# Sign Regulations in Indian Shores, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Indian Shores, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/indian-shores
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Indian_Shores/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADERE_CH94SI)

## At a glance

Indian Shores, Florida regulates 27 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Pole Sign (Multiple Residential, excl. hotels/motels)s in the Resort Facilities Medium (RFM) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; 75-100 ft: 30 sq ft; 100-125 ft: 40 sq ft; 125-150 ft: 50 sq ft; 150-175 ft: 60 sq ft; 175-200 ft: 70 sq ft; >200 ft: 80 sq ft, with a Min. 5 ft from side property line. setback (Sec. Sec. 94-98(2); 94-67; 94-97(c)). Most commercial signs in Indian Shores require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Resort Facilities Medium (RFM) | 7 | 14 ft | See Sec. 94-70: 20 sq ft or 30% of wall area; can increase subject to reduction of pole sign, see Table in 94-70(3) | — |
| Residential/Office/Retail (ROR) | 10 | 14 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; 75-100 ft: 30 sq ft; etc. | — |
| Public/Semipublic, Institutional (I), Recreation/Open Space (R/OS), Transportation/Utility (T/U) | 4 | 14 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; 75-100 ft: 30 sq ft; 100-125 ft: 40 sq ft; 125-150 ft: 50 sq ft; 150-175 ft: 60 sq ft; 175-200 ft: 70 sq ft; >200 ft: 80 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per project | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Resort Facilities Medium (RFM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Single-family Residence) | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On private property for single-family residence. | — | Sec. 94-98(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Residential, excl. hotels/motels) | — | Per wall sign: 20 sq ft or 30% of wall area (see additional requirements) | — | — | 1 | On building wall, parallel to wall. | — | Sec. 94-98(2); 94-70; 94-66 |
| Pole Sign (Multiple Residential, excl. hotels/motels) | 8 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; 75-100 ft: 30 sq ft; 100-125 ft: 40 sq ft; 125-150 ft: 50 sq ft; 150-175 ft: 60 sq ft; 175-200 ft: 70 sq ft; >200 ft: 80 sq ft | — | Min. 5 ft from side property line. | 1 | On private property. Entirely on owner's property, min. 5 ft from side property lines. | — | Sec. 94-98(2); 94-67; 94-97(c) |
| Wall Sign (Hotel, Motel, Tourist Facilities) | — | See Sec. 94-70: 20 sq ft or 30% of wall area; can increase subject to reduction of pole sign, see Table in 94-70(3) | — | — | 1 | On hotel/motel/tourist facility wall | — | Sec. 94-98(3); 94-70 |
| Pole Sign (Hotel, Motel, Tourist Facility) | 14 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; 75-100 ft: 30 sq ft; 100-125 ft: 40 sq ft; 125-150 ft: 50 sq ft; 150-175 ft: 60 sq ft; 175-200 ft: 70 sq ft; >200 ft: 80 sq ft | — | Min. 5 ft from side property line. | 1 | On private property. Entirely on owner's property, min. 5 ft from property lines. | — | Sec. 94-98(3); 94-67; 94-97(c) |
| Canopy Sign | — | Max 16 sq ft or 50% of canopy face | — | — | 1 per project | On face of canopy, may not extend above/beyond face | — | Sec. 94-98(4); 94-62 |
| Waterside Identification Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per waterfront project | On structure facing waterway; can be on dock if property has one, then must be single-face and parallel to waterway. | — | Sec. 94-98(4); 94-71 |

### Residential/Office/Retail (ROR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Residential, excl. hotel/motel/tourist) | — | 20 sq ft or 30% of wall area | — | — | 1 | On building wall. | — | Sec. 94-99(1); 94-70 |
| Pole Sign (Multiple Residential, excl. hotel/motel/tourist) | 8 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; 75-100 ft: 30 sq ft; etc. | — | Min. 5 ft from property line. | 1 | On project/wall, per requirements. | — | Sec. 94-99(1); 94-67; 94-97(c) |
| Wall Sign (Hotel, Motel, Tourist Facility) | — | 20 sq ft or 30% of wall area; per Sec. 94-70 | — | — | 1 | On building wall. | — | Sec. 94-99(2); 94-70 |
| Pole Sign (Hotel, Motel, Tourist Facility) | 14 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; etc. | — | Min. 5 ft from property line. | 1 | On private property. | — | Sec. 94-99(2); 94-67; 94-97(c) |
| Pole Sign (Single Business/Commercial Project) | 14 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; etc. | — | Min. 5 ft from property line. | 1 | On private property. | — | Sec. 94-99(3); 94-67; 94-97(c) |
| Wall Sign (Single Business/Commercial Project) | — | 20 sq ft or 30% of wall area; see Sec. 94-70 | — | — | 1 | On building wall. | — | Sec. 94-99(3); 94-70 |
| Pole Sign (Shopping Center/Multitenant) | 14 ft | 40–75 ft frontage: 20 sq ft; etc. | — | Min. 5 ft from property line. | 1 | On project site. | — | Sec. 94-99(4); 94-67; 94-97(c) |
| Wall Sign (Shopping Center/Multitenant) | — | 20 sq ft for each tenant; total wall signage not to exceed 30% of elevation area | — | — | 1 per tenant | On tenant's leased building wall. | — | Sec. 94-99(4); 94-70 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Fully supported by wall of building; cannot exceed eave line. | — | Sec. 94-69 |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window opening | — | — | — | On or inside window, visible from outside. | — | Sec. 94-72 |
| Temporary Sign - Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft per project | — | — | 1 per project | On site of construction. | — | Sec. 94-74(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Sign (Single-family Residential) | 8 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site for sale/leasing. | — | Sec. 94-74(2)a |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Sign (Multiple Unit Residential) | 8 ft | 4 sq ft per sign or optional 24 sq ft sign (requires permit) | — | — | See additional requirements | On site for sale/leasing. | — | Sec. 94-74(2)b |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate Open House/Auction Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 2 per event | Must be freestanding; not attached to tree/pole/sign. Not in public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 94-74(3) |
| Entrance Sign | — | 4 sq ft panel area | — | — | 1 per entrance | At or near entrance; pole or wall sign. | — | Sec. 94-65 |
| Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property, any permitted sign type. | — | Sec. 94-63 |

