# Sign Regulations in Baytown, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Baytown, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/baytown
- **Data last verified:** 2026-05-05
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://online.encodeplus.com/regs/baytown-tx-uldc/doc-viewer.aspx?secid=73&keywords=subdivision%27s%2Csubdivisions%2Csubdivisions%27%2Csubdivision#secid-65)

## At a glance

Baytown, Texas regulates 26 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Awning Sign (Permanent Attached)s in the Estate Residential (ER); Suburban Residential (SR) zoning district are capped at Subject to clearance standards; not a specific height tall and ≤ 50% of the face of any single awning; and ≤ 80 sq. ft. total awning sign area on any single building unit, with a May not extend into/over street ROW setback (Sec. Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Awning Sign); Sec. 3.64(B)(5); Sec. 3.62(A)(17)). Most commercial signs in Baytown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | ≤ 4 ft. | When part of a monument sign: EMC portion ≤ 25% of total sign area | — |
| Estate Residential (ER); Suburban Residential (SR) | 11 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | Per façade: ≤ 60 sq. ft. or ≤ 20% of façade area, whichever is less (total of all wall signs on that façade) | — |
| Mixed Residential (MR); Urban Residential (UR) | 12 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | Per façade: ≤ 60 sq. ft. or ≤ 20% of façade area (total of all wall signs on that façade) | — |
| Alternative Residential (AR) | 11 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 80 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MUN); Downtown Arts (DTA); San Jacinto District (SJ) | 9 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 80 sq. ft. | — |
| Open Space/Recreation (OR) | 9 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 80 sq. ft. | — |
| General Commercial (GC); Freeway Commercial (FC); Light Industrial (LI); Heavy Industrial (HI) | 10 | ≤ 42.5 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 300 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Estate Residential (ER); Suburban Residential (SR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (Permanent Attached) | Subject to clearance standards; not a specific height | ≤ 50% of the face of any single awning; and ≤ 80 sq. ft. total awning sign area on any single building unit | — | May not extend into/over street ROW | Not applicable (limited by area) | On building awning faces for nonresidential uses within ER or SR | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Awning Sign); Sec. 3.64(B)(5); Sec. 3.62(A)(17) |
| Canopy Sign (Permanent Attached) | Subject to clearance standards; bottom-mounted sign face ≤ 2 ft high; above-canopy sign face ≤ 2 ft high and below roofline | ≤ 45 sq. ft. | — | — | One canopy sign per street frontage; must face the applicable street frontage | On canopy at nonresidential uses within ER or SR | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Canopy Sign) |
| Projecting/Blade Sign (Permanent Attached) | Shall not extend above roofline | ≤ 12 sq. ft. | — | If projecting into ROW, maintain ≥ 3 ft from back of curb | One per building unit | On building facades; may be within pedestrian visual path under covered walkways | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Projecting or Blade Sign); Sec. 3.64(B)(5) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent Attached) | Shall not extend above roofline or parapet wall | Per façade: ≤ 60 sq. ft. or ≤ 20% of façade area, whichever is less (total of all wall signs on that façade) | — | — | No numeric limit provided, subject to per-facade maximum area | Permitted on each primary façade facing a street, parking lot, drive aisle, or driveway; not allowed on any façade (other than main front) that faces property zoned for single-unit uses if the sign is within 150 ft of that residential property line; tenants in multi-tenant buildings restricted to their tenant façade | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Wall Sign); Sec. 3.62(A)(17) |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential Uses in ER/SR) | ≤ 6 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 36 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage; if lot frontage > 300 ft, one additional sign permitted if signs are separated by ≥ 150 ft | On-premise freestanding monument at nonresidential uses | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Monument Signs, Nonres uses in ER/SR/MR/UR) |
| Drive-Through Signs | ≤ 6 ft | Per sign ≤ 48 sq. ft.; total per stacking lane ≤ 72 sq. ft.; no maximum if completely screened from right-of-way and adjacent residential uses | — | — | ≤ 2 signs per stacking lane | Only in side and rear yards; oriented to be visible only to vehicles in stacking lanes | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Drive-Through Signs) |
| Driveway Signs | ≤ 3 ft | ≤ 4 sq. ft. | — | Within 30 ft of right-of-way | ≤ 2 per driveway entrance from a collector or arterial street | Within 30 ft of right-of-way at driveway entrances from collector or arterial streets | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Driveway Signs) |
| Subdivision Entrance Monument Sign - Option 1 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 60 sq. ft. per sign | — | Set back from all lot lines a distance equal to the height of the sign | One monument sign per entrance from a collector or arterial street | At each entrance from a collector or arterial street for residential subdivisions or multi-unit dwelling developments with > 15 lots or units | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Subdivision or Development Signs) |

