Sign permits in San Antonio, TX: rules, fees, and how to apply

Plan on a permit for any freestanding sign, any electric sign, and any attached sign over 32 square feet. The only common exemption is a durable, non-electric sign of 32 square feet or less affixed to a building, fence or wall (and it doesn't apply in the Riverwalk Area).

“Signs not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet of facing, composed of durable material, situated wholly upon private property and securely affixed to a building, fence or wall and having a frame or trim not more than three (3) inches wide except said signs shall comply with applicable erection and maintenance permit regulations.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-30(b) — Permit exceptions

Only a registered or city-licensed sign contractor can pull a San Antonio sign permit — license and insurance must be on file first, and the application asks for the license number and Master of Record signature.

“Only a registered contractor or city licensed contractor is authorized to obtain sign permits for the installation, erection, or alteration of any sign.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-29 — Permit required

Attached (wall) signs are capped at 25% of the building facade — or a per-occupancy floor of 50 sq ft on local streets, 75 sq ft on arterials/commercial collectors, and 100 sq ft on expressways, whichever is greater. We need the facade's square footage and the street classification to run this math, so it's flagged for a human check.

“The aggregate area of all attached signs shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of a building facade or seventy-five (75) square feet for each occupancy that has a separate and distinct public entrance, whichever is greater.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-47(c)(2) — Attached signs on arterials (50 sq ft local at 28-47(b)(2); 100 sq ft expressway at 28-47(d)(2))

Freestanding sign limits depend on the street classification in the city's Major Thoroughfare Plan. Single-tenant (Table 1): local streets 16 ft / 75 sq ft; arterial type B–commercial collectors 24 ft / 150 sq ft; arterial type A 40 ft / 240 sq ft; expressways 50 ft / 375 sq ft. Multi-tenant (Table 2): 20 ft / 125 sq ft, 32 ft / 250 sq ft, 50 ft / 500 sq ft, 60 ft / 650 sq ft on the same street ladder. Every freestanding sign after the first is capped at 75% of the table values. We flag this row for a human check because the right column depends on the city's street classification for your frontage.

“For the first freestanding sign on a lot, the height and size maximum shall be in accordance with Table 1 and/or Table 2 if applicable. All subsequent freestanding signs on the lot shall not exceed seventy-five (75) percent of the allowable height and size specified in the appropriate table(s).”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-45 — Sign height and area (Tables 1 & 2)

On local streets, freestanding signs sit at least 5 ft back from the street right-of-way and 10 ft from interior side lot lines. On arterials, commercial collectors and expressways, a sign taller than 25 ft must sit 10 ft back from the right-of-way, and 10 ft from side or rear lot lines when the neighbor is residential. The rule that applies depends on street class and sign height, so we flag it for a human check.

“The sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from the street right-of-way and ten (10) feet from all interior side lot lines.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-47(b)(1)b — local streets (arterial setbacks at 28-47(c)(1)b)

If the property abuts a single-family residential lot, a freestanding sign needs a 10-ft setback from that shared line and is capped at 8 ft tall — it can go taller only by stepping back 1 extra foot for every foot of height over 8. Whether the neighbor is single-family residential isn't something we can see from the job form, so this is flagged for a human check.

“Freestanding signs on properties abutting a platted lot that is zoned and used for single-family residential purposes shall require a minimum ten-foot setback from the property line abutting the residential property and be a maximum of eight (8) feet in height, except as provided below.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-42(1) — residential buffer/setback

One freestanding sign is allowed per 150 feet of street frontage, and additional freestanding signs need at least 150 linear feet of spacing (each extra sign is also capped at 75% of the table height/size).

“One (1) freestanding sign shall be permitted for each one hundred fifty (150) feet of street frontage.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-45 — number of freestanding signs (spacing at Sec. 28-47(c)(1)a)

Digital signs (EMCs) are allowed on-premises in San Antonio, with hard limits: brightness factory pre-set at 7,000 nits max and locked against end-user changes (get the manufacturer's acknowledgement in writing), max 3000K color temperature, one two-sided digital display per freestanding structure and per street frontage, 200 ft between EMCs, and never over 375 sq ft or 60 ft tall. No flashing, strobing, scrolling ticker text, or sound.

“Prior to the issuance of any digital sign permit, the application shall include acknowledgement that the light intensity has been factory pre-set not to exceed seven thousand (7,000) NITS and that the intensity level is protected from end-user manipulation.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-43(a)(9) — digital displays (on-premises limits at Sec. 28-48)

Wall signs need an engineer's letter confirming the existing wall design and proper attachment; projecting signs need an engineer's design; roof signs need an engineer's letter confirming the roof can take the new loads. This is per-checklist in IB 191 — it applies regardless of the sign's size.

“Wall Signs (On-premise) – Application “A”, elevation drawings, engineer’s letter ensuring existing wall design and proper attachment”

Source: IB 191 — Applications & Checklists (wall, projecting, roof signs)

Monument and freestanding sign structures over 8 ft (measured from grade) need engineered drawings from a Texas PE — either sealed calculations stating the sign complies with 115 mph wind loads under the 2024 IBC, or a sealed contractor certification letter. (IB 191's pole-sign checklist separately says an engineer's letter for poles taller than 12 ft — we apply the stricter 8-ft trigger.)

“All monuments and free standing sign structures that exceed 8’ in height, measured from grade, fall under the International Building Code, Group U occupancy classification, and shall require the submittal of engineered drawings to be submitted with the Application “A”.”

Source: IB 191 — Monument Signs and Free Standing Signs

Historic landmarks and districts, neighborhood conservation districts, and River Improvement Overlay (RIO) districts carry their own sign regulations under UDC Chapter 35, and sign work there typically needs Office of Historic Preservation / HDRC approval before the permit — not a standard review.

“Specific regulations for historic landmarks and districts, neighborhood conservation districts, corridor districts, river improvement overlay districts and other overlay districts are contained in chapter 35 of this Code.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-44(a) — Special districts

Urban corridor districts (UC-1 IH-10/FM 1604, UC-2 Broadway, UC-3 Fredericksburg Rd, UC-4 N. St. Mary's, UC-5 Main/McCullough, UC-6 San Pedro) have their own sign standards in Secs. 28-64 to 28-70 that override the base tables — check the district standards before designing.

“** Note: Sign height and square footage may vary depending on special districts and overlays.”

Source: San Antonio City Code Sec. 28-45, Table 1 note (urban corridor standards at Secs. 28-59—28-70)