Denton, TX Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)

Holiday displays on private residential property in Denton are generally unregulated beyond basic safety and nuisance standards. The Denton Development Code sign regulations typically exempt temporary holiday decorations from sign permit requirements because they are decorative rather than commercial or informational. Residents may install exterior lights, inflatable decorations, yard figures, and other seasonal displays without obtaining a permit from the city. However, all electrical connections for outdoor displays must be properly rated for exterior use and protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters where required by the electrical code. Extension cords used outdoors should be rated for outdoor use and should not create tripping hazards across sidewalks or driveways. Displays must not obstruct the public right-of-way, block sidewalks, or impair sight lines at intersections. Denton Code Chapter 17, the property maintenance code, applies nuisance standards that could be relevant if a display generates excessive noise from mechanical decorations, creates light trespass that unreasonably disturbs neighbors, or is left up well beyond the holiday season and falls into disrepair. HOAs in Denton may have their own rules about holiday display timing, size, and duration, and those deed restrictions are enforceable as private covenants. The City of Denton sponsors holiday events on the downtown square that include displays on public property, but these are governed by special event permits rather than the residential sign code.