# Sign Regulations in Abilene, Texas

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Abilene, Texas, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Abilene, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/abilene
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/tx/abilene/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIIAPANDECO_CH4SIDERE_ART2DEST_DIV8SIRE)

## At a glance

Abilene, Texas regulates 14 sign types across 16 zoning districts. Instructional/Private Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 8 sq. ft., with a None required setback (Sec. Table 2-11.). Most commercial signs in Abilene require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (16 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Open Space District (AO), Rural Residential District (RR, RR-1, RR-5), Residential Single-Family District-12 (RS-12), Residential Single-Family District-8 (RS-8), Residential Single-Family District-6 (RS-6), Residential Single-Family Patio Home District (PH), Residential Townhome District (TH), Residential Medium Density District (MD), Residential Multiple-Family-2 District (MF), Manufactured/Mobile Home District (MH) | 1 | — | 2 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Multiple-Family-2 District (MF), Residential Medium Density District (MD) | 1 | 8 feet | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Neighborhood Office District (NO), Office District (O), Neighborhood Retail District (NR) | 1 | 8 feet | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| General Retail District (GR), General Commercial District (GC) | 1 | 10 feet | — | — |
| Central Business District (CB), Mixed Use District (MX) | 2 | 6 feet | 50 sq. ft. (or 10% of wall area, whichever is less) | — |
| Medical Use District (MU) | 1 | 8-10 feet | Same as NR/GR/GC - follow Table 2-10 for underlying zoning (typically 50 sq. ft. or as per frontage) | — |
| Heavy Commercial District (HC), Light Industrial District (LI), Heavy Industrial District (HI) | 1 | 10 feet | — | — |
| College & University District (CU) | 1 | 8 feet | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Corridor Overlay District (COR) | 3 | 40 ft (if lot ≥ 20,000 sq. ft.); 20 ft (if < 20,000 sq. ft.) | 450 sq. ft. | — |
| Pine Street Corridor Overlay District (PINE-COR) | 1 | 8 feet | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Ambler Avenue Corridor Overlay Zone (AMB-COR) | 1 | 8 feet | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Rebuild Abilene Infill Overlay District (RAI) | 1 | — | 2 sq. ft. | — |
| Historic Overlay District (HO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned Development District (PD) | 1 | — | As specified in the approved PD plan. | — |
| Airport Zoning | 1 | Subject to maximum height limits per Airport Zoning imaginary surfaces | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 4 feet | 8 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 16 zones)

### Central Business District (CB), Mixed Use District (MX)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (CB, MX - Option 1) | — | 50 sq. ft. (or 10% of wall area, whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per structure | On building wall | — | Sec. 2.3.3.8(i)(1)a (MX); applicable to CB as per district design control intent. |
| Freestanding Sign (CB, MX - Option 2) | 6 feet | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per structure | Ground or pole sign | — | Sec. 2.3.3.8(i)(1)b (MX); applies also to CB (district intent) for unified development. |

### Corridor Overlay District (COR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (COR) | — | 20% of wall area | — | — | 1 per business | On building wall | — | Sec. 2.3.4.1(e)(3)b |
| Group Sign (COR - Option 2) | 40 ft (if lot ≥ 20,000 sq. ft.); 20 ft (if < 20,000 sq. ft.) | 450 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per site | Grouped sign per site | — | Sec. 2.3.4.1(e)(3)c |
| Freestanding Sign (COR - General) | — | 300 sq. ft. (corner lot); otherwise as per group sign limits | — | — | — | Per site. See overlay rules. | — | Sec. 2.3.4.1(e)(3)d |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Instructional/Private Sign | 4 feet | 8 sq. ft. | — | None required | As needed | No setback required. | — | Table 2-11. |
| Accessory Building/Dwelling Unit Sign (Residential) | — | Varies by district, but not for commercial signage. Accessory structures must not have commercial signs unless home occupation allowed. See Table 2-13 for accessory building/dwelling maximum square footage. | — | — | — | Accessory structures, residential districts. | — | Sec. 2.4.4.1 & Table 2-13. |

