Sign Regulations in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas has specific sign regulations covering 30 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Monument Sign, Wall Sign, Office Directory Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: October 31, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for El Paso, Texas
Sample Sign Requirements in El Paso
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Sign (Pole or Monument) | — | — | 15 ft from curbline; 30 ft from residential/apartment |
| Auxiliary Sign | 3 ft (freestanding) | 10 sq ft per sign | 15 ft from curbline (freestanding) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Not higher than roofline | Included in wall sign max; <=36 sq ft or 50% awning face | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for El PasoFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
30
- Monument Sign
- Wall Sign
- Office Directory Sign
- Perpendicular Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
11
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for El Paso
Other Cities in Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
Sign height limits in El Paso vary by zone and sign type. Wall signs typically range from 25-40 feet, while monument signs are usually limited to 6-10 feet. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your property.
To get a sign permit in El Paso, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In El Paso, regulated sign types include Monument Sign, Wall Sign, Office Directory Sign, Perpendicular Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
In El Paso, monument signs typically require a 15 ft from curbline; 30 ft from residential/apartment setback from property lines. Setbacks may increase near residential zones or intersections. Wall signs attached to buildings generally don't have setback requirements. Use PermitPal for location-specific setback data.
Digital and LED signs in El Paso are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. El Paso has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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El Paso, Texas Sign Rules at a Glance
El Paso, Texas regulates 30 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Auxiliary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft (freestanding) tall and 10 sq ft per sign, with a 15 ft from curbline (freestanding) setback (Sec. 20.18.490.A). Most commercial signs in El Paso require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for El Paso, Texas
Sign Rules by Zoning District in El Paso (11 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 16 ft (C); 8 ft (others) | 100 sq ft, included in wall max | — |
| Residential Districts (R-F, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-5, RMH, PMD, NOS) | 3 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Apartment Districts (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-M, P-RI, P-RII, SRR) | 4 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Office and Special Districts (A-O, A-3/O, S-D) | 4 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use and Commercial Districts (C-OP, C-1, P-C, P-I, R-MU, G-MU, I-MU) | 4 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-2, C-3, C-4, Q, M-1, M-2, M-3) | 7 | 25 ft (arterial); 35 ft (freeway); 45 ft (shopping); 25 ft (detached/manuf); 8-12 ft (minor/collector) | 200 sq ft | — |
| C-5 District | 7 | 20 ft; 35 ft arterial | 100 sq ft | — |
| U-P District | 5 | 10 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| Historic Overlay Zones, Historic Districts and Designated Significant Landmarks | 6 | 3 ft (all); 6 ft (C districts) | 30 sq ft (C districts); 10 sq ft (others) | — |
| Civic and Cultural Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| SmartCode Zone (SCZ) | 1 | — | — | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in El Paso(sample of 3 of 11 zones)
General Regulations For All Zones
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auxiliary Sign | 3 ft (freestanding) | 10 sq ft per sign | — | 15 ft from curbline (freestanding) | 4 | Freestanding: 15 ft from curbline, within property; Wall: <=18 in projection | — | Unlock | 20.18.490.A |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Not higher than roofline | Included in wall sign max; <=36 sq ft or 50% awning face | — | — | 1 per awning/canopy | Mounted on/above awning/canopy | — | Unlock | 20.18.490.B |
| Building Marker Sign | 2 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | <=2 in projection from building | — | Unlock | 20.18.490.C |
| Community Service Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per frontage, max 4 per premise | On walls, fences, freestanding; within property | — | Unlock | 20.18.490.D |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 5 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 2 per entrance | At entrances; not in ROW unless special privilege + maintenance covenant | — | Unlock | 20.18.490.F |
