the supporting building or structure.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-020. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 375, 12/28/1995; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 590, 03/25/2004; amended by Ordinance No. 648, 01/26/2006; amended by Ordinance No. 686, 05/24/2007; amended by Ordinance No. 767, 02/23/2012; amended by Ordinance No. 771, 11/08/2012; amended by Ordinance No. 816, 05/26/2016; amended by Ordinance No. 874, 03/26/2020)

13-09-030 General provisions

A. Location and placement of signs:

1. No sign shall be allowed on any property unless the same is specifically permitted for the applicable zoning district.

2. Every sign and its supporting structure shall be designed and constructed to conform to the provisions of all applicable technical codes.

3. No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained in a way that prevents free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape, nor shall any sign be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.

4. No sign shall be erected or maintained:

a. In a way that obstructs free and clear vision of traffic or causes a traffic hazard, or

b. In violation of section 13-07-120 (sight visibility triangle at street intersections), or

c. At any location where, by reason of its position, shape, color, or illumination, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device mounted on a police or fire protection vehicle, or

d. Using the words “stop,” “look,” “danger,” “caution,” or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a way that interferes with, misleads, or confuses traffic.

5. No sign shall be erected or painted upon or attached to any tree, rock, or other natural feature, utility pole, utility structure, or any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.

6. In addition to the requirements of section 13-12-040, every illuminated sign shall be so placed as to prevent any light or reflection from being cast directly on any adjoining residential zoning district.

7. No sign shall be placed or maintained on or in any public right-of-way except for any signs required by a government agency for the protection of public health, safety, or general welfare (including, without limitation, traffic control signs and banners installed in accordance with the town banner program).

B. Design criteria:

1. Signs are regarded as an integral and complementary element of the overall architectural character of the Town and shall be integrated with the building and landscaping design.

2. All signs shall have edge treatment or border, except signs consisting of individual letters mounted against a non-differentiated surface.

C. Measurement of signs: All sign areas shall be measured in accordance with the following:

1. The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or any figure of similar character, together with any materials or colors forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed. Structural elements located outside the limits of the sign and not forming an integral part of the display (such as supports or uprights) shall not be included in determining the area of the sign.

2. The area within the perimeter of the entire illuminated surface of an internally illuminated sign, or that area within the perimeter of an internally illuminated architectural building feature which encompasses sign copy.

3. Multiple faces of a single sign:

a. If there are two faces to a single sign and the interior angle is 45 degrees or less, the entire area shall be the area of one face only.

b. If the interior angle between the two sign faces is greater than 45 degrees, the sign area will be the sum of the areas of each face.

c. If there are three or more faces to a single sign, the area will be the sum of the areas of each face.

4. Area of spherical, free-form, sculptural, and other non-planar signs will be the sum of the area of the sides of the smallest four-sided polyhedron that will encompass the sign structure.

5. All linear occupancy frontage distances shall be measured at sidewalk or grade level immediately adjacent to that portion of the structure being utilized for the occupancy in question.

6. Sign heights shall be measured as follows:

a. Freestanding sign: The height of freestanding signs shall be measured as the vertical distance from the nearest adjacent ground level to the top of the sign. The total sign height shall include any monument base, earthen works or other structure erected to support or ornament the sign.

b. Wall sign: The height of wall signs shall be measured as the vertical distance from the nearest adjacent ground level to the top of the sign (including ornamentation).

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-030. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 37, 09/04/1980; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 178, 05/26/1988; renumbered and amended by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 816, 05/26/2016; amended by Ordinance No. 874, 03/26/2020)

