# Sign Regulations in Tool, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tool, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/tool
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Tool, Texas regulates 13 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Institution Signs in the Residential areas zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft from property line setback (Sec. § 153.09, Schedule of Sign Standards, Institution (Residential areas)). Most commercial signs in Tool require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential areas | 3 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family areas, General business areas | 3 | 6 ft | 75 sq ft | — |
| Commercial areas, Industrial areas | 8 | 50 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Planned residential area | 2 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential areas | 2 | 20 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 32 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institution Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 153.09, Schedule of Sign Standards, Institution (Residential areas) |
| Real Estate Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | None | One of each per street frontage | One of each per street frontage | — | § 153.09, Schedule of Sign Standards, Real Estate (Residential areas) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | All zoning districts permitted; not on public right-of-way | — | § 153.02(C) |

### Multi-family areas, General business areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Apartment Sign | 6 ft | 75 sq ft | — | 20 ft from property line | One per street frontage | One per street frontage or 300 (unclear - likely an error: assume one per street frontage) | — | § 153.09, Apartment Sign |
| Wall Sign | The maximum height restriction is not applicable to wall signs. | — | — | — | — | Attached or affixed to wall as per definitions | — | § 153.01; § 153.09(General Business entry; Wall Sign part of construction types c, e, g) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | All zoning districts permitted; not on public right-of-way | — | § 153.02(C) |

### Commercial areas, Industrial areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Sign | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 20 ft from property line | Two per development | Two per development | — | § 153.09, Development |
| General Business and Industrial Sign | 30 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 20 ft from property line | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 153.09, General Business and Industrial areas |
| Institution Sign | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 20 ft from property line | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 153.09, Institution (All commercial and industrial areas) |
| Real Estate Sign | 20 ft | 64 sq ft | — | None | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | § 153.09, Real Estate (All nonresidential areas) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | All zoning districts permitted; not on public right-of-way | — | § 153.02(C) |
| Billboard Sign (Off-Premises Advertising) | 50 ft | 200 - 432 sq ft per face (min 200, max 432) | — | 20 ft from rights-of-way, may project 10 ft into this with 20 ft clearance | — | Commercial or industrial areas only or where authorized by city council | — | § 153.01, § 153.05, § 153.09 |
| Pole Sign (On-Premises) | 30 ft | 200 sq ft per face | — | 20 ft from any street | One per business or tract | One per business or tract | — | § 153.02(F), § 153.09 |
| Ground-Monument Sign | 20 ft | 200 sq ft per face | 5 ft width, 20 ft length (base structure) | 20 ft from property line (for ground signs) | — | — | — | § 153.01, § 153.09 |

## Prohibited signs in Tool

- No outdoor advertising display, sign or billboard, except as described in the ordinance, is permitted in any residential area in the city.
- Approved on-premises outdoor advertising displays, signs or billboards may only be constructed, erected and maintained in commercial and industrial areas.
- No such sign (including political signs) is permitted on any public right-of-way.
- No sign shall project nearer to the front or side street property line than two feet from the back of the curb line in areas where sidewalks exist, and must have minimum clearances above ground.
- Except as permitted by the ordinance, no sign shall be erected, altered or relocated without first securing a permit from the city.
- Street signs, banners and streamers suspended over dedicated streets or alleys are prohibited unless a permit is obtained from the City Secretary.
- A portable sign that is not permanently or adequately attached to a building or approved sign pole/structure is prohibited unless a special use permit has been issued.
- Signs are prohibited which contain statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character that will offend public morals or decency.
- Signs are prohibited which imitate or contain official traffic sign signals or words like 'stop', 'go', 'slow', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning', etc. that could regulate public traffic flow.
- Signs are prohibited that are of a size, shape, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination which may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device, or hide traffic or street signs/signals.
- Signs are prohibited which are not permanently or adequately attached to a building, approved sign pole or structure (unless a special use permit is granted for portable signs).
- Signs are prohibited which have a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling any emergency vehicle.
- Signs are prohibited which advertise the sale of alcoholic beverages (use of established trade names is exempted).
- Signs are prohibited which advertise drink promotions such as 'Happy Hour' promotions.
- Signs are prohibited which partially or completely obstruct the view of any signal light, traffic control sign or such device from any point in a moving traffic lane within 50 feet of such device.
- Signs are prohibited which, as determined by the Chief of Police, constitute an obstruction to the view of operators of motor vehicles on public streets or entering such streets from private property.
- Illuminated signs shall not have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or illuminating devices.
- Beacon or revolving lights are not permitted on signs.
- No colored lights shall be used in any manner so as to be confused with or construed as traffic control devices.
- Neither direct nor reflected light from sign lighting shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.
- No exposed reflective type bulbs, strobe lights or incandescent lamps exceeding 15 watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property (exception for illuminated informational signs like time, date, and temperature).

## Signs exempt from permit in Tool

- Development: construction signs identifying the architect, engineer, contractor, owner, and other associated individuals or firms (without product advertisement, and removed within 14 days of project completion) are permitted anywhere in the city and do not require a permit.
- Public signs of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of their public duty (including safety, traffic, memorial, and historical signs), are exempt from all provisions of the chapter except structural and safety regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, altered or relocated without first securing a permit from the city, except as provided for exempted permitted signs.
- Permit application must include the sign location, drawings showing the design and location, and other pertinent information for ordinance compliance.
- Any person aggrieved by the requirements of any part of the sign ordinance may make a written request to the City Secretary for a review and possible exception/variance by the Sign Committee; all decisions are ultimately appealable to the City Council.
- A special use permit is required for portable signs that are not permanently or adequately attached to a building or approved sign pole/structure.
- Street banners, streamers, or signs suspended over streets or alleys require a permit from the City Secretary.
- Signs seeking to exceed height and area standards may only do so after approval as a specific use (variance) by the city, with consideration of project and site characteristics.

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

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