# Sign Regulations in Dalhart, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dalhart, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/dalhart
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Dalhart/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH40ZO_ARTXIVSI)

## At a glance

Dalhart, Texas regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Institutional or Residential Development Signs in the Agricultural Open Space District (AO), Residential Single-Family District, 8,000 square foot lot minimum (R-1), Residential Single-Family District, 7,000 square foot lot minimum (R-2), Residential Single-Family District, 6,000 square foot lot minimum (R-3), Medium Density Residential District (MD), Apartment District (A), Manufactured Home District (MH) zoning district are capped at 30 ft, or as specified for district tall and 40 sq ft, with a Not in public right-of-way; min. grade clearance 8 ft if not monument-type/if closer than 25 ft to curb; monument sign max 3 ft high unless set back 25 ft (Sec.40-383b) setback (Sec. Sec. 40-384(b)(2), Sec. 40-383, Sec. 40-388). Most commercial signs in Dalhart require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Open Space District (AO), Residential Single-Family District, 8,000 square foot lot minimum (R-1), Residential Single-Family District, 7,000 square foot lot minimum (R-2), Residential Single-Family District, 6,000 square foot lot minimum (R-3), Medium Density Residential District (MD), Apartment District (A), Manufactured Home District (MH) | 7 | 30 ft, or as specified for district | 40 sq ft | — |
| Office District (O), Local Retail District (LR), Shopping Center District (SC), Commercial District (C), Industrial District (I) | 6 | 30 ft, or as otherwise specified in Ch. 40-134 for district | 200 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development District (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Agricultural Open Space District (AO), Residential Single-Family District, 8,000 square foot lot minimum (R-1), Residential Single-Family District, 7,000 square foot lot minimum (R-2), Residential Single-Family District, 6,000 square foot lot minimum (R-3), Medium Density Residential District (MD), Apartment District (A), Manufactured Home District (MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | 3 ft if freestanding | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | Affixed flat against building wall or freestanding in front yard setback | — | Sec. 40-384(b)(1), Sec. 40-388 |
| Freestanding Institutional or Residential Development Sign | 30 ft, or as specified for district | 40 sq ft | — | Not in public right-of-way; min. grade clearance 8 ft if not monument-type/if closer than 25 ft to curb; monument sign max 3 ft high unless set back 25 ft (Sec.40-383b) | 1 per lot frontage or entrance | On premises, not within public right-of-way | — | Sec. 40-384(b)(2), Sec. 40-383, Sec. 40-388 |
| Wall Sign (Institution/Apt. Complex) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Affixed to wall of building | — | Sec. 40-384(b)(3), Sec. 40-388 |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 3 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | On premises, not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 40-384(b)(4)a |
| Construction and Development Sign (Temporary) | 10 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises, not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 40-384(b)(4)b |
| Portable Institutional Sign (Temporary) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per institution | On premises | — | Sec. 40-384(b)(4)c; Sec. 40-384(d); Sec. 40-388 |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Private real property with owner's consent | — | Sec. 40-384(b)(4); Sec. 40-387 |

### Office District (O), Local Retail District (LR), Shopping Center District (SC), Commercial District (C), Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft, or as otherwise specified in Ch. 40-134 for district | 200 sq ft | — | Not in right-of-way; see above for yard signs | 1 per lot frontage | On-premises, not within public right-of-way | — | Sec. 40-384(c)(1), 40-383, 40-388, 40-386 |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | Affixed to exterior wall fronting street/business entrance | — | Sec. 40-384(c)(2), Sec. 40-388 |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 30 ft | 0.5 sq ft per linear foot of lot frontage, max 200 sq ft (follows freestanding formula for temporary) | — | — | 1 per lot frontage | On-premises, not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 40-384(c)(1), Sec. 40-386 |
| Construction/Development Sign (Temporary) | 30 ft | 0.5 sq ft per linear foot of lot frontage, max 200 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises | — | Sec. 40-384(c)(1) |
| Portable Sign (Temporary) | — | Same as freestanding sign standard; >12 sq ft triggers spacing requirement | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 40-384(d); Sec. 40-388 |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Private real property with owner's consent | — | Sec. 40-384(c)(1), 40-387 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business Sign (On-Premises) | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 40-34 (schedule of uses), Sec. 40-384 |
| Apartment/Manufactured Home Park/Subdivision Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 40-34, Sec. 40-384 |

## Prohibited signs in Dalhart

- Advertising signs (billboards) are prohibited within the city limits, except those allowed adjacent to U.S. Highway 87, U.S. Highway 54, and U.S. Highway 385 and regulated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
- Signs which imitate or resemble any official traffic control devices or railroad signs or signals are prohibited.
- Signs on any telephone or electric light pole located in any street, alley, sidewalk, park, or parkway within the city are prohibited.
- Signs which are erected or maintained upon trees or painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features are prohibited.
- Signs that contain vulgar, lewd, or pornographic figures, pictures, paintings, drawings, words, characters, or symbols are prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed in or across a street, alley, or other public right-of-way, drainage easement, or utility easement.
- No sign, permanent or temporary, shall be located to block motorist visibility or cause a traffic hazard.
- Illuminated signs must be designed, located, shielded, and directed to prevent the casting of glare or direct light from artificial illumination upon adjacent public rights-of-way and surrounding properties.
- Signs must conform to the regulations and design standards of the building code and other ordinances of the city. Wiring of all electrical signs shall conform to the electric code of the city.
- No sign in any residential zoning district shall be illuminated between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- Signs shall not contain, include, or be illuminated by any flashing, intermittent, or moving light.
- Portable signs over 12 square feet in sign area must not be located within 100 feet of another portable sign over 12 square feet in area.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dalhart

- Advertising signs (billboards) are allowed only adjacent to U.S. Highway 87, U.S. Highway 54, and U.S. Highway 385 and must comply with TxDOT regulations for outdoor advertising signs along primary highways.
- Nameplates (identifying an on-premises home occupation) not exceeding two square feet in sign area are exempt from the sign permit requirement.
- Painting or replacement of a sign message where the original frame size or sign location is not altered does not require a sign permit.
- City/county-sponsored signs promoting a positive image, attraction of business or tourism, or community spirit may be erected on public-owned property in any zoning district by determination and approval of the city council.
- Portable signs are permitted in all districts as temporary signs (subject to additional rules).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for the placement of all portable signs and all permanent signs, except nameplates.
- Prior to placement of the sign, the owner/applicant shall submit to the building inspector an application, sign plans and specifications and information regarding the premises upon where the sign shall be located.
- If the proposed sign is in compliance with this chapter and all other laws and ordinances of the city, the building inspector shall issue a permit to erect the sign.
- Permits are not required for painting or changing the sign message where the sign's frame size or location is not altered.
- Sign standards for each planned development (PD) zoning district shall be specified on the site plan or in the amending ordinance (requiring sign plans as part of PD site plan approval).

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

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