# Sign Regulations in Clearwater, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clearwater, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/clearwater
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-30
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Clearwater/codes/Community_Development_Code?nodeId=PTICODECO_ART3DEST_DIV18SI)

## At a glance

Clearwater, Florida regulates 42 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Temporary Sidewalk Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3.5 feet (42 inches) tall, Not stated as sq ft; dimensions: max 2 ft wide × 3.5 ft tall (approx. 7 sq ft), and 2 feet wide, with a Maintain 4 ft clear path; not within sight visibility triangles setback (Sec. Section 3-1806.A; Table 3-1806.1a (including notes 1–3)). Most commercial signs in Clearwater require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | Flagpoles may not exceed 35 ft in height | 50 sq ft per major entry | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (LDR, LMDR, MDR, MHDR, HDR, MHP) | 7 | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 24 sq ft total sign face area | — |
| US 19 Zoning District | 11 | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft total on all faces across one or two signs, subject to the frontage/façade formula plus 15 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C) | 11 | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft total on all faces across one or two signs, subject to the frontage/façade formula plus 15 sq ft | — |
| Office District (O) | 11 | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft total on all faces across one or two signs, subject to the frontage/façade formula plus 15 sq ft | — |
| Institutional District (I) | 11 | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft total on all faces across one or two signs, subject to the frontage/façade formula plus 15 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Research and Technology District (IRT) | 11 | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 64 sq ft total on all faces across one or two signs, subject to the frontage/façade formula plus 15 sq ft | — |
| Tourist District (T) | 4 | Up to 6 ft tall | Not less than 24 sq ft and not more than 36 sq ft, subject to the formula | — |
| Downtown District (D) | 4 | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 16 sq ft per sign face (for back-to-back signs, 16 sq ft per side) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flagpoles and Flags | Flagpoles may not exceed 35 ft in height | Each flag may not exceed 24 sq ft (one side of the flag is counted) | — | — | Up to 2 flags per flagpole; number of flagpoles per parcel as stated in additional requirements | On private property; number of flagpoles depends on parcel size/use | — | Section 3-1805.D.1, D.3–D.5; Section 3-1805.G |
| Flag Brackets/Stanchions and Flags | — | Each flag displayed from a flag bracket or stanchion may not exceed 24 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 flag brackets/stanchions per principal structure | Up to two flag brackets or stanchions may be attached or placed for each principal structure | — | Section 3-1805.D.2; Section 3-1805.G |
| Drive-Through Menu Sign (Attached) | — | Up to 6 sq ft total sign face area | — | — | Attached menu signs: no more than the stated size; number not explicitly limited beyond location at entrance or window | At the entrance or service window of a restaurant drive-through lane | — | Section 3-1805.J |
| Drive-Through Order Sign (Freestanding) | Up to 6 ft tall | Up to 24 sq ft total sign face area | — | — | One per drive-through lane/service point | Oriented toward vehicles utilizing drive-through service for placing or picking up orders | — | Section 3-1805.J |
| Marina Wayfinding Sign (Government) | Up to 6 ft tall | Up to 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | Up to 2 by default; more may be approved based on criteria | At marinas, coordinated with the city | — | Section 3-1805.N.2 |
| Transit Shelter Advertising Sign | Up to 6 ft panel height for advertising panel | Each poster may not exceed 24 sq ft; overall panel up to 6 ft high by 4 ft wide | Up to 4 ft panel width for advertising panel | — | Citywide cap of 50 transit shelters with advertising | On approved transit shelters | — | Section 3-1807.B.5 |
| Temporary Sidewalk Sign (A-frame/Sandwich Board) | 3.5 feet (42 inches) | Not stated as sq ft; dimensions: max 2 ft wide × 3.5 ft tall (approx. 7 sq ft) | 2 feet | Maintain 4 ft clear path; not within sight visibility triangles | 1 per business (except up to 2 per parcel under construction-adjacent option) | In front of primary retail and restaurants within the linear footage of the storefront; also in the immediate vicinity of parking garages/lots and valet stands; allowed on public property/right-of-way | — | Section 3-1806.A; Table 3-1806.1a (including notes 1–3) |
| School Freestanding Sign | 14 ft | 50 sq ft per major entry | — | — | 1 per major entry | On school grounds in any zoning district except the Downtown District. | — | § 3-1807.C: On any school grounds in any zoning district, except the Downtown District, one freestanding sign per major entry, not more than 50 sq ft in total sign face area; height not to exceed 14 ft; installed in landscaped area at least 3 ft wide around entire base; must include address. |