### Mixed Residential (MR); Urban Residential (UR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (Permanent Attached) | Subject to clearance standards | ≤ 50% of the face of any single awning; and ≤ 80 sq. ft. total awning sign area on any single building unit | — | May not extend into/over street ROW | Not applicable (limited by area) | On building awnings for nonresidential uses within MR or UR | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Awning Sign); Sec. 3.64(B)(5); Sec. 3.62(A)(17) |
| Canopy Sign (Permanent Attached) | Subject to clearance; bottom-of-canopy face ≤ 2 ft; above-canopy face ≤ 2 ft and below roofline | ≤ 45 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage; must face applicable street | On canopy at nonresidential uses within MR or UR | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Canopy Sign) |
| Projecting/Blade Sign (Permanent Attached) | Shall not extend above roofline | ≤ 12 sq. ft. | — | ≥ 3 ft from back of curb if projecting into ROW | One per building unit | On facades; within pedestrian visual path under covered walkways | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Projecting or Blade Sign); Sec. 3.64(B)(5) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent Attached) | Not above roofline or parapet | Per façade: ≤ 60 sq. ft. or ≤ 20% of façade area (total of all wall signs on that façade) | — | — | No numeric limit provided, subject to per-facade maximum area | On primary façades facing street, parking lot, drive aisle, or driveway; not allowed on any façade (other than main front) facing property zoned for single-unit uses if within 150 ft of that residential property line; tenants restricted to tenant façade | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Wall Sign); Sec. 3.62(A)(17) |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential Uses in MR/UR) | ≤ 6 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 36 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage; if frontage > 300 ft, one additional allowed if separated by ≥ 150 ft | On-premise freestanding monument at nonresidential uses | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Monument Signs, Nonres uses in ER/SR/MR/UR) |
| Drive-Through Signs | ≤ 6 ft | Per sign ≤ 48 sq. ft.; total per stacking lane ≤ 72 sq. ft.; no maximum if completely screened from ROW and adjacent residential uses | — | — | ≤ 2 per stacking lane | Only in side and rear yards; oriented solely to stacking lanes | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Drive-Through Signs) |
| Driveway Signs | ≤ 3 ft | ≤ 4 sq. ft. | — | Within 30 ft of right-of-way | ≤ 2 per driveway entrance | Within 30 ft of right-of-way at driveway entrances from collector or arterial streets | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Driveway Signs) |
| Subdivision Entrance Monument Sign - Option 1 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 60 sq. ft. per sign | — | Set back from all lot lines equal to sign height | One monument sign per entrance | At each entrance from a collector or arterial street for residential subdivisions or multi-unit dwelling developments with > 15 lots or units | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Subdivision or Development Signs) |

### Alternative Residential (AR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign (Permanent Attached) | Subject to clearance | ≤ 50% of awning face; ≤ 80 sq. ft. total awning sign area per building unit | — | May not extend into/over street ROW | Not applicable (limited by area) | On building awnings for nonresidential uses in AR | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Awning Sign); Sec. 3.62(A)(17) |
| Canopy Sign (Permanent Attached) | Subject to clearance; bottom mount face ≤ 2 ft; above-canopy face ≤ 2 ft and below roofline | ≤ 45 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage; must face applicable street | On canopy at nonresidential uses in AR | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Canopy Sign) |
| Projecting/Blade Sign (Permanent Attached) | Not above roofline | ≤ 12 sq. ft. | — | ≥ 3 ft from back of curb if projecting into ROW | One per building unit | On facades; within pedestrian visual path under covered walkways | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Projecting or Blade Sign) |
| Wall Sign (Permanent Attached) | Not above roofline or parapet | Per façade: ≤ 60 sq. ft. or ≤ 20% of façade area | — | — | No numeric limit provided, subject to per-facade maximum area | On primary façades facing street, parking lot, drive aisle, or driveway; not allowed on façades (other than main front) facing property zoned for single-unit uses when within 150 ft of that residential property line; tenants restricted to tenant façade | — | Sec. 3.64(C), Table 3.64-1 (Wall Sign); Sec. 3.62(A)(17) |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential Uses in AR) | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 80 sq. ft. | — | — | One per street frontage; if frontage > 300 ft, one additional allowed if separated by ≥ 150 ft | On-premise freestanding monument at nonresidential uses | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Monument Signs, Nonres uses in DTA, SJ, MUN, OR, AR) |
| Drive-Through Signs | ≤ 6 ft | Per sign ≤ 48 sq. ft.; total per stacking lane ≤ 72 sq. ft.; no maximum if completely screened from ROW and adjacent residential uses | — | — | ≤ 2 per stacking lane | Only in side and rear yards; oriented solely to stacking lanes | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Drive-Through Signs) |
| Driveway Signs | ≤ 3 ft | ≤ 4 sq. ft. | — | Within 30 ft of right-of-way | ≤ 2 per driveway entrance | Within 30 ft of ROW at driveway entrances from collector or arterial streets | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Driveway Signs) |
| Subdivision Entrance Monument Sign - Option 1 | ≤ 8 ft with a minimum one-foot base | ≤ 60 sq. ft. | — | Set back from all lot lines equal to sign height | One per entrance | At each entrance from a collector or arterial street for residential subdivisions or multi-unit dwelling developments with > 15 lots or units | — | Sec. 3.64(D), Table 3.64-2 (Subdivision or Development Signs) |

