Provisions for Uptown Sign District.

Dallas City Code ch. 51A, art. VII, div. 51A-7.1100

in effect

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1101 DESIGNATION OF UPTOWN SIGN DISTRICT.

SEC. 51A-7.1101. DESIGNATION OF UPTOWN SIGN DISTRICT. A special sign provision district is hereby created to be known as the Uptown Sign District. For purposes of this division, the Uptown Sign District of the City of Dallas is that area of the city within the following described boundaries: BEING a tract or parcel of land situated in the John Grigsby Survey, Abstract No. 495 and being part of City of Dallas Blocks J/929, 3/933, 5/944, 948, l/949, 3/950, A/541 and all of City of Dallas Blocks, A/541, 2/933, and 2/948 and also being part of the following dedicated streets: (previous street - now abandoned) Yeargan Street, Leonard Street, Howell Street, Bookout Street, Maple Avenue, McKinney Avenue, Pearl Street, McKinnon Street, and the North Dallas Tollway and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at a point for corner in the centerline of Leonard Street (50 feet wide), said point being North 45°11'10" West, a distance of 243.15 feet from the intersection of the centerline of Thomas Avenue (variable width) and the centerline of said Leonard Street; THENCE South 44°50'21" West, a distance of 68.00 feet to a point for corner; THENCE South 14°42'00" West, a distance of 243.37 feet going through City Block A/541 to a point for corner; THENCE South 45°11'00" West, a distance of 269.95 feet going through City Block A/541 to a point for corner in the centerline of North Pearl Street (variable width) and the beginning of a curve to the left; THENCE in a northwesterly direction along said centerline of North Pearl Street and along said curve to the left whose chord bears North 50°55'28" West, and having a radius of 547.63 feet, a central angle of 16°06'58" and an arc length of 154.04 feet to a point for corner in the centerline of McKinney Avenue (60 feet wide) and the end of said curve to the left; THENCE South 15°00'00" West along the centerline of McKinney Avenue, a distance of 106.93 feet to a point for corner; THENCE South 89°15'32" West, a distance of 667.47 feet across Block 948 along a line between previously Platted Lot 1 of Block 3/948 and Tract 14 (1.4954 acs) in Block 948 to a point for corner in the centerline of Cedar Springs Road (variable width); THENCE North 03°02'00" West along the centerline of Cedar Springs Road, a distance of 149.72 feet to a point for corner in the centerline of said Pearl Street; THENCE South 82°27'00" West along the centerline of Pearl Street and along the centerline of the McKinnon St/North Dallas Tollway (variable width), a distance of 122.00 feet to a point for corner and the beginning of a curve to the right; THENCE in a northwesterly direction continuing along the centerline of said McKinnon St/Dallas North Tollway and along said curve to the right having a radius of 124.57 feet, a central angle of 51°00'00" and an arc length of 110.88 feet to a point for corner and the end of said curve to the right; THENCE North 46°33'00" West continuing along the centerline of said McKinnon St/Dallas North Tollway, a distance of 207.54 feet to a point for corner in the centerline of the previous said Yeargan Street (variable width); THENCE North 42°06'27" East along the centerline of the previous said Yeargan Street, a distance of 94.48 feet to a point for corner; THENCE North 0°31'00" West continuing along the centerline of the previous said Yeargan Street, passing at 224.36 feet the centerline of North Pearl Street (50 feet wide) and at 555.72 feet the centerline of Bookout Street to the east (33 feet wide) and continuing a total distance of 577.98 feet to a point for corner in the centerline of Bookout Street to the west (50 feet wide); THENCE North 45°31"00" West along the centerline of Bookout Street, a distance of 329.67 feet to a