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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-7.2107.   ATTACHED PRIVATE SIGNS.
   (a)   In general.
      (1)   This section applies to all attached private signs, except retaining wall signs and tenant identity signs. The only provision of this section that applies to building identification signs is Paragraph (5) of this subsection. For the regulations governing building identification signs, see Section 51A-7.2109. For the regulations governing retaining wall signs in the One Arts Plaza Subdistrict, see Section 51A-7.2110. For the regulations governing retaining wall signs and tenant identity signs in the Two Arts Plaza and Three Arts Plaza Subdistrict, see Section 51A-7.2111.
      (2)   No sign may project above the building cornice area.
      (3)   At-grade structural supports are prohibited.
      (4)   No establishment may have a mix of awning signs, projecting attached signs, flat attached signs, and/or marquee signs, except that awning signs may be mixed with flat attached signs.
      (5)   The total effective area of all attached private signs on a facade may not exceed 30 percent of the facade area. Projecting attached signs are not included in these effective area calculations.
   (b)   Awning signs.
      (1)   This subsection applies only to awning signs as defined in Section 51A-7.2103.
      (2)   Letters and numbers on these signs must:
         (A)   be parallel or perpendicular to the front building facade; and
         (B)   not exceed 18 inches in height.
      (3)   No letters or numbers are allowed on the sloped top of an awning except as part of an official corporate logo or registered trademark. No more than 50 percent of the total sloped awning surface area may contain graphics.
      (4)   No words, other than those which are part of the basic awning design pattern, are permitted on awnings located above the second story.
      (5)   No sign may have flashing or sequenced lighting.
   (c)   Flat attached signs.
      (1)   This subsection applies only to flat attached signs as defined in Section 51A-7.2103.
      (2)   These signs are not permitted above the third story of a building.
      (3)   No sign may have a length that exceeds 70 percent of the length of the frontage of the establishment with which it is associated. Signs associated with the same establishment must be spaced at least 30 feet apart. No sign may exceed 60 square feet in effective area.
      (4)   The maximum character heights allowed on these signs are:
         (A)   18 inches for signs located below the third story; and
         (B)   24 inches for third-story signs.
      (5)   No sign cabinets are permitted. Adequate clear space for staging characters must be provided. In no event may the character height exceed 60 percent of the vertical dimension of the sign. The sides of three-dimensional characters, if any, must be the same color as their faces.
      (6)   No sign may contain more than five words.
      (7)   Sources of sign illumination that are an integral part of the design of the sign, such as neon or small individual incandescent lamps, are permitted. These signs may be protected by transparent covers.
      (8)   Internally-lit plastic translucent signs are prohibited.
      (9)   No sign may have flashing or sequenced lighting.
   (d)   Marquee signs.
      (1)   This subsection applies only to marquee signs as defined in Section 51A-7.2103.
      (2)   These signs are only allowed in conjunction with establishments that have as their major use movies or live entertainment productions.
      (3)   The permanent canopy of which this sign is a part must:
         (A)   project no more than six feet from the building facade;
         (B)   be a minimum of ten feet above the sidewalk grade;
         (C)   have a vertical dimension that does not exceed four feet; and
         (D)   have a horizontal dimension along the building facade that does not exceed 30 feet.
      (4)   The total effective area of signs on the permanent canopy must not exceed 120 square feet.
      (5)   No sign may:
         (A)   project more than three feet from the permanent canopy;
         (B)   extend vertically more than 30 feet above the canopy height; or
         (C)   be more than three feet in width.
      (6)   Messages with characters over eight inches in height are limited to a maximum of five words on each canopy facade. Messages with characters under eight inches in height have no limit on the number of words. Character height must not exceed 60 percent of the vertical dimension of the permanent canopy, or 24 inches, whichever is less.
      (7)   Only the name of the establishment with which the sign is associated may appear on that portion of the sign located above the permanent canopy.
      (8)   Display panels that announce a show or event may have plastic characters on an internally-lit background.
      (9)   These signs may turn on or off or change their brightness. The restrictions contained in Section 51A-7.303(b)(1) do not apply to these signs. Flashing and sequenced lighting are permitted.
   (e)   Projecting attached signs.
      (1)   This subsection applies only to projecting attached signs as defined in Section 51A-7.2103.
      (2)   These signs must be a minimum of ten feet above grade.
      (3)   These signs must be located in either the bottom, top, or combined envelope depicted graphically in the diagram that is Exhibit B in Division 51A-7.1200. Restrictions on the size and location of each sign depend on which envelope the sign is located in as follows:
 
Bottom Envelope
Top Envelope
Combined Envelope
Maximum projection allowed from building facade
6 ft.
3 ft.
3 ft.