## Prohibited signs in Baytown

- Structurally unsafe, inadequately maintained, or dilapidated signs (as determined by the Planning Director)
- Boxes, tires, or other stored goods with large product identification serving as a sign
- Roof signs
- Wind devices (excluding flags and banners)
- Pole and pylon signs unless specifically authorized by the ordinance
- Inflatable signs
- Human directional signs
- Signs on any tree, publicly owned light pole, utility pole, or utility structure
- Signs on fences, railings, or walls except as expressly allowed by the ordinance
- Signs on any sidewalk within the right-of-way or sidewalk easement, curb, gutter, or street (except house numbers or fire lane/no parking designations)
- Signs on or attached to the supporting members of any fire escape or guyed to any portion of a fire escape
- Signs placed closer than two feet from any telephone cable, power line, or street light standard
- Signs that block, interfere with, or hinder pedestrian or vehicular traffic on public sidewalks, thoroughfares, fire lane easements, or driveways
- Signs constructed of glass or other material that may shatter upon impact over public right-of-way
- Animated or moving signs by flashing, traveling, blinking lights, or other methods that do not provide constant illumination (unless specifically permitted)
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or smoke
- Illuminated signs placed or displayed within 150 feet of a residential dwelling or vacant lot in a residential zoning district
- Signs placed on traffic control devices or utility support structures or poles, or over public right-of-way or other public property, unless placed by a governmental agency or with City permission for public purposes, or otherwise permitted by the ordinance
- Signs installed or attached so as to block a fire escape or any door or window required for fire safety ingress/egress
- Temporary signs remaining after permit expiration or in place longer than allowed
- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic or governmental signs and interfere with, mislead, or confuse drivers
- Signs that violate intersection visibility requirements of Sec. 2.41
- Signs located in City-owned property or right-of-way except as allowed by Chapters 61.003 and 85.036 of the Texas Electrical Code or as specifically provided by that Code
- Signs located in a utility easement (unless no other viable location is demonstrated and written approvals and liability release are provided)
- Motor vehicles, tractor trailers, or similar vehicles with signs painted on or attached that are parked or stored on any property for more than 48 hours
- Signs placed without a required permit
- Any sign not specifically allowed or governed by the ULDC
- Signs placed within visibility triangles, corner clips, or visibility/access/maintenance easements, or constructed/displayed in a manner that interferes with or is confused with an authorized traffic sign, signal, or device
- Three-dimensional signs (signs with more than two faces or back-to-back faces separated by more than 24 inches)

## Signs exempt from permit in Baytown

- Permit-exempt signs are allowed in all districts, do not require a permit, and their area does not count toward other sign area allowances (they may still be subject to building/electrical codes)
- Signs located on property owned by the City of Baytown, an independent school district, or any governmental agency (City of Baytown property signs require City Council approval)
- Government/regulatory signs (no permit required; may be placed in the public right-of-way)
- Signs/notices issued by any court, officer, or other person in performance of a public duty (must be removed within seven days after no longer required)
- Signs integral to original construction of vending machines, fuel pumps, ATMs, or similar devices that are not visible from a street or by persons other than users
- Signs located completely inside a building and not visible from the exterior
- Signs within stadiums, open-air theaters, parks, arenas, or similar outdoor uses that are not intended to be visible from public right-of-way or adjacent property and can be viewed only by persons within the venue
- Certain temporary signs as established in Sec. 3.27, Temporary Signage
- Up to three flags on flagpoles or wall-mounted posts, subject to placement, height, area, projection, mounting, and illumination/construction conditions
- A single wall sign (flush-mounted), non-illuminated, not exceeding two square feet, on the facade of an individual dwelling unit
- Signs integral to the historic character of a designated landmark or historic structure by any governmental body
- Signs on umbrellas, seating, or similar patio furniture located outside the right-of-way and compliant with other applicable standards
- Signs on trucks, buses, or other vehicles used in the normal course of business for transportation or signage required by state/federal government
- Signs installed or required by governmental agencies (including local/regional transit agencies)
- Warning or traffic safety signs required by public utility providers
- Address numbers required by the City of Baytown or the U.S. Post Office
- Changes of copy on changeable-copy signs or changes of a sign face when the face is a removable/replacable panel
- Non-permanent holiday-related signs or decorations (including illuminated) for religious, national, or state holidays that contain no advertising material
- General maintenance, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance/repair of a sign or sign structure (unless a structural change is made)

## Sign permit fees & timelines in Baytown

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Electrical work for sign lighting requiring addition or extension of circuits | Any electrical work that requires an addition or extension of circuits shall require a separate permit. | Sec. 3.64(B)(3)(a) |
| Board Review | The Board of Adjustment shall hear the allegation of error no later than the 20th day that the order, decision, or determination is made. (starts when Planning Director order/decision/determination made (appeal of administrative sign decision).) | Sec. 3.61(C) |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for Baytown is available in PermitPal (free account)._

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

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