# Sign Regulations in Bedford, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bedford, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/bedford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-19
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Bedford/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH6AD_ARTIIISI)

## At a glance

Bedford, Texas regulates 6 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Top of parapet wall or roof eave height tall and 400 square feet, with a Setback bonus for signs over 150 feet from public street right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 6-71 - Permanent signs). Most commercial signs in Bedford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 7 feet | 400 square feet | — |
| S, L, H, I, PUD, MHC, Nonresidential uses that are permitted in residentially zoned districts | 2 | — | 33% of window area | — |
| Multifamily: all MD & MF | 1 | 7 ft. | 75 sq. ft. Entire Structure | — |
| All Residentially zoned districts | 1 | 7 ft. | 75 sq. ft. Entire Structure | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Top of parapet wall or roof eave height | 400 square feet | — | Setback bonus for signs over 150 feet from public street right-of-way | Not applicable, Signage area can be composed of multiple signs | Attached to building | — | Sec. 6-71 - Permanent signs |
| Freestanding Monument | 7 feet | 75 sq. ft. Entire Structure | — | — | 1 (either pole or monument) per street frontage, 2 max | 1 (either pole or monument) per street frontage, 2 max | — | Sec. 6-71 - Permanent signs |

### S, L, H, I, PUD, MHC, Nonresidential uses that are permitted in residentially zoned districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Message Center | — | — | — | — | — | Allowed for incidental signage only | — | Sec. 6-70 - Sign types |
| Window Sign | — | 33% of window area | — | — | — | Limited to the first floor of a multi-story building | — | Sec. 6-70 - Sign types |

### Multifamily: all MD & MF

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Multifamily Entry Monument | 7 ft. | 75 sq. ft. Entire Structure | — | — | 1 per "main" entrance | 1 per "main" entrance | — | Sec. 6-71 - Permanent signs |

## Prohibited signs in Bedford

- Unless allowed by state, local law or other city ordinances, off-premises advertising signs.
- Billboard signs.
- No signs shall be allowed in a public right-of-way excluding government signs, signs sponsored by government including flags, government insignia, government informational, government sponsored decorative displays for holidays, public demonstrations and traffic signs which are legally required or necessary to the essential functions of government agencies.
- Unless allowed by state, local law or other city ordinances, signs attached to light fixtures, poles, curbs, sidewalks, gutters, utility poles, fences, railings and trees.
- Signs which prevent free ingress to, or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Signs erected or displayed in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision at any location, street, intersection, or driveway.
- Obscene signs in which the dominant theme of material taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex or is patently offensive because it affronts community standards relating to the description or representation of sexual matters and is utterly without redeeming social value.
- Portable signs as defined in section 6-67, definitions.
- "V" type signs with a face that protrudes from the opposite face at an interior angle greater than 25 degrees.
- Exposed neon tubing, luminous tubing, LED or any luminous lighting product that is specifically placed to draw attention to, shall not be used for display inside, outside, or outline of, any window or portion of a window in districts zoned "S", "L", "H", "I", "PUD", "MHC" and nonresidential uses that are permitted in residentially zoned districts.
- Signs illuminated to such intensity or in such a manner as to cause a glare or brightness to a degree that it constitutes a hazard or nuisance to traffic.
- Spotlights or floodlights shall not be mounted on pole, pylon or monument signs for other reasons than for external illumination for the sign itself.
- Search lights or flashing lights.
- Any illuminated sign or portion of an illuminated sign with motion or visual impression that primarily changes through electronic means.
- Change the display of an image, graphic, text, color or information on any sign or any portion of any sign for a period less than once each eight seconds.
- Unless specifically approved by planning and zoning or city council, roof signs.
- Sign, walker in a public right-of-way.
- Structural or non-structural additions or attachments to monument signs, excluding structural modifications for which a valid permit has been issued.
- Balloons, inflatables and feather flags shall not be allowed for display on multifamily or commercially zoned properties.
- Unless specifically allowed in section 6-72 "Temporary Signs", feather flag type signs used to bring attention to, or advertising displays including blade, feather, shark fin, swooper, teardrop, triangular and wind flags shall be prohibited.
- Any sign not specifically permitted by this ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bedford

- Standard maintenance, painting, repainting or cleaning of an existing advertising structure and not more than 50 percent of the sign is repaired, altered, or replaced.
- Government signs and signs for organizations sponsored by government including flags, insignia, legal notices, informational, directional, decorative displays for holidays, public demonstrations and traffic signs which are legally required or necessary to the essential functions of government agencies.
- Any traffic sign, public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Directional signs, on premises not exceeding four square feet in area and three feet in height giving directions or instructions.
- Menu board signs for drive-thru lanes at restaurants.
- Gasoline pricing signs less than 15 square feet.
- Signs that display the words "Now Hiring" and business name and do not include a commercial message or advertisement.
- All other residentially zoned districts with a sign not exceeding nine square feet in area, which advertises the sale, builder, construction, rental or lease of the premises shall be exempt.
- Signs provided in section 6-72 "Temporary Signs" shall be allowed for special or civic events.
- Political signs as defined in section 6-67.
- Organization identification signs attached to a donation bin.
- Traffic control signs on private property including but not limited to; "Stop", "Yield", "No Parking", "Towing", Handicap Parking" and similar signs which contain no commercial message.
- Directory signs on private properties.
- "No Dumping Allowed" signs posted to deter illegal dumping.
- Warning and security signs, including signs placed by a public utility for the safety, welfare, or convenience of the public.
- Incidental signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Whenever a site plan is required to be filed, the site plan shall show the proposed location of any signs to be erected on the property and shall define the size and height of the signs with dimensions and elevation views.
- Relief by the building and standards commission for permanent signs may be granted in the form of a waiver from the regulations prescribed herein relating to the height, area, location and number of said permanent signage.

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

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