point for corner; THENCE North 44°24'15" East passing at 146.20 feet the most westerly corner of the Cedar Maple Addition, an addition to the City of Dallas as recorded in Volume 83097, Page 1486 of the Deed Records of Dallas County, Texas and continuing along the northwest line of said Cedar Maple Addition, a total distance of 436.46 feet to a point for corner in the centerline of Maple Avenue (70 feet wide); THENCE North 45°39'00" West along the centerline of Maple Avenue, a distance of 247.10 feet to a point for corner; THENCE North 44°21'00" East passing at 35.0 feet the most westerly corner of the North Dallas Improvement Co. Addition, an addition to the City of Dallas as recorded in Volume 88143, Page 2123 of the Deed Records of Dallas County, Texas and continuing along the northwest line of said addition, a total distance of 197.40 feet to the centerline of a 16 foot wide alley; THENCE South 45°39'00" East along the centerline of said alley passing at 248.30 feet the centerline of Cedar Springs Road and continuing along said line, a total distance of 309.76 feet to an intersection of same with the easterly line of said Cedar Springs Road; THENCE South 5°02'55" East along said easterly line, a distance of 51.25 feet to the intersection of same with the centerline of Howell Street; THENCE North 45°08'50" East along said centerline of Howell Street, a distance of 33.36 feet to a point for corner; THENCE South 45°39'00" East, passing at 20.0 feet the centerline of said Howell Street and continuing along the centerline of a 16 foot wide alley, a total distance of 722.46 feet to a point for corner in the terminus of said 16 foot wide alley; THENCE North 44°21'00" East, a distance of 20.50 feet to a point for corner; THENCE South 45°39'00" East, a distance of 249.60 feet to a point for corner; said point being the northernmost corner of Lot 1, Block 1/949, The James P. Leake Addition, an addition to the City of Dallas, Texas according to the plat recorded in Volume 94089, Page 4558, in said Deed Records; THENCE South 44°43'00" West, along the northwest line of said Lot 1, Block 1/949, The James P. Leake Addition, at a distance of 83.50 feet passing the easternmost corner of Lot 7, Block 1/949, North Dallas Improvement Co., an addition to the City of Dallas, Texas according to the plat recorded in Volume 106, Page 258, in said Deed Records, then continuing along the southeast line of said Lot 7, Block 1/949, North Dallas Improvement Co., the northeast line of said Maple Avenue; said point being the westernmost corner of said Lot 1, Block 1/949, The James P. Leake Addition and the southernmost corner of said Lot 7, Block 1/949, North Dallas Improvement Co., then continuing into, over and through the said right-of- way of Maple Avenue, in all a total distance of 214.86 feet to a point for corner in the centerline of said Maple Avenue right-of-way; THENCE South 45°50'30" East, along the said centerline of Maple Avenue a distance of 388.87 feet to a point for corner at the intersection of said Maple Avenue centerline with the said centerline of McKinney Avenue; THENCE departing the said centerline of Maple Avenue and along the said centerline of McKinney Avenue, the following two calls: North 14°48'30" East, a distance of 245.47 feet to a point for corner at an angle point in the said McKinney Avenue centerline; North 15°00'00" East a distance of 21.49 feet to a point for corner at the intersection of said centerline of McKinney Avenue and the said centerline of Leonard Street; THENCE South 45°11'10" East, departing the said McKinney Avenue centerline and along the centerline of said Leonard Street, a distance of 355.51 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING and containing approximately 35.15 acres. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037; 20378; 32497)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1101.1 DESIGNATION OF A SUBDISTRICT.

