# Sign Regulations in Shenandoah, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Shenandoah, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/shenandoah
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.shenandoahtx.us/DocumentCenter/View/6754/Sign-Ordinance-PDF)

## At a glance

Shenandoah, Texas regulates 60 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Directory Signs in the Interim Zoning District (IZ), Mixed Use Overlay District (MIX), Retail/Commercial District (RC), Sports/Hospitality District (SPH), Restricted Office District (O-1), Office/Commercial District (OC), Neighborhood Service District (NS), Planned Shopping Center District (C-2), Community Commercial District (C-3), Commercial Corridor District (CC), Light Industrial District (LI), Moderate Industrial District (I-2), Heavy Industrial District (I-3), Planned Development District (PDD), Non-Residential Zoning Districts (Business/Office Parks) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 18 sq ft, with a Min 10 ft from entrance setback (Sec. 90.6(h)(1)(3)). Most commercial signs in Shenandoah 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 | 8 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Detached Residential District (R-35, R-22, R-10, R-1, R-6), Manufactured Home Subdivision District (R-MH-1) | 9 | 42 inches | 72 sq ft | — |
| Medium Density Residential District (R-2), High Density Residential District (R-3), Higher Density Residential District (R-HD), Manufactured Home Park District (R-MH-2) | 8 | 42 inches (freestanding) | 72 sq ft | — |
| Interim Zoning District (IZ), Mixed Use Overlay District (MIX), Retail/Commercial District (RC), Sports/Hospitality District (SPH), Restricted Office District (O-1), Office/Commercial District (OC), Neighborhood Service District (NS), Planned Shopping Center District (C-2), Community Commercial District (C-3), Commercial Corridor District (CC), Light Industrial District (LI), Moderate Industrial District (I-2), Heavy Industrial District (I-3), Planned Development District (PDD), Non-Residential Zoning Districts (Business/Office Parks) | 18 | 42 inches (freestanding) | 300 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development District #13 (PDD #13) | 20 | 50 ft max height | 1,100 sq. ft. max area per face (Chart 3 – double-sided pylon sign) | — |

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

### Single-Family Detached Residential District (R-35, R-22, R-10, R-1, R-6), Manufactured Home Subdivision District (R-MH-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flags - Single-Family Residential Lots | 20 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 flagpole | On single-family residential lot | — | 90.6(i)(1) |
| Garage Sale Sign | 42 inches | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 on lot, additional off-site with permission | On lot of sale or private property with permission | — | 90.6(j) |
| Real Estate Sign - Single-Family Residential Areas | 42 inches | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot + 1 open house | On the residential lot for sale/lease; in front ROW or easement | — | 90.6(t)(1) |
| Residential Sign – Personal Identification Sign | 42 inches | 5 sq ft | — | — | 3 per site | On residential site with single-dwelling unit, not in ROW, easement, public or common area | — | 90.6(u) |
| Construction Sign - Single-Family Individual Residences | 42 inches | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per site | On private property at construction site with active building permit | — | 90.6(g)(2) |
| Construction Sign - Single-Family Subdivision | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At subdivision's real estate sales office or model home if permitted and occupied | — | 90.6(g)(3) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 10 ft | 72 sq ft | — | — | Per principal entrance | One or both sides of principal entrance, or median/ROW with encroachment agreement | — | 90.6(v) |
| Off-Premise Sign - Residential Developments | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Private property with permission or public ROW with encroachment; for residential not along IH-45 | — | 90.6(y) |

