# Sign Regulations in Boerne, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Boerne, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/boerne
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-19
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Boerne/codes/unified_development_code?nodeId=CH9SI)

## At a glance

Boerne, Texas regulates 144 sign types across 20 zoning districts. Decorative Post and Panel (Freestanding)s in the Neighborhood Office (O1) zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall, 24 sq ft, and 6 ft sign face max wide, with a Min 8 ft from property line; must meet intersection visibility triangle; 6 ft lateral clearance from secondary and 15 ft from primary power lines. setback (Sec. UDC §9-7.C(3)-(9); §9-5; §9-2; §9-6). Most commercial signs in Boerne require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (20 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RA | 26 | Top-mounted: up to 30% of wall height; face-mounted/engraved: up to 70% of wall height | Per formula; 500 sq ft cap per building for all building-mounted signs combined | — |
| RM, RE, R1-L, R1-M, R2-N, R2-M, R3-D | 26 | Top-mounted: up to 30% of wall height; face-mounted/engraved: up to 70% of wall height | Per formula; 500 sq ft cap per building for all building-mounted signs combined | — |
| Attached Residential (R3-A), Bungalow Court Community (R4-B), Low-Density Multi-family Residential (R4-L), Urban Multi-family Residential (R4-U) | 25 | Max 40 ft | Max 400 sq ft total sign area | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (C1) | 25 | Max 40 ft | Max 400 sq ft total sign area | — |
| Transitional Commercial (C2) | 25 | Max 40 ft | Max 400 sq ft total sign area | — |
| Community Commercial (C3), Regional Commercial (C4) | 25 | Max 40 ft | Max 400 sq ft total sign area | — |
| Neighborhood Office (O1) | 29 | Up to 40 ft overall (including decorative cap and base) | Up to 400 sq ft | — |
| Multi-Unit Residential (R3-M), Planned Unit Development District (PUD), Planned Development District (PDD), Horizontal Multi-Family Residential (R4-H), Cluster Development District (CDD) | 27 | Up to 40 ft | Up to 400 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 32 | ≤40 ft | Building total of all building-mounted signs ≤500 sq ft | — |
| Manufactured Home Community, Cluster Development Districts | 26 | Up to 40 ft | Per sign: no explicit cap; per wall: see formula; per building: 500 sq ft total for all building-mounted signs | — |
| Craft Commercial (CR), Office Park (O2), Industrial Office (O3) | 27 | Ground-mounted flagpoles: up to 38 ft in nonresidential districts; on-roof flagpoles must meet building code wind/structural requirements (requires building permit) | Per individual sign: not fixed; limited by per-wall allocation. For small tenant spaces (≤50 ft frontage): 25 sq ft max per tenant for that frontage | — |
| General Industrial (I3), Storage and Transportation (I1), Light Industrial (I2) | 28 | Up to 40 ft | Up to 400 sq ft sign face area | — |
| Historic District | 25 | Ground-mounted flagpoles: up to 38 ft for nonresidential; up to 20 ft or roof height for residential. Roof-mounted poles require building permit and structural attachment to meet wind loading | Counts toward wall total if any window sign covers ≥50% of the window | — |
| Downtown Community Overlay District | 8 | Flags: up to 38 ft pole (nonresidential); 20 ft (residential) or roof height; roof-mounted poles need building permit | Per general standards: Awning (no boxes; width ≤60%); Hanging (width limits; min 10 ft clearance); Attached Canopy (downlighting only; clearances); Marquee (width ≤60%; internal illum; entry clearance); Roof sign (limits as specified; one per building); Window signs count if ≥50% of window covered | — |
| River Road Overlay District | 8 | 10 ft | 30 sq ft (or 4 sq ft/tenant, max 40 sq ft) | — |
| Sobo Overlay District | 6 | Flag poles: up to 38 ft (nonresidential), 20 ft (residential) | Post & Panel: 24 sq ft; Monument: 30 sq ft (or 4 sq ft/tenant, max 40 sq ft) | — |
| Heritage Corridor Overlay District | 7 | Flag poles per general (up to 38 ft nonresidential) | Post & Panel: 24 sq ft; Monument: 30 sq ft (or 4 sq ft/tenant, max 40 sq ft) | — |
| Entrance Corridors Overlay District | 5 | Flagpoles up to 38 ft (nonresidential) | Post & Panel: 24 sq ft; Monument: 30 sq ft (or 4 sq ft/tenant, max 40 sq ft) | — |
| Scenic Interstate Corridor Overlay District | 6 | Up to 40 ft | Up to 400 sq ft | — |
| South Boerne Overlay District | 7 | Projecting/Blade/Hanging ≤20 ft (with required clearance); awning ≤14 ft; canopy signs per clearance; window n/a; wall cannot exceed parapet/eave/roofline | 30 sq ft (or 4 sq ft/tenant, up to 40 sq ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 20 zones)

