# Sign Regulations in Denton, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Denton, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/denton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-03
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/tx/denton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH33SIADDE)

## At a glance

Denton, Texas regulates 10 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Residential Rural (RR), Residential 1 (R1), Residential 2 (R2), Residential 3 (R3), Residential 4 (R4), Residential 6 (R6), Residential 7 (R7) zoning district are capped at 6 ft. tall and 50 sq. ft., with a 10 ft from curbline, side/rear yard; see above for illumination setbacks. setback (Sec. Sec. 33-14.1 (a)-(e)). Most commercial signs in Denton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Rural (RR), Residential 1 (R1), Residential 2 (R2), Residential 3 (R3), Residential 4 (R4), Residential 6 (R6), Residential 7 (R7) | 4 | 30 ft above ground (if anchored); 10 ft above roof if attached to roof | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MN), Mixed-Use Downtown Core (MD), Mixed-Use Regional (MR), Suburban Corridor (SC), Highway Corridor (HC), General Office (GO), Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), Public Facilities (PF), Municipal Airport Overlay (MAO), Rayzor Ranch Overlay (RZR), Unicorn Lake Overlay (ULD) | 6 | IH35: 40 ft; Loop 288: 30 ft; Primary Arterials: 20 ft (except CBD); All Other Streets: 6 ft | IH 35N/E/W: 250 sq ft (Monument: 300 sq ft); Loop 288: 150 sq ft (Monument: 200 sq ft); Primary Arterials: 60 sq ft; All Other Streets: 60 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Central Business District, Bell Avenue Historic District (BAH), Oak-Hickory Historic District (OHH), West Oak Area Historic District (WOH) | 7 | 30 ft above ground; 10 ft above roof | 60 sq ft | — |
| Fry Street Overlay (FSO) Subarea A | 1 | — | — | — |
| Fry Street Overlay (FSO) Subarea B | 3 | — | 15 sq. ft. | — |
| Special Sign District (SD) | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential Rural (RR), Residential 1 (R1), Residential 2 (R2), Residential 3 (R3), Residential 4 (R4), Residential 6 (R6), Residential 7 (R7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from curbline, side/rear yard; see above for illumination setbacks. | 1 per premises, with exceptions for additional frontage or street corners. | Front yard; setback at least 10 ft from curbline and side/rear property line. | — | Sec. 33-14.1 (a)-(e) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Illumination setback as noted. | — | On building wall. | — | Sec. 33-14.1 (a), (e) |
| Wind Device Sign | 30 ft above ground (if anchored); 10 ft above roof if attached to roof | — | — | — | — | On premises per permit. | — | Sec. 33-14.1 (a), 33-12.7, 33-16.2 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. (no permit required) | — | Not within 10 ft of any curbline. | See citation for details on number for real estate signs. | On premises; not within public street median or within 10 ft of curbline. | — | Sec. 33-14.1 (a), 33-16.1 |

### Mixed-Use Neighborhood (MN), Mixed-Use Downtown Core (MD), Mixed-Use Regional (MR), Suburban Corridor (SC), Highway Corridor (HC), General Office (GO), Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), Public Facilities (PF), Municipal Airport Overlay (MAO), Rayzor Ranch Overlay (RZR), Unicorn Lake Overlay (ULD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | IH35: 40 ft; Loop 288: 30 ft; Primary Arterials: 20 ft (except CBD); All Other Streets: 6 ft | IH 35N/E/W: 250 sq ft (Monument: 300 sq ft); Loop 288: 150 sq ft (Monument: 200 sq ft); Primary Arterials: 60 sq ft; All Other Streets: 60 sq ft | — | 20 ft (min, may reduce per formula), 10 ft side/rear, illumination setbacks as above. | 1 per premises; exceptions as above. | Front yard; setback min 20 ft from curbline, 10 ft side/rear; can be reduced to as low as 15 ft if sign height equals setback. | — | Sec. 33-14.2 (a)-(e), Table |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Illumination setbacks if applicable. | — | On building wall. | — | Sec. 33-14.2 (a), (e) |
| Roof Sign | 1 story: 55% of building height; 2 stories: 36%; 3-5: 30%; 6-9: 25%; 10-15: 23%; 16+: 40 ft | 1 story: 60 sq ft; 2 stories: 75 sq ft; 3-5: Add 15 sq ft/story above 2, max 250 sq ft | — | — | — | On roof, not extending past exterior walls. | — | Sec. 33-15.2 |
| Projecting Sign | May not exceed highest part of roof or exterior wall | 20% of wall area | — | — | — | Affixed to building; may project into right-of-way in CBD (see separate CBD entry) | — | Sec. 33-15.3 |
| Wind Device Sign | 30 ft above ground if anchored; 10 ft above roof | — | — | — | — | On premises per permit | — | Sec. 33-14.2 (a), 33-12.7, 33-16.2 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft (no permit) | — | Not within 10 ft of any curbline. | See citation for number and restrictions. | On premises, not within any street median or within 10 ft of curbline. | — | Sec. 33-14.2 (a), 33-16.1 |

