# Sign Regulations in Big Spring, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Big Spring, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/big-spring
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Big_Spring/codes/Zoning,_Subdivision_and_Structural_Standards?nodeId=ZOORBISPTE_ZOOR_ART9SIRE)

## At a glance

Big Spring, Texas regulates 16 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Pole Sign (Type C)s in the R, Retail District; CA, Central Area District; LC, Light Commercial District zoning district are capped at 30 feet (up to 65 ft. on I-20/FM 700) tall and 200 sq. ft., with a At least 15 or 30 feet behind property line, per height setback (Sec. ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1; Section 9-5(c); Section 9-8). Most commercial signs in Big Spring require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SF-1, Single-Family Dwelling District; SF-2, Single-Family Dwelling District | 2 | 7 feet (10 feet for churches, colleges, public buildings and educational/institutional uses) | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| SF-3, Single-Family Dwelling District; 2F, Two-Family Dwelling District; GR, General Residential District; MF, Multiple-Family Dwelling District | 2 | 7 feet (10 feet for churches, colleges, public buildings, educational/institutional uses) | 80 sq. ft. or 50% of building frontage, whichever is less | — |
| O, Office District; NS, Neighborhood Service District | 2 | 7 feet | 100 sq. ft. or 50% of building frontage, whichever is less | — |
| R, Retail District; CA, Central Area District; LC, Light Commercial District | 4 | 35 feet | 600 sq. ft. | — |
| HC, Heavy Commercial District; LI, Light Industrial District | 6 | 30 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (672 sq. ft. on I-20 frontage) | — |
| HI, Heavy Industrial District | 4 | 30 ft. (42.5 ft. I-20) | 300 sq. ft. (672 sq. ft. I-20) | — |
| A, Agricultural District | 2 | 7 feet | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| PD, Planned Development District | 1 | — | — | — |
| SD, Surface Drainage Prefix District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 15 feet (undeveloped property) | All signs on property: 36 sq. ft.; single sign height max 8 ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### R, Retail District; CA, Central Area District; LC, Light Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Type A) | — | 200 sq. ft. or 50% of frontage, whichever is less | — | — | — | Building front or parallel to face of building | — | ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1; Section 9-5(a); Section 9-8 |
| Ground Sign (Type B) | 10 feet | 50 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 feet behind the property line. | — | At least 15 feet behind the property line | — | ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1; Section 9-5(b) |
| Pole Sign (Type C) | 30 feet (up to 65 ft. on I-20/FM 700) | 200 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 or 30 feet behind property line, per height | One per street frontage | No closer than 15 ft. behind property line. If pole sign over 30 ft. height, setback is 30 ft. behind property line. At least 10 ft. from adjacent property line. Not within 40 ft. of another Type C sign on the same lot. | — | ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1; Section 9-5(c); Section 9-8 |
| Multiple-use Site ID Sign (Type D) | 35 feet | 600 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft. min from property line; 50 ft. from other property | — | At least 15 feet behind property line; at least 50 ft. from any other property; 300 ft. from any property used for residential purposes. | — | Section 9-5(d) |

### HC, Heavy Commercial District; LI, Light Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Type A) | — | 150 sq. ft. or 50% of frontage, whichever is less | — | — | — | Building front or parallel to face of building | — | ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1; Section 9-5(a); Section 9-8 |
| Ground Sign (Type B) | 10 feet | 50 sq. ft. | 8 feet including support | At least 15 feet behind property line. | — | At least 15 feet behind property line | — | ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1; Section 9-5(b) |
| Pole Sign (Type C) | 30 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | 15 or 30 ft. behind property line | One per street frontage | At least 15 ft. behind property line or 30 ft. if over 30 ft. high. At least 10 ft. from adjacent property line. Not within 40 ft. of another Type C on the lot. | — | ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1; Section 9-5(c); Section 9-8 |
| Multiple-use Site ID Sign (Type D) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ARTICLE 9, Table 9.1 |
| Billboard (Type E) - Standard | 30 ft. (42.5 ft. on I-20) | 300 sq. ft. (672 sq. ft. on I-20 frontage) | 15 ft. (for max 300 sq. ft. sign area) | 30 ft behind the property line; 20 ft. from any building on different ownership; 300 ft. from residential property | — | At least 30 ft. behind the property line | — | Section 9-5(e) |
| Billboard (Type E) - Electronic | 30 ft. (42.5 ft. on I-20) | 300 sq. ft. (672 sq. ft. on I-20 frontage) | 15 ft. for 300 sq. ft. | 30 ft. behind property line | — | At least 30 ft. behind property line | — | Section 9-5(e)2 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 15 feet (undeveloped property) | 8 sq. ft. (residential), 100 sq. ft. (non-residential); undeveloped property: 1 sq. ft. per linear foot of street frontage up to 100 sq. ft. | — | See above | One per property | May be placed in any yard (developed), at least 20 ft. behind curb or 10 ft. behind property line (undeveloped) | — | Section 9-3(c) |
| Temporary Political Sign | 8 ft. | All signs on property: 36 sq. ft.; single sign height max 8 ft. | — | — | — | On private property, not in easements | — | Section 9-3(d) |
| Temporary Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | With owner permission; not on utility poles or right-of-way | — | Section 9-3(e) |
| Temporary Civic/Charity Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any district | — | Section 9-3(f) |
| Portable Sign (A-frame, etc.) | 7 feet | — | — | — | — | Not on public property without permission; see Type B rules for siting | — | Section 9-3(g); Section 9-5(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Big Spring