### US 19 Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Freestanding (Non-Residential) | Up to 6 ft tall | Up to 16 sq ft per sign face (for back-to-back signs, 16 sq ft per side) | — | At least 5 ft from property lines and from edge of any paved street/road; maintain 15 ft radial spacing from other temporary freestanding signs | Up to 4 per parcel (with no more than 2 being commercial temporary signs; only 1 banner sign allowed and only for up to 30 days/year) | On private property; not on public property or in public right-of-way; not within sight visibility triangles | — | Section 3-1806.A–B; Table 3-1806.1b (Non-Residential column, notes 1–6) |
| Temporary Sign - Attached (Non-Residential) | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 16 sq ft per sign face (for back-to-back attached signs, 16 sq ft per side) | — | Minimum yard setbacks do not apply to attached signs | Up to 4 per parcel (with commercial/banner limits as noted) | Affixed to a building or structure on private property; not on public property or in public right-of-way; not within sight visibility triangles | — | Section 3-1806.A–B; Table 3-1806.1b (Non-Residential column, notes 1–6) |
| Attached Sign - Primary Facade | — | Up to 24 sq ft, or up to 3% of the primary facade but not more than 36 sq ft | — | — | One attached sign per building structure; in multi-tenant ground-floor buildings, one per tenant with a principal exterior entrance | On the primary building facade. For multi-tenant buildings, one attached sign per tenant with a principal exterior entrance. | — | Section 3-1807.B (intro) and 3-1807.B.4.a |
| Attached Sign - Corner/Through Lot Additional Wall | — | As calculated by formula | — | — | One per street-facing wall on corner/through lots (in addition to primary facade sign allowance) | On each building wall (façade) abutting a street frontage for corner or through lots | — | Section 3-1807.B.4.b–c |
| Attached Sign - Rear Entrance Additional Sign | — | Up to 16 sq ft | — | — | One additional rear entrance sign per eligible business | Above or adjacent to a rear public entrance facing parking lots or a rear public entrance facing Clearwater Harbor or Mandalay Channel with boating access | — | Section 3-1807.B.4.e |
| Freestanding Sign - Standard Parcel | Up to 14 ft, and in all cases no taller than 1.5 times the width of the sign structure | Up to 24 sq ft by default; up to 36 sq ft if qualifying under the formula and design criteria | — | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines; must maintain sight visibility at intersections/driveways | One freestanding sign per parcel (two faces allowed) | On private property serving the parcel proposed for development | — | Section 3-1807.B.1.a, c–h; 3-1807.B.1.d–e (design criteria i–vi); 3-1805.E |
| Freestanding Sign - Corner or Through Lot (Option) | Up to 14 ft, and in all cases no taller than 1.5 times the width of the sign structure | Up to 64 sq ft total on all faces across one or two signs, subject to the frontage/façade formula plus 15 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines; must maintain sight visibility at intersections/driveways | Option to erect two freestanding signs (one per street frontage) in lieu of one | One sign on each street frontage (if two signs are chosen) | — | Section 3-1807.B.1.b, c, e–h |
| Freestanding Sign - Elevated Roadway Frontage (US 19/McMullen Booth) (Option) | Permitted height up to 14 ft above the top of the adjacent barrier wall (for US 19 or McMullen Booth Road elevated roadways); if two barrier walls exist (frontage road vs. center of US 19), height may be up to 14 ft above the higher barrier wall | Subject to the same area limits/formulas as other freestanding signs for this zone | — | Minimum 5 ft from property lines; must maintain sight visibility | One qualifying freestanding sign with elevated-height allowance | Sites fronting an elevated roadway (including US 19 and McMullen Booth Road) with limited visibility | — | Section 3-1807.B.1.i |

