# Sign Regulations in South Houston, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Houston, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/south-houston
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/South_Houston/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH18STSICO)

## At a glance

South Houston, Texas regulates 13 sign types across 1 zoning district. Portable Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6.5 feet (vertical dimension) tall, 72 square feet per side; 6 feet by 12 feet per face, and 12.5 feet (horizontal dimension) wide (Sec. Sec. 18-4(c)(2); Sec. 18-13(e)(1); Sec. 18-15; Sec. 18-9). Most commercial signs in South Houston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 42.5 feet overall maximum for any on-premises sign (except roof signs). | 72 square feet per side; 6 feet by 12 feet per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | No limit, but total area cannot exceed 20% of wall area. | Affixed to or painted upon the wall of a building. | — | Sec. 18-4(b)(6); Sec. 18-13(d)(1)c; Sec. 18-9 |
| Ground Sign | 42.5 feet overall maximum for any on-premises sign (except roof signs). | — | — | Must not obstruct the sight triangle; see Sec. 22-73. | One per separate street frontage. | Supported by uprights or braces in or upon the ground, on private property. | — | Sec. 18-4(b)(1); Sec. 18-13(a)(1),(2),(e)(6); Sec. 18-9 |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet from natural ground level to top of sign. | 60 square feet per side | — | — | One per business; two if business qualifies (see additional requirements). | At intersections; on private property. | — | Sec. 18-4(b)(3); Sec. 18-13(e)(2),(3),(f); Sec. 18-9 |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business. | Projecting sign attached to or hung from a canopy or structure projecting from and supported beyond a building. | — | Sec. 18-4(b)(2); Sec. 18-13(e)(4); Sec. 18-9 |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | Two per business. | Other than an awning, attached to a building and projecting over a thoroughfare, sidewalk, or parking area. | — | Sec. 18-4(b)(9); Sec. 18-13(e)(5); Sec. 18-9 |
| Roof Sign | 25 feet above the roof level. | — | — | 1 foot from roofline to bottom of sign; 3 feet between sign structure and edge of roof and between structures. | — | Erected, constructed or maintained above or upon the roof of any building. Specified setbacks from roof edge and other sign structures apply. | — | Sec. 18-4(b)(5); Sec. 18-13(a)(3), (c); Sec. 18-9 |
| Portable Sign | 6.5 feet (vertical dimension) | 72 square feet per side; 6 feet by 12 feet per face | 12.5 feet (horizontal dimension) | — | One per business per year; max two 30-day periods per year (minimum 6 months apart). | On private property; not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 18-4(c)(2); Sec. 18-13(e)(1); Sec. 18-15; Sec. 18-9 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per address (exempt); others require permit. | On-premises, intended for specific period | — | Sec. 18-4(c)(4); Sec. 18-9(m)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in South Houston

- No sign, other than official signs erected by authorized government entities, may be placed, painted, printed, posted, or affixed on any curb, sidewalk, pavement, telephone/electric pole, traffic signal standard, public improvement, bridge, overpass/underpass, median, esplanade, right-of-way, public utility easement, traffic island, or public building/structure belonging to the city.
- No sign shall be constructed which resembles any official marker erected by any government agency or that could be confused with emergency vehicle lights (especially blinking lights), or uses words/phrases/symbols/characters that may mislead or confuse traffic.
- Signs may not be located or illuminated in such a manner as to obscure or interfere with the effectiveness of any official traffic sign, signal or device, or obstruct/interfere with the view of a driver.
- Signs containing lights which are not effectively shielded, or which cause glare or impair vision of drivers, or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation, are prohibited.
- Spectacular signs with strobe, rotating strobe, blinking strobe lights, flashing/rotating/blinking spotlights that interfere with traffic, automatically changeable advertising signs changing more than every 3 seconds, flashing lights with bulbs greater than 15 watts, or those placed perpendicular to the roadway (with limited exception) are prohibited.
- No sign shall obstruct any means of egress, any opening required for light, ventilation, fire fighting or escape, or prevent free passage on roofs.
- No sign shall be attached to any exterior stairway, fire escape, fire tower balcony, or balcony serving as a horizontal exit.
- No sign shall interfere with the operation of a counterbalanced section of a fire escape, and no projecting sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained without a minimum of seven feet of clearance over such section.
- No sign shall obstruct the free use of any window above the first story.
- No emitting sign shall be permitted at any location within the city.
- No sign shall employ a stereopticon or motion picture machine.
- No permit for a sign extending beyond private property onto a public street, sidewalk, or alley shall create a permanent easement.
- No sign or sign structure may remain for more than ninety (90) days on a vacant building or premises, except a conforming sign for sale/lease or a maintained conforming sign; after 90 days vacancy, the message must be blanked out.
- Any sign that restricts vision necessary for safety is prohibited; signs over pedestrian traffic must be at least 8 ft above surface, over passenger vehicle traffic at least 10 ft, over general vehicle traffic at least 14 ft 6 in, and not obstruct vision within the sight triangle.
- No obscene sign shall be permitted.
- Moveable signs (signs designed to be moved by hand and stored inside at night) are not allowed.
- Off-premises signs are not allowed.
- No sign shall remain nonpermitted or unregistered after January 31 of each year.
- No sign may be placed on public property within 100 feet of the City's War Memorial.
- No sign, including political signs, may be placed upon or adjacent to Memorial Park or abutting property except by express consent of the city council.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Houston

