# Sign Regulations in Hawthorne, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hawthorne, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/hawthorne
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Hawthorne/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH2AD_ARTVCOEN_DIV3CIPR_S2-279RESIACCI)

## At a glance

Hawthorne, Florida regulates 37 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (RW 0-75 ft)s in the Commercial, neighborhood (CN), Commercial, general (CG), Commercial, central business district (C-CBD), Commercial intensive and warehousing (CIW), Industrial, light (IL), Industrial (I) zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft. per face, with a 10 ft. from property line fronting ROW (Sec 4.2.20.8.E) setback (Sec. Sec. 4.2.20.11.B.1.b). Most commercial signs in Hawthorne require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation (CSV) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Agricultural (A) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential, single-family (RSF-1, RSF-2, RSF-3), Residential, (mixed) single-family/mobile home (RSF/MH-1, RSF/MH-2, RSF/MH-3), Residential, mobile home (RMH-1, RMH-2, RMH-3), Residential, mobile home park (RMH-P), Residential, multiple-family (RMF-1, RMF-2) | 5 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per side | — |
| Residential/office (RO) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Commercial, neighborhood (CN), Commercial, general (CG), Commercial, central business district (C-CBD), Commercial intensive and warehousing (CIW), Industrial, light (IL), Industrial (I) | 13 | 55 ft. | 650 sq. ft. per face | — |
| Planned unit development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 18 | 40 ft. | 32 sq. ft. (non-residential), 6 sq. ft. (residential), see per use | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential, single-family (RSF-1, RSF-2, RSF-3), Residential, (mixed) single-family/mobile home (RSF/MH-1, RSF/MH-2, RSF/MH-3), Residential, mobile home (RMH-1, RMH-2, RMH-3), Residential, mobile home park (RMH-P), Residential, multiple-family (RMF-1, RMF-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Multiple-Family Development Entrance Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 at entrance; 1 for additional entrance; 2 attached allowed if wall/fence | At entrance to subdivision or multi-family development | — | Sec. 4.2.20.9.A |
| Institutional and Non-Residential Uses Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 | At site of institutional/non-residential use in residential district | — | Sec. 4.2.20.9.B |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft. (for freestanding) | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per dwelling | On residential property | — | Sec. 4.2.20.10 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On principal building, at entrance | — | Sec. 4.2.29(3) |
| Temporary Sign (Option: Real Estate, Sale or Lease, Occasional Sale) | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per dwelling; at most 2 may be commercial | On the property for sale, lease, or occasional sale | — | Sec. 4.2.20.10 |

### Commercial, neighborhood (CN), Commercial, general (CG), Commercial, central business district (C-CBD), Commercial intensive and warehousing (CIW), Industrial, light (IL), Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (RW 0-75 ft) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from property line fronting ROW (Sec 4.2.20.8.E) | 1 per street frontage (may have up to 2 on site under frontage rules, see below). | At site frontage | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.B.1.b |
| Freestanding Sign (RW 76-120 ft) | 12 ft. | 64 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from property line fronting ROW | 1 per street frontage (may have 2 if over 400 ft of frontage) | At site frontage | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.B.1.b |
| Freestanding Sign (RW >120 ft) | 14 ft. | 128 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from property line fronting ROW | 1 per street frontage (may have 2 if over 400 ft of frontage) | At site frontage | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.B.1.b |
| Attached/Wall Sign (Single-tenant Building) | — | 150 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per facade length formula, plus up to 4 attached (see above). | Building facade | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.B.2.a |
| Directional Sign (U.S. 301 and S.R. 20 Corridors) | 8 ft. | 20 sq. ft. per face | — | — | — | On site, for direction | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.C.2 |
| Freestanding On-site Identification Sign (U.S. 301 and S.R. 20 Corridors) | 55 ft. | 650 sq. ft. per face | — | 10 ft. from front property line | 1 per lot/parcel | On site, per lot or parcel on corridor | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.C.1, C.5, C.6 |
| Menu Board (Drive-thru Restaurant - U.S. 301 and S.R. 20 Corridors) | — | 60 sq. ft. face | — | — | up to 2 | Adjacent to and oriented toward drive-through | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.C.3 |
| Truck Scale Sign (U.S. 301 and S.R. 20 Corridors) | 24 ft. | 80 sq. ft. per face | — | — | — | Truck scale | — | Sec. 4.2.20.11.C.4 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Memorial Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 4.2.20.6.B |
| Flag | 40 ft. | 20 sq. ft. per flag, 3 allowed | — | — | up to 3 | — | — | Sec. 4.2.20.6.D |
| Unlit Occupational Sign for Home Occupation | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Building | — | Sec. 4.2.20.6.I |
| Menu Board (restaurant entry, wall mounted) | — | Standard size | — | — | — | Restaurant entrance | — | Sec. 4.2.20.6.J |
| Menu Board (Drive-thru Facilty) | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | up to 2 | Adjacent to drive-thru | — | Sec. 4.2.20.6.K |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 4.2.20.6.N |
| Temporary Sign (General) | 8 ft. (non-res), 4 ft. (res), see per use | 32 sq. ft. (non-residential), 6 sq. ft. (residential), see per use | — | — | 1 during construction; 1 other per building/storefront; 3 per dwelling in residential | On building or freestanding | — | Sec. 4.2.20.12 |
| Off-premises Sign (Non-Billboard, Not Residential) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft. from right-of-way line | 2 per business/institution | — | — | Sec. 4.2.20.13.B |

