Urban Corridors

San Antonio City Code ch. 28, art. IV, div. 2, subpt. D

in effect

San Antonio City Code § 28-60 Purpose.

Sec. 28-60. - Purpose. (a) Within the city's jurisdiction there are many roadway corridors which have been and/or will continue to be very significant to the city. Some of these corridors are important because they have shaped the sense of what individual neighborhoods of the city are in their role as historic entrances to the city. Other corridors are significant because they serve as new gateways to the city or because of surrounding natural, historic, cultural, and aesthetic areas. These corridors are amenities and assets of great value to the city, its inhabitants and its economy. The city council aims to preserve, enhance, and perpetuate the value of these roadway corridors and hereby authorizes the establishment of urban corridors. (b) Corridor purposes. (1) To create a more attractive, cohesive, and safe corridor environment. (2) To safeguard San Antonio's heritage by preventing the despoliation of areas that reflect important elements of the city's cultural, natural, historic, and economic fabric. (3) To create favorable impressions of San Antonio that provides environmental enrichment for the citizens of the city and visitors thereto. (4) To enhance San Antonio's image as a progressive, scenic, and livable city. (5) To preserve, protect, and enhance areas of high tourist and visitor visibility. (6) To enhance the appearance and economic viability of urban corridors within neighborhoods. (7) To provide corridor motorists and pedestrians with rewarding viewing opportunities. (8) To reduce visual chaos and limit distractions along public roadways. (9) To stabilize and strengthen property values within the corridors. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-61 Designation criteria.

Sec. 28-61. - Designation criteria. To be designated as an urban corridor, an area must meet one (1) or more of the following criteria: (1) Recognized primary entryway to the city. (2) The corridor abuts, traverses, or links designated historic landmarks and/or districts. (3) The corridor traverses areas where natural vegetation representative of the native landscape is present along at least fifty (50) percent of the street frontage. (4) There is substantial public and/or private commitment of resources for redevelopment or revitalization of at least fifty (50) percent of the corridor's buildings or infrastructure. (5) The corridor has historically served as a regional or neighborhood commercial center for at least fifty (50) years. (6) The corridor provides primary access to one (1) or more major tourist attractions. (7) The corridor abuts, traverses, or links the San Antonio River or its major tributaries, area lakes, or major parks. (8) The corridor traverses residential areas where housing is present along at least fifty (50) percent of the street frontage. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-62 Designation process.

Sec. 28-62. - Designation process. (a) This division and section authorizes the establishment of urban corridors within the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction to regulate sign standards. Ordinances designating each urban corridor shall identify the designated street corridor(s) and specify the sign standards for that corridor. (b) Designation of specific urban corridors shall be initiated at the direction of the city council or by a memorandum signed by a majority of council members. (c) The planning commission is hereby designated in accordance with Section 118, Paragraph 3, of the City Charter to hold public hearings on all proposed urban corridor sign standards and submit a recommendation to the city council. The city council shall also hold a public hearing prior to considering urban corridor sign standards. The director of the development services department shall provide notice of each public hearing to the owners of real property inside and within two hundred (200) feet of the proposed urban corridor. Such notice shall be served by depositing the notice, properly addressed and postage paid, in a city post office not less than ten (10) days prior to the scheduled date of the public hearings to all owners who have rendered their property for taxes on the last approved tax roll. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-63 Boundaries.

Sec. 28-63. - Boundaries. To be designated as an urban corridor, a street must be a collector, arterial, or expressway. An urban corridor shall be designated on both sides of a street except when one (1) side is not located within the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction. (1) The maximum width of an urban corridor along either side of the street right-of-way shall not exceed the distance indicated in the table below: Collector street | 100 feet Arterial street | 200 feet Expressway | 500 feet (2) The minimum length of urban corridor districts shall generally comply with the following distances: Collector street | 1,320 feet Arterial street | 2,640 feet Expressway | 5,280 feet (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-64 Sign standards.

