# Sign Regulations in Dallas, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dallas, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/dallas
- **Data last verified:** 2026-05-05
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-85731)

## At a glance

Dallas, Texas regulates 712 sign types across 88 zoning districts. Street Construction Alleviation Sign (Temporary Detached Premise)s in the MC-1 zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 16 sq ft, and 4 ft (square sign, 4x4 ft) wide, with a No minimum setback, but cannot be located in a public right‑of‑way. setback (Sec. Dallas Dev. Code §51A-7.212(c)-(g)). Most commercial signs in Dallas require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (88 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CR | 29 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| RR | 29 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| CS | 29 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| MC-1 | 34 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| MC-2 | 34 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| MU-1 | 34 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| SAH | 34 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| MU-2 | 34 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| A | 22 | 25 ft | 100 square inches (approx. 0.6944 sq ft) per sign | — |
| CH | 17 | 25 ft | 700 sq in per sign; cumulative 1,300 sq in per entrance for attached protective signs in Downtown SD but for non-business districts use protective sign general limit | — |
| O-2 | 6 | 25 ft | 50 sq ft effective area | — |
| GR | 6 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — |
| R(A) Single Family Residential District | 15 | 8 ft | Protective sign ≤100 sq in (detached); attached protective permitted; letters ≤4 in | — |
| TH(A) Townhouse District | 11 | 25 ft | 100 sq in (detached); letters ≤4 in | — |
| MF(A) Multifamily District | 12 | 25 ft | 100 sq in (detached); letters ≤4 in | — |
| CA-1 Central Area District | 16 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area-to-height ratio) | — |
| CA-2 Central Area District | 14 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft | — |
| SC Shopping Center District | 11 | Per tier; with allowed extension (cap 60 ft AGL) | Up to 200 sq ft | — |
| LC Local Retail District | 11 | Up to 35 ft | Up to 200 sq ft | — |
| HC Heavy Commercial District | 11 | As per tiers (with extension, cap 60 ft AGL) | Up to 200 sq ft | — |
| I-1 Industrial District 1 | 14 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area-to-height ratio cap) | — |
| I-2 Industrial District 2, I-3 Industrial District 3 | 14 | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area-to-height ratio cap) | — |
| Downtown Special Provision Sign District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Special Provision Sign District | 41 | ≤60 ft | Detached ≤700 sq in each; attached per entrance cumulative ≤1,300 sq in | — |
| Downtown Sign District | 44 | ≤60 ft | Detached: ≤700 sq in each (two allowed); Attached at entrances: ≤700 sq in per sign, cumulative ≤1,300 sq in per entrance | — |
| Downtown Sign District | 31 | ≤60 ft | Detached: ≤700 sq in each (two allowed); Attached per entrance: ≤700 sq in per sign, cumulative ≤1,300 sq in per entrance | — |
| Downtown Sign District | 10 | As per slope limits; expressway signs up to 40–60 ft with setbacks | Detached ≤700 sq in each (two allowed); Attached per entrance ≤700 sq in per sign; cumulative ≤1,300 sq in per entrance | — |
| Downtown Special Provision Sign District | 35 | Up to 60 ft | Up to 700 sq in per sign (detached or attached); cumulative attached protective messages per entrance may not exceed 1,300 sq in | — |
| Downtown Special Provision Sign District | 35 | Up to 60 ft | Up to 700 sq in per sign; cumulative attached per entrance ≤1,300 sq in | — |
| Downtown Special Provision Sign District | 16 | Middle-level area not to exceed 100 ft above grade | Counts toward middle-level and district-wide caps (30,000 sq ft total middle-level cap, see below). | — |

_58 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 88 zones)

