346 confirmed rules from the City of Houston'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 Houston
Allowed, with conditions. 37 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area25% (25 percent of the area of the wall on which the signs are mounted, or 1000 sq ft, whichever is smaller)Applies to: New signs first permitted after September 1, 2009“The area of wall signs shall not exceed in the aggregate 25 percent of the area of the wall on which they are mounted…”Section 4611(i)(4)a · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Allowed, with conditions. 30 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area25% (25 percent of the area of the wall on which the signs are mounted, or 1000 sq ft, whichever is smaller)Applies to: New signs first permitted after September 1, 2009“The area of wall signs shall not exceed in the aggregate 25 percent of the area of the wall on which they are mounted…”Section 4611(i)(4)a · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
70 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, minimum clearance, number allowed, minimum spacing, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area300 sq ftNote: Including cutouts, excluding uprights; Table 4611 may set a lower limit“no on-premise sign other than an on-premise wall sign shall be established, constructed, or erected that has a face area exceeding 300 square feet”Section 4609(e)(4) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Ground sign table read by column order. In the city's copy of Table 4611 the column headings for two of the street categories are printed out of order, so the height and size values for those categories were matched to their columns by position. Confirm the ground sign height and size for your street category with Sign Administration before you design or order a sign.
Street type decides the size. Houston has no zoning. Ground sign height and size depend on the street the premises fronts and is visible from: local street, major thoroughfare or collector, freeway or highway, a scenic or historical right-of-way or district, or the Airport Corridor District (Table 4611). A sign visible from and on more than one category gets the least restrictive one. Pick the category that matches the property.
70 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, minimum clearance, number allowed, minimum spacing, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area300 sq ftNote: Including cutouts, excluding uprights; Table 4611 may set a lower limit“no on-premise sign other than an on-premise wall sign shall be established, constructed, or erected that has a face area exceeding 300 square feet”Section 4609(e)(4) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Ground sign table read by column order. In the city's copy of Table 4611 the column headings for two of the street categories are printed out of order, so the height and size values for those categories were matched to their columns by position. Confirm the ground sign height and size for your street category with Sign Administration before you design or order a sign.
Street type decides the size. Houston has no zoning. Ground sign height and size depend on the street the premises fronts and is visible from: local street, major thoroughfare or collector, freeway or highway, a scenic or historical right-of-way or district, or the Airport Corridor District (Table 4611). A sign visible from and on more than one category gets the least restrictive one. Pick the category that matches the property.
39 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area300 sq ftNote: Including cutouts, excluding uprights; Table 4611 may set a lower limit“no on-premise sign other than an on-premise wall sign shall be established, constructed, or erected that has a face area exceeding 300 square feet”Section 4609(e)(4) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Street type decides the size. Houston has no zoning. Ground sign height and size depend on the street the premises fronts and is visible from: local street, major thoroughfare or collector, freeway or highway, a scenic or historical right-of-way or district, or the Airport Corridor District (Table 4611). A sign visible from and on more than one category gets the least restrictive one. Pick the category that matches the property.
32 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area25% (25 percent of the area of the wall on which the signs are mounted, or 1000 sq ft, whichever is smaller)Applies to: New signs first permitted after September 1, 2009“The area of wall signs shall not exceed in the aggregate 25 percent of the area of the wall on which they are mounted…”Section 4611(i)(4)a · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
9 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, illumination, permit fee, other limit.
Example: Maximum area20%“no more than twenty percent of a glass storefront may be covered with advertising content.”Section 4605(b)(1) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Allowed in some districts. 38 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 area100 sq ft (50 percent of the sign face area allowed under Table 4611, not to exceed 100 sq ft)“That portion of the face of a changeable message sign devoted to changing the message shall be limited in area to fifty percent of…”Section 4611(i)(6)e · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
Street type decides the size. Houston has no zoning. Ground sign height and size depend on the street the premises fronts and is visible from: local street, major thoroughfare or collector, freeway or highway, a scenic or historical right-of-way or district, or the Airport Corridor District (Table 4611). A sign visible from and on more than one category gets the least restrictive one. Pick the category that matches the property.
Allowed, with conditions. 21 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area40 sq ft“BANNER SIGN shall mean any sign constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric or other light material, not to exceed 40 square feet in size”Section 4603(b) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
67 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 Houston
Fees from the 2026 fee scheduleThe fee figures shown come from the City of Houston 2026 fee schedule (revised January 2026). Fees can change; confirm the fee with Sign Administration before applying. Source
Scenic districts and the Airport CorridorThe sign code lists scenic or historical rights-of-way and districts (Appendix A, for example Memorial Drive, Allen Parkway, Post Oak, Downtown and Gateway U.S. 59/Midtown scenic districts) and the Airport Corridor District (Appendix B, corridors along I-45, U.S. 59, Hardy Toll Road and the airport entrances). Stricter ground sign sizes and lighting limits apply there. No official map layer was found; ask Sign Administration whether the property is in one.
Downtown special districtsThe Central Business District (defined in City Code Chapter 42) has its own height limits. The Theater District, the Retail and Entertainment District, the East Side Sports and Convention Complex District and the Convention District have their own sign rules (Sign Code Section 4620).
Deed restrictionsHouston has no zoning, but private deed restrictions can limit signs. The permit application must include a sworn affidavit that the sign does not violate any deed restriction (Section 4605(c)(2)).
Outside city limitsThe sign code covers the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, but for on-premise signs it excludes the part of the ETJ in Harris County, where Harris County rules apply. Signs visible from toll roads in Harris County may also need a Harris County permit (Section 4601(b)).
Older signsSigns first permitted before September 1, 2009 follow Table 4609 and older rules; the figures here are for new signs (Section 4611(i)).
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