255 confirmed rules from the City of Amarillo's sign code for 9 sign types, each quoted word for word with its code section and a link to the official source. Last checked Nov 14, 2026.
What the confirmed rules cover
Wall sign rules in Amarillo
29 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, O-1, O-2 and NS2 sq ft per linear ft of the building frontage on which the sign is affixed (total wall signs)“Wall signs may not exceed the total of two (2) square feet per linear foot of the building frontage on which the sign is…”Sec. 4-2-9 J(2)f. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
28 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, O-1, O-2 and NS2 sq ft per linear ft of the building frontage on which the sign is affixed (total wall signs)“Wall signs may not exceed the total of two (2) square feet per linear foot of the building frontage on which the sign is…”Sec. 4-2-9 J(2)f. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
46 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, electronic message limits, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, O-1, O-2 and NS150 sq ft (1.5 sq ft per linear ft of lot frontage, max 150 sq ft, at least 60 sq ft allowed regardless of frontage)“Freestanding signs are allowed a maximum area equal to 1.5 square foot per linear foot of lot frontage, not to exceed one hundred fifty…”Sec. 4-2-9 J(2)c. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Highway frontage signs. Properties in GR or less restrictive districts with frontage on IH-40, IH-27, SH-60 or US-87/287 (outside the downtown segments) may use the larger highway freestanding sign rules of Sec. 4-2-9 J(6). Pick that group if it applies.
46 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, minimum clearance, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, electronic message limits, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, O-1, O-2 and NS150 sq ft (1.5 sq ft per linear ft of lot frontage, max 150 sq ft, at least 60 sq ft allowed regardless of frontage)“Freestanding signs are allowed a maximum area equal to 1.5 square foot per linear foot of lot frontage, not to exceed one hundred fifty…”Sec. 4-2-9 J(2)c. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Highway frontage signs. Properties in GR or less restrictive districts with frontage on IH-40, IH-27, SH-60 or US-87/287 (outside the downtown segments) may use the larger highway freestanding sign rules of Sec. 4-2-9 J(6). Pick that group if it applies.
Allowed in some districts. 25 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, CB Central BusinessArea of a projecting sign is calculated as a wall signNote: Sign projecting into the public right-of-way“The area of such projecting signs shall be calculated as a wall sign.”Sec. 4-2-9 J(4) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Not allowed. 18 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum areaCanopy sign area counts toward the total wall sign area allowed on the property“Canopy signs: The area of canopy sign shall count towards the total area of wall signs allowed on a property.”Sec. 4-2-9 F(3) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
5 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, other limit.
Example: Maximum area50%Applies to: Temporary window signs“Window signs of a temporary nature only that do not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total window area.”Sec. 4-2-7 R · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Allowed in some districts. 35 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, electronic message limits, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area50%“An EMC may not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total freestanding sign area as allowed for a given zoning district.”Sec. 4-2-9 H(2)a. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Highway frontage signs. Properties in GR or less restrictive districts with frontage on IH-40, IH-27, SH-60 or US-87/287 (outside the downtown segments) may use the larger highway freestanding sign rules of Sec. 4-2-9 J(6). Pick that group if it applies.
Allowed, with conditions. 23 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, electronic message limits, other limit.
Example: Maximum area60 sq ft“Temporary signs shall be allowed a maximum area of sixty (60) square feet.”Sec. 4-2-11 D(3) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
32 more lines could not be confirmed by our automatic checks, so no figures are shown for them. A lookup lists them with the section to check.
Before you file in Amarillo
Sign permit fee changedOrdinance No. 8270 (the FY 2026-27 budget ordinance), with fees effective October 1, 2026, changed the sign permit fee set in Sec. 4-1-21 and added a Sign Master Plan fee. The online code had not been updated, so no fee is shown here. Ask Building Safety for the current fees. Source
Zoning map data may be out of dateThe zoning layer used for this lookup is a copy last updated in 2021. Rezonings since then are not shown; confirm the district on the city's zoning map or with the Planning Department.
Downtown Amarillo has its own sign standardsProperty inside the Downtown Urban Design District (largely the CB district downtown) follows the Downtown Urban Design Standards in Chapter 4-10, Division 3, not the sign standards shown here; only permitting, fees, inspections and construction and electrical rules of Chapter 4-2 apply (Sec. 4-2-6). Check with the Planning Department.
"GR and less restrictive" districtsChapter 4-2 sets freestanding and wall sign limits for "the GR district and less restrictive districts" and "HC or less restrictive" districts. Which districts count as less restrictive is set in the zoning chapter (Chapter 4-10), so outside GR, HC, O-1, O-2, NS and CB the lookup asks you to pick the district group. Confirm with the city.
Specific use permits and sign master plansA specific use permit (shown as /S on the zoning map) may add sign conditions (Sec. 4-2-9 K), and a sign master plan approved under Sec. 4-2-8 can change freestanding sign location, size and height for its area.
Separate electrical permit and registered contractorA sign with electrical service needs a separate electrical permit (Chapter 4-4), and sign permits are issued only to contractors registered under Chapter 4-1, Article II (Sec. 4-2-4).
Not legal advice. The city has the final say. Planned developments, master sign plans and special sign districts can override the general sign code. Check the linked section before you file.
Rules are extracted from official city documents by AI and checked automatically, not reviewed by a person. How the checks work