March 13, 2026/
Quick answer Most exterior business signs in Houston need a permit before anything goes up. The Houston Permitting Center’s Sign...
Sign Permits & City Approvals in Houston, TX
Jet Star Signs prepares the drawings, gets your landlord’s sign-off, submits the application, pays the city fees on your behalf and includes them on your invoice, and has a representative on site for the final inspection.
How We Handle Your Sign Permit
Jet Star Signs handles sign permitting from start to finish across Greater Houston and surrounding areas, for storefront signs, monuments, pylons and LED displays. We apply the sign code for your specific city before the design is final, so the application matches what the reviewer expects.
Want to see the rules first? Read our Houston sign code and permit guide, or the Texas commercial sign permit guide for the cities and counties around Houston.
We Hold the Houston Sign Contractor License
The City of Houston issues sign permits to licensed sign contractors. We hold the City of Houston sign contractor license, so we pull the permit for your sign ourselves.
Our Sign Permitting Process
Permit Drawings
We prepare sign proofs, scaled renderings and placement visuals to match your city’s requirements and your brand.
Landlord Approval
We obtain landlord or property manager approval and coordinate the paperwork before we submit.
Structural Drawings
For structurally complex signs, we arrange sealed structural drawings where the City requires them.
City Submission
We handle all contact with city departments and permitting offices, and TxDOT if required.
Permit Fees
We give you a clear estimate of city fees, pay them on your behalf and include them on your invoice.
Final Inspection
After installation, we coordinate the inspection. A Jet Star Signs rep is there for final approval.
Houston has no zoning, but it does have a sign code
Houston is known for having no zoning ordinance, but signs are still regulated: size, height, lighting, where the sign sits and the number of signs allowed are all set by code. Nearby cities such as Katy, Sugar Land, Tomball and Pasadena have their own sign ordinances, unincorporated areas follow different rules, and master-planned communities such as The Woodlands and many shopping centers add their own criteria. We check all of them for your address during the on-site survey and design to fit, so the application is right the first time. For the details, read our guide to sign code and permit requirements in Houston and our Texas commercial sign permit guide.
What we need from you
- The property address and your landlord’s or property manager’s contact details.
- Any sign criteria from your lease or shopping center.
- Your approved sign design (we prepare the permit drawings from it).
Get a Free Sign Quote
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a business sign in Houston?
Most permanent exterior signs do, and lit signs usually need electrical approval as well. Rules differ between the City of Houston, nearby cities and unincorporated areas, and many landlords add their own criteria. We check the rules for your address and handle the application.
Who applies for the sign permit, me or you?
We do. We hold the City of Houston sign contractor license. We prepare the package, submit it, answer the city's questions and track it until it is issued.
Who pays the permit fees?
We give you a clear estimate of the city fees up front, pay them on your behalf, and include the final cost on your project invoice.
What happens if the city asks for changes?
We revise the drawings or design to address the comment and resubmit, and we keep you updated. Once the permit is issued, the sign moves to fabrication and then installation.
Helpful Articles
- All Posts
- Awnings & Canopies
- Banners & Signs
- Cabinet & Box Signs
- Channel Letters
- Design & Consultation
- Digital
- Dimensional Letters
- Fabrication
- General
- Installation & Inspection
- Interior Signs
- LED Signs and EMCs
- Maintenance & Repairs
- Monument Signs
- Painting
- Permits & Approvals
- Poster Frames
- Pylon Signs
- Seasonal Signage
- Signage Colors
- Signage Trends
- Window Graphics & Decals
January 16, 2026/
Getting a custom business sign is exciting, but the process can feel confusing at first. Design choices, city regulations, permits,...
October 16, 2025/
Houston isn’t like any other city. We’re a sprawling, vibrant mix of sleek skyscrapers, historic neighborhoods, and bustling commercial corridors....