# Sign Regulations in Atlantic Beach, Florida

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Atlantic Beach, Florida, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Atlantic Beach, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/atlantic-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Atlantic_Beach/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH17SIADST)

## At a glance

Atlantic Beach, Florida regulates 13 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (Residential)s in the Residential, Single-family—Large Lot (RS-L), Residential, Single-family (RS-1), Residential, Single-family (RS-2), Residential General, Two-family (RG), Residential General, Multi-family (RG-M), Residential Selva Marina (R-SM) zoning district are capped at 4 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a Not in public right-of-way setback (Sec. Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) – Real estate sign section). Most commercial signs in Atlantic Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation (CON) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential, Single-family—Large Lot (RS-L), Residential, Single-family (RS-1), Residential, Single-family (RS-2), Residential General, Two-family (RG), Residential General, Multi-family (RG-M), Residential Selva Marina (R-SM) | 3 | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| Commercial Professional and Office (CPO), Commercial Limited (CL), Commercial General (CG), Light Industrial and Warehousing (LIW), Central Business District (CBD), Traditional Marketplace (TM), Special Purpose (SP), Special Planned Area District (SPA), Mayport Business Overlay District (MBOD) | 6 | 15 feet above adjacent grade or lower roof eave, whichever is less | 32 square feet (single business), 100 square feet (multi-tenant or larger building, or as allowed for shopping centers) | — |
| Greenway Overlay District (GWOD) | 1 | 15 feet above adjacent grade or roof eave | 32 square feet (single business) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Special Purpose (SP) | 1 | — | As established by ordinance; must not exceed those permitted in most similar zone | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Residential, Single-family—Large Lot (RS-L), Residential, Single-family (RS-1), Residential, Single-family (RS-2), Residential General, Two-family (RG), Residential General, Multi-family (RG-M), Residential Selva Marina (R-SM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Single-family / Two-family) | — | 2 square feet | — | Within front yard, not closer than 1 foot to property line. | 1 per dwelling unit | Affixed to the building or within the required front yard | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising), referencing residential sign provisions that apply by reference in Chapter 24 zoning for residential districts. |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | Not in public right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Within property being offered for sale/lease | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) – Real estate sign section |
| Construction Sign (Residential) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | Not in right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Located on the subject property for duration of active permit | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) – Construction sign section |

### Commercial Professional and Office (CPO), Commercial Limited (CL), Commercial General (CG), Light Industrial and Warehousing (LIW), Central Business District (CBD), Traditional Marketplace (TM), Special Purpose (SP), Special Planned Area District (SPA), Mayport Business Overlay District (MBOD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 feet above adjacent grade or lower roof eave, whichever is less | 32 square feet (single business), 100 square feet (multi-tenant or larger building, or as allowed for shopping centers) | — | Attached to building, not projecting above roofline | 1 per business frontage; multi-tenant exceptions possible | Principal façade of building facing street or parking | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) standard for business zones, referenced as required for site development in CPO, CL, CG, LIW, CBD, TM, SPA, MBOD |
| Freestanding Monument Sign | 6 feet (8 feet if raised site elevation by code or as required for grade/floodplain) | 32 square feet (single lot), 64 square feet (lot with street frontage > 150 ft or multi-tenant site) | — | Minimum 5 feet from lot line; not in clear sight triangle | 1 per street frontage | Within required front or corner lot yard, minimum 5 feet from property line or right-of-way | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) Freestanding sign section; referenced in commercial district and corridor requirements |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | N/A | Aggregate area only | On ground floor windows only | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) Window sign subsection; referenced in all business zones |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | Must not project into public right-of-way without approval | 1 per awning | On awning/canopy over principal entrance or windows | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising); district sign standards |
| Directional and Parking Lot Signs | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | Not in right-of-way; located clear of sight triangles | As needed for safety | At driveway entrances and within site for navigation | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) – Directional Sign section |
| Temporary Promotional Banners (Commercial) | — | 32 square feet | — | Not in right-of-way | 1 per business per occurrence | Affixed to building wall or on site, not within public right-of-way | — | Chapter 17 (Signs and Advertising) – Temporary Sign section |