### Commercial District (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign - Freestanding (Non-Residential) | Up to 6 ft tall | Up to 16 sq ft per sign face (for back-to-back signs, 16 sq ft per side) | — | At least 5 ft from property lines and from edge of any paved street/road; maintain 15 ft radial spacing from other temporary freestanding signs | Up to 4 per parcel (with no more than 2 being commercial temporary signs; only 1 banner sign allowed and only for up to 30 days/year) | On private property; not on public property or in public right-of-way; not within sight visibility triangles | — | Section 3-1806.A–B; Table 3-1806.1b (Non-Residential column, notes 1–6) |
| Temporary Sign - Attached (Non-Residential) | Maximum mounting height 15 ft | Up to 16 sq ft per sign face (for back-to-back attached signs, 16 sq ft per side) | — | Minimum yard setbacks do not apply to attached signs | Up to 4 per parcel (with commercial/banner limits as noted) | Affixed to a building or structure on private property; not on public property or in public right-of-way; not within sight visibility triangles | — | Section 3-1806.A–B; Table 3-1806.1b (Non-Residential column, notes 1–6) |
| Attached Sign - Primary Facade | — | Up to 24 sq ft, or up to 3% of the primary facade but not more than 36 sq ft | — | — | One attached sign per building structure; in multi-tenant ground-floor buildings, one per tenant with a principal exterior entrance | On the primary building facade. For multi-tenant buildings, one attached sign per tenant with a principal exterior entrance. | — | Section 3-1807.B (intro) and 3-1807.B.4.a |
| Attached Sign - Corner/Through Lot Additional Wall | — | As calculated by formula | — | — | One per street-facing wall on corner/through lots (in addition to primary facade sign allowance) | On each building wall (façade) abutting a street frontage for corner or through lots | — | Section 3-1807.B.4.b–c |
| Attached Sign - Rear Entrance Additional Sign | — | Up to 16 sq ft | — | — | One additional rear entrance sign per eligible business | Above or adjacent to a rear public entrance facing parking lots or a rear public entrance facing Clearwater Harbor or Mandalay Channel with boating access | — | Section 3-1807.B.4.e |
| Freestanding Sign - Standard Parcel | Up to 14 ft, and in all cases no taller than 1.5 times the width of the sign structure | Up to 24 sq ft by default; up to 36 sq ft if qualifying under the formula and design criteria | — | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines; must maintain sight visibility at intersections/driveways | One freestanding sign per parcel (two faces allowed) | On private property serving the parcel proposed for development | — | Section 3-1807.B.1.a, c–h; 3-1807.B.1.d–e (design criteria i–vi); 3-1805.E |
| Freestanding Sign - Corner or Through Lot (Option) | Up to 14 ft, and in all cases no taller than 1.5 times the width of the sign structure | Up to 64 sq ft total on all faces across one or two signs, subject to the frontage/façade formula plus 15 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from all property lines; must maintain sight visibility at intersections/driveways | Option to erect two freestanding signs (one per street frontage) in lieu of one | One sign on each street frontage (if two signs are chosen) | — | Section 3-1807.B.1.b, c, e–h |
| Freestanding Sign - Elevated Roadway Frontage (US 19/McMullen Booth) (Option) | Permitted height up to 14 ft above the top of the adjacent barrier wall (for US 19 or McMullen Booth Road elevated roadways); if two barrier walls exist (frontage road vs. center of US 19), height may be up to 14 ft above the higher barrier wall | Subject to the same area limits/formulas as other freestanding signs for this zone | — | Minimum 5 ft from property lines; must maintain sight visibility | One qualifying freestanding sign with elevated-height allowance | Sites fronting an elevated roadway (including US 19 and McMullen Booth Road) with limited visibility | — | Section 3-1807.B.1.i |

## Prohibited signs in Clearwater

- Feather/flutter signs; wind-activated signs; air-dancer/sky-dancer signs
- Bench signs
- Billboards
- Discontinued signs (unless brought into conformity within three months after notice)
- Electronic changeable message signs unless expressly allowed by this Division (or existing, legally nonconforming time/temperature or limited-frequency signs)
- Pavement markings, except street addresses
- Portable signs
- Roof and above-roof signs
- Sidewalk signs, except as provided in Section 3-1806
- Signs attached to or painted on piers or seawalls, other than official regulatory or warning signs
- Signs in or upon any river, bay, lake, or other body of water
- Permanent signs located on publicly owned land, public easements, or inside street rights-of-way (except government signs or authorized transit shelter signage)
- Signs that emit sound, vapor, smoke, odor, particles, or gaseous matter
- Signs with unshielded illumination or that reflect lighting onto public rights-of-way creating a traffic or pedestrian hazard
- Signs that move, revolve, twirl, rotate, flash, scintillate, blink, flutter, or appear to display motion in any way (including animated, multi-prism, tri-vision, floodlights, and beacon lights) unless expressly allowed or required by a governmental agency
- Signs that obstruct, conceal, hide, or obscure from view any traffic control device or official traffic signal
- Signs that present a traffic or pedestrian hazard, including those that obstruct visibility
- Signs attached to or placed on any tree or other vegetation
- Signs carried, waved, or otherwise displayed by persons on or visible from public rights-of-way when intended to draw attention for a commercial purpose (does not limit demonstrations, political rallies, and similar events)
- Snipe signs
- Three-dimensional objects used as signs
- Vehicle signs and portable trailer signs
- Any permanent sign not specifically described or enumerated as permitted within the zoning district classifications in the Community Development Code
- No sign shall be located within five feet of a property line (flexibility may be approved by the Community Development Coordinator if site constraints exist and sight visibility is not negatively impacted)
- No sign may have blinking, flashing, or fluttering lights or other illumination devices with changing light intensity, brightness, color, or direction; no colored lights that could be confused with traffic-control devices; illumination must not create traffic hazards and must be shaded/shielded or directed away from streets and adjacent properties

## Signs exempt from permit in Clearwater

- Signs located entirely inside a building or enclosed space, other than window signs
- A sign on a car, other than a prohibited vehicle sign or signs
- Statutory signs
- Traffic control device signs
- Any sign not visible from a public street, sidewalk, right-of-way, or from a navigable waterway or body of water (this exemption does not apply to a commercial-use sign that is visible from an abutting residential use)
- Government signs
- Banners erected within the public right-of-way or on public property if part of a city banner program

## 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 9 zoning districts in Clearwater — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Clearwater+FL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-clearwater

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