# Sign Regulations in Rowlett, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rowlett, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/rowlett
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-10
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/tx/rowlett/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=VOLIIPAIIDERE_CH77DECO_CH77-500DEDEST_S77-512SI)

## At a glance

Rowlett, Texas regulates 28 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Marquee Signs in the Institutional-Urban (IU) zoning district are capped at Equal to 2/3 the building height tall and 100 sq. ft., with a ≥2 ft from back of curb; no encroachment in TXDOT ROW setback (Sec. Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Marquee); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Marquee allowed IU)). Most commercial signs in Rowlett require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (11 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Single-Family Residential—40/24 (SF-40); Single-Family Residential—20/24 (SF-20); Single-Family Residential—15/21 (SF-15); Single-Family Residential—10/21 (SF-10); Single-Family Residential—9/18 (SF-9); Single-Family Residential—8/18 (SF-8); Single-Family Residential—7/15 (SF-7); Single-Family Residential—5/15 (SF-5) | 13 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Multi-Family Attached Residential Duplex (MF-2F); Multi-Family Attached Residential Townhouse (MF-TH) | 11 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Multi-Family Attached Residential Suburban (MF-S); Multi-Family Attached Residential Urban (MF-U) | 13 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Institutional-Urban (IU) | 19 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Limited Office (O-1); General Office (O-2) | 19 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Limited Commercial/Retail (C-1); General Commercial/Retail (C-2) | 19 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial/Retail Highway (C-3) | 18 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Light Manufacturing (M-1); General Manufacturing (M-2) | 18 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed-Use Waterfront (MU-WF) | 22 | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 11 zones)

### Institutional-Urban (IU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Equal to 1/3 height of façade up to 10 ft. | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. combined | 75% of façade width | — | N/A | Attached to building façade. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Wall); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Wall allowed IU) |
| Awning Sign | Equal to 1/3 height of façade up to 10 ft. | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. combined | 75% of façade width | — | N/A | Affixed to awning supported by building. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Awning); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Awning allowed IU) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | May project horizontally 4 ft. | ≥2 ft from back of curb; no encroachment into TXDOT ROW | 1 per premise | Pedestrian-oriented sign projecting perpendicularly from building or permanent structure. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Projecting); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Projecting allowed IU) |
| Marquee Sign | Equal to 2/3 the building height | 100 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from back of curb; no encroachment in TXDOT ROW | 1 per premise | Marquee attached to building. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Marquee); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Marquee allowed IU) |
| Single Tenant Monument Sign | 10 ft. | 48 sq. ft. (80 sq. ft. including frame) | — | Setback 10 ft from property line | 1 per building; additional allowed with ≥300 ft frontage and 150 ft separation | Freestanding monument. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Monument parameters); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Single Tenant allowed IU) |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (150 sq. ft. including frame) | — | Setback 10 ft from property line | 1 per building; additional allowed with ≥300 ft frontage and 150 ft separation | Freestanding multi-tenant monument. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Multi-Tenant); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Multi-Tenant allowed IU) |
| Directional Sign (On-site) | 3 ft. | 4.5 sq. ft. | — | ≥3 ft from edge of pavement | N/A | On-site directional sign; ≥3 ft from edge of pavement. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2; Sec. 77-512.B.2(b) |
| Flags | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Setback 15 ft from property line | 3 per premise | On approved flagpoles. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2; Sec. 77-512.B.2(a) |

### Limited Office (O-1); General Office (O-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Equal to 1/3 height of façade up to 10 ft. | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. combined | 75% of façade width | — | N/A | Attached to building façade. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Wall allowed O-1, O-2) |
| Awning Sign | Equal to 1/3 façade height up to 10 ft. | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. combined | 75% of façade width | — | N/A | Affixed to awning. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Awning allowed) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | May project horizontally 4 ft. | ≥2 ft from back of curb; no TXDOT ROW encroachment | 1 per premise | Projects perpendicularly from building. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Projecting allowed O-1, O-2) |
| Roof Sign | Equal to 1/3 the distance from the eave to the ridge line | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. | 75% of roof width | — | 1 per premise | On sloped/eave roof. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Roof); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Roof allowed O-1, O-2) |
| Single Tenant Monument Sign | 10 ft. | 48 sq. ft. (80 sq. ft. including frame) | — | Setback 10 ft from property line | 1 per building; additional allowed with ≥300 ft frontage and 150 ft separation | Freestanding monument. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Monument parameters); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Single Tenant allowed O-1, O-2) |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (150 sq. ft. including frame) | — | Setback 10 ft from property line | 1 per building; additional allowed with ≥300 ft frontage and 150 ft separation | Freestanding multi-tenant monument. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Multi-Tenant allowed O-1, O-2) |
| Directional Sign (On-site) | 3 ft. | 4.5 sq. ft. | — | ≥3 ft from edge of pavement | N/A | On-site directional sign; ≥3 ft from edge of pavement. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.B.2(b); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 |
| Flags | 35 ft. | 150 sq. ft. | — | Setback 15 ft from property line | 3 per premise | On approved flagpoles. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2; Sec. 77-512.B.2(a) |