SEC. 51A-7.1101.1. DESIGNATION OF A SUBDISTRICT. The 23 Springs Subdistrict is hereby created within the Uptown Sign District generally bounded by Cedar Springs Road, Bookout Street, Maple Avenue, and properties to the northwest. The boundaries of the 23 Springs subdistrict are described in Exhibit A attached to Ordinance No. 33060, passed by the Dallas City Council on March 26, 2025. (Ord. No. 33060)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1102 PURPOSE.

SEC. 51A-7.1102. PURPOSE. The purpose of this division is to regulate both the construction of new signs and the alterations of existing signs with a view towards enhancing, preserving and developing the unique character of this district. The general objectives of this division include those listed in Section 51A-7.101 as well as aesthetic considerations to insure that signs are appropriate to the architecture of the district, do not obscure significant architectural features of its buildings, and lend themselves to the developing character of the area. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1103 DEFINITIONS.

SEC. 51A-7.1103. DEFINITIONS. In this division: (a) ARCADE means any walkway which is attached to a building and not fully enclosed on all sides, covered with a roof structure having the primary function of weather protection and which is not structural to the building itself. (b) BANNER means a sign attached to or applied on a strip of cloth and temporarily attached to a building or structure. Canopy signs and political flags are not banners. (c) CANOPY SIGN means a sign attached to, applied on, or supported by a canopy or awning. (d) FLAT ATTACHED SIGN means an attached sign projecting from a building and parallel to the building facade. (e) LOWER LEVEL SIGN means a sign partially or wholly situated below the top of the first floor windows or below a point 16 feet above grade, whichever is lower. (f) MARQUEE means a permanent canopy projecting over the main entrance of a building. A marquee is considered to be part of the building. (g) MARQUEE SIGN means a sign attached to, applied on, or supported by a marquee. (h) PAINTED APPLIED SIGN means a sign painted directly onto the exterior facade of a building, not including doors or windows. (i) PROJECTING ATTACHED SIGN means an attached sign projecting from a building. (j) THIS DISTRICT means the Uptown Sign District. (k) TYPE A FACADE means a facade with a total window area comprising between 20 to 50 percent (inclusive) of the total facade area. (l) TYPE B FACADE means a facade with a total window area comprising less than 20 or more than 50 percent of the total facade area. (m) UPPER LEVEL SIGN means a sign wholly situated above the top of the first floor windows or above a point 16 feet above grade, whichever is lower. (n) WINDOW SIGN means a sign painted or affixed onto a window. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1104 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL SIGNS.

SEC. 51A-7.1104. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL SIGNS. (a) Pursuant to the authority of Section 51A-7.503 of this article, the rules relating to the erection of all signs in the Uptown Sign District are expressly modified as follows: (1) No illuminated sign may contain flashing or moving elements or change its brightness, except as otherwise provided in this division. (2) Except as provided in this paragraph, signs may be illuminated by fluorescent back lighting or indirect lighting. Signs in the 23 Springs subdistrict may also be illuminated by LED. (3) The use of neon or single incandescent bulbs is allowed. (4) The use of fiberglass as a sign material is allowed. (5) Except as provided in this subsection, the use of plastic as an exterior face of a sign is prohibited. Plastic may be used as a backing for routed letters in a sign can or as decorative ornaments. (6) For signs located within the 23 Springs subdistrict, plastic may be used for faces of individual channel letters. Channel letters must be either visually trim capless or use metal fabricated trim caps. No plastic trim caps are allowed. (7) The use of fluorescent color on a sign is prohibited. (8) No sign or part of a sign may move or rotate, with the exception of a wind device, the motion of which is not restricted. (b) The following typestyles are suggested, but not required, for signs in this district: Americana Extra Bold, Aster Bold, Avante Garde, Baskerville Bold, Bookman Bold, Caslon No. 3, Century Bold Condensed, Cheltenham Bold, Univers 67. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037; 33060)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1105 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ATTACHED SIGNS.

