# Sign Regulations in Bells, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bells, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/bells
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-09

## At a glance

Bells, Texas regulates 7 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Billboards in the M1– Light Industrial, C2–General Commercial zoning district are capped at 30 ft. tall and 672 sq. ft., with a Comply with accessory structure setbacks setback (Sec. § 12.04(b)(3)). Most commercial signs in Bells require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 2 | — | 20% of the glass surface | — |
| M1– Light Industrial, C2–General Commercial | 1 | 30 ft. | 672 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Nonresidential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Signs | — | 20% of the glass surface | — | — | — | Nonresidential districts | — | § 12.03(m) |
| Electronic Changeable Message Sign | — | Greater than 12 sq. ft. must be 600 ft. apart | — | — | 1 per business | Nonresidential zoning districts | — | § 12.06(d)(5) |

### M1– Light Industrial, C2–General Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | 30 ft. | 672 sq. ft. | — | Comply with accessory structure setbacks | — | Along State Highways | — | § 12.04(b)(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning | Must not exceed height of building | 25% of awning up to 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per awning | — | — | § 12.04(a) |
| Monument or Ground | 6 ft. | 72 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | § 12.04(a) |
| Wall Mount Sign | Must not exceed height of building | 10% of wall up to 140 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per facade facing street | Facade facing street or public right-of-way | — | § 12.04(a) |
| Pole Sign | 30 ft. | 200 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Street frontage | — | § 12.04(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Bells

- Any signs not expressly permitted are prohibited.
- Unlicensed or inoperable stationary or abandoned motor vehicles, trailers or watercraft parked on public or private property used specifically for signage and not for the intended use of the vehicle are prohibited.
- Double-wide sign structures, that is, a single sign structure on which two or more billboards, or other type of signs, are placed or located side-by-side and facing the same direction are prohibited.
- Signs that simulate or could in any way be confused with the lighting of emergency vehicles or traffic signals are prohibited.
- Signs that blink, flash, are animated by lighting in any fashion or have the appearance of traffic safety signs, or lights, or municipal vehicle warnings from a distance are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs within 100 feet of a residential zoned district are prohibited unless it is designed to not reflect or shine light onto the residential district.
- Rotating signs or signs having moving members or parts, or appearance of movement are prohibited.
- Signs attached to any utility pole, light standard, street tree or any other public facility located within the public right-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs, except for billboards, which identify a use or advertises products and services not available on the premises on which the sign is located are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except where expressly allowed in this article.
- Signs erected above the roof line of a building are prohibited.
- Signs that make use of the words 'Stop,' 'Look,' 'Go,' 'Slow,' 'Caution,' or 'Danger,' or any other words, phrases, symbols, or characters, in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Signs that prevent free and unobstructed access to any door, window, fire escape, or other required exit are prohibited.
- Signs located in such a manner as to obstruct or otherwise interfere with an official traffic sign, signal or device or obstruct or interfere with a driver’s view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic are prohibited.
- Signs located in, encroaching upon or overhanging public rights-of-way are prohibited, except awning, marquee and wall signs overhanging the sidewalk, as permitted in section 12.04.
- Signs which are deemed structurally unsafe or are constructed in violation of the requirements of any adopted Construction Code are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bells

- Permanent signs on vending machines or other containers, provided that the sign area of each device shall not exceed three (3) square feet.
- Flags provided there shall be no more than three (3) flags per lot, the maximum size of each flag shall be 50 square feet, and the flag poles comply with height limitations of Section 2.09.
- Help wanted signs soliciting employees for the place of business where posted, provided that the maximum total area for all such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet.
- Any sign that is located completely within a building and is not visible from the outside.
- Plaques or signs designating a building or premises as a historic structure or premises not to exceed twelve (12) square feet.
- Signs affixed to buildings of commercial businesses that do not exceed four (4) square feet.
- Murals shall be allowed after review and approval by Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Signs for the sole purpose of identifying an assigned house number, owner name, occupant, or building name. Identification signs of two (2) square feet in surface display area shall not be counted in the total sign area allowed on the premises.
- Public signs, including the authorized signs of a government body or public utility, including traffic signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, warnings of a hazard, historical landmark or building designation signs, and similar signs.
- Non-commercial signs on residential property shall be permitted provided they are set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the public right-of-way or any lot line and are limited to 32 square feet and do not exceed 3 signs per lot.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising, including logos.
- No Trespassing and other types of warning signs are allowed in all areas; not to exceed three (3) square feet per sign.
- Window signs shall be permitted in all nonresidential districts, up to 20% of the glass surface.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The application shall include a certified site plan showing compliance with the spacing and separation distances required by this Article.
- Conversion of an existing sign to a changeable message sign shall require a permit under this article.
- Application for a permit for a sign shall be filed with the City Secretary and shall provide the following information: Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant; Location of the building, structure, or lot on which the sign is to be attached or erected; Position of the sign in relation to buildings, structures, and property lines within 100 feet of the proposed sign; Plans showing the dimensions, materials, method of construction, and attachment to the building or in the ground; Copies of stress sheets and calculations, if deemed necessary, showing the structure as designed for dead load and wind pressure; Name and address of the person, firm, or corporation owning, erecting, and maintaining the sign; Information concerning required electrical connections; Written consent of the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is to be erected; Other information required by the City Secretary to make the determination that the sign is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Bells, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Bells+TX&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-bells

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