# Sign Regulations in Wichita Falls, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wichita Falls, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/wichita-falls
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-29
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/39242128#39242128)

## At a glance

Wichita Falls, Texas regulates 24 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Directional Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 15 sq ft, with a Requirement does not apply to directional if placement does not create a view obstruction (§6740 Note 1). setback (Sec. Table 6741 (Directional); §6720 (Directional sign definition); Note 1 (setback clearance); §6745(ii); §6747C). Most commercial signs in Wichita Falls require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Single-Family Residential (large lot) (SF-1); Single-Family Residential (standard lot) (SF-2) | 2 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Multifamily Residential (MFR) | 4 | 50 ft | 200 sq ft | — |
| Residential Mixed Use (RMU) | 5 | 80 ft | 900 sq ft | — |
| Limited Commercial District (LC) | 4 | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial (GC); Central Business District (CBD) | 11 | 80 ft | 900 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial (LI); Heavy Industrial (HI) | 9 | 80 ft | 900 sq ft | — |
| River Development (RDD) | 5 | 80 ft | 900 sq ft | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft | 15 sq ft | — | Note 1 applies: On-premises signs fronting a public street within 10 ft of property line must have ≥9 ft clearance to bottom of sign face; low-profile exception if top ≤3 ft above grade; supports ≤12 inches perpendicular to street; no overhang beyond property line. Exception: Requirement does not apply to directional if placement does not create a view obstruction (§6740 Note 1). | None (no explicit numeric cap). | On nonresidential property to direct vehicular traffic; no goods/services for sale may be listed. | — | Table 6741 (Directional); §6720 (Directional sign definition); Note 1 (setback clearance); §6745(ii); §6747C |
| Name Plate | None | 1 sq ft | — | None | 1 per business. | On-premises; 1 per business. | — | Table 6741 (Name Plate); §6745(viii) |
| Political Sign | 8 ft | 36 sq ft | — | 10 ft if taller than 3 ft. | None (no explicit numeric cap). | All districts. | — | Table 6741 (Political); §6745(iii); §6740 Note 9; §6747(A)-(B) |
| Noncommercial Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot. | On nonresidential property; may advertise celebrations, exhibitions, community events, or activities of churches, charitable, nonprofit, educational or philanthropic organizations. | — | Table 6741 (Noncommercial sign); §6720 (Noncommercial sign definition); §6745(ii); §6740 Note 9 |
| Temporary Commercial Sign I | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | Note 1 applies (clearance/low-profile/support limits) if within 10 ft of property line. | None (no explicit numeric cap). | On residential property by a person/business/entity performing a service, construction, event, or sale at the premises (e.g., garage sale, contractor, real estate, auction). | — | Table 6741 (Temporary Commercial Sign I); §6720 (Temporary commercial sign I definition); §6745(vi); Note 1 (setback clearance) |
| Temporary Commercial Sign II | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Note 1 applies (clearance/low-profile/support limits) if within 10 ft of property line. | 1 per street front. | On nonresidential property by a person/business/entity performing a service, construction, event, or sale at the premises (e.g., special event/sale, contractor, real estate, auction). | — | Table 6741 (Temporary Commercial Sign II); §6720 (Temporary commercial sign II definition); §6745(vi); Note 1 (setback clearance) |
| Temporary Commercial Sign III | 50 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage. | On-premises advertising vacant lots for sale within a residential or commercial subdivision, or advertising a pending residential subdivision or commercial development, including contractor’s sign during construction of a nonresidential project or a residential subdivision. | — | Table 6741 (Temporary Commercial Sign III); §6720 (Temporary commercial sign III definition); §6745(vii) |
| Temporary Residential Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot. | On residential property. | — | Table 6741 (Temporary Residential Sign); §6720 (Temporary residential sign definition); §6745(v); Note 6 |

### General Commercial (GC); Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Apartment Sign (Wall/Wall Ground) | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Note 1 applies. | 1 per street frontage or per project. | On premises of an apartment or multifamily complex. | — | Table 6741 (Apartment – 80/20 W/WG); §6720 (Apartment sign definition); Note 1 |
| Apartment Sign (Ground/Pole/Wall Ground/Wall) | 50 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per street frontage or per project. | On premises of an apartment or multifamily complex. | — | Table 6741 (Apartment – 120/50 G/P/WG/W) |
| Multi-Tenant Sign (80 sq ft / 20 ft) | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Note 1 applies; and Note 4 governs total area. | 1 per platted lot per each street front. | On-premises identifying individual businesses within a commercial building(s). | — | Table 6741 (Multi-Tenant – 80/20 G/P/WG/W); Note 1 & 4 |
| Multi-Tenant Sign (120 sq ft / 50 ft) | 50 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per platted lot per each street front. | On-premises identifying individual businesses within a commercial building(s). | — | Table 6741 (Multi-Tenant – 120/50 G/P/WG/W) |
| General Business Sign (≤10 ft from property line or back of curb) | 30 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Note 5 and Note 1 apply. | One per business or street frontage when ≤25 ft setback. | On-premises general business sign. | — | Table 6741 (Gen. Bus.); §6720 (General business sign definition); Note 5; Note 1; §6747; CBD conditional use per §6740 Note 5/§7200 |
| General Business Sign (10 ft to <25 ft from property line) | 50 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 10 ft to <25 ft | One per business or street frontage when ≤25 ft setback. | On-premises general business sign. | — | Table 6741 (Gen. Bus.); Note 5; §6747 |
| General Business Sign (≥25 ft from property line) | 80 ft | 900 sq ft | — | ≥25 ft | No explicit numeric cap when ≥25 ft setback. | On-premises general business sign. | — | Table 6741 (Gen. Bus.); Note 5; §6747 |
| Message Center (10 ft to <25 ft setback) | 50 ft | 120 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft and <25 ft | One per business or street frontage. | On-premises for a general business located on the same premises. | — | Table 6741 (Message Center); Note 7 |

