Attachment A - Ceremonial Sign Procedure

Page 1 of 6 
 
CEREMONIAL SIGN PROCEDURE 
 
 
PURPOSE 
To provide the procedure for the request, installation and maintenance of Ceremonial 
Signs in the City of Phoenix. This procedure does not pertain to the official renaming of 
streets, which is managed by the Planning and Development Department. 
 
CEREMONIAL SIGNS 
Ceremonial Signs supplement existing street name signs to recognize and honor people 
of historical or national significance, sports teams or figures, historical or cultural events, 
or people and groups of local significance. These include signs that celebrate: 
 
 people (e.g., Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bishop Henry Lee Barnwell) or 
 
 places (e.g., AZ State Fairgrounds Way). 
 
HONOREE CRITERIA 
Only requests honoring an individual, non-profit organization, significant event, or City of 
Phoenix landmark are eligible for consideration. Individual or organizational honorees 
must have made significant and clearly defined contributions to the country, state or City 
of Phoenix through cultural, humanitarian, historic, or military achievement. Prospective 
honorees should have: 
 
 a minimum of 10 years of community involvement by demonstrating 
extraordinary and consistent voluntary commitment and dedication to the 
community; or 
 
 made significant and clearly defined contributions to the country, state or City of 
Phoenix through cultural, humanitarian, historic, or military achievement, and 
have lived in, or otherwise are identified with, the community in a substantial way.  
 
TYPES OF CEREMONIAL SIGNS 
Ceremonial Signs may be in the form of larger “street name” signs such as those found 
at major street intersections that are mounted to traffic signal poles or smaller flag-
mounted “sign toppers” found at local street intersections that are mounted to existing 
signposts. 
 
Ceremonial “Street Name” Signs: 
These signs commemorate nationally or locally known figures who have made a 
significant cultural or community impact. These signs can also honor Phoenix 
landmarks.

Page 2 of 6 
 
 
Ceremonial “Street Name” Signs are 24 inches by 90 inches in size and have a 
blue background with white lettering so as not to confuse drivers with the official 
City street names (see Image 1). 
 
These signs are generally installed at major intersections and are mounted to 
traffic signal poles below the City’s standard illuminated street name sign without 
changing the official name of the street or the official addresses of residences 
and businesses on the street.  
 
No more than two Ceremonial “Street Name” Signs will be allowed at an 
intersection, either in the north and south direction or the east and west direction. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceremonial Sign Toppers:  
These signs are smaller flag-mounted sign toppers (hanging perpendicularly off 
of an existing signpost) that honor a local resident or organization that has made 
significant contributions to their local community. 
 
These signs also have a blue background with white lettering and are 8 inches by 
30 inches in size (see Image 2). 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
90” 
30” 
8” 
24” 
Image 2:  Ceremonial Sign Topper 
Image 1:  Ceremonial “Street Name” Sign

Page 3 of 6 
 
APPLICATION 
The Street Transportation Department does not initiate Ceremonial Sign requests. 
Interested groups or individuals are required to initiate the request through their Council 
District following this process: 
 
 Requestor must contact their respective Council District office with the request.  
 
 If the Council District approves the request, the requestor will be directed to 
contact the Street Transportation Department to move forward. 
 
 Requestor will then be sent the appropriate application.  
 
 The Requestor must submit the completed application to include the stated 
significance and benefit to the surrounding community. The request should also 
identify the proposed location(s) and type of ceremonial sign requested. 
Completed applications must be submitted to: 
 
City of Phoenix – Street Transportation Department 
c/o Ceremonial Sign Program 
200 West Washington Street, 6th Floor 
Phoenix, Arizona 85003-1611 
or 
michael.pinder@phoenix.gov 
 
 Requestor (Applicant) must agree to fund all related costs, including fabrication, 
installation, maintenance, and replacement of damaged, worn or missing signs 
(as necessary). 
 
Staff will conduct a careful review of Ceremonial Sign applications to ensure that any 
proposed Ceremonial Signs will not discredit or bring embarrassment to the City of 
Phoenix.   
 
All Ceremonial Signs require City Council approval. Street Transportation 
Department staff will notify the Requestor when the request is scheduled for City 
Council action. 
 
SIGN DESIGN 
All Ceremonial Signs will have a blue background with white letters.  
 
Internally illuminated signs will not be allowed since these may detract from the official 
street name signs at an intersection.

Page 4 of 6 
 
Once the application is received and approved by the Street Transportation 
Department, staff will prepare the request for approval by City Council.  The approval 
process may also include review and considerations by Council subcommittee(s).   
 
Upon City Council approval, staff will work with the Requestor to process payment and 
finalize the wording on the sign and installation location(s). The City of Phoenix will 
determine the final placement of signs at the requested location(s). 
 
FABRICATION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE 
The Street Transportation Department will fabricate and install the Ceremonial Signs. 
Please note that staff may need to alter the location due to existing infrastructure, but 
any alterations will be discussed with the Requestor prior to fabrication or installation. 
 
The Requestor must sign a letter of agreement with the terms and conditions for the 
Ceremonial Sign(s). These conditions include funding the full cost of the fabrication, 
installation, maintenance, and replacement of Ceremonial Signs. If the Ceremonial Sign 
request is canceled before fabrication, all payments will be returned. If the  
Ceremonial Sign has already been fabricated, only the field labor costs will be returned. 
There are no application fees. The Requestor will only pay the actual material and labor 
costs to install the signs. 
 
Ceremonial Signs may be removed by the City at the end of the sign’s useful life 
(approximately 10-12 years) or when they have been damaged by vandalism or storm 
events. At that time, the Requestor will be notified. If the Requestor wishes to pay for 
the replacement, a new sign will be fabricated and installed.  
 
The Requestor should provide the City a minimum 120-day notice to account for City 
Council approval, execution of the final agreement, and final fabrication and installation 
of Ceremonial Signs. 
 
CONTACT 
Street Transportation Department at (602) 495-7179 for questions regarding the design, 
size, or placement of signs.

Page 5 of 6 
 
Ceremonial Sign Application 
 
 
 
Date:   
 
 
 
 
Requestor / Applicant Name:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Address:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Phone No.:   
 
 
   Email:  
 
 
 
 
 
_____ 
 
Name of Honoree (as it would appear on sign):  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Requested Sign Location (intersection):  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Type of Sign Requested: 
 
☐ Ceremonial “Street Name” Sign  
 
☐ Ceremonial Sign Topper  
 
CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION:   Please complete the following criteria, which are 
used in the evaluation for each request for a Ceremonial Sign. You may use additional 
paper if required. Check all that apply. 
 
☐ Historical and/or Cultural Influence of the Honoree:  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_____ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_____________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
___________________________________________

Page 6 of 6 
 
☐ Community or Public Contributions Made by the Honoree: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
___________________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
___________________________________________ 
 
 
☐ Humanitarian Contributions Made by the Honoree: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_____________________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
______________________________________________________________________ 
 
☐ Military Service (please include any Medals or Awards given to Honoree): 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_____ 
 
 
________________________________________________________________ 
 
Notes:   
1. All requests should include complete text and sample layout.   
2. Once design is finalized, a mockup will be sent to the requestor for their review 
and approval.