# Sign Regulations in Killeen, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Killeen, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/killeen
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Killeen/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH26SUOTPRDE_ARTIVSTRE_DIV7PEWAFEENSI)

## At a glance

Killeen, Texas regulates 21 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Ground Sign - Single or Multi-Tenant Monuments in the B-1, B-2, NBD zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall, 50 sq ft, and 16 ft (if subdivision entrance, per 31-503(8)) wide, with a No minimum setback setback (Sec. Sec. 31-507(A)(1), Table 507(A)(1)). Most commercial signs in Killeen require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1, B-2, NBD | 8 | 40 ft | 672 sq ft per sign | — |
| B-3, B-3A | 3 | 30 ft | 672 sq ft per sign | — |
| B-4 | 1 | 35 ft | 378 sq ft | — |
| B-5 | 1 | 42.5 ft | 672 sq ft (face height max 25 ft, length max 60 ft) | — |
| B-C-1, RC-1, B-DC, UD, CD, M-1, M-2 | 2 | See Table 507(A)(1): 6 ft (monument), 35 ft (single-tenant), 40 ft (multi-tenant) | 672 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-MP, R-3, R-3F, R-3A | 1 | — | 32 sq ft per principal entrance | — |
| SR-1, SR-2, R-1, SF-2, RT-1, R-2, RM-1, R-MS, R-3, R-3F, R-3A, A, AR-1, A-R1 | 1 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | Off-premises: 48 in | 672 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### B-1, B-2, NBD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 672 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Affixed to or painted on the wall or surface of any building or structure, projecting no more than 12 inches from the building/structure | — | Sec. 31-506, Sec. 31-507(A), Sec. 31-507(A)(8) |
| Projecting Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One, only if maximum ground sign not used | May project no closer than 2 feet to a street curb, may be used only if maximum ground sign not used | — | Sec. 31-506(2) |
| Ground Sign - Single or Multi-Tenant Monument | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | 16 ft (if subdivision entrance, per 31-503(8)) | No minimum setback | One per premises, one additional per 300 ft additional frontage | Within premises, not in public right-of-way or easements | — | Sec. 31-507(A)(1), Table 507(A)(1) |
| Ground Sign - Single Tenant Ground or Pole | 35 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft | See one per premises rule above | Within premises, not in public right-of-way or easements | — | Sec. 31-507(A)(1), Table 507(A)(1) |
| Ground Sign - Multi-Tenant Ground or Pole | 40 ft | 450 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft | See one per premises rule above | Within premises, not in public right-of-way or easements | — | Sec. 31-507(A)(1), Table 507(A)(1) |
| Portable Sign | 5 ft | 60 sq ft (5 ft x 12 ft) | 12 ft | — | One | Not in required parking spaces. Only in place of a ground sign not otherwise used. | — | Sec. 31-507(A)(7) |
| EMD (Electronic Message Display) Wall Sign | — | Up to 336 sq ft (if allowable wall sign size is max 672 sq ft per sign) | — | — | — | Permissible only on principal arterial, minor arterial, or collector where not within 300 ft of residential district unless non-residential use. | — | Sec. 31-506(4) |
| EMD Ground Sign | As per corresponding ground sign type. | Up to half of allowable ground sign size (e.g., 25, 150, or 225 sq ft, depending on sign type) | — | — | — | Must meet regulations for ground sign type. | — | Sec. 31-507(A)(8) |

### B-3, B-3A

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 672 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Affixed to or painted on the wall or surface of any building or structure, projecting no more than 12 inches from the building/structure | — | Sec. 31-506; Sec. 31-507(A, B) |
| Ground Sign - All types | 6 ft (monument), 35 ft (single-tenant), 40 ft (multi-tenant) | See Table 507(A)(1): 50 sq ft (monument), 300 sq ft (single-tenant ground/pole), 450 sq ft (multi-tenant ground/pole) | — | See Table 507(A)(1): 0 or 10 ft, depending on sign type. | One per premises, plus one per additional 300 ft of street frontage | Within premises, not in ROW or easements | — | Sec. 31-507(A-B) |
| Off-Premises Ground Sign - Small | 30 ft | 287 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line or more stringent required | Per minimum spacing | Only permitted on collector, minor, or principal arterials. Distance between signs must be greater than 300 ft. | — | Sec. 31-507(B)(8) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - General | — | 672 sq ft | — | — | — | Building wall, max 12 in projection | — | Sec. 31-506, 31-503 |
| Temporary Signs (General) | Off-premises: 48 in | Wall: 32 sq ft; Off-premises: 24 in x 36 in (6 sq ft); Construction: 6 sq ft (res), 32 sq ft (com) | — | — | — | On premises of event/lease/etc.; off-premises: private property, >30 ft from other sign | — | Sec. 31-503(1,7,10), 31-504 |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | Contained entirely on owner's property, spaced at least 25 ft apart. | — | Sec. 31-503(5) |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (Temporary, post plat approval) | 12 ft overall | 64 sq ft | 16 ft overall | — | One per entrance | One per subdivision entrance after released for construction. | — | Sec. 31-503(8) |
| Political Sign (Residential/Nonresidential Election Period) | 8 ft | 6 sq ft (res < 1 acre); 36 sq ft (res > 1 acre, commercial) | — | — | — | Private property, not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 31-503(10) |
| Parking Lot Pole-Mounted Banner | — | 16 sq ft per pole (local street); 48 sq ft per pole (arterial), additional interior banners at same size, 1/pole. | — | — | Limited by pole separation | Permanent poles 2" diameter or larger, 50 ft apart minimum at street frontage | — | Sec. 31-503(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Killeen

- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain any sign except as allowed by this division.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain signs located on public right-of-way or within the visibility triangle at all intersections, except signs allowed by specific exceptions.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain any flashing sign, strobe, or lights unless specifically allowed in this division.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain signs which have a luminance greater than any traffic signal within two hundred (200) feet of the sign as measured by any light metering device for which a National Bureau of Standards test procedure exists.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain signs that occupy a parking space required by the minimum standards provided under article V, division 3 of this chapter.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain signs attached to any fence or property boundary walls except for signs denoted in section 31-503(9) and section 31-503(10).
- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain banners, pennants, streamers, tinsel, staked signs, stringed signs or temporary signs, unless specifically allowed in another section of this division.
- It shall be unlawful to erect, maintain, or allow to remain illegal signs, unanchored signs or signs in such condition as to constitute a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
- It shall be unlawful to erect or maintain electrical signs which do not comply with the adopted electrical code.
- No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening intended as a means of egress.
- No sign shall be erected which interferes with any opening required for ventilation.
- Signs and their supporting structures shall maintain clearance and noninterference with all surface and underground facilities and conduits for water, sewage, gas, electricity, or communications equipment or lines.
- No sign shall be located within any public use easement as measured from a vertical plane which extends infinitely upward from the edge of the easement nearest the sign, except as permitted under provisions of section 31-506(2), (3).
- Signs shall maintain all clearances from electrical conductors in accordance with the city electrical code and from all communications equipment or lines located within the city.
- No electrical equipment or apparatus of any kind which causes interference with radio or television reception shall be used in the operation of illuminated signs.
- No person shall maintain or allow to be maintained any dilapidated, deteriorated or abandoned sign as defined in the ordinance.
- No sign shall remain free of advertising copy face for more than sixty (60) consecutive days and shall be kept clean and free of graffiti or outdated commercial or advertising information.

## Signs exempt from permit in Killeen

- Signs allowed in Section 31-503 are permitted in any zoning district without a permit. These include: certain real estate signs, name/address signs, entrance door signs, drive entrance signs, flags (conditions apply), bench signs, construction/renovation signs, subdivision construction signs, signs or commemorative plaques of a public or noncommercial nature, certain election signs (conditions apply), polling place signs under specific restrictions, and parking lot pole-mounted banner signs as specified.
- Official traffic-control signs, official governmental markers, national, state, city, or educational institution flags, and governmental signs are not considered 'signs' and are exempt.
- Maintenance of existing (lawful, nonconforming) signs is allowed as a matter of right as a legal nonconforming use, subject to compliance with section 31-521.
- Routine maintenance or repair and/or replacement of sign face copy on off-premises signs does not require a new permit.
- Repair of an existing fence with like materials and no change to the original design or placement for up to 25 feet in a 12-month period is allowed without a permit (fences).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit application must include a site plan and elevation drawings of the proposed sign, as well as other plans and information detailed in Sec. 31-515(A).
- Each ground sign shall be permitted separately. Wall signs shall be permitted as a group per each side of the building (Sec. 31-515(B)).
- Whenever a proposed sign is included in the presentation of a new or amended site plan application, for a development which requires planning and zoning commission approval, the sign permit application shall be reviewed and approved by the executive director of planning and development prior to the issuance of a permit (Sec. 31-516).
- Except for portable and temporary signs, a plan review fee according to the adopted fee schedule shall be paid for each sign permit application submitted for review (Sec. 31-517).
- For portable signs, an adequate site plan must be submitted with the application to locate the sign (Sec. 31-507(A)(7)c).
- Stamped structural engineering plans shall accompany the sign permit application for any sign installed 20 feet or more in height and/or having a sign area (including the sign cabinet or frame) of 200 square feet or more (Sec. 31-515(A)(4)), and for certain off-premises signs per 31-507(B)(2)d.
- For off-premises signs (including CEVMS), the city may require master sign plan documentation including location and size details.
- When a proposed sign is part of a site plan submitted for planning/zoning approval (for example: new development, PUDs, or other projects requiring commission approval), a sign plan must be included and reviewed before permits are issued.
- A master antenna plan (which may include sign structures if part of a communications facility) is required for service providers constructing towers (see Sec. 31-609(b)(6)); this is unrelated to advertising signs but is noted for clarification.

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

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