# Sign Regulations in Cape Canaveral, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cape Canaveral, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/cape-canaveral
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Cape_Canaveral/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH94SI)

## At a glance

Cape Canaveral, Florida regulates 11 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the C-1 low density commercial district (C-1), C-2 commercial/manufacturing district (C-2), M-1 light industrial and research and development district (M-1) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall, 150 sq ft, and 25 ft wide, with a Min 6 ft from property line; not in visibility triangle setback (Sec. Table 94-96-1; Sec. 94-64). Most commercial signs in Cape Canaveral require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 8 ft | 96 sq ft | — |
| R-1 low density residential district (R-1) | 3 | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| R-2 medium density residential district (R-2), R-3 medium density residential district (R-3) | 5 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| C-1 low density commercial district (C-1), C-2 commercial/manufacturing district (C-2), M-1 light industrial and research and development district (M-1) | 7 | 20 ft | Parallel: 160 sq ft; Perpendicular: 128 sq ft | — |
| Shopping center or multitenant center in any district | 3 | 20 ft | Parallel: 160 sq ft; Perpendicular: 128 sq ft | — |
| Public/recreation buildings and facilities (Pub/Rec) | 5 | 20 ft | Parallel: 160 sq ft; Perpendicular: 128 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign | Residential: 4 ft; Nonresidential: 8 ft | Residential: 6 sq ft; Nonresidential: 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 2 ft from any right-of-way | One per 150 ft frontage, or one per tenant space | On the property; not in right-of-way; minimum setback 2 ft from any right-of-way; shall not impede pedestrian/vehicular traffic safety; not within the visibility triangle | — | Sec. 94-76, Table 94-96-1 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Sign | Residential: 4 ft; Nonresidential: 8 ft | Residential: 6 sq ft; Nonresidential: 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 2 ft from any right-of-way | One per permit issued, subject to 4-permit/year limitation | Not in right-of-way or visibility triangle; otherwise per on-premises temporary requirements | — | Sec. 94-81, Table 94-96-1 |
| Feather Sign | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from right-of-way | One per 150 ft frontage or one per tenant | Nonresidential property; must be 5 ft from any right-of-way; not within 20 ft of another feather or monument sign | — | Sec. 94-86, Table 94-96-1 |
| Bag Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Placed over an existing sign or structure | — | Sec. 94-76(2)m |
| Banner Sign - Nonresidential | — | 96 sq ft | — | — | One per property per event | Nonresidential property, one banner per property | — | Sec. 94-76(2)l |
| Banner Sign - Residential | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per property per event | Residential property, one per property | — | Sec. 94-76(2)l |
| Sandwich Board | 5 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Allowed in C-1, C-2, M-1 only. Cannot encroach into vehicular circulation or reduce parking. | — | Sec. 94-76(2)n |

### C-1 low density commercial district (C-1), C-2 commercial/manufacturing district (C-2), M-1 light industrial and research and development district (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 2 ft from right-of-way | Per section 94-76 | On property | — | Table 94-96-1 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 2 ft from right-of-way | One per permit; 4 permits per year | See General Regulations | — | Table 94-96-1; Sec. 94-81 |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | 25 ft | Min 6 ft from property line; not in visibility triangle | One per street frontage | Street frontage | — | Table 94-96-1; Sec. 94-64 |
| Wall Sign | — | Parallel: 160 sq ft; Perpendicular: 128 sq ft | — | — | 2 per storefront/structure | On building wall | — | Table 94-96-1 |
| Electronic Sign | — | 32 sq ft (portion of sign); sign must be within overall 120 sq ft, must be part of monument or pylon sign | — | — | One per monument/pylon sign | As part of monument or pylon sign | — | Sec. 94-78, Table 94-96-1 |
| Sandwich Board | 5 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Cannot encroach into vehicular circulation or reduce parking area; not to block pedestrian way <44 inches; display only during operational hours. | — | Sec. 94-76(2)n |
| Home Based Business Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per home based business | Affixed flat, 2 ft from entrance | — | Table 94-96-1; Sec. 94-83 |