| Menu Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Oriented not readable from street; approved for safety/traffic | — | Unlock | 20.18.490.G |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 10 ft (C); 6 ft (others) | 32 sq ft (C districts); 6 sq ft (others) + 2 riders (6x30 in) | — | 3 ft from public; 13 ft curb | No max | >=3 ft from public prop; >=13 ft from curb; 50 ft spacing | — | Unlock | 20.18.500.A |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 16 ft (C); 8 ft (others) | 64 sq ft (C); 32 sq ft (others) | — | 3 ft public; 13 ft curb | 1 per frontage, max 2 | >=3 ft public; >=13 ft curb | — | Unlock | 20.18.500.B |
Commercial and Industrial Districts (C-2, C-3, C-4, Q, M-1, M-2, M-3)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Sign | 25 ft (arterial); 35 ft (freeway); 45 ft (shopping); 25 ft (detached/manuf); 8-12 ft (minor/collector) | 150 sq ft (arterial); 250 sq ft (freeway); 200-450 sq ft (shopping center arterial/freeway); 80 sq ft (detached); 300 sq ft combined (manufacturer) | — | 15 ft curb | Varies: <6 acres 1/frontage max 3; >=6 2/frontage max 4; shopping varies by acres/frontage; 1/detached; 1/manuf | >=15 ft from curb; within property if >15 ft | — | Unlock | 20.18.450.A |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft (arterial); 35 ft (freeway); 25 ft (detached/manuf); no minor/collector | 150 sq ft (arterial); 200 sq ft (freeway); 80 sq ft (detached); 300 sq ft combined (manufacturer) | — | 15 ft curb | <1 acre:1; 1-6 acres:1/frontage max2; >6:2/frontage max4; 1/detached; 1/manuf | >=15 ft from curb; within property if >15 ft | — | Unlock | 20.18.450.B |
| Office Directory Sign | — | 2.5 sq ft/tenant max 25 sq ft/entry | — | — | 1 per entry max 2/building; wall only | Wall; <=18 in projection; not obscure fenestration; within edges | — | Unlock | 20.18.450.C |
| Wall Sign | — | 40% facade street frontage; 20% other elevations (10% if <100 ft facing res/apt/special) | — | — | Any if within area; max 4 apt | <=18 in projection; not obscure fenestration | — | Unlock | 20.18.450.D |
| Secondary Advertising Sign | 8 ft | — | 3 ft/side | — | Max 2/acre | Freestanding or on light fixtures; private prop; no ROW; 8 ft clearance ground | — | Unlock | 20.18.450.E |
| Roof Sign | Building ht:sign ht 3:1; sign <=10 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1/frontage single-tenant; 1/tenant multi | Within structure edges | — | Unlock | 20.18.450.F |
| Perpendicular Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 2 per frontage/ROW per building | 9 ft clearance ground; perpendicular <=46 in; >=100 ft frontage | — | Unlock | 20.18.450.G |
C-5 District
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Sign | 20 ft; 35 ft arterial | 72 sq ft; vertical <=8 ft | — | 15 ft curb | 1 per frontage max 3 | >=15 ft from curb; within property if >15 ft | — | Unlock | 20.18.460.A |
| Office Directory Sign | — | 2.5 sq ft/tenant max 25 sq ft/entry | — | — | 1 per entry max 2/building; wall only | Wall; <=18 in projection; not obscure fenestration; within edges | — | Unlock | 20.18.460.B |
| Shingle Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 4 per building | Under canopy <=2 ft below edge; within canopy; 8 ft clearance ground; perpendicular <=24 in over ROW | — | Unlock | 20.18.460.C |
| Storefront Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per ground floor tenant | <=18 in projection; ground floor only; not obscure fenestration; within edges | — | Unlock | 20.18.460.D |
| Wall Sign | — | No max | — | — | No max | <=18 in projection; not obscure fenestration; within vertical edges | — | Unlock | 20.18.460.E |
| Perpendicular Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1-2 per frontage/tenant | 10 ft clearance ground; <=2nd story; perpendicular <=46 in over ROW; no parking between facade/ROW; <50 ft frontage:1/frontage; >50 ft: +1/tenant | — | Unlock | 20.18.460.F |
| Roof Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 per frontage/ROW per building | Street oriented >=100 ft frontage | — | Unlock | 20.18.460.G |
PermitPal covers all 11 zoning districts in El Paso — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 11 zones for El Paso — start freeProhibited Signs in El Paso
- Any sign erected in violation of the city's building, electrical, lighting, or other applicable local, state or federal regulations
- Any sign not expressly authorized by the code
- Any sign not specifically authorized by action of city council
- Any sign not specifically exempted from the provisions hereof
- Off-premises portable signs
- Any portable sign that is electrical
- Any portable sign that is more than seven feet in height including the support structure
