# Sign Regulations in Dunnellon, Florida

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

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

## At a glance

Dunnellon, Florida regulates 29 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Political Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 ft (residential); 10 ft (nonresidential) tall and 6 sq ft per face (residential); 16 sq ft per face (nonresidential), with a 5 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from property lines setback (Sec. Section 11.15). Most commercial signs in Dunnellon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| One-family dwelling (R-1), Single-family residential (R-1A), Single-family residential (R-1B), One- and two-family dwelling (R-2), Agricultural (A-1), Residential business office (RBO) | 6 | 8 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| Multiple dwelling (R-3) | 5 | 5 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| Tourist oriented residential (R-5) | 4 | — | 60 sq ft per face; up to 2 faces | — |
| Mobile home park or subdivisions (MH) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Planned unit development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Neighborhood business residential (NBR) | 2 | 4 ft above finished grade | 24 sq ft | — |
| Community business (B-2) | 4 | — | — | — |
| Central business (B-3) | 2 | Ground signs max 12 ft | Aggregate area of all signs: 3 sq ft per building frontage ft OR 1 sq ft per property frontage ft, whichever greater | — |
| General business (B-4), Wholesale business (B-5) | 1 | 12 ft (ground signs) | Aggregate for all signs: 5 sq ft per building frontage ft OR 2 sq ft per property frontage ft, whichever greater | — |
| Water-oriented commercial (B-6) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Public (P) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Parkland (PK), Parkland-open space (PKO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 5 ft (residential); 10 ft (nonresidential) | 32 sq ft (R-1, R-2); 40 sq ft (other zones) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### One-family dwelling (R-1), Single-family residential (R-1A), Single-family residential (R-1B), One- and two-family dwelling (R-2), Agricultural (A-1), Residential business office (RBO)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Wall or ground sign on property being advertised | — | Section 11.3(a) |
| Wall or Ground Sign (Prohibition, Safety, Caution) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property | — | Section 11.3(b) |
| Identification Wall Sign (Non-residential Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street side | On each street side of a lot containing permitted nonresidential use | — | Section 11.3(c) |
| Bulletin Sign (Non-residential Use) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street side | On each street side of a lot containing permitted nonresidential use | — | Section 11.3(c) |
| Subdivision or Project Ground Sign | 8 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | 2 | At subdivision under development | — | Section 11.3(d), (e) |
| Ground Sign (General restriction) | 4 ft | — | — | — | — | On property | — | Section 11.3(e) |

### Multiple dwelling (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Wall or ground sign on property being advertised | — | Section 11.4(1), refers to 11.3(a) |
| Identification Wall or Ground Sign (Rooming House) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At rooming house | — | Section 11.4(2) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Dwelling) | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street side | At multiple dwelling | — | Section 11.4(3) |
| Ground Sign (general restriction) | 5 ft | — | — | — | — | On property | — | Section 11.4(b) |
| Other signs from R-1/R-2 allowed (see above) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section 11.4(1); refers to Section 11.3 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Signs | — | 32 sq ft (R-1, R-2); 40 sq ft (other zones) | — | 15 ft from property lines | 1 per street side (R-1, R-2); 1 per lot (others) | On-premises, per abutting street | — | Section 11.13 |
| Political Signs | 5 ft (residential); 10 ft (nonresidential) | 6 sq ft per face (residential); 16 sq ft per face (nonresidential) | — | 5 ft from right-of-way; 15 ft from property lines | 1 per candidate/issue per parcel | On private property only | — | Section 11.15 |
| Temporary Non-commercial Message Signs | — | As temporary sign, not exceeding size of allowed temporary sign | — | — | 1 | On property | — | Section 11.2 (Temporary sign); Section 11.16 |
| Nameplate (Home Occupation) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On residence with home occupation | — | Section 9.1(r)(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Dunnellon

