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 Code of Ordinances Chapter 28 (Signs) governs all signs in the city, including political signs treated as temporary signs. Residential properties may display non-illuminated temporary signs aggregating up to 36 square feet without a permit. After Reed v Town of Gilbert (2015), Houston revised its sign code to apply content-neutral standards; political signs follow the same size, placement, and removal rules as real estate, garage sale, and event signs.
Texas Transportation Code §393.0025 further preempts local ordinances from regulating political signs on private property in ways that single them out by content. Prohibited placement under Chapter 28 includes any public right-of-way, esplanades, medians, utility poles, traffic signals, and city-owned property. Signs cannot be illuminated, animated, or include audio. Public Works removes signs from the right-of-way without notice; private-property violations are pursued by the Department of Neighborhoods.
Violation is a Class C misdemeanor with fines up to $500 per sign per day. Owners are billed for removal costs. Signs in the public right-of-way are removed by Public Works without notice and may be disposed of after a brief retrieval window.
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