Cannot Get Labels behind Polygon

Question

Hello, I am hoping someone else has been able to figure this out. I have tried all suggestions by Esri like changing the weights and increasing the priority and also adjusting the drawing order, yet nothing seems to work.

In the attached picture, I have a polygon boundary that I have symbolized with some transparency to show the features beneath my boundary. I am having issues with the street layer as it overlaps the polygon drawing even though I have set the polygon with higher priority and I have also tried other ways to fix it and it still appears above the polygon boundary causing it to stand out ...please advice, thanks everyone who replies. 🙂

Screenshot 2026-01-22 Esri Question.png

NaicongLi_0-1743445204314.png

Jesse Wickizer · Answer

Here are a couple ideas:

1. Convert to Graphics or Annotation

* Use the Select By Location tool on the Map ribbon to select the streets that intersect the polygon.
* Then convert those labels to Graphics or Annotation and move the resulting graphics or annotation layers below the features in the Contents pane.
* Turn labeling back on for those converted layers.
* Set the interior feature weight of the polygon layer to 1000 to block labels from placing in the polygon area.

2. Put the overlay in the layout

If you're working with a layout, you could add a new "overlay" map frame on top of the main map frame that only has the polygon overlay layer on it. The overlay map frame should be the same projection, size, and position as the main map frame.

Select the overlay map frame and from the Element pane, configure the map frame constraints to sync the overlay map frame's extent with the main map so they always draw in the same extent.

Lock the overlay map frame in the Contents pane to make it easier to work with the main map in the layout.

AlfredBaldenweck · Answer

There's a relevant idea here: Provide ability for features to overlap labels wit... - Esri Community

DavidSolari · Answer

Agreed, I can't find a way to draw labels under other layer features. If an annotation class leads to maintenance issues, you can convert labels to graphics using the same Convert Labels section of the right-click menu, that stores the labels in the map file instead of a database. It's pretty fast to wipe out the old graphics layer, convert the labels again and reposition the new layer before publishing and you don't leave behind any junk in your default GDB.