1# Azure Quota CLI Commands Reference
2 
3Comprehensive reference for Azure CLI quota commands.
4 
5## Prerequisites
6 
7**Install quota extension** (required):
8```bash
9az extension add --name quota
10```
11 
12> **⚠️ CRITICAL: ALWAYS USE CLI FIRST**
13>
14> Azure CLI is the **ONLY reliable method** for quota checks. **Use `az quota` commands FIRST, always.**
15>
16> **DO NOT use REST API or Azure Portal as your first approach.** They are unreliable.
17>
18> **Required workflow:**
19> 1. **FIRST:** Try `az quota list` / `az quota show` / `az quota usage show`
20> 2. **If CLI returns `BadRequest`:** Resource provider doesn't support quota API → use [Azure service limits docs](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits)
21> 3. **Never start with REST API or Portal** - only use as fallback
22>
23> **Why REST API/Portal are unreliable:**
24> - REST API returns "No Limit" or "Unlimited" values that are **MISLEADING**
25> - "No Limit" **DOES NOT mean unlimited capacity** - usually means resource doesn't support quota API
26> - Service-specific limits still apply even when REST API shows "No Limit"
27> - Portal may show incomplete or cached quota data
28> - REST API lacks proper error handling for unsupported providers
29>
30> **If you see "No Limit" in REST API/Portal:**
31> - ❌ This is NOT unlimited capacity
32> - ✅ It means quota API doesn't support that resource type
33> - ✅ Check [Azure service limits docs](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits) for actual limits
34> - ✅ Regional capacity constraints may still exist
35 
36## Resource Name Mapping
37 
38**⚠️ CRITICAL:** No 1:1 mapping exists between ARM resource types and quota names. Always discover via `az quota list`.
39 
40**Discovery workflow**:
411. List all quotas: `az quota list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/{Provider}/locations/{region}`
422. Match `properties.name.localizedValue` to your resource type
433. Use exact `name` value in subsequent commands
44 
45**Example mappings**:
46 
47| ARM Type | Quota Name |
48|----------|-----------|
49| `Microsoft.App/managedEnvironments` | `ManagedEnvironmentCount` |
50| `Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines` | `standardDSv3Family`, `cores`, `virtualMachines` |
51| `Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses` | `PublicIPAddresses`, `IPv4StandardSkuPublicIpAddresses` |
52 
53## Command Summary
54 
55| Command | Description |
56|---------|-------------|
57| [az quota list](#az-quota-list) | List all quota limits for a scope |
58| [az quota show](#az-quota-show) | Show quota limit for specific resource |
59| [az quota usage list](#az-quota-usage-list) | List current usage for all resources |
60| [az quota usage show](#az-quota-usage-show) | Show current usage for specific resource |
61| [az quota update](#az-quota-update) | Request quota increase |
62| [az quota create](#az-quota-create) | Create quota limit (advanced) |
63 
64See [advanced-commands.md](advanced-commands.md) for request status and operation commands.
65 
66---
67 
68## az quota list
69 
70List all quota limits for a scope. **Use this first to discover quota resource names.**
71 
72**Syntax**:
73```bash
74az quota list --scope SCOPE [--max-items N] [--next-token TOKEN]
75```
76 
77**Required**:
78- `--scope` - Azure resource URI: `/subscriptions/{id}/providers/{Provider}/locations/{region}`
79 
80**Examples**:
81```bash
82# List compute quotas
83az quota list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus
84 
85# List network quotas
86az quota list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Network/locations/eastus
87 
88# Table format
89az quota list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus --output table
90```
91 
92**Key output fields**:
93- `name` - Quota resource name (use in other commands)
94- `properties.name.localizedValue` - Human-readable description
95- `properties.limit.value` - Quota limit
96 
97---
98 
99## az quota show
100 
101Show quota limit for a specific resource.
102 
103**Syntax**:
104```bash
105az quota show --resource-name NAME --scope SCOPE
106```
107 
108**Required**:
109- `--resource-name` - Quota resource name (from `az quota list`)
110- `--scope` - Azure resource URI
111 
112**Example**:
113```bash
114# Get DSv3 family vCPU limit
115az quota show \
116  --resource-name standardDSv3Family \
117  --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus
118```
119 
120**Key output fields**:
121- `properties.limit.value` - Quota limit
122- `properties.name.localizedValue` - Human-readable description
123- `properties.quotaPeriod` - Reset period (e.g., P1M = 1 month)
124 
125---
126 
127## az quota update
128 
129Request quota increase for a resource.
130 
131**Syntax**:
132```bash
133az quota update --resource-name NAME --scope SCOPE --limit-object value=N [--resource-type TYPE] [--no-wait]
134```
135 
136**Required**:
137- `--resource-name` - Quota resource name
138- `--scope` - Azure resource URI  
139- `--limit-object` - New limit value (format: `value=N`)
140 
141**Optional**:
142- `--resource-type` - Resource type (e.g., dedicated, lowPriority)
143- `--no-wait` - Don't wait for completion (true/false)
144 
145**Examples**:
146```bash
147# Increase FSv2 family vCPUs to 100
148az quota update \
149  --resource-name standardFSv2Family \
150  --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus \
151  --limit-object value=100 \
152  --resource-type dedicated
153 
154# Non-blocking request
155az quota update \
156  --resource-name standardFSv2Family \
157  --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus \
158  --limit-object value=100 \
159  --no-wait true
160```
161 
162---
163 
164## az quota usage list
165 
166List current usage for all resources in a scope.