13-09-040 Sign standards

A. Building-mounted sign standards

PURPOSE	ZONING DISTRICTS	STANDARDS	MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS
Building mounted (non- residential use)	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One sign per front lot line	Two square feet of sign per one linear foot of building frontage adjacent to the front lot line
Directory	MF, RU, RS	One building-mounted only	16 square feet; six feet high
Directory	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One building-mounted only	24 square feet; six feet high
Directional	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	Per zoning approval	Four square feet; five feet high
Electronic message center	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	For buildings fronting more than one street, allowable signage must be placed on the side of the building used to calculate the sign’s permissible size. More than one building-mounted sign is permitted if the total signage does not exceed the maximum square footage allotment. No building-mounted sign shall project more than two feet from the building or structure to which it is attached. Electronic information message boards must comply with the standards prescribed in subsection 13-09-040D.	Two square feet of sign per linear foot of building frontage; individual sign areas limited to 200 square feet
Shopping centers	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	For buildings fronting more than one street, allowable signage must be placed on the side of the building used to calculate the sign’s permissible size.	Two square feet of sign per linear foot of building frontage along the street side of the building

1. No more than half of the allowable signage as calculated for the building frontage may be placed on any other side of the building.

2. On a corner lot, the signage calculated for the building frontage may be placed on the second street side.

a. If so placed, no greater than half of the frontage allocation shall be placed on the building frontage.

b. Signage on the second street side shall not include electronic message centers.

3. Businesses with three or more street frontages shall not be allocated additional signage beyond the first two streets.

4. If the main entrance to a business does not face any roadway, the tenant shall be allowed two square feet of signage per linear foot of building frontage on the main entrance side of the building.

B. Freestanding sign standards

PURPOSE	ZONING DISTRICTS	STANDARDS	MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS
Directional	RL, RM, MH, MF, RU, RS	Per zoning approval	Four square feet; five feet high
Directional	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	Per zoning approval	Four square feet; five feet high
Electronic message center	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	Electronic message centers must comply with the standards prescribed in subsection 13-09-040 D	50 square feet
Flag	RL, RM, MH, MF, RU, RS	One flagpole at the main entrance of master planned community One flagpole per model home or model home complex One flagpole per community center One flagpole per golf center/restaurant One flagpole per residential parcel	Each flag may not exceed 15 square feet. Flagpole height may not exceed 25 feet or the height of the principal building and must meet principal building setback. May not exceed three flags per flagpole.
Flag	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One flag per 25 feet of right-of-way frontage of parcel For example, a parcel with 75 feet of right-of-way frontage may have one flagpole with three flags or three flagpoles 25 feet apart, each with one flag	Each flag may not exceed 30 square feet. Flags count toward freestanding sign area limit. Flagpole height may not exceed 50 feet and must meet freestanding sign setback.
Integrated development project	Any zoning district, with the approval of a comprehensive sign package	For projects 25 to 50 acres:
		(i) One sign structure is permitted on each state highway; and	300 square feet 30 feet high
		(ii) One additional freestanding sign structure is permitted at each additional entrance from the project to a state highway	150 square feet 25 feet high
		For projects over 50 acres:
		(i) One sign structure is permitted on each state highway; and	400 square feet 40 feet high
		(ii) One additional freestanding sign structure is permitted at each additional entrance from the project to a state highway	200 square feet 30 feet high
Accessory drive-through-signage	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One per drive-through, not readable from the right-of-way	32 square feet; six feet high
Off-site directional signs		Two may be used only for a subdivision 50 acres or larger; must be removed within 60 days after 90% of the lots in the subdivision are sold	32 square feet; eight feet high
Off-site directory		Allowed only as part of the Prescott Valley Parkway Redevelopment Plan Two off-site signs may be erected not less than 300 linear feet apart May be double-faced, to be visible to travelers going either direction on Highway 69.	Individual sign areas are limited to 100 square feet; sign height eight feet
Property identification	RL, RM, MH	One per residence	Four square feet
	MF, RS, RU	One per project/site, except that two with a combined area of 32 square feet are permitted if there are two entrances to the site on different streets	32 square feet; six feet high
	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One per project/site	50 square feet; 20 feet high; or the lesser of 30 feet high or 20 feet above the highest roadway bed elevation when located in a freeway interchange area
Shopping centers	CN, CG, CI	One sign is permitted for each shopping center.
		Two signs are permitted for each planned area development of 50 acres or more, with no more than one sign on each arterial roadway.
		50 square feet aggregate sign area for centers with two to five units or tenants
		90 square feet aggregate sign area for centers with six to nine units or tenants
		130 square feet aggregate sign area for centers with 10 to 13 units or tenants
		170 square feet aggregate sign area for centers with 14 to 17 units or tenants
		200 square feet aggregate sign area for centers with more than 18 units or tenants
		No other monument or pole signs shall be allowed in lieu of a shopping center sign
		No single sign may exceed 100 square feet; however multiple signs may be used for the total aggregate signage allowed
Subdivisions	All zoning districts	Two per subdivision entrance to a state highway or arterial (in addition to any on-site or off-site directional signs, flags, and temporary signs allowed for the subdivision)	32 square feet; eight feet high

