Unable to create a Web App + Database on App Service

Question

Unable to create a Web App + Database on App Service

Joseph Mills 0

When trying to create a Web App + Database on App Service, all the associated resources are created except the App Service Plan which fails with the following error:

Status: BadGateway
Error code: Forbidden
Message: The subscription '**** ****' is not allowed to create or update the serverfarm.

I've tried the following:

Creating the web app in different regions (eg. Canada Central, Australia, UK South etc)
Trying the deployment on a browser in incognito mode

I'm the owner of the subscription plan and so I don't understand why I'm forbidden. How do I successfully deploy the web app please?

Laxman Reddy Revuri 5,475 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-25T22:17:40.0166667+00:00

Hi @Joseph Mills
Check your subscription limits and quotas.
Go to Azure Subscription Usage + Quotas
Check if the App Service Plan quota is available for your subscription in the region you're deploying to.
check for any Policies in place that restrict creating certain resources in specific regions or with specific configurations.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits#app-service-limits
Joseph Mills 0 Reputation points

2025-04-26T16:54:15.7166667+00:00

Hello Laxman,

I don't see an App Service Plan quota at all.

These are the options on my Quota page. Does this mean my subscription cannot create App Service plans? And most importantly, how do I correct that? I need to host my web app to be used tomorrow, so I need this resolved ASAP
Anonymous

2025-04-29T07:01:01.0633333+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,

Thanks for sharing subscription detail , as you mentioned its non profit grant

Error message -"The subscription 'Non-profit grant' is not allowed to create or update the serverfarm" is due to restrictions associated with Azure's Non-profit grant subscriptions. These subscriptions are provided with a $3,500 annual Azure credit but come with limitations that prevent the creation or modification of certain resources, including App Service Plans (also known as serverfarms).

you need to avail Azure credit grant of $3500 per year for non-profits and create a pay-as-you-go subscription to get started. This conversion removes the spending cap, allowing you to utilize your $3,500 annual credit fully. However, it's important to note that once the credit is exhausted, any additional usage will be billed at standard Pay-As-You-Go rates.

I would request you to follow the steps mentioned here azure-subscription-for-nonprofits and let me know you are able to upgrade it as pay-as-you-go subscription for moving further.

If you have any further assistant, do let me know.
Joseph Mills 0 Reputation points

2025-04-29T10:09:53.05+00:00

Hello Siva,

Yes my subscription is a non-profit grant. I've already activated it and it's in use. It's actually $2000 not $3,500, unless there are different grants. Seems the article should be updated.

I'm not sure about creating a pay-as-you-go subscription. The link you shared provides another link to create the pay-as-you-go subscription but when I sign in, it says I'm not eligible (screenshot below)

I can confirm that my subscription is active and that I have placed a valid payment method on my billing profile for this subscription. Doesn't that make the subscription pa-as-you-go? so that when the sponsorship credits finish, it pays from my payment method? What next?
Laxman Reddy Revuri 5,475 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-29T18:12:57.8033333+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,
In case the Non-Profit grant is not shown in your Azure account, check whether you are logged to the correct account associated with the grant or sponsorship. Certain portals meant to monitor or activate benefits can only be accessed by account owners. In case you get a message “This account does not have an active Sponsorship,” make sure you are trying to access the account linked with the Azure sponsorship account. If you are still unable to see the balance, it might be because of a lack of sync.

In preparing to activate these credits, here are some actions you may take:

1.Contact the grant provider and explain the situation to them. They may be able to transfer the grant to your account or provide you with a new grant.

2.If the issuer of the grant is stuck, you can attempt to search for the grant in the Azure portal. Head over to the page labeled as “Cost Management + Billing” and click on the “Subscriptions” button. Search for the subscription related to the grant and confirm whether the credits are present there.

3.Should the credits be accessible, you may attempt to activate them by performing the following actions:

Navigate to the “Cost Management + Billing” section and click on the “Subscriptions” tab.

Locate the subscription that corresponds with the grant.

Press the “Add” button and choose “Add credit”.

Specify the quantity of credits you aim to activate and press the "Add" button.
Laxman Reddy Revuri 5,475 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-29T23:03:02.88+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,
We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. In case if you have any resolution please do share that same with the community as it can be helpful to others. Otherwise, will respond with more details and we will try to help.
Anonymous

2025-04-30T16:04:50.8133333+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills, We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. In case if you have any resolution please do share that same with the community as it can be helpful to others. Otherwise, will respond with more details and we will try to help.
Gaurav Kumar 785 Reputation points Moderator

2025-05-01T06:28:48.55+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,

Let me know if the above comments helped. If not, I’m happy to help further just comment back!

