Sign Regulations in Forney, Texas
Forney, Texas has specific sign regulations covering 40 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres), Freestanding Monument Sign (> 5 acres), Directory Sign (Freestanding). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: October 30, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Forney, Texas
Sample Sign Requirements in Forney
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres) | 8 ft (including base) from grade | 64 sq ft per face (double-faced allowed) | ≥15 ft from back of curb; if no curb, ≥15 ft from property line |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (> 5 acres) | 10 ft (including base) from grade | 150 sq ft per face (double-faced allowed) | ≥15 ft from back of curb/property line |
| Wall Sign (Front Facade) | Shall not extend beyond roofline/parapet; placement height on building ≤35 ft; letters per 48.11(B)(2) ≤6 ft tall | Greater of 10% of front facade area or 60 sq ft | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for ForneyFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
40
- Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres)
- Freestanding Monument Sign (> 5 acres)
- Directory Sign (Freestanding)
- CEVM (as part of Monument)
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
7
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Forney
Other Cities in Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
In Forney, wall signs can be up to Shall not extend beyond roofline/parapet; placement height on building ≤35 ft; letters per 48.11(B)(2) ≤6 ft tall and monument signs are limited to 8 ft (including base) from grade. Height limits vary by zoning district and sign type. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your specific location.
To get a sign permit in Forney, 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 Forney, regulated sign types include Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres), Freestanding Monument Sign (> 5 acres), Directory Sign (Freestanding), CEVM (as part of Monument), and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
In Forney, monument signs typically require a ≥15 ft from back of curb; if no curb, ≥15 ft from property line 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 Forney are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Forney has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Forney, Texas Sign Rules at a Glance
Forney, Texas regulates 40 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft (including base) from grade tall, 64 sq ft per face (double-faced allowed), and 10 ft wide, with a ≥15 ft from back of curb; if no curb, ≥15 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 71(a)-(j)). Most commercial signs in Forney require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Forney, Texas
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Forney (7 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Regulations For All Zones | 24 | Shall not extend beyond roofline/parapet; placement height on building ≤35 ft; letters per 48.11(B)(2) ≤6 ft tall | 150 sq ft per face (double-faced allowed) | — |
| Residential Areas | 6 | ≤8 ft | ≤36 sq ft | — |
| Multi-Family Residential-15 (MF-15) | 3 | ≤2 ft (monument type) | ≤16 sq ft per side | — |
| Office (O) / Neighborhood Services District (NS) | 13 | ≤35 ft on building; not above roof/parapet; letters ≤6 ft | Up to 150 sq ft (per face) and capped by frontage formula | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) / Central Business Transition Overlay District (CBT) | 8 | ≤35 ft on building; not above roof/parapet; letters ≤6 ft; projection ≤12 in; bottom edge ≥8 ft above sidewalk | Up to 150 sq ft (per face) and capped by frontage formula | — |
| General Retail (GR) / Commercial (C) / Mixed-Use (MU) / Light Industrial (LI) | 8 | ≤35 ft on building; not above roof/parapet; letters ≤6 ft; projection ≤12 in; bottom edge ≥8 ft above sidewalk | Up to 150 sq ft (per face) and capped by frontage formula | — |
