# Sign Regulations in Fate, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fate, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/fate
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Fate/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH8BU_ARTIIALBE_S8-28SI)

## At a glance

Fate, Texas regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 80 sq ft, with a 10 ft (15 ft in I-30 Corridor) setback (Sec. Sec. 36-8.2.4). Most commercial signs in Fate require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 100 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| I-30 Corridor | 1 | 30 ft | 250 sq ft sign copy (min 25% of each face free of copy) | — |
| RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MH, MUT, NT | 7 | 10 ft | 50 sq ft cumulative area per Table 8.2.7-1 | — |
| NC, GC, INV, IND, MU, PP, INS | 4 | 10 ft | 184 sq ft cumulative per Table 8.2.7-1 | — |
| OTC, Old Town Core (OTC) District | 11 | 100 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Wall height up to 20 ft | 15% of wall surface (20% in I-30 Corridor) | — | — | See Additional Requirements | Attached to building wall; up to three sides | — | Sec. 36-8.2.3 |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 10 ft (15 ft in I-30 Corridor) | See additional requirements | Within landscape area at property line, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 36-8.2.4 |
| Incidental Sign | 8 ft | Variable by zone (e.g., 50-184 sq ft cumulative) | — | See Table 8.2.7-1, 50 ft min spacing | Number and cumulative area varies by zone; baseline totals apply | At entrances or exits on property | — | Sec. 36-8.2.7 and Table 8.2.7-1 |
| Freestanding Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | See additional requirements | At subdivision entry, on site | — | Sec. 36-8.2.8 |
| Wall Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | See additional requirements | On masonry screening wall or entry feature at subdivision periphery | — | Sec. 36-8.2.9 |
| Model Home Sign | 5 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per homebuilder per development (≤500 lots); 2 (>500 lots) | At model home, removal required after 4 years or conversion | — | Sec. 36-8.2.11 |
| Utility Pole Banner Sign | 10 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Min 8 ft clearance from ground/sidewalk | 2 per pole, up to 50% of poles | Attached to utility poles within development | — | Sec. 36-8.2.13 |
| Inflatable Sign | 15 ft (if on building, max building height allowed by zoning district) | 15 ft diameter (height/width/depth) | 15 ft | — | 2 per occupant/tenant | On ground, building, or similar structure | — | Sec. 36-8.3.5 |

### RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MH, MUT, NT

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Incidental Sign (Residential/Mixed/NT) | 8 ft | 50 sq ft cumulative area per Table 8.2.7-1 | — | — | Max 8 per development | Entrances/exits at property | — | Sec. 36-8.2.7, Table 8.2.7-1 |
| Freestanding Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 10 ft | See General Regulations | Residential subdivision entrance | — | Sec. 36-8.2.8 |
| Wall Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | See General Regulations | On subdivision wall | — | Sec. 36-8.2.9 |
| Model Home Sign | 5 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft | See additional requirements | At model home | — | Sec. 36-8.2.11 |
| Project Development Sign | 10 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | See General Regulations | Developing tract (temporary—see removal timeline) | — | Sec. 36-8.2.10 |
| Kiosk Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | See additional requirements | Guidance/directional signs on site | — | Sec. 36-8.2.12 |
| Utility Pole Banner Sign | 10 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Min 8 ft clearance from ground | See additional requirements | On utility poles | — | Sec. 36-8.2.13 |

### OTC, Old Town Core (OTC) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 80 sq ft | — | As in Sec. 8.2.4 | See Sec. 8.2.4 | At property/street frontage | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.2.4, 8.5.3-8.5.4 |
| Wall Sign | Up to 20 ft wall height | See Sec. 8.2.3 – 15% of wall (20% if also I-30) | — | — | See Additional Requirements | Building wall façade | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.2.3, 8.5.3 |
| Incidental Sign (OTC) | 8 ft | 80 sq ft cumulative per Table 8.2.7-1 | — | — | Max per Table 8.2.7-1 | Entrances/exits at property | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.2.7, Table 8.2.7-1 |
| Utility Pole Banner Sign | 10 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Min 8 ft clearance from ground | See additional requirements | On utility poles | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.2.13 |
| Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | 10 sq ft | — | — | 2 per ground floor entrance | Within 5 ft of primary entrance (non-res uses); on sidewalk by entrance | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.3.2 |
| Banner Sign | 12 ft (ground); 10 ft (wall) | 100 sq ft | — | — | 2 per occupant/tenant | Attached to wall or ground | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.3.3 |
| Inflatable Sign | 15 ft (if on building, max building height allowed by zoning district) | 15 ft diameter (height/width/depth) | 15 ft | — | 2 per occupant/tenant | On ground, building, or similar structure | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.3.5 |
| Balloon Sign | 100 ft | 5 ft diameter (balloon) | — | — | 20 per occupant/tenant | Tethered to ground | — | Sec. 36-8.5.2, 8.3.6 |