- Wall signs that extend beyond the elevation of the building more than three feet
- Any sign which resembles an official traffic sign or signal or that bears the words 'Stop,' 'Go,' 'Slow,' 'Caution,' 'Danger,' 'Warning' or similar words, or that bears symbols communicating similar meanings in a manner which is likely to be confused with official traffic signs
- Signs which, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination, may be confused with or construed to be a traffic control sign, signal or device, or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle, or which hide from view any street or traffic sign, signal or device
- Any banner, handbill whether commercial or noncommercial, advertisement, notice, circular poster, piece of paper, figure, word, or letter, or any other kind of sign printed, painted, cut, branded, stamped, marked, written, posted, pasted, installed, or affixed in any way upon any utility post or stand, upon traffic control signs or signals, or upon any public property or public right-of-way, including, but not limited to, public buildings, sidewalks, parkways, easements and curbs; unless such sign is installed or affixed pursuant to authorization granted a special privilege license or by a city ordinance, resolution, or other valid official city authorization, or is otherwise permitted or regulated in the code
- Signs on vehicles or trailers that are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying a commercial message (prima facie evidence if parked in same location for continuous period exceeding seventy-two hours per month)
- Festoons, including tinsel, strings of ribbon, streamers and pinwheels
- Signs erected or maintained upon trees, painted or drawn upon rocks or other natural features
- Satellite dishes, cell phone, microwave or broadcast towers, operable or inoperable, used as signs
- Signs, any portion of which revolves or rotates at a speed greater than three revolutions per minute
- Animated, flashing, running light or twinkle signs, excluding CEVM signs that are permitted pursuant to the provisions of Article III of this chapter
- Signs projecting or displaying three-dimensional or holographic images
- 'V' type signs with a face that protrudes from the opposite face at an interior angle greater than twenty-five degrees (does not prohibit oval, cylindrical or box type signs)
- Signs located on or attached in any manner to fences or between or on the poles of another sign or light fixture, except as may be permitted herein
- Signs projected (from a light source) onto the sides of buildings
Exempt Signs in El Paso
- Overhead signs or banners towed behind aircraft
- Architectural features. Decorative or architectural features of buildings (not including lettering, trademarks or moving parts), which do not perform a communicative function
- Fireworks
- Foundation stones and cornerstones which are permanent in nature and incapable or not intended for modification once installed
- Grave markers, grave stones, headstones, mausoleums, shrines, and other markers of the deceased
- Holiday and cultural observance decorations on private residential property which are on display for not more than 45 calendar days per year (cumulative, per parcel or use or dwelling unit)
- Inflatable games and gymnasiums. Inflatable, temporary, moveable, gymnasium devices commonly used for children's birthday parties, and similar devices. Also called 'party jumps'
- Manufacturers' marks. Marks on tangible products, which identify the maker, seller, provider or product, and which customarily remain attached to the product even after sale
- Mass transit graphics. Graphic images mounted on duly licensed and authorized mass transit vehicles that legally pass through the City
- Merchandise on public display and presently available for purchase on-site
- News racks and newsstands
- Personal appearance. Items or devices of personal apparel, decoration or appearance, including tattoos, makeup, wigs, costumes, masks, etc. (but not including commercial mascots or hand-held signs or appliances worn for the principal purpose of holding a sign)
- Search lights and klieg lights when used as part of a search and rescue or other emergency service operation (exclusion does not apply to search lights or klieg lights used as attention attracting devices for commercial or special events)
- Shopping carts, golf carts, horse drawn carriages, and similar devices; any motorized or self-propelled vehicle which may be legally operated upon a public road is not within this exclusion
- Symbols of non-commercial organizations or concepts including, but not limited to, religious or political symbols, when such are permanently integrated into the structure of a permanent building which is otherwise legal (e.g., stained glass windows on churches, carved or bas relief doors or walls, bells, religious statuary, etc.)
