Those handwritten “We Buy Houses” signs cluttering Texas street corners could soon come with a hefty price tag. Starting Sept. 1, state law will impose penalties up to $5,000 for placing so-called “bandit signs” in public rights of way.
House Bill 3611, passed during the 89th Texas legislative session, establishes a tiered fine system for repeat offenders and aims to close long-standing enforcement loopholes. The law applies statewide and prohibits signs placed in government-owned strips of land along roadways, sidewalks and medians—areas commonly used by utility crews and now explicitly protected under the revised Texas Transportation Code.
First-time violators who fail to remove the signs after written notice could be fined up to $1,000. A second offense can result in a $2,500 fine, and a third violation can trigger the full $5,000 penalty.
The law also broadens accountability beyond the person physically placing the sign. Business owners, agents, independent contractors and others connected to the advertising can now be held liable—addressing a common defense that signs were posted by third parties or “friends.”…