Coverage · El Paso, TX

El Paso, Texas sign rules

545 confirmed rules from the City of El Paso's sign code for 8 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 El Paso

Allowed, with conditions. 81 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, A-O, A-3/O and S-D80 sq ftApplies to: Per sign, including any canopies or awnings“Maximum sign area: eighty square feet per sign, including any canopies or awnings;”Sec. 20.18.430(D)(3) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

All wall sign figures for an address

Channel letters rules in El Paso

52 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, A-O, A-3/O and S-D80 sq ftApplies to: Wall sign standards“Maximum sign area: eighty square feet per sign, including any canopies or awnings;”20.18.430 D.3 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

All channel letters figures for an address

Monument sign rules in El Paso

143 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, R-F, R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-5, RMH, PMD, and NOS100 sq ft“Maximum sign area: one hundred square feet per sign; 4. Maximum sign height: ten feet;”Sec. 20.18.410(C)(3) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

Shopping center comprehensive sign plans. Shopping centers in C-2 to M-3 may reallocate freestanding sign area under an approved Comprehensive Sign Plan (Sec. 20.18.455); all signs under a plan must be monument signs.

All monument sign figures for an address

Pole or pylon sign rules in El Paso

Allowed in some districts. 62 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area40 sq ftApplies to: Sign base within 50 ft of a residential or apartment zoning district“If the base of a sign is located within fifty feet of a residential or apartment zoning district, monument or pole sign area shall…”Sec. 20.18.400(A)(7) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

Shopping center comprehensive sign plans. Shopping centers in C-2 to M-3 may reallocate freestanding sign area under an approved Comprehensive Sign Plan (Sec. 20.18.455); all signs under a plan must be monument signs.
Pole signs. Chapter 20.18 sets pole sign standards only in Sec. 20.18.450 (C-2 to M-3, and C-1 lots that qualify under Sec. 20.18.445); other districts list monument signs only, and Sec. 20.18.140 prohibits signs the chapter does not authorize. Confirm with the city before planning a pole sign elsewhere.

All pole or pylon sign figures for an address

Blade or projecting sign rules in El Paso

Allowed, with conditions. 80 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, C-OP, C-1, P-C, P-I, R-MU, G-MU and I-MU30 sq ft“Buildings must have at least one-hundred feet of continuous street frontage or pedestrian right-of-way; 4. Maximum sign area: Thirty square feet;”Sec. 20.18.440(D)(4) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

Signs over the right-of-way. Perpendicular signs and marquees that project into the public right-of-way also need a special privilege license.

All blade or projecting sign figures for an address

Awning or canopy sign rules in El Paso

Allowed, with conditions. 38 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area36 sq ft (lesser of 36 sq ft or 50% of the awning face area; counts toward wall sign area)“Maximum sign area: shall be included in the maximum wall sign area calculation permitted for all wall signs, thirty-six square feet or fifty percent…”Sec. 20.18.490(B)(3) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

Signs over the right-of-way. Perpendicular signs and marquees that project into the public right-of-way also need a special privilege license.

All awning or canopy sign figures for an address

Electronic message sign rules in El Paso

Allowed in some districts. 79 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, electronic message limits, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area180 sq ftApplies to: Total sign area of a primary pole or monument sign with a CEVM (Changeable electronic variable message sign) on a freeway, CEVM 0-29.9% of the sign (160 / 150 / 140 / 120 for 30-34.9 / 35-39.9 / 40-44.9 / 45-50%)“Primary Pole Sign and Primary Monument Sign—Freeway All 180 160 150 140 120”Sec. 20.18.400(A)(9)(m) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

Shopping center comprehensive sign plans. Shopping centers in C-2 to M-3 may reallocate freestanding sign area under an approved Comprehensive Sign Plan (Sec. 20.18.455); all signs under a plan must be monument signs.
Shopping center electronic signs. The table of maximum electronic sign area for shopping centers in Sec. 20.18.400 uses overlapping acreage labels in the city's online code. Figures from that table may be shown as not confirmed; ask the city which row applies.

All electronic message sign figures for an address

109 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 El Paso

Historic overlay, historic district or landmarkIf the zoning shows an H suffix or the address is in a historic district or on a designated landmark, Sec. 20.18.480 replaces the district sign limits, signs need a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Landmark Commission, and temporary banners and portable signs are not allowed. Source
C-1 lots with special circumstancesA C-1 lot with frontage on a minor arterial or higher that either abuts C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, Q or M zoning or is large enough follows the C-2 to M-3 sign rules (Sec. 20.18.445). Ask the Planning Division whether the lot qualifies. Source
Zoning conditions and special permitsMap suffixes C or SC mean zoning conditions were imposed when the property was rezoned, and SP marks a special permit; these can add sign limits. Check the rezoning ordinance with the Planning Division. Source
Civic and cultural districtSigns inside the civic and cultural district (Sec. 20.10.146) are not subject to the base zoning district's sign regulations (Sec. 20.18.465). Source
Fee schedule read by OCRThe sign permit fees come from the city's FY 2027 Schedule C, a PDF without a text layer; they were read by automatic OCR and checked against a second automatic transcription, not by a person. The fee also depends on the sign valuation (sign area times a rate that depends on height and illumination) and a technology fee. Confirm the fee with the city. Source
Code amendmentsThe sign rules were read from the online code as published on 26 Aug 2026. Ordinances adopted after that were not checked. Confirm with the city when you apply. Source

Official sources

Permits: The City of El Paso sign permit office, (915) 212-0104. Zoning districts: El Paso zoning map.

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

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