# Sign Regulations in Tomball, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tomball, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/tomball
- **Data last verified:** 2026-05-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/TX/Tomball/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH34SI)

## At a glance

Tomball, Texas regulates 19 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Monument or Pole) - On-Premises (Standard)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Max overall height 42 ft measured from the highest point on the sign to natural grade at the sign supports. tall and Up to 300 sq ft per sign face (including cutouts; excluding uprights). No on-premises sign may exceed 300 sq ft except integrated business development ground signs, which may exceed this per their specific formula., with a Separation between ground signs on the same lot (including off‑premises ground signs) must be at least 100 ft measured straight-line between sign bases. setback (Sec. Sec. 34-8(c)(1)–(2); Sec. 34-44(a); Sec. 34-45(e); Sec. 34-46; Sec. 34-42; Sec. 34-41; Sec. 34-5(c)(1).). Most commercial signs in Tomball require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | Max flagpole height 50 ft. | Up to 300 sq ft per sign face (including cutouts; excluding uprights). No on-premises sign may exceed 300 sq ft except integrated business development ground signs, which may exceed this per their specific formula. | — |
| Old Town Area | 1 | — | 32 sq ft (single business/use); 50 sq ft (multitenant business/use). | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Monument or Pole) - On-Premises (Standard) | Max overall height 42 ft measured from the highest point on the sign to natural grade at the sign supports. | Up to 300 sq ft per sign face (including cutouts; excluding uprights). No on-premises sign may exceed 300 sq ft except integrated business development ground signs, which may exceed this per their specific formula. | — | Separation between ground signs on the same lot (including off‑premises ground signs) must be at least 100 ft measured straight-line between sign bases. | 1 per 100 ft of frontage (minimum 1 per lot); multi-frontage lots: 1 per frontage with at least 50 ft, subject to 100 ft separation. | On private property; not in the public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 34-8(c)(1)–(2); Sec. 34-44(a); Sec. 34-45(e); Sec. 34-46; Sec. 34-42; Sec. 34-41; Sec. 34-5(c)(1). |
| Ground Sign - On-Premises (Integrated Business Development) | Max overall height 42 ft measured from the highest point on the sign to natural grade at the sign supports. | 300 sq ft + 50 sq ft for each entity over 5 shown on the sign (no stated cap). | — | Minimum 100 ft separation between ground signs (on‑premises and off‑premises) on the same lot measured straight-line between sign bases. | 1 per 5 entities (tenants) identified in the development. | On private property serving the integrated business development. | — | Sec. 34-8(c)(3); Sec. 34-44(a); Sec. 34-46; Sec. 34-41; Sec. 34-5(c)(1). |
| Ground Sign - Off-Premises | 12 ft measured from the highest point of the sign to natural grade at the sign supports. | 40 sq ft (per sign face; excluding uprights). | — | Minimum 500 ft from any other off‑premises sign; minimum 100 ft from any on‑premises ground sign; prohibited within 350 ft of a public-street intersection. | Maximum 2 off‑premises signs per property. | Off‑premises (advertises activities not located on the same premises). Must be on private property; not in the public right‑of‑way. | — | Sec. 34-9(b)(1)–(6); Sec. 34-44(c); Sec. 34-46. |
| Wall Sign | Must not extend more than 8 ft above the roof level. | 300 sq ft per building face. | — | — | — | Affixed to or painted upon a building wall. | — | Sec. 34-1 (Wall sign); Sec. 34-45(a); Sec. 34-44(b); Sec. 34-46. |
| Roof Sign | May not extend more than 8 ft above the roof level. | Up to 300 sq ft (on‑premises signs are capped at 300 sq ft unless specifically allowed to exceed; no special larger allowance is provided for roof signs). | — | — | — | Erected, constructed, or maintained above a building roof. | — | Sec. 34-1 (Roof sign); Sec. 34-44(b); Sec. 34-45(e); Sec. 34-46; Sec. 34-41; Sec. 34-5(c)(1). |
| Projecting Sign | May not extend more than 8 ft above the roof level. | Up to 300 sq ft (on‑premises signs are capped at 300 sq ft unless specifically allowed to exceed; no special larger allowance is provided for projecting signs). | — | — | — | Affixed to a building wall and extending beyond it more than 12 inches. | — | Sec. 34-1 (Projecting sign); Sec. 34-44(b); Sec. 34-45(e); Sec. 34-46; Sec. 34-41; Sec. 34-5(c)(1). |
| Marquee Sign | May not extend above the building’s roofline (definition). | Up to 300 sq ft (on‑premises signs are capped at 300 sq ft unless specifically allowed to exceed; no special larger allowance is provided for marquee signs). | — | — | — | Attached to or hung from a canopy or covered structure projecting from a building facade. | — | Sec. 34-1 (Marquee sign); Sec. 34-44(b); Sec. 34-45(e); Sec. 34-46; Sec. 34-41; Sec. 34-5(c)(1). |
| Flag and Flagpoles | Max flagpole height 50 ft. | Flag size limits: On poles 35 ft or less, no side of any flag may exceed 6 ft. On poles over 35 ft, the flag’s length may not be more than 25% of pole height. | — | Minimum 8 ft from overhead power lines/easements; minimum 6 ft from any property line; minimum 6 ft between flagpoles; no encroachment into easements, rights‑of‑way, or over property lines. | Max 3 freestanding flagpoles; plus 1 corporate flag/pole if at least 1 official flag/pole is installed. | Permitted in all zoning districts; must not encroach into utility easements or rights‑of‑way, and must not extend over adjoining property lines. | — | Sec. 34-49(a)–(i). |

