# Sign Regulations in Mercedes, Texas

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

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

## At a glance

Mercedes, Texas regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Accessory Signs in the Business, Heavy Commercial and Industrial Districts (Class “L”, Class “B” and “C”, Class “LI” Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial) zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 16 square feet, with a Five feet from the property line setback (Sec. § 3.05.134(2)(A)). Most commercial signs in Mercedes require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 30 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Class “N” District | 13 | 30 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts (Class “A” and “B” Residential, Multi-Family, R-MH Mobile Home) | 7 | 15 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Class “L” Local Retail and Class “A” Business | 15 | 30 feet in the office and professional zone and 15 feet in a neighborhood commercial zone | 64 square feet of wall or fence | — |
| Business, Heavy Commercial and Industrial Districts (Class “L”, Class “B” and “C”, Class “LI” Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial) | 18 | 60 feet | 672 square feet (maximum four faces) | — |
| Expressway Corridors | 18 | 80 feet | 800 square feet (maximum two faces) | — |
| Planned Unit Developments | 16 | 80 feet | 800 square feet (maximum two faces) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Business, Heavy Commercial and Industrial Districts (Class “L”, Class “B” and “C”, Class “LI” Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.134(2)(A) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.134(2)(C) |
| Directory Sign | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.134(2)(D) |
| Ground or Pole Sign | 30 feet | 100 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to one per site. | — | — | § 3.05.134(2)(E) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet on each side of entrance to subdivision | — | Attached to fence or wall at the entrance of a subdivision | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | Attached to fence or wall at the entrance of a subdivision | — | § 3.05.134(2)(H) |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 square feet of wall | — | Attached or painted to wall | Limited to four per premises. | Attached or painted to wall | — | § 3.05.134(2)(I) |
| Construction Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to one temporary sign per site. | — | — | § 3.05.134(3)(B) |
| Political Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Property line | Limited to one temporary sign per site. | Property line | — | § 3.05.134(3)(C) |

### Expressway Corridors

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.135(2)(A) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.135(2)(C) |
| Directory Sign | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.135(2)(D) |
| Ground or Pole Sign | 80 feet | 800 square feet (maximum two faces) | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to one per site. | — | — | § 3.05.135(2)(E) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet on each side of entrance to subdivision | — | Attached to fence or wall at the entrance of a subdivision | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | Attached to fence or wall at the entrance of a subdivision | — | § 3.05.135(2)(H) |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 square feet of wall | — | Attached or painted to wall | Limited to four per premises. | Attached or painted to wall | — | § 3.05.135(2)(I) |
| Construction Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to one temporary sign per site. | — | — | § 3.05.135(3)(B) |
| Political Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Property line | Limited to one temporary sign per site. | Property line | — | § 3.05.135(3)(C) |

### Planned Unit Developments

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Accessory Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.136(2) |
| Changeable Copy Sign | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.136(2) |
| Directory Sign | 20 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | — | — | § 3.05.136(2) |
| Ground or Pole Sign | 80 feet | 800 square feet (maximum two faces) | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to one per site. | — | — | § 3.05.136(2) |
| Subdivision Sign | 10 feet | 16 square feet on each side of entrance to subdivision | — | Attached to fence or wall at the entrance of a subdivision | Limited to two permanent signs per business/site. | Attached to fence or wall at the entrance of a subdivision | — | § 3.05.136(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 square feet of wall | — | Attached or painted to wall | Limited to four per premises. | Attached or painted to wall | — | § 3.05.136(2) |
| Construction Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Five feet from the property line | Limited to one temporary sign per site. | — | — | § 3.05.136(2) |
| Political Sign | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — | Property line | Limited to one temporary sign per site. | Property line | — | § 3.05.136(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Mercedes

- No sign shall be allowed within the restricted area described as follows: All of that portion of land lying within a triangular-shaped area on each street corner within the city described by metes and bounds as follows: Beginning at the precise corner of the intersection point of the curbs of each of the two streets forming each corner and extending 12 feet along each such curb line from such curb intersection point, and the straight line from the ends of such 12-foot extensions, whether such land be privately owned or unpaved or untraveled street right-of-way.
- No sign of any type shall be placed within the public right-of-way.
- It shall be unlawful to erect or maintain any sign which is not included under the types of signs permitted in district regulations.
- Signs which resemble an official traffic sign or signal which bear the words 'stop,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning' or similar words, and which were not placed by proper governmental authority.
- Signs which by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused with or construed to be a traffic-control sign, signal, or device and which were not placed by proper governmental authority, or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle, or which hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal or device.
- Signs placed on trees, rocks or utility poles.
- Signs that block other signs, fire escapes, doors and windows.
- Signs which emit sound, smoke, or steam.
- Signs erected or placed within the public right-of-way shall be removed by the city at the expense of the person or entity which erected said sign.
- No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct any fire escape, or 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.
- No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of an official traffic-control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
- No person shall place or maintain a flashing light or flashing electric sign of any kind or color within one thousand (1,000) feet of any intersection unless a permit is granted by the state transportation commission for such flashing light or electric sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mercedes

- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, or names of occupants of premises.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
- Public signs of a public or noncommercial nature, which shall include community service information signs, public transit service signs (traffic signs), public utility information signs, safety signs, danger signs, trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of interest, and all signs erected by a public officer in the performance of a public duty or by a government entity pursuant to state law.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
- Signs which are fully located within the interior of any building or stadium, or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building, and signs located within the inner or outer lobby or court which are intended solely for information relating to the interior operation of the building in which they are located.
- Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, statues and other remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in nature.
- Temporary banner signs three feet or less in width.
- Home occupation signs as allowed by the zoning ordinance.
- Temporary political signs, unless on a trailer.
- Temporary real estate signs having 32 square feet or less of face area.
- Window signs.
- Construction signs.
- Signs placed on the sides of motor vehicles, unless the vehicle is used as a stationary sign support.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.
- Yard sale signs.
- Gasoline price signs attached to a permanent fixture or structure not exceeding a total area of 12 square feet.
- Signs not exceeding three square feet in area attached to gas pumps or gas pump canopies that are informational or directional and do not contain advertising matter.
- Street banner signs hanging over a public right-of-way for a limited time with permission from the city manager.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Before a permit shall be granted, the erector of every outdoor advertising sign, with the exception of temporary signs, shall submit to the city manager or duly authorized representative a design and stress diagram or plan containing the design and stress specifications for such sign.
- Every application for a permit under this section shall be accompanied by a plan or plans drawn to scale of the proposed sign and all existing signs maintained on the premises.

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

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