Neighborhood Identification Signs

Neighborhood signs

What is a Neighborhood Sign

To help residents and visitors identify different communities within Tucson, the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT) allows Neighborhood Identification Signs to be posted at the neighborhood’s boundaries. With this program, a neighborhood’s name and logo can be displayed on aluminum panels below the official street name signs.

Neighborhood Identification Signs can be a variety of designs and colors, but must conform to sign design requirements detailed below. Neighborhoods may identify locations where Neighborhood Identification signs are to be installed, but locations must conform to Sign Installation Requirements, also detailed below.

Neighborhood Identification Signs can be installed only in neighborhoods officially recognized by the City of Tucson.

Procedures

  1. Neighborhood decides on the design of the sign that will identify the neighborhood
  2. Email tdotconcerns@tucsonaz.gov

Please note:
Our staff will follow up with you and reach out to get an attachment of the sign concept that completely illustrates the sign design and colors (or sign prototype)

If the proposed sign is to be in color, the sign design concept (or prototype) should be submitted in full color.

Sign Installation Requirements

Neighborhood identification signs are installed along the perimeter of the neighborhood boundary at significant entry points to the neighborhood.

Signs will NOT be installed at any interior locations, except at approved locations along a major arterial street that bisects the neighborhood or locations of significant neighborhood importance such as parks, schools and neighborhood community centers.

The City’s Traffic Engineering Division determines appropriate spacing and exact sign placement at each location proposed.

Signs that have been approved and fabricated by the neighborhood’s contractor will be delivered to the City of Tucson Traffic Engineering Division (201 N. Stone Avenue).

Traffic Engineering delivers the signs to the City of Tucson Sign Shop and provides direction to the Sign Shop for the installation of the Neighborhood Identification Signs.

The City of Tucson Sign Shop installs all Neighborhood Identification Signs and requires reimbursement by the neighborhood at a rate of $50 per sign location (two back-to-back signs).

Signs are single-sided and are generally installed in pairs, back-to-back, for viewing by two directions of traffic on the intersecting street.

Neighborhood Identification Signs are installed only in neighborhoods officially recognized by the City of Tucson.

Sign and Fabrication Requirements

The neighborhood is responsible for designing the Neighborhood Identification Signs and contracting with a firm to fabricate the signs according to TDOT requirements.

TDOT reviews the sign design prior to manufacturer to verify that the sign design and colors meet TDOT requirements.

  • Sign designs should fit onto a 24 inch by 12 inch aluminum panel
  • Lettering should be no smaller than 3 inches
  • Sign are required to be fabricated on 0.080 inch aluminum panels using ASTM Type IV High Intensity Prismatic sheeting
  • Signs should be single-sided
  • Signs cannot be printed with colors reserved for traffic control devices: red, black on white, and fluorescent yellow
  • UV-protective sheeting (which can extend the life of the colors three to five years) is highly recommended

Please Note
Neighborhoods are required to use only one sign design for all signs designating their neighborhood.

Traffic Engineering reserves the right to reject any sign design and/or color.

Design Review

Approval

Traffic Engineering will review the submitted design to make sure it meets the design requirements outlined above. Once the design has been approved, Traffic Engineering will contact the neighborhood with an approval letter.

Not Approved

If the sign design is not approved, a letter will be sent to the neighborhood detailing changes that are required.

The neighborhood may resubmit the request until approval is granted. When sign design approval is granted, TDOT will verify with the neighborhood the number of signs and sign locations before proceeding with installation.

Sign Fabrication Process

  1. Neighborhoods are required to contract with a qualified private sign contractor to fabricate the Neighborhood Identification Signs according to TDOT requirements.
  2. Neighborhood pays the contractor directly for the manufacture of the signs. (Signs may be expected to cost between $50 and $100, depending on the number of colors and sign design.)
  3. Signs are fabricated using 24 inch by 12 inch 0.080-inch aluminum sign panel blanks and ASTM Type IV High Intensity Prismatic Sheeting.
    Signs that do not meet these standards shall be rejected by TDOT.
  4. The neighborhood representative picks up the completed signs from their private sign contractor
  5. The neighborhood representative delivers the completed signs to Traffic Engineering at 201 N. Stone Avenue, 5th floor.

Next

Traffic Engineering inspects signs to ensure they conform with the approved Sign Design Concept, and deliver them to the City of Tucson Sign Shop, which will perform the installation.

ONLY the City of Tucson Sign Shop is authorized to install Neighborhood Identification Signs. The City Sign Shop shall invoice the neighborhood for the cost to install all signs.

The labor cost for sign installation is up to $50 for each sign location (two back-to-back signs.)

Sign Replacement and Storage

Neighborhood Identification Signs are the property of the neighborhood. The City of Tucson will not replace or maintain signs that have become damaged.

The City of Tucson reserves the right to remove any Neighborhood Identification Signs that have become unsightly, without replacing the signs.

When signs need replacing due to vandalism, loss, or normal wear, the neighborhood is responsible for procuring replacement signs and delivering them to the City for installation.

The neighborhood is also responsible for the storage of any extra signs being held in reserve for replacement.

Back to Neighborhood Traffic Management Program