### Interim Zoning District (IZ), Mixed Use Overlay District (MIX), Retail/Commercial District (RC), Sports/Hospitality District (SPH), Restricted Office District (O-1), Office/Commercial District (OC), Neighborhood Service District (NS), Planned Shopping Center District (C-2), Community Commercial District (C-3), Commercial Corridor District (CC), Light Industrial District (LI), Moderate Industrial District (I-2), Heavy Industrial District (I-3), Planned Development District (PDD), Non-Residential Zoning Districts (Business/Office Parks)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | Awning face 50 sq ft | 200% of door opening | — | 1 per entrance | Over occupant entrance on single or multi-occupant property | — | 90.6(b) |
| Directory Sign | 4 ft | 18 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from entrance | Varies by site | Ground sign for multi-tenant site; min 10 ft from primary entrance unless approved; near parking entrances safe from ROW | — | 90.6(h)(1)(3) |
| Flags - Nonresidential | 40 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 3 flagpoles, 2 flags each | On principal building wall or within 20 ft of main entrance | — | 90.6(i)(2) |
| Menu Board | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per property | Accessory to restaurant with drive-thru window | — | 90.6(n) |
| Monument Sign - Properties Abutting IH-45 | 20 ft | 144 sq ft (216 sq ft if no pole signs) | — | Clear sight triangle | Total combination with pole: Individual 1, Small 1, Large 3-7 by acres, Super 8; min sep 200 ft | Ground, setbacks for clear sight triangle | — | 90.6(o), 90.11 Chart 1 |
| Monument Sign - Other Properties | 10 ft | 72 sq ft | — | Clear sight triangle | Total combination with pole: Individual 1, Small 1, Large 3-7 by acres, Super 8; min sep 100 ft | Ground, clear sight | — | 90.6(o), 90.11 Chart 1 |
| Freestanding Pole Sign - Properties Abutting IH-45 | 40 ft | 144 sq ft | — | Clear sight triangle | Total with monument as above | Freestanding, no on accessory; clear sight | — | 90.6(p), 90.11 Chart 1 |
| Real Estate Sign - Multi-Family and Nonresidential Areas | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft from ROW | 1-3 depending on center size | Ground sign per parcel, min 10 ft from public/private ROW | — | 90.6(t)(2) |

### Planned Development District #13 (PDD #13)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign (General – Tenants) | — | Up to 2 stories: 15 sq. ft. max per face; 3 stories: 30 sq. ft. max per face; 4+ stories: 60 sq. ft. max per face | — | — | 1 projecting sign on primary elevation per tenant/building | Attached perpendicular to surface or corner of building on primary elevation; sign elevation must not directly face any adjacent property | — | Sec. 5.01; Sec. 11.14.2(dd)(1), (3), (5)–(9) |
| Projecting Sign (Parking Structure Entrances) | — | 80 sq. ft. total projecting sign area at vehicular parking structure entrances | — | — | Not explicitly limited by count; limited by 80 sq. ft. plus general projecting sign rules | At vehicular entrances to parking structures | — | Sec. 11.14.2(dd)(2)-(3) |
| Pylon Sign (Center Identification – IH45/David Memorial Frontage) | 50 ft max height | 1,100 sq. ft. max area per face (Chart 3 – double-sided pylon sign) | — | Must have setbacks adequate to protect the clear sight triangle, in accordance with the code. | 1 pylon sign per super center (Chart 4 – Pylon Signs Total Signs Allowed: 1) | Abutting IH45 and David Memorial; freestanding, permanently attached to the ground as primary identifier of the property | — | Chart 3 (Permitted Signs: Location, Size and Number – Sec. 11.14.1); Sec. 11.14.2(ii)(1)-(9) |
| Changeable Electronic Variable Message Sign (CEVMS) – On Pylon | — | Per side: 30% of pylon face allowable area (i.e., 0.30 × pylon sign face area, up to 30% of 1,100 sq. ft. per side if used on the max-size pylon) | — | — | 1 CEVMS per side of the primary Metropark pylon sign | On primary Metropark pylon sign only, abutting IH45 / David Memorial (center-identification pylon) | — | Sec. 11.14.2(e); Sec. 11.14.2(ii)(9)-(10) |
| Wall Sign, Non‑residential (General Area Calculation) | — | General: 300 sq. ft. max per wall; exception: buildings with architectural elevation >400 ft may have additional signage per Charts 3 & 4 | — | — | Per building type, per elevation, as shown in Chart 4 (e.g., theaters/entertainment: 1 front, 3 rear/side per elevation; inline tenant: 1 front, 1 rear/side per elevation; hotels, parking structures, office: 1 front, 3 rear/side per elevation; multi-family: 1 front, 1 rear/side per elevation). | On nonresidential properties; wall-mounted on each individual elevation (front, rear, side) as permitted by Charts 3 and 4 and general rules | — | Sec. 11.14.2(y)(2), (4), (12)-(13); Chart 4 (Front Wall Sign; Rear or Side Wall Sign) |
| Banner Signs – Permanent/Streetscape (Pole‑Mounted Banners) | Bottom of banner at least 8 ft 6 in above finished grade | 10 sq. ft. max per side; max height of banner 5 ft | — | — | 2 banners per pole (subject to same size and mounting height requirement when two are used) | Pole‑mounted along private street, parking lot or private property along a public or private plaza, roadway or courtyard, consistent with approved site engineering plan; poles primarily installed for purposes such as site lighting. | — | Sec. 11.14.2(cc)(1)-(8) |
| Advertising Panel | — | No greater than 33% of the total square footage of a given elevation; elevation must exceed 150 linear feet | — | Minimum separation distance 500 ft between buildings with advertising panel façades. | Up to 4 advertising panels per building (Chart 4) so long as combined area ≤33% of elevation and only one façade per building has advertising panels. | On building surfaces and parking garage structures within Metropark; on qualifying elevations (single elevation per building >150 ft long, not fronted by other tenants). | — | Sec. 11.14.2(ee)(1)-(9); Chart 3 (Advertising Panels); Chart 4 (Advertising Panels – Total Signs Allowed 4 per building) |
| Large Media Screen | Screen must be oriented for pedestrian viewing at an appropriate height below 40 ft | 750 sq. ft. max screen area | — | — | Not numerically specified; effectively limited by 2,000 ft separation requirement and visibility restrictions. | On a commercial or public building or structure within Metropark; in a location consistent with project master plan and adopted guidelines, where pedestrian activity is desired | — | Sec. 11.14.2(ff)(1)-(16) |

