Dripping Springs amends sign ordinance to ease small-business signage, adds guidance and administrative processes

On Oct. 21 the Dripping Springs City Council approved amendments to the city sign ordinance intended to streamline permitting and clarify rules for businesses and developers.

City Attorney Laura Mueller, who led the staff presentation, said the changes include a single monument‑sign application regardless of sign size, annual renewals for construction development signs (maintaining a maximum of 48 square feet), relaxed permit requirements for smaller real estate signs, and clarified rules for banners and temporary business signs so that many small commercial banners no longer require a permit.

Mueller said staff also clarified vehicle sign and wrapped‑vehicle rules, adjusted how multiple entrances are treated for signage, and set administrative processes to allow fee waiver requests to be handled by the sign administrator rather than requiring council action for routine variances. She told council staff plans to publish a signs landing page with examples and an easy‑to‑use chart to explain permit requirements.

Council members raised detailed questions about how the ordinance defines acceptable supports ("poles and pipes") and whether wooden posts could be used; Mueller said the development manual and administrative guidance will clarify the practical standards to avoid loopholes.

Council also discussed electronic menu boards and order‑confirmation screens. Staff said the intent is to allow changing menu content where the display is not visible from the public right of way; if a sign is visible from the right of way, state law distance standards and development‑manual clarifications will guide enforcement.

With no public speakers at the hearing, council approved the ordinance amendment by voice vote.

Staff said the city will continue stakeholder discussions and will update the website materials to help local businesses interpret new requirements.