Huntsville, Texas sign rules

Wall signs in the MR district. Sec. 8.503.D.3.c prohibits wall signs in the Medium Density Residential (MR) district, while Sec. 8.502.C.1 allows nonresidential uses in residential districts wall signs at public building entrances. Ask the City Planner before designing a wall sign in MR.

Roof signs are prohibited. Roof signs are prohibited (Sec. 8.212). The code defines a roof sign as any sign erected, maintained or visible above the parapet of a building with a flat roof or above the peak of a pitched roof (Sec. 15.200). Wall signs, channel letters and projecting signs must stay below the parapet or roof peak.

Wall signs in the MR district. Sec. 8.503.D.3.c prohibits wall signs in the Medium Density Residential (MR) district, while Sec. 8.502.C.1 allows nonresidential uses in residential districts wall signs at public building entrances. Ask the City Planner before designing a wall sign in MR.

Roof signs are prohibited. Roof signs are prohibited (Sec. 8.212). The code defines a roof sign as any sign erected, maintained or visible above the parapet of a building with a flat roof or above the peak of a pitched roof (Sec. 15.200). Wall signs, channel letters and projecting signs must stay below the parapet or roof peak.

Veterans Memorial Parkway and I-45 overlays. Freestanding signs on lots with frontage on Veterans Memorial Parkway must be monument-style signs (Development Code Sec. 8.503.C.3.c). These required monument signs have their own, different height limits in the Veterans Memorial Parkway Overlay and in the I-45 Overlay (Sec. 8.503.C.3.c(2) and (3)). In the I-45 Overlay, each freestanding sign also has a lower area cap than elsewhere (Sec. 8.503.D.3.b). The lookup does not show these overlays, which are overlay districts listed in Development Code Sec. 2.100. Ask the City Planner, who receives sign permit applications (Sec. 8.801.B), whether your lot is in one.

One sign budget for projecting and freestanding signs. In the Downtown (D), nonresidential and PD districts, all projecting and freestanding signs on a lot share one sign budget for number and total area, based on street frontage (Sec. 8.503.D), and each individual sign has a lower maximum area inside the I-45 Overlay than outside it. Wall signs are not counted in the budget (Sec. 8.503.C.1).

RU and LR districts are not in the district list. Three rules, the menu board setback (Sec. 8.302.B), the real estate sign limits (Sec. 8.304.A) and the campaign sign limits (Sec. 8.304.C), name 'RU, LR, and MR districts', but the district list of Sec. 2.100 (Ord. 2024-20) has no RU or LR district. Ask the City Planner which districts these rules cover before placing a menu board, real estate sign or campaign sign.

Signs in the right-of-way and over a public sidewalk. Signs may not be placed in, or project into, the right-of-way or planned right-of-way of a public street (Sec. 8.206). Sec. 8.400 allows only a few exceptions: signs the City Council expressly consents to, signs lawfully permitted or erected before June 16, 1981, and freestanding nonprofit temporary signs with a permit from the City Planner (not on IH-45 or State Highway 19). A projecting sign or awning that extends over a public sidewalk, for example Downtown, needs that City Council consent as well as a sign permit (Sec. 8.401).

Veterans Memorial Parkway and I-45 overlays. Freestanding signs on lots with frontage on Veterans Memorial Parkway must be monument-style signs (Development Code Sec. 8.503.C.3.c). These required monument signs have their own, different height limits in the Veterans Memorial Parkway Overlay and in the I-45 Overlay (Sec. 8.503.C.3.c(2) and (3)). In the I-45 Overlay, each freestanding sign also has a lower area cap than elsewhere (Sec. 8.503.D.3.b). The lookup does not show these overlays, which are overlay districts listed in Development Code Sec. 2.100. Ask the City Planner, who receives sign permit applications (Sec. 8.801.B), whether your lot is in one.

One sign budget for projecting and freestanding signs. In the Downtown (D), nonresidential and PD districts, all projecting and freestanding signs on a lot share one sign budget for number and total area, based on street frontage (Sec. 8.503.D), and each individual sign has a lower maximum area inside the I-45 Overlay than outside it. Wall signs are not counted in the budget (Sec. 8.503.C.1).

RU and LR districts are not in the district list. Three rules, the menu board setback (Sec. 8.302.B), the real estate sign limits (Sec. 8.304.A) and the campaign sign limits (Sec. 8.304.C), name 'RU, LR, and MR districts', but the district list of Sec. 2.100 (Ord. 2024-20) has no RU or LR district. Ask the City Planner which districts these rules cover before placing a menu board, real estate sign or campaign sign.

Signs in the right-of-way and over a public sidewalk. Signs may not be placed in, or project into, the right-of-way or planned right-of-way of a public street (Sec. 8.206). Sec. 8.400 allows only a few exceptions: signs the City Council expressly consents to, signs lawfully permitted or erected before June 16, 1981, and freestanding nonprofit temporary signs with a permit from the City Planner (not on IH-45 or State Highway 19). A projecting sign or awning that extends over a public sidewalk, for example Downtown, needs that City Council consent as well as a sign permit (Sec. 8.401).

One sign budget for projecting and freestanding signs. In the Downtown (D), nonresidential and PD districts, all projecting and freestanding signs on a lot share one sign budget for number and total area, based on street frontage (Sec. 8.503.D), and each individual sign has a lower maximum area inside the I-45 Overlay than outside it. Wall signs are not counted in the budget (Sec. 8.503.C.1).

