# Sign Regulations in Haverhill, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Haverhill, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/haverhill
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Haverhill/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH46SI)

## At a glance

Haverhill, Florida regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Temporary Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 ft (freestanding); 15 ft (wall/window sign) tall and See zone-specific regulations below (varies by zone), with a 3 ft from property line for ground signs; no setback for wall signs. setback (Sec. Sec. 46-52(d)-(k)). Most commercial signs in Haverhill require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 20 ft | If >24 sq ft: engineer design required. | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 4 | 6 ft (freestanding); 8 ft (wall-mounted) | 50 sq ft per street front | — |
| C-1 | 1 | 5 ft (freestanding); 15 ft (wall/window) | 32 sq ft (per side for back-to-back) | — |
| PBCD | 1 | 5 ft (freestanding); 15 ft (wall/window) | 16 sq ft (per side for back-to-back) | — |
| P-Public District | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 5 ft (freestanding); 15 ft (wall/window sign) | See zone-specific regulations below (varies by zone) | — | 3 ft from property line for ground signs; no setback for wall signs. | See zone-specific regulations below (varies by zone) | On private property with owner's permission; not on public property unless allowed by Code. | — | Sec. 46-52(d)-(k) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | — | — | 24 ft side setback (except instructional signs, see below); minimum 3 ft for temporary signs (see zone-specific). | Determined by lineal feet of frontage; see above. | Must be on private property, not over right-of-way or setback line. | — | Sec. 46-51; 46-68(a); 46-69(a) |
| Instructional Sign | 3.5 ft | 5 sq ft | — | 5 ft from any common property line | — | On private property | — | Sec. 46-68(a)(7) |
| Wall Sign (includes Flat, Painted, and Vee-shaped Sign) | Shall not project above top of wall except up to 3 ft (parapet norm). For temporary: 15 ft. | — | — | N/A | Not specified; determined by sign area formula. | Attached to building; edge no more than 18 in. beyond face; marquees considered part of building. | — | Sec. 46-51; 46-68(b); 46-69(b) |
| Projecting Sign | Not to project above roof/parapet unless designed per code; up to 2 ft above parapet if criteria met. | If >24 sq ft: engineer design required. | Width perpendicular to wall max 18 in (for sign projecting above parapet) | — | Same as allowed freestanding signs (projecting sign may be substituted for freestanding sign). | On private property, securely attached to structure. | — | Sec. 46-51; 46-69(c) |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Noncombustible, attached to sides/front of or hung under marquee. | — | Sec. 46-69(d) |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | 5 ft (freestanding), 15 ft (wall/window) | 6 sq ft (per side for back-to-back) | — | 3 ft (ground sign) | 8 per parcel (no more than 2 whether commercial in nature) | On private property in conformance with general temp sign regs and spacing/setback. | — | Sec. 46-52(d)-(l), Table 46-52(d) |
| Home Nameplate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 46-67(a) |
| Institutional Sign (Church, Temple, School, Hospital) | — | 50 sq ft per street front | — | 5 ft from building setback | — | At least 5 ft from building setback; not closer. | — | Sec. 46-67(a) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Place of Worship) | 6 ft (freestanding); 8 ft (wall-mounted) | 40 sq ft per face; electronic copy no more than 40% of total sign area | — | 20 ft from lot-line, 100 ft from residential lot, 15-20 ft from ROW | 1 per lot | On same lot as Place of Worship; only for lots with frontage on Haverhill Road, Belvedere Road, or Military Trail. | — | Sec. 46-69(g) |

### C-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (C-1) | 5 ft (freestanding); 15 ft (wall/window) | 32 sq ft (per side for back-to-back) | — | 3 ft (ground sign) | 4 per parcel (no more than 2 commercial in nature) | On private property in accordance with general temp sign rules. | — | Sec. 46-52(d)-(l), Table 46-52(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Haverhill