1. Freestanding monument signs shall not exceed a maximum height of eight feet.

2. Freestanding pole signs shall be a minimum of seven feet high and a maximum of 20 ft high.

3. Except for off-site directory signs, all freestanding signs shall be a minimum of six feet from the property line to the closest projection of the sign.

C. Temporary sign standards

PURPOSE	ZONING DISTRICTS	STANDARDS	MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS
Feather	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One per parcel No more than four consecutive days, no more than one time per calendar quarter Temporary sign permit required	No larger than two feet wide and ten feet high
Commercial	RL, RM, MH, MF, RU, RS	One at each entrance of a master-planned community One per model home or model home complex One per community center One per golf center/restaurant	32 square feet; eight feet high
Commercial	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One per parcel	32 square feet; eight feet high
Construction site	RL, RM, MH, MF, RU, RS	One per project or construction site, except that two with a combined area of 32 square feet are permitted if there is more than one street entrance or if the project is 50 acres or more	24 square feet; eight feet high
Construction site	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One per project or construction site, or two if the project or construction site has more than 300 feet of street frontage	32 square feet; eight feet high
Portable	CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One per parcel; must be removed at the end of each business day.	16 square feet; five feet high
Inflatable objects	RS, CN, CG, CI, PM, IG, IH	One per parcel Permitted only two times per calendar year at three-day intervals Shall not be roof-mounted and shall be securely fastened to a permanent structure and/or proper ground staking Shall maintain a minimum six-foot setback from any property line Shall not be placed in or on any public right-of-way Shall not impede pedestrian or vehicular visibility or traffic Separate permit required	20 feet high
Residential	RL, RM, MH, MF, RU, RS	One per parcel; plus One off-site sign per turning movement, allowed only during daylight hours and for a maximum of three days per week, each placed on private property with the express permission of the property owner, beginning at residence of origin and continuing to the nearer of (i) the entrance of a master-planned community or subdivision, (ii) a road with arterial or higher classification, or (iii) one and a half miles Illumination is prohibited May not be placed within public rights-of-way or attached to trees, fences, utility poles, light posts, street signs, or other public facilities No sign permit is required	Six square feet; six feet high

D. Electronic message center standards

1. Messages shall not change more frequently than every eight seconds.

2. Fading and dissolving, for the purpose of transitioning from one message to the next, is permitted.

3. Flashing, traveling, and animation are prohibited.

4. All electronic message centers shall be equipped with automatic dimming technology which automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on ambient light conditions.

5. Electronic message center displays shall not exceed a brightness level of 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light conditions. Ambient light conditions and display brightness levels shall be measured as follows:

a. At least 30 minutes after sunset, ambient light conditions shall be measured 100 feet from the sign using a foot candle meter aimed directly at the electronic information message board (while the sign is off or displaying all black copy).

b. A second measurement (using the same methods described above) shall be taken after turning the sign on to a full white display.

c. If the difference between the two measurements is 0.3 foot-candles or less, the brightness is properly adjusted.

d. Upon installation of any electronic message center, the permittee shall provide the Town with a certificate from a lighting engineer or other professionally qualified entity stating the unit does not exceed a brightness level of 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light conditions.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-040. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 648, 01/26/2006; amended by Ordinance No. 686, 05/24/2007; amended by Ordinance No. 767, 02/23/2012; amended by Ordinance No. 771, 11/08/2012; amended by Ordinance No. 816, 05/26/2016; amended by Ordinance No. 874, 03/26/2020)

13-09-050 Billboard regulations

A. It is unlawful to construct, erect, alter, relocate, or use any billboard in violation of this section.

B. If any provision of this section conflicts with any other section of the Prescott Valley Town Code, the provisions of this section shall prevail.

