# Sign Regulations in Canton, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Canton, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/canton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Canton, Texas regulates 18 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the B-1, B-2, GI-1 zoning district are capped at 1-50 ft: 18 ft; 51-100 ft: 20 ft; 101-150 ft: 25 ft; Over 150 ft: 35 ft. tall and 1-50 ft: 100 sq ft/side; 51-100 ft: 150 sq ft/side; 101-150 ft: 200 sq ft/side; Over 150 ft: 250 sq ft/side., with a Min 5 ft from ROW, min 50 ft from residential zones. setback (Sec. § 153.03(B), § 153.05(E)). Most commercial signs in Canton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Gateway District | 1 | 10 feet | — | — |
| Restricted Professional and Office District (RPO) | 1 | 10 feet | — | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 3 | Max 20 ft; min 8 ft clearance | 1-50 ft: 40 sq ft; 51-100 ft: 50 sq ft; 101-150 ft: 55 sq ft; Over 150 ft: 60 sq ft per side. | — |
| First Monday Business District (FMBD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-1, B-2, GI-1 | 4 | 94 feet | 300 sq ft per side | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MF-1, MF-2, MH-1 | 1 | 10 feet | — | — |
| Planned Development District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 25 ft sign height; 35 ft sign and frame total above grade. | 672 sq ft per face; 2 faces max; max face length 60 ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1-50 ft: 40 sq ft; 51-100 ft: 50 sq ft; 101-150 ft: 55 sq ft; Over 150 ft: 60 sq ft per side. | — | — | 1 per building side visible from roadway. | On wall of building side visible from public roadway. | — | § 153.03(A), § 153.05(C) |
| Marquee Sign | Must be between 8 ft (minimum clearance) and 20 ft (maximum) above sidewalk | — | — | 2 ft from traffic control signs. | 1 per business | Protruding from building facade. | — | § 153.03(C), § 153.05(C) |
| Projecting Sign | Max 20 ft; min 8 ft clearance | — | — | — | 1 per business | Attached to building, projects outward. | — | § 153.03(D), § 153.05(C) |

### B-1, B-2, GI-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1-50 ft: 40 sq ft; 51-100 ft: 50 sq ft; 101-150 ft: 55 sq ft; Over 150 ft: 60 sq ft per side. | — | — | 1 per building side visible from roadway. | On wall of building side visible from public roadway. | — | § 153.03(A), § 153.05(E) |
| Pole Sign | 1-50 ft: 18 ft; 51-100 ft: 20 ft; 101-150 ft: 25 ft; Over 150 ft: 35 ft. | 1-50 ft: 100 sq ft/side; 51-100 ft: 150 sq ft/side; 101-150 ft: 200 sq ft/side; Over 150 ft: 250 sq ft/side. | — | Min 5 ft from ROW, min 50 ft from residential zones. | 1 per site | Set minimum 5 ft from existing right-of-way; min 50 ft from any residential-zoned area. | — | § 153.03(B), § 153.05(E) |
| Pole Sign (Within 660 ft of I-20 ROW) | 94 feet | 300 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per site | Must be within 660 feet of I-20 right-of-way. | — | § 153.03(B)(10) |
| Monument Sign | 10 feet | — | 10 feet | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way. | — | Minimum 5 feet from the right-of-way. | — | § 153.03(E), § 153.05(E) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard (Off-Premise) | 25 ft sign height; 35 ft sign and frame total above grade. | 672 sq ft per face; 2 faces max; max face length 60 ft. | 60 feet | — | Limited to number in existence as of 10/28/2016; new requires credit system. | Only in city limits or ETJ within 660 ft of I-20 ROW. | — | § 153.04 |
| Construction Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | § 153.05(G)(3) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 10 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | § 153.05(G)(5) |
| Political/Campaign Sign | 8 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property with owner's permission. | — | § 153.05(G)(6), § 153.10(C) |
| Temporary Banner (New Business Opening) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.05(G)(7) |
| Temporary Off-site Banner (Public/Non-profit Event) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 153.05(G)(8) |
| Garage Sale/Yard Sale/Estate Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | Max 2 per premises | On own property or with permission on another's property; not on right-of-way or utility poles. | — | § 153.10(A) |
| Seasonal Decoration | — | — | — | — | — | Cannot affect traffic visibility. | — | § 153.10(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Canton

- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof-top signs are prohibited.
- Inflatable and tethered balloon signs are prohibited (except by special exception).
- Off-premise signs are prohibited.
- Obsolete signs are prohibited.
- Signs violating the sight triangle of intersections are prohibited.
- Signs placed on utility poles are prohibited.
- Signs placed in the right-of-way are prohibited.
- Three dimensional signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Swinging or rotating signs are prohibited.
- Signs which move or have moving parts are prohibited.
- Temporary bench signs are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs and banners are prohibited (except by special exception).
- Temporary signs without permission are prohibited.
- No sign shall be allowed which contains slanderous, obscene language or pictures, or inflammatory language or images.
- No sign may be constructed or posted on a public right-of-way.
- No sign may be placed on a utility pole, traffic pole, light pole, sign pole or any trees.
- No person shall erect or maintain a billboard, electric sign, or any outdoor advertising for the sale or consumption of an alcoholic beverage within the city limits.
- No person shall erect, post or display any signs or other forms of advertisement for the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages inside the alcoholic beverage establishment if same can be viewed from a public street.
- Roof top flags are not allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Canton

- Traffic control signs are not regulated by the sign ordinance.
- City signs are not regulated by the sign ordinance.
- Construction signs (one per lot, no more than 40 square feet) are not regulated by the sign ordinance.
- Information signs such as warning signs, security, parking, directional signs and community or school information signs or banners are not regulated by the sign ordinance.
- Real estate signs (one sign allowed per lot, ten square feet or less per face) are not regulated by the sign ordinance.
- Political/Campaign signs (cannot have area greater than 36 square feet, cannot be more than eight feet in height, cannot be illuminated, and cannot have moving elements; must follow all other state and federal rules) are not regulated by the sign ordinance.
- Temporary banners and signs to announce the opening of a new business are allowed up to 30 days with the permission of the Building Official.
- Temporary off-site banners promoting a public event, a charity or non-profit event may be erected subject to special permitting procedures.
- Interior signs not visible from the centerline of the street parallel with the building facade are allowed without regulation.
- Flags of the United States government, the State of Texas, or any other governmental flag may be displayed in an appropriate, respectful and proper manner according to applicable codes.
- Historical markers designating a local, state, or national landmark are allowed.
- Governmental signs (State of Texas, federal signs, school signs at athletic facilities) or the painting of the street address numbers on curbs are allowed.
- Religious emblems, when installed in compliance with zoning and construction codes, are allowed.
- Seasonal decorations are allowed for a maximum of 60 days, provided traffic visibility is not affected.
- Temporary announcement or special occasion signs are allowed for five days.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The Board of Adjustment hears all requests for variances or appeals to the sign ordinance and permit decisions.
- Any action granting a variance authorizing the issuance of a sign permit shall be valid for only 90 days; if the permit is not secured within 90 days and construction is not commenced, the decision is void.
- All signs in a Planned Development District may be reviewed and approved as part of the overall development plan; sign types, locations, and sizes may be varied and redistributed but must be consistent with site and landscape planning principles and are part of the review process.
- A detailed drawing of the sign must be submitted for approval to the Building Official in order to obtain a building permit.
- Before any permit may be issued for a new sign, all nonconforming signs displayed on the same property must be modified or removed so that all signs conform to the ordinance.
- Permanent signage on city property in the First Monday Business District must be reviewed by the First Monday Committee and permitted.

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

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