Maximum vertical dimension allowed
10 ft.
20 ft.
30 ft.
Maximum effective area allowed for each sign face*
30 sq. ft.
40 sq. ft.
45 sq. ft.
*Double this amount to compute the total effective area allowed for both sides of the sign.
 
      (4)   If their characters are eight inches or less in height, these signs are not restricted as to the number of words permitted. Signs with characters more than eight inches in height are limited to five words. No character may exceed 12 inches in height if the message area exceeds 60 percent of the sign surface area.
      (5)   One sign is allowed above each entrance provided that signs associated with the same establishment are spaced at least 30 feet apart.
      (6)   No sign may be more than 12 inches thick. All messages on these signs must be located on a sign face that is perpendicular to the front building facade.
      (7)   No illuminated sign or element of a sign may turn on or off or change its brightness.
      (8)   Sources of sign illumination that are an integral part of the design of the sign, such as neon or small individual incandescent lamps, are permitted. These signs may be protected by transparent covers.
      (9)   Internally-lit plastic translucent signs are prohibited.
   (f)   Window signs.
      (1)   This subsection applies only to window signs as defined in Section 51A-7.2103.
      (2)   No character on these signs may exceed 12 inches in height.
      (3)   The maximum amount of window area that may be utilized as sign space varies depending on the location of the window as follows:
 
Window Location
Maximum Window Coverage Allowed
First Story
8 sq. ft. or 15 percent, whichever is less
Second Story
10 sq. ft. or 20 percent, whichever is less
Third Story
12 sq. ft. or 25 percent, whichever is less
 
      (4)   No establishment may have more than four window signs.
      (5)   Hanging neon signs are allowed if their transformers are concealed from normal view.
      (6)   Opaque painted backgrounds on windows are prohibited. (Ord. Nos. 25920; 28933)
SEC. 51A-7.2108.   DETACHED PRIVATE SIGNS.
   (a)   Detached non-premise signs. Detached non-premise private signs are prohibited in this district.
   (b)   Detached premise signs.
      (1)   This subsection applies to all detached premise signs except building identification signs. For the regulations governing building identification signs, see Section 51A-7.2109.
      (2)   Except in the One Arts Plaza Subdistrict, the Two Arts Plaza and Three Arts Plaza Subdistrict, and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Subdistrict, no detached premise sign may exceed 20 square feet in effective area.
      (3)   Each premise may have no more than one sign on each blockface.
      (4)   The pole support element of these signs must be a cylindrical metal column that is six inches in diameter and white in color.
      (5)   Except in the One Arts Plaza Subdistrict, the Two Arts Plaza and Three Arts Plaza Subdistrict, and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Subdistrict, no sign may exceed 13 feet, 6 inches in height.
      (6)   The face of these signs must be flat. Vacuum-formed sign faces are prohibited.
      (7)   No sign may move or rotate.
      (8)   No sign may be more than 12 inches thick.
      (9)   No illuminated sign or element of a sign may turn on or off or change its brightness. (Ord. Nos. 25920; 28933)
SEC. 51A-7.2109.   BUILDING IDENTIFICATION SIGNS.
   (a)   This section applies only to building identification signs as defined in Section 51A-7.2103.
   (b)   Illumination of these signs, if any, must be from within to illuminate the building facade or monument and produce a “halo” around the characters. No illuminated sign or element of a sign may turn on or off or change its brightness.
   (c)   These signs must be located:
      (1)   on a building facade above an entrance;
      (2)   in the building cornice area; or
      (3)   on a monument in a landscaped area between a building facade and the property line.
   (d)   Signs located above building entrances are limited to the building name and/or street address.
      (1)   Lower-level building identification signs. A maximum of 50 square feet of effective area of each sign may be allocated to the building name, and a maximum of 25 square feet of effective area of each sign may be allocated to the building address. The maximum permitted heights of characters on these signs are 24 inches for the building name, and 12 inches for the building address. These signs are not allowed above the third story of the building.
      (2)   Upper-level flat attached building identification signs.
         (A)   Each upper-level flat attached building identification sign may have a maximum of eight words that contain any character of a height equal to or exceeding four inches.
         (B)   Upper-level flat attached signs must be wholly located within the portion of a facade more than 36 feet above grade and within the top 12 feet of a facade on buildings 18 stories or less, or within the top 36 feet of a facade on buildings more than 18 stories.
   (e)   No facade may have more than one sign in the building cornice area.
   (f)   Signs on monuments must conform to the setback and area regulations of detached premise signs in this chapter generally. These signs must be composed of individual characters made of bronze, brass, or stainless steel, or be engraved in stone. (Ord. 25920)
SEC. 51A-7.2110.   ONE ARTS PLAZA SUBDISTRICT.