Sec. 28-64. - Sign standards. (a) General. Ordinances establishing specific urban corridors may include requirements for on- and off-premises signs subject to the guidelines included herein. Specific corridor ordinances may include more or less restrictive standards for off-premises signs. In event of a conflict between a specific corridor ordinance and other provisions of this chapter, the most restrictive shall apply. (b) Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited in urban corridors unless expressly authorized by the city council to create a unifying theme in a specific urban corridor: (1) Animated, moving, flashing, or rotating signs. However, digital displays, including but not limited to, electronic message centers up to twenty-five (25) percent of the allowable sign area are permitted. (2) Three-dimensional objects such as vehicles, animals, instruments or other figures; propellers, wind powered or other similar devices or objects; and air-filled figures other than balloons one (1) foot or less in diameter. (3) Signs which (1) utilize intermittent or flashing illumination devices; (2) which change light intensity, brightness or color; or (3) which are constructed and operated so as to create an appearance or illusion of motion unless specifically authorized by the city council to create a unifying theme in an urban corridor. This prohibition includes digital displays. (4) Roof signs. (c) Temporary signs within urban corridors. Banners, pennants, streamers, and balloons one (1) foot or less in diameter may be used as temporary advertising for a maximum duration of thirty (30) days each six (6) months. Permits in accordance with the City Code and this chapter are required for signs over thirty-two (32) square feet in size. (d) On-premises pole sign. (1) Platted lots along designated urban corridors shall be permitted one (1) pole sign for each two hundred (200) linear feet of street frontage or fraction thereof, but in any event shall be permitted at least one (1) sign. A pole sign shall not be erected closer than two hundred (200) feet along one (1) side of the street to another pole sign within the same platted lot. (2) In lieu of the signs permitted in subsection (1) above, platted lots along expressways shall be permitted one (1) pole sign for each one hundred (100) linear feet of street frontage or fraction thereof provided the sign area for each sign does not exceed two hundred fifty (250) square feet. (3) The maximum height for pole signs shall be in accordance with the table below. The height of a sign shall be measured from the adjacent primary street grade provided that the overall height of the sign does not exceed sixty (60) feet above ground level. Maximum Sign Height (in Feet) Designated Street | Pole Sign | Multiple Tenant Sign Local street | 10—15 | 15—25 Collector/arterial street | 30—40 | 40—50 Expressway | 40—50 | 50—60 (4) The maximum allowable sign area for each pole sign shall be established in accordance with the table below. For signs with more than one (1) face, only the area of one (1) face shall be counted, provided only one (1) face is visible from any one (1) direction. Maximum Sign Area (in Square Feet) Designated Street | Pole Sign | Multiple Tenant Sign Local street | 64—96 | 96—160 Collector/arterial street | 200—300 | 350—500 Expressway | 350—500 | 500—650 (5) The following signs shall not be included in the total allowable sign area: temporary signs, signs which are designed not to be visible from or directed to traffic on the adjacent street, electric directional signs less than five (5) feet in height, and signs which are exempted from the permit requirement in subsection (g) below. (e) Wall signs. Wall signs shall not extend or project more than one-third (⅓) the vertical height of the sign above the roof or parapet of a building or structure. The maximum allowable sign area for wall signs along all street frontages shall be as follows: Cabinet Signs | 20% of the wall area Channel Letter Signs | 25% of the wall area (f) Maintenance. The director may order the removal of any sign not meeting these standards at the expense of the sign or property owner within sixty (60) days of notification by the city. If the business or activity for which a sign was permitted, ceases to operate for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days, the sign shall be considered abandoned and the sign shall be removed by the sign or property owner. (g) Permit requirement. A permit must be obtained from the department before a sign may be erected within an urban corridor. Applications for a permit shall be made upon forms provided by the department. All signs shall display a decal as evidence of the permit. However, the following signs are exempt from the permit requirement: (1) Governmental signs. Governmental agencies are encouraged to coordinate their signs with respect to color size, height and placement. (2) Non-electric directional signs not exceeding fifteen (15) square feet in size. These signs must be composed of durable material, situated wholly upon private property and not exceed a maximum height of eight (8) feet. (3) Signs less than fifteen (15) square feet in size and designed not to be read by the traveling public, including menu boards, service station pump decals and spanners. (h) Nonconforming signs. Nonconforming signs shall be brought into conformance with the requirements of the urban corridor ordinance when there are alterations or repairs to the sign exceeding fifty (50) percent of the sign's value. (i) Map requirement. All urban corridors shall include a map, either indented or in an appendix detailing location at a minimum. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17; Ord. No. 2023-6-01-0369, § 1(Att. I), 6-1-23)

San Antonio City Code § 28-65 Specific urban corridors—IH-10/FM 1604 Urban corridor.