### MC-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Detached Sign - Single-Tenant Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — | No minimum setback for single-tenant monument signs. | 1 per street frontage; detached signs on same premise must be at least 200 ft apart. | Business zoning district premise; 1 detached sign per street frontage (non-expressway). Must not be in visibility triangle. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(2)-(10), (c); Sec. 51A-7.303(a)-(c); Sec. 51A-4.602(d) |
| Detached Sign - Single-Tenant Non-Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 15 ft setback | 1 per street frontage; 200 ft separation between detached signs on same premise. | Business zoning district premise; must not be in visibility triangle; non-monument signs restricted near residential/parks. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(b), (c); Sec. 51A-7.303(a)-(c) |
| Detached Sign - Multi-Tenant Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 1:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 5 ft setback | 1 per street frontage; 200 ft separation on same premise. | Business zoning district premise. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(d)(1)(A), (d)(2), (d)(3)(A), (d)(4); Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(8) |
| Detached Sign - Multi-Tenant Non-Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 1:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 5:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 15 ft setback | 1 per street frontage; 200 ft separation on same premise. | Business zoning district premise. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(d)(1)(B), (d)(2), (d)(3)(B), (d)(4); Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(3) |
| Detached Sign - Unity-Agreement Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 0.5:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 5 ft setback | 1 unity-agreement sign per street frontage; additional single-tenant monument signs allowed per premise under the unity agreement. | One unity-agreement sign per street frontage across premises joined by unity agreement; each premise may also have one single-tenant monument sign. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(e)(1)-(4); Sec. 51A-7.213 |
| Detached Sign - Unity-Agreement Non-Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 0.5:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 15 ft setback | As allowed under unity agreement: 1 unity sign per street frontage. | Business zoning district premise operating under a unity agreement. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(e)(2)(B), (e)(3)-(4); Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(3) |
| Expressway Sign (Premise) - Standard | 20/30/40 ft by tier; extension rule up to 50 ft or +30 ft over travel surface, total ≤60 ft above grade | 50/150/400 sq ft depending on setback tier | — | As per three-tier standard: ≥5 ft, ≥15 ft, or ≥25 ft from ROW. | 1 per 450 ft expressway frontage or fraction thereof. | Wholly within 100 ft of an expressway right-of-way and visible from main traveled way; 1 expressway sign per 450 ft of expressway frontage or fraction thereof. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(4)-(5), (f)(1)-(2), (a)(13.1) |
| Street Construction Alleviation Sign (Temporary Detached Premise) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | 4 ft (square sign, 4x4 ft) | No minimum setback, but cannot be located in a public right‑of‑way. | Max two per premise; max one at any motor vehicle entrance. | On premises along a street segment under construction as noticed by the director; visible and oriented to the street under construction; not in right‑of‑way. | — | Dallas Dev. Code §51A-7.212(c)-(g) |

### MC-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Detached Sign - Single-Tenant Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 setback-to-height slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — | No minimum setback for single-tenant monument signs. | 1 per street frontage; detached signs on same premise must be at least 200 ft apart. | Business zoning district premise; 1 detached sign per street frontage (non-expressway). Must not be in visibility triangle. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(2)-(10), (c); Sec. 51A-7.303(a)-(c); Sec. 51A-4.602(d) |
| Detached Sign - Single-Tenant Non-Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 2:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 8:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 15 ft setback | 1 per street frontage; 200 ft separation between detached signs on same premise. | Business zoning district premise; must not be in visibility triangle; non-monument signs restricted near residential/parks. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(b), (c); Sec. 51A-7.303(a)-(c) |
| Detached Sign - Multi-Tenant Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 1:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 5 ft setback | 1 per street frontage; 200 ft separation on same premise. | Business zoning district premise. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(d)(1)(A), (d)(2), (d)(3)(A), (d)(4); Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(8) |
| Detached Sign - Multi-Tenant Non-Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 1:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 5:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 15 ft setback | 1 per street frontage; 200 ft separation on same premise. | Business zoning district premise. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(d)(1)(B), (d)(2), (d)(3)(B), (d)(4); Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(3) |
| Detached Sign - Unity-Agreement Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 0.5:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 5 ft setback | 1 unity-agreement sign per street frontage; additional single-tenant monument signs allowed per premise under the unity agreement. | One unity-agreement sign per street frontage across premises joined by unity agreement; each premise may also have one single-tenant monument sign. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(e)(1)-(4); Sec. 51A-7.213 |
| Detached Sign - Unity-Agreement Non-Monument | Up to 35 ft (subject to 0.5:1 slope) | Up to 200 sq ft (subject to 10:1 area:height ratio) | — | Minimum 15 ft setback | As allowed under unity agreement: 1 unity sign per street frontage. | Business zoning district premise operating under a unity agreement. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(e)(2)(B), (e)(3)-(4); Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(3) |
| Expressway Sign (Premise) - Standard | 20/30/40 ft by tier; extension rule up to 50 ft or +30 ft over travel surface, total ≤60 ft above grade | 50/150/400 sq ft depending on setback tier | — | As per three-tier standard: ≥5 ft, ≥15 ft, or ≥25 ft from ROW. | 1 per 450 ft expressway frontage or fraction thereof. | Wholly within 100 ft of an expressway right-of-way and visible from main traveled way; 1 expressway sign per 450 ft of expressway frontage or fraction thereof. | — | Sec. 51A-7.304(b)(4)-(5), (f)(1)-(2), (a)(13.1) |
| Street Construction Alleviation Sign (Temporary Detached Premise) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | 4 ft (square sign, 4x4 ft) | No minimum setback, but cannot be located in a public right‑of‑way. | Max two per premise; max one at any motor vehicle entrance. | On premises along a street segment under construction as noticed by the director; visible and oriented to the street under construction; not in right‑of‑way. | — | Dallas Dev. Code §51A-7.212(c)-(g) |

