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Commercial Sign Permit (Wall, Monument/Pylon, Awning, Temporary Banner) in El Mirage, Arizona

Required before erecting, constructing, or altering most permanent and several temporary sign types in the City of El Mirage, per Chapter 154 (Zoning Code) Subchapter on Signs, as administered by the Zoning Administrator/Planning & Zoning Division with the permit itself issued and fees collected by Building Safety. Some small/temporary signs (e.g., yard signs 6 sq ft or less, window decorations) are exempt from a permit. Freestanding/monument signs require a footing inspection and illuminated signs require an electrical inspection in addition to a final inspection.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A sign permit is required before the use, construction, reconstruction, or alteration of most sign structures; the Zoning Administrator or designee will not issue the permit until adequate information is submitted showing conformance with Chapter 154's sign regulations (El Mirage Zoning Code SS154.136(A)(2))
  • Application must be submitted on the official city form (SS154.136(A)(1)), via the ELM Online Permits portal, with all fees paid per the current City Council-adopted fee schedule before permit issuance (SS154.136(B)(1))
  • One attached (wall-mounted) sign per street frontage is permitted per business in non-residential zoning districts; total aggregate wall-mounted sign area for non-residential uses is capped per SS154.131's aggregate sign area formula (SS154.133(A))
  • Freestanding/monument signs: one per street frontage (or one per 200 ft of frontage, whichever is greater) for a single-use building/complex on one lot; max height 8 ft; max area 48 sq ft (sites under 5 acres) or 60 sq ft (sites 5+ acres); must sit outside 3 ft of the front property line and 6 ft of side/rear property lines; monument-type masonry (or equivalent architectural-grade) base required (SS154.133(G))
  • Temporary yard signs with a sign area of 6 sq ft or less do NOT require a sign permit, provided they comply with the yard-sign standards in SS154.134(G); window decorations/painting signs likewise never require a permit (SS154.134(F))
  • Banner signs: max 32 sq ft per development/business street frontage, securely affixed to a wall or fence, displayed a maximum of 9 days per occurrence up to 6 occurrences per calendar year (larger size or longer duration for temporary/non-profit organizations requires sign permit approval) (SS154.134(B))
  • Whenever a sign requires an electrical permit (illuminated signs), both the sign permit and the electrical permit must be issued/obtained simultaneously, or may be included under one combined sign permit (SS154.136(A)(6))
  • If a sign is erected, constructed, or displayed without first obtaining a required permit, a special investigation is required and an investigation fee equal to the permit fee is charged in ADDITION to the permit fee itself (SS154.136(A)(5))

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Sign — 0-32 sq ftCity of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety — SIGNS section (verified by visual render of the fee-schedule PDF)
$60 each
Sign — 33-48 sq ftCity of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety — SIGNS section
$90 each
Sign — over 48 sq ftCity of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety — SIGNS section
$150 each
Monument / Pylon SignCity of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety — SIGNS section; billed under the same valuation-based table used for other Building Safety permits rather than a flat sign fee
Based on Value (BOV)
Electrical Connection (sign)City of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety — SIGNS section
$50 each
Face Panel Change-Out OnlyCity of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety — SIGNS section
$25 each
Temporary Banner (30 days)City of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety — SIGNS section
$40 each
Permit Application Deposit (Commercial and Residential)City of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Building Safety section — same general deposit line item applied across Building Safety permit types in this file
$150, non-refundable, due at submittal
Comprehensive (Master) Sign Package — optional, multi-tenant developmentsCity of El Mirage FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule, Planning & Zoning (P&Z) section — a separate, optional review for a uniform/master sign plan covering a multi-tenant center; not required for a single standard sign permit
$1,000 per request

Review timeline

Plan reviewEl Mirage’s published plan-review target
10–15 business days

How long did your Commercial Sign Permit (Wall, Monument/Pylon, Awning, Temporary Banner) permit actually take in El Mirage?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing (freestanding/monument signs only)

    Before concrete pour, for freestanding or monument sign foundations

  2. 2

    Electrical (illuminated signs only)

    Wiring and connections verified before energizing an illuminated sign

  3. 3

    Final

    Completed sign verified against the approved sign permit and Chapter 154 standards

See the full El Mirage inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Small/temporary signage is often permit-exempt: yard signs 6 sq ft or less, and window decorations/painting, never require a sign permit under El Mirage Zoning Code SS154.134.
  • If a sign is put up before a required permit is obtained, El Mirage charges an investigation fee equal to the permit fee, ON TOP OF the permit fee itself — get the permit first.
  • Illuminated signs need both a sign permit and an electrical permit; El Mirage allows these to be combined into one sign permit rather than filed separately.
  • A Comprehensive (Master) Sign Package ($1,000 per request, Planning & Zoning) is a separate, optional process for shopping centers/multi-tenant developments wanting a uniform sign plan across all tenants — most single-business sign permits do not need this.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, for most permanent signs and several temporary sign types (e.g., larger banners, promotional signs). A handful of small/temporary signs are exempt, including yard signs of 6 sq ft or less and window decorations/painting, per El Mirage Zoning Code SS154.134.