### Neighborhood Office (O1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Decorative Post and Panel (Freestanding) | 10 ft | 24 sq ft | 6 ft sign face max | Min 8 ft from property line; must meet intersection visibility triangle; 6 ft lateral clearance from secondary and 15 ft from primary power lines. | 1 per 400 ft of frontage (minimum 1); one multi-tenant freestanding sign per frontage. | On private property; minimum 8 ft setback from property line; may not extend into right-of-way or required parking/drive/clear areas. | — | UDC §9-7.C(3)-(9); §9-5; §9-2; §9-6 |
| Monument Sign (Freestanding, ≤8 ft) | 8 ft total sign height | 30 sq ft total; or 4 sq ft per tenant up to 40 sq ft | 10 ft max sign face width; panel min height 8 in | Min 8 ft from property line; 200 ft separation from other freestanding signs on same site; 40 ft from adjacent-site freestanding signs on same side of street; preserve intersection visibility. | Counts toward 1 per 400 ft frontage limit. | On private property; minimum 8 ft setback from property line; outside required easements, parking, and drives. | — | UDC §9-7.C(6)-(9); §9-5; §9-6 |
| Freeway Pylon Sign (Freestanding >8 ft) — Conditional | Up to 40 ft overall (including decorative cap and base) | Up to 400 sq ft | Base width 15–25 ft; enclosures at least 30% of sign width; panel min height 8 in; face may not exceed base width | Min 15 ft; additional spacing/separation per overlay. | Max one per side of listed interchanges; one freestanding per frontage otherwise. | Only at designated IH‑10 interchanges within the Scenic Interstate Corridor Overlay and subject to that overlay’s location, spacing, and eligibility. | — | UDC §3-17.G(1)-(4); §9-7.C Table (Freeway Pylon); §9-5; §9-2; §3-16.J(1)(d) |
| Wall Sign (Building-mounted) | May not extend above parapet, soffit, eave, or roof line | Per sign: no explicit single-sign limit (subject to wall totals above) | Up to 60% of total wall width or 60% of tenant width (multi-tenant), whichever is less | — | Max 1 wall sign per tenant per wall in multi-tenant buildings (within area limits). | Mounted flat to wall; projection ≤8 in including mounts. Must be centered between facade elements and not cover architectural features. | — | UDC §9-7.D(1)-(7); §9-5; §9-6 |
| Roof Sign | Up to 4 ft above parapet or roof line and not to exceed the max building height for the zoning | Up to 10% of the area of the wall it’s attached to | Up to 60% of width of establishment (or building if single-tenant); for corner buildings, 60% of the shorter wall | — | 1 per building | Entirely above a flat roof, cantilever, or false roof; not visible toward single-family or townhouse residences. | — | UDC §9-7.D (Roof Sign row); §9-5 |
| Dimensional Projecting Sign (Blade-type with dimensional letters) | Max 20 ft and may not extend beyond eave line | 24 sq ft per sign; also a building max of 24 sq ft for dimensional projecting signs | 3 ft projection max; 3 ft width max | — | Max 1 per wall | Mounted perpendicular to wall on solid rods; projection ≤3 ft; minimum 8 ft vertical clearance above grade. | — | UDC §9-7.D (Dimensional Projecting); §9-6 |
| Marquee Sign | Up to 4 ft above the roof line to which it is attached | Counts toward wall totals; changeable copy area may be within horizontal face | Up to 60% of total wall width; corner: 60% of shorter wall | — | 1 per building | Centered above primary entrance. | — | UDC §9-7.D (Marquee row); §9-5.C.4 |
| Sidewalk Sign (Sandwich Board) — Temporary | 4 ft | Max width 2 ft; max height 4 ft | 2 ft | ≥2 ft from curb; ≥20 ft from cross street; maintain 3 ft path | 1 per establishment/entrance | May encroach public right-of-way on sidewalk if an unobstructed 3 ft pedestrian path is maintained; at least 2 ft back from curb and 20 ft from intersections. | — | UDC §9-7.F(4)(a); §9-5.B(6) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Decorative Post and Panel (Freestanding) | 10 ft | 24 sq ft | 6 ft | Min 8 ft from property line; maintain intersection visibility triangles | Max 1 per frontage per 400 ft; separation distances apply | On private property; no encroachment into right-of-way | — | Sec. 9-7.C (table and rules); Sec. 9-5 |
| Monument Sign (Freestanding ≤8 ft) | 8 ft | 30 sq ft (or 4 sq ft/tenant, max 40 sq ft) | 10 ft | Min 8 ft from property line; visibility triangles | Per freestanding rules | On-site; outside setbacks; landscaped base must not block sign face | — | Sec. 9-7.C (table) and 9-7.C.7-8; Sec. 9-5 |
| Freeway Pylon Sign (Freestanding >8 ft) | ≤40 ft | ≤400 sq ft | Base 15–25 ft; enclosure ≥30% of width | Min 15 ft (per table) and compliance with intersection visibility | Per frontage/interchange limitations | Where expressly allowed (e.g., Scenic Interstate Corridor interchanges); perpendicular to street | — | Sec. 9-7.C (table) and 9-7.C.9; Sec. 3-17.G |
| Wall Sign (Building-mounted) | Cannot extend above parapet/soffit/eave/roof | Building total of all building-mounted signs ≤500 sq ft | ≤60% of wall width (or tenant space width) | If projecting over pedestrian area, maintain required clearance | 1 per tenant per wall (multi-tenant) | On building wall | — | Sec. 9-7.D(1)-(7); Sec. 9-5 |
| Dimensional Projecting Sign | 20 ft; must not extend beyond eave | 24 sq ft | 3 ft; projection ≤3 ft | 8 ft pedestrian clearance | 1 per wall | Mounted perpendicular to wall on solid rods | — | Sec. 9-7.D (Dimensional projecting row) |
| Blade Sign | 20 ft; not beyond eave | 12 sq ft | 3 ft; projection ≤4 ft | 8 ft vertical clearance | 1 per wall | Mounted perpendicular to wall | — | Sec. 9-7.D (Blade row) |
| Marquee Sign | May extend up to 4 ft above roof line to which attached | — | ≤60% of wall width (or shorter wall at corners) | As above clearances | 1 per building | Centered above primary entrance | — | Sec. 9-7.D (Marquee row); Sec. 9-5.C.4 for EMC approvals |
| Roof Sign | Up to 4 ft above the parapet/roof line; must not exceed the max building height for the zone | Up to 10% of total area of wall to which the roof sign is associated | ≤60% of establishment width (or shorter wall at corners) | — | 1 per building | Entirely above a flat roof, cantilever, or false roof | — | Sec. 9-7.D (Roof sign row) |