Your answer

Laxman Reddy Revuri 5,475 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-25T22:17:40.0166667+00:00

Hi @Joseph Mills
Check your subscription limits and quotas.
Go to Azure Subscription Usage + Quotas
Check if the App Service Plan quota is available for your subscription in the region you're deploying to.
check for any Policies in place that restrict creating certain resources in specific regions or with specific configurations.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/azure-subscription-service-limits#app-service-limits
Joseph Mills 0 Reputation points

2025-04-26T16:54:15.7166667+00:00

Hello Laxman,

I don't see an App Service Plan quota at all.

These are the options on my Quota page. Does this mean my subscription cannot create App Service plans? And most importantly, how do I correct that? I need to host my web app to be used tomorrow, so I need this resolved ASAP
Anonymous

2025-04-29T07:01:01.0633333+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,

Thanks for sharing subscription detail , as you mentioned its non profit grant

Error message -"The subscription 'Non-profit grant' is not allowed to create or update the serverfarm" is due to restrictions associated with Azure's Non-profit grant subscriptions. These subscriptions are provided with a $3,500 annual Azure credit but come with limitations that prevent the creation or modification of certain resources, including App Service Plans (also known as serverfarms).

you need to avail Azure credit grant of $3500 per year for non-profits and create a pay-as-you-go subscription to get started. This conversion removes the spending cap, allowing you to utilize your $3,500 annual credit fully. However, it's important to note that once the credit is exhausted, any additional usage will be billed at standard Pay-As-You-Go rates.

I would request you to follow the steps mentioned here azure-subscription-for-nonprofits and let me know you are able to upgrade it as pay-as-you-go subscription for moving further.

If you have any further assistant, do let me know.
Joseph Mills 0 Reputation points

2025-04-29T10:09:53.05+00:00

Hello Siva,

Yes my subscription is a non-profit grant. I've already activated it and it's in use. It's actually $2000 not $3,500, unless there are different grants. Seems the article should be updated.

I'm not sure about creating a pay-as-you-go subscription. The link you shared provides another link to create the pay-as-you-go subscription but when I sign in, it says I'm not eligible (screenshot below)

I can confirm that my subscription is active and that I have placed a valid payment method on my billing profile for this subscription. Doesn't that make the subscription pa-as-you-go? so that when the sponsorship credits finish, it pays from my payment method? What next?
Laxman Reddy Revuri 5,475 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-29T18:12:57.8033333+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,
In case the Non-Profit grant is not shown in your Azure account, check whether you are logged to the correct account associated with the grant or sponsorship. Certain portals meant to monitor or activate benefits can only be accessed by account owners. In case you get a message “This account does not have an active Sponsorship,” make sure you are trying to access the account linked with the Azure sponsorship account. If you are still unable to see the balance, it might be because of a lack of sync.

In preparing to activate these credits, here are some actions you may take:

1.Contact the grant provider and explain the situation to them. They may be able to transfer the grant to your account or provide you with a new grant.

2.If the issuer of the grant is stuck, you can attempt to search for the grant in the Azure portal. Head over to the page labeled as “Cost Management + Billing” and click on the “Subscriptions” button. Search for the subscription related to the grant and confirm whether the credits are present there.

3.Should the credits be accessible, you may attempt to activate them by performing the following actions:

Navigate to the “Cost Management + Billing” section and click on the “Subscriptions” tab.

Locate the subscription that corresponds with the grant.

Press the “Add” button and choose “Add credit”.

Specify the quantity of credits you aim to activate and press the "Add" button.
Laxman Reddy Revuri 5,475 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-29T23:03:02.88+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,
We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. In case if you have any resolution please do share that same with the community as it can be helpful to others. Otherwise, will respond with more details and we will try to help.
Anonymous

2025-04-30T16:04:50.8133333+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills, We haven’t heard from you on the last response and was just checking back to see if you have a resolution yet. In case if you have any resolution please do share that same with the community as it can be helpful to others. Otherwise, will respond with more details and we will try to help.
Gaurav Kumar 785 Reputation points Moderator

2025-05-01T06:28:48.55+00:00

Hi Joseph Mills,

Let me know if the above comments helped. If not, I’m happy to help further just comment back!

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Unable to create a Web App + Database on App Service

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