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The Dallas City Code
CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS CODE OF ORDINANCES
CHARTER of THE CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS
VOLUME I
VOLUME II
VOLUME III
CHAPTER 51A DALLAS DEVELOPMENT CODE: ORDINANCE NO. 19455, AS AMENDED
ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
ARTICLE II. INTERPRETATIONS AND DEFINITIONS.
ARTICLE III. DECISIONMAKING AND ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES.
ARTICLE IV. ZONING REGULATIONS.
ARTICLE V. FLOODPLAIN AND ESCARPMENT ZONE REGULATIONS.
ARTICLE VI. ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
ARTICLE VII. SIGN REGULATIONS.
Division 51A-7.100. Purposes and Definitions.
Division 51A-7.200. Provisions For All Zoning Districts.
Division 51A-7.300. Provisions For Business Zoning Districts.
Division 51A-7.400. Provisions for Non-Business Zoning Districts.
Division 51A-7.500. Special Provision Sign Districts.
Division 51A-7.600. Permit Procedures.
Division 51A-7.700. Non-Conformance and Enforcement Procedures.
Division 51A-7.800. Procedure For Changes and Amendments.
Division 51A-7.900. Downtown Special Provision Sign District.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SIGNS WITHIN THE GENERAL CBD, MAIN STREET, CONVENTION CENTER, RETAIL, DISCOVERY, AND CHASE TOWER SUBDISTRICTS.
Division 51A-7.1000. West End Historic Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1100. Provisions for Uptown Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1200. Provisions for Arts District Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1300. Provisions for Deep Ellum/Near East Side Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1400. Jefferson Boulevard Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1500. Provisions for McKinney Avenue Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1600. Farmers Market Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1700. Provisions for Victory Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1800. Provisions for Southside Entertainment Sign District.
Division 51A-7.1900. Provisions for West Village Sign District.
Division 51A-7.2000. Provisions for the West Commerce Street/Fort Worth Avenue Sign District.
Division 51A-7.2100. Provisions for the Arts District Extension Area Sign District.
Division 51A-7.2200. Parkland Hospital Sign District.
Division 51A-7.2300. Southwestern Medical District Sign District.
ARTICLE VIII. PLAT REGULATIONS.
ARTICLE IX. THOROUGHFARES.
ARTICLE X. LANDSCAPE AND TREE CONSERVATION REGULATIONS.
ARTICLE XI. HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX EXEMPTIONS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES.
ARTICLE XII. GAS DRILLING AND PRODUCTION.
ARTICLE XIII. FORM DISTRICTS.
CHAPTER 51 FORMER DALLAS DEVELOPMENT CODE
CODE COMPARATIVE TABLE
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SEC. 51A-7.916.   NONCOMMERCIAL MESSAGE NONDISCRIMINATION.
   Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, any sign that may display a type of noncommercial message may display in place of that message any other type of noncommercial message, so long as the sign complies with other requirements of this article and other ordinances that do not pertain to the content of the message displayed. Section 51A-7.209 of the Dallas Development Code, as amended, applies to this district. (Ord. Nos. 21404; 24606; 24925)
SEC. 51A-7.917.   ACTIVITY DISTRICT CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGNS.
   (a)   No more than six activity district changeable message signs may be located in this district.
   (b)   Activity district changeable message signs in the general CBD and convention center subdistricts:
      (1)   may be attached or detached signs;
      (2)   must be located at least 1500 feet apart;
      (3)   if attached signs, must be located on separate facades; and
      (4)   may not exceed 450 square feet in effective area.
   (c)   Activity district changeable message signs in the Main Street Subdistrict, Retail Subdistrict A, and Retail Subdistrict B:
      (1)   must be attached signs;
      (2)   must be located at least 300 feet apart;
      (3)   must be located on separate facades; and
      (4)   may not exceed 200 square feet in effective area.
   (d)   A maximum of four activity district changeable message signs may be located in the general CBD and convention center subdistricts collectively, and a maximum of two activity district changeable message signs may be located in the Main Street Subdistrict, Retail Subdistrict A, and Retail Subdistrict B, collectively.
   (e)   Activity district changeable message signs may not exceed 60 feet in height.