### Mixed-Use Waterfront (MU-WF)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Equal to 1/3 height of façade up to 10 ft. | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. combined | 75% of façade width | — | N/A | Attached to building façade. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Wall allowed MU-WF) |
| Awning Sign | Equal to 1/3 façade height up to 10 ft. | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. combined | 75% of façade width | — | N/A | Affixed to awning. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | May project horizontally 4 ft. | ≥2 ft from back of curb; no TXDOT ROW encroachment | 1 per premise | Projects perpendicularly from building. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1; Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Projecting allowed MU-WF) |
| Marquee Sign | Equal to 2/3 building height | 100 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from back of curb; no TXDOT ROW encroachment | 1 per premise | Marquee attached to building. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Marquee); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Marquee allowed MU-WF) |
| Blade Sign | Equal to 2/3 building height | 60 sq. ft. | — | ≥2 ft from back of curb; no TXDOT ROW encroachment | 1 per building | Blade sign attached to building, perpendicular to façade. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Blade); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Blade allowed MU-WF) |
| Roof Sign | Equal to 1/3 the distance from eave to ridge line | Greater of 10% of façade or 60 sq. ft. | 75% of roof width | — | 1 per premise | On sloped/eave roof. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Roof); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Roof allowed MU-WF) |
| Single Tenant Monument Sign | 10 ft. | 48 sq. ft. (80 sq. ft. including frame) | — | Setback 10 ft from property line | 1 per building; additional allowed with ≥300 ft frontage and 150 ft separation | Freestanding monument. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Monument parameters); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Single Tenant allowed MU-WF) |
| Multi-Tenant Monument Sign | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. (150 sq. ft. including frame) | — | Setback 10 ft from property line | 1 per building; additional allowed with ≥300 ft frontage and 150 ft separation | Freestanding multi-tenant monument. | — | Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-1 (Multi-Tenant); Sec. 77-512.E, Table 5.12-2 (Multi-Tenant allowed MU-WF) |

## Prohibited signs in Rowlett

- Signs not explicitly allowed by this section or the Code are prohibited.
- Searchlights are prohibited.
- Flashing, coursing, rotating, moving or revolving signs and/or whirling devices; ribbons, streamers, spinners, and similar attention-getting devices are prohibited.
- Signs that emit audible sounds or visible matter such as smoke or steam are prohibited.
- Signs that produce a three-dimensional image are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited; lots with nonconforming billboards may not be further subdivided until the billboard is removed, and nonconforming billboards must be maintained in compliance with all applicable laws.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- No sign may be placed, erected, or maintained on public right-of-way, utility easement, or public area except as allowed by this section and the city engineer.
- No sign may be attached to or maintained on any tree, public utility pole, or public structure.
- Signs near utility lines and streetlights must meet NEC and local utility standards; no variances or special exceptions may be granted for these clearances.
- Berming or increasing ground height to increase sign height is not permitted; height is measured from average grade if berms are used.
- No sign may obstruct or interfere with fire escapes, fire equipment, required ventilators, stairways, doors, windows, or other exits.
- No sign may be erected or maintained in a manner likely to interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; fluttering/undulating/swinging/rotating beacons or strobe lights with lighting interruptions of less than five seconds are prohibited; no sign may obstruct a safe visibility triangle at intersections.
- Lighting spillover from signs may not exceed one foot-candle onto public streets or 0.03 foot-candles onto adjacent residential property.
- Programmed electronic displays may not use animation, video, or scrolling; electronic display/messaging is not allowed on any billboard; an eight-second hold time and max one-second transition are required; brightness may not exceed 0.3 foot-candles above ambient and must use automatic dimmers.
- All commercial signs must be printed and professional in appearance; handwritten or spray-painted commercial signs are prohibited except window signs painted/applied directly to the window.
- Maintaining a sign in a dilapidated or deteriorated condition is prohibited and such signs must be removed or repaired upon notice.
- All sign copy relating to a closed business or discontinued activity must be removed (painted wall signs must be painted over to match) within 30 days of city notification; the property owner is responsible for compliance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rowlett

- Government signs (section applicability exception).
- Indoor signs that are not window signs (section applicability exception).
- Vehicular signs (section applicability exception).
- Special event signs on or over public property when permitted by the city manager or designee (section applicability exception).
- Street number signs not exceeding one square foot in area (section applicability exception).
- Signs approved in conjunction with a special event per the Rowlett Code of Ordinances (section applicability exception).
- Signs approved in conjunction with a temporary use permit (section applicability exception).
- Temporary signs on residential property not exceeding eight square feet in area (section applicability exception).
- Signs in athletic fields oriented to spectators and not to those outside the fields (section applicability exception).
- State, national, local, institutional, or non-commercial flags attached to an approved flag pole (permit exemption).
- On-site directional signs (permit exemption).
- Political signs no more than 36 square feet in area and no more than eight feet in height when no illumination or moving elements are used (permit exemption).
- Copy change for otherwise allowed signs (permit exemption).
- Incidental signs (permit exemption).
- Window signs (permit exemption).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- District directional signage requires approval of a district directional sign plan by the city council upon recommendation of the planning and zoning commission; fees per the city's master fee schedule.
- Placement and installation of district directional signage must comply with an approved site plan submitted to the planning department; district directional signs may be approved as part of a planned development application.
- Directional kiosk signs may be installed only pursuant to an approved and executed license agreement with the city; directional kiosk signs are also subject to all permitting requirements and the license agreement is terminable at will by the city.
- A sign permit is required for all on-site permanent and temporary signs unless exempt; applications must include dimensioned drawings and a site plan (and electrical plans if applicable); the building official has ten business days to approve or deny; permits expire if work does not start within 60 days or finish within 120 days; inspections are required.
- The board of adjustment may grant special exceptions (variances) from sign provisions if applying a provision would work a manifest injustice; the board considers factors including sign type, area context, degree of change, reason, location, duration, safety, neighborhood protection, hardship, and effect on general regulation; no special exception may be granted if it conflicts with the spirit and intent of the Code.
- No variances or special exceptions may be granted for clearance distances from utility lines and streetlight standards (must meet NEC and local utility standards).
- Exception process: Single-tenant monument and wall signs as permitted in Table 5.12-1 may be allowed by the commission for nonresidential uses in residential districts; the commission may impose conditions for compatibility; decisions may be appealed to the city council within 20 days and the council’s decision is final.

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

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