# Sign Regulations in Ennis, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ennis, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/ennis
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-19
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Ennis/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH14SI)

## At a glance

Ennis, Texas regulates 15 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall and 80 square feet per side, with a Not located in the right-of-way or within 8 feet of the curb. setback (Sec. Sec. 14-21). Most commercial signs in Ennis require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 85 feet on major thoroughfares, 60 feet on US Highway 287 Ennis By-Pass, 34 feet on minor thoroughfares | 80 square feet per side | — |
| Historic Downtown District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Zoning District | 2 | — | 672 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No Solicitors Sign | — | 3 inches by 4 inches | — | — | — | Near the main entrance to the residence. | — | Sec. 10-254 |
| Banner Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business at any given time, for 30 days, up to 3 times per year. | On site for special events. | — | Sec. 14-18(f) |
| Real Estate Sign - Residential | — | 5 square feet for main body, plus 3 square feet for riders | — | — | — | On site in residential areas. | — | Sec. 14-18(c)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign - Commercial | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On site in commercial areas. | — | Sec. 14-18(c)(2) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One stake sign not exceeding 4 square feet per subcontractor. | On site during construction. | — | Sec. 14-18(g) |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 80 square feet per side | — | Not located in the right-of-way or within 8 feet of the curb. | One per street frontage. | On premise in nonresidential and multi-family districts. | — | Sec. 14-21 |
| Free-standing Pole or Pylon Sign | 85 feet on major thoroughfares, 60 feet on US Highway 287 Ennis By-Pass, 34 feet on minor thoroughfares | — | — | — | — | On major thoroughfares and within 1,200 feet of Interstate Highway 45. | — | Sec. 14-21 |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | — | On the building of the business they are advertising. | — | Sec. 14-31 |

### Historic Downtown District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Must reflect the style and period of the early Ennis era. | — | Sec. 14-32 |

### Commercial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Billboard | — | — | — | Not closer than 500 feet to residentially zoned property. | — | Along Interstate Highway 45 road frontage. | — | Sec. 14-29 |
| Digital Billboard | — | 672 square feet | — | Not closer than 500 feet to residentially zoned property. | — | Along Interstate Highway 45 road frontage. | — | Sec. 14-30 |

## Prohibited signs in Ennis

- No sign shall be located on a public right-of-way or public access easement, except traffic regulatory signs and government signs.
- No sign shall overhang public property or right-of-way.
- No person shall attach any sign, paper or material, or paint, stencil or write any name, number (except house number) or otherwise mark on any sidewalk, curb, gutter or street, except for city sanctioned events.
- Any sign that contains statements, words, or pictures of obscene, indecent, or immoral character that will offend community public morals or decency is strictly prohibited.
- No revolving beam or beacon of light resembling any emergency vehicle light shall be permitted as part of a sign display in any zoning district.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct the vision or sight distance of motor vehicle operators or pedestrians at any street intersection, street crossing or other part of traffic concentration.
- Imitation of traffic and emergency signs is prohibited.
- Portable signs are specifically prohibited.
- No person shall attach or maintain any sign upon any tree, fence or public utility pole or structure in public right-of-way, alley, or utility easement.
- Any sign is prohibited which emits sound, odor, or visible matter which would serve as a distraction to persons within a public right-of-way.
- Any sign not permanently or adequately attached to a building, approved sign pole or structure is prohibited.
- Signs in or over right-of-way are prohibited except for special annual festival signs, such as Ennis festivals or events approved by the city.
- Signs on persons: hand-held signs or signs, symbols or displays on persons or animals; at no time shall signs be allowed to be held, flipped, spun, tilted, or in any other fashion displayed which could distract the attention of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, thereby resulting in an un-safe condition.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ennis

- Temporary signs—i.e. political signs.
- On site business/industry real estate signs: not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet, advertising the sale or lease of business/industrial property, up to the point where there is seventy-five (75) percent occupancy.
- Public signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest, such as safety, danger, trespassing, traffic, memorial, historical interest and the like, erected by or on the order of a public official in the performance of their public duty.
- Signs for city sanctioned events or other festivals/events shall be removed within two (2) working days after the event.
- Governmental signs: Signs erected or maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function; required by law, ordinance or governmental regulation; or located on property owned, leased or under control of the federal or state government.
- Railway signs: Signs within or on railway property and placed or maintained in reference to the operation of such railway.
- Utility signs: Signs marking utility or underground communication or transmission lines shall be no more than thirty-two (32) inches tall.
- Plaques: Commemorative plaques of recognized historical societies and organizations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person, firm, corporation or entity whatsoever shall be allowed to erect a billboard or off-site sign until said person, firm, corporation, or entity shall have first obtained a permit therefore from the city commission through the Type II Site Plan review procedure in the unified development ordinance.
- No person, firm, corporation or entity whatsoever shall be allowed to convert an existing, nonconforming billboard to a digital billboard until said person, firm, corporation, or entity shall have first obtained a permit therefore from the city manager or designee through the Type I Site Plan procedure in the unified development ordinance.
- No person, firm, corporation or entity whatsoever shall be allowed to erect a digital billboard until said person, firm, corporation, or entity shall have first obtained a permit therefore from the city commission through the Type II Site Plan procedure in the unified development ordinance.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Ennis, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Ennis+TX&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-ennis

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