# Sign Regulations in Rice, Texas

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

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

## At a glance

Rice, Texas regulates 9 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Interstate 45 Corridor zoning district are capped at 100 feet tall and Exempt from 150 square feet limitation (Sec. § 3.05.022(d), § 3.05.022(e), § 3.05.022(f)). Most commercial signs in Rice require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Interstate 45 Corridor | 3 | 100 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 80 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Interstate 45 Corridor

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 100 feet | Exempt from 150 square feet limitation | — | — | One per freestanding building | Within the I-45 overlay district | — | § 3.05.022(d), § 3.05.022(e), § 3.05.022(f) |
| Multiple-Tenant Sign | — | 300 square feet | — | — | — | Along Interstate 45 | — | § 3.05.022(g)(2), § 3.05.022(g)(3), § 3.05.022(i)(1) |
| Identification Sign | — | 300 square feet | — | — | — | Along Interstate 45 | — | § 3.05.022(i)(2), § 3.05.022(i)(3), § 3.05.022(i)(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 square feet | 75% of the width of the available wall area | — | — | On the building of the business they are advertising | — | § 3.05.023(a), § 3.05.023(b), § 3.05.023(c), § 3.05.023(d) |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | Setback of fifteen (15) feet does not apply | One per street frontage | Not in the right-of-way or within 8 feet of the curb | — | § 3.05.022(h)(1), § 3.05.022(h)(2), § 3.05.022(h)(3) |
| Traffic Movement Control Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | Exempt | Unlimited | Not in the right-of-way | — | § 3.05.018(1), § 3.05.018(2), § 3.05.018(3), § 3.05.018(4) |
| Institutional Sign - On Site | — | — | — | — | One per street frontage | On site | — | § 3.05.022(l)(1) |
| Institutional Sign - Off Site | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Two | Off site | — | § 3.05.022(l)(2) |
| Apartment Sign | — | 80 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Identification sign for each street frontage | — | § 3.05.022(k)(1), § 3.05.022(k)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Rice

- No sign shall be located on a public right-of-way or public access easement, except traffic regulatory signs and government signs.
- No sign shall overhang public property unless a variance is granted by the board of adjustment.
- No person shall attach any sign, paper or material, or paint, stencil or write any name, number (except house number) or otherwise mark on any sidewalk, curb, gutter or street, except for city-sanctioned events.
- Any sign that contains statements, word, or pictures of obscene, indecent, or immoral character that will offend community public morals or decency is strictly prohibited.
- No revolving beam or beacon of light resembling any emergency vehicle light shall be permitted as part of a sign display in any zoning district.
- No sign shall be located so as to obstruct the vision or sight distance of motor vehicle operators or pedestrians at any street intersection, street crossing or other part of traffic concentration.
- Imitation of traffic and emergency signs is prohibited.
- No person shall attach or maintain any sign upon any tree or public utility pole or structure in public right-of-way.
- Any sign is prohibited which emits sound, odor, or visible matter which would serve as a distraction to persons within a public right-of-way.
- Any sign not permanently or adequately attached to a building approved sign pole or structure is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rice

- Governmental signs: Signs erected or maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function; required by law, ordinance or governmental regulation; or located on property owned, leased or under control of the federal or state government.
- Railway signs: Signs within or on railway property and placed or maintained in reference to the operation of such railway.
- Utility signs: Signs marking utility or underground communication or transmission lines.
- Signs not visible from street: Signs where no part of such sign is visible from any public street.
- Holiday signs: Temporary signs containing only holiday messages and no commercial advertising.
- Signs on persons: Hand-held signs or signs, symbols or displays on persons or animals.
- Plaques: Commemorative plaques of recognized historical societies and organizations.
- Mail boxes, newspaper racks: Signs located on mail boxes, newspaper vending machines and curbside residential newspaper holders which identify the owner and address of the premises or the name of the newspaper sold or subscribed to.
- Signs on outdoor machines, devices and equipment: Signs located on outdoor machines, devices or equipment which display the trademark, trade name, manufacturer, cost or operating service instructions or similar information.
- Athletic fields: Signs located on the field side of scoreboards and fences of athletic field.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a variance or exception in the sign ordinance shall be accompanied by a non-refundable processing fee.
- Any hand-painted sign must be approved by the planning and zoning commission except for signs prepared by a professional sign painter.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Rice, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Rice+TX&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-rice

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