Texas City, TX Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)

Section 155.047 of the Texas City Code of Ordinances is the flashing sign ban: no sign or other advertising structure shall have lights or illuminations that flash, move, scroll, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent electrical pulsations, except as provided in § 155.050. The list covers a wide range of lighting behavior, and § 155.050 is the one printed exception, addressing apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or mechanical means which changes every 15 seconds or less.

Billboard-type signs in Texas City are off-premises signs under § 155.067. That section allows them only within 100 feet of the right-of-way line of Interstate Highway 45, State Highway 3 and State Highway 146 south of Loop 197 North, FM 517 and a further state highway segment, in districts zoned E, E-2, E-3, E-4, F, F-1, G, H and S-P, with face area up to 672 square feet per side and height up to 42.5 feet. The lighting rules of Chapter 155 apply to them as signs.

Glare adds a second limit. Section 155.046 bars lights which glare into or upon the surrounding area or any residential premises or distract operators of vehicles or pedestrians on the public right-of-way. Section 155.044 adds that no sign can interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device because of its position, shape or color.

The electrical side is separate. Section 155.020 makes all illuminated signs subject to the Electrical Code and its requisite permit fees, and § 155.021(H) requires any required electrical permit with the application. Under § 155.006(A), every permitted sign displays in letters no less than one inch in height the date of erection, the permit number and the voltage of any electrical apparatus used. Section 155.006(B) sets a minimum clearance of 14 feet vertically and a clearance equal to the sign's height from any transmission line carrying 750 volts or greater. The Building Inspector inspects each sign periodically under § 155.004.