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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
wayfinding signs; cities and towns
Purpose
Allows cities
and towns to place wayfinding signs in specified preapproved locations without
first submitting an application for preapproval to the Arizona Department of
Transportation (ADOT). Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund (state
GF) in
FY 2027 to ADOT for grants to rural communities for full wayfinding signs.
Background
Certain outdoor
advertising may be placed or maintained along an interstate, secondary or
primary system within 660 feet of the edge of the right-of-way, including but
not limited to:
1) directional or other official signs or notices that are required or
authorized by law, including signal signs for natural wonders, scenic
attractions and historic attractions; 2) signs, displays and devices that are
located on the premises of the activity that the sign advertises; and 3) signs,
displays and devices lawfully placed in business areas as prescribed.
Directional and other official signs must comply with the rules adopted by the
Director of ADOT relating to the lighting, size, number and spacing of the
signs and that are consistent with national standards adopted by the U.S.
Secretary of Transportation (A.R.S. §§ 28-7902
and 28-7904).
Community wayfinding guide signs (wayfinding signs) are part of a continuous system of signs that direct tourists and other road users to civic, cultural, visitor and recreational attractions within a city, local urbanized or downtown area. Wayfinding signs are a type of destination guide sign for conventional roads with a common color and identification marker for destinations within an overall wayfinding sign plan for an area (ADOT MUTCD § 2D.55).
Wayfinding signs may be considered for installation on conventional roads if the local agency ensures that the wayfinding signs conform to specified requirements. To implement a wayfinding sign program involving state highways, a public agency must submit a Wayfinding Sign System Plan (Plan) to the appropriate ADOT district through the encroachment permit process for approval. The Plan must include information on the agency's existing wayfinding sign program, a detailed map defining the locations where signs are proposed to be installed and graphical representations of the sign formats to be used (ADOT TGP § 338).
S.B. 1818 appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOT.
Provisions
1. Allows a city or town to place wayfinding signs for preapproved locations within the city's or town's jurisdiction without submitting an application for preapproval to ADOT.
2. Requires a city or town to submit the finished wayfinding sign placement location and design to ADOT.
3. Specifies that preapproved locations for wayfinding signs include:
a) downtown areas;
b) business districts;
c) schools;
d) parks;
e) arboretums;
f) trails;
g) community centers;
h) municipal buildings;
i) airports; and
j) bus or rail depots.
4. Appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOT for grants to rural communities for full wayfinding signs.
5. Requires ADOT to award grants to rural communities for full wayfinding signs in conjunction with new ADOT projects located in rural communities.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Adds an appropriation of $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOT for grants to rural communities for full wayfinding signs and outlines requirements relating to awarding such grants.
Senate Action
ATT 2/17/26 DPA 7-2-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 18, 2026
LMM/KS/ci