Sign master plan development agreement.
San Antonio City Code § 28-49
in effectSec. 28-49. - Sign master plan development agreement.
(a) Purpose. Designation of an area for a sign master plan will allow flexibility in signage location in exchange for a minimum twenty-five (25) percent cumulative reduction in both total sign area and sign height within the master plan area. Note that this is in addition to the twenty-five (25) percent mandatory reduction for secondary signage.
(b) Requirements. Commercial property owners who want more flexibility in locating on-premises signs can do so by entering into a sign master plan development agreement. To qualify for a 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, that are not included in any other sign master plan development agreement.
(2) The owners of all lots within the sign master plan development agreement must agree in writing that neither they nor their successors in ownership shall exceed the maximum height, square footage and number set out in this article on any of the lots within the plan.
(3) All existing signs within the sign master plan development agreement must be in conformance with this article.
Once approved, the applicant's sign master plan area will be defined as a single premises for the purpose of determining whether a sign is an on-premises sign. A sign which advertises a use on a lot within the plan area which is not a use which occurs on that lot shall be termed a sign master plan (SMP) sign. The use advertised on an SMP sign shall be termed an SMP use.
The square footage and height of an SMP sign shall be subtracted from the square footage and height of the allowable on-premises signs on the lot where the SMP use occurs. In no case shall the square footage, height and number of signs on any lot in a plan area exceed the maximum amounts allowed in this article.
(c) Submittal requirements.
(1) A sign master plan must be submitted to the director for consideration.
(2) All land owners included in the sign master plan must submit:
a. A letter signed by all the property owners in the plan area agreeing to the terms of the plan and that they and their successors will abide by the plan.
b. A site plan showing the sign master plan area boundaries.
c. A site plan showing the location of all signage.
d. A table showing the square footage and heights of all signs throughout the plan by lot.
(3) The director may approve the sign master plan (SMP), approve the SMP with conditions, or deny the SMP. Once approved, the applicant must record the SMP in the official deed records for Bexar County, Texas. The department shall not issue permits unless and until the applicant provides proof of recordation.
(4) Appeals shall be considered in accordance with appellate provisions of this chapter.
Commentary: This subsection shall not be interpreted to exclude an owner of separate parcels from entering into a sign master plan agreement.
(d) Changes to sign master plan development agreement. If changes or amendments to a sign master plan are being requested by a property owner whose property is subject to the respective sign master plan, then all property owners within that sign master plan shall have six (6) months to respond to the suggested changes or amendments made by the proposing property owner. A failure of the property owner(s) or their representatives to respond to no less than three (3) Building Official approved and documented attempts to inform the property owners of the proposed changes and allow feedback on the proposed change(s), shall result in a finding of no objection the proposed changes to the plan. However, the sign master plan changes cannot negatively impact the party(s) that fail to respond to the proposed changes. Section (d) only applies to Sign Master Plans created after the effective date of this section of the sign ordinance, and reference to this section of the sign ordinance shall be included in future sign master plans for notice purposes.
(Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17; Ord. No. 2023-6-01-0369, § 1(Att. I), 6-1-23)
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/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH28SI_ARTIVERMARE_DIV2REBAUPSICL_SDAEMSI_S28-49SIMAPLDEAGFetched: 10/27/2026