# Sign Regulations in Hempstead, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hempstead, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/hempstead
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-09
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/39060227#39060227)

## At a glance

Hempstead, Texas regulates 14 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Residential Sign (Temporary, Noncommercial)s in the All Areas zoning district are capped at 42 inches maximum height tall and 4 sq ft maximum area, with a At least 10 feet from any public right-of-way setback (Sec. §4.05.005(4)(A)–(C); §4.05.001 (Residential sign definition)). Most commercial signs in Hempstead require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Areas | 14 | 42 inches maximum height | 680 sq ft per face (including framing/trim) | — |
| Historic Downtown District | 12 | 42 inches maximum height | 50 sq ft per 50 ft of frontage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### All Areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Lower Level / First Story) | — | 10 sq ft per 50 ft of frontage | — | — | Max two attached wall signs per street entrance | Attached to and parallel with the building facade; securely attached to the building facade. | — | §4.05.010(b)(1)–(4), (6)–(9); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2); §4.05.006; §4.05.007(a) |
| Wall Sign (Upper Level / Second Story or Higher) | — | 20 sq ft per 50 ft of frontage | — | — | Max two attached wall signs per street entrance | Attached to and parallel with the building facade; securely attached to the building facade. | — | §4.05.010(b)(1), (3), (5)–(7), (9); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2); §4.05.006; §4.05.007(a) |
| Marquee Sign (Wall-Mounted Canopy/Awning/Rooflike Structure) | — | 50 sq ft per 50 ft of frontage | — | — | — | Attached to or supported by a permanent canopy, awning or rooflike structure of rigid materials extending from the building facade. | — | §4.05.001 (Marquee sign definition); §4.05.010(b)(1)–(3); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2); §4.05.006 |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of the window surface area | — | — | — | Installed inside a window and intended to be viewed from outside. | — | §4.05.010(c)(1)–(2); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2); §4.05.006 |
| Real Estate Sign (Single-Family Dwelling) | 42 inches maximum height | 5 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises for properties offered for sale, rental, or lease. | — | §4.05.005(3)(A)–(B) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial Property) | 10 feet maximum height | 32 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 (≤3 acres); 2 (>3 and <50 acres); 3 (≥50 acres) | On-premises for commercial properties offered for sale, rental, or lease. | — | §4.05.005(3)(A), (C) |
| Residential Sign (Temporary, Noncommercial) | 42 inches maximum height | 4 sq ft maximum area | — | At least 10 feet from any public right-of-way | Up to 3 per site with a single dwelling unit | On private real property with owner’s consent; not in public right-of-way, easement, or private common area. | — | §4.05.005(4)(A)–(C); §4.05.001 (Residential sign definition) |
| Digital Billboard (Off-Premises, Development Agreement Required) | — | 680 sq ft per face (including framing/trim) | — | — | One back-to-back digital billboard per qualifying removal and spacing compliance | Only on new or existing off-premises sign structures in nonresidential areas, subject to a development agreement with the City and a sign permit. | — | §4.05.010(a)(1)(A)–(M); §4.05.001 (Digital billboard definition); §4.05.007(d)(1)(D) |

