Harris County, TX Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Ch. 41, Subchapter F, Sec 3-5, 13
- Scope
- Signs visible from county toll roads only
- Off-premise billboards
- Barred from receiving a new permit
- Digital/spectacular signs
- Limited to 5-minute-or-slower message changes
- Penalty
- Class C misdemeanor, each day separate
Summary
Off-premise signs, including billboards, are barred from toll-road frontage in Harris County, and electronic 'spectacular' displays are limited to slow-changing time, weather, or stock data under County Engineer permits.
No permit may be granted for the following: signs which do not conform to these Regulations; off-premise signs including billboards, leased signs or other advertising signs, except those authorized by an operating permit as provided in this Section; ... spectacular signs, except otherwise conforming signs which use moving or intermittent lights to give time, date, temperature, weather, or stock market reports;
Full Breakdown
Along the main-traveled way of any Harris County Toll Road, Subchapter 41F of the county's sign regulations bars off-premise advertising signs, including billboards, from receiving a permit, so new digital billboards can't go up on toll-road frontage in unincorporated Harris County. The same section prohibits automatically changing 'spectacular signs' with flashing, rotating, or moving displays, unless the message changes no more than once every five minutes and shows only time, date, temperature, weather, or stock data. The County Engineer administers and enforces the permits; the rule doesn't reach City of Houston streets, which has its own sign code.
Violations & Fines
Placing or maintaining a sign that violates these regulations is a Class C misdemeanor; each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, and the County Engineer can revoke the sign's permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put up a digital billboard on Harris County Toll Road frontage?
Does this rule apply inside Houston city limits?
Are any changing-message signs allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harris County
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Harris County to another location·View the Texas sign regulations overview
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