SEC. 51A-7.1105. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR ATTACHED SIGNS. Pursuant to the authority of Section 51A-7.503 of this article, the rules relating to the erection of attached signs in the Uptown Sign District are expressly modified as follows: (a) Attached signs in general. (1) Attached signs must be securely attached. (2) Except as provided in this subsection, attached signs projecting horizontally and either parallel or perpendicular to a building facade are permitted except no sign can extend above the highest point of the building roof. (3) Attached signs in the 23 Springs subdistrict may extend above the highest point of the roof but not extend above the parapet wall to which it is attached. (4) Attached signs overhanging the public right-of-way are permitted except that no sign may project closer than two feet to the vertical plane extending through the back of a street curb. (5) Attached signs projecting horizontally more than eight inches but less than 18 inches from a vertical building surface are prohibited. (6) Except as provided in this subsection, no attached sign other than a painted applied sign, an upper-level flat attached sign, a marquee sign, or a banner may exceed 30 square feet in effective area. (7) Attached upper level signs in the 23 Springs subdistrict may exceed 30 square feet in effective area per sign with the following restrictions: (A) signs within the top 50 feet of the top of building may not exceed a cumulative effective area of 450 square feet; (B) signs below 50 feet from the top of the facade may not exceed a cumulative effective area of 100 square feet; (C) signs must be spaced vertically at least 260 feet apart; (D) signs must be spaced horizontally at least 150 feet apart; and (E) the combined effective area of all signs may not exceed five percent of the total area of the facade. (8) In the 23 Springs subdistrict, attached signs located on the front facade of the first and second floors of a building: (A) may not exceed 30 square feet in effective area per sign for individual tenant signs 90 square feet in effective area per sign for multitenant signs; (B) in aggregate, may not exceed 10 percent of the total area of the facade; (C) may be located without separation; and (D) cannot be located more than 36 feet above grade when measured vertically. (9) Projecting attached signs may have one double faced copy area which is perpendicular to the building facade. (10) Attached signs may be placed above an arcade. (11) Banner signs may be constructed of either synthetic or natural cloth. (b) Canopy signs. (1) No canopy sign may: (A) project horizontally more than two inches from the surface of the canopy or awning; (B) be lower than 10 feet above grade, except that a sign may be as low as eight feet above grade if it does not project more than one-half inch from the surface of the canopy; or (C) project vertically above the surface of the canopy or awning. (2) The total effective area permitted for all canopy signs combined on a facade is the product obtained by multiplying 20 square feet times the number of street entrances to the premise. (3) The maximum size of each canopy sign is limited to 30 square feet. (c) Flat attached signs on Type A facade. (1) No flat attached sign may project more than eight inches from a building. (2) The maximum number of lower level flat attached signs permitted on Type A facade is the sum obtained by multiplying two times the number of street entrances on that facade. (3) No lower level flat attached sign on a Type A facade may contain more than eight words. All words must: (A) consist of characters eight inches or less in height; and (B) read horizontally from left to right. (4) The maximum size of a lower level flat attached sign on Type A facade is limited to eight square feet. (5) No premise may have more than one upper level flat attached sign per street entrance. (6) No upper level flat attached sign on a Type A facade may contain more than eight words. All words must: (A) consist of characters four inches or more in height; and (B) read horizontally from left to right. (d) Flat attached signs on Type B facades. (1) No flat attached sign may project more than eight inches from a building. (2) Except as provided in this paragraph, no premise may have more than one flat attached sign on each Type B facade. In the 23 Springs subdistrict, a Type B facade may have up to three signs per facade. (3) No flat attached sign on any Type B facade may contain more than eight words with characters four or more inches in height. Words consisting of characters less than four inches in height may be used without limit. (e) Marquee signs. (1) No marquee sign may exceed 90 square feet in effective area. (2) Marquee signs must: (A) be parallel to the surface to which they are attached; and (B) have a minimum height dimension of two feet. (3) All words on a marquee sign must consist of changeable individual characters. (4) Marquee signs may have flashing lights. (5) The maximum number of marquee signs shall be limited to one per facade. (f) Projecting attached signs. (1) Projecting attached signs on any facade must be 16 feet apart measured in any direction. (2) No projecting attached sign may: (A) exceed 20 square feet in effective area of the face of the sign; (B) be lower than 10 feet above grade; (C) project vertically above the third level window sill or 32 feet above grade whichever is less; (D) project vertically above the highest surface of the building roof; or (E) project less than 18 inches from a building. (g) Window signs. (1) No window sign may: (A) contain words consisting of characters more than eight inches in height; (B) cover more than 25 percent of the window surface area; or (C) be affixed to the window by tape. (2) A window sign may be hand painted or silk screened onto a window, or made of self-adhesive vinyl. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037; 20927; 33060)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1106 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR DETACHED SIGNS.

SEC. 51A-7.1106. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR DETACHED SIGNS. Pursuant to the authority of Section 51A-7.503 of this article, the rules relating to the erection of detached signs in the Uptown Sign District are expressly modified as follows: (a) No detached sign may: (1) have an effective area greater than 120 square feet; (2) have a total height greater than 15 feet; or (3) be located less than five feet from a public right-of-way. (b) The maximum number of signs permitted shall be one for every 220 linear feet of frontage on the public right-of-way, or fraction thereof. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1107 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR NON-PREMISE DETACHED SIGNS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY.

