# Sign Regulations in Willis, Texas

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Willis, Texas (TX)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/texas/willis
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [amlegal municipal code](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/willis/latest/willis_tx/0-0-0-4517)

## At a glance

Willis, Texas regulates 32 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (0 - 50 sq ft) (On-Premises)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and Up to 50 sq ft, with a 0 ft minimum setback (per Table 1) setback (Sec. § 150.07(A)(1)-(3) and Table 1; § 150.06(M)(2)-(3)). Most commercial signs in Willis 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 | 32 | 50 ft | No single wall sign may exceed 300 sq ft; overall wall sign coverage limited to max 50% of each tenant’s storefront/side/rear wall oriented to each street | — |
| Single-family Residential District (R-1, R-2); Manufactured Home District (MH); High Density Residential District (HD); General Commercial District (GC); General Industrial District (GI) | 32 | 50 ft | Max 300 sq ft per sign; overall coverage ≤50% of each tenant’s wall facing each street | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (0 - 50 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 15 ft | Up to 50 sq ft | — | 0 ft minimum setback (per Table 1) | See additional requirements per § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1)-(3) and Table 1; § 150.06(M)(2)-(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (>50 - 100 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 20 ft | >50 to 100 sq ft | — | 2 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>100 - 150 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 25 ft | >100 to 150 sq ft | — | 2 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>150 - 200 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 30 ft | >150 to 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>200 - 250 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 40 ft | >200 to 250 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>250 - 300 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 50 ft | >250 to 300 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Group Sign (Multiple Businesses) | Per Table 1 (no change from base limits) | Up to 30% increase over Table 1 limits; up to 35% increase when combined with landscaping | — | Per Table 1 (no change) | Base allowances and frontage credits apply (§ 150.07(A)(3)-(4)). | On-premises for centers with multiple businesses | — | § 150.07(A)(4) |
| Subdivision Sign | Max 8 ft above curb level | Max 80 sq ft | — | — | Max two per entrance (subdivision or subdivision section) | Permanent freestanding at subdivision entrances; may be placed within public ROW with encroachment agreement and safety conditions | — | § 150.07(E)(1)-(6) |

### Single-family Residential District (R-1, R-2); Manufactured Home District (MH); High Density Residential District (HD); General Commercial District (GC); General Industrial District (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (0 - 50 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 15 ft | Up to 50 sq ft | — | 0 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1)-(4) and Table 1; § 150.06(M)(2)-(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (>50 - 100 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 20 ft | >50 to 100 sq ft | — | 2 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>100 - 150 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 25 ft | >100 to 150 sq ft | — | 2 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>150 - 200 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 30 ft | >150 to 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>200 - 250 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 40 ft | >200 to 250 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign (>250 - 300 sq ft) (On-Premises) | 50 ft | >250 to 300 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum setback | See § 150.07(A)(3)-(4). | On-premises | — | § 150.07(A)(1) and Table 1 |
| Freestanding Sign - Group Sign (Multiple Businesses) | Per Table 1 | Up to 30% increase over Table 1 limits; up to 35% increase when combined with landscaping | — | Per Table 1 | Base allowances and frontage credits apply (§ 150.07(A)(3)-(4)). | On-premises center signage | — | § 150.07(A)(4) |
| Subdivision Sign | Max 8 ft above curb level | Max 80 sq ft | — | — | Max two per entrance | Subdivision entrances; may be in public ROW with encroachment agreement | — | § 150.07(E)(1)-(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Willis

- Dilapidated or deteriorated signs are prohibited.
- Outdated or abandoned signs are prohibited (no sign may advertise a business closed for more than 90 days; a sign unused for advertising for one year must be removed).
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Obstructing signs are prohibited (no sign may prevent free ingress/egress to any door, window, or fire escape; no sign may be attached to a standpipe or fire escape).
- Traffic hazards are prohibited (no sign may obstruct vision at intersections; interfere with or be confused with traffic control devices due to position, shape, or color; use words like STOP, LOOK, DANGER in a manner that misleads or confuses traffic; or use illumination resembling an emergency signal).
- Unsafe signs are prohibited (signs that constitute a hazard due to inadequate design, construction, repair, or maintenance may be declared a public nuisance).
- Glaringly illuminated signs are prohibited (lights that glare onto surrounding areas or residences or distract drivers/pedestrians).
- Obscene signs are prohibited (gestures, graphics, or words that are obscene, profane, or pornographic).
- Stationary vehicular signs are prohibited (signs painted on or attached to motor vehicles used primarily for display, such as billboard trucks; business identification on vehicles used and parked in the normal course of business is allowed).
- Bandit signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except as expressly allowed by enumerated exceptions.
- Digital LED signs greater than 75 square feet are prohibited except as expressly allowed.
- Signs on public improvements in streets (e.g., pavement, medians, sidewalks, poles, traffic signs) are prohibited.
- Signs on other public property are prohibited unless otherwise provided.
- Signs located within the 35-foot visibility triangle of any street intersection are prohibited.
- Signs located within ten feet of a roadway are prohibited (measurement perpendicular to adjacent roadway; in addition to any other setbacks).
- Placing a sign on the property of another without consent of the owner, tenant, or person in control is prohibited.
- Unlawful signs (any sign erected or maintained in violation of the chapter) are declared a public nuisance and must be removed or confiscated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Willis

- Temporary real estate signs up to 32 sq ft advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which they are located; must be removed within seven days following occupancy by a new resident; limited to one per street frontage.
- Temporary political signs concerning candidates or ballot issues up to 32 sq ft; may be erected no earlier than 60 days prior to an election and must be removed within seven days after the election; political signs placed within rights-of-way or on public property may be removed by city personnel.
- Temporary garage/yard sale signs up to 6 sq ft; posted no more than three days prior to the sale and removed one day after; must comply with all other provisions.
- Interior window signs that do not exceed 80% of window length or 33% of window height and do not obstruct visibility of the cashier clerk from street level.
- Historical signs that are an integral part of the historic character of a landmark building or historic district.
- Public signs regulating vehicular or pedestrian traffic and directional signs to streets, schools, hospitals, historical sites, public facilities, or community events.
- Flags of any government or governmental agency or of patriotic, religious, charitable, civic, educational, or fraternal organizations not exceeding 40 sq ft.
- On-premises temporary signs for special events up to 32 sq ft; not erected more than 60 days before the event and removed within 30 days after the event.
- Hand-held signs not set on or affixed to the ground and not exceeding 10 sq ft.
- Temporary construction site identification signs (architect, engineer, developer, contractor) up to 64 sq ft; not erected prior to building permit issuance and removed within seven days after project completion.
- Commercial occupational signs identifying the name and profession of the occupant(s) up to 16 sq ft.
- Memorial or commemorative plaques or tablets denoting a building name and/or date of erection or a location of historic significance up to 4 sq ft.
- Property identification signs indicating address and/or name up to 2 sq ft for residential uses and up to 5 sq ft for nonresidential uses.
- Nonconforming permanent signs lawfully permitted and erected prior to the regulations are exempt from the provisions of the subchapter unless damaged, destroyed, taken down, or removed for purposes other than maintenance; if restoration cost exceeds 50% of replacement value, the sign must be removed unless otherwise authorized.

## Full detail

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

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