   (f)   Activity district changeable message signs may only promote district activities within this district or West End Special Provision Sign District, Deep Ellum Special Provision Sign District, Arts District Special Provision Sign District, and Farmers Market Special Provision Sign District.
   (g)   No more than 10 percent of the effective area of a district changeable message sign may be devoted to sponsorship identification.
   (h)   No more than eight permanent words may be located on an activity district changeable message sign.
   (i)   There is no limit to the number of words on the changeable message portion of an activity district changeable message sign.
   (j)   No attached activity district changeable message sign may project above the roof.
   (k)   Activity district changeable message signs must be securely anchored and meet design standards approved by the Special Sign District Advisory Committee. (Ord. Nos. 24606; 24925; 28346; 29227)
SEC. 51A-7.918.    KIOSKS.
   (a)   Kiosks for which permits were issued after March 9, 2005.
      (1)   Kiosks may only be erected as part of a city-wide kiosk program approved by the city council.
      (2)   Kiosks are not subject to this section, and must meet the design standards of a city-wide kiosk program approved by the city council.
   (b)   Kiosks for which permits were issued on or before March 9, 2005.
      (1)   Kiosks may display premise or non-premise messages.
      (2)   Kiosks must be spaced at least 300 feet apart.
      (3)   No kiosk may be illuminated by a detached, independent external light source.
      (4)   Kiosks may not be located on sidewalks unless:
         (A)   an unobstructed sidewalk width of 10 feet is maintained on any side with a message area; or
         (B)   an unobstructed sidewalk width of seven feet is maintained with no message area.
      (5)   Kiosks must be securely anchored.
      (6)   Except as provided in this section, kiosks must meet the design standards of a city-wide kiosk program approved by the city council.
      (7)   Kiosks may contain coin-operated public toilets.
      (8)   Kiosks may not exceed:
         (A)   10 feet in height;
         (B)   80 square feet in effective area; or
         (C)   100 square feet in effective area if a kiosk contains a coin-operated public toilet.
      (9)   The effective area of a kiosk is measured using the rule for measuring the effective area of detached signs.
      (10)   The message area of a kiosk may not exceed 60 percent of the effective area of the kiosk.
         (A)   One-third of the message area of a kiosk must identify a district activity or be an area way-finding map. The message area identifying a district activity or containing an area way-finding map must be oriented to be visible from a sidewalk within the public right-of-way.
         (B)   There is no limit as to the number of words containing characters of a height equal to or exceeding four inches on a kiosk.
      (11)   Kiosks with area way-finding maps must have the word “information” or an information symbol above the message area.
      (12)   Kiosks may be relocated within this district, provided the new location and kiosk design complies with this section. (Ord. Nos. 24606; 24925; 25926)
SEC. 51A-7.919.    MOVEMENT CONTROL SIGNS.
   (a)   Except as provided in this section, movement control signs must direct vehicular or pedestrian movement within this district or to adjacent districts and may include the name or logo of any premise located in this district or the name or logo of any adjacent district.
   (b)   Movement control signs that include the name or logo of two or more premises may:
      (1)   be attached or detached signs;
      (2)   not exceed 30 square feet in effective area;
      (3)   be located in a public right-of-way; or
      (4)   be erected anywhere within the district without limit as to number.
   (c)   Movement control signs that include the name or logo of one premise may:
      (1)   be attached or detached signs;
      (2)   be erected on the premise without limit as to number;
      (3)   not exceed two square feet in effective area; and
      (4)   not be located in the public right-of-way.
   (d)   The following additional regulations apply in Retail Subdistrict B.
      (1)   Movement control signs cannot include the name or logo of any premise located in this subdistrict or adjacent subdistricts.
      (2)   Pedestrian movement control signs may:
         (A)   be attached or detached signs;
         (B)   not exceed 10 square feet in effective area;
         (C)   not exceed a message area of 75 percent;
         (D)   not exceed a maximum letter height of five inches;
         (E)   not be located in a public right-of-way; and
         (F)   be erected anywhere in this subdistrict without limitation as to number.
