# Sign Regulations in McAllen, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** McAllen, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/mcallen
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-09

## At a glance

McAllen, Texas regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Accessory Signs in the Agricultural Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 32 square feet, with a Ten feet from property line or 20 feet from back of curb setback (Sec. § 130-111(f)). Most commercial signs in McAllen require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 10 feet | 70 square feet in residential zones, 150 square feet in all other zones | — |
| Residential Zones | 3 | 15 feet | 48 square feet | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial and Office Zoning Districts | 3 | 35 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts | 6 | 35 feet, 80 feet within 600 feet of Expressway 83 | 300 square feet | — |
| Agricultural Zoning Districts | 5 | 35 feet, 80 feet within 600 feet of expressway | 300 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 24 square feet in residential zones, 64 square feet in all other zones | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 130-106(b) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per lot per street frontage | One per lot per street frontage | — | § 130-106(c) |
| Political Candidate Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 130-106(d) |
| Political Issue Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 130-106(e) |
| Directional/Information Sign | 8 feet | 8 square feet | — | — | One per entrance or exit | One per entrance or exit | — | § 130-106(f) |
| Development Sign | — | 32 square feet in residential zones, 450 square feet in all other zones | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 130-106(g) |
| Identification Sign | 10 feet | 70 square feet in residential zones, 150 square feet in all other zones | — | — | One per entrance | One per entrance | — | § 130-106(h) |
| Sign Bench | — | — | — | — | — | Bus stop locations designated by the city | — | § 130-106(i) |

### Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet, 80 feet within 600 feet of Expressway 83 | 300 square feet | — | — | One per premises; additional sign for each 150 feet of frontage | One per premises; additional sign for each 150 feet of frontage | — | § 130-110(b) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | § 130-110(c) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | § 130-110(d) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | 8 square feet | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | § 130-110(e) |
| Projection or Flag Mount | Top edge of the building | 200 square feet | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | § 130-110(f) |
| Changeable Electronic Variable Message Sign (CEVMS) | — | — | — | — | — | Along minor arterials or greater | — | § 130-110(g) |

### Agricultural Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 35 feet, 80 feet within 600 feet of expressway | 300 square feet | — | — | One per premises; additional sign for each 600 feet of frontage | One per premises; additional sign for each 600 feet of frontage | — | § 130-111(b) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | § 130-111(c) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | One foot from property line or ten feet from back of curb | One per occupancy per street frontage | One per occupancy per street frontage | — | § 130-111(d) |
| Projection or Flag Mount | Top edge of the building | 200 square feet | — | — | One per occupancy | One per occupancy | — | § 130-111(e) |
| Accessory Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Ten feet from property line or 20 feet from back of curb | As required | As required | — | § 130-111(f) |

## Prohibited signs in McAllen

- To place or cause to be placed anywhere in the city any poster, placard, handbill or advertising material on any motor vehicle, or in any location in such a manner that such poster, placard, handbill or advertising material may reasonably be expected to be blown about by the wind.
- To park or cause to be parked any automobile, truck, wagon or vehicle of any kind to which there is attached any character of sign where the main purpose of parking is for advertising purposes, except for exempt political signs.
- To paste, post, attach or otherwise place a sign upon any telephone pole, electric light pole or other structure within the right-of-way or easements of the city, state, railroads, or other utility.
- Place or cause to be placed on public property any sign not expressly authorized by the public entity controlling said property.
- Place or cause to be placed on the city any sign prohibited by this chapter.
- Abandoned signs.
- Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or government signs or signals not placed by the governmental agency.
- Signs that, due to design, location or illumination, obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct or interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic or otherwise interfere with any driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
- Signs with flashing, intermittent or moving lights are expressly prohibited within 100 feet of any intersection, except for signs providing only time and temperature information.
- Portable signs not otherwise permitted by this chapter.
- Off-premises sign, unless permitted pursuant to section 130-113 or maintained under the provisions of the section dealing with non-conforming signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in McAllen

- All signs not requiring permits as provided in section 130-60.
- Exempt political signs.
- Official traffic control devices, street lights, emergency vehicles, construction warning lights, aircraft beacons or warning lights, and any other lights or signs required by law.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Roof signs that exceed 20 feet in length shall have had plans submitted and approved by the fire marshal.
- A sign permit is required for Changeable Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS).
- Off-premises signs are permitted pursuant to relocation agreement and the restrictions set forth in section 130-113.

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

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