SEC. 51A-7.1107. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR NON-PREMISE DETACHED SIGNS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. Pursuant to the authority of Section 51A-7.503 of this article, the rules relating to the erection of non-premise detached signs in the Uptown Sign District are expressly modified as follows: (a) Non-premise detached signs may be located within the public right-of-way subject to the franchise requirements of Chapter XIV of the city charter, Article VI of Chapter 43 of the Dallas City Code, as amended, and the requirements of this section. (b) Non-premise detached signs may be located in the public right-of-way only when the distance from the back of the curb to the property line is 13 feet or greater. (c) Non-premise detached signs may be placed in the public right-of-way only within five feet of a motor vehicle entrance to a premise shared by two or more uses whose front doors are not visible from the street. (d) Signs erected pursuant to this section must identify use categories and not particular business establishments. Examples of permitted messages are: “OFFICES”, “SHOPS”, “PARKING”, “RESTAURANTS”, “HOTEL”, alone or in combination. Signs that say “EXIT” or “ENTRANCE” are also permitted. (e) No more than two signs may be erected pursuant to this section at each motor vehicle entrance to a premise. (f) No non-premise detached sign may contain more than eight words. All words must: (1) consist of characters eight inches or less in height; and (2) read horizontally from left to right. (g) No non-premise detached sign located within the public right-of-way may: (1) have an effective area greater than four square feet; (2) have a total height of greater than two feet, six inches; (3) be located less than five feet from the back of a street curb; (4) be located so as to obstruct sidewalk passage; (5) be located within a visibility triangle as defined in this chapter; (6) interfere with utilities or traffic signage and signals; (7) contain the colors red or green; or (8) be spot lit or directly lit from outside the sign. (h) Plants must be kept trimmed so as to clearly expose non-premise detached signs in the public right-of-way. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1108 SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSE SIGNS.

SEC. 51A-7.1108. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSE SIGNS. Pursuant to the authority of Section 51A-7.503 of this article, the rules relating to the erection of special purpose signs in the Uptown Sign District are expressly modified as follows: (a) Attached or window special purpose signs. (1) Attached special purpose signs may be displayed on a premise a maximum of three 30 day time periods and one 45 day time period in each calendar year. No more than one attached special purpose may be displayed on a facade at any given time. (2) Window special purpose signs may be displayed on a premise a maximum of three 30 day time periods and one 45 day time period in each calendar year. No more than one attached special purpose sign may be displayed on a window at any given time. (3) No more than 25 percent of a window surface may be covered by either window signs or special purpose window signs, alone or in combination. (4) The size of an attached or window special purpose sign is limited to 30 square feet. (5) A window special purpose sign may not be affixed to a window by tape. (b) Detached special purpose signs. (1) Detached special purpose signs may be displayed on a premise a maximum of three 30 day time periods and one 45 day time period in each calendar year. (2) The maximum number of detached special purpose signs permitted on a premise at any given time is the sum obtained by counting all of the street entrances onto that premise, and multiplying by two. (3) No detached special purpose sign may: (A) exceed eight feet in height; (B) contain more than eight words; (C) be mounted on wheels; (D) be a trailer sign with changeable copy; or (E) contain flashing or blinking lights. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037)

Dallas City Code § 51A-7.1109 SIGN PERMIT REQUIREMENT.

SEC. 51A-7.1109. SIGN PERMIT REQUIREMENT. Pursuant to the authority of Section 51A-7.503 of this article, the sign permit requirements for signs in the Uptown Sign District are expressly modified as follows: (a) A person shall not alter, place, maintain, expand, or remove a sign in the Uptown Sign District without first obtaining a sign permit from the city. (b) The procedure for obtaining a sign permit is outlined in Section 51A-7.505 of this article. Section 51A-7.602 of this article does not apply to signs in the Uptown Sign District. (c) A person who violates Subsection (a) is guilty of a separate offense for each day or portion of a day during which the violation is continued. (d) The erection of signs within the public right-of-way, as specified herein, is permitted if the owner of the land as well as the owner of the improvements agree in writing, prior to the issuance of a permit, that the signs will be removed at no expense to the city upon notice from the city that the street is to be widened or the license with the city is terminated or expires, whichever occurs first. (Ord. Nos. 19649; 20037)

Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-87416Fetched: 10/26/2026