Garland, TX Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Per-tenant window coverage cap
- 25% of that space's window area
- Per-facade coverage cap
- 25% combined, all tenants
- Permit required
- No, if within coverage limits
- LED/strip lighting rule
- Counts as window sign, no blinking/scrolling
Summary
Garland caps window signage at 25 percent of total window surface area per leased space, and 25 percent in aggregate per building facade visible from a public street, under GDC § 4.67(G). No sign permit is required for a compliant window sign, but LED and strip lighting used to form letters or borders within 3 feet of a window counts toward that same limit.
Window Sign. A window sign is a sign painted or affixed to the exterior or interior surface of a window, or placed behind, or within 3 feet of, the window surface so as to be visible from the exterior. Window signs must comply with the following provisions: (1) Window signage on buildings used for commercial or retail purposes may occupy or cover no more than 25 percent of the total window surface area for each leased space within a multi-tenant building. Window signage, in aggregate, may occupy or cover no more than 25 percent of the total window surface area for each building facade that is visible from a public street or alley (maximum 25 percent coverage for all window surfaces combined). (2) Luminous gaseous tubing, LED lights, or other strip lighting attached directly to a window, window frame, door, doorframe, or within 3 feet of a window or door shall be considered a "window sign" when forming a border, when directing attention to a premises, or when forming letters, logos, symbols, or pictorial designs of any kind.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4862189; v40 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
67(G) of the Garland Development Code defines a window sign as anything painted or affixed to a window's interior or exterior surface, or placed behind or within 3 feet of the window so it's visible from outside. Window signs are exempt from the City's sign permit requirement, but only if they comply with the article's coverage limits: a leased commercial or retail space may cover no more than 25 percent of its own window surface area, and across an entire building facade facing a public street or alley, all window signage combined cannot exceed 25 percent of the total window surface on that facade, even split among multiple tenants.
The rule reaches beyond paint and vinyl: luminous gaseous tubing, LED lights, or other strip lighting mounted directly to a window, window frame, door, or doorframe, or placed within 3 feet of one, counts as a window sign whenever it forms a border, draws attention to the premises, or spells out letters, logos, symbols, or pictures, and such lighting cannot blink, flash, rotate, scroll, or change color or intensity. 78(O)(3), (7), and (8). 163.
Violations & Fines
A window display that exceeds the 25 percent per-space or per-facade coverage cap, or LED/strip lighting that blinks, flashes, rotates, scrolls, or changes color or intensity, is an unpermitted, noncompliant sign, since Section 4.67 exempts window signs from a permit only while they satisfy those limits. The Building Official can require the excess signage removed or reduced to bring the tenant space or facade back within the 25 percent threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my storefront window can I cover with signs in Garland?
Do I need a permit for window signs in Garland?
Can I use LED strip lights to outline my storefront window in Garland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Garland
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