# Sign Regulations in The Colony, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** The Colony, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/the-colony
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/The_Colony/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH6BUCOHESA_ARTXISI)

## At a glance

The Colony, Texas regulates 27 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Awning Signs in the Residential zoning district zoning district are capped at 4 feet from base of awning tall and 75% of width of awning, with a Not applicable setback (Sec. Sec. 6-262(a)). Most commercial signs in The Colony require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Gateway Overlay district | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential zoning district | 3 | 35 feet (flagpole) | 75% of width of awning | — |
| Commercial zoning district, Nonresidential zoning district, Nonresidential zoning districts | 5 | 75 feet (flagpole) | 75% of width of awning | — |
| Multitenant commercial development | 1 | 16 feet | 96 sq ft effective sign area. 160 sq ft total sign area. | — |
| Single-Tenant Commercial Development | 1 | 8 feet | 48 sq ft effective sign area; 80 sq ft total sign area | — |
| All zoning districts | 1 | — | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 40 feet | 100 sq ft per business; 500 sq ft max per sign (if multiple businesses) | — |

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

### Residential zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 4 feet from base of awning | 75% of width of awning | — | Not applicable | Not applicable | For apartment uses in a residential zoning district. May not extend into or over the right-of-way. | — | Sec. 6-262(a) |
| Property Sale or Lease Sign (Residential) | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Shall not be located within any right-of-way or median. | — | Sec. 6-261(i) |
| Flags and Flagpoles (Residential) | 35 feet (flagpole) | 35 sq ft flag area | — | — | 1 | Front or rear yard; not in right-of-way or medians; not on fences or trees. | — | Sec. 6-262(j) |

### Commercial zoning district, Nonresidential zoning district, Nonresidential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 4 feet from base of awning | 75% of width of awning | — | Not applicable | Not applicable | May not extend into or over right-of-way. | — | Sec. 6-262(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq ft or 10% of building façade, whichever is greater | — | — | None specified | Only in conjunction with nonresidential use or in nonresidential zoning district | — | Sec. 6-262(g) |
| Projecting or Hanging Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Only in nonresidential use or in a nonresidential district. Shall not extend above building wall. | — | Sec. 6-262(e) |
| Flags and Flagpoles (Commercial/Nonresidential <4 stories) | 50 feet (flagpole) | 70 sq ft flag area | — | — | 4 max flagpoles per commercial property | Front/rear yard; not in ROW/medians/fences/trees | — | Sec. 6-262(j) |
| Flags and Flagpoles (Commercial/Nonresidential 4 stories or greater) | 75 feet (flagpole) | 70 sq ft flag area | — | — | 4 max flagpoles per commercial property | Front/rear yard; not in ROW/medians/fences/trees | — | Sec. 6-262(j) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Grand Opening Banner | — | 48 sq ft | — | Minimum 25 ft from property line or building setback | 1 per business | Attached to building or in landscaped area (setback min 25 ft from property line or building setback line, whichever is greater) | — | Sec. 6-261(b) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 10 feet | 60 sq ft | — | — | 3 per lot | Outside the right-of-way and/or medians | — | Sec. 6-261(c) |
| Individual Garage Sale Sign | 3 feet | 3 sq ft per face (double-sided allowed) | — | — | 6 per sale | Outside ROW/medians, not on signal/utility/light pole | — | Sec. 6-261(d)(1) |
| Community Garage Sale Sign | 3 feet | 3 sq ft per face (double-sided allowed) | — | — | 12 per sale | Outside ROW/medians, not on signal/utility/light pole | — | Sec. 6-261(d)(2) |
| Group Garage Sale Sign | 3 feet | 3 sq ft per face (double-sided allowed) | — | — | 12 per sale | Outside ROW/medians, not on signal/utility/light pole | — | Sec. 6-261(d)(3) |
| Inflatable Sign | 30 feet | 45 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (3 times/year); 1 at a time per center | Only in commercial/nonresidential districts; must rest on roof or parking lot but not required parking, driveways, fire lanes, landscape buffers, or ROW | — | Sec. 6-261(e) |
| Open House Sign | 3 feet | 3 sq ft | — | — | 6 per sales location | Outside ROW/medians, not on signal/utility/light pole | — | Sec. 6-261(g) |
| Pylon Sign | 40 feet | 100 sq ft per business; 500 sq ft max per sign (if multiple businesses) | — | Min 40 ft side/rear; 10 ft from easement/street; 50 ft from residential | 1 per commercial development | Permitted only along the frontage of State Highway 121; min 40 ft from side/rear property line; min 10 ft from easement/street; min 50 ft from residential property line. | — | Sec. 6-262(f) |

