Sign Permit in Unincorporated Santa Cruz County, Arizona

When you need this permit

• Zoning and Development Code Sec. 1702: it is unlawful to erect, structurally repair, relocate, or alter the size of any sign without first obtaining a Building Permit from the Building Inspector; all illuminated signs are additionally subject to all provisions of the Electrical Code
• Sec. 1703 requires, in addition to the ordinary building-permit information: the position of the sign in relation to nearby buildings or structures; two blueprints of plans and specifications including method of construction and attachment to the building or ground; structural calculations proving the sign is designed for wind pressures per the Code; the name of the person, firm, or corporation erecting the structure; written consent of the owner of the building, structure, or premises; and approval of all proposed wiring and connections of illuminated signs in compliance with the Electrical Code
• County Sign Application package (revised 10/09/2025) requires: the completed application form including the Certification and Acknowledgement pages, signed by the property owner (or a letter of authorization from the owner for an agent); a County Assessor's Office Property Profile; a site plan showing the location of any free standing sign (property boundaries, proposed and existing structures, setbacks from property lines, on paper no smaller than 11" x 17"); wall elevations to scale showing sign mount location and dimensions; a graphic of the sign showing dimensions and square footage of each sign; a Flood Hazard Information Sheet; two copies of the sign plans in color; and the contractor's ROC number Contractor
• Application asks for number of wall signs, number of free standing signs, square footage of each sign (up to five listed plus a total), and type of illumination
• General and electrical contractor names, phone numbers and ROC numbers must be listed on the application Contractor
• No permit is required for the repainting of, or minor repair to, the sign surface only (Sec. 1702)
• Sec. 1707 permit exemptions include: signs not exceeding 1 sq ft bearing only property/post box numbers, occupant names or other identification; professional name plates not exceeding 2 sq ft; on-site traffic/parking direction signs bearing no advertising, up to 3 sq ft; traffic and other county/emergency/governmental signs and legal notices; memorial signs, building names and dates of erection cut into masonry or made of bronze or other non-combustible material, up to 8 sq ft; real estate signs up to 4 sq ft in residential districts and up to 12 sq ft in commercial and industrial districts; up to three off-premises 'open house' direction signs up to 6 sq ft each, not in the public right-of-way and with the written approval of the property owner, for no longer than two years after issuance of the building permits for the project advertised; one temporary non-illuminated major-project construction sign up to 36 sq ft, removed prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy; temporary political signs up to 36 sq ft within the statutory campaign window; one non-illuminated home-occupation name plate up to 3 sq ft; and temporary grand-opening signs up to 36 sq ft for a maximum of 14 calendar days
• Sec. 1704: if the work authorized by a sign building permit has not been completed within six (6) months, the permit becomes null and void
• Sec. 1715: a change in the type of business requires ALL signs on the site to be brought into conformance with the Code, and a Building Permit for any new sign will not be issued until all non-conforming signs owned by the business are brought into compliance
• Commercial and other non-single-family projects reviewed through the Technical Advisory Committee must include a Sign Plan (including illumination) per Article 17 in the TAC Development Plan submittal