Sec. 28-65. - Specific urban corridors—IH-10/FM 1604 Urban corridor. (a) Boundaries. The following areas which are located outside the city limits are designated as the I.H. 10 West/Loop 1604 urban corridor: (1) Both sides of I.H. 10 West, an expressway, between Wurzbach Road and Boerne Stage Road for a distance of five hundred (500) feet from the street right-of-way. (2) Both sides of Loop 1604, an expressway, between Northwest Military Highway and Hausman Road for a distance of five hundred (500) feet from the street right-of-way. (3) Both sides of Babcock Road, an arterial street, between Loop 1604 and Camp Bullis Road for a distance of two hundred (200) feet from the street right-of-way. (4) Both sides of Camp Bullis Road, an arterial street, between I.H. 10 West and Babcock Road for a distance of two hundred (200) feet from the street right-of-way. (b) Designation criteria. The areas specified in subsection (a) above meet the designation criteria established above: (1) The corridor serves as a recognized primary entryway to the city. (2) The corridor traverses areas where natural vegetation representative of the native landscape is present along at least fifty (50) percent of the street frontage. (3) The corridor provides primary access to one or more major tourist attractions. (c) Other provisions. In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, the mandatory provisions of sections 28-64 and 28-5 shall be applicable to this corridor. (d) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited in the corridor. (e) Maximum sign height and area. (1) The maximum heights for on-premises signs are as follows: Maximum Sign Height (in Feet) Designated Street | Pole Sign | Multiple Tenant Sign Local street | 10 | 15 Collector/arterial street | 30 | 40 Expressway | 40 | 50 (2) The maximum allowable sign area for on-premises signs are as follows: Maximum Sign Area (in Square Feet) Designated Street | Pole Sign | Multiple Tenant Sign Local street | 64 | 96 Collector/arterial street | 200 | 350 Expressway | 350 | 500 (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-66 Same—UC-2, Broadway urban corridor district.

Sec. 28-66. - Same—UC-2, Broadway urban corridor district. (a) Boundaries. The following area is designated as the Broadway urban corridor district: both sides of Broadway, an arterial, between IH-35 and the city limits of Alamo Heights for a distance of two hundred (200) feet from the street right-of-way. (b) Designation criteria. This corridor meets the following designation criteria established by section 28-61: (1) The corridor provides primary access to one or more major tourist attractions. (2) The corridor abuts, traverses, or links the San Antonio River or its major tributaries, area lakes, or major parks. (c) Other provisions. In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, the mandatory provisions of sections 35-339(a)(1), 28-64, and 35-339(b)(2) are applicable to this district. (d) Setback. The setback along Broadway is established at twenty-five (25) feet. (e) Screening. The following uses shall be screened from Broadway to a height sufficient to completely screen the use from view at ground level: all outside storage, industrial activities, off-street loading areas as required by the 1987 version of chapter 35, the Unified Development Code, article III, Zoning, division 9, Supplemental regulations, Subdivision D., Off-street truck loading requirements, refuse storage areas, air conditioning and heating equipment, and microwave and satellite antennas. An opaque screen composed of berms, walls, fences, vegetation, or a combination of these materials shall be used. (f) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited in this corridor district. (g) Maximum sign height. The maximum heights for on-premises signs are thirty (30) feet for pole signs and forty (40) feet multiple tenant signs. (h) Maximum sign size. The maximum allowable sign areas for on-premises signs are two hundred (200) square feet for pole signs and three hundred fifty (350) square feet for multiple tenant signs. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-67 Same—UC-3, Fredericksburg Road urban corridor district.

