Sign Regulations in Houston, TX (2026)
3 verified sign regulations for Houston, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Political Signs
Houston regulates political signs under content-neutral temporary sign rules in Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances. Residential properties may display temporary signs up to 36 square feet per parcel without a permit. Texas state law (Tex. Transp. Code §393.0025) preempts most local content-based political-sign timing rules, so Houston treats them as ordinary temporary signs.
Houston Sign Code – Temporary Political Signs (Ch. 28)
Few RestrictionsTex. Election Code § 259.002
Sec. 259.002. REGULATION OF DISPLAY OF POLITICAL SIGNS BY PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION. (a) In this section, "property owners' association" has the meaning assigned by Section 202.001, Property Code.(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a property owners' association may not enforce or adopt a restrictive covenant that prohibits a property owner from displaying on the owner's proper...
Garage Sale Signs
Houston prohibits placing garage sale signs on public property under the bandit sign provisions of Chapter 28 and Chapter 46 (Sign Code). Signs on public streets, sidewalks, utility poles, and rights-of-way are subject to impoundment and fines of $300-$500.
Houston Garage Sale Sign Regulations
Light RestrictionsTex. Transportation Code § 394.022
Sec. 394.022. ISSUANCE OF PERMIT. (a) The commission shall issue a permit to a person:(1) whose application complies with commission rule;(2) whose sign, if erected, would comply with the requirements of this chapter; and(3) who, if the off-premise sign is located within the jurisdiction of a municipality with a population of more than 1.9 million that is exercising its authority to regulate of...
Freeway-Facing Signs
Houston prohibits construction of new off-premise signs, billboards visible from freeways and streets, under Sign Code Section 4612(b); the city treats any unauthorized new billboard as a public nuisance subject to removal and lien under Code of Ordinances Chapter 10, Article XVII.
Houston Bans New Off-Premise Freeway Billboards
Heavy RestrictionsHouston Code of Ordinances § 10-652
An unauthorized off-premise sign is declared to be a public nuisance. Whenever the existence of unauthorized off-premise sign within the limits of the city or within 5,000 feet outside the limits shall come to the knowledge of the sign administrator, the sign administrator shall cause a written notice identifying the unauthorized off-premise sign and directing its removal to be sent to the owners.
Looking for Harris County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Houston city rules.
Sign Regulations in Harris County →