- Erecting or maintaining any sign not expressly authorized by, or exempted from, the Code.
- Signs in violation of the building code or electrical code.
- Any sign that constitutes a safety hazard.
- Blank temporary signs.
- Signs with visible moving, revolving, or rotating parts or any visible mechanical movement, except traditional barber poles.
- Signs with optical illusion of movement.
- Signs with lights or illuminations that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, or vary in intensity or color.
- Outline neon lighting used on commercially developed parcels for commercial purposes.
- Wind signs (banners, flags, pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers, captive balloons or similar moving materials).
- Signs with projected images, emitting sound to attract attention, or involving use of live animals.
- Signs emitting audible sound, odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam.
- Signs or structures interfering with fire escapes, emergency exits, or that obstruct windows reducing light or ventilation below code requirements.
- Signs resembling any official or government sign or marker, or which may conflict with or be confused with a traffic sign, signal or device.
- Signs obstructing the vision of pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists.
- Non-governmental signs using words like 'stop', 'look', 'danger', or other similar words or symbols.
- Signs within ten feet of public ROW or 100 feet of traffic-control lights containing red or green lights that might be confused with traffic controls.
- Signs of such intensity as to cause glare or impair vision of motorists, cyclists, or pedestrians, or constitute a hazard or nuisance due to glare or characteristics.
- Signs containing lighting mechanisms that interfere with radio, TV, or other communication signals.
- Searchlights used to advertise or promote business or attract customers.
- Signs painted, pasted, or printed on any curbstone, flagstone, pavement, sidewalk, or street, except house numbers and traffic control signs.
- Signs placed upon benches, bus shelters, or waste receptacles.
- Signs erected on public property or on private property (such as private utility poles) located on public property, other than public authority signs for public purposes.
- Signs erected over or across any public street except as expressly authorized, or by order of the town manager.
- Specified vehicle signs exceeding total sign area limits or improperly parked for advertising.
- Portable signs, as defined.
- Marquee signs, as defined, except where permitted under specific provision.
- Roof signs, as defined.
- Changeable copy signs, as defined (with exceptions in specific cases).
- Painted wall signs, as defined.
- Neon tube signs, as defined.
- Off-site/premise signs, as defined.
- Signs placed on boats or watercraft.
- Swinging signs.
- Snipe signs.
- Banners (outside explicitly permitted contexts).
- Signs preventing free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- Signs attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Signs or structures which by placement interfere with, obstruct or may be confused with any traffic control or emergency vehicle signal.
- Any sign or structure, other than directional signs erected by authorized officials, on or over public right-of-way, sidewalk, street or curb/building setback line (except as provided for wall sign projection clearance).
- Any sign not complying with terms, conditions and provisions of this chapter.
- Unauthorized signs on town property.
- Sidewalk, A-frame or sandwich signs.
- Animated signs (except time/temperature signs with 4–8 second complete sequence).
- Add-on signs unless permitted.
- Billboards (off-premises signs).
- Roof signs.
- Pylon signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Haverhill

- Temporary signs do not require a permit from the town.
- Section 46-52 does not regulate or apply to signage located in the interior of school yards, ball/play fields, or similar uses, where such signage is designed to face the interior and not to be viewed from adjacent roadways.
- Instructional signs are exempt from the limitation on total sign area and the 24-foot setback from common property lines, but must be at least 5 feet from any common property line and limited to specified size and height.
- Any sign authorized by chapter 46 is permitted to contain non-commercial copy in lieu of any other copy.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Master Sign Program Plan (MSP) is required for all non-residential development and may also be required as a condition of approval for any development order, including site plan approval, variance, rezoning, or change in land use.
- The MSP must include the total number of proposed signs or sign types, location of sign types, building elevations, drawings or sketches of generic sign types, a computation of allowed sign area (sign budget) for each sign and type, height, and proposed locations.
- The MSP shall be submitted at the time of any application and may be subject to conditions necessary to carry out the intent of the ordinance.
- An Alternate Sign Plan (ASP) may be submitted for non-residential properties seeking to exceed or vary the sign requirements for freestanding signs; approval requires town council consideration (supermajority or unanimous vote if variations exceed certain thresholds).
- To exceed or vary requirements with an ASP, the applicant must submit justification, project information, code references not met, alternatives, and additional documentation as required.
- Sign plan (MSP or ASP) is a prerequisite for approval in cases seeking exceptions or coordinated signage for non-residential uses.

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

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