Sign Ordinance
About the Sign Ordinance
The Sign Ordinance intends to protect public health, safety, and welfare by limiting hazards to motorists and pedestrians by distracting sign displays, removing obstructions from motorists' view, and protecting and preserving property values by assuring the continued attractiveness of the community.
GENERAL SIGN REGULATIONS
The general sign regulations shall apply to all signs located within the Village limits or ETJ, with the exception of those referenced in Section 5. Exemptions for Certain Types of Signs of the Sign Regulations Ordinances.
No sign or part of a sign shall:
- Be placed on or attached to any utility pole or pedestal, except by a utility company owning the pole or pedestal or operating facilities mounted on the pole or pedestal.
- Be placed upon real property without the consent of the property owner.
- Be located in, on, or over any right-of-way, except for regulatory or informational signs erected by government agencies or as otherwise specifically authorized by the governmental entity in control of the right-of-way.
- Be located so that it blocks vehicle or pedestrian views and/or safe sight distances at any intersection, curve or corner. This includes signs located on private property.
- Be hung with less than 7-1/2 feet of vertical clearance above the sidewalk or less than fifteen feet of vertical clearance above a street, drive, or parking area.
- Imitate or resemble an official traffic-control device or signal; attempt to direct the movement of traffic; or hide from view or hinder the effectiveness of an official traffic-control devise or signal.
- Be placed closer than six feet to the edge of a road surface.
- Be allowed to move or has moving components, or has bright flashing lights or other distracting features. This does not include signs with slowly changing messages such as time or temperature.
- Be located so that it is on or in any way obstructs and sidewalk, walkway, or pathway used by the public for normal pedestrian access.
- Extend above or beyond the building roof line, parapet or eaves when installed on a wall. A parapet is a low wall built along one or more sides around the perimeter of a roof.
- Be located closer than ten feet to any power line. Any such sign shall constitute a nuisance.
- Be installed so that it faces contiguous residential property.
REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL SIGNS
Commercial signs require a permit and must adhere to the Signs Regulations Ordinance. For more information regarding regulations, please refer to Section 8. Regulation of Commercial Signs; Permit Required of the Signs Regulations Ordinance.
OTHER TYPES OF SIGNS FOR WHICH PERMITS ARE REQUIRED
The following types of signs are regulated under the Signs Regulations Ordinance and require a permit. For more information regarding the regulations, please refer to Section 9. Other Types of Signs for Which Permits are Required of the Signs Regulations Ordinance.
- Bed and Breakfast/Vacation Rental Identifier Signs
- Construction Signs
- Directional Signs
- Model Home Signs
- Portable Sign
- Residential Development Signs
SIGNS FOR WHICH NO PERMIT IS REQUIRED
The following types of signs are regulated under the Sign Regulations Ordinance but do not require a permit. For more information regarding the regulations, please refer to Section 7. Signs For Which No Permit Is Required of the Signs Regulations Ordinance.
- Public Service Signs
- Realty Signs
- Bulletin Boards
- Community Service Signs
- Event Signs, On-Site
- Event Signs, Off-Site
- Non-Commercial Flag
- Wall Plates
- Temporary Signs
- Address Sign
PROHIBITED SIGN TYPES
The construction, placement, existence, or use of signs of the following nature are prohibited by the Sign Regulations Ordnance. For more information, please refer to Section 10. Prohibited Sign Types of the Sign Regulations Ordinance.
- Beacons
- Changeable copy signs, except in the categories of gasoline pricing signs and changeable copy free-standing signs.
- Flashing signs.
- Signs with visible moving parts.
- Exterior neon signs.
- Roof signs except as allowed in commercial sign regulations of the Sign Regulations Ordinance.
- Mobile billboards and vehicular signs
- Posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similar devises
- Signs, banners or posters that contain statements, words, or pictures of an obscene, indecent, or immoral character or that offend public morals or decency.
- Commercial signs of any character, in any form of construction, and at any location except as regulated by the Sign Regulations Ordinance.
- Signs, to include handheld signs, that by reason of their proximity to a public or private street, highway, alley, lane, parkway, avenue, road, sidewalk, or other right-of-way, constitute a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic either because of their location interferes with the safe operation of a vehicle, or because they obstruct the view of a traffic sign, signal, or device, or the view of other vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or because their design or content may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- Off-premise commercial signs.
- Abandoned or dilapidated signs.
- Banners.
- Feather flags.
- New billboards.
EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF SIGNS
The following types of signs are exempt from regulation under the Sign Regulations Ordinance. For more information, please refer to Section 5. Exemptions For Certain Types of Signs of the Sign Regulations Ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, or a window or door sign, except for a lighted window sign or lighted door sign.
- Commemorative plaques and historical markers mounted on the face of a building or erected on a site as free-standing monuments, when placed by a governmental entity, historical society or other civic organization.
- Any sign erected or required to be erected by any governmental entity or public utility to give information, directions or warnings to the general public, regardless of the sign's location on public or private property.
- Signs that advertise sales or "help wanted" not to exceed four square feet, limited to one per street frontage.
- Signs placed by a federal, state or local government that provide directions to federal state or local government offices and facilities, public schools, and associated facilities, and the Salado Visitors Center.
- Handheld signs of a non-commercial nature that do not rest on or otherwise touch the ground.
Civil and Criminal Penalties
Please refer to Section 17. Penalty of the Sign Regulations Ordinance for information regarding civil and criminal penalties.