### Greenway Overlay District (GWOD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (GWOD) | 15 feet above adjacent grade or roof eave | 32 square feet (single business) | — | See general commercial sign setbacks; orientation must comply with entrance facing Greenway. | 1 per business façade facing Greenway | Facing Mayport Road/Greenway with building oriented toward trail | — | Sec. 24-170. Greenway Overlay District – development standards |

## Prohibited signs in Atlantic Beach

- No land, building, or structure shall be used, moved, added to or enlarged, altered or maintained except in conformance with the provisions of this chapter and the comprehensive plan.
- No building or structure shall be placed or erected, and no existing building or structure shall be moved, altered, added to or enlarged, nor shall any land, building, structure or premises be used, designed or intended to be used for any purpose or in any manner other than in conformance with this city's Code of Ordinances, this chapter and as allowed in the zoning district in which such land, building, structure or premises are located.
- No trailer, basement, tent, shack, garage, recreational vehicle, camper, bus or other accessory building or vehicle shall be used as a residence, temporarily or permanently, nor shall any such residence of temporary character be permitted in any zoning district.
- Private homes including, but not limited to, single-family homes, townhomes, duplexes, multi-family dwellings including condominiums and the like, shall not be rented or leased for a term or period of less than ninety (90) days. No person(s) shall offer or advertise a private home for rent or lease for a term or period of less than ninety (90) days.
- No building or structure shall be erected, and no existing building or structure shall be moved, altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any open space surrounding any building or structure be encroached upon or reduced in any manner, except in conformity with provisions of this chapter.
- No structure or property shall be developed or used so as to exceed density allowed under the terms of the comprehensive plan and the limitations for the zoning district.
- No buildings or structures shall be placed in an easement where placing a building or structure in the easement is contrary to the terms of the easement or interferes with the use of the easement.
- No yard or other required open space on a lot shall be considered as providing a required yard or open space for any other structure on an adjacent lot.

## Signs exempt from permit in Atlantic Beach

- Work by highway or road agency or railroad company for the maintenance or improvement of a road or railroad track, if the work is carried out on land within the boundaries of the right-of-way, does not involve 'development'.
- Work by any utility and other persons engaged in the distribution or transmission of gas, electricity, or water, for the purpose of inspecting, repairing, or renewing on established rights-of-way or corridors, or constructing on established or to-be-established rights-of-way or corridors, does not involve 'development'.
- Work for the maintenance, renewal, improvement, or alteration of any structure, if the work affects only the interior or the color of the structure or the decoration of the exterior of the structure, does not involve 'development'.
- The use of any structure or land devoted to dwelling uses for any purpose customarily incidental to enjoyment of the dwelling does not involve 'development'.
- The use of any land for the purposes of growing plants, crops, trees, and other agricultural or forestry products; raising livestock; or for other agricultural purposes does not involve 'development'.
- A change in use of land or structure from a use within a class specified in an ordinance or rule to another use in the same class does not involve 'development'.
- A change in the ownership or form of ownership of any parcel or structure does not involve 'development'.
- The creation or termination of rights of access, riparian rights, easements, distribution and transmission corridors, covenants concerning development of land, or other rights in land does not involve 'development'.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A site development plan is required for all development and redevelopment, other than interior renovations and fences. For multi-family, commercial, and industrial uses and exterior structural alterations or additions, a certified survey and preliminary site development plan must be submitted. The site development plan must depict all required information as set forth in Sec. 24-69.
- For special planned area districts, a master site development plan is required as an exhibit to the ordinance or adopted by reference within the ordinance enacting any special planned area district, per Sec. 24-122.
- Changes to previously approved special planned area districts or master site development plans must follow Sec. 24-124. Minor deviations to a master site development plan or final development plan may be approved by the administrator, but major changes shall go through ordinance revision.
- For a use-by-exception, a site plan must be submitted with the application (Sec. 24-63).
- A landscape plan must be submitted and approved by the planning and community development director prior to the issuance of any development permit for nonresidential or multi-family development (Sec. 24-176).
- Applications for development permits must include development plans and all required information demonstrating compliance with applicable land development regulations (Sec. 24-69).
- Subdivision plats and re-plats must meet all requirements and include a certified survey, site plan, and comply with applicable provisions before any development permit is issued (Sec. 24-203).

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 6 zoning districts in Atlantic Beach — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Atlantic+Beach+FL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-atlantic-beach

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