| Historic Overlay Zoning District (HOZ) | 1 | — | — | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Forney(sample of 3 of 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres) | 8 ft (including base) from grade | 64 sq ft per face (double-faced allowed) | 10 ft | ≥15 ft from back of curb; if no curb, ≥15 ft from property line | No more than 1 per lot, with stated exceptions | Freestanding, low-profile monument with skirt/dressed base, architecturally compatible with principal building | — | Unlock | Sec. 71(a)-(j) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (> 5 acres) | 10 ft (including base) from grade | 150 sq ft per face (double-faced allowed) | 18 ft | ≥15 ft from back of curb/property line | As above with spacing exceptions | Freestanding monument as described | — | Unlock | Sec. 71(a), (e)-(j) |
| Wall Sign (Front Facade) | Shall not extend beyond roofline/parapet; placement height on building ≤35 ft; letters per 48.11(B)(2) ≤6 ft tall | Greater of 10% of front facade area or 60 sq ft | — | — | Single business lot: up to 3 wall-mounted signs total; not more than one per wall (48.9 A) | Mounted flat to exterior wall; projection ≤12 in; lowest projecting edge ≥8 ft above adjacent sidewalk/pavement; integrated with building architecture; shall not project above roof line | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.2(C), 48.2(D), 48.10(B), 48.11(B)(2), 48.9(A) |
| Wall Sign (Side Facade) | Per wall sign general; letters ≤6 ft (48.11(B)(2)) | 15 sq ft (nonresidential districts) | — | — | See general number limits | Side facade (excludes rear), mounted flat; projection ≤12 in; bottom edge ≥8 ft above sidewalk/pavement | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(2), 48.10(B) |
| Wall Sign (Rear Facade with Customer Entrance) | Per wall sign general | 15 sq ft | — | — | Counts toward total wall sign limit | Rear facade only if business has a customer entrance on rear facade | — | Unlock | Sec. 129(c) and 48.11(B)(2) |
| A-Frame Sign / Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per side | 2 ft | ≥4 ft from any curb; not in ROW or utility/ROW easements | Max 1 per business; max 1 per primary entrance | Immediately adjacent to primary entrance of the business it advertises; ≥4 ft from curb; not in ROW/easements/medians/parking stalls; unobstructed 4-ft pedestrian clearance around sign; min 20 ft from another A-frame | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(1)(a)-(i) and 48.3(A), 48.3(S) |
| Menu Board Sign (Drive-thru) | ≤6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | Front building setback ≥25 ft from property line | 1 per drive-thru use | On lot with drive-thru in nonresidential zoning district; min front building setback 25 ft from property line; supported from grade with solid-appearing base; design/materials to match buildings on lot | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(68)(a)-(c)(1)-(2) |
| Flag/Flagpole | Flagpole ≤35 ft from grade | Flag area ≤60 sq ft | — | Behind property line | ≤4 flags/flagpoles per property | On private property behind property line | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(41) and 48.11(C) |
Office (O) / Neighborhood Services District (NS)
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres) | 8 ft | Up to 64 sq ft (per face) and capped by frontage formula | 10 ft | ≥15 ft from curb/property line | Generally 1; see Sec. 71(i) exceptions | Per general monument standards | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(3), 71(b)-(d), 71(h)-(j), 48.10(A) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (> 5 acres) | 10 ft | Up to 150 sq ft (per face) and capped by frontage formula | 18 ft | ≥15 ft from curb/property line | Per Sec. 71 with spacing | Per general monument standards | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(3), 71(e)-(g), 71(h)-(j) |
| Directory Sign (Freestanding) | ≤1/2 monument height | Per 1/2 of monument; also within combined frontage allowance | — | — | Multi-tenant center: 1 for center (48.9(B)) | On site; wayfinding only | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(3), 48.10(D) |
| Wall Sign (Front Facade) | ≤35 ft on building; not above roof/parapet; letters ≤6 ft | Per formula | — | — | Per 48.9 | Front facade | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(2), 48.10(B), 48.9(A)-(B) |
| Wall Sign (Side Facade) | Per wall general | 15 sq ft | — | — | Per 48.9 | Side facade | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.11(B)(2) |
| A-Frame Sign / Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft/side | 2 ft | ≥4 ft from curb | 1 per business | Immediately adjacent to business entrance; not in ROW/easements | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(1) |
