# Sign Regulations in Chipley, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chipley, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/chipley
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Chipley/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH30SI)

## At a glance

Chipley, Florida regulates 13 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Outdoor Advertising Sign (Billboard)s in the Commercial land use districts (C), Industrial land use districts (I) zoning district are capped at 38 ft tall, 600 sq ft total, 300 sq ft per sign face, and 30 ft wide, with a Min 20 ft from property line; min 750 ft from another billboard. setback (Sec. Sec. 30-7). Most commercial signs in Chipley require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial land use districts (C), Industrial land use districts (I) | 7 | 38 ft | 600 sq ft total, 300 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Residential developments | 4 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft per face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Commercial land use districts (C), Industrial land use districts (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 18-30 ft (depending on frontage) | Max area for individual sign: 24-100 sq ft (depending on frontage) | — | Minimum from property line: 10-50 ft (based on sign size and frontage) | 1-3, based on frontage per Table 30-1 | On property frontage per Table 30-1; not within right-of-way; must comply with visibility triangle and spacing from other signs. | — | Sec. 30-6(a,c)(1); Sec. 30-9; Table 30-1 |
| Building Sign (Wall, Window, Marquee, etc.) | 18 ft except one allowed above 18 ft on buildings with more than two stories | 144 sq ft per side (10% of facade area if less) | — | — | For principal building: 1 per side. For occupant in multi-occupancy: up to 3 on unit exterior per side. | On any exterior portion of complex that is part of occupant's unit; for multiple-occupancy, one per side of principal building, plus up to three per occupant in that unit area, per side. | — | Sec. 30-6(a,c)(2); Sec. 30-9 |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign (Billboard) | 38 ft | 600 sq ft total, 300 sq ft per sign face | 30 ft | Min 20 ft from property line; min 750 ft from another billboard. | Not specified (controlled by spacing requirements). | Not within 100 ft of a residential dwelling; placement on property in C/I zone only. | — | Sec. 30-7 |
| Time-Temperature-Date Sign (Permanent Accessory) | Same as ground/building sign standards. | Subject to sign area formula for other accessory signs. | — | — | Counted as part of overall sign allowance. | Commercially developed parcels only. | — | Sec. 30-6(d) |
| Directional Sign (Permanent Accessory; Non-advertising) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On all parcels. | — | Sec. 30-6(e) |
| Automated Message Sign (Permanent Accessory) | Same as ground/building signs. | Subject to sign area formula for other accessory signs. | — | — | Counted towards overall permitted signs. | Commercially developed parcels. | — | Sec. 30-6(f) |
| Temporary Sign | 12 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 2 per parcel | On parcel; not in right-of-way; must be removed at end of business day. | — | Sec. 30-4, 30-5(c) |

### Residential developments

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Development Entrance Sign | — | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per entrance per abutting street | At entrance(s) to development. | — | Sec. 30-10(a) |
| Utility Sign | 3 ft | 0.5 sq ft | — | — | — | Utility areas within residential development. | — | Sec. 30-10(b) |
| Temporary Sign (Single Family/Duplex) | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per sign (12 sq ft total) | — | — | 2 per parcel | On parcel with single-family/two-family dwelling. | — | Sec. 30-5(a) |
| Temporary Sign (Multifamily) | 8 ft | 6 sq ft per sign (24 sq ft total) | — | — | 4 per parcel | On parcel with multifamily (more than 2 units). | — | Sec. 30-5(b) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Exempt Sign | — | 2 sq ft (general). Legal notices/official, see text. | — | — | — | Not in right-of-way; not hazardous. | — | Sec. 30-2 |
| Temporary Sign | 12 ft | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per parcel (max; except as otherwise provided in residential) | On private property; not in right-of-way. | — | Sec. 30-4, 30-5 |
| Directional Sign (Permanent) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On all parcels. | — | Sec. 30-6(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Chipley

- It is unlawful to erect, cause to be erected, maintain, or cause to be maintained any sign not expressly authorized by or exempted from this chapter.
- Signs that are in violation of the building code or electrical code adopted by the city.
- Any sign that constitutes a safety hazard or obstructs right-of-way, including those creating a vision triangle impairment.
- Snipe signs (tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or attached to trees, telephone poles, or fences).
- Signs that incorporate projected images.
- Signs with lights or illuminations that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, or vary in intensity or color, except for time-temperature-date and automated message signs.
- Roof signs of all types.
- Signs that involve the use of live animals intended to attract attention.
- Signs that emit audible sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam.
- Signs or sign structures that interfere with fire escape, emergency exit, or standpipe, or that obstruct any window to the extent that light or ventilation is reduced below code requirements.
- Signs that resemble any official sign or marker erected by any governmental agency.
- Signs that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair vision of any motorist, cyclist or pedestrian using or entering a public way, or that are a hazard or nuisance to occupants due to glare or other characteristics.
- Signs with lighting or control mechanisms that cause unreasonable interference with radio, television, or other communication signals.
- Searchlights used to advertise or promote a business or attract customers to a property.
- Signs painted, pasted, or printed on any curbstone, flagstone, pavement, or sidewalk/street, except house numbers and traffic control signs.
- Signs placed upon benches, bus shelters or waste receptacles, except as authorized in writing pursuant to F.S. § 337.407.
- Signs erected on public property, or on private property located on public property, other than signs erected by public authority for public purposes and signs authorized in writing pursuant to F.S. § 337.407.
- Signs erected over or across any public street except as expressly authorized by this chapter, and except governmental signs erected by or on the order of a public officer.
- Vehicle signs with a total sign area on any vehicle in excess of ten square feet when the vehicle is not regularly used in the conduct of the business advertised.
- Signs displaying copy that is harmful to minors.
- No signage permitted in hedges.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chipley

- Signs not designed or located to be visible from any street or adjoining property.
- Signs of two square feet or less and signs with no letters, symbols, logos, or designs in excess of two inches in dimension (provided not prohibited by section 30-3).
- Signs necessary to promote health, safety, and welfare and other regulatory, statutory, traffic control, or directional signs erected on public property with appropriate permission.
- Legal notices and official instruments, including temporary political signs announcing a campaign drive or event (not erected in a public right-of-way and removed within 15 days after the event).
- Decorative flags and bunting for a community celebration, convention, or commemoration when authorized by city council for a prescribed time.
- Holiday lights and decorations.
- Merchandise displays behind storefront windows, as long as no part moves or contains flashing lights.
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names and dates cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or incombustible materials and attached to a building surface.
- Signs incorporated into machinery or equipment by a manufacturer or distributor which advertise only the product/service dispensed (e.g., vending machines, newspaper racks, telephone booths, gasoline pumps).
- Signs permanently affixed to the door, body, or bumper of vehicles (taxicabs, buses, trailers, trucks) for company/business identification.
- Public warning signs to indicate dangers such as trespassing, unfriendly animals, or similar hazards.
- Works of art that do not constitute advertising.
- Signs carried by a person.
- Holiday displays.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Building signs for multiple-occupancy complexes constructed or remodeled after the effective date of this ordinance must conform to an approved sign format. The sign format must be submitted for authorization to erect such a sign and maintained on file with the planning and zoning department. The format must be presented as a plan or sketch, with written specifications detailed enough for city building official authorization. A revised plan and specifications are required for any format modifications, subject to approval by the director.
- Signs larger than the specified dimensions at entrances to residential developments may be approved by the city subject to the provision of an architectural plan, blueprint, and landscaping plan indicating conformity to the development design.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Chipley, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Chipley+FL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-chipley

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