City of Houston 2023Legislative Report

Land Use

Bill Sponsors / Authors:

Glenn Rogers   Rep. Glenn Rogers
  R - Mineral Wells

 

Supporting Documents / Links:

Land Use GraphicHouse Bill 4285 – Billboards

House Bill 4285 by Representative Glenn Rogers would have preempted the City of Houston from enforcing billboard regulations in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) if the City adopted its sign ordinance after the sign was placed.

The City understands the need to balance its interest in promoting traffic safety, reducing visual blight, and protecting property values with the economic concerns of existing sign owners.

Therefore, the City of Houston’s sign code currently prohibits the placement of new off-premise signs within the city limits and its ETJ, but signs that existed before the prohibition was passed are allowed to remain in place. This “grandfathering” of signs includes signs located in places that later become part of the city’s ETJ.

This bill passed the House but did not receive a hearing in Senate Local Government Committee.