Illuminated Signs & LED Neon Signs in Dallas

In Dallas sign permits are handled by the city's Permitting & Inspections sign team and submitted online through the DallasNow portal. According to the city:

• A permit is required for any new or re-faced sign that is illuminated or has electrical components, is larger than 20 sq ft, sits more than 8 ft high, is in or over a public roadway, or is in a Special Provision Sign District (SPSD).
• Contractor: a registered contractor obtains the permit; electrical signs need a registered electrical or sign electrical contractor. The business on the sign also needs an approved Certificate of Occupancy.
• Eight-word rule: in the general zoning districts, all attached signs on one facade may together carry up to eight words taller than 4 in per occupant; words of 4 in or less are not limited.
• Blade signs in business zoning districts: one per premise, up to 20 sq ft, projecting up to 4 ft but not over the public right-of-way, with at least 10 ft of clearance over accessible areas.
• Window signs: up to 15% of the window or glass door, placed in the bottom third.
• Overlays: Special Provision Sign Districts, historic districts, conservation districts and planned development districts add their own provisions and sometimes extra review.

The city says sign permits are typically approved in around two business days once everything required has been submitted.

Sources: City of Dallas – Permitting & Inspections, Signs, as of November 2026. This is not legal advice – the local authority makes the final decision.

The city reviews the sign's size, position, wording and illumination against the rules for your zoning district. With your free design preview you get:

• your sign shown on a photo of your storefront
• dimensions, materials and light color
• which elements light up and which are printed

You or your sign installer submit the application.

• Indoor LED neon signs come with mounting hardware and a plug-in power supply – hang it up and plug it in, step by step in our installation guide.
• Outdoor signs, light boxes and hard-wired signs – including halo-lit and back-lit letters – are connected by a licensed electrician or sign installer in Dallas.

Tell us where the sign will go and we will tell you what you need for installation.

• LED neon signs – for bars, restaurants, salons and studios, inside or in the window
• Channel letters – illuminated letters for the storefront – plan the wording around the eight-word rule
• Blade signs – up to 20 sq ft in business zoning districts
• Back-lit acrylic letters – halo-lit logos for offices, lobbies and showrooms

All sign types at a glance

1. Send your logo, sketch or text – ideally with a photo of your storefront
2. Receive your free digital design preview
3. Happy with the design? Place your order – production takes approx. 2–3 weeks after your order
4. Express delivery in 2–4 days to your address in Dallas

LED neon signs come with a plug-in power supply with dimmer and remote control. Halo-lit, back-lit and 3D illuminated letters are hard-wired by an electrician and are not dimmable. Every sign has a 24-month warranty, and shipping is included.

Do I need a permit for an illuminated sign in Dallas?
Yes. The City of Dallas requires a sign permit for any new or re-faced sign that is illuminated or has electrical components, and a registered electrical or sign electrical contractor for the installation.

How many words can a storefront sign have in Dallas?
In the general zoning districts, the attached signs on one facade may together carry up to eight words taller than 4 inches per occupant; words of 4 inches or less are not limited. Special sign districts have their own rules.

Do you install signs in Dallas?
Indoor LED neon signs come with mounting hardware and a plug-in power supply, so you can hang them yourself. For outdoor signs, light boxes and hard-wired signs, use a local licensed electrician or sign installer.

Can I see the sign on my storefront before ordering?
Yes. Send us a photo of your storefront and we will show you a free design preview with your sign in place.