## Prohibited signs in Hawthorne

- Animated signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Flashing signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Snipe signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Sandwich signs and portable signs are prohibited except as specifically permitted.
- Beacon lights are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs located or attached to trash receptacles are prohibited except as specifically permitted by the city commission.
- Signs on public property are prohibited.
- Any sign which displays any statement, word, character, or illustration of an obscene, indecent or immoral nature is prohibited.
- Any sign erected in a manner that would impede ingress and egress through any door or emergency exit of any building or any sign erected on a fire escape or any other public safety device is prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, vapor, particles, odor or sounds are prohibited.
- Parasite signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Illegal signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Fence signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Revolving signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Bench signs are prohibited except as provided for in these regulations.
- Gutter signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No illuminated sign may be placed within 30 feet of any residential zoning district.
- No sign shall be erected in the clear sight triangle which will impair visibility at a street intersection or driveway entrance.
- Signs shall not be located within any public easement, construction easement or similar easement.
- All signs must comply with the Florida Building Code.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected, or structurally altered without a sign permit except as specifically exempted.
- No sign shall be erected, maintained, or replaced without first securing a sign permit unless specifically exempted.
- Advertising flags are prohibited within the city.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hawthorne

- Public safety signs that comply with regulations are allowed without a permit in all zoning districts.
- Memorial signs not exceeding six square feet in area are allowed without a permit.
- Instructional signs are allowed without a permit.
- Up to three flags up to 20 square feet in area and up to 40 feet tall on any premise are allowed without a permit.
- Membership signs not exceeding one-half square foot of area are allowed without a permit.
- Building address numbers are allowed without a permit.
- Open and closed signs not to exceed four square feet in area are allowed without a permit.
- Signs within buildings which are not visible from a public street or sidewalk are allowed without a permit.
- Unlit occupational signs for home occupations, up to three square feet, attached to the building, are allowed without a permit.
- Standard sized menus mounted on the wall in cabinets at restaurant entrances are allowed without a permit.
- Up to two menu boards of no more than 20 square feet each located at drive-through facilities are allowed without a permit.
- Signs required by an authorized governmental entity including decals affixed to fuel pumps are allowed without a permit.
- Change of copy on a permitted changeable copy or electronic message center sign is allowed without a permit; message changes no more than once in 24 hours.
- Directional signs not to exceed four feet in height and six square feet are allowed without a permit.
- Signs carried by an individual bearing no advertising are allowed without a permit.
- Sandwich signs or portable signs by food, drink, or retail establishments, when displayed only during business hours, are allowed without a permit.
- Holiday lights, decorations, or displays that are clearly incidental and customary for any national, local, or religious holiday are allowed without a permit.
- Temporary signs allowed in accordance with the article are allowed without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as provided for in these regulations, all new, reconstructed, or replaced signs require a permit issued by the city demonstrating compliance.
- An application for a sign must be accompanied by detailed drawings showing scale, dimensions, design, structure, colors, elevation, and location of each sign; one application/permit may include multiple signs on the same development site.
- A plan must be submitted with every application for a building permit for any building or use that is required to provide off-street parking; the plan must designate required parking spaces, access aisles, driveways, and their relation to the uses/structures served.
- For off-street loading, a plan shall be submitted with every application for a building permit for any use or structure required to provide off-street loading facilities; the plan shall designate the required off-street loading spaces, access thereto, dimensions, and clearance.
- Comprehensive sign programs (sometimes called master sign plans) may be applied for by any developer; approval is by the planning and zoning board. A comprehensive sign program must present a coordinated design theme and include all signs on the premises.
- Every sign permit application must be reviewed for completeness and compliance within stated timeframes by the land development regulation administrator.
- A new permit is required for any modification to the type, size, location, content, or character of a sign.
- Sign permit applications must be submitted to the land development regulation administrator in accordance with city specifications, accompanied by applicable fees and (if applicable) permission from property owner.
- Comprehensive sign program applications must include design theme, encompass all signage, and demonstrate listed flexibility criteria (see ordinance section 4.2.20.14).
- Comprehensive sign programs are an alternative to minimum standard signage and are subject to unique flexibility criteria including limits on height and area, requirement of an integrated design, and approval by the planning and zoning board.

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

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