### General Industrial (I3), Storage and Transportation (I1), Light Industrial (I2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Decorative Post and Panel (Freestanding) | 10 ft overall height; vertical clearance max 4 ft if any clearance is provided | 24 sq ft (per sign face/panel) | 6 ft max width of sign face | Minimum 8 ft from property line; must also meet intersection visibility setbacks | 1 per frontage if frontage <400 ft; otherwise 1 per 400 ft of frontage; corner lots with either frontage <400 ft may only have 1 freestanding sign total | On private property; must be set back at least 8 ft from property line and outside intersection visibility triangles; may not encroach rights-of-way or required parking/drive aisles | — | UDC §9-7.C(3)–(9); Table: General Standards for Freestanding Signs; §9-7.C(1)–(2); §9-5.A–C; §9-2.B(3) |
| Monument Sign (Freestanding, 8 ft or less) | 8 ft overall height | 30 sq ft; or multi-tenant: 4 sq ft per tenant up to 40 sq ft total | 10 ft maximum width of sign face; base must be 60% of total sign width | Minimum 8 ft from property line | See freestanding sign limits: 1 per frontage <400 ft; 1 per 400 ft frontage; 200 ft separation on-site; 40 ft from adjacent-site freestanding signs | On private property; at least 8 ft behind property line; outside required easements and sight triangles | — | UDC §9-7.C(9) (Monument standards); §9-7.C(3)–(8); §9-5 |
| Freeway Pylon Sign (Freestanding >8 ft) — Scenic Interstate Corridor only | Up to 40 ft | Up to 400 sq ft sign face area | Base width must be at least 15 ft and no greater than 25 ft; enclosures at least 30% of sign width | Minimum 15 ft setback from property line; must also comply with corridor landscape buffer and sight distance | Max 1 freeway pylon sign per side of each designated interchange; also limited to 1 freestanding sign per frontage absent a master sign agreement | Only permitted within the Scenic Interstate Corridor at designated IH-10 interchange locations: N Main St & IH-10; Johns Rd & IH-10; W Bandera Rd/W SH 46 & IH-10; S Main St & IH-10; Scenic Loop & IH-10; one freeway pylon per side of each stated interchange; sign must be perpendicular to the street | — | UDC §9-7.C table (Freeway Pylon); §3-17.G(1)–(3); §3-17.G(3)(a)–(b)(vi) |
| Wall Sign (Building-Mounted) | May not extend above parapet, soffit, eave, or roof line | Per individual sign: not fixed; limited by per-wall allocation. For small tenant spaces (≤50 ft frontage): 25 sq ft max per tenant for that frontage | Up to 60% of total wall width (or 60% of tenant frontage width in multi-tenant buildings) | N/A (building-mounted); any encroachment must maintain ≥8 ft vertical clearance; cannot encroach vehicular lanes | Max 1 wall sign per tenant per wall in multi-tenant buildings (within total per-wall area limits) | Mounted to exterior building wall(s) facing public right-of-way; may encroach over public sidewalk if ≥8 ft vertical clearance and not over drive/parking | — | UDC §9-7.D(1)–(7); §9-6.B; §9-5 |
| Roof Sign (Building-Mounted) | Up to 4 ft above parapet or roof line and not to exceed the maximum building height allowed for the property | 10% of the wall area to which attached | Up to 60% of the width of the establishment (or the building if single-tenant); for corners, up to 60% of the width of the shorter wall at the corner | — | Max 1 roof sign per building | Entirely above a flat roof, cantilever, or false roof; may not be visible from single-family or townhouse residences | — | UDC §9-7.D (Roof Sign row in table); §9-7.D(2)–(3); §9-5 |
| Dimensional Projecting Sign (Blade/Projecting, dimensional letters) | Max mounting height 20 ft; shall not extend beyond eave line | 24 sq ft per sign | 3 ft max width; projection up to 3 ft from wall (including mounting) | — | Max 1 per wall | Mounted perpendicular to building wall on solid rods with reinforcement; must provide ≥8 ft vertical clearance over sidewalks | — | UDC §9-7.D table (Dimensional Projecting); §9-7.D(4)–(5) |
| Marquee Sign | May extend up to 4 ft above the roof line to which attached | Not fixed per-sign; within wall totals | Up to 60% of total wall width (or 60% of shorter wall on corners) | — | 1 per building | Mounted to building marquee; minimum vertical clearance 10 ft | — | UDC §9-7.D table (Marquee); §9-5.C(4) |
| Blade Sign (small projecting, non-dimensional) | Max mounting height 20 ft; shall not extend beyond eave line | 12 sq ft per sign | 3 ft; projection up to 4 ft from wall including mounting | — | Max 1 per wall | Perpendicular to wall on solid rods | — | UDC §9-7.D table (Blade); §9-7.D(4)–(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Boerne

