Outdoor Advertising Sign Control

The State of Arizona has a Highway Beautification Program that requires oversight of outdoor advertising signs (billboards) placed along state highways and some other roads. This program is in addition to programs and ordinances of local governments to control and oversee placement of signs within their jurisdiction.

State law (ARS 28-7908) mandates the Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation to develop rules and regulations to administer a sign control program. Daily operations and coordination of the enforcement program were delegated in 1974 to Maintenance Permits Services, a part of the Intermodal Transportation Division. The State Outdoor Advertising Control Laws and Regulations (ARS 28-7901 through 28-7915 and R17-3-701 and R17-3-701.01) are consistent with laws and regulations promulgated by Congress and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (23 USC 131 and 23 CFR 750). The Federal Highway Administration provides oversight of the state program based upon the federal-state agreement.


The state laws primarily establish the authorized locations, prohibitions and standards for outdoor advertising signs placed and maintained along certain highways throughout Arizona.

The state regulations primarily provide definitions of terms and permit application processes.