# Sign Regulations in Alton, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Alton, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/alton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Alton/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH40SI)

## At a glance

Alton, Texas regulates 27 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Pole Sign (Institutional Use)s in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 60 sq ft, with a 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.1). Most commercial signs in Alton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | See zone-specific requirements (generally 10-50 ft) | See zone-specific requirements (generally 40-200 sq ft) | — |
| Residential District | 7 | 20 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (C-2) | 14 | 30 ft | 64 sq ft of wall or fence | — |
| General Business District (C-1, C-3, C-4), Industrial District (I-1, I-2) | 17 | No more than tallest allowed permanent sign (max 50 ft) | No more than largest allowed permanent sign (max 500 sq ft wall sign, 200 sq ft ground sign, etc.) | — |
| Arterial Corridor | 2 | 50 ft | 672 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Pole Sign (Institutional Use) | 20 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 2 per site (institutional use) | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.1 |
| Wall Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | — | 40 sq ft per entrance | — | Attached/painted to fence or wall | 2 per entrance | Attached or painted to fence or wall at entrance | — | Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.2 |
| Banner Sign (Institutional Site) | — | — | — | — | 1 per institutional site | — | — | Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.4 |
| Construction Sign | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.5 |
| Political Sign | 10 ft | 60 sq ft | — | At property line | No limit, 25-ft spacing | At property line | — | Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.6 |
| Real Estate Sign | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Inside property line | 1 per site | Inside property line | — | Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.7, 40-9(b)(9) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft (2 ft x 2 ft) | 2 ft | — | — | Home exterior | — | Sec. 40-11(a)(1)a.8 |

### Neighborhood Commercial District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign | 10 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Part of max 2 permanent signs/site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(1)a |
| Changeable Copy Sign | 20 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Part of max 2 permanent signs/site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(1)c |
| Directory Sign | 20 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Part of max 2 permanent signs/site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(1)d |
| Ground/Tenant Sign | 30 ft | 40 sq ft per tenant | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(1)e |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 ft | 40 sq ft per side | — | Attached to fence/wall at entrance | — | Entrance of subdivision, attached to fence/wall | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(1)f |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(2)b, 40-9(d) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | No more than tallest allowed permanent sign (max 30 ft) | No more than largest allowed permanent sign (max 64 sq ft) | — | At property line | No limit, 25-ft spacing | At property line | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(2)c |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(b)(2)e, 40-9(b)(9) |

### General Business District (C-1, C-3, C-4), Industrial District (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Part of max 2 permanent signs/site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(1)a |
| Changeable Copy Sign | 30 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Part of max 2 permanent signs/site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(1)c |
| Directory Sign | 20 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Part of max 2 permanent signs/site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(1)d |
| Ground/Tenant Sign | 40 ft | 200 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(1)e |
| Roof Sign | 4 ft | 4 ft height x 16 ft length | 16 ft | — | 1 per site | On roof | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(1)g |
| Construction Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per project | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(2)b, 40-9(d) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | No more than tallest allowed permanent sign (max 50 ft) | No more than largest allowed permanent sign (max 500 sq ft wall sign, 200 sq ft ground sign, etc.) | — | At property line | No limit, 25-ft spacing | At property line | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(2)d, 40-9(d) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per site | 5 ft minimum setback from property line | — | Sec. 40-11(c)(2)e, 40-9(b)(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Alton

- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any sign which is not included under the types of signs permitted in district regulations.
- Signs which resemble an official traffic sign or signal or which bear the words 'stop,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning' or similar words, and which were not placed by proper governmental authority, are prohibited.
- Signs which by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed to be a traffic control sign, signal, or device, and which were not placed by proper governmental authority, are prohibited.
- Signs placed on trees, rocks, or other natural features (snipe signs) are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs that are not being used during a grand opening are prohibited.
- Signs attached to a moving vehicle whose primary function is to advertise off-premises and on-premises businesses are prohibited, except for political signs during elections.
- Signs which emit sound, smoke, or steam are prohibited.
- Signs erected or placed within the public right-of-way are prohibited and shall be removed.
- Signs that are obsolete, damaged to an extent of more than 50 percent of its fair market value, do not meet the prevailing building code, out-of-date political signs and billboards, signs advertising defunct businesses, and signs which require a sign permit but were erected without such a permit are prohibited.
- Signs that are not legible or in good repair, such as with broken faces, faded or missing letters, etc., are prohibited.
- Signs that are not securely fixed as per the prevailing building code are prohibited.
- Signs that prevent or obstruct free ingress or egress from any doors, windows, or fire escapes or that are attached to a standpipe or fire escape are prohibited.
- Feathered flag signs or temporary banner signs with pole supports are prohibited when not in conjunction with a grand opening.
- No sign of any type shall be placed within the public right-of-way of the city without the approval of the city commission.
- It is unlawful to leave or place upon trees, fences, street signs, or on/in any public right-of-way or city property, or against any telephone or electric light pole within the city any sign advertisement of any character or description.
- Signs shall not create a nuisance to the occupancy or use of other properties as a result of their size, height, brightness, content or movement.
- Signs must be in harmony with the building, the neighborhood, or other signs in the area, except when such other signs do not meet the objectives of the chapter.
- No sign shall be allowed within the corner of a lot with two street frontages unless it is placed outside of the required sight triangle area.
- No sign or part of any sign in the residential districts shall move, flash, rotate or change its illumination unless on an institutional site (except for temporary holiday decorations).
- No portable signs shall be permitted in any residential zoning district.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited in residential districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Alton

- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, or names of occupants of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
- Public signs of a public or noncommercial nature, including community service information signs, public transit service signs, public utility information signs, safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, and all signs erected by a public officer in the performance of a public duty.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
- Signs which are fully located within the interior of any building or stadium, or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building, and signs in the entrance or lobby of a theatre intended solely for information relating to interior operation.
- Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, statues and other remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in nature.
- Home occupation signs as allowed by the zoning ordinance.
- Temporary political signs, unless on a trailer.
- Temporary real estate signs having 40 square feet or less of face area.
- Window signs measuring no more than ten percent of the window face they are on or displayed through.
- Construction signs.
- Signs placed on the sides of motor vehicles, unless the vehicle is used as a stationary sign support.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter (except that if at a lot where a fee is charged, it is not exempt).
- Yard sale signs run concurrently with officially authorized yard sales and immediately removed thereafter, but not attached to utility poles, meter posts, trees in street right-of-way, nor on private property without owner's consent.
- Gasoline price signs attached to a permanent fixture or structure not exceeding a total area of 12 square feet.
- Signs not exceeding three square feet in area attached to gas pumps or gas pump canopies, informational or directional without advertising matter.
- Street banner signs hanging over a public right-of-way for a limited time subject to approval of the city commission.
- Any other temporary sign that the planning director may determine would be unreasonable to require a permit for.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site plan showing the proposed location of the sign along with the locations and square footage areas of all existing signs on the same premises or drawings of buildings showing the area where the sign shall be installed is required as part of the sign permit application.
- For multi-frontage developments seeking an additional tenant sign, the sign is subject to planning and zoning site plan approval.
- Any wall sign over 500 square feet but at ten percent of the wall face requires the planning and zoning commission's site plan approval.
- If the building official deems insufficient information is supplied on a permit application, they may refer it back to the applicant.
- Requests for variances and exceptions, including additional signs or increased dimensions, require a public hearing and approval by the city commission through the appeals process.

## 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 5 zoning districts in Alton — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Alton+TX&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-alton

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