Roof signs are prohibited. Roof signs are prohibited (Sec. 8.212). The code defines a roof sign as any sign erected, maintained or visible above the parapet of a building with a flat roof or above the peak of a pitched roof (Sec. 15.200). Wall signs, channel letters and projecting signs must stay below the parapet or roof peak.

Signs in the right-of-way and over a public sidewalk. Signs may not be placed in, or project into, the right-of-way or planned right-of-way of a public street (Sec. 8.206). Sec. 8.400 allows only a few exceptions: signs the City Council expressly consents to, signs lawfully permitted or erected before June 16, 1981, and freestanding nonprofit temporary signs with a permit from the City Planner (not on IH-45 or State Highway 19). A projecting sign or awning that extends over a public sidewalk, for example Downtown, needs that City Council consent as well as a sign permit (Sec. 8.401).

Awning and canopy signs. The code names awning signs only in an exemption for non-illuminated awnings with limited copy on the awning's border (Sec. 8.305.K). It has no separate rules for other awning, canopy or marquee signs. These may be treated as wall or projecting signs (Sec. 8.503.C), and illuminated signs need a sign permit (Sec. 8.801.A). Ask the City Planner before planning one.

Signs in the right-of-way and over a public sidewalk. Signs may not be placed in, or project into, the right-of-way or planned right-of-way of a public street (Sec. 8.206). Sec. 8.400 allows only a few exceptions: signs the City Council expressly consents to, signs lawfully permitted or erected before June 16, 1981, and freestanding nonprofit temporary signs with a permit from the City Planner (not on IH-45 or State Highway 19). A projecting sign or awning that extends over a public sidewalk, for example Downtown, needs that City Council consent as well as a sign permit (Sec. 8.401).

Veterans Memorial Parkway and I-45 overlays. Freestanding signs on lots with frontage on Veterans Memorial Parkway must be monument-style signs (Development Code Sec. 8.503.C.3.c). These required monument signs have their own, different height limits in the Veterans Memorial Parkway Overlay and in the I-45 Overlay (Sec. 8.503.C.3.c(2) and (3)). In the I-45 Overlay, each freestanding sign also has a lower area cap than elsewhere (Sec. 8.503.D.3.b). The lookup does not show these overlays, which are overlay districts listed in Development Code Sec. 2.100. Ask the City Planner, who receives sign permit applications (Sec. 8.801.B), whether your lot is in one.

One sign budget for projecting and freestanding signs. In the Downtown (D), nonresidential and PD districts, all projecting and freestanding signs on a lot share one sign budget for number and total area, based on street frontage (Sec. 8.503.D), and each individual sign has a lower maximum area inside the I-45 Overlay than outside it. Wall signs are not counted in the budget (Sec. 8.503.C.1).

Animated or moving messages. Sec. 8.207 prohibits flashing, moving, blinking or chasing lights and other effects that create the appearance of movement or shape changes, 'except as otherwise expressly stated' (Sec. 8.200). Sec. 8.600 allows dynamic displays but does not expressly allow animation, scrolling or transition effects, and it sets no dwell time. Ask the City Planner before programming moving or animated messages.

Roof signs are prohibited. Roof signs are prohibited (Sec. 8.212). The code defines a roof sign as any sign erected, maintained or visible above the parapet of a building with a flat roof or above the peak of a pitched roof (Sec. 15.200). Wall signs, channel letters and projecting signs must stay below the parapet or roof peak.

Signs in the right-of-way and over a public sidewalk. Signs may not be placed in, or project into, the right-of-way or planned right-of-way of a public street (Sec. 8.206). Sec. 8.400 allows only a few exceptions: signs the City Council expressly consents to, signs lawfully permitted or erected before June 16, 1981, and freestanding nonprofit temporary signs with a permit from the City Planner (not on IH-45 or State Highway 19). A projecting sign or awning that extends over a public sidewalk, for example Downtown, needs that City Council consent as well as a sign permit (Sec. 8.401).

RU and LR districts are not in the district list. Three rules, the menu board setback (Sec. 8.302.B), the real estate sign limits (Sec. 8.304.A) and the campaign sign limits (Sec. 8.304.C), name 'RU, LR, and MR districts', but the district list of Sec. 2.100 (Ord. 2024-20) has no RU or LR district. Ask the City Planner which districts these rules cover before placing a menu board, real estate sign or campaign sign.

Banners. The code has no specific rules for business or promotional banners: it counts banners as signs, but its temporary sign section covers only real estate, construction and campaign signs, nameplates and window signs, and portable signs are prohibited (Secs. 8.304, 8.213). Ask the City Planner before installing a banner.

Signs in the right-of-way and over a public sidewalk. Signs may not be placed in, or project into, the right-of-way or planned right-of-way of a public street (Sec. 8.206). Sec. 8.400 allows only a few exceptions: signs the City Council expressly consents to, signs lawfully permitted or erected before June 16, 1981, and freestanding nonprofit temporary signs with a permit from the City Planner (not on IH-45 or State Highway 19). A projecting sign or awning that extends over a public sidewalk, for example Downtown, needs that City Council consent as well as a sign permit (Sec. 8.401).