# Sign Regulations in Elmendorf, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elmendorf, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/elmendorf
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Elmendorf/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH30SU_ARTVISEWALISTSIRE)

## At a glance

Elmendorf, Texas regulates 13 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Pole Sign (Type C)s in the Commercial District (C-1, C-2) zoning district are capped at 30 ft. (up to 50 ft. if within 400 feet of US Hwy 62/82 ROW) tall and 200 sq. ft., with a At least 15 feet behind curb; at least 10 feet from adjacent property setback (Sec. Sec. 38-165 Table; Sec. 38-152(b)(3)). Most commercial signs in Elmendorf require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural/Open Space (AO), Single-Family Residential (R1) | 2 | 7 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — |
| Multi-Family Residential (MF), Manufactured Housing Park (MHP), Manufactured Housing Subdivision (MHS) | 4 | 10 ft. | 80 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2) | 6 | 35 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (with 10+ businesses), or 200 sq. ft. (<10 businesses) | — |
| Commercial District (C-3), Industrial District (M-1, M-2) | 6 | 35 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (with 10+ businesses), or 200 sq. ft. (<10 businesses) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 15 ft. (undeveloped property) | 12 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Type A) | — | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached against building fronts, parallel to the face of the building, or atop canopy | — | Sec. 38-165 Table; Sec. 38-152(b)(1) |
| Ground Sign (Type B) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | Sec. 38-165 Table; Sec. 38-152(b)(2) |
| Pole Sign (Type C) | 30 ft. (up to 50 ft. if within 400 feet of US Hwy 62/82 ROW) | 200 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 feet behind curb; at least 10 feet from adjacent property | 1 per street per building | At least 15 feet behind curb, at least 10 feet from any adjacent property, not within 40 ft of another Type C sign on same lot | — | Sec. 38-165 Table; Sec. 38-152(b)(3) |
| Shopping Center Sign (Type D) | 35 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (with 10+ businesses), or 200 sq. ft. (<10 businesses) | — | 15 ft behind curb, 300 ft from residential, 50 ft from other property | 1 per street on which shopping center fronts | At least 15 ft behind curb, at least 300 ft from residential zoning, at least 50 ft from any other property | — | Sec. 38-152(b)(4) |
| Wall Sign (Type A - Institutional/Church/College/Public/Educational) | — | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached against building fronts or parallel to the face of the building | — | Sec. 38-165 Table |
| Ground Sign (Type B - Institutional/Church/College/Public/Educational) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | Sec. 38-165 Table |

### Commercial District (C-3), Industrial District (M-1, M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Type A) | — | 200 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached against building fronts, parallel to the face of the building, or atop canopy | — | Sec. 38-165 Table; Sec. 38-152(b)(1) |
| Ground Sign (Type B) | 10 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | Sec. 38-165 Table; Sec. 38-152(b)(2) |
| Pole Sign (Type C) | 30 ft. (up to 50 ft. if within 400 feet of US Hwy 62/82 ROW) | 200 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 feet behind curb; at least 10 feet from adjacent property | 1 per street per building | At least 15 feet behind curb, at least 10 feet from any adjacent property, not within 40 ft of another Type C sign on same lot | — | Sec. 38-165 Table; Sec. 38-152(b)(3) |
| Shopping Center Sign (Type D) | 35 ft. | 300 sq. ft. (with 10+ businesses), or 200 sq. ft. (<10 businesses) | — | 15 ft behind curb, 300 ft from residential, 50 ft from other property | 1 per street on which shopping center fronts | At least 15 ft behind curb, at least 300 ft from residential zoning, at least 50 ft from any other property | — | Sec. 38-152(b)(4) |
| Wall Sign (Type A - Institutional/Church/College/Public/Educational) | — | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Attached against building fronts or parallel to the face of the building | — | Sec. 38-165 Table |
| Ground Sign (Type B - Institutional/Church/College/Public/Educational) | 20 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | At least 15 feet behind curb | — | Sec. 38-165 Table |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 15 ft. (undeveloped property) | 8 sq. ft. (individual residential/commercial, any district); 100 sq. ft. (nonresidential commercial wall sign); 1 sq. ft. per lineal ft. of street frontage up to 100 sq. ft. for undeveloped property | — | 20 ft behind curb or 10 ft behind property line (undeveloped); No setback (developed) | 1 per property | In any yard for developed property; for undeveloped, at least 20 ft behind curb or 10 ft behind property line, whichever is greater | — | Sec. 38-151(1) |
| Garage Sale Sign (Temporary) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | In any yard | — | Sec. 38-151(2) |
| Charity/Civic Event Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | In any yard | — | Sec. 38-151(3) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private real property (with consent) and city public right-of-way (90 days before through 5 days after election) | — | Sec. 38-158.1 |
| Bandit Sign (Temporary, Type) | 2 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per intersection per company | City public right-of-way (excluding intersection sight triangles); all zoning districts | — | Sec. 38-162 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per home occupation | On dwelling where occupation occurs | — | Sec. 38-125(1)(g) |
| Bed and Breakfast Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per establishment | Attached to dwelling | — | Sec. 38-119(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Elmendorf