- No sign shall be permitted on a lot either as a main or accessory use except in accordance with the provisions of Article XI (Signs). (11.1)
- No signs shall be projecting or animated in R-1, R-1A, R-1B, R-2, RBO and A-1 districts. (11.3)
- No sign shall be animated or projecting in R-3 district. (11.4)
- No sign shall be animated or projecting in R-5 district. (11.5)
- Advertising signs (billboards) are prohibited. (11.12)
- Strip lighting to outline a structure is prohibited in residential and agricultural districts; neon strip lighting and/or streamer lights prohibited above roof level of any building. (11.11)
- All billboards, except for baseball scoreboards or those authorized by federal, state or county law, are prohibited in the city. (11.12)
- No sign shall be placed within specified distances (25 feet or 50 feet) of any residentially zoned property depending on the business district. (11.8, 11.9)
- No sign shall be located within the visibility triangle required for intersections. (10.8.1, 8.10-2(e)(10), 3.11, 11.10)
- No sign (temporary or permanent) shall be illuminated in a residential district.
- Political signs shall not be placed within public rights-of-way. (11.15(2))
- Political signs in residential districts shall not exceed six square feet per face and must be temporary; in non-residential districts, not to exceed 16 square feet. (11.15(3))
- Political signs in residential areas must be wholly on private property, placed at least 5 feet from all rights-of-way and 15 feet from all property lines and not exceed five feet in height. (11.15(4))
- No sign shall be erected, moved, altered or maintained without conforming to all requirements of the ordinance.
- No sign installed in violation of this article shall be permitted; such signs must be removed or brought into compliance. The sign owner, property owner and contractor are each held responsible. (11.19)
- No sign is allowed above the eaves of the building or structures in the historic district. (11.10(3)(f))
- Billboards are prohibited in the historic district. (11.10(3)(h))
- Freestanding signs in the historic district cannot be internally illuminated unless approved by the historic preservation board. (11.10(4)(f))
- All nonconforming signs that are moved, replaced or structurally altered must be brought into conformance. If damaged more than 50% of replacement value, may not be reconstructed or repaired. (11.17)
- Signs must not be located in a manner that restricts line of sight or causes a danger to the public.
- No sign requiring a permit shall be maintained in disrepair, partial illumination over 14 days, or with cracked/broken material. (11.18(b))
- Immediate removal or repair of signs may be ordered if they present an immediate and serious danger to the public. (11.20)
- No temporary sign (e.g. construction sign) is to be erected more than 60 days prior to construction or remain after completion. (11.13)
- No sign (other than government flags) is allowed that constitutes a hazard, obstruction, or interference with traffic visibility.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dunnellon

- Official flags of the United States and the State of Florida are exempt from sign provisions. (11.2, 11.10(2))
- Wayfinding signage as part of a city-sponsored and coordinated program is permitted and exempt from typical sign limitations. (11.2)
- Noncommercial messages may be displayed on any otherwise permissible sign structure, in lieu of commercial copy, as long as size, lighting and spacing comply. (11.16)
- Bona fide agricultural activities are exempt from landscape article but not specifically from sign regulations. (10.3(c)(1))
- Real estate signs advertising sale, rental, or development of the premises on which they are located are permitted as temporary signs without a permit if less than the size thresholds (6 sq ft in residential, more allowed for subdivision/development). (11.3(a), 11.3(d), 11.2)
- Temporary signs for political campaigns are allowed, subject to restrictions, and do not require a permit if within size and duration limits. (11.15)
- Temporary signs for non-commercial message signs are allowed for up to 30 days per 12-month period, shall not require a permit and are limited to one sign per parcel in certain districts. (11.2, definition: 'Temporary sign')

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign plan is required at the time of development plan/site plan review for mobile home parks (see 9.2(a)(6): 'Plans for signs, if any, at entryways to the mobile home park.').
- Sign standards and a unified sign design are required for multiple tenant buildings or shopping centers in the NBR district. (8.10-2(e)(4))
- A development or site plan showing sign locations may be required as part of development review and approval. (16.14(3)(d)6(vii))
- Sign plans must be submitted with the landscape/site plan and must comply with all applicable water-efficient landscaping standards if signs are located within landscaped areas. (10.6)
- Plans for signs at entryways are required as part of site development plan submittal for mobile home parks and for subdivisions. (9.2(a)(6), 9.2(b)(5))
- All signs are subject to design standards in the historic district and must be approved by the Historic Preservation Board; murals and flag banners are considered alternative signage and must be approved by the historic preservation board. (11.10(10))
- Monument signs, wall signs, and overall sign program must meet additional requirements in NBR district and may require city council approval as part of site plan. (8.10-2(e))
- No sign (including sign plans) may be placed within the required visibility triangle as defined in section 3.11 and 8.10-2(e)(10); site plans must respect this when planning sign locations.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/dunnellon