Amarillo sign permit requirements

Permit required for all permanent signs before erection; certain signs listed in Sec. 4-2-7 are exempt (e.g., copy changes, construction signs, incidental signs under 4 sq ft, etc.)

“Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no Sign shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, installed, painted or replaced until a permit for such Sign has been issued by the Building Official.”

GR district and less restrictive: 3 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage; wall sign may not exceed 75% of the length of building frontage or tenant space

“Wall signs may not exceed the total of three (3) square feet per linear foot of the building frontage on which the sign is affixed. A Wall sign shall not be greater than seventy-five (75) percent of the length of building frontage or tenant space on which the sign is affixed.”

GR district and less restrictive: 3 sq ft per linear foot of lot frontage, max 250 sq ft (non-arterial) or 300 sq ft (arterial); minimum 60 sq ft allowed regardless of frontage

“Freestanding signs are allowed a maximum area equal to three (3) square foot per linear foot of lot frontage subject to the following:”

GR district and less restrictive: 38 feet on an arterial street; 20 feet on a non-arterial street

“The maximum height for a Freestanding sign may not exceed:”

No minimum setback if message area 120 sq ft or less (no overhang into ROW); signs exceeding 120 sq ft must be set back minimum 15 feet from property line; monument signs minimum 10 feet

“Freestanding signs that have message one hundred twenty (120) square feet or less have no minimum setback from the property line provided that no portion of a sign face shall overhang into the public right-of-way.”

Signs projecting over public ROW: 8 ft minimum clearance if projecting not more than 1/3 distance to curb; 12 ft if more than 1/3; 16 ft 6 in over street/alley/vehicular areas; 4 ft if not over vehicular areas. In CB District, projecting signs max 10 ft outward and min 9 ft clearance above sidewalk

“A Sign projecting not more than one-third (⅓) the distance from the property line to the back of the Curb shall have a minimum clearance of eight (8) feet.”

Temporary window signs may not exceed 50% of the total window area

“Window signs of a temporary nature only that do not exceed fifty (50) percent of the total window area.”

Signs may be illuminated but not exceed 5,000 nits during daylight or 500 nits between dusk and dawn (measured from closest property line); external light must be shielded; no pulsating strobe effect; no lighted sign within 150 ft of a residential development unless oriented away

“Shall not exceed five thousand (5,000) nits (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours or five hundred (500) nits between dusk and dawn, as measured from the closest property line.”

EMC allowed, one per property; static messages and scroll/travel permitted; other transitions/animation prohibited except each message displayed minimum 5 seconds and change within 2 seconds; EMC may not exceed 50% of total freestanding sign area

“Each message or image must be displayed for a minimum of five (5) seconds; and”

Temporary signs permitted 60 consecutive days (annual permit, one sign, min 30 days between); banners on annual permit may display for 1 year and must be affixed to a building; max area 60 sq ft; permit required

“Banners that are permitted on an annual basis shall be allowed to be displayed for one (1) year. Banners must be affixed, mounted, and/or secured to a building.”

Portable signs, banners and other temporary signs (except as allowed), snipe/bandit signs, off-premises signs (except as excepted), signs in public ROW, spectacular signs, searchlights/beacons, video display signs visible from public street, flashing/strobe signs resembling emergency signals

“All signs not expressly permitted under this Chapter or exempt from regulation are prohibited in the City. Such signs include, but are not limited to:”

Rules vary by district; figures reported are for GR district and less restrictive districts (general commercial). O-1/O-2/NS districts and residential districts have different figures.

“In the GR district and less restrictive districts:”