| Blade Sign / Perpendicular Sign | Bottom ≥8 ft above sidewalk | 6 sq ft (double-sided allowed) | — | — | 1 per entry/exit | Affixed perpendicular to facade near doorway | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(12) |
| Menu Board Signs (if drive-thru/use present) | All ≤6 ft | Drive-thru: 60 sq ft; Pre-order: 24 sq ft; Drive-in: 9 sq ft | — | Drive-thru: ≥25 ft front building setback | Drive-thru: 1; Pre-order: ≤2; Drive-in: 1 per stall | On lot with qualifying use; front building setback ≥25 ft (drive-thru) | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(68) |
General Retail (GR) / Commercial (C) / Mixed-Use (MU) / Light Industrial (LI)
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestanding Monument Sign (≤ 5 acres) | 8 ft | Up to 64 sq ft (per face) and capped by frontage formula | 10 ft | ≥15 ft from curb/property line | Generally 1; see exceptions | Per general monument standards | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(4), 71(b)-(d), 48.10(A) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (> 5 acres) | 10 ft | Up to 150 sq ft (per face) and capped by frontage formula | 18 ft | ≥15 ft from curb/property line | Per Sec. 71 with spacing | Per general monument standards | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(4), 71(e)-(g) |
| Directory Sign (Freestanding) | Per formula | Per formula | — | — | Per 48.9(B) | On site | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(4), 48.10(D) |
| Wall Signs (Front/Side/Rear with customer entrance) | ≤35 ft on building; not above roof/parapet; letters ≤6 ft; projection ≤12 in; bottom edge ≥8 ft above sidewalk | Per type | — | — | Per 48.9 | Mounted flat to facade | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.11(B)(2), 48.10(B), 48.9(A)-(B) |
| A-Frame / Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft/side | 2 ft | ≥4 ft from curb | 1 per business | Adjacent to business entrance; not in ROW/easements | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(1), 48.3(A), 48.3(S) |
| Awning / Canopy / Blade / Window Signs | — | Per general sections | — | — | — | Per each type | — | Unlock | Secs. 48.2(F)(6), (17), (12), (130) |
| CEVM (as part of Monument) | Within monument limits | Within monument limits | — | — | — | On-premises; 150-ft residential separation unless shielded | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(19) |
| Menu Board Signs (if drive-thru/use present) | All ≤6 ft | Drive-thru: 60 sq ft; Pre-order: 24 sq ft; Drive-in: 9 sq ft | — | Drive-thru: ≥25 ft | Drive-thru: 1; Pre-order: ≤2; Drive-in: 1 per stall | On lot with qualifying use; drive-thru menu board min 25-ft front building setback | — | Unlock | Sec. 48.2(F)(68) |
PermitPal covers all 7 zoning districts in Forney — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 7 zones for Forney — start freeProhibited Signs in Forney
- No sign, banner, or inflatable may be placed in, on, over, or across any public right-of-way, roadway, alley, street, railroad right-of-way, public easement, or designated fire lane; and no sign may be attached to any telephone/utility/light pole or any pole supporting traffic or road signs (Sections 48.2.E, 48.8, 48.15, 48.18.D, 95, 103).
- Signs that obstruct visibility or interfere with or may be confused with traffic devices are prohibited; signs may not use words such as “Stop,” “Go,” “Slow,” “Danger” or colored lamps that mislead traffic; visibility/sight distance triangles must be observed (Section 48.6).
- Audible signs (signs that emit sound) are prohibited citywide and in the ETJ (def 4.a).
- Bandit signs and off‑premises signs are prohibited citywide and in the ETJ (defs 8 and 80).
- Beacons/searchlights/skylights are prohibited except by written permission from the City (def 10).
- Billboards (commercial billboards) are prohibited citywide and in the ETJ (def 11.a).
- Flashing signs are prohibited (def 42.a).
- Moving, revolving, color‑changing, blinking or similarly constructed signs are prohibited (def 72.a; 48.8.V).
- Pole, pylon, and bench signs are prohibited (48.8.E–H; def 88.a).
- Portable signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed elsewhere in the Sign Code (def 90.a).
- Roof signs and parapet wall signs are prohibited (def 104.b; 48.8.O–P).
- V‑shaped signs are prohibited (def 124.a).