## Prohibited signs in Abilene

- No land, building, structure, or appurtenances shall be occupied, used, constructed, erected, removed, placed, demolished, or converted except in conformance with the zoning regulations prescribed for the zoning district in which it is located.
- No use(s) shall be allowed that is prohibited by State or Federal law or that operates in excess of State or Federal environmental, pollution, or performance standards as determined by any State or Federal agency.
- No building shall hereafter be erected or altered to have more narrow or smaller yards than required; to exceed maximum height; to occupy greater lot area than allowed; or to accommodate more families than specified by code for the district.
- No lot upon which a building has been erected shall be later so reduced in area that the setbacks, yards and/or open spaces shall be smaller than required by code, nor shall a yard/open space required for one building be used for another.
- No part of a yard, open space, or off-street parking required for one building or use shall be included as required for another building or use unless officially applied for and approved.
- All required yards and open spaces to comply with regulations must be on the same lot as the structure/use, unless specifically exempted.
- No building, sign, or demolition permit shall be issued if a property or district is being considered for Historic Overlay District designation until a final decision has been made.
- No use may be made of land within any airport zone so as to create electrical interference with navigational signals or radio communication; make it difficult for flyers to distinguish between airport lights and others; result in glare; impair visibility; create bird strike hazards; or otherwise endanger aircraft.
- No structure, natural growth, or other obstruction may penetrate the slope or height limits set in airport and air force base imaginary surfaces, unless a variance is granted.
- No new portable or wheeled signs or ground anchored banners are permitted within an overlay district (e.g., Corridor or Pine Street Overlay).
- No new off-site signs are permitted in the overlay district (except as specifically noted, e.g., off-site group signs or digital conversion of billboards).
- Signs with flashing or blinking lights are prohibited within specified overlay districts.
- No new mobile and/or manufactured home parks or zones shall be established within any Airport/Noise Zone.
- No flags, pennants, banners, or similar materials may be attached to a wind energy system.
- All nonconforming uses and structures may not be enlarged, expanded or extended, and may not be used as a basis for adding other structures or uses prohibited elsewhere in the same district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Abilene

- Ordinary repair or maintenance of a building, structure, or site within a Historic Overlay District where no building permit is required is exempt from Certificate of Appropriateness requirements.
- Agricultural use is exempt from Airport Zoning regulations, meaning existing agricultural activities (including cultivation, land management, livestock management, hunting, water use, or livestock ponds) are not regulated by Airport Zoning, although expansion/construction of new accessory agricultural structures is subject to regulations to the extent allowed by state law.
- Existing legally established land uses and structures as of the effective date of Airport Zoning regulations are exempt from further regulation under those sections.
- Rooftop mounted telecommunications towers and antennas on nonresidential buildings (over 50 ft. in height, and adding no more than 35 ft. to height, and no advertising) do not require CUP.
- Freestanding antennas in nonresidential zoning districts that do not exceed the district height requirements and meet all other requirements do not require a CUP.
- Accessory buildings of 400 square feet or less in size are exempt from Site Plan requirement (if Site Plan is required in the zoning district).
- Accessory buildings of 200 square feet or less in size do not require a building permit, but must meet all other requirements.
- Routine maintenance of a nonconforming/not recommended structure does not invoke requirements for airport noise level reduction measures.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Site Plan is required for all development, except single-family and two-family, in most zoning districts including COR (Corridor Overlay), Pine Street Corridor, Ambler Avenue Corridor, NO, O, NR, GR, MU, CB, MX, GC, HC, LI, HI, CU, MD, MF, MH Districts.
- Site Plan is also required for any change of use from residential to commercial within the Corridor Overlay District.
- Site Plan submittals in Corridor or Overlay Districts must include the location, size, height, materials, motion, illumination, and content of each sign.
- A Site Plan for a Head Shop, Liquor Store, or Adult Entertainment Enterprise must be submitted that sets out dimensions and locations, for conformance with distance and separation regulations (with applicant certification).
- A Certificate of Appropriateness application for signage in an Historic Overlay District must include a scale drawing showing type of lettering, all dimensions and colors, description of materials, method of illumination (if any), and a plan showing the sign's location.
- Master or unified sign design is required/noted in MX (Mixed Use) and some overlay districts—signs within one development must conform to a unified design with similar and complementary materials and colors.
- Sign plans/designs may be addressed as part of PD (Planned Development) Concept Plans, where signage standards may vary from base districts.
- For wind energy systems, site plans and building permit applications must include all required technical drawings and specifications (including location, height, and screening).

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 16 zoning districts in Abilene — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Abilene+TX&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-abilene

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/abilene