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Gilbert, AZ Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Minimum lot size
15 net acres
Max number
1 per 400 ft. of freeway frontage
Max sign area
500 sq. ft.
Setback from freeway ROW
150 ft.
Max height
60 ft. above grade
Separation between signs
400 ft. apart, same property

Summary

Gilbert's Land Development Code allows a dedicated Freeway Sign only on parcels of at least 15 net acres in Commercial, HVC/GVC/GBC, Office, Employment, Public Facility/Institutional or Mixed-Use districts abutting a freeway. One sign is allowed per 400 feet of freeway frontage, capped at 500 square feet and 60 feet in height.

Freeway Sign. A freestanding sign intended to advertise or identify uses to motorists on a freeway. [Table 5.6.11.C.5, Freeway Sign] Acreage Restriction: 15 ac. Maximum Number: 1 for each 400 ft. of freeway frontage. Maximum Number: 500 sf. Location: Abutting a Freeway. Location: Within 100 ft. of freeway ROW. Maximum Height: 60 ft. above grade or 30 ft. above the grade of the nearest lane of a main freeway travel surface, whichever is greater. The Sign Face shall make an interior angle of more than 30 degrees to the freeway. Setback: 150 ft. from freeway ROW, and a property line adj. to property designated for retail or residential use in the GP. Separation: 400 ft. apart from any other freeway sign on the same property.

Full Breakdown

0, Terms). "). Property owners are limited to one freeway sign for each 400 feet of freeway frontage, with a maximum sign face of 500 square feet, counting only one side of the structure. The sign must be located abutting a freeway and within 100 feet of the freeway right-of-way, but it must also be set back 150 feet from that right-of-way and from any property line adjacent to land designated for retail or residential use in the General Plan. Height is capped at 60 feet above grade or 30 feet above the grade of the nearest lane of a main freeway travel surface, whichever is greater, and the sign face must make an interior angle of more than 30 degrees to the freeway.

3 foot candles above ambient light at the property line. A malfunctioning display must be repaired or disconnected within 48 hours. Freeway signs on the same property must be separated by at least 400 feet, though the allowable area may increase 20% for center identification.

Violations & Fines

Under LDC § 5.6.14 (Sign Violations), it is illegal to construct, install, attach, place, paint, alter, relocate or otherwise maintain any sign in Town, including a freeway sign, without first obtaining a sign permit. A Code Compliance Officer issues a ten-calendar-day written notice to correct a violation; an unsafe sign gets a two-day notice, and if not corrected within 48 hours the Building Official may have it removed or repaired at the sign owner's expense. Non-compliant signs are declared nuisances and may be abated, and the Town can sue in Municipal or Superior Court to recover removal costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where in Gilbert can a business put up a freeway sign?
Only on a parcel of 15 or more net acres in a Commercial, HVC/GVC/GBC, Office, Employment, Public Facility/Institutional or Mixed-Use district that abuts a freeway, with the sign located within 100 feet of the freeway right-of-way per LDC Table 5.6.11.C.5.
How tall can a Gilbert freeway sign be?
Up to 60 feet above grade, or 30 feet above the grade of the nearest lane of the main freeway travel surface, whichever is greater, per the Freeway Sign standards in LDC § 5.6.11.
Can a freeway sign in Gilbert have an electronic display?
Yes. Half of the sign area may be an Electronic Changing Message Display in full color, but it can change no more than once every eight seconds using an instant-change method, with automatic photocell dimming capped at 0.3 foot candles above ambient light.
What happens if a freeway sign goes up without a permit in Gilbert?
It's illegal under LDC § 5.6.14. The Code Compliance Manager issues a ten-day written notice (two days if unsafe), and can order removal or repair at the owner's expense; the Town may sue to recover its costs.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Gilbert

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