Texas City, TX Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)

Section 155.067 of the Texas City Code of Ordinances is the standard for freeway-facing off-premises signs in Texas City, Galveston County. Five limits stack up. Location: 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 (from Gum Bayou to State Highway 146), and a further state highway segment (from Loop 197 north to State Highway 646), where the text prints no route number. Districts: E, E-2, E-3, E-4, F, F-1, G, H and S-P only. Buffers: a minimum of 100 feet from all other zoned districts, 300 feet from the intersection of any state highways and 100 feet from the intersection of any non-state road or street. Size: face area not exceeding 672 square feet per side including structural trim, and height not exceeding 42.5 feet from ground level. Spacing: a minimum of 3,500 feet between off-premises signs on the same side of the highway.

Permitting runs through the Sign Regulations. Section 155.020 requires an erection permit from the Building Inspector. Section 155.021 requires an application with two blueprints or drawings, a registered professional engineer's certification and calculations for wind pressure and dead load, and the written consent of the owner of the land. Section 155.024 requires a continuing bond in the penal sum of $5,000, or a liability insurance policy in lieu of a bond. Under § 155.022 the permit becomes null and void if work is not completed within six months. The fee under § 155.023 is non-refundable, per the SSBCI permit fee schedule on file with the Building Official.

On-premises signs are different: § 155.065(E) sets a maximum ground sign height of 42.5 feet and a maximum of 160 square feet for businesses in the IH-45 Highway Corridor, with pole signs skirted. Signs legally in existence on 11-17-1993 can remain as non-conforming under § 155.085 unless damaged by more than 50% of total replacement value or structurally altered to change size, shape, height or location. After a permit denial, § 155.005 allows a variance request to the Board of Adjustments within 30 days, based on the unusual shape, topography or characteristics of the property.