- Beacons are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Moving signs are prohibited.
- Unsafe signs are prohibited.
- Signs that interfere with required parking and maneuvering areas are prohibited.
- Signs that do not comply with applicable building, electrical, or other city codes are prohibited.
- Signs illuminated so as to obscure or interfere with official traffic signs, signals, or devices, or that obstruct a driver’s view (including preventing clear view of approaching vehicles for 250 feet) are prohibited.
- Signs that, due to proximity to streets, alleys, sidewalks, or rights-of-way, constitute a traffic or pedestrian hazard are prohibited.
- Signs whose design or content may be confused with authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices are prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs (including commercial off-premise signs and billboards) are prohibited.
- No sign above a sidewalk may have less than 7 feet vertical clearance; no sign above a street, drive, or parking area may have less than 12 feet vertical clearance.
- No sign or part of a sign may be located on or above public land or rights-of-way except as allowed by the ordinance.
- No sign may be placed on or attached to any tree.
- No sign may be placed on or attached to any utility pole or pedestal except by the utility company.
- No sign may remain in place to advertise an activity, business, or service no longer conducted on the premises.
- No sign may be located on a sidewalk or unpaved public walkway so as to leave less than a 3‑foot horizontal clearance on at least one side.
- No sign or sign frame may be located between 2 and 10 feet above ground within the intersection clear sight triangle extending 25 feet from the curb point in each direction.
- No sign may be located closer than 6 feet laterally to a secondary power line or 15 feet laterally to a primary power line.
- No lighted sign and no permanent sign may be mounted on or above a side or rear wall, or located in a side or rear yard, when it faces and is visible from a contiguous residential area not separated by a public street or alley.
- No sign may obstruct intersection visibility as defined by the UDC.
- No sign may be located on private property without the consent of the owner or party in control.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
- Bare bulbs may not be used for external illumination of signs.
- Internally illuminated sign cabinets may not flash, blink, emit varying intensity or color, or make or emit any sound, smoke, or vapor.
- Digital signs shall not flash, scroll, or incorporate full‑motion video; audio and pyrotechnic elements are prohibited.
- No portion of a freestanding sign may extend beyond the property line unless otherwise permitted.
- No sign may occupy areas required to remain unobstructed (parking, loading, walkways, driveways, fire lanes, easements).
- Building-mounted signs shall not encroach vehicular travel lanes, bike lanes, or parking areas.

