(a) 
It is the purpose of this article:
(1) 
To enhance the aesthetics and attractiveness of the city for its citizens and visitors by:
(A) 
Establishing standards for the spacing of billboards, maximum sign facings, and maximum billboard heights.
(B) 
Relating billboards to the approved major thoroughfare plan.
(C) 
Protecting historic districts and the ambiance of city avenues and municipal parks from further intrusion of billboards. The provisions of this article shall be applicable to the entire area within the corporate limits of the city and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
(2) 
To protect the public health, safety and welfare by setting standards for:
(A) 
The construction and erection of billboards and other types of signs.
(B) 
Ensuring the safe construction, electrical connections and safety of all signs covered under this article.
(b) 
Except as hereinafter specified, any sign existing on the effective date of this article which does not conform with the provisions of this article will not be affected by the article.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.001)
The provisions of this article shall be applicable to the entire area within the corporate limits of the city and in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.002)
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
Advertising Bench.
Any bench providing seating to the general public without charge, which may bear advertising. Advertising benches are not regulated by this article.
Bill.
An advertising poster or a handbill.
Billboard.
An erection annexed to the land for the purpose of posting advertising bills and posters and having a sign face area exceeding 32 square feet.
Billboard Operator.
Any person who holds a Texas Outdoor Advertising License to install, erect, service, maintain, alter, repair or demolish billboards.
Building Official.
The person within the city charged with the administration and enforcement of this article.
Commercial Sign Operator.
Any person installing, erecting, servicing, maintaining, altering, repairing or demolishing commercial signs.
Cultural Facilities.
Establishments such as, but not limited to, museums, art galleries, public libraries and community centers, botanical and zoological gardens and theaters for performing arts which, although they may charge an admission fee, are essentially nonprofit and are principally funded through public expenditures, foundation grants and donations.
Developer.
One who is engaged in the business of assembling, preparing and promoting land for real estate development. A developer may or may not actually be involved in residential construction, for example, homebuilding.
Directional Traffic Control Signs.
Traffic control signs installed by the city or state.
Embellishments.
Any feature such as a cutout, neon or plastic letters, clock, electric device and space extension which is added to an outdoor advertising structure.
Fireproof Structure.
A sign constructed entirely of steel members, including structural support for the sign face. The sign face and its support members may be constructed of wooden or metal panels.
Historic Area.
A district or zone designated by the city council or a unit of the state or federal government, within which the buildings, structures, appurtenances and places are of basic and vital importance because of their association with history or because of their unique architectural style and scale. An historic area may also be a part of or related to a square, avenue, park or other area, the design of which should be preserved and developed based on cultural, historical or architectural motives or purposes.
Historical Building.
Any building or structure which is designated as historically or architecturally significant by a unit of local, state or federal government.
May.
Implies permissiveness and connotes a nonmandatory action.
Neighborhood.
A distinct segment of the community whose boundaries are defined by physical barriers such as major arterial streets and railroads and natural features such as creeks and rivers.
Outputs.
An industry term referring to reproductions of that portion of the graphic elements of a billboard which project beyond the normal limits of the advertising face to dramatize the copy and the advertising message.
Park.
A publicly owned tract of land designated and used by the public for active and passive recreation.
Shall.
Connotes a mandatory action.
Sign.
Any object, device, display or structure or part thereof visible from a street or walkway, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images. The enumeration of signs in this definition shall not be considered to be exclusive. Sign includes all other devices or structures as may reasonably be included under it, whether attached or unattached. This definition excludes all national or state flags, nonelectric window displays, graffiti, athletic scoreboards and the official announcements or signs of government. Types of signs include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Animated or Moving Sign. Any sign or part of a sign which changes physical position by any movement or rotation or which gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation.
(2) 
Awning or Marquee Sign. A sign that is mounted or painted on an awning or marquee that is otherwise permitted by ordinance.
(3) 
Back-to-Back Sign. A structure containing two parallel signs whose faces are oriented in opposite directions and are spaced no more than 10 feet apart.
(4) 
Billboard Sign. Any outdoor sign, description, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, structure or thing, except those advertisements placed on benches provided for the convenience of the public, which directs the attention of the traveling public to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located.
(5) 
Canopy Sign. A sign that is mounted or painted on a canopy.
(6) 
Commercial Sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, product, service or activity.
(7) 
Electric Sign. Any sign on which letters, designs or messages are formed or outlined by electric illumination or by a transparent or translucent medium which is electrically illuminated, whether the illuminating device is contained within or on the sign, all outside building outlining and interim decorative displays and gas tube window outlining. Signs illuminated by electric lights which are not attached to the sign, and signs which are lighted by floodlights or projectors are not classified as electric sign within the meaning of this article. Any portable sign that has electrical components attached, connected to or part of the sign or support, whether electrified or not, shall be considered an electric sign and all sections of this article pertaining to electric signs shall apply.
(8) 
Flashing Sign. Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign which exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever.
