The Houston Sign Code regulates on-premises commercial advertising signs that are visible from the public right of way (i.e., alleys, streets & sidewalks). These are the everyday exterior business signs which display names and/or logos, or advertise goods, services or merchandise sold or offered for sale on the premises where the sign is installed. (Note: Off-premises advertising is prohibited.)
The Houston Sign Code allows up to five [5] signs per business. This is usually a combination of Ground, Projecting, Wall and/or Marquee Signs. Each business is limited to one [1] Ground or Projecting sign per frontage, for a maximum of two [2] Ground or Projecting signs total. If a business has more than 350 feet along a single frontage, then two [2] Ground or Projecting Signs can be allowed along that frontage, as long as the two [2] signs are at least 350 feet apart. No more than four [4] wall signs are allowed. No more than three [3] marquee signs are allowed.
The Houston Sign Code does not require that anyone be licensed to sell signs. It does not require that anyone be licensed to manufacture signs. However, licensure is required to install signs or to do sign work for other people in the field. If the business owner hires someone else to do the work, that person or company must be a licensed sign contractor. The licensed sign contractor will permit & perform the work.
Do not remove the final tag from the sign. Sign permits are completely and entirely non-transferrable (ex: location to location, sign to sign, wall to wall). It is the responsibility of the sign owner to keep their billing address up to date with the City of Houston.
- Total fees based on fixed & minimum fees, then size, illumination & changeable message sign designation.
- All fees cover the first 32 sq. ft.
- Fee of $0.56 per additional sq. ft. or fraction thereof exceeding 32 sq. ft. for Construction & Operating. (Construction typically calculated on a single vertical plane; operating charged per-face.)
- Minimum Construction Fee $97.25
- Minimum Operating Permit Fee $69.46
- Changeable Message Sign per Face annual registration fee: $97.25
- Minimum Sign Electrical Permit Fee: $97.25
Valid Period
- Operating permits renew annually.
- Construction permits are valid for 180 days from the date of the Site Inspection. If the work cannot be completed within the 180 days, a one-time, 180-day extension can be purchased - but only before the construction permit lapses. (If the construction permit lapses before the 180-day extension is purchased, then all permits are null & void, and new application must be made.) The 180-day extension fee is half of the total original fees, plus the Administrative Fee.
1002 Washington Ave., 4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
- Complete the General Prerequisites Requirements checklist.
- Complete and notarize the On-Premise Sign Permit application.
- Complete an Electrical Building Permit Application, if applicable.
- Compile a complete & acceptable plan set in accordance with the General Prerequisites Requirements checklist.
Contractors only; no individuals
- If you do not have an iPermits account, complete the iPermits Acknowledgement Form and create your account.
- Complete online application via iPermits.
- Populate fillable fields of a .pdf On-Premise Sign Permit Application, print form, complete required Acknowledgement and/or Affidavits with ink, then scan the completed form as a .pdf for later upload.
- Pay fees; e-check or credit card accepted.
- If this is your inaugural application, the electronic plan review (EPR) system ([email protected]) will send an inaugural email containing a temporary password (pg. 17, Sign Administration EPR User Guide).
- Receive Applicant Upload Task Assignment email.
- Log in to ProjectDox® to upload documents and drawings (pg. 22, Sign Administration EPR User Guide).
- When done, mark the upload task as complete to notify Sign Administration that the packet is ready for review (pg. 23, Sign Administration EPR User Guide).
• Most signs are permitted and installed by a licensed sign contractor.
• Business owners can permit & install their own non-electrical signs under the following limited circumstances:
- Ground Sign no larger than 60 sq. ft. in size & no taller than 8 feet
- Wall Sign no higher above grade than 16 feet. (Note: A Wall Sign higher above grade than 8 feet, or larger than 60 sq. ft. in size, requires sealed engineered drawings and analysis, in accordance with the standards of the Houston Construction Code in effect at the time application is made.)
Informational Letter 0016-2009-A - Clarifications on Engineering Requirements
• Under no circumstance may a business owner secure permits for the work, but contract it out to a third party. Permits are only issued to whoever is doing the work: Either a licensed sign contractor, or a business owner under the aforementioned conditions.
• Signs on county toll roads within City limits require dual permits, & county permits must be secured first. Copies of the county permit(s) & approved plans, or a letter declining the option to permit, must be included in the application packet.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Online Payment & Permit Printing
- Tag and Permit Replacement Form
- Permit Cancellation Request Form (CE1206)
- Address Change Form (no fee)
- Name Change Form
- Licensed Sign Contractors
Submit the items required in accordance with the Plan Review Prerequisites Checklist (contractors): Plan Review Prerequisites Checklist
- Once fees are paid & the online application is submitted, an email invitation to upload plans into ProjectDox® is automatically sent (pg. 23, Sign Administration EPR User Guide).
- If you're a first time user, see item 5. under Apply Online above.
- Once logged-in to ProjectDox®, select the task; eForm will open.
- Upload your drawings, documents & photos (if applicable) into the appropriate folders.
- Return to the eForm and mark the task as completed.
Site Inspection:
- Once plans are preliminarily approved, the site inspection is performed to confirm that the scope of work and the business situs is and will remain code-compliant.
- Upon approval of the site inspection, a Sr. Inspector will notify the contractor that the Site is approved and that the Site Verification Sheet (SVS) and Permits are granted web access.
- The contractor accesses these via the iPermits portal.
- Commencement of the permitted work may begin, including scheduling any applicable in-progress inspections.
In-progress Inspections:
- For electrical signs, a shop inspection must be completed and approved. (Electrical Inspections: 832-394-8860)
- For most ground signs, a foundation/footing/hole inspection is required. (Sign Administration: 832-394-8890)
- After installation, complete an electrical final inspection (Electrical Inspections), if needed.
- A construction final inspection (Sign Administration) must be completed and approved in order to receive the tag.
Sign electrical inspections cannot be scheduled online. Sign Administration in-progress inspections cannot be scheduled online. However, Sign Administration construction final inspections may be requested via email at [email protected].
- Site inspections are a natural result of a successful plan review and do not need to be scheduled.
- For all other sign inspections, call 832-394-8890. Please have your project number ready.
- For sign electrical inspections, call 832-394-8860.
- Sign Administration construction final inspections may be requested via email at [email protected].
- Electrical and in-progress inspections are conducted the next business day.
- It may take up to seven [7] business days to conduct the construction final inspection.
- If any inspection is failed, a re-inspection fee may be charged.
- Thirty (30) days prior to the renewal date, an invoice will be mailed to the billing address listed on the application.
- Submit payment.
- Receive renewal certificate via mail.
• Sign Operating Permits renew annually & are invoiced via mail. Renewals cannot be billed or paid in advance of annual invoicing. Late payments may incur additional fees. Instructions for paying sign operating permit renewals online are here. (English)
• To pay sign operating permit renewals online, click the Renew button below.
• If the business and/or sign is no longer in operation, please annotate such on the renewal notice & mail the annotated renewal notice back to Sign Administration.
• Submit a copy of the renewal notice & an acceptable form of payment (personal check, cashier's check, or money order) to:
City of Houston - Sign Administration
P.O. Box 2688
Houston, TX 77252-2688
• If the business and/or sign is no longer in operation, please annotate such on the renewal notice & mail the annotated renewal notice back to Sign Administration.
• Permit Renewals are strictly for the business that is operating the sign(s).
• If the business and/or sign is no longer in operation, please annotate such on the renewal notice & mail the annotated renewal notice back to Sign Administration.
• To opt-in on paperless billing & receive e-invoices, complete the Customer Billing Information fields of a Signs Electronic Invoicing Notice.