Sec. 28-67. - Same—UC-3, Fredericksburg Road urban corridor district. (a) Boundaries. The following area is designated as the Fredericksburg Road urban corridor district: both sides of Fredericksburg Road, an arterial, between Martinez Creek and Santa Barbara Street for a distance of two hundred (200) feet from the street right-of-way. (b) Designation criteria. This corridor meets the following designation criteria established by section 28-61: (1) The corridor has historically served as a regional or neighborhood commercial center for at least fifty (50) years. (2) There is substantial public and/or private commitment of resources for redevelopment or revitalization of at least fifty (50) percent of the corridor's buildings or infrastructure. (c) Other provisions. In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, the mandatory provisions of sections 35-339(a)(1), 28-64, and 35-339(b)(2) are applicable to this district. (d) Setback. The setback along Fredericksburg Road is established at twenty-five (25) feet. (e) Screening. The following uses shall be screened from Fredericksburg to a height sufficient to completely screen the use from view at ground level: all outside storage, industrial activities, off-street loading areas as required by the 1987 version of chapter 35, the Unified Development Code, article III, Zoning, division 9, Supplemental regulations, Subdivision D., Off-street truck loading requirements, refuse storage areas, air conditioning and heating equipment, and microwave and satellite antennas. An opaque screen composed of berms, walls, fences, vegetation, or a combination of these materials shall be used. (f) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited in this corridor district. (g) Maximum sign height. The maximum heights for on-premises signs are thirty (30) feet for pole signs and forty (40) feet for multiple tenant signs. (h) Maximum sign size. The maximum allowable sign areas for on-premises signs are two hundred (200) square feet for pole signs and three hundred fifty (350) square feet for multiple tenant signs. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-68 Same—UC-4, North St. Mary's Street urban corridor district.

Sec. 28-68. - Same—UC-4, North St. Mary's Street urban corridor district. (a) Boundaries. The following area is designated as the North St. Mary's Street urban corridor district: both sides of North St. Mary's Street, an arterial, between I.H. 35 and HWY 281 for a distance of two hundred (200) feet from the street right-of-way. (b) Designation criteria. This corridor meets the following designation criteria established by section 28-61: (1) The corridor has historically served as a regional or neighborhood commercial center for at least fifty (50) years. (2) The corridor provides primary access to one or more major tourist attractions. (3) The corridor abuts, traverses, or links the San Antonio River or its major tributaries, area lakes, or major parks. (c) Other provisions. In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, the mandatory provisions of sections 35-339(a)(1), 28-64, and 35-339(b)(2) are applicable to this district. (d) Setback. The setback to this urban corridor is established at zero (0) feet. (e) Screening. The following uses shall be screened to a height sufficient to completely screen the use from view at ground level: all outside storage, industrial activities, off-street loading areas as required by the 1987 version of chapter 35, the Unified Development Code, article III, Zoning, division 9, Supplemental regulations, subdivision D., Off-street truck loading requirements, refuse storage areas, air conditioning and heating equipment, microwave and satellite antennas. An opaque screen composed of berms, walls, fences, vegetation, or a combination of these materials shall be used. (f) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited in this corridor district. (g) Maximum sign height. The maximum height for on-premises signs are thirty (30) feet for pole signs and forty (40) feet for multiple tenant signs. (h) Maximum signs size. The maximum allowable sign areas for on-premises signs are two hundred (200) square feet for pole signs and three hundred fifty (350) square feet for multiple tenant signs. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-69 Same—UC-5, Main Ave./McCullough Ave. urban corridor district.