### Central Business District, Bell Avenue Historic District (BAH), Oak-Hickory Historic District (OHH), West Oak Area Historic District (WOH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | Sec. 33-14.4 (b) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall. | — | Sec. 33-14.4 (a) |
| Roof Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | — | On roof | — | Sec. 33-14.4 (b) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | Not more than 10 ft projection; minimum 2 ft from curbline | — | — | On building, may extend into right-of-way | — | Sec. 33-14.4 (c) |
| Sandwich Board/A-frame sign (Sidewalk) | 3 ft | — | 2 ft, not to extend more than 3 ft from building face | — | — | Public sidewalk, immediately adjacent to main entrance during hours open to public | — | Sec. 33-14.4 (d), (9)-(11) |
| Wind Device Sign | 30 ft above ground; 10 ft above roof | — | — | — | — | On premises per permit | — | Sec. 33-14.4 (a), 33-12.7, 33-16.2 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft (no permit) | — | Not within 10 ft of any curbline. | — | On premises, not within any street median or within 10 ft of curbline. | — | Sec. 33-14.4 (a), 33-16.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Denton

- Signs located on private property without the consent of the owner of the premises and/or the persons holding the present right of possession and control.
- Signs which are located in or interfere with the use of a required off-street parking space or maneuvering area.
- Signs which are or become deteriorated, dilapidated or in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe.
- Any sign located on, or attached to, a public street light, utility pole, hydrant, bridge, traffic control device, street sign or other public structure or building; or any sign located in, on, over, or within a public street, sidewalk, alley, easement or right-of-way.
- Signs which do not comply with any applicable provision of a building code, electrical code or other applicable code or ordinance of the city.
- Signs located on trees and shrubs.
- Signs which employ a motion picture machine, or which display moving images, or images which give the impression of motion, including those using digital display.
- Signs located or illuminated in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device, or so as to obstruct or interfere with a driver's view of traffic.
- Signs other than traffic control signs or signals, located in a triangle sight area at intersections.
- Signs, illuminated from within or without, that are illuminated so as to constitute a hazard to operation of motor vehicles or substantially interfere with reasonable enjoyment of residential property.
- Signs with intermittent illumination, including flashing, fading, revolving or blinking lights, or changing message by illumination (excluding temporary holiday lights and lights for time and temperature signs).
- Billboards using digital display technology.
- Any portable sign which is not a properly registered nonconforming portable sign.
- No person shall display, erect, locate, relocate, or keep any dilapidated or deteriorated sign, or for which a permit is required but has not been obtained.
- No person shall cross or park a vehicle on a state or city right-of-way to maintain a sign adjacent to the right-of-way.
- No person shall cover signs with bags or tarps of any material.
- New billboards are prohibited.
- Existing legal billboards may not be converted to digital display.

## Signs exempt from permit in Denton

- Aerial banners towed behind aircraft.
- Decorative or architectural features of buildings (not including lettering, trademarks or moving parts), which do not perform a communicative function.
- Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), when not used for general advertising.
- Cornerstones and foundation stones.
- The legal use of fireworks, candles and artificial lighting not otherwise regulated by this chapter.
- Grave markers, gravestones, headstones, mausoleums, shrines, and other markers of the deceased.
- Historical monuments, plaques and tablets.
- Holiday and cultural observance decorations displayed in season, including inflatable objects, on private residential property, on display for not more than forty-five calendar days per year (cumulative, per dwelling unit) and not including commercial messages.
- Inflatable temporary gymnasium devices associated with legal residential uses (e.g., party jumps, bounce houses).
- Interior graphics located entirely within a building or other enclosed structure and not visible from the exterior.
- Manufacturers' marks customarily attached to products.
- Mass transit graphics mounted on duly licensed mass transit vehicles.
- News racks, newspaper vending devices and newsstands.
- Makeup, masks, wigs, costumes, jewelry, apparel, and similar items, unless constituting a commercial mascot.
- Safety warnings on motorized or electrified equipment.
- Searchlights used as part of search and rescue or other emergency operations.
- Shopping carts, golf carts, horse drawn carriages, and similar devices (non-motorized vehicles).
- Symbols of non-commercial organizations or concepts permanently integrated into a building’s structure (e.g., stained glass, statuary).
- Vehicle and vessel insignia (license plates, frames, registration insignia, non-commercial messages, business-related messages) and for-sale messages (if not general advertising for hire).
- Flags.
- Advertisements on scoreboards and fences of city athletic fields, located exclusively on the field side or not visible from the public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any person requesting a variance must submit an application and plans to the board of adjustment; the application must include all required information and plans.
- Sign permit applications must include two sets of fully dimensioned site plans showing existing and proposed signs and other detailed information including building elevations, sign areas, and location.
- For Special Sign Districts: Application for a special sign district must include a sign plan showing location, setback, size, dimensions, height, and other conditions/restrictions for all signs regulated by this chapter.
- Deviations from Planned Development District sign standards may be approved if supported by written findings by the city council or planning and zoning commission.
- Applications for sandwich board or 'A' frame signs in the Central Business District must be submitted for approval to the City of Denton Historic Preservation Officer at least fourteen days prior to installation.
- In PD and Overlay districts, sign regulations may be modified or require sign plans as specified by the PD or overlay requirements.
- Any proposed sign subject to discretionary process, such as a variance or specialized sign district, must include all required information and plans in the application.
- Minor amendments to site or landscape plans, including those affecting sign placement or design, may be authorized by the Director only in writing and placed in the ordinance file.

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

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