# Sign Regulations in Bonham, Texas

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

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

## At a glance

Bonham, Texas regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Apartment Complex or Church Identification Signs in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and 50 square feet, with a 5' setback; 50' if illuminated setback (Sec. § 3.15.007(c)). Most commercial signs in Bonham require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones | 7 | 15 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Business and Industrial Zones | 9 | 25 feet | — | — |
| Heritage District | 6 | 8 feet | — | — |
| Planned Development District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 50 feet | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 | Per residence | — | § 3.15.007(a) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 3.15.007(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 3.15.007(b) |
| Political Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 3.15.007(b) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 3.15.007(b) |
| Apartment Complex or Church Identification Sign | 15 feet | 50 square feet | — | 5' setback; 50' if illuminated | — | On-site | — | § 3.15.007(c) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per major entrance | Major entrance | — | § 3.15.007(d) |

### Business and Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 feet | — | — | 10' from curb or pavement edge, 5' from front property line | 1 per business or street frontage | Per business or street frontage | — | § 3.15.008(1)(A) |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | — | — | 10' from curb or pavement edge, 5' from front property line | 1 per business or street frontage | Per business or street frontage | — | § 3.15.008(1)(A) |
| Pole Sign | 25 feet | — | — | 10' from pavement edge, 5' from front property line | 1 per building | Per building | — | § 3.15.008(1)(B) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | — | — | 10' from pavement edge, 5' from front property line | 1 per building | Per building | — | § 3.15.008(1)(B) |
| Projecting Sign | Not to exceed highest point of building’s roof or highest exterior wall | — | — | No overhang into public right-of-way | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.008(1)(C) |
| Marquee | Not to exceed highest point of building’s roof or highest exterior wall | — | — | No overhang into public right-of-way | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.008(1)(C) |
| Awning Sign | Not to exceed highest point of building’s roof or highest exterior wall | — | — | No overhang into public right-of-way | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.008(1)(C) |
| Roof Sign | 25 feet above average finished grade or 10 feet above highest level of building’s roof | — | — | — | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.008(1)(D) |

### Heritage District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Unlimited | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.009(c)(1) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.009(a) |
| Projecting Sign | Not to exceed highest point of building’s roof or highest exterior wall | — | — | No projection beyond back of curb or over street pavement | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.009(c)(2) |
| Ground Sign | 8 feet | — | — | 10' from curb or pavement edge, 5' from front property line | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.009(c)(3) |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | — | — | 10' from curb or pavement edge, 5' from front property line | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.009(c)(3) |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | 8 feet | — | — | No extension into public right-of-way | 1 per business or building | Per business or building | — | § 3.15.009(c)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Bonham

- Any sign imitating or interfering with a public traffic signal or official traffic-control or directional sign.
- Signs with strobe lights or revolving lights which interfere with traffic or resemble an emergency vehicle’s lights.
- Private signs mounted or supported within or on public property or rights-of-way, including but not limited to signs on utility poles, streetlights, bridges, sidewalks, and public rights-of-way or easements.
- Signs, other than traffic-control or public directional signs, located within the 25' sight triangle of any intersection.
- Unsafe signs which are deteriorated, dilapidated, and/or present a danger to public health, safety, or welfare.
- Any illuminated sign which casts direct light into a residential area or public street, and lacks effective shielding.
- Portable signs displayed for more than 30 days in any 180-day period, not affixed to any structure, including signs placed on vehicles or trailers parked or located for the purpose of displaying said sign.
- Billboards (off-premises signs), except those currently in place or those that were permitted prior to passage of Ordinance 1098.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bonham

- Publicly owned (governmental) directional signs and/or public traffic-control signs.
- Real estate signs smaller than 10 square feet, placed on private property, but not within a public right-of-way or easement.
- Window signs.
- Holiday or special event decorations.
- Political signs, construction signs and other temporary signs smaller than 10 square feet.
- Signs marking underground facilities or utilities.
- Historic markers, plaques, or monuments placed by recognized historical societies and organizations.
- Nameplate signs built into the structure or firmly attached thereto, not extending more than six inches from the face of the building, identifying the name and/or address of the building, and not exceeding three square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Appeals and variances from this article shall be to the city board of adjustment under the procedures described in the city zoning ordinance and in section 3.15.004 of this article.
- If a sign permit is denied, the applicant may apply to the city board of adjustment for a variance from certain requirements of this article.

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

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