167 
168**Syntax**:
169```bash
170az quota usage list --scope SCOPE [--max-items N] [--next-token TOKEN]
171```
172 
173**Required**:
174- `--scope` - Azure resource URI
175 
176**Examples**:
177```bash
178# List compute usage
179az quota usage list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus
180 
181# Table format
182az quota usage list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus --output table
183```
184 
185**Key output**:
186- `properties.usages.value` - Current usage count
187- Use with `az quota show` to calculate available capacity
188 
189---
190 
191## az quota usage show
192 
193Show current usage for a specific resource.
194 
195**Syntax**:
196```bash
197az quota usage show --resource-name NAME --scope SCOPE
198```
199 
200**Required**:
201- `--resource-name` - Quota resource name
202- `--scope` - Azure resource URI
203 
204**Example**:
205```bash
206az quota usage show \
207  --resource-name standardDSv3Family \
208  --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Compute/locations/eastus
209```
210 
211**Calculate available capacity**:
2121. Get limit: `az quota show --resource-name {name} --scope {scope}` → limit value
2132. Get usage: `az quota usage show --resource-name {name} --scope {scope}` → current usage
2143. Available = Limit - Usage
215 
216**Example calculation**:
217- Limit (from `az quota show`): 350 vCPUs
218- Usage (from `az quota usage show`): 12 vCPUs
219- **Available**: 338 vCPUs
220 
221---
222 
223## az quota create
224 
225Create quota limit for a resource. **Rarely used** - typically use `az quota update` instead.
226 
227**Syntax**:
228```bash
229az quota create --resource-name NAME --scope SCOPE --limit-object value=N [--resource-type TYPE]
230```
231 
232**Required**:
233- `--resource-name` - Quota resource name
234- `--scope` - Azure resource URI
235- `--limit-object` - Quota limit value
236 
237**Examples**:
238```bash
239# Create network quota
240az quota create \
241  --resource-name MinPublicIpInterNetworkPrefixLength \
242  --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.Network/locations/eastus \
243  --limit-object value=10 \
244  --resource-type MinPublicIpInterNetworkPrefixLength
245 
246# Create ML quota
247az quota create \
248  --resource-name TotalLowPriorityCores \
249  --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.MachineLearningServices/locations/eastus \
250  --limit-object value=10 \
251  --resource-type lowPriority
252```
253 
254---
255 
256## Troubleshooting
257 
258### Unsupported Resource Types
259 
260Not all Azure resource providers support the quota API. If you receive a `BadRequest` error when running `az quota list`, the provider likely doesn't support quota commands.
261 
262**Example - Microsoft.DocumentDB (Cosmos DB)**:
263```bash
264az quota list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/Microsoft.DocumentDB/locations/eastus
265# Error: (BadRequest) Bad request
266```
267 
268**Workarounds**:
269- Check [Azure subscription limits documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits)
270- Use Azure Portal for quota management
271- Check service-specific documentation
272 
273**Testing provider support**:
274```bash
275# Try listing quotas
276az quota list --scope /subscriptions/{id}/providers/{Provider}/locations/{region}
277 
278# BadRequest error → not supported
279# List of quotas → supported
280```
281 
282### REST API "No Limit" Warning
283 
284> **⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING: REST API "No Limit" is MISLEADING**
285>
286> If you see "No Limit", "Unlimited", or similar values in REST API or Azure Portal responses:
287>
288> **This DOES NOT mean unlimited capacity!**
289>
290> It most likely means:
291> - The resource provider doesn't support the quota API
292> - Quota information isn't available through this API
293> - The quota is managed at a different scope
294>
295> **DO NOT assume unlimited capacity. Always:**
296> 1. Use `az quota` CLI commands first (preferred method)
297> 2. If CLI returns `BadRequest`, check [Azure service limits documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits)
298> 3. Consult service-specific documentation for actual limits
299> 4. Consider regional capacity constraints even without quota enforcement
300 
301### Common Error Codes
302 
303| Error | Cause | Solution |
304|-------|-------|----------|
305| `BadRequest` | Provider not supported by quota API | Use CLI (preferred) or check [Azure service limits docs](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits) |
306| `ExtensionNotFound` | Quota extension not installed | Run `az extension add --name quota` |
307| `MissingRegistration` | Microsoft.Quota provider not registered | Run `az provider register --namespace Microsoft.Quota` |
308| `InvalidScope` | Incorrect scope format | Verify: `/subscriptions/{id}/providers/{namespace}/locations/{region}` |
309| `QuotaNotAvailableForResource` | Resource not available in region | Try different region |
310| `RequestThrottled` | Too many API calls | Implement exponential backoff |
311 
312### Known Support Status
313 
314**Unsupported**:
315- ❌ Microsoft.DocumentDB (Cosmos DB)
316 
317**Supported**:
318- ✅ Microsoft.Compute (VMs, disks, cores)
319- ✅ Microsoft.Network (VNets, IPs, load balancers)
320- ✅ Microsoft.App (Container Apps)
321- ✅ Microsoft.Storage (storage accounts)
322- ✅ Microsoft.MachineLearningServices
323- ✅ Microsoft.ContainerService (AKS)
324