      (3)   Vehicular movement control signs may:
         (A)   be attached or detached signs;
         (B)   not exceed two square feet in effective area;
         (C)   not be located in a public right-of-way; and
         (D)   be erected anywhere in this subdistrict without limitation as to number.
   (e)   The following regulations apply in the Chase Tower Subdistrict:
      (1)   A movement control sign may only be a detached sign.
      (2)   A movement control sign may not exceed eight square feet in effective area.
      (3)   An unlimited number of movement control signs may be erected anywhere within the subdistrict.
      (4)   A movement control sign may not be located in the public right-of-way. (Ord. Nos. 24606; 24925; 29227 ; 31374)
SEC. 51A-7.920.   DISTRICT IDENTIFICATION SIGNS.
   (a)   A district identification sign may only:
      (1)   identify the name or logo of the Main Street Subdistrict, Retail Subdistrict A, or Retail Subdistrict B as approved by the city council; and
      (2)   be located in the subdistrict it identifies.
   (b)   A district identification sign may be located in the right-of-way.
   (c)   No district identification sign may be a changeable message sign.
   (d)   A district identification sign may only be a monument sign, a banner sign, or be located on a structure that spans a right-of-way or on a nonenclosing wall.
   (e)   A maximum of six district identification signs are allowed in the Main Street Subdistrict, Retail Subdistrict A, and Retail Subdistrict B, collectively.
   (f)   No district identification sign may exceed 50 square feet in effective area.
   (g)   No district identification sign may exceed five words.
   (h)   A structure that spans a right-of-way or a nonenclosing wall containing a district identification sign:
      (1)   may not exceed 900 square feet in effective area;
      (2)   must be at least 15 feet above grade; and
      (3)   may not exceed 25 feet in height.
   (i)   Monument identification signs located within 15 feet of a public right-of-way may not exceed 20 square feet in effective area, or five feet in height.
   (j)   Monument identification signs located more than 15 feet from a public right-of-way may not exceed 50 square feet in effective area, or 15 feet in height.
   (k)   Banner district identification signs and their hardware must meet the sign construction and design standards contained in the Dallas Building Code, and be at least 12 feet above grade, unless they overhang a roadway, in which case they must be at least 15 feet above grade;
      (1)   No banner district identification sign and its hardware may exceed 25 feet in height;
      (2)   No banner district identification sign and its hardware may project more than three feet from the pole on which they are mounted;
      (3)   A banner district identification sign and its hardware must be spaced at least 100 feet from other banner district identification signs;
      (4)   A banner district identification sign and its hardware may not exceed 24 square feet in effective area; and
      (5)   A banner district identification sign and its hardware must be made of weather-resistant and rust proof material. (Ord. Nos. 24606; 24925; 29227)
SEC. 51A-7.921.    PROTECTIVE SIGNS.
   (a)   The occupant of a premise may erect no more than two detached protective signs in accordance with the following provisions:
      (1)   No sign may exceed 700 square inches in effective area.
      (2)   No detached sign may exceed two feet in height.
      (3)   No word may exceed four inches in height, unless otherwise required by law.
   (b)   The occupant of a premise may erect attached protective signs at each entrance to a premise in accordance with the following provisions:
      (1)   No sign may exceed 700 square inches in effective area.
      (2)   The cumulative messages may not exceed 1,300 square inches per entrance.
      (3)   No word may exceed four inches in height, unless otherwise required by law. (Ord. Nos. 24606; 24925)
SEC. 51A-7.922.    SPECIAL PURPOSE SIGNS.
   (a)   Illumination. Special purpose signs may be externally or internally illuminated.
      (1)   Attached signs.
         (A)   Only one attached premise special purpose sign may be located on each facade per premise up to four times within any 12-month period as long as:
            (i)   the sign is maintained for no more than 45 days each time during that 12-month period;
            (ii)   the sign conforms to all other regulations for attached signs; and
            (iii)   the effective area of the sign does not exceed:
               (aa)   30 percent of the building facade for an entertainment facility; or
               (bb)   10 percent of the building facade for other uses.
         (B)   There is no limit to the number of words permitted on an attached premise special purpose sign.
      (2)   Detached special purpose signs are prohibited in this district. (Ord. Nos. 24606; 24925)
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