## Signs exempt from permit in Boerne

- Noncommercial message substitution on any lawfully displayed sign is exempt from regulation and does not require a permit solely for the substitution of copy.
- Changing the face of a sign solely for maintenance does not require a sign permit.
- Public purpose signs (warning/informational) erected by a governmental entity are exempt from sign permits.
- Political campaign signs on private property are exempt from sign permits.
- Works of art, including murals, without a commercial message are exempt from sign permits.
- Holiday decorations are exempt from sign permits.
- Flags that are symbols of government or political subdivisions are exempt from sign permits.
- Building markers are exempt from sign permits.
- Information signs are exempt from sign permits.
- Building addresses (except when required on freestanding signs) are exempt from sign permits.
- Barber poles without a commercial message are exempt from sign permits.
- Signs on fences of K–12 educational institution properties are exempt from sign permits.
- Signs on fences of outdoor sports fields on nonprofit community recreation property are exempt from sign permits.
- Signs internal to a site and not visible from a public right-of-way are exempt from sign permits.
- Scoreboards in athletic stadiums are exempt from sign permits.
- Any sign inside a building, or a window/door sign (except a lighted window/door sign), is exempt from sign permits.
- Historical markers placed by a governmental entity, historical society, or civic organization are exempt from sign permits.
- Any sign erected or required by a governmental entity or public utility to give information, directions, or warnings is exempt from sign permits.
- Small onsite signs advertising sales or help wanted (maximum 4 sq ft, one per street frontage) are exempt from sign permits.
- Signs providing directions to the convention and visitors bureau are exempt from sign permits.
- Handheld, noncommercial signs that do not rest on or touch the ground are exempt from sign permits.
- Repainting or replacing letters/characters on an existing permanent sign (no enlargement or height increase) is exempt from sign permits.
- Changing the copy on a bulletin board or changeable copy sign is exempt from sign permits.
- Replacing the fabric/material of an awning sign with no other changes is exempt from sign permits.

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

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