# Sign Regulations in Desoto, Texas

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

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

## At a glance

Desoto, Texas regulates 11 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Signs in the Multi-Family Districts (SF-A, MF-1, MF-2, MH, CON) zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 50 sq ft (5 ft setback), 70 sq ft (15 ft setback), with a 5 ft or 15 ft from property line setback (Sec. §3.1022(2)(C)(iv)). Most commercial signs in Desoto require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (A, SF-E, SF-1, SF-2, SF-3, 2F) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Multi-Family Districts (SF-A, MF-1, MF-2, MH, CON) | 3 | 7 ft | 50 sq ft (5 ft setback), 70 sq ft (15 ft setback) | — |
| Business Districts (P, O, NS, GR, C, CC, I, IP, PD, FP Prefix) | 5 | 20 ft (≤50 sq ft area), 30 ft (≤120 sq ft area) | 120 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use Districts (MU-1, MU-2, MU-R) | 3 | 4 ft (≤24 ft height), 6 ft (>24 ft height) | 100 sq ft per facade per business | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (I and C) Freeway Frontage | 1 | 40 ft, or 30 ft above travel surface of adjacent freeway | 300 sq ft (single sign), 600 sq ft (consolidated sign) | — |
| Office and Planned Development Districts (O-1 and PD-125) Freeway Frontage | 1 | 40 ft, or 30 ft above travel surface of adjacent freeway | 300 sq ft (single sign), 600 sq ft (consolidated sign) | — |
| Highway Control Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Multi-Family Districts (SF-A, MF-1, MF-2, MH, CON)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §3.1016 |
| Temporary Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §3.1022(2)(C)(ii) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 7 ft | 50 sq ft (5 ft setback), 70 sq ft (15 ft setback) | — | 5 ft or 15 ft from property line | One per main entrance to the project | Inside private property | — | §3.1022(2)(C)(iv) |

### Business Districts (P, O, NS, GR, C, CC, I, IP, PD, FP Prefix)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §3.1016 |
| Temporary Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §3.1022(2)(D)(ii) |
| Attached Sign | 4 ft (≤24 ft height), 6 ft (>24 ft height) | 40 sq ft or greater | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | §3.1022(2)(D)(iii) |
| Under Canopy Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Under canopy | — | §3.1022(2)(D)(iv) |
| Freestanding Identification Sign | 20 ft (≤50 sq ft area), 30 ft (≤120 sq ft area) | 120 sq ft | — | 5 ft or 15 ft from public right-of-way | One per building site or per 450 lineal feet of frontage | 5 ft or 15 ft from public right-of-way | — | §3.1022(2)(D)(v) |

### Mixed Use Districts (MU-1, MU-2, MU-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §3.1016 |
| Temporary Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §3.1022(2)(G)(ii) |
| Attached Wall Sign | 4 ft (≤24 ft height), 6 ft (>24 ft height) | 100 sq ft per facade per business | — | — | One per business per facade, except for corner businesses | Attached to building | — | §3.1022(2)(G)(vii) |

## Prohibited signs in Desoto

- It shall be unlawful for any person to display upon any sign any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter.
- No persons shall erect, maintain, or permit the erection of any balloon or other floating device anchored to the ground or to any structure.
- No person shall attach any sign, paper, or other material or paint, stencil, or write any name, number (except house numbers) or otherwise mark on any sidewalk, curb, gutter, street, utility pole, public building, fence or structure unless authorized by this article or by the city council or its delegated representative.
- No sign shall be illuminated to an intensity greater than two hundred (200) footlamberts.
- Beacons, revolving or similarly constructed signs shall not be allowed.
- No person shall place on, or suspend from any building, pole, structure, sidewalk, parkway, driveway, or parking area, any goods, wares, merchandise, or other advertising object or structure for the purpose of advertising such items, other than a sign as defined, regulated, and prescribed in this article except as otherwise allowed by ordinance.
- No cloth, paper, banner, flag, device, or other similar advertising matter shall be permitted to be attached, suspended from or allowed to hang loose from any sign, building or structure, except as allowed by other provisions of this article.
- No portion of any sign shall be erected upon or over public property unless authorized by the city council and under such terms and conditions that the city may impose.
- No advertising sign of any type shall be erected within fifty feet (50') of an adjoining residential district except by special permit of the city council, subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards.
- No sign shall be allowed unless it is permanently affixed to the premises except as allowed under Section 3.1022, Permitted Signs.
- No temporary directional signs for the exclusive purpose of directing traffic to residential sections of the city shall be erected.
- No signs attached to a motorized vehicle, where the primary use of such vehicle is for sign purposes will be permitted.
- Any sign constructed of or containing material capable of reflecting light, images, or sound waves; producing glare or mirrored images, is strictly prohibited.
- No banners or flags shall be allowed except as permitted under Section 3.1022, Permitted Signs.
- Billboard signs, portable signs, signs with exposed neon, border lighting, including neon and LED border tube and pole signs are prohibited within the MU-1, MU-2 and MU-R districts.
- Signs containing the use of fluorescent paint and fluorescent colors are prohibited within MU-1, MU-2 and MU-R districts.
- Signs described in Section 3.1023, off-premises pole [detached] signs, are prohibited within MU-1, MU-2 and MU-R districts.

## Signs exempt from permit in Desoto

- Signs not exceeding eight (8) square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located only, except in MU-1, MU-2 and MU-R districts.
- Signs not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet which advertise the sale of residential tracts larger than five (5) acres; or commercial tracts which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which said signs are located only, except in MU-1, MU-2 and MU-R districts.
- Name plates not exceeding one (1) square foot in area.
- Bulletin boards not over twenty-five (25) square feet in area, for public, charitable, or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises of said institutions, except in MU-1, MU-2 and MU-R districts where such signs are prohibited.
- One temporary construction sign denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor when placed upon work under construction, and not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet in area.
- Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building or public institutional building and not exceeding two (2) square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
- Flags, emblems and insignia of any governmental body, decorative displays for holidays or public demonstrations which do not contain advertising and are not used as such.
- On-site directional signs not exceeding two (2) square feet, provided such directional signs do not contain advertising and are not used as such.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and such emergency, temporary or nonadvertising signs as may be approved by the city manager, or his authorized representative.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs located in zoning districts mixed use-1 (MU-1), mixed use-2 (MU-2) and mixed use-R (MU-R), as defined and regulated in the adopted city’s zoning ordinance, Sections 33A, 33B and 33C respectively, shall provide the location, type, size and look of signs in accordance with this article as part of the Section 33D, Detailed Site Plan of the city’s zoning ordinance.

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

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