### Old Town Area

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Changeable Electronic Variable Message Sign (CEVMS) - Old Town Area | — | 32 sq ft (single business/use); 50 sq ft (multitenant business/use). | — | — | — | On‑premises only. In the Old Town Area, only public tax‑supported schools may use CEVMS by right; all other properties require specific city council approval, and adjacency to a state right‑of‑way does not confer by‑right permission here. | — | Sec. 34-11(a)–(d). |

## Prohibited signs in Tomball

- Bright or fluorescent colors are not permitted on any part of any sign.
- No sign may be placed on public streets, sidewalks, alleys, rights-of-way, curbs, bridges, public buildings/structures, public places, or public improvements without express City Council consent.
- Attention-getting devices (e.g., cutouts, festooning/streamers, inflatable objects/balloons, nongovernmental flags/pennants, propellers, wind devices, blinking/rotating/chasing/flashing/strobe/search/flood/spot lights, smoke/steam devices) are unlawful on any private or public property.
- No new billboards are permitted within the city limits or ETJ.
- Changeable Electronic Variable Message Signs (CEVMS) are prohibited except when specifically allowed (properties not in the Old Town Area adjacent to state rights-of-way and public tax-supported schools; or on non-adjacent properties only with City Council approval).
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Human or living signs are prohibited.
- Freestanding temporary signage for non-civic events is prohibited, except as otherwise exempted in the chapter.
- Bandit signs are prohibited.
- Obscene signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Any sign not specifically mentioned in the chapter is prohibited unless approved by City Council.
- Obsolete nonconforming signs are prohibited and must be removed.
- Supports for all signs or sign structures must be placed on private property (no supports in/over public right-of-way or public property).
- Any sign left with no sign face/message for 120 consecutive days is a violation and must be restored to use or removed after notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tomball

- Governmental/public signs: No permit required for signs erected by the city, county, public school district, the state, other political subdivisions; signs required by law; and public signs authorized by the city.
- Temporary signs for civic events (e.g., parades, community holiday festivities, charitable/nonprofit special events) are permit-exempt.
- On-premises permit-exempt signs: window/door graphics; railroad signs; legal notices and address numbers; construction/repair or for sale/rent signs up to 32 sq ft while applicable; temporary on-premises directional/parking/traffic-flow signs (may be lighted per code); signs displayed on motor vehicles; signs used with aircraft; garage sale signs (max 3 consecutive days per sale, not in rights-of-way or on utility poles, must display posting date).
- Political signs on private real property with owner consent are exempt from sign permits if no larger than 36 sq ft, no taller than 8 ft, not illuminated, and with no moving parts (does not apply to rentable billboards or similar).
- Coin-operated newspaper vending devices may be placed on public property/rights-of-way if they do not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic (exception to public property placement prohibition).
- Subdivision identification signs painted/affixed to lawful fences or walls are permitted when facing a subdivision entrance street, projecting no more than 6 inches from the face, and not extending above the wall (exception within right-of-way restrictions).
- Existing billboard sign face replacement is allowed without a permit if no structural modifications are required.

## Sign permit fees & timelines in Tomball

| Item | Details | Citation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Permit renewal for sign construction beyond initial 180 days | the permit is renewed for an additional 180 days in which case an additional fee shall be payable | Sec. 34-5(e) |

_The full published fee and review-timeline schedule for Tomball is available in PermitPal (free account)._

## Full detail

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

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