C. The Code Official shall issue a citation and file an action involving all violations of this section with a court having jurisdiction to impose all penalties sought by the action.

D. Any billboard constructed in conformance with all applicable ordinances and codes existing at the time of its construction but not now in conformance with the provisions of this section shall be designated a “nonconforming billboard” and may be continued in use, except under any of the following conditions:

1. When the billboard creates a traffic hazard due to any of the following:

a. The position, shape, color, copy, format, or illumination of the billboard obstructs the view of or causes confusion with an official traffic sign, signal, or device, or with any other official sign.

b. When the billboard obstructs the view of motor vehicle operators entering a public roadway from any parking area, service drive, alley, or from another thoroughfare.

c. When the billboard in any other way causes an unsafe obstruction for motor vehicle operators.

2. When the billboard is damaged and the costs to reconstruct or repair it exceed 50% of its current market value.

3. When the billboard is structurally altered, re-erected, or replaced.

4. When nonconforming outdoor light fixtures on the billboard are required to be brought into compliance with subsection 13-12-020 A.

E. Plans and specifications:

1. Face area.

a. The face area of a billboard shall not exceed 200 square feet in any single direction.

b. Back-to-back or V-shaped signs with an interior angle of 45 degrees or less may have a maximum area of 200 square feet on each face.

2. Width. A billboard shall not exceed 20 feet in width.

3. Clearance. The clearance between the ground and the bottom of the billboard shall be at least ten feet.

4. Illumination.

a. Billboard illumination shall comply with section 13-12-040 (lighting standards), and

(1) Shall not be intermittent, flashing, scintillating, animated, or of varying intensity;

(2) No red, green, or yellow illumination shall be used if located in the same line of vision as a traffic control signal;

(3) The source of illumination shall be so oriented or shielded so that it is not visible from any residential use or any public thoroughfare; and

(4) On any lot adjacent to a residential zoning district or separated from a residential zoning district by only a street or alley, the face of any illuminated sign structure must be located behind the greater of either the existing or the required setbacks of adjacent residential lots.

5. Materials. Materials used in the construction of billboards shall conform to the requirements of the Building Code of the Town of Prescott Valley.

6. Design.

a. All billboards shall be designed in accordance with the Building Code of the Town of Prescott Valley.

b. The engineered plans for all billboards must accompany the application for a building permit and are subject to approval by the Building Department prior to the issuance of a building permit.

c. No billboard or billboard sign structure shall emit sound.

F. Locations. Billboards may be located in the PM (Performance Manufacturing) zone, subject to the provisions of this section.

1. A billboard shall not be located within 400 feet of any other billboard on the same street.

2. A billboard shall not be located closer than 600 feet from the right-of-way line of any freeway, except that, at an interchange of a freeway and an arterial street where the arterial street and the freeway cross at a 90-degree angle, a billboard shall not be located closer than 600 feet from the center line of the freeway.

3. A billboard shall be set back a minimum of 55 feet from the center line of an arterial street.

4. If the sign structure of a proposed billboard is within 100 feet of any existing building, no part of the sign structure shall be closer to the right-of-way line than the front line of the building. If the sign structure is located between two buildings that are within 100 feet, no part of the sign structure shall be closer to any street line than an imaginary line drawn from the nearest front corners of the two buildings.

5. A billboard must maintain a side yard setback from any residential zoning district or residential use equal to that of the residential zoning district or half of the sign structure height, whichever is greater.

6. No billboard shall be erected in any block in which the front third of any lots or parcels of land used for residential purposes comprise 50% or more of the block frontage. A corner lot shall be considered to be in that block on which it fronts.

