Coverage · South Houston, TX

South Houston, Texas sign rules

295 confirmed rules from the City of South 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 South Houston

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

Example: Maximum area20% (20% of the area of the building wall below the roof line (all wall signs combined))“The total area of all wall signs shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the area of the wall of the building below the…”Sec. 18-13(d)(1)c. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

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Channel letters rules in South Houston

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

Example: Maximum area20% (20% of the area of the building wall below the roof line (all wall signs combined))Applies to: Channel letters as wall signs“The total area of all wall signs shall not exceed twenty (20) percent of the area of the wall of the building below the…”Sec. 18-13(d)(1)c. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

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Monument sign rules in South Houston

Allowed. 37 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum height, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

Example: Maximum height6 ft“Monument sign shall mean any sign six (6) feet or less from the natural ground level to the top of the sign.”Sec. 18-4(b)(3) · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

Monument style required where feasible. All on-premises signs must be monument style insofar as feasible (Sec. 18-13(f)).

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Pole or pylon sign rules in South Houston

Allowed. 46 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 ft (greater of 300 sq ft, or 1% of the building's usable floor area plus 1 sq ft per linear ft of frontage on adjacent streets)“Those five (5) signs may not exceed in total face area the greater of: a. Three hundred (300) square feet; or”Sec. 18-13(d)(1)a. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

Monument style required where feasible. All on-premises signs must be monument style insofar as feasible (Sec. 18-13(f)).

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Blade or projecting sign rules in South Houston

Allowed, with conditions. 42 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, minimum clearance, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

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Awning or canopy sign rules in South Houston

Allowed. 39 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

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Window sign rules in South Houston

14 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, illumination, permit fee, other limit.

Example: Maximum area300 sq ft (greater of 300 sq ft, or 1 percent of total useable sq ft of the building plus 1 sq ft per linear ft of frontage on the adjacent streets)“Three hundred (300) square feet; or”Sec. 18-13(d)(1)a. · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026

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Electronic message sign rules in South Houston

Allowed, with conditions. 44 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, minimum clearance, number allowed, illumination, electronic message limits, permit fee, submit with the application, other limit.

All electronic message sign figures for an address

97 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 South Houston

Sign code last amended in 2017South Houston's sign code (Chapter 18) was last amended by Ord. 2017-16, and the online code is codified through Ord. 2022-25. Confirm with the Permits / Inspection department that no newer sign ordinance applies. Source
Application fee differs between the code and the city's formThe sign code's fee table (Sec. 18-9(g)) lists a different application fee than the city's Sign Installation Permit Application form. Confirm the current fee with the permit office. Source
Licensed sign company, engineer's seal and operating permitsSign companies need a city license with insurance (Sec. 18-10). New signs need plans sealed by a Texas professional engineer (Sec. 18-9, 18-14), and every sign face needs its own operating permit (Sec. 18-9(f)). Illuminated signs also need an electrical permit (Sec. 18-9(i)).
Operating permit termSec. 18-9(f)(4) says an operating permit is valid for one year, while the fee table describes the operating permit fee as charged every two years. Ask the city.
Deed restrictions can be stricterWhere subdivision restrictions, covenants or a binding agreement regulate signs more strictly, the more restrictive requirements apply (Sec. 18-2.1).

Official sources

South Houston Code of Ordinances Chapter 18 Standard Sign Code (Municode)

Permits: The City of South Houston sign permit office, 713-947-7700.

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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