Coverage · San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, Texas sign rules

336 confirmed rules from the City of San Antonio'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.

Check an exact address in San Antonio

Most limits depend on the zoning district. Enter the address to get every confirmed figure for that lot.

What the confirmed rules cover

Wall sign rules in San Antonio

Allowed. 40 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, Nonresidential25% (25% of the building facade or 50 sq ft for each occupancy with a separate and distinct public entrance, whichever is greater)Applies to: Lots on local streets“The aggregate area of all attached signs shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of a building facade or fifty (50) square feet for each…”Sec. 28-47(b)(2) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
  • Street classification decides the size. Freestanding sign height and area, and wall sign allowances, depend on the street the lot fronts (local, arterial type B/commercial collector, arterial type A, expressway) as designated in the city's Major Thoroughfare Plan (Sec. 28-47(a)). Check the street's classification.
  • Urban corridors. Lots within the Broadway, Fredericksburg Road, North St. Mary's, Main/McCullough and San Pedro urban corridors (and the IH-10/Loop 1604 corridor outside city limits) follow corridor limits (Secs. 28-64 to 28-70). The corridor is a band along the street, not shown by the zoning layer.
All wall sign figures for an address

Channel letters rules in San Antonio

Allowed. 34 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, Urban Corridors25% (25% of the wall area)“Channel Letter Signs 25% of the wall area”Sec. 28-64(e) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
  • Street classification decides the size. Freestanding sign height and area, and wall sign allowances, depend on the street the lot fronts (local, arterial type B/commercial collector, arterial type A, expressway) as designated in the city's Major Thoroughfare Plan (Sec. 28-47(a)). Check the street's classification.
  • Urban corridors. Lots within the Broadway, Fredericksburg Road, North St. Mary's, Main/McCullough and San Pedro urban corridors (and the IH-10/Loop 1604 corridor outside city limits) follow corridor limits (Secs. 28-64 to 28-70). The corridor is a band along the street, not shown by the zoning layer.
All channel letters figures for an address

Monument sign rules in San Antonio

46 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, Nonresidential75 sq ftApplies to: Local street; monument signs are freestanding signs“Local 16 ft 75 ft”Sec. 28-45(c), Table 1 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
  • Street classification decides the size. Freestanding sign height and area, and wall sign allowances, depend on the street the lot fronts (local, arterial type B/commercial collector, arterial type A, expressway) as designated in the city's Major Thoroughfare Plan (Sec. 28-47(a)). Check the street's classification.
  • Urban corridors. Lots within the Broadway, Fredericksburg Road, North St. Mary's, Main/McCullough and San Pedro urban corridors (and the IH-10/Loop 1604 corridor outside city limits) follow corridor limits (Secs. 28-64 to 28-70). The corridor is a band along the street, not shown by the zoning layer.
  • Next to single-family homes. Freestanding signs on property abutting single-family zoned and used lots have extra setback and height limits (Sec. 28-42).
All monument sign figures for an address

Pole or pylon sign rules in San Antonio

73 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 area375 sq ftApplies to: Multi-tenant signs, incl. hybrid static and changeable copy“No single tenant shall exceed three hundred seventy-five (375) square feet of advertising on a multi-tenant sign at any given time.”Sec. 28-45(e) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
  • Street classification decides the size. Freestanding sign height and area, and wall sign allowances, depend on the street the lot fronts (local, arterial type B/commercial collector, arterial type A, expressway) as designated in the city's Major Thoroughfare Plan (Sec. 28-47(a)). Check the street's classification.
  • Urban corridors. Lots within the Broadway, Fredericksburg Road, North St. Mary's, Main/McCullough and San Pedro urban corridors (and the IH-10/Loop 1604 corridor outside city limits) follow corridor limits (Secs. 28-64 to 28-70). The corridor is a band along the street, not shown by the zoning layer.
  • Next to single-family homes. Freestanding signs on property abutting single-family zoned and used lots have extra setback and height limits (Sec. 28-42).
All pole or pylon sign figures for an address

Blade or projecting sign rules in San Antonio

Allowed, with conditions. 35 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, minimum setback, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, Nonresidential150 sq ft“Projecting signs shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) square feet in sign area and shall be a minimum of eight and one-half (8½)…”Sec. 28-47(e)(4)b · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
All blade or projecting sign figures for an address

Awning or canopy sign rules in San Antonio

25 confirmed rules: permit required, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Permit fee$50“Sign plan review fee, per permit $50.00”Sec. 28-76 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
  • Awning, canopy and window signs. Chapter 28 sets no size limits for these; it refers to Sections 3105/3106 of the International Building Code for awnings and canopies. Ask the city.
All awning or canopy sign figures for an address

Window sign rules in San Antonio

4 confirmed rules: permit required, other limit.

  • Awning, canopy and window signs. Chapter 28 sets no size limits for these; it refers to Sections 3105/3106 of the International Building Code for awnings and canopies. Ask the city.
All window sign figures for an address

Electronic message sign rules in San Antonio

Allowed, with conditions. 50 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum spacing, illumination, electronic message limits, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum area, Urban Corridors25%“However, digital displays, including but not limited to, electronic message centers up to twenty-five (25) percent of the allowable sign area are permitted.”Sec. 28-64(b)(1) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
  • Street classification decides the size. Freestanding sign height and area, and wall sign allowances, depend on the street the lot fronts (local, arterial type B/commercial collector, arterial type A, expressway) as designated in the city's Major Thoroughfare Plan (Sec. 28-47(a)). Check the street's classification.
  • Urban corridors. Lots within the Broadway, Fredericksburg Road, North St. Mary's, Main/McCullough and San Pedro urban corridors (and the IH-10/Loop 1604 corridor outside city limits) follow corridor limits (Secs. 28-64 to 28-70). The corridor is a band along the street, not shown by the zoning layer.
All electronic message sign figures for an address

Temporary banner rules in San Antonio

Allowed, with conditions. 29 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 area, Nonresidential64 sq ftApplies to: Large temporary sign“Size range. Between ten (10) and sixty-four (64) (maximum) square feet.”Sec. 28-74(b)(1) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026
  • Urban corridors. Lots within the Broadway, Fredericksburg Road, North St. Mary's, Main/McCullough and San Pedro urban corridors (and the IH-10/Loop 1604 corridor outside city limits) follow corridor limits (Secs. 28-64 to 28-70). The corridor is a band along the street, not shown by the zoning layer.
  • Portable signs. Portable signs are not allowed (Sec. 28-4, Sec. 28-75(d)(3)).
All temporary banner figures for an address

74 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 San Antonio

  • Historic, RIO, downtown and overlay districtsSign rules for historic landmarks and districts, neighborhood conservation districts, corridor districts, River Improvement Overlay districts and other overlays are in Chapter 35 (UDC), not shown here (Sec. 28-44(a)). Historic properties also need HDRC sign approval.
  • Sign master planA recorded sign master plan development agreement (Sec. 28-49) can change sign locations for two or more contiguous lots, with reduced total sign area and height. Check whether the property has one.
  • Licensed contractor and engineeringOnly a registered or city licensed contractor can obtain a sign permit (Sec. 28-29). The city's sign page says taller monument and pole signs need sealed engineering.
  • FeesFees come from Chapter 28's fee schedule (Sec. 28-76), which says fees are set by separate council ordinance. The current DSD fee schedule was not checked; confirm the amount with the city.

Official sources

Permits: The City of San Antonio sign permit office, 210-207-8289.

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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