7. Notwithstanding any other requirement in this Article, no billboard shall be located within the Special Gateways/Highway Corridors of the Town as defined in this Chapter.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-140. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 8, 06/28/1979; amended by Ordinance No. 33, 08/28/1980; renumbered and amended by Ordinance No. 178, 05/26/1988; renumbered and amended by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 276, 06/11/1992; amended by Ordinance No. 375, 12/28/1995; amended by Ordinance No. 403, 10/24/1996; amended by Ordinance No. 521, 05/09/2002; amended by Ordinance No. 539, 02/27/2003; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 689, 06/21/2007)

13-09-060 Comprehensive sign package

A. General. A comprehensive sign package is intended for coordinated developments over 25 acres. For purposes of this section, a coordinated development is a shopping center, PD (planned area development), or integrated development project (IDP) comprising properties in a defined geographical area developed under a common or joint ownership and thereafter having shared parking or access and being managed and operated under mutual restrictive covenants.

B. Application. The application packet for a comprehensive sign package may be obtained from the Development Services Department, shall be evaluated based upon the criteria in this section, and will be approved by a separate resolution of the Council or in conjunction with approval of a preliminary development plan as part of a rezoning approval process under section 13-14-060 (rezoning procedure).

C. Placement. All signs shall be placed where they are sufficiently visible and readable for their function, considering factors including but not limited to the following:

1. The purpose of the sign

2. The sign’s location relative to traffic movement and access points

3. Site features

4. Structures

5. Sign orientation relative to viewing distances and viewing angles

6. In commercial centers where tenants have little or no street visibility, identification wall signs may be placed on the walls of the tenants building.

D. Quantity. The number of signs that may be approved within any development shall not be greater than that required to provide project identification and entry signs, internal circulation and directional information to destinations and development subareas, and business identification. Factors to be considered shall include the size of the development, the number of development subareas, and the integration of sign functions.

E. Size. All signs shall be no larger than necessary for visibility and readability. Factors to be considered in determining appropriate size shall include topography, volume of traffic, speed of traffic, visibility range, proximity to adjacent uses, amount of sign copy, placement of display (location and height), lettering style, and the presence of distractive influences.

F. Specific justification must be made if a request is submitted for a freestanding or wall sign to exceed any maximum standard prescribed under this Article. Under no circumstances may an integrated development project exceed any maximum height or area standard prescribed under this Article by more than 100%.

G. Evaluation criteria. In reviewing a comprehensive sign package, staff shall consider the following:

1. The views of or from adjacent properties must not be impaired

2. The signs do not interfere with public utilities, government uses, transportation, landscaping, or other relevant factors

3. The width of the street, the traffic volume, and the traffic speed warrant the proposed signage

4. The signs do not pose a hazard to public safety.

H. Alterations. Minor alterations in sign locations resulting from unexpected conditions on site may be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-150. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 771, 11/08/2012; amended by Ordinance No. 894, 01/13/2022)

13-09-070 Exceptions

The provisions of this Article, except subsections 13-09-030 A. 4, 13-09-080 B, and 13-09-130 D, shall not apply to:

A. Tablets, grave markers, headstones, statuary or remembrances of persons, buildings, events, dates of erection, and other non-commercial historic or cultural markers.

B. Temporary decorations or displays celebrating patriotic, religious, or local holidays or events.

C. Erection, construction, and maintenance of official traffic, fire, and police signs, signals, devices, and markings of the State of Arizona, the Town of Prescott Valley, or other authorized public agencies, or the posting of notices as required by law, provided they do not constitute a traffic or safety hazard.

D. Banners installed in accordance with the town banner program that meet the following requirements:

1. Banners must be approved by the Town Manager or his or her designee.

2. Banners shall be attached to Town-owned infrastructure, including light poles, but in no event shall be attached to utility poles used to distribute and transmit electricity.

a. Only Town staff or a Town-approved contractor may install the banners.

b. Prior to installation, the Town Engineer must determine that the proposed infrastructure will securely hold and display the banner without compromising the structure integrity of the pole or device in extreme weather conditions.