## Prohibited signs in The Colony

- Any sign not referenced in, defined by or governed by this article is prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Mechanical signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Searchlights are prohibited.
- Signs that emit odor or visible matter are prohibited.
- Temporary signs are prohibited, except as expressly permitted in section 6-261.
- Vehicular signs where the primary function is to have the effect of a stationary or monument sign are prohibited.
- Wind devices are prohibited.
- Any sign containing graffiti, obscene, indecent or immoral words, pictures, descriptions or other matter deemed to be of detriment to the health or morals of the citizens is prohibited.
- Any sign that advertises events, businesses and/or services located outside the city or its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is prohibited.
- Any sign that could create a conflict with the traveling public or that creates confusion, impairs hearing or vision, or unduly attracts a vehicle driver using any public street, including high-intensity bare bulbs, duplicates of traffic signs or signals, or any sign emitting noises that simulate sirens, bells or emergency vehicle warning devices, is prohibited.
- Any sign affixed to fences, utility poles, and trees on public or private property is prohibited.
- Any sign erected in or over a public right-of-way or access easement is prohibited except as allowed in subsection 6-259(j).
- Any sign erected in violation of the building code, erected or installed without the issuance of a permit, or not in compliance with federal or state laws is prohibited.
- Flashing signs and intermittent lighting of signs or areas are prohibited where located within 200 feet of and/or are directly visible from residential property.
- Any lighted sign that, by reason of placement, lack of shielding, noise generation or character of operation, is adverse to the normal sensibilities of persons residing on adjacent property or would interfere with their reasonable use, enjoyment or right of privacy is prohibited.
- Any sign or lighting used in conjunction with other moving, flashing, intermittently lighted, changing color, beacon, revolving or similarly constructed signs is prohibited.
- Temporary nuisance signs are prohibited.
- Signs must not interfere with scenic views, create visual clutter, create a nuisance to neighbors by size, height, brightness, materials, or have a detrimental effect on property values.
- It is unlawful to allow removable and/or abandoned signs to remain after business closure beyond specified time frames.
- It is unlawful to maintain neglected or dilapidated signs after written notification.

## Signs exempt from permit in The Colony

- Athletic field signs are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Directional signs not exceeding four and one-half square feet in effective area and/or 30 inches in height are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Governmental signs are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Historical or memorial plaques are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Mailboxes and/or newspaper rack signs, as long as not placed to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Menu boards are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- National, state, and/or city flags are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Private traffic control signs not exceeding ten square feet in effective area and/or six feet in height, and placed where they will not interfere with safe movement, are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Railway signs are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Residential fence signs not exceeding one square foot in effective area are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Residential holiday signs are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- School affiliation signs are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Signs on outdoor machines, devices, and equipment are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Signs/placards on and/or held by persons are exempt and require no permit or fee.
- Utility signs are exempt and require no permit or fee.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no mention in these sections of a requirement for a Master Sign Plan or overall Sign Plan for multi-tenant or large developments.
- A permit is required for most signs unless specifically stated as exempt in section 6-259.
- Permit applications must include a dimensioned drawing illustrating location, design, height, area measurement, materials, color schemes, letter size, and a site drawing showing location of the sign in relation to other built features.
- The chief building official may require more detailed plans prepared by a state registered professional engineer or architect for a permit application.
- Any substantive/material interpretation of the sign ordinance by the chief building official may be appealed to the sign board of appeals.
- Variances to the ordinance may only be granted through the sign board of appeals, which holds public meetings.

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

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