Per the FY26-27 Adopted Fee Schedule: $60 for signs 0-32 sq ft, $90 for 33-48 sq ft, and $150 for signs over 48 sq ft, plus $50 for an electrical connection if illuminated, $25 for a face-panel change-out only, or $40 for a 30-day temporary banner. Monument/pylon signs are billed on a valuation basis instead of a flat fee.

El Mirage's published plan-review target for a commercial sign permit (wall, monument/pylon, awning, temporary banner) is 10–15 business days.

You'll need: Sign Permit Application (ELM Online Permits); Sign Plans / Drawings; Site Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

El Mirage requires 3 inspection(s) for a commercial sign permit (wall, monument/pylon, awning, temporary banner), in order: Footing (freestanding/monument signs only), Electrical (illuminated signs only), Final. Schedule each through City of El Mirage Development Services Department — Building Safety / Permit Center (623-972-8116).

Apply through City of El Mirage Development Services Department — Building Safety / Permit Center at 10000 N El Mirage Road, El Mirage, AZ 85335-3607. Phone: 623-972-8116, email: bgomez@elmirageaz.gov. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays). As of January 2, 2024, all plans must be submitted electronically through the ELM Online Permits portal (ci-elmirage-az.smartgovcommunity.com); the Development Services main line is 623-876-2977, TDD 623-933-3258, Fax 623-876-4605.. Official information: https://www.elmirageaz.gov/712/Permit-Center.

El Mirage, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (e.g., A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). The City of El Mirage runs its own Development Services / Building Safety Department and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes. Source: City of El Mirage Resolution R23-05-10 (adopted May 16, 2023) and City of El Mirage Permit Center page (elmirageaz.gov/712/Permit-Center).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10 (A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of El Mirage, Arizona, Adopting the Following 2018 International Codes...), passed and adopted May 16, 2023, effective July 1, 2023. Source: City of El Mirage Resolution R23-05-10 and 'Adopted Codes and Amendments' (PDF), City of El Mirage Building Safety Documents & Quick Links page.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Local IRC amendments include mandatory heating AND cooling (Section R303.10, capable of maintaining between 68-70°F and 90°F at 3 ft above floor / 2 ft from exterior walls), deletion of R313 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems in its entirety, and Section R301.2 Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria per Table R301.2(1). Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2018 International Residential Code.; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments (including Appendix B minimum fire flow amendment, deletion of Appendix M High-Rise retroactive sprinkler requirement, and addition of Appendix O Fire Emergency Access Signage Details), per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023; administered by the El Mirage/Surprise/Youngtown regional Fire Department (El Mirage Fire-Medical Department). Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2018 International Fire Code.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023 — regulates energy efficiency in design/construction; the code's Chapter 11 residential energy provisions are folded into the IRC (N1101 et seq.) as adopted. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Green Construction Code (IGCC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted by reference, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023 — violations may be prosecuted as a civil infraction (fine $50-$1,000 per violation) or a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 180 days imprisonment and/or a fine up to $2,500 per violation, up to $20,000 if the violator is an enterprise). Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, adopted by reference, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023, together with the Arizonans with Disabilities Act (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 9, Article 8) and the federal ADA. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments (e.g., an amendment to NEC Article E3908.8 Option Four — electrical metallic tubing wiring methods, requiring an additional equipment grounding conductor sized per Table E3908.12), per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023 (note: electrical code cycle is one edition behind the 2018 ICC set). Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2017 National Electrical Code.; Manufactured housing used as dwellings and private sewage disposal systems are governed directly by the Arizona Department of Housing's Manufactured Housing & Building Division regulations — IRC Appendix E (Manufactured Housing Used as Dwellings) and Appendix I (Private Sewage Disposal) are each deleted in their entirety by City of El Mirage local amendment and replaced with a cross-reference to the state agency's regulations. Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2018 International Residential Code, Appendices E and I.. Local amendments apply — see the El Mirage overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-23.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the El Mirage building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Commercial Sign Permit (Wall, Monument/Pylon, Awning, Temporary Banner) in other cities

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