## Prohibited signs in Shenandoah

- Any sign that copies or imitates an official sign or purports to have official status
- Windblown devices
- Inflatable signs
- Pennants
- Portable signs, unless allowed in Section 90.6
- Any sign attached to an accessory structure, except an incidental sign
- Any attention-attracting device not permitted by this Ordinance
- Signs imitating traffic, regulatory or emergency signs or signals or signs which may mislead, confuse or distract the driver of a motor vehicle
- Signs painted on or attached to (1) roofs of buildings, (2) trees, (3) fence posts, (4) rocks or other natural features, (5) telephone or utility poles, or (6) any public signs or poles
- Off premise signs unless allowed in Section 90.6 Off-Premise Signs
- Flashing signs or signs having flashing parts unless permitted as a CEVMS Electronic Sign
- Moving or rotating signs or signs having moving parts (including but not limited to hand held signage)
- Any sign held by an individual and displaying such sign to attract attention to a business whether on-premises or off-premises
- Banners, tarps or similar material used for the purpose of signage unless otherwise allowed in this Ordinance
- Beacons or any other artificial light unless it is allowed in Section 90.10 Lighting
- Bandit Signs
- Cabinet Signs
- Any object that meets the definition of a sign in this Ordinance is subject to regulation, notwithstanding the fact that its principal purpose is other than communicating a message; examples include vending machines with 'super-graphics' that can be read off the property, as well as logos and signs on gas pumps or other equipment used in the sale or delivery of goods or services

## Signs exempt from permit in Shenandoah

- Any sign required by federal, state or local law or a public utility company
- Traffic signs which meet Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices standards and contain no commercial message
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door
- Any sign inside an athletic field or other similar outdoor facility space
- Works of art with no commercial message
- Holiday decorations, approved for the Holiday Season as defined in Section 90.19
- 'No trespassing', 'no hunting', 'no fishing' or 'no loitering' sign which do not exceed one square foot in area
- Governmental signs
- Unless specified herein, the changing of messages on changeable copy signs designed and intended to be changed on a regular basis
- Signage inside a breezeway or entranceway, under the roof and within the foundation line of the building, but outside the actual entrance door
- Incidental signs

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Sign Permit Application, which establishes parameters for the size, location and design of signs on a property, is required for most signs including temporary signs, awning signs, banner signs, changeable copy signs, construction signs (except single-family residences), directory signs, flags and flagpoles (nonresidential), garage sale signs (permit not required), marquee signs, menu boards, monument signs, freestanding pole signs, political signs (permit not required), real estate signs (nonresidential), subdivision identification signs, suspended signs, temporary on-premise signs, off-premise signs, wall signs, and window signs (permit not required)
- Special Exception required for Animated Signs and Changeable Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS), reviewed by the Shenandoah Sign Committee
- For multi-occupant properties, issuance of a sign permit for a new or replacement sign requires removal or compliance of all nonconforming signs for that occupant
- Special Exception may be requested upon denial of a Sign Permit by the City Administrator, for deviations from ordinance requirements, heard by the Shenandoah Sign Committee
- For nonconforming signs, Special Exception may authorize continuation, expansion or replacement if hardship exists and public welfare not injured
- Variance (as Special Exception) granted by Shenandoah Sign Committee; further appeal possible to City Council upon request by Mayor or two Council members
- For centers and developments, sign allowances (e.g., monument and pole signs) imply coordinated sign plan per Charts 1 and 2 in Section 90.11, with restrictions on individual tenant freestanding signs
- Sign Permit must be obtained prior to construction, with application including plans; incomplete applications expire after 45 days, and permits void if not completed within 60 days

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

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