PSA: Tucson Sign Code for Political Signs

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I have seen several political signs for Brian Miller, a Republican running for Congress in CD8, pop up around town in the past couple of weeks. Most of his signs appear to be posted on private property of business owners (permissible), but several I have seen are posted within the right-of-way along the curb and even into the street (not permissible).

So as a public service announcement to candidates who want to post political signs within the City of Tucson, here is the applicable City of Tucson Sign Code.

Sec. 3-63. Political Election Sign Rules

Political election signs, except for political headquarters signage, are required to satisfy the following restrictions:

(a) Maximum area: Political election signs cannot exceed six (6) square feet in single-family residential districts and cannot exceed fifty (50) square feet in all other districts.

(b) Maximum height: Political election signs cannot exceed ten(10) feet in height.

(c) Removal: Political election signs shall be removed not later than fifteen (15) days after the election to which they refer, except that winners of a primary election need not remove their signs until fifteen (15) days after the general election.

(d) Locations: Political election signs may be placed on private property only and cannot be placed without the permission of the property owner as provided in section 3-20. Political election signs cannot be placed in the public right-of-way or on public property. Political election signs cannot obstruct the view of motor vehicle operators or create a traffic hazard as provided in section 3-78.

Street

Area between the street curb and private property

What is the public right-of-way?

The public right-of-way is the land from the curb of a
street up to and typically beyond the other side of the
sidewalk up to a property line designator such as a wall,
fence or utility poles. It is also all the land on the medians
and boulevards between the roadways. A typical
example is illustrated above.

(e) Permits not required: Political election signs that comply with the requirements of this section do not require a sign permit and do not count against a property's otherwise allowable signage area, provided that the person or organization planning to erect political election signs first files with the building official the name, address and telephone number of a person who shall be responsible for the proper erection and removal of the signs.

(f) Maintenance: Political election signs must be maintained as provided in Article IX of the City Sign Code.

For Additional information and requirements see generally City Clerk's Office.

Penalties

Penalties for violating political election sign provisions are set forth in Tucson Code Ch. 3 and Ch. 16, § § 36, 48.

Minimum penalties begin at $100 plus cost of removal. Signs located in the public right-of-way or on public property are subject to immediate removal and penalties.

For Information or to File Complaints:

Sign Code Enforcement
Department of Neighborhood Resources
320 N. Commerce Park Loop
Sentinel Building, 2nd Floor
(520) 791-4605

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 27210
Tucson, AZ 85726-7210

Before anyone decides to go vigilante and take the law into their own hands, see A.R.S. Section 33-1808 – Flag display; political signs; caution signs; for sale signs; political petitions:

A. It is a class 2 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly remove, alter, deface or cover any political sign of any candidate for public office for the period commencing forty-five days prior to a primary election and ending seven days after the general election.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the removal, alteration, defacing or covering of a political sign by the candidate or the authorized agent of the candidate in support of whose election the sign was placed, or by the owner or authorized agent of the owner of private property on which such signs are placed with or without permission of the owner, or placed in violation of state law, or county, city or town ordinance or regulation.

Subsection B is now known as the "Huppenthal Exception." I couldn't resist.