- Abandoned or neglected signs are prohibited and deemed a public nuisance; owners must remove within specified time (def 2.b; 48.8.Q).
- Vacant building signage (other than sale/lease information maintained by a bonded operator) is prohibited (def 125.a).
- Graffiti is prohibited (def 51.a).
- Prohibited lights (blinking, strobing, flashing, fading, scrolling or non‑static lights visible from the exterior) are prohibited; illuminated signs must not cause glare or shine onto residential property (defs 91.a; Sections 48.5.B–D).
- Signs may not be posted on trees, utility poles/structures, fence posts, the outside of any fence/railing/wall that is not a structure (except nameplates), or on sidewalks, curbs, gutters, or streets (except house numbers) (Section 48.15).
- Signs may not be attached to fire escapes or their supports; may not block exits, windows, or hinder pedestrian/vehicular traffic; may not be erected within two feet of any telephone cable, power line or street light standard; glass or shatter‑prone signs are prohibited over public right‑of‑way or pedestrian areas (Section 48.18.E–I).
- Any sign not specifically permitted by the Sign Code, any sign erected without a required permit, and any sign not complying with City ordinances or state/federal law is prohibited (48.8.R–T, Y).
- Exterior neon signs or exposed neon tubing are prohibited except as specifically allowed (e.g., one interior non‑moving “OPEN” sign); signs with exposed bulbs are prohibited (48.8.U; 130.f–g).
Exempt Signs in Forney
- Signs located entirely within a building (except window signs) are not regulated by the Sign Code (Section 48.18.L).
- Decorative displays that contain no names, initials, logos or insignia and do not represent a government or private organization are not considered signs and may not protrude over property lines or be placed in/on/over the right‑of‑way (def 32).
- Permit not required for the following (Section 48.3): A‑Frame/Sandwich Board signs (subject to placement/design rules); certain temporary banner signs (religious organization banners around worship services; banners during social/athletic events at public parks/City property) under specified timing/placement limits; building markers/memorial plaques/cornerstones; commemorative signs/historical markers; flags/flagpoles; for sale/rent/lease signs and Realtor open house signs; fuel pump signs (size‑limited; not counted toward overall signage); garage sale and personal property sale signs; HOA‑Neighborhood signs; home improvement signs; human signs; instructional/informational signs; nameplate/address signs; neon “OPEN” interior window signs (non‑moving; size/color limits; turned off at close of business); official signs / school signs / zoning signs; public information signs; real estate signs / Realtor open house signs; security signs; signs one square foot or less erected outside right‑of‑way/easements; vehicle signs (only when they meet vehicle‑sign use/parking conditions); window signs; yard signs.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Forney
- All Site Plans for any new development or redevelopment must identify the location of all anticipated/proposed monument and wall‑mounted signs and include engineering details demonstrating structural integrity, strength and stability (Section 48.2.A).
- A Site Plan showing the location of all signs on the property and/or adjacent properties must be provided with any sign permit application; structural drawings for monument and wall signs must be prepared and sealed by a Texas‑licensed professional engineer or architect (Section 48.14.A.2–4).
- Comprehensive Sign Package (master/overall sign plan) requires a special sign permit; no building permit will be issued for any use seeking a comprehensive sign package until the special sign permit is approved. Application must include description, scaled drawings, site plan, property description, fees; approval requires public hearing/recommendation by the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council action, and City Council may impose conditions (Section 48.13.B–F).
- Variances to sign regulations require a public hearing before the Sign Board of Appeals (BOA), mailed and published notice, and meeting specific criteria (must meet at least three of four findings); prohibited signs cannot be approved via variance; denials may be appealed to City Council (Sections 48.19–48.23).
- Kiosk Signs (homebuilder/developer directional system) require submission and City approval of a sign location map showing proposed kiosk locations before any kiosk is erected (def 56.(5)).
- Subdivision identity/entrance signs cannot be permitted until a final plat is approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission for the property (def 119.b).
Source: other municipal code