- Vehicle and vessel insignia on street legal vehicles and properly licensed watercraft or aircraft: license plates, license plate frames, registration insignia, non-commercial messages, messages relating to the establishment of which the vehicle or vessel is an instrument or tool (not including general advertising) and messages relating to the proposed sale, lease or exchange of the vehicle or vessel
- Vending machines, product dispensing devices and automated product intake devices which do not display offsite commercial messages or general advertising messages (e.g., machines which accept recycle materials, 'book return' slots at libraries, 'leave your clothes here' boxes at laundry places)
- Window displays. The display of merchandise in a store window and offered for sale
- Advertising on the city's bus benches that were authorized under the city's franchise agreement, approved prior to February 19, 2013 (new bus benches with advertising may go into operation only when an existing advertising bus bench is removed from operation, on a one-to-one exchange rate; total number may not increase)
- Advertising on waste containers located on sidewalks or other city property authorized under the city's franchise agreement (new waste containers with advertising may be put into service only when an advertising waste container appearing on a franchisee's original franchise agreement with the city is removed from operation, on a one-to-one exchange rate, so that the total number may not increase for each franchisee)
- Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted or construed to conflict with Texas Local Government Code Section 216.903 (Regulation of Political Signs by Municipality)
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for El Paso
- Shopping centers may allocate the total available square footage for all primary monument, pole, and out parcel signs permitted under this chapter according to a submitted and approved Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP)
- The CSP shall be reviewed by the planning division for completeness and shall not be processed until any missing information is supplied and the applicant pays the established fee. Amendments to the sign plan shall be assessed the same fee as an original CSP
- Administrative approval. Comprehensive sign plans shall be reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator
- Comprehensive sign plans shall include: legal description of area proposed to be developed or metes and bounds description and amount of land included certified by a professional engineer (P.E.) or registered architect; three copies of the comprehensive sign plan, showing the boundaries of the tract proposed for development; elevations or perspective of the building; location and arrangement, use, dimensions, square footage and height of all structures; yards, setbacks (number of feet); sidewalks and curb cuts; driveways; on-site parking spaces, to include loading and unloading berths; open spaces; landscape planted areas; size, screening walls; screening of on-site parking facilities; stamp or seal and signature of a professional engineer or architect preparing plans; proof of ownership (warranty deed, title commitment, etc.); the applicant shall pay the established fee; the locations, dimensions, and elevations of each sign to be located within the site; a table listing each sign, its permitted size under existing zoning and standard review, and the square footage allocated to the specific sign under the comprehensive sign plan
- Shopping centers submitting a comprehensive sign plan shall be eligible for one additional primary monument sign to be used for no more than two anchor tenants to be identified by the property owner
- All signs covered by the comprehensive sign plan shall be monument signs
- Signs covered by the comprehensive sign plan shall not be eligible for the exceptions under 20.18.400.B
- If the zoning administrator does not approve an applicant's CSP, the applicant may appeal the decision to the city plan commission. The applicant must file the appeal with the zoning administrator within fifteen business days from the date of the zoning administrator's decision. The zoning administrator shall place the appeal on the city plan commission agenda to be heard within forty-five business days from the date the appeal was received
- Architecturally unique primary signs not also meeting the definition of monument sign may reduce the sign base below thirty-three percent when the CSP and sign elevations demonstrate a consistent theme across all shopping center signage and where the design of the primary signs is tied to the architecture of the primary building(s) within the shopping center
- Superregional shopping centers with changeable variable message signs shall submit a comprehensive sign plan
Source: municode municipal code