# Sign Regulations in Keene, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Keene, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/keene
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Keene/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITXVLAUS_CH155SI)

## At a glance

Keene, Texas regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the C-1 zoning district are capped at 6 feet (may increase up to 12 feet with setback) tall and 144 square feet, with a See formula under Max Height; setback affects allowed height. setback (Sec. Sec. 155.07(a)(1), Sec. 155.13(1-3), Sec. 155.02(a),(f)). Most commercial signs in Keene require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1 | 1 | 6 feet (may increase up to 12 feet with setback) | 144 square feet | — |
| C-2, C-3 | 1 | 8 feet (may increase up to 12 feet with setback) | 144 square feet | — |
| M-1 | 1 | 12 feet | 144 square feet | — |
| Industrial development | 1 | Not specified; may exceed standard max if site plan is approved. | Not specified; may exceed standard max if site plan is approved. | — |
| Commercial shopping center, Commercial multi-unit center | 7 | 45 feet | 400 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 10 feet | 75 square feet per surface | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet (may increase up to 12 feet with setback) | 144 square feet | — | See formula under Max Height; setback affects allowed height. | One pole sign or one monument sign per premise. Sec. 155.06 | Cannot be located on public rights-of-way. | — | Sec. 155.07(a)(1), Sec. 155.13(1-3), Sec. 155.02(a),(f) |

### Commercial shopping center, Commercial multi-unit center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Multi-Tenant Pole Sign (Up to 50,000 sq ft) | 25 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | One primary multi-tenant sign per center | On premises of shopping center | — | Sec. 155.11(1)a,b |
| Multi-Tenant Pole Sign (50,000 to 100,000 sq ft) | 35 feet | 300 square feet | — | — | One primary multi-tenant sign per center | On premises of shopping center | — | Sec. 155.11(1)a,b |
| Multi-Tenant Pole Sign (Over 100,000 sq ft) | 45 feet | 400 square feet | — | — | One primary multi-tenant sign per center | On premises of shopping center | — | Sec. 155.11(1)a,b |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign (Up to 50,000 sq ft) | 8 feet (may increase with setback per monument sign regulations) | 50 square feet (may increase with setback) | — | If set back over 10 ft, may increase area/height per monument sign section. | One primary multi-tenant sign per center | On premises of shopping center | — | Sec. 155.11(1)a,b; Sec. 155.07 |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign (50,000 to 100,000 sq ft) | 8 feet (may increase with setback per monument sign regulations) | 75 square feet (may increase with setback) | — | If set back over 10 ft, may increase area/height per monument sign section. | One primary multi-tenant sign per center | On premises of shopping center | — | Sec. 155.11(1)a,b; Sec. 155.07 |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign (Over 100,000 sq ft) | 8 feet (may increase with setback per monument sign regulations) | 144 square feet (may increase with setback) | — | If set back over 10 ft, may increase area/height per monument sign section. | One primary multi-tenant sign per center | On premises of shopping center | — | Sec. 155.11(1)a,b; Sec. 155.07 |
| Individual Tenant Sign (Canopy, Marquee, Wall, Reader Board/Message Sign, or Nameplate Sign) | — | — | — | — | One per tenant | On tenant space | — | Sec. 155.11(3), Sec. 155.13 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | — | — | — | Inside property line as specified. | One per premises | Set inside property line or property side of sidewalk if >25 ft from curb. | — | Sec. 155.06, Sec. 155.08, Sec. 155.02 |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not in visibility triangles defined at intersections (25 ft by 25 ft, or 7 ft by 60 ft at driveways). | — | Sec. 155.14 |
| Illuminated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 155.13 |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 155.04 (definition) |
| Sexually Oriented Business Sign - Primary Sign | 10 feet | 75 square feet per surface | 10 feet | — | One primary sign | On exterior of enterprise | — | Sec. 155.19(c)(2-4) |
| Sexually Oriented Business Sign - Secondary Sign | 5 feet | 20 square feet | 4 feet | — | One secondary sign | Affixed to wall or door of the enterprise. | — | Sec. 155.19(c)(5-6) |
| Electronic Display Screen/Electronic Message Center | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 155.05, Sec. 155.20 |