- No sign shall be erected or altered at any location within the city without a permit, except as specified in the ordinance.
- No sign or lighting shall be erected, placed, or allowed to remain that creates confusion, impairs hearing or vision, or otherwise distracts automotive drivers on public streets. Specifically prohibited are high-intensity bare bulb lighting or lighting that creates glare/makes traffic signs or signals unreadable; signs duplicating colors, characteristics, or symbols of traffic signs/signals; and signs/equipment producing noises simulating emergency vehicle warning devices.
- No sign or lighting shall be permitted whereby such sign or lighting, by reason of placement, lack of shielding, noise generation or character of operation, would be adverse to the normal sensibilities of a person residing on adjacent property or interfere with reasonable use, enjoyment or right of privacy.
- No sign shall be located within or project over any public right-of-way, except as otherwise provided (official traffic control signs or entrance and exit signs less than 30 inches above grade placed with city permission).
- Beginning February 11, 2016, no Changeable Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS) shall be allowed within the corporate limits of the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
- Beginning February 11, 2016, no new construction permit shall be issued for the erection of an off-premises sign, including new off-premises CEVMS or the conversion of existing non-CEVMS off-premises signs to CEVMS, within the corporate limits of the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
- Obsolete or unused telecommunication towers shall be removed within 12 months of cessation of use.
- All signs for which a permit is required shall be kept in repair and failure to comply with a removal order for a non-maintained sign constitutes a misdemeanor.
- Any nonconforming sign which is damaged or deteriorated such that restoration costs exceed 50 percent of its replacement value shall be removed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Elmendorf

- One temporary real estate sales sign announcing the offering for sale/rental of individual residential or commercial property on which it is placed, not exceeding eight square feet and removed within one week after sale/lease closure.
- On nonresidential commercial property, a temporary unlighted sign offering all or a portion for sale/rental, flat against a building wall, no larger than 100 sq ft, not taller than the wall, removed within one week after sale/lease.
- On undeveloped property, temporary unlighted sales signs not exceeding one square foot per lineal foot of street frontage or 100 sq ft, whichever is smaller, and not exceeding 15 feet in height, placed with required setback. Removed within one week after sale.
- Temporary unlighted garage sale signs for no more than 30 days per year, up to eight square feet, posted up to five days prior and removed within 24 hours after sale.
- Temporary signs for charity/civic events (special events, bazaars, rallies, etc.) up to 30 days, posted up to 12 days before event, removed within 24 hours after event.
- Bandit signs (lightweight plastic temporary signs), max 2 ft tall and 4 sq ft area, allowed in all zones including city right-of-way (subject to sight triangle restrictions), no permit required, limited time windows for posting, maximum two signs per intersection per company.
- Political signs may be placed on private property with owner consent and in the public right-of-way 90 days before through 5 days after an election; no permit is required.
- Symbols designed as integral part of a building structure, and symbols/signs not visible or readable from the public street, are not limited by sign regulations.
- Existing signs in compliance as of December 12, 2013, are exempt from new provisions; however, alterations must comply with current requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs within Planned Development (PD) districts must conform to base district regulations unless a site plan further restricts the signs. No sign will be allowed in a district requiring a site plan unless the site plan shows such sign.

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

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