- All signs not expressly permitted under this Chapter or exempt from regulation are prohibited in the City.
- Portable signs, inflatable signs, banners, streamers, pennants, and other such temporary signs, except as allowed in specific cases.
- Signs which contain or have attached thereto banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, balloons, strings or lights, spinners or other similar devices.
- Snipe or bandit signs or any advertisement placed on trees, rocks or other natural features.
- Off-premises signs in the City limits, except billboards as regulated.
- Signs which advertise an activity, business, or service no longer conducted on the premises for more than 3 months; such signs must be removed or obscured after that period.
- Signs located on any public sidewalk, street, alley, or other public property, except as specifically outlined.
- Signs or parts of signs projecting or extending over any public right-of-way, sidewalk, street, alley, or other public property.
- Signs which interfere with, mislead, or otherwise constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Signs which resemble official traffic control signs, signals, or use confusing words like STOP, Go, Slow, Caution, Danger, Warning, or similar.
- Signs containing reflectors, glaring, strobe, rotating light, beacon, beam or flashing illumination resembling an emergency signal.
- Searchlights or any type of beacon used to attract attention to a property, unless for emergency personnel/emergencies.
- Spectacular signs and signs emitting audible sound, odor, or visible matter.
- Signs or advertising devices attached to any motor vehicle or trailer or structure parked to serve as advertisement to non-premises activity or business, except as specifically permitted.
- Video display signs, except for the use on private property where sign is not visible from any public right-of-way.
- Any stereopticon or motion picture machine used in conjunction with or attached to any sign in such a way that projected images are visible from a public right-of-way.
- No sign or lighting permitted under these regulations shall be erected, placed, or allowed to remain if such sign creates confusion, impairs hearing or vision, or distracts automotive drivers using any public right-of-way.
- High intensity bare bulb lighting or any lighting which creates glare or makes traffic signs or signals unreadable for drivers; duplication/confusion with traffic control device colors or symbols; and equipment that produces noises simulating sirens, bells, or whistles.
- No sign or lighting shall be authorized so placed, shielded, or operated in a way that is adverse to the normal sensibilities of a person residing on adjacent property, or that would interfere with the reasonable use, enjoyment or privacy of adjacent residential property.
- Source of sign lighting shall not be directly visible from adjacent residential property and must be shielded.
- No sign requiring a permit may be erected or altered unless a permit is issued, except as specifically exempted.
- Signs not in accordance with maintenance standards (dilapidated, deteriorated, structurally damaged, or unsafe) must be removed or repaired upon notice, or the city may remove at owner’s expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Big Spring

- Traffic or street signs, legal notices, public utilities, railroad crossing signs, danger and such emergency, temporary or non-advertising signs as approved by the City, may be located in the public right-of-way.
- Changes made to existing sign faces, with no increase in sign area or height, for signs otherwise allowed and not including (a) changes to a nonconforming sign or (b) modifying an existing sign to an Electronic Message Center.
- Real estate signs, as specified (e.g., one temporary sign per property for sale or rent, with area/placement/time limits).
- Temporary, unlighted political signs, as specified (within limits of height, area, placement, and duration).
- Garage sale signs, as specified (limits on time, area, location).
- Charity and civic event signs, as specified (limits on duration and placement).
- Portable signs, as specified in Section 9-3(g), and only under defined conditions (placement, owner consent).
- Symbols designed as an integral part of the building structure, and symbols and signs not visible or readable from the public street, are not limited by district sign regulations.
- All signs compliant with the zoning regulations as of April 28, 2009 are exempt from new provisions in Article 9 (except maintenance requirements); however, all alterations to such existing signs are subject to the new regulations.
- Radio and television antennas, including those used by amateur radio operators or for TV reception, are accessory uses permitted in all zones, per requirements.
- Wireless communications systems—if land or structure is owned by the City of Big Spring, the system is permitted by right in all zoning districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs in Planned Development (PD) Districts must conform to regulations of the base district, the permit district, or further site plan restrictions; no sign is allowed in a district requiring a site plan unless shown on the approved site plan (Sec 9-6(e)).
- A comprehensive site plan, which becomes part of the ordinance, is required for approval of Planned Developments (Section 7-1).
- For Planned Developments, minimum landscaping standards are determined at the time of site plan approval or when a PD ordinance is established (Section 10-2(c)).
- Two copies of a Landscaping Plan must be submitted and approved (Section 10-6) before a building permit or paving permit is issued; the landscape plan must show location, size of buildings/structures, paved areas, fencing, and landscape materials.
- No Certificate of Occupancy and/or paving permit is issued unless the required landscaping plan complies with the ordinance.
- Site plans for urban design review (Article 4-17) are required for new buildings or building expansions 10,000 sq ft or greater, more than one principal building for MF use on a lot, or more than one principal building for SF or 2F use in an MF or commercial district.
- Specific Use Permit applications may require plans and expert evaluation if requested by the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council (Section 7-2(i)); plans may include site plans, operational data, and expert evaluations concerning the proposed use.
- Applications for certain exceptions (e.g., carport in front yard setback) require a detailed site plan showing proposed location and distances (Section 4-6(e)).
- For urban design review or site plan appeals, the site plan and any modifications required as conditions of approval must be incorporated into construction (Section 4-17).

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

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