### Light Industrial (LI); Heavy Industrial (HI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Multi-Tenant Sign (80 sq ft / 20 ft) | 20 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Note 1 applies; and Note 4 governs total area. | 1 per platted lot per each street front. | On-premises identifying individual businesses within a commercial building(s). | — | Table 6741 (Multi-Tenant – 80/20 G/P/WG/W); Note 1 & 4 |
| Multi-Tenant Sign (120 sq ft / 50 ft) | 50 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per platted lot per each street front. | On-premises identifying individual businesses within a commercial building(s). | — | Table 6741 (Multi-Tenant – 120/50 G/P/WG/W) |
| General Business Sign (≤10 ft from property line or back of curb) | 30 ft | 80 sq ft | — | Note 5 and Note 1 apply. | One per business or street frontage when ≤25 ft setback. | On-premises general business sign. | — | Table 6741 (Gen. Bus.); §6720 (General business sign definition); Note 5; Note 1; §6747 |
| General Business Sign (10 ft to <25 ft from property line) | 50 ft | 120 sq ft | — | 10 ft to <25 ft | One per business or street frontage when ≤25 ft setback. | On-premises general business sign. | — | Table 6741 (Gen. Bus.); Note 5; §6747 |
| General Business Sign (≥25 ft from property line) | 80 ft | 900 sq ft | — | ≥25 ft | No explicit numeric cap when ≥25 ft setback. | On-premises general business sign. | — | Table 6741 (Gen. Bus.); Note 5; §6747 |
| Message Center (10 ft to <25 ft setback) | 50 ft | 120 sq ft | — | ≥10 ft and <25 ft | One per business or street frontage. | On-premises for a general business located on the same premises. | — | Table 6741 (Message Center); Note 7 |
| Message Center (≥25 ft setback) | 50 ft | 200 sq ft | — | ≥25 ft | One per business or street frontage. | On-premises for a general business located on the same premises. | — | Table 6741 (Message Center); Note 7 |
| Class I Off-Premises (Billboard) | 42.5 ft; 24 ft above roof for roof-mounted; measured from roadway grade (Note 2(D)(1)) | 672 sq ft (807 sq ft with protrusions) | — | 25 ft from right-of-way (Note 2(C)). | Subject to separation distances; no explicit per-lot cap. | Off-premises advertising sign. | — | Table 6741 (Class I Off-Premises); Note 2(A)-(F); Note 8; §6760(A); §6750(B) |

## Prohibited signs in Wichita Falls

- Flashing signs are prohibited citywide (§ 6747(A)).
- Signs using a revolving beam or beacon of light resembling any emergency vehicle or traffic control sign are prohibited (§ 6747(A)).
- High-intensity light as part of a sign display visible from an adjacent street is prohibited; lighted signs must not cause glare or brightness that could be a hazard or nuisance, nor obscure the visibility of traffic control devices (§ 6747(B)).
- No sign may be erected that obstructs the view of motorists; all signs must comply with the Visibility Sight Triangle (Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances § 102-40) (§ 6747(C)).
- No signs of any kind are allowed on the right-of-way of any street or alley, nor on any public place or city-owned property, except as expressly authorized; unauthorized signs on right-of-way are subject to immediate removal (§ 6766).
- No signs may be attached to utility poles in street/alley right-of-way or utility easements except by the owner of the pole (§ 6766).
- Class III off-premises signs are prohibited citywide (§ 6755(A)(1)).
- Any sign not in conformance with standards contained in the ordinance is prohibited (§ 6755(A)(2)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Wichita Falls

- Signs required by law are exempt from the schedule of sign standards in Table 6741 (§ 6740).
- Permit is not required for directional signs (§ 6745, Exceptions to permit requirement(i)).
- Permit is not required for noncommercial signs (§ 6745(ii)).
- Permit is not required for political signs (§ 6745(iii)).
- Permit is not required for residential signs (§ 6745(iv)).
- Permit is not required for temporary residential signs (§ 6745(v)).
- Permit is not required for Temporary Commercial Signs I (§ 6745(vi)).
- Permit is not required for Temporary Commercial Signs II (§ 6745(vi)).
- Permit is not required for Temporary Commercial Signs III when 64 square feet or less in area (§ 6745(vii)).
- Permit is not required for wall signs that do not project more than 12 inches beyond the face of the wall (§ 6745(viii)).
- Permit is not required for temporary signs providing legal notice required by local, state, or federal government (§ 6745(ix)).
- Permit is not required for seasonal displays and decorations that do not advertise a product or service (§ 6745(x)).
- A property owner may display a political or other noncommercial message on any authorized commercial sign, subject to applicable fees and regulations (Note 9, § 6740).
- Temporary signs, flags, or banners may be permitted within city-controlled rights-of-way upon written request and with a permit, at the city manager’s discretion, and only for advertising celebrations, exhibitions, rodeos, fairs, or activities of churches or other charitable, nonprofit, educational or philanthropic organizations (§ 6767).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or sign plan requirement is stated in the provided sections.
- Conditional use review is required for certain CBD wall signs not in conformance with Note 5 and covering more than ten percent of the wall face (review per § 7200) (Note 5, § 6740).
- Most signs require a permit unless specifically exempted; permit applications must include construction documents and, where required by the International Building Code, engineering calculations signed and sealed by a Texas-registered professional engineer (§ 6745).
- Temporary signs, flags, or banners across streets or within city-controlled rights-of-way require a written request to the city manager or designee and a permit; time, place, duration, and manner are at the city manager’s discretion (§ 6767).

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

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