## Prohibited signs in Fate

- Pole signs, portable signs, marquee signs, ground signs, roof signs, bandit signs, and any signs attached to trees are prohibited.
- Permanent signs are prohibited in single-family residential zoning districts or uses except those signs that are typical and common to single-family residential uses (generally signs to be removed within a specific limited time or subdivision entry signs).
- Any sign attached, affixed, painted, or placed upon any vehicle, trailer, or mobile structure used for advertising is prohibited from being parked along a right-of-way or vicinity for longer than 30 minutes in any 24-hour period.
- Any non-public sign located within public rights-of-way or on City property without City approval is prohibited.
- Manual changeable copy signs are prohibited.
- Ground-lighted signs and signs lighted in an upward direction are prohibited.
- Neon lighting may only be approved by Special Sign Permit.
- Flashing signs and moving lights integral to a sign or external, intended to draw attention, are prohibited.
- Sign color must be neutral (neon or bright colors may only be approved by Special Sign Permit).
- Box or banner wall signs are prohibited.
- Painted wall signs depicting a business name or logo require a Special Sign Permit.
- Off-premises advertising signs (billboards) are prohibited.
- No person shall keep or permit any sign in a dilapidated or deteriorated condition as defined (i.e., illegible, broken, unsafe, etc.).
- Signs in violation of wind loading or building code requirements are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, replaced, altered, or located without securing a permit.
- No sign may obstruct or interfere with public safety or visibility of sight triangles, pedestrians, or vehicles.
- Signs cannot be located in a right-of-way or public easement.
- LED signs (wall-mounted or freestanding) are prohibited in the Old Town Core (OTC) District.
- Excessively bright colors or over-scaled letters as a means to attract attention are prohibited in the OTC District.
- Changeable electronic copy signs are prohibited in the OTC District.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fate

- City traffic signals, signs, and similar devices.
- Official legal notices.
- Public warning signs, traffic control signs, traffic directional signs, public service signs indicating danger or aids to safety, or similar signs erected by the City or similar entity.
- Signs displayed within the interior of a building not visible from outside the building.
- Street numbers or addresses not exceeding 6 square feet.
- Signs or tablets cut into any masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible materials of similar quality as determined by the Administrator.
- Sign facing replaced at the same location if there is no change in area, shape, lighting, or color.
- Replacement of letters on non-illuminated wall signs with identical letters (same area, shape, color) for which a permit for the original sign was obtained.
- Flags or emblems of a business or corporation when accompanied by both the national and state flags, with one business/corporate flag per development and not larger than accompanying national or state flags.
- Temporary political signs specifically authorized by V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 216.903.
- Signs designated by official action of the City as having special historic or architectural significance are exempt from nonconforming sign removal or improvement requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all signs unless explicitly exempted.
- A site plan is required with the sign permit application, showing street frontage, property lines, easements, location of sign, relationship to points of ingress/egress, and relationship to other signs within 60 feet of the proposed sign.
- An elevation plan showing the proposed sign on the building with length of the elevation and any other signs on the elevation with dimensions is required with the sign permit application.
- Drawing of sign indicating materials, lighting, and other design features is required with the application.
- A Special Sign Permit (granted by City Council) is required for creative or innovative signs, unusual architectural or artistic value, or deviation from standard materials/design/methods, or for murals.
- Approval by the Administrator is required for any exceptions in the Old Town Core (OTC) district; if denied, applicant may request a Special Sign Permit.
- A Certificate of Occupancy is required (or an application submitted) prior to issuance of a sign permit for permanent signs.
- Changes in ownership require a new Certificate of Occupancy before sign permits for permanent signs are issued.
- If a sign is to be attached, altered, or relocated, a permit is required.

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

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