3. Banners showing evidence of deterioration, such as rips, tears, color fading, frayed edges, or otherwise showing need of general maintenance shall be removed or replaced promptly.

E. Murals that do not expressly or implicitly advertise or promote a product or service.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-050. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 9, 06/28/1979; amended by Ordinance No. 27, 04/24/1980; reenacted and amended by Ordinance No. 37, 09/04/80; renumbered by Ordinance No. 37, 09/04/1980; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 178, 05/26/1988; renumbered and amended by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 276, 06/11/1992; amended by Ordinance No. 279, 06/25/1992; amended by Ordinance No. 521, 05/09/2002; amended by Ordinance No. 529, 07/25/2002; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 816, 05/26/2016; amended by Ordinance No. 874, 03/26/2020)

13-09-080 Prohibited signs

It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, display, or maintain a sign falling within any of the following descriptions:

A. Animated signs (except banners and flags as otherwise provided in this Article, and clocks, barber poles, public service information signs, time or temperature signs, and electronic message centers which otherwise comply with section 13-12-040 (lighting standards).

B. Signs that are obscene, hazardous to traffic, imitative of official government signs (i.e., “stop,” “danger,” “caution,” etc.), or obstructive to visibility in a way that creates a hazard to the public.

C. Any sign emitting sound or emitting any substance.

D. Posters, pennants, streamers, balloons, or other inflated objects, except as provided for in subsection 13-09-040 C. The tacking, painting, pasting or otherwise affixing of signs or posters of a miscellaneous character, visible from a public right-of-way, on the walls of buildings, trees, fences, utility poles, or other structures, or upon vehicles used primarily as a sign support.

E. Portable signs except the following:

1. Business identification signs painted on or permanently affixed to an operable vehicle designed and intended to be operated on highways on a regular basis and not intended to be parked on the business premises to provide advertising in addition to, or in place of, signage allowed by this Article.

2. Those permitted in subsection 13-09-040 C.

F. Signs mounted on or against a vehicle when used for the purpose of providing stationary, permanent, or semi-permanent advertising or identification on or near the premise referred to by such signs.

G. Off-site signs, including billboards, except as permitted in sections 13-09-040 and 13-09-050.

H. Any sign on a building or structure which extends above the roof line of the building or structure.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-060. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 276, 06/11/1992; amended by Ordinance No. 521, 05/09/2002; amended by Ordinance No. 529, 07/25/2002; amended by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 648, 01/26/2006; amended by Ordinance No. 589, 06/21/2007; amended by Ordinance No. 816, 05/26/2016); amended by Ordinance No. 874, 03/26/2020)

13-09-090 Design specifications

A. General compliance with International Building Code. All signs shall comply with the appropriate detailed provisions of the International Building Code relating to design, structural members, and connections.

B. Electric signs. All electric signs shall conform in design and construction to the appropriate sections of the current National Electric Code and other requirements as may be deemed necessary by the Building Official.

C. Materials. Construction materials for signs and sign structures shall conform to the quality and grade specified in the International Building Code.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-070. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 9, 06/28/1979; reenacted and amended by Ordinance No. 37, 09/04/80; amended by Ordinance No. 63, 11/12/1981; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 178, 05/26/1988; renumbered and amended by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 375, 12/28/1995; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 590, 03/25/2004)

13-09-100 Maintenance of signs

A. Maintenance and repair.

1. All signs shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and good condition, including the replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for the maintenance of the sign.

2. All cracked, broken, or missing sign faces and non-functioning interior lamps shall be repaired or replaced within 45 working days after notification of repair or maintenance from the Code Official.

B. Obsolete or abandoned signs.

1. A sign is abandoned if it:

a. Is located on property that is vacant and unoccupied for six months or more; or

b. Was erected for an occupant or business unrelated to the occupant or business now located on the property; or

c. Pertains to a time or event that occurred in the past.