### Public/recreation buildings and facilities (Pub/Rec)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 2 ft from right-of-way | Per section 94-76 | On property | — | Table 94-96-1 |
| Temporary Off-Premises Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 2 ft from right-of-way | One per permit; 4 permits per year | See General Regulations | — | Table 94-96-1; Sec. 94-81 |
| Ground Sign | 20 ft | 150 sq ft | 25 ft | Min 6 ft from property line; not in visibility triangle | 1 per street frontage or access entrance; max 2 | Street frontage or access entrance | — | Table 94-96-1 |
| Wall Sign | — | Parallel: 160 sq ft; Perpendicular: 128 sq ft | — | — | 2 per structure | Structure wall | — | Table 94-96-1 |
| Electronic Sign | — | 32 sq ft as part of monument or pylon sign, max overall sign area 120 sq ft | — | — | One per monument/pylon sign | As part of monument or pylon sign | — | Sec. 94-78, Table 94-96-1 |

## Prohibited signs in Cape Canaveral

- Signs on public utility poles or trees (except authorized government banner signs).
- Obstructing free ingress to or egress from doors or fire escapes; attaching signs to standpipes or fire escapes, unless incidental to their function.
- Signs on right-of-way that do not constitute bona fide traffic control devices or do not serve a governmental function.
- Portable signs (excluding vehicular signs and authorized sandwich boards).
- Permanent, temporary, portable, or movable signs or displays of merchandise on any street, sidewalk, alley, or right-of-way.
- Off-premises signs, except for temporary off-premises signs expressly authorized.
- Wall murals on the exterior of buildings, unless approved under community appearance review standards.
- Window signs not complying with exemption section 94-4.
- Ground signs with exposed metal supports including poles.
- Air-inflated devices.
- Marquee signs.
- Roof signs.
- Projecting signs unless compliant with section 94-79.
- Temporary signs unless specifically authorized.
- Flags and pennants that are not governmental in origin.
- Signs emitting audible sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam.
- Signs made with or printed on vegetation, curbstone, flagstone, pavement, or portions of sidewalks or streets (except house numbers and traffic control signs).
- Balloon displays.
- Discontinued signs (see definition and section 94-6).
- Animated signs or signs with flashing, running, or revolving features.
- Snipe signs.
- Obscene signs.
- Hazardous signs.
- Signs on inoperable or unlicensed motor vehicles visible from the right-of-way or adjacent property.
- Signs on parked vehicles not regularly used for transportation and intended mainly for display, visible from the right-of-way or adjacent property.
- Dilapidated signs.
- Pole signs.
- Signs placed on fences or gates (other than warning signs).
- Window lighting (except for window signs authorized by section 94-4(6)).
- Temporary signs except those permitted under section 94-76.
- Any sign, feature, or outdoor advertising display that does not comply with the provisions of this chapter.
- Electronic signs except as authorized by section 94-78.
- Feather signs except as authorized by sections 94-76 and 94-86.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cape Canaveral

- Decals affixed to and normally associated with signs painted on equipment, fuel pumps, or other equipment, with owner's consent.
- Signs wholly within a building or enclosed space, excluding window signs more specifically regulated.
- One sign or tablet per building of four square feet or less, cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or incombustible material and attached to building.
- Bulletin boards not exceeding six square feet, limited to one per business entrance.
- Traffic-control devices installed according to city code or Florida DOT manual.
- Interior window signs at or below 15 feet from pedestrian grade, not exceeding 25% of window glass area at that level and not obstructing safety view areas.
- Temporary signs on residential property not exceeding six square feet.
- Signage identifying property address for 911/emergency purposes, clearly visible from right-of-way.
- Signs held by humans.
- Temporary, permanent, and portable government monuments, markers, and signs on public property (where not otherwise prohibited for safety).
- Home based business signs pursuant to section 94-83.
- Historical markers (subject to section 94-61), if part of authorized programs.
- Signs entirely within the confines of a commercial establishment and not viewable from a public right-of-way.
- Warning signs.
- Temporary signs approved under outdoor entertainment event permit.
- Any sign erected or temporarily placed by the city or other governmental body.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any person may request that a sign or signs be approved as part of an overall proposed development plan for a particular land development project; in such cases, plans and specifications of the sign(s) shall be submitted with those for the land development project and reviewed in conjunction with the site plan review, aesthetic review, and building permit review (Sec. 94-32(b)).
- Aesthetic review may be required under sections 22-36 et seq., City Code, including review by the community appearance board.
- If a variance, waiver, or other zoning approval is requested with a sign application, a variance may be granted per the procedures in chapter 110, article II; variance hearings may be required as part of the approval process.
- Wall murals require approval under the community appearance review standards set forth in sections 22-36 et seq., City Code, before being permitted.
- In cases where a sign application is denied, the applicant may appeal to the construction board of adjustment, which holds a hearing and decides the appeal.

## 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 Cape Canaveral — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Cape+Canaveral+FL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-cape-canaveral

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