(9) 
Governmental Signs. A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental functions or required by law, ordinance or other governmental regulation.
(10) 
Nonconforming Sign. A sign which was lawful prior to the adoption on August 23, 1994, or revision or amendment of this article, but which fails, because of such adoptions, revision or amendment, to conform to this article.
(11) 
Occupational Signs. Signs not to exceed three square feet in area denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial, public, office or institutional building.
(12) 
Off-Premise Commercial Sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, product, service or activity other than that which is conducted on the premises where such sign is located.
(13) 
Off-Premise Portable Sign. Any portable sign which directs attention to a business, product, service or activity other than that which is conducted on the premises where such sign is located.
(14) 
On-Premise Commercial Sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, product, service or activity which is conducted upon the premises where such sign is located.
(15) 
Overhanging Sign. A sign which is suspended over a sidewalk, street or other public right-of-way. An overhanging sign may or may not be a projecting sign.
(16) 
Pole Sign. A sign that is mounted on a free standing pole or other support.
(17) 
Political Sign. A temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election.
(18) 
Portable Sign. Any sign designed or constructed to be easily moved from one location to another, including a sign mounted upon or designed to be mounted on a trailer, wheeled carrier or other nonmotorized mobile structure. A portable sign which has its wheels removed shall still be considered a portable sign. The term nonelectric portable sign means any portable sign which does not have electrical components.
(19) 
Projecting Sign. A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than 12 inches from such building.
(20) 
Real Estate Sign. A sign pertaining to the sale or lease of the premises or a portion of the premises on which the sign is located.
(21) 
Roof Sign. A sign that is mounted on and is wholly supported by the roof of a building and which projects above the point of a building with a flat roof, the cave line of a building with a gambrel, gable or hip roof, or the deck of a building with a mansard roof.
(22) 
Sign Face. The area or display surface used for the message.
(23) 
Sign Face Area. The entire advertising area of a sign excluding any framing, trim or molding and the supporting structure.
(24) 
V-Type Sign. A structure composed of two signs with the facts oriented in opposing directions and in the shape of the letter V; provided, however, that only one face can be viewed from any one direction.
(25) 
Wall Sign. A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for or forms the background surface of the sign and which does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure.
(26) 
Window Sign. Any sign on the surface of a window of any establishment which advertises services, products or sales.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.003)
(a) 
No person shall affix a sign or bill by any means whatsoever to any public building, property or thing belonging to the city or to any other public entity without the approval of that authority. This prohibition shall extend also to posting bills within city parks or to trees on public rights-of-way.
(b) 
This section shall not be construed to prevent any public official from posting a governmental sign or bill for a public purpose.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.004)
No person shall affix a sign or bill by any means whatsoever to any private property without having first obtained the written permission of the owner or his or her agents.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.005)
No person shall erect or display any obscene matter upon any sign.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.006)
(a) 
Any sign erected, altered, used or maintained in violation of this article shall constitute a public nuisance.
(b) 
If the owner or operator fails to remove a sign within 14 days after being notified in writing to do so, it may be removed by the city at the expense of the owner or the person erecting, using or maintaining it.
(1) 
Any sign so removed shall be stored or impounded and shall not be returned to the owner until all applicable charges are paid.
(2) 
If any sign remains unclaimed for a period of 30 days after its removal, or if the removal and storage costs are not paid within the 30 day period, the city may destroy, sell or otherwise dispose of the sign.
(c) 
No future permits will be issued to the owner or operator until all previous fines and costs have been paid.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.007)
(a) 
Any sign or billboard which has been assessed by a city building official as being damaged beyond 50% of its replacement value must be removed no later than 30 days after written notification. After 90 days, the owner will be subject to fines up to, but not to exceed, $200 per day for each day the violation exists after the initial 90 day period following initial violation notification.
(b) 
Upon removal or destruction of any nonconforming sign or billboard, nonconforming status shall be lost to that site and no new nonconforming sign or structure shall be erected thereon; except, however, that any owner, as of the effective date hereof, of any nonconforming sign or billboard may replace the sign or billboard with another of equal or smaller dimensions that otherwise complies with the requirements of this article.
(c) 
Should any sign become insecure or in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe in the opinion of the building official, the owner thereof, or the person or firm maintaining the same, shall upon written notice from the building official, forthwith in the case of immediate danger and in any case within 10 days, remove such sign or secure the same in a manner to be approved by the building official, in conformity with the provisions of this article. If such order is not complied with within 10 days, the building official shall remove such sign at the expense of the owner or lessee thereof.
(d) 
All abandoned signs or billboards must be removed within 90 days from the date of abandonment.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.008)
The permit holder, owner, agent, person or persons having the beneficial use of the sign, the owner of the land or structure on which the sign is located, and the person in charge of erecting the sign are all subject to the provisions of this article and are subject to the penalty provided in Section 1.109 of this code.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Title XV, Chapter 155, Section 155.009)