AI-assisted research summary: Some counties may regulate on-premise signs in unincorporated areas, but their rules cannot be looser than earlier municipal rules for the same site.
Sec. 394.063. ON-PREMISE SIGNS. (a) The commissioners court of a county with a population of more than 3.3 million or of a county that borders a county with that population may regulate, in the unincorporated area of the county, the location, height, size, and anchoring of on-premise signs. (b) A county regulation adopted under this section may not permit an on-premise sign to be erected if the sign could not have been erected under a previous municipal regulation that applied to the place where the sign is to be erected. (c) A regulation of an on-premise sign imposed by this chapter, adopted by the commission under this chapter, or adopted by a municipality does not apply in the unincorporated area of a county that adopts a regulation of an on-premise sign under this section. (d) In lieu of exercising a regulatory power under this section, the commissioners court of the county, by order, may allow the commission to regulate on-premise signs in the unincorporated area of the county in accordance with a municipal or county regulation regarding on-premise signs in the unincorporated area. On adoption of the order, municipal authority to regulate on-premise signs in the unincorporated area is withdrawn. (e) A regulation adopted under this section applies only to an on-premise sign erected on or after August 31, 1987. (f) A commissioners court of a county regulating on-premise signs under this section may recover from an applicant for a permit authorized by this section the cost of issuing the permit provided the following are met: (1) the auditor for the county shall review the program every two years to ensure that the fees being charged do not exceed the cost of the program; and (2) the county refunds to the permit holders any revenue determined by the auditor to exceed the cost of the program. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 541, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1163 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 130, eff. September 1, 2011. SUBCHAPTER E. ENFORCEMENT