The City of Houston has replaced more than 3,000 missing or damaged street signs in 2025. Some city leaders suspect theft is driving up the numbers.
HOUSTON — This year, the City of Houston has spent more than $1 million to replace thousands of missing or damaged street signs — some city leaders believe theft could be behind a portion of those losses.
In Houston’s District B, residents told KHOU 11 that signs have been vanishing from a variety of places, from dead-end streets to major thoroughfares and at least one intersection near an elementary school.
“When I couldn’t identify where I was, then I said, OK, this is becoming a problem,” said Kathy Gunter with the Houston Gardens Civic Association.
Gunter said she first started noticing the missing signs about a year ago. She believes many were stolen because the sign poles were still standing, undamaged, and the hardware used to mount the signs was often left behind.
“We pay tax dollars. That’s where our money goes — for street signs, roads … So we’re paying for that. If you’re taking that, you’re stealing it,” she said.
According to data from Houston Public Works (HPW), 165 signs were replaced in District B for various reasons in the first six months of 2025. Across the city, 3,165 signs were replaced for various reasons in the same time.
The department emphasized that signs may be replaced for many reasons, including fading, graffiti, street name changes, or damage caused by weather or traffic. However, community leaders in northeast Houston believe there are clear signs of theft.
Houston councilmember Tarsha Jackson, who represents District B, said her office began an investigation after hearing complaints from community members. She notified City Council about the issue on June 17, when she was aware of about 100 missing signs.
Jackson told KHOU 11 that she now suspects some of the missing signs may be ending up for sale online. Her staff identified multiple listings on Facebook Marketplace that appeared to include signs from Houston-area intersections.
“People want a street sign with their name on it,” Jackson said. “And one way to get it is to have someone take the sign and sell it.”
For the city, replacing a missing street name sign is no small expense. According to Houston Public Works, it costs about $150 to replace a street name sign and up to $500 to replace a stop sign, including labor and equipment.
So far this year, HPW has spent $1.9 million to replace missing traffic signs, including labor, materials and equipment costs, according to officials.
Jackson added that it’s not just a budget issue — missing signs pose a safety risk.
“It’s a public safety issue,” Jackson said. “If folks are trying to get someone, calling for help, they need the paramedics and police to make it to their home. They need a sign there to know exactly what street.”
The Houston Police Department confirmed to KHOU 11 that investigators are looking into at least one case involving possible sign theft.
While Houston Public Works tracks street sign replacement, officials said they could not provide a citywide count of how many signs are believed to have been stolen because 311 requests involving signs are only categorized as “missing or damaged,” with no further classification.
Jackson said her office is working with Houston Public Works to explore hardware options that could make signs harder to remove. She also plans to discuss enforcement with HPD to crack down on illegal sign sales.
Houston residents are encouraged to report missing or damaged signs by calling 311 or using the city’s online portal. Street name signs are typically replaced within 14 days, while stop signs are replaced within 24 hours, according to HPW.