Business owners protest sign code

HOUSTON About three dozen of them gathered in front of city hall Monday morning. The provision reduces the size of most signs, only allows for one changeable electronic sign per business and prohibits changeable signs on neighborhood streets. City officials say it will help reduce clutter and attract more business to Houston. But some business owners say it'll force them to close up shop.

"As we've been going through, looking for new places for building our shop, we've been seeing all kinds of different places that were suitable. In one day, none of them are acceptable," said business owner Michael Drake. "They have no value to us whatsoever. There is no way whatsoever I'd put my business in Houston. I cannot do it. The sign code has prevented it."

The code not only affects businesses, but churches and schools as well. It starts in September.

      QUICK HEADLINES | MORE LOCAL | GET NEWS ALERTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC13 SOCIAL NETWORKING
Find us on Facebook® | Follow us on Twitter | More social networking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE FROM ABC13
ABC13 widget | Most popular stories | Street-level weather
ABC13 wireless | Slideshow archive | Help solve crimes
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------