Sign measurement.
El Paso City Code § 21.50.120.130
in effect21.50.120.130 - Sign measurement.
A. Computation of sign area. Formulas for calculating sign area in the shape of a rectangle, square, triangle, ellipse, circle or similar common geometric shapes shall use commonly accepted mathematical methods. Signs of other shapes shall be measured using the standards herein.
B. Measure of the area of a sign.
1. Banner, cabinet, plaque, programmable, projected, stake and standing sign hardware types.
a. The area of a sign shall be determined on the basis of the outer dimensions of the frame or cabinet surrounding the sign face(s).
b. The area and dimensions of the sign shall encompass a regular geometric shape (rectangle, circle, trapezoid, triangle, etc.), or a combination of regular geometric shapes, which form, or approximate, the perimeter of all elements in the display, and any applied background that is not part of the architecture of the building or structure.
c. When separate elements are organized to form a single message, but are separated by open space, the sign area and dimensions shall be calculated by determining the geometric form, or combination of forms, which encompass all of the display areas, including the space between different elements.
d. For signs with mixed case lettering, a rectangle shall be drawn around either the upper-case or lower-case letters, but not both.
e. For signs utilizing the monument orientation type, the area of a sign shall be calculated to exclude the base of the structure on which the sign is mounted or within which the sign is integrated.
2. Painted and printed sign hardware types.
a. The sign area shall be determined by the regular geometric shape (rectangle, circle, trapezoid, triangle, etc.), or a combination of regular geometric shapes that encompass the perimeter of the sign display or message and all portions of a background surface that differentiate the message display area from the overall monument structure.
3. Three-dimensional signs.
a. The sign face area shall be determined on the basis of the maximum surface area visible from any one perspective.
4. Double-faced signs.
a. When two identical sign faces are placed back-to-back so that both faces cannot be viewed from any single perspective at the same time, and are part of the same sign structure, the sign area shall be computed by measurement of one of the two faces.
b. When a sign has more than two display surfaces, the area of the sign shall be the area of the largest of the display surfaces that are visible from any single perspective.
c. When a double-faced sign has non-parallel faces, such that the angle between the faces exceeds 24 degrees, the sign area shall be calculated as the total of both sign faces.
(Ord. No. 18505, § 1, 5-17-2016)
Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT21SMCO_CH21.50BUSCPL_21.50.120.130SIMEFetched: 10/28/2026