Short answer: Yes, most business signs in Houston require a permit.

If your sign is visible from the street, sidewalk, or alley, and it displays your business name, logo, or services, you almost certainly need a permit before installation.

The City of Houston Sign Administration doesn't mess around. They actively enforce the Houston Sign Code, and installing a sign without proper permits can lead to fines, forced removal, and a lot of wasted money.

Let me walk you through what requires a permit, what doesn't, how the process works, and what it costs.

Signs That Require a Permit in Houston

Pretty much any commercial sign that can be seen from public property needs a permit. This includes:

• Channel letter signs (the individual illuminated letters you see on storefronts)

• Wall signs (any signage mounted directly to the building)

• Monument signs (ground level signs at building entrances)

• Pylon signs (tall pole mounted signs)

• Projecting signs (blade signs that stick out from the building)

• Cabinet signs / lightbox signs (illuminated box signs)

• Electronic message signs (LED displays with changing content)

• Marquee signs (signs mounted on canopies)

If the sign has electrical components (lights, LEDs, digital displays), you'll also need an electrical permit in addition to the sign permit.

Signs That Usually Don't Require a Permit

Some signs are exempt from the permit requirement. These typically include:

• Interior signs not visible from outside the building

• Window signs covering less than 25% of window area

• Small signs under 4 square feet that are not illuminated

• Real estate signs (under 6 sq ft for residential, under 32 sq ft for commercial)

• Political signs during campaign periods

• Address numbers required by city code

• Directional signs under 2 square feet (like arrows or "entrance" signs)

• Holiday decorations without commercial messages

Important: Even exempt signs must still follow placement and safety rules. Just because you don't need a permit doesn't mean you can put a sign anywhere.

Houston's 5 Sign Limit Per Business

Here's something many business owners don't know: Houston limits you to five signs per business location.

This is usually a combination of wall signs, ground signs, projecting signs, and marquee signs. You're also limited to one ground or projecting sign per street frontage (maximum two total if you have frontage on two streets).

If your building has more than 350 feet along a single frontage, you can have two ground or projecting signs on that side, but they must be at least 350 feet apart.

Plan your signage strategy before you apply. You don't want to use up all five slots on wall signs and then realize you also wanted a monument sign.

Who Can Actually Install Signs in Houston?

This is where it gets strict.

For electrical signs: Only a licensed sign contractor can pull the permit and do the installation. Period. Business owners cannot install their own illuminated signs.

For non electrical signs: Business owners can install their own signs under limited conditions:

• Ground signs no taller than 8 feet and no larger than 60 square feet

• Wall signs mounted no higher than 16 feet above grade

Even then, the business owner must do all the work themselves. You cannot pull a permit as a business owner and then hire an unlicensed contractor to do the actual installation. The permit goes to whoever does the work.

Signs larger than 60 square feet or wall signs higher than 8 feet above grade require engineered drawings with a professional engineer's seal.

How the Houston Sign Permit Process Works

Here's what happens from start to finish:

1. Submit your application online through the Houston iPermits system. This includes drawings, site plans showing sign location, and property owner authorization if you're a tenant.

2. Plan review happens after you pay fees and upload documents. The city checks that your sign meets code requirements for size, height, placement, and lighting.

3. Site inspection is performed once plans are approved. An inspector visits your location to verify the sign can be installed where you planned.

4. Construction permit issued after site inspection passes. Now you can actually install the sign.

5. Electrical inspections are required for illuminated signs. A shop inspection happens before installation, and a final electrical inspection after the sign is energized.

6. Final inspection and operating permit is issued after everything passes. The permit tag gets affixed to your sign or nearest window.

Timeline: Expect 7 to 21 days for review, depending on complexity. Simple wall signs move faster. Large monument signs or signs needing engineering take longer.

How Much Do Houston Sign Permits Cost?

Fees are based on sign type and size. Here's a rough breakdown:

Note: Fees increase annually. Check the Houston Permitting Center fee schedule for current rates. Complex signs requiring engineering or in scenic districts may cost more.

How Long Is a Sign Permit Valid?

Construction permits are valid for 180 days (6 months) from the date of the site inspection.

If you can't get the sign installed in time, you can purchase a one time 180 day extension. The extension fee is half the original permit fees plus an administrative fee. But you have to request this before the permit expires. Once it lapses, you start over from scratch.

Operating permits renew annually. You'll get an invoice in the mail about 30 days before renewal is due. Late payments incur additional fees.

What Happens If You Install a Sign Without a Permit?

Nothing good.

• Notice of violation with a deadline to fix the problem

• Fines of $500 to $2,000 per day of continued violation

• Forced removal at your expense

• Liens on your property for unpaid penalties

• Difficulty getting future permits for other projects

Here's the kicker: you cannot retroactively permit an already installed sign without modifications. If the sign doesn't meet current code, you may have to change it or take it down. The cost of compliance after installation is almost always higher than doing it right the first time.

Special Districts and Scenic Corridors

Houston has several special districts with stricter sign rules:

• Historic districts have additional design guidelines

• Scenic corridors (like FM 1093, parts of US 59/Midtown, and SH 288) have height and size limits

• The Airport Corridor District has specific requirements

The street category also matters. Major thoroughfares allow taller signs than local streets. Sign height is determined by which street your sign faces, not just your property location.

If you're on a county toll road within Houston city limits, you need dual permits: county first, then city.

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

From first call to installed sign, expect:

• Simple wall sign: 2 to 4 weeks

• Channel letters (standard): 4 to 6 weeks

• Monument signs: 6 to 8 weeks

• Complex or engineered signs: 8+ weeks

This includes design, permit application, review, approval, fabrication, and installation. Incomplete applications or missing documents cause delays. Working with an experienced Houston sign company speeds things up because we know what the city wants to see.

The Bottom Line

Yes, you almost certainly need a permit for your Houston business sign. The exceptions are narrow, and the penalties for getting it wrong are expensive.

The good news: a reputable sign company handles all of this for you. At Houston Sign Crafters, permit management is part of what we do. We handle the application, drawings, site inspections, and city coordination so you don't have to figure out the Houston Sign Code yourself.

Call us at 832-974-2546 or fill out our online form. We'll walk you through what permits your project needs and give you a quote that includes all the paperwork.

Related articles:

• How Much Do Channel Letters Cost in Houston?

• Channel Letters vs Cabinet Signs: Which One Makes Sense?

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