- A permit is not required for directional and regulatory signs erected by the city, State of Texas (including its political subdivisions, counties and school districts), the federal government and their lessees.
- A permit is not required for railroad signs.
- A permit is not required for legal notices, house numbers, 'no trespassing', 'no parking' and other similar warning signs, not exceeding two in number.
- A permit is not required for temporary signs smaller than twelve (12) square feet (not more than one per address).
- A permit is not required for signs required by federal, state, or local law.
- A permit is not required for on-premises signs setting forth location/directions to parking/buildings or regulating flow of on-premises traffic provided no electrical wiring.
- A permit is not required for signs displayed/used on motor vehicles as long as the vehicle is used for delivery or identification; does not apply if the vehicle is used solely for advertising.
- A permit is not required for signs designed and used for display upon or with heavier-than-air craft.
- A permit is not required for signs within a stadium, open-air theater, arena, or public/recreational area designed primarily for patrons within.
- A permit is not required for on-premises real estate signs five square feet or less.
- A permit is not required for Christmas displays and similar temporary displays erected without advertising, subject to fire and electrical code/fire safety rules.
- A permit is not required for one sign (up to 40 square feet) concerning a building under repair or construction or advertising sale/rental of premises.
- A permit is not required for one subdivision identification sign per subdivision, up to 40 square feet.
- A permit is not required for one flag of the US and/or State of Texas and/or City of South Houston.
- A permit is not required for fast food establishment in/out directional signs with company logo not exceeding 1.5 square feet (in addition to allowed signs).
- A permit is not required for any on-premises sign viewed only from within the premises and not visible from any public road.
- A permit is not required for any name-plate sign placed on the entrance door or within 6 inches of the entrance opening.
- Operating permit is not required for any on-premises sign used by a recognized church or religious organization with valid nonprofit charter and current IRS tax-exempt certificate.
- Operating permit is not required for any on-premises sign operated by and used to further interests of a recognized charitable nonprofit organization (with valid charters and tax-exempt certificates).
- No sign permit required for the change of any ornamental features or normal maintenance of a previously permitted sign (though compliance with other applicable permits may still be required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for sign permits must include two blueprints or ink drawings, to scale, showing plans and specifications including method of construction and attachment. Applications for new signs must include drawings prepared and certified by a professional engineer registered in Texas.
- There is no specific requirement for a 'master sign plan' or variance meeting, but permit applications require submission of detailed plans, including stress calculations and, for new signs, engineering certification.
- Sign plan or detailed design is required in all cases involving a permit application, including certain engineering requirements.
- A variance up to 25 feet above adjacent roadway for roof sign height may be granted for good cause, which may involve an additional review process.
- In section 18-4(b), for multiple business signs, there are special rules, but no mention of requiring a master sign plan.
- The ordinance does not explicitly mention a 'master sign plan,' but requires detailed submittal of sign plans for permits, including site and structural details.

## Full detail

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

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