### Historic Downtown District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Lower Level / First Story) | — | 10 sq ft per 50 ft of frontage | — | — | Max two attached wall signs per street entrance | Attached to and parallel with the building facade; securely attached to the building facade. | — | §4.05.010(b)(1)–(4), (6)–(9); §4.05.009(b)–(c)(4); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2) |
| Wall Sign (Upper Level / Second Story or Higher) | — | 20 sq ft per 50 ft of frontage | — | — | Max two attached wall signs per street entrance | Attached to and parallel with the building facade; securely attached to the building facade. | — | §4.05.010(b)(1), (3), (5)–(7), (9); §4.05.009(b)–(c)(4); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2) |
| Marquee Sign (Wall-Mounted Canopy/Awning/Rooflike Structure) | — | 50 sq ft per 50 ft of frontage | — | — | — | Attached to or supported by a permanent canopy, awning or rooflike structure of rigid materials extending from the building facade. | — | §4.05.001 (Marquee sign definition); §4.05.010(b)(1)–(3), (9); §4.05.009(b), (c)(4); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2) |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 25% of the window surface area | — | — | — | Installed inside a window and intended to be viewed from outside. | — | §4.05.010(c)(1)–(2); §4.05.009(b), (c)(4); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | — | On the surface of an awning or canopy; the lowest part of the awning sign must be at least 9 feet above grade. | — | §4.05.010(d)(1)–(2); §4.05.009(b), (c)(4); §4.05.007(d)(1)–(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Single-Family Dwelling) | 42 inches maximum height | 5 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 per lot | On-premises for properties offered for sale, rental, or lease. | — | §4.05.005(3)(A)–(B) |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial Property) | 10 feet maximum height | 32 sq ft maximum area | — | — | 1 (≤3 acres); 2 (>3 and <50 acres); 3 (≥50 acres) | On-premises for commercial properties offered for sale, rental, or lease. | — | §4.05.005(3)(A), (C) |
| Residential Sign (Temporary, Noncommercial) | 42 inches maximum height | 4 sq ft maximum area | — | At least 10 feet from any public right-of-way | Up to 3 per site with a single dwelling unit | On private real property with owner’s consent; not in public right-of-way, easement, or private common area. | — | §4.05.005(4)(A)–(C); §4.05.001 (Residential sign definition) |

## Prohibited signs in Hempstead

- All signs not expressly permitted by or exempt under the ordinance are prohibited within the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction
- Abandoned signs and dilapidated signs are prohibited
- Signs that copy or imitate a governmental sign or purport to have governmental status are prohibited
- Signs that obstruct or substantially interfere with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress to any building are prohibited
- Signs imitating standard public traffic, regulatory, or emergency signs or signals are prohibited
- Signs using the words “stop,” “danger,” or any other word, symbol, or character in a manner that may mislead, confuse, or distract a driver are prohibited
- Off-premises signs are prohibited unless specifically authorized elsewhere in the ordinance
- Placing a sign on a city street, easement or right-of-way, public bridge, public building, any public place, or on any public improvement is prohibited unless approved by the city council
- Any sign placed in or projecting into/over the public right-of-way or on a utility pole in the public right-of-way is prohibited and deemed a public nuisance
- No sign may be erected within the clear sight triangle or in a manner that obstructs driver vision at ingress/egress points and street intersections
- No sign or sign lighting may be installed so as to obstruct the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic signal, notice, or control device; use of “stop,” “danger,” or similar confusing elements is prohibited
- Sign illumination may not be arranged so as to directly cast light rays into nearby residences or into the eyes of motor vehicle drivers
- Neon lighting is prohibited except on signs for retail and restaurant establishments
- No new construction permit shall be issued for the erection of an off-premises sign, including a new or converted changeable electronic variable message sign, except as otherwise provided in the ordinance
- Signs may not be maintained in a condition with more than 20% of surface disfigured/damaged for over 30 days, with broken/bent elements or more than 15 degrees from vertical for over 10 days, obscured by vegetation for over 30 days, or with partial illumination on internally illuminated signs for more than 30 days; flags may not be faded, tattered, or torn

## Signs exempt from permit in Hempstead

- Official or public notices or warnings required by applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance, by a public utility, or by court order
- Traffic signs on private property that meet department of transportation standards and contain no commercial message
- Holiday decorations with no commercial message displayed within a holiday season
- “No trespassing,” “no hunting,” “no fishing,” or “no loitering” signs not exceeding 1 square foot in area
- Governmental signs
- Incidental informational signs with no commercial message that are less than 1 square foot in area
- Political signs with effective area less than 36 square feet, less than 8 feet high, not illuminated, and with no moving elements

## Full detail

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

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