2. The owner, agent, or person with beneficial use of the property or structure where the sign is erected shall remove the abandoned sign within six months after notification of removal from the Code Official.

3. Permanent signs applicable to a business suspended because of a change of business ownership or management shall not be deemed abandoned unless the property remains vacant for a period of six months or more.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-080. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003)

13-09-110 Nonconforming signs

A. Except for required maintenance and repair, a legal nonconforming sign may not be altered in any manner not in conformance with this Article.

B. A nonconforming sign shall be brought into conformance with these regulations when one of the following occurs:

1. The use of a building or premises where the sign is located changes to another use allowed in the respective zoning district.

2. The building or premises where the sign is located is modified or destroyed to the extent of 50% or more of the assessed value of the building or premises.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-090. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003)

13-09-120 Permits required

A. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, it shall be unlawful for any person to display, install, alter, relocate, or replace any sign without first obtaining a permit for the work.

B. Sign permits are not required for name plate signs, temporary signs (except for inflatable objects pursuant to subsection 13-09-040 C), flags (except that separate zoning and/or building permits are required to install flagpoles), copy changes on reader panels, or for minor repairs or repainting of any permitted sign.

C. Permit application.

1. A written permit application on a form furnished by the Planning and Zoning Department shall be signed and submitted by the owner, tenant, lessee, authorized agent, or licensed contractor of the property for which the sign is proposed.

2. The permit application shall include:

a. A site plan indicating the location of the sign in relation to right-of-way, easements, buildings, and driveways.

b. Drawings indicating the dimensions of the sign, sign copy, and materials; the method of construction; and the manner of attachment to the building or premises.

c. The address of the proposed sign location, the owner of the sign, the owner of the property, the person or firm erecting the sign, and an estimate of the cost of the work.

3. The building inspector shall place an insignia of approval on a sign when it has passed final inspection.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-100. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 375, 12/28/1995; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 816, 05/26/2016; amended by Ordinance No. 874, 03/26/2020; amended by Ordinance No. 2023-929, 11/09/2023)

13-09-130 Enforcement and penalties

A. The Code Official is responsible for assisting the Zoning Administrator in the enforcement of this Article.

B. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Code Official may remove and impound any unauthorized sign from any public right-of-way, and may dispose of the sign after 30 days if not claimed by the owner.

C. The installation, erection, or display of any sign in violation of this Article is unlawful.

D. Dangerous or defective signs are illegal and shall be removed or repaired promptly by the sign owner or property owner, if known, and if not known shall be removed by the Code Official, except as otherwise provided in this Article.

E. Any person, entity or corporation which fails to maintain a sign, or builds, erects, paints, replaces, repairs, alters, or otherwise places a sign in violation of the requirements of this Article is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.

F. The sign owner and any person or entity who assists a sign owner in altering or erecting a sign in violation of this Article shall be equally responsible and culpable for the violation.

G. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, each day that a sign is illegally erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, or maintained shall not be considered a separate offense unless the violation constitutes an immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public, as determined by the Zoning Administrator or the Code Official.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-110. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 9, 06/28/1979; renumbered by Ordinance No. 37, 09/04/1980; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 178, 05/26/1988; renumbered and amended by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003; amended by Ordinance No. 648, 01/26/2006; amended by Ordinance No. 816, 05/26/2016)

13-09-140 Liability

A. This Article shall not relieve or limit the responsibility or liability of any person or entity which owns or erects any sign for personal injury or property damage caused by the sign.

B. This Article shall not be construed to impose responsibility or liability upon the Town of Prescott Valley or its officers, employees, or contractors by reason of the approval of any sign under the provisions of this Article.

(Rewritten and re-codified by Ordinance No 2024-947, 12/11/2024. Previously codified at section 13-23-120. Prior history: Enacted by Ordinance No. 220, 12/14/1989; amended by Ordinance No. 375, 12/28/1995; amended by Ordinance No. 539, 02/27/2003; replaced and reenacted by Ordinance No. 542, 04/10/2003)