### Downtown Sign District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Attached Sign - Lower | No part lower than 10 ft above grade and not higher than roof line or 25 ft above grade, whichever is lower | 30 sq ft effective area | — | Minimum 2 ft from back of curb if overhanging right-of-way | Max one per pedestrian entrance | Lower projecting zone at pedestrian entrances (max one per pedestrian entrance) | — | Sec. 51A-7.911(g)(1)-(2) (Retail A/B values); Sec. 51A-7.907(a) |
| Attached Non-Premise District Activity Videoboard Sign (SUP required) | Mounting clearance 15–35 ft above sidewalk for projecting formats | 100–150 sq ft effective area | — | 2 ft min from back of curb for projecting; subject to ROW licensing | Max one per block face; citywide cap 15 across Retail A/B | Only within defined Retail A/B area (bounded by Jackson St, Lamar St, Pacific Ave, Cesar Chavez Blvd) | — | Sec. 51A-7.909(a)-(g); Sec. 51A-7.910(a)-(c), (e) |
| Detached Premise Monument/Landscape Sign | 5 ft (≤15 ft setback <15 ft); 15 ft (setback ≥15 ft) | ≤20 sq ft and ≤5 ft height if within 15 ft of ROW; ≤50 sq ft and ≤15 ft height if setback ≥15 ft | — | ≥5 ft from ROW unless placed at building line as permitted | Base: 1 per frontage; +1 per 100 ft over 450 ft frontage | At or behind building line; not within 5 ft of ROW (monument/landscape may be at building line) | — | Sec. 51A-7.912(a)-(g); Sec. 51A-7.907(b)(1) |
| Retail Subdistrict B - Campus Identification Sign | 4 ft 6 in | 77 sq ft effective area; message area ≤70% of effective area | — | Within 15 ft of ROW | 1 | Within 15 ft of right-of-way on a building site with a single building ≥1.5 million sq ft floor area | — | Sec. 51A-7.912(h)(1), (5) |
| Retail Subdistrict B - Pedestrian-Oriented Concession Sign | 8 ft 8 in | 30 sq ft effective area per sign | — | ≥15 ft | Max 3 | Minimum setback 15 ft from ROW | — | Sec. 51A-7.912(h)(4)-(5) |
| Detached Premise Signs - Standard (Retail B) | 5 ft or 15 ft respectively | 20 sq ft (≤15 ft setback) or 50 sq ft (≥15 ft setback) | — | ≥5 ft; monument/landscape may be at building line. | Per §7.912(g). | On-premise; not within 5 ft of ROW (monument/landscape at building line allowed). | — | §51A-7.912(a)-(g) |
| Detached Premise Signs - Campus Identification (Retail B) | ≤4 ft 6 in | ≤77 sq ft | — | Within 15 ft of ROW. | 1 | Within 15 ft of right-of-way on a building site with a single building of ≥1.5 million sq ft floor area. | — | §51A-7.912(h)(1) |
| Pedestrian-Oriented Concession Signs (Retail B) | ≤8 ft 8 in | ≤30 sq ft per sign | — | ≥15 ft | Up to 3. | Minimum setback 15 ft. | — | §51A-7.903(24.1); §51A-7.912(h)(4),(5)(C),(G) |

## Prohibited signs in Dallas

- Signs may not use forms, words, colors, or lights that imitate standard public traffic regulatory or emergency signs or signals (Sec. 51A-7.202).
- Signs may not be located on a roof or project over a building, except as specifically allowed in Sec. 51A-7.305 (Sec. 51A-7.203(a)).
- Signs may not be located within or project over any public right-of-way, or across the public right-of-way line extended across a railroad right-of-way, except for: (1) signs attached to and projecting no more than 18 inches from a building wall legally at/near the right-of-way line, and (2) qualifying subdivision signs (Sec. 51A-7.203(b)).
- Portable signs are prohibited citywide (Sec. 51A-7.205(b)).
- Special purpose signs are prohibited in all business and non-business zoning districts unless expressly authorized in a special provision sign district or a planned development district (Sec. 51A-7.205(c)).
- Detached non-premise signs are prohibited citywide, subject to listed defenses/exceptions (e.g., nonconforming, certain sign types, SPDs/PDs authorization, lawful relocation, court/BOA orders, occasional sale signs) (Sec. 51A-7.306).
- No sign may be attached to specified rooftop/mechanical or similar structures on a building (e.g., elevator penthouse, mechanical rooms, cooling towers, tanks, cupolas, skylights, screens, chimneys, parapet walls over four feet, storage facilities), except for premise identification or a tenant occupying more than 50% of the floor area (Sec. 51A-7.211).

## Signs exempt from permit in Dallas

- Government signs are not regulated by this article (except safe school zone signs must meet specific requirements) (Sec. 51A-7.207).
- Any sign that may display a commercial message may instead display a noncommercial message, and any sign that may display one type of noncommercial message may display any other type of noncommercial message (Sec. 51A-7.209(a)-(b)).
- Signs that contain primarily a political message are not regulated by this article when a permit is not required under Sec. 51A-7.602; such political signs on private real property with owner consent do not require a permit if they are no larger than 36 square feet, no taller than eight feet, are not illuminated, and have no moving elements (Secs. 51A-7.209(c) and 51A-7.602(b)).
- City kiosks: the display of signs on city kiosks is not regulated by this article; city kiosks must comply with the city-approved kiosk program (Sec. 51A-7.214(c)).
- Temporary street construction alleviation signs: during designated street construction periods, up to two additional detached premise signs are allowed per qualifying premise, subject to specified time, size, placement, and design limits (Sec. 51A-7.212).

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

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