Sign Ordinances and the Visual Triangle

Peoria Sign Code Visual Triangle

Since the passage of new sign ordinances in both Surprise and Peoria, I have received several calls and emails regarding the term “Visual Triangle”.

You may read my post What’s the Visual Triangle? but in nutshell here is what you need to know:

Illustration of Peoria Az Visual Triangle from Sign Ordinance

The Visual Triangle is the area on either side of a street corner dedicated to being free of signs and other obstructions so that a driver and pedestrian line of sight is clear. This is considered a public safety issues and cities will issue citations to sign owners who place signs within the Visual Triangle.

Each city will define the angle and distance of the Visual Triangle and include it in their ordinance.

Peoria defines their Visual Triangle on page 18 of their new sign ordinance.

Surprise defines its Visual Triangle on page 52 of their Engineering Development Standards.

If you are unsure of the Visual Triangle definition in a particular city, you may contact the city Code Enforcement Department or their Economic Development Department.