CITY SEAL

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 2, art. IV, div. 3

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-81 Definitions

Sec. 2-81. - Definitions City seal,when used in this Code, means the official seal of the City of Houston, including any physical or electronic cut, facsimile or reproduction thereof (including an electronic reproduction, electronic form or electronic image), which consists of a circular seal having a rope pattern contour with a design of a plow, a locomotive and a five-pointed Texas star, and the wording 'CITY OF HOUSTON TEXAS' within the seal and a fleur de lis on each side of the term 'TEXAS' and the face of which is substantially as set forth below: [image omitted; see the official code] Department logo means any city department or office logo, shield, mark, patch, emblem, or similar insignia, including any cut, facsimile or reproduction thereof, that is created and used by the city to represent a specific city department or office. (Ord. No. 2012-13, § 2, 1-4-2012; Ord. No. 2020-320, § 6, 4-15-2020)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-82 Custodian.

Sec. 2-82. - Custodian. (a) The mayor or her designee is the custodian of the city seal. (b) The director of a department or office is the custodian of the department logo for that department or office. (Ord. No. 2012-13, § 2, 1-4-2012)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-83 Use of city seal and department seal for official use.

Sec. 2-83. - Use of city seal and department seal for official use. (a) The city seal and any department logo are the property of the City of Houston. (b) The city seal and a department logo may be used by city employees and elected or appointed city officials in connection with the performance of official city business or city sanctioned events, including but not limited to placement of the city seal or department logo on city vehicles, equipment, stationery, the city flag, department websites, handouts for city training sessions, city brochures, city presentations, city uniforms and city issued articles of clothing, department news releases, HTV programs and bulletins, city-sponsored events, and city memorabilia used to promote the city. (c) The city secretary or her designee is authorized to use the city seal on any ordinance, resolution, proclamation, commendation, certificate or other instrument approved by the city council or executed by the mayor or other city officials and to use the city seal to authenticate official documents in the conduct of official city business. (Ord. No. 2012-13, § 2, 1-4-2012)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-84 Other approved uses.

Sec. 2-84. - Other approved uses. (a) The mayor may approve other uses of the city seal or a department logo by any person for the following purposes provided that such use promotes the interests of the city and is not detrimental to the image of the city: (1) In an encyclopedia, dictionary, book, journal, pamphlet, periodical, magazine or newspaper incident to a description or history of the city seal or department logos; (2) In a library, museum or educational facility incident to descriptions or exhibits relating to the city seal, a department logo, or the city; (3) In a theatrical, motion-picture, television, or similar production exhibited for a historical, educational or other non-commercial purpose. (b) Before any person is allowed to use the city seal or any department logo pursuant to this section, the person must: (1) Agree that the proposed use of the city seal or any department logo shall conform to the permitted uses set forth in the preceding subsection. (2) Submit samples of all documents, goods, and other materials upon which the city seal or a department logo is to be used sufficient to demonstrate that the proposed use of the city seal or department logo is a faithful reproduction and has not been altered in any manner. (3) Acknowledge the right of the city, at all reasonable times, to inspect any item upon which the city seal is used to ensure that the city seal is being used appropriately in an unadulterated form. (4) Execute an agreement approved by the city attorney containing such terms as he may require. (c) Approval to use the city seal or any department logo shall not be assignable or transferable. (d) The approval to use the city seal or any department logo under this section shall be limited to only the event or item for which the approval is granted for. (e) If a person who is authorized to use the city seal or a department logo pursuant to this section breaches any provisions of the agreement for its use, the city attorney shall serve written notice of such breach upon the person with a demand to take appropriate and immediate affirmative action to cure such breach. Any failure to cure the breach to the city's satisfaction shall be grounds for the city's termination of permission to use the seal or department logo and the city attorney shall pursue all steps reasonably necessary to restrain the improper use of the city seal or department logo. (f) The city may revoke a person's previously authorized use of the city seal or department logo upon finding false or inaccurate information was submitted by the person to the city or that he violated any provision of this division. (Ord. No. 2012-13, § 2, 1-4-2012)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-85 Prohibited uses.

Sec. 2-85. - Prohibited uses. The use of the city seal or any department logo by any person for the following uses is specifically prohibited: (1) In support or opposition of any candidate for elective office, referendum, initiative, or ballot measure or in any candidate or committee campaign literature. (2) Except as provided in section 2-83, in connection with any advertisement or promotion for any product, business, organization or service whether offered for sale, profit, or without charge. (3) On any written or printed material designed, calculated, intended or likely to confuse, deceive or mislead the public or cause the reader of such written or printed material to believe it to be an official city publication, including circulating or distributing any such written or printed material or to suggest or assert any city support or endorsement of any product, goods or services. (Ord. No. 2012-13, § 2, 1-4-2012)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 2-86 Offense.

Sec. 2-86. - Offense. It shall be unlawful for any person to use the city seal or any department seal in violation of this division. (Ord. No. 2012-13, § 2, 1-4-2012)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTIVCIRE_DIV3CISEFetched: 10/26/2026