# Sign Regulations in Forney, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Forney, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/forney
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-30
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.forneytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3790/Zoning-Ordinance-2023?bidId=)

## 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.

## Sign rules by zoning district (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 (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 | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | 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) | — | 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 | 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 | — | 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 | — | Secs. 48.11(B)(4), 71(e)-(g) |
| Directory Sign (Freestanding) | Per formula | Per formula | — | — | Per 48.9(B) | On site | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | Sec. 48.2(F)(1), 48.3(A), 48.3(S) |
| Awning / Canopy / Blade / Window Signs | — | Per general sections | — | — | — | Per each type | — | 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 | — | 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 | — | Sec. 48.2(F)(68) |

## Prohibited 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).

## Signs exempt from permit 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

- 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).

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

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