# Sign Regulations in Hitchcock, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hitchcock, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/hitchcock
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Hitchcock/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH150BURE_ARTVIISIBI)

## At a glance

Hitchcock, Texas regulates 14 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Entrance Monument Signs in the Manufactured Home District (MH) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 40 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 156.72(D)(9)). Most commercial signs in Hitchcock require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural Residential District (AR) | 1 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| Single Family Residential District (SFR) | 1 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| High Density Residential District (HR) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Manufactured Home District (MH) | 1 | 5 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 1 | Not above eave line or roof line of building facade | — | — |
| General Commercial District (GC) | 1 | Not above eave line or roof line of building facade | — | — |
| General Industrial District (GI) | 1 | Not above eave line or roof line of building facade | — | — |
| Planned Development District (PD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown Mixed-Use District | 9 | 8 ft above grade | 200 sq ft (cumulative for all signage per establishment facade) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft each | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Manufactured Home District (MH)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Entrance Monument Sign | 5 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per entrance | At each entrance to Manufactured Home Subdivision or Community | — | Sec. 156.72(D)(9) |

### Downtown Mixed-Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Eave line or bottom of 2nd story windowsill, whichever is lower | 200 sq ft (cumulative for all signage per establishment facade) | — | — | 1 per building facade or tenant (max 2 per building) | On building facade facing principal street or street-facing elevation. | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a)(iii, v, vi); Table XXX Allowed Attached Permanent Signs |
| Awning Sign | 8 ft above grade | — | — | — | 1 per building front or storefront for multi-tenant | On awning/canopy over building entrance or facade | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a), Table XXX Allowed Attached Permanent Signs |
| Canopy (or Over-Canopy) Sign | Minimum height above sign copy: 2 ft | — | — | — | 1 per building front or storefront | On canopy above entrance or facade | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a), Table XXX Allowed Attached Permanent Signs |
| Hanging Sign | 8 ft above grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Suspended from canopy, awning, or marquee | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a), Table XXX Allowed Attached Permanent Signs |
| Marquee Sign | 4 ft from lowest point to highest point (exc. ornamentation); minimum 8 ft above grade | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street-facing facade | On projecting marquee structure | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a), Table XXX Allowed Attached Permanent Signs |
| Projecting Sign | Minimum 8 ft above sidewalk/walkway, 20 ft above street | — | No more than half the distance from the building facade into the public right-of-way | — | 1 per building; or 1 per 20 ft of building frontage if multiple occupants | Projecting from facade | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a), Table XXX Allowed Attached Permanent Signs |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | At primary street frontage | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a), Table XXX Allowed Detached Permanent Signs |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of window area or 9 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per commercial window | Inside or affixed to window | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a), Table XXX Allowed Attached Permanent Signs |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 156.123 |
| Directional Sign (Downtown Mixed-Use District only) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft each | — | — | Up to 2 per premises | As needed for directions within property | — | Sec. 156.77(D)(3)(a)(iii)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Hitchcock

- It is unlawful for any person to violate any provision or requirement of these zoning regulations.
- No building or structure shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, reconstructed or altered for use nor shall any building, structure or land be used or changed in such a way that it does not comply with all the district regulations established by this Chapter for the district in which the building or structure or land is located.
- No accessory use may be established prior to the establishment of the principal use.
- No building, structure or land shall be used or changed in such a way that it does not comply with all supplemental regulations in Article 6, such as environmental performance standards (noise, vibration, smoke emissions, odors, toxic or noxious matter, nuclear radiation, electromagnetic radiation and interference, heat or glare).
- Permanent commercial activities must be operated out of permanent, stationary, site-built buildings, except as otherwise provided.
- Portable buildings or structures (including cargo boxes or tractor trailers) are not permitted for use as commercial or business operations except as accessory storage structures for a main business, subject to site plan review and approval.
- Manufactured homes or recreational vehicles are not permitted to be used as accessory buildings.
- No dwelling unit shall be permanently occupied by more than one family at any one time.
- No more than one (1) single-family detached dwelling or one (1) two-family dwelling (duplex) shall be permitted on a lot.
- Outdoor sales for business purposes are prohibited without a permit, with limitations on frequency and duration, and must not reduce required parking or use areas not permitted by ordinance.
- Operating outdoor sales without a permit or with false/incomplete application information is prohibited.
- It is unlawful to allow or permit unsightly, objectionable, or unsanitary matter (e.g., weeds, rubbish, carrion) to accumulate or remain on any lot or premises.
- Fences, walls, plantings and signs are restricted to a height of thirty (30) inches or less in visibility triangles at intersections.
- Drive-throughs are prohibited in the Downtown Mixed-Use District.
- Interior box-lit (cabinet) signs, roof signs, pole or pylon signs, and electronic message boards are prohibited in the Downtown Mixed-Use District.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hitchcock

- Special events are exempt from the provisions requiring permits for outdoor sales and displays in Sections 7-5 and 7-6, provided emergency access and adequate parking are provided (Sec 156.123).
- The article regulating outdoor sales does not apply to outdoor sales or commercial activity by a governmental entity, public utility, or tax-exempt not-for-profit organization formed for education, philanthropic, scientific, or religious purposes, where proceeds and profits are contributed to such entity or activity is on government property. However, such activities must comply with all other ordinances and laws and are not allowed on public rights of way.
- Routine maintenance and incidental repair may be performed on a lawfully nonconforming structure or use.
- Accessory uses are permitted as long as they do not precede establishment of a principal use and do not conflict with principal use regulations.
- Temporary buildings for educational purposes by the school district are permissible.
- Temporary construction structures may be permitted for specific periods in accordance with a permit issued for construction duration.
- Outdoor displays of merchandise by retail businesses are allowed if the display involves items for sale from a permanent structure and does not cover more than half the pedestrian walkway width unless other accommodations for pedestrian travel are made.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Site development plans are required for all developments within the HR, NC, GC, and GI zoning districts (Sec 156.59(B)(2)). This includes submission and approval by the Planning and Zoning Board and submission of seven (7) copies of the plan with the supporting master development plan.
- A master development plan is required for all business and commercial developments to be developed in phases or sections. The master plan must meet specific requirements and be submitted prior or concurrent with the first section of development (Sec 156.59(B)(1)).
- Site development plan is required for construction of any off-street parking lot required by these regulations, surfacing of an existing unpaved parking lot, or the expansion of an existing parking lot (Sec 156.59(B)(5)).
- A signage plan and requirements must be provided as part of the development plan submittal for a Planned Development (PD) district (Sec 156.76(C)(17)).
- Multiple-tenant buildings and complexes in the Downtown Mixed-Use District shall develop a Master Sign Program to minimize potential visual conflicts among tenant signs (Sec 156.77(D)(3)(a)(ii)).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/hitchcock