   (a)   In general. Except as provided in this division, the provisions of the Arts District Extension Area Sign District apply in this subdistrict.
   (b)   Monument signs.
      (1)   Only two monument signs are permitted.
      (2)   Monument signs must be freestanding.
      (3)   Monument signs may be two sided, but must be located in a building plaza area.
      (4)   Monument signs may identify a building’s owner or developer and multiple tenants.
      (5)   Monument signs may be located at the building line.
      (6)   Monument signs may be located within five feet of the public right-of-way.
      (7)   The maximum height for a monument sign is eight feet measured to the top of the sign face.
      (8)   The maximum effective area for a monument sign is 50 square feet.
      (9)   All elements of a monument sign must be consistent in color and material.
   (c)   Retaining wall signs.
      (1)   Only two retaining wall signs are permitted.
      (2)   Retaining wall signs must be mounted on a perimeter retaining wall facing a right-of-way.
      (3)   Retaining wall signs may identify the building’s owner or developer and multiple tenants.
      (4)   Retaining wall signs may be located within five feet of the public right-of-way.
      (5)   The maximum height for a retaining wall sign is eight feet measured to the top of the sign face.
      (6)   The maximum effective area for a retaining wall sign is 20 square feet.
      (7)   All elements of a retaining wall sign must be consistent in color and material. (Ord. 28933)
SEC. 51A-7.2111.   TWO ARTS PLAZA AND THREE ARTS PLAZA SUBDISTRICT.
   (a)   In general. Except as provided in this division, the provisions of the Arts District Extension Area Sign District apply in this subdistrict.
   (b)   Monument signs.
      (1)   A maximum of four monument signs are permitted.
      (2)   Only two monument signs are permitted per building site.
      (3)   Monument signs must be freestanding.
      (4)   Monument signs may be two sided, but must be located in a building plaza area.
      (5)   Monument signs may identify a building’s owner or developer and multiple tenants.
      (6)   Monument signs may be located at the building line.
      (7)   Monument signs may be located within five feet of the public right-of-way.
      (8)   The maximum height for a monument sign is eight feet measured to the top of the sign face.
      (9)   The maximum effective area for a monument sign is 50 square feet.
      (10)   All elements of a monument sign must be consistent in color and material.
   (c)   Retaining wall signs.
      (1)   A maximum of four retaining wall signs are permitted.
      (2)   Only two retaining wall signs are permitted per building site.
      (3)   Retaining wall signs must be mounted on a perimeter retaining wall facing a right-of-way.
      (4)   Retaining wall signs may identify the building’s owner or developer and multiple tenants.
      (5)   Retaining wall signs may be located within five feet of the public right-of-way.
      (6)   The maximum height for a retaining wall sign is eight feet measured to the top of the sign face.
      (7)   The maximum effective area for a retaining wall sign is 20 square feet.
      (8)   All elements of a retaining wall sign must be consistent in color and material.
   (d)   Tenant identity signs and building identification signs.
      (1)   Except as provided in this subsection, only one tenant identity sign or building identification sign is permitted per facade.
      (2)   North of the One Arts Plaza Subdistrict, tenant identity signs and building identification signs are prohibited on the southern facade of a structure.
      (3)   East of the One Arts Plaza Subdistrict, tenant identity signs and building identification signs are prohibited on the western facade of a structure.
      (4)   Tenant identity signs must be located above the highest leasable floor.
      (5)   Tenant identity signs must be composed of individual letters only and illumination of these signs, if any, must be internal to each letter. No illuminated sign or element of a sign may turn on or off or change its brightness.
      (6)   All tenant identity signs and building identity signs must be the same color. (Ord. 28933)
SEC. 51A-7.2112.   DALLAS BLACK DANCE THEATRE SUBDISTRICT.
   (a)   In general.
      (1)   Except as provided in this division, the provisions of the Arts District Extension Area Sign District apply in this subdistrict.
      (2)   For the purposes of this section, the entire subdistrict is considered one building site.
   (b)   Monument signs.
      (1)   Only two monument signs are permitted.
      (2)   Monument signs must be freestanding.
      (3)   Monument signs may be two sided, but must be located in a building plaza area.
      (4)   Monument signs may identify a building’s owner or developer and multiple tenants.
      (5)   Monument signs may be located at the building line.
      (6)   Monument signs may be located within five feet of the public right-of-way.
      (7)   The maximum height for a monument sign is eight feet measured to the top of the sign face.
      (8)   The maximum effective area for a monument sign is 50 square feet.
      (9)   All elements of a monument sign must be consistent in color and material. (Ord. 28933)
Division 51A-7.2200. Parkland Hospital Sign District.
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