Sec. 28-69. - Same—UC-5, Main Ave./McCullough Ave. urban corridor district. (a) Boundaries. The following area is designated as the Main Ave./McCullough Ave. urban corridor district: a distance of one hundred (100) feet from the street right-of-way on either side of Main Ave. a collector, between I.H. 35 on the south and Huisache Ave. on the north, and two hundred (200) feet from the street right-of-way on either side of McCullough Ave. an arterial, between I.H. 35 on the south and Huisache Ave. on the north. (b) Designation criteria. This corridor meets the following designation criteria established by section 28-61: (1) The corridor abuts, traverses, or links designated historic landmarks and/or districts. (2) The corridor has historically served as a regional or neighborhood commercial center for at least fifty (50) years. (c) Other provisions. In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, the mandatory provisions of sections 35-339(a)(1), 28-64, and 35-339(b)(2) are applicable to this district. (d) Setback. The setback along Main Ave./McCullough Ave. are established at fifteen (15) feet for local streets, twenty (20) feet for collector/arterial streets and twenty-five (25) feet for expressways. (e) Screening. The following uses shall be screened from Main Ave./McCullough Ave. to a height sufficient to completely screen the use from view at ground level all outside storage, industrial activities, off-street loading areas as required by the 1987 version of chapter 35, the Unified Development Code, article III, Zoning, division 9, Supplemental regulations, subdivision D., Off-street truck loading requirements, refuse storage areas, air conditioning and heating equipment, and microwave and satellite antennas. An opaque screen composed of berms, walls, fences, vegetation, or a combination of these materials shall be used. (f) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited in this corridor district. (g) Maximum pole sign height. The maximum heights for on-premises pole signs are fifteen (15) feet for local streets, twenty-four (24) feet for collector/arterial streets and forty (40) feet for expressways. (h) Reserved. (i) Maximum multi-tenant sign height. The maximum height for on-premises multi-tenant signs are fifteen (15) feet for local streets, thirty-two (32) feet for collector/arterial streets, and fifty (50) feet for expressways. (j) Maximum pole sign area. The maximum allowable sign area for on-premises pole signs are sixty-four (64) square feet for local streets, one hundred fifty (150) square feet for collector/arterial streets and three hundred fifty (350) square feet for expressways. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17)

San Antonio City Code § 28-70 Same—UC-6, San Pedro urban corridor district.

Sec. 28-70. - Same—UC-6, San Pedro urban corridor district. (a) Boundaries. The following area is designated as the San Pedro Urban Corridor District: Both sides of San Pedro Avenue, an arterial, between I.H. 35 to the south and Ashby Street to the north for a distance of two hundred (200) feet from the street right-of-way. (b) Designation criteria. This corridor meets the following designation criteria established by section 28-61: (1) The corridor abuts, traverses, or links designated historic landmarks and/or districts. (2) The corridor has historically served as a regional or neighborhood commercial center for at least fifty (50) years. (c) Other provisions. In addition to the requirements set forth in this section, the mandatory provisions of sections 35-339(a)(1), 28-64, and 35-339(b)(2) are applicable to this district. (d) Screening. The following uses shall be screened from San Pedro Avenue to a height sufficient to completely screen the use from view at ground level: All outside storage, industrial activities, off-street loading areas as required by the 1987 version of chapter 35, the Unified Development Code, article III, Zoning, division 9, Supplemental regulations, subdivision D., off-street truck loading requirements, refuse storage areas, air conditioning and heating equipment, and microwave and satellite antennas. An opaque screen composed of berms, walls, fences, vegetation, or a combination of these materials shall be used. (e) Off-premises signs. Off-premises signs are prohibited in this corridor district. (f) Maximum sign height. The maximum heights for on-premises pole signs are: Local streets—Ten (10) feet, collector/arterial street—Twenty-four (24) feet, and expressway—Forty (40) feet. The maximum heights for on-premises multi-tenant signs are: Local streets—Fifteen (15) feet, collector/arterial—Thirty-two (32) feet, and expressway—Fifty (50) feet. (g) Maximum sign size. The maximum allowable sign area for on-premises pole signs are: Local streets—Sixty-four (64) feet, collector/arterial street—One hundred fifty (150) square feet, and expressway—Three hundred fifty (350) square feet. The maximum allowable sign area for on-premises multi-tenant signs are: Local streets—Ninety-six (96) square feet, collector/arterial street—Two hundred and fifty (250) square feet, and expressway—Five hundred (500) square feet. (Ord. No. 2017-05-04-0297, § 1(Att. 1), 5-4-17; Ord. No. 2024-12-19-1017, § 4, 12-19-24)

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_SDDURCOFetched: 10/27/2026