SIGNAGE
San Antonio Unified Development Code, App. G, ch. 10
in effectChapter 10 - SIGNAGE
The provisions in this section supplement City Code, Chapter 28: Signs.
Projects involving new building construction must submit a conceptual signage plan with the building elevation plans for design review and approval before individual signs will be reviewed. The sign plan shall address:
• Proposed location of signage;
• General dimensions of signage area; and
• Design & materials guidelines, including colors, letter size, illumination method, etc.
A. MASTER SIGN PLAN
Signage can contribute to creating strong building identity when it is well-integrated with the design of the architect. A project's signage plan must begin during design development to better achieve integration with the architect.
The plan ought to be designed and prepared by a graphic design firm or signage design company to assure a cohesive, integrated approach to the variety of signs required for building identification, way finding and regulatory needs.
To qualify for a Development Agreement (Sign Master Plan) an area must:
1. Include two (2) or more contiguous lots, which may be separated by a street or drainage rights-of-way, which are not included in any other Sign Master Plan.
2. The owners of all lots within the Sign Master Plan Agreement must agree in writing that neither they nor their successors in ownership shall exceed the maximum height, square footage and number on any of the lots within the plan.
3. All existing signs within the Sign Master Plan Agreement must be in conformance with this article.
B. SIGNAGE GUIDELINES BY TYPE
The following design guidelines do not supersede current sign height and area regulations, but are intended to provide design guidance to achieve visually effective and attractive signage throughout Downtown. These design recommendations and visual examples are meant to help applicants understand what is generally considered appropriate signage design for a downtown development project.
High Rise Office Uses
A corporate campus refers to a commercial property that may include multiple buildings with commercial or institutional tenants, often with ground floor commercial and retail spaces, open space, parking garages and loading docks.
[image omitted; see the official code]
1. Freestanding signs are discouraged, except at a single major site entry.
2. All signs should be designed to complement the architectural style and setting of the structure.
3. Primary signs near the top of the building should contain only the name of the major building tenant.
4. Exposed conduit and tubing is prohibited. All transformers and other equipment should be concealed.
5. Tenant directory signs are allowed if wall mounted.
Residential Project Signs
6. Residential signage should reinforce the identity of a complex and be visible from the most prominent public corner or frontage.
[image omitted; see the official code]
7. All signs should be integrated with the design of the project's architecture and landscaping. As a family of elements, signs should be related in their design approach and convey a clear hierarchy of information.
[image omitted; see the official code]
8. Signage should identify the main and visitor entrance or lobby, resident or visitor parking, community facilities, major amenities and commercial uses. These signs should be related in style and material while appropriately scaled for the intended audience.
9. The size of signs and sign letters should be proportional to the space they are located in, with the letters typically between six (6) and 16 inches high.
10. Signs for community facilities should be prominent and easily read by first time visitors.
11. Mixed-use projects with first floor commercial or retail tenants should comply with the signage guidelines for Storefront Commercial section below.
Storefront Commercial
12. Electrical transformer boxes and raceways are required to be concealed from public view.
13. Windows signs should not exceed 15 percent of the window area. Signs should not obstruct visibility.
14. For projects that have multiple storefront tenants of similar size, all signage should be of the same type (i.e., cut out letters, blade or the like) and relative size and source of illumination.
15. Signs should respect architectural features such as vertical piers and trim work. Signage should be placed in accordance with façade rhythm, scale and proportion, including windows, storefronts and entries.
16. When a large building contains several storefronts, signs for the individual business should relate to each other in terms of location, height, proportion, color and illumination while allowing the observer to readily distinguish between individual stores.
17. External projected lighting fixtures are the preferred method of lighting signs. External lighting emphasizes the continuity of the building's surface and signs should appear to be more of an integral part of the building's façade.
18. Signs should generally not exceed 14 to 20 feet above the ground or be higher than the building cornice line or street wall height.
19. Tenant directory signs are allowed as wall mounted or freestanding signs for businesses located in alleys, courtyards, arcades or paseos.
[image omitted; see the official code]
C. SIGNAGE GUIDELINES FOR ALL SIGN TYPES
Signs in Context
1. All fascia signage shall be integrated into the architecture. Signs may be mounted to architectural canopies or painted or mounted directly onto building surfaces without a back plate. The signage material will be weather proof and fade resistant.
2. Signs should be conceived as an integral part of the project design so as not to appear as an afterthought.
3. The location, size, and appearance of signs should complement the building and character of the Downtown districts in which they are located.
4. Signs should respect residential uses within and adjacent to a project. The intent is to promote a more peaceful living environment without undue impacts upon residential uses. Small signs, no animation, limited lighting and shorter operating hours are appropriate where signs are visible from residences.
5. Wall mounted signs on fascias above storefront window should be sized to fit within existing friezes, lintels, spandrels, and other such features and not extend above, below, or beyond them.
6. Graphics and signage may be illuminated by indirect, internal, or bare-bulb sources, providing that glare is not produced; by indirect light sources concealed by a hood or diffuser; by internal illumination with standard opal glass or other translucent material or with an equal or smaller light transmission factor.
Sign Location in Relation to Street Trees
7. No signs shall be located between 20 feet above sidewalk elevation and 40 feet above sidewalk elevation to avoid conflicts with the tree canopy, except where the applicant demonstrates that no conflict will occur.
8. Trees may not be topped or headed back on the sides to expose signs.
Sign Illumination and Animation
9. Signs shall use appropriate means of illumination. These include: neon tubes, fiber optics, incandescent lamps, cathode ray tubes, shielded spotlights and wall wash fixtures.
Discouraged Signs
10. The following signs are strongly discouraged in downtown:
• Internally illuminated awnings
• Conventional plastic faced box or cabinet signs (can signs)
• Formed plastic faced box or injection molded plastic signs
• Luminous vacuum formed letters
• Animated or flashing signs
Source: City of San Antonio, City Code, City Charter and Unified Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/san_antonio/codes/unified_development_code?nodeId=APXGDEST_CH10SIFetched: 10/29/2026