## Prohibited signs in Keene

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, relocated, altered, repaired or maintained without first obtaining a permit from the city, unless exempted.
- No sign shall be erected, maintained, or repaired so as to constitute a hazard to the public's health, safety and welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or obsolescence.
- Any sign not maintained in good structural condition as defined (no loose, broken, severely weathered portions, faded, cracked, defective, deteriorated, bent, damaged, or unreadable) may be ordered repaired, altered, or removed.
- No sign shall be erected in violation of the Electrical Code.
- No sign may be located such that it blocks the visibility in any required visibility triangle.
- Moving and flashing signs are prohibited, except for portions of signs indicating time, temperature, or non-commercial messages, and except signs fully located inside a building not visible from the exterior.
- Billboards are prohibited without City Council approval.
- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic signs, signals, or devices; use revolving beams or beacons resembling emergency vehicles; or are located/illuminated to obscure or interfere with traffic signals or visibility are prohibited.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background are prohibited, except holiday lights customarily displayed during holiday seasons.
- Signs located on private property without the consent of the owner are prohibited.
- Signs located in or interfering with the use of required off-street parking spaces or maneuvering areas are prohibited.
- Signs that are, or are becoming, deteriorated, dilapidated, in danger of falling, or otherwise unsafe are prohibited.
- Any unauthorized sign on or attached to public street lights, utility poles, hydrants, bridges, traffic-control devices, street signs, or other public structures or buildings, or located in, on, over, or within a public street, sidewalk, alley, easement or right-of-way is prohibited.
- Illuminated signs that are illuminated in such a manner, to such intensity, or without shielding as to constitute a hazard to motor vehicles or substantially interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of residential property are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to erect, relocate or maintain any sign in a manner that obstructs free and clear vision at any location, or that by position, size, movement, shape, color, flashing manner, or intensity of illumination may interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic or could be confused with authorized traffic signs.
- No sign shall use the words 'Stop,' 'Go,' 'Look,' 'Slow,' 'Danger,' or similar words, phrases, or characters, or employ red, yellow, orange, green, or other colored lights in a manner that may cause confusion or interfere with traffic.
- Illegal signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected on public property without prior approval from the city.
- Signs must not exceed specified illumination limits (75 foot candles or 25 watts incandescent as measured) and must prevent glare or direct light onto roadways or adjacent properties.

## Signs exempt from permit in Keene

- Public signs owned, directed, initiated, and/or required by government bodies or specifically authorized for a public purpose by law, statute, or ordinance.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles/trailers used for primary transportation purposes.
- Warning signs that warn the public of physical hazard or danger and contain no advertising material, and are removed within three days after the danger subsides.
- Flags of nonprofit and/or tax-exempt organizations.
- Governmental signs including traffic or regulatory devices, legal notices, and warnings or instructional signs having to do with health, hazards, parking, swimming, dumping, and similar matters.
- Address numerals and other signs required by law or regulation, provided the content and size do not exceed legal requirements.
- Signs used as scoreboards in athletic stadiums.
- Directional signs owned and erected by duly constituted governmental bodies to guide vehicles and pedestrians.
- Directory signs located in or adjacent to entrances or foyers.
- Instructional signs providing no advertising, used to guide persons to nonprofit public facilities (e.g., restrooms, telephones, walkways, parking areas).
- Temporary holiday lights and decorations customarily displayed during holiday seasons.
- Time and temperature signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for sign permits shall include scaled drawings/sketches of the proposed and existing signs and building or lot facades.
- The Code Inspector may require the filing of other plans or additional information as necessary to ensure code compliance.
- An engineer's seal and calculations are required if a change in the size and material of a sign is proposed to be supported by an existing pole.
- Approval by City Council of a site plan is required for proposed industrial development signs that exceed limits.
- Electronic display screens may only be permitted by approval of the City Council variance following procedures similar to those in Sec. 155.19.
- Special use permits for LED/digital signs require City Council review, conditions, and evidence of compliance.

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

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