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Brownsville moves to ban billboards, amends Unified Development Code to reinstate sign limits
Summary
On first reading the Brownsville City Commission voted to repeal billboard provisions that had been added under a pilot program and to reinstate prohibitions and illumination limits in UDC §5.3; staff said enforcement equipment is on order and training completed.
Brownsville — The Brownsville City Commission on April 15 voted on first reading to amend the city’s Unified Development Code to prohibit billboards and to re-establish illumination and enforcement parameters for signs across the city.
The ordinance (first reading) would repeal language that created a billboard pilot program, reinstate billboards as a prohibited sign type in UDC §5.3 and add illumination standards and enforcement language. Staff said the pilot program began in August 2023 and the pilot was officially concluded on Dec. 30, 2024.
“This text amendment is to basically reinstate and memorialize regulations against billboards,” a staff member told the commission during the public hearing presentation.
Why it matters: The change reverses the code language that temporarily allowed billboard advertising under a pilot program and gives code-enforcement staff written standards to measure illumination and issue compliance notices or citations.
What staff described
- Scope: The amendment adds prohibitions for billboard signs back into the prohibited-signs section of the UDC and establishes illumination parameters to allow enforcement of signage that exceeds allowable brightness.
- Enforcement tools: Staff said the city’s enforcement team received training from a third-party consultant on how to measure illumination and that the city has purchased enforcement equipment; the device is on back order with an expected delivery of about six weeks.
- Enforcement approach: Staff said the city prefers education first — notifying property owners and requesting compliance — and would escalate to citations under city code if noncompliance continues.
Commission and public discussion
A commissioner asked whether the ordinance would apply to on-premise signs for private businesses; staff answered that the illumination parameters would apply to on-premise signs as well and would be used to pursue complaints. Staff also said violations would be handled under the UDC and, if needed, Chapter 1 of the city code that covers violations and penalties.
A public commenter did not address this item during the hearing and the commission closed the public hearing before voting. A motion to approve first reading passed by voice vote.
What happens next
The ordinance was approved on first reading and will return for final-reading consideration under the city’s ordinance process. The city will complete delivery and deployment of the enforcement device once the order arrives and will follow its education-then-enforcement procedure for any reported illumination violations.
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Speakers and staff cited in this story are taken from the meeting record and transcript.