## Prohibited signs in Indian Shores

- Abandoned signs, consisting of any sign which advertises a business or service which has been discontinued or has permanently ceased operation at the sign site location for a period of ten days or more.
- Off-premises signs, except for public or semipublic directional signs when approved by the town council.
- Bus shelter and bench signs, except when approved by the town council pursuant to F.S. § 337.407(2)(a).
- Roof signs, consisting of any sign placed on or over the roof of a building or mounted on a building in such a manner that the display panel of the sign extends above the eave line of the building adjacent to the sign.
- Temporary signs, except as provided in article III of this chapter.
- Snipe signs.
- Motion signs, except as provided in article III of this chapter.
- Pavement markings, except official traffic control markings or as specifically authorized by the town council.
- Signs attached to or painted on piers or seawalls, other than such official regulatory or warning signs as authorized by the town council.
- Any flashing sign or device displaying intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, except a sign indicating time and temperature, with changes alternating on not less than a five-second cycle.
- Any outdoor illuminated tubing or string of outdoor lights, except seasonal displays and decorations not advertising a product, service or entertainment.
- Any sign or portion thereof that obstructs or substantially interferes with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, standpipe, ladder or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress for any building or that obstructs, conceals, hides or otherwise obscures any official traffic or government sign, signal or device.
- Any nonshielded illuminated sign lighting or other sources of illumination which may constitute a nuisance or a disturbance to any vehicular traffic or to persons on any adjoining property.
- Any sign which is a copy or imitation of an official sign or which purports to have official status.
- Any sign that emits sound, vapor, smoke, odor, particles or gaseous matter.
- Any sign, other than those placed by a government agency, which is placed on or over public property, rights-of-way or sidewalks.
- Any sign placed on the side or rear of any building or property facing or abutting a residential area, the Gulf of Mexico or the Intracoastal Waterway, except a waterside identification sign as specified in this chapter.
- Any sign placed on any private property without the consent of the owner, holder, lessee, agent or trustee thereof, except those signs placed by a public official of the town, county, state or federal government in the performance of his duty.
- Any sign placed on any utility pole, except for pole or utility identification tags or signs placed by a public official of the town, county, state or federal government in the performance of his duty.
- Any painted, posted, pasted, printed, nailed, stamped, tacked or otherwise attached or affixed card, banner, handbill, sign, sticker, poster or advertisement, notice or advertising device of any kind calculated to attract the attention of the public or cause such to be done on any curbstone, curb, lamppost, pole, hydrant, fence, bridge, wall, tree or rock or upon any fixture, fire alarm, police or telephone system of the town or upon any public sidewalk, street, alley or other public place, except as may be required by ordinance or law and except as such may be placed by a public officer or employee in the performance of a public duty.
- Three-dimensional objects that are used as signs, except where provided for by specific authorization by the town council and in accordance with such criteria as may be set by the council.
- Vehicle signs and trailer or other portable signs.
- Any other sign or advertising structure not expressly permitted by this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Indian Shores

- One pole or wall-type sign for a garage sale or liquidation sale by religious, civic, charitable organization or individual resident (not business/commercial inventory), max 4 sq ft, erected no more than 2 days prior and removed immediately after the sale.
- Residential projects: One for sale or for rent sign for each five dwelling units or fraction thereof, max 4 per project, pole or wall type, max 6 sq ft. One for sale/rent sign for each business or commercial occupancy meeting same specs.
- Signs erected or required by law, rule or regulation of any government unit or agency.
- Government and public signs including town entrance signs, bulletin boards, or signs for special community events.
- Memorial tablets or signs and historical markers when approved by the town council.
- Signs within public or private recreational facilities not viewable from a public street or adjacent properties.
- Periodic changing of the copy on a permitted changeable message sign.
- Menu signs for drive-through establishments, not viewable from public street/adjacent property, max 2 per establishment and max 1 per drive-through lane, display panel area max 20 sq ft per sign.
- Signs located inside a building and not readily seen from outside.
- Permanent flags, banners, and pennants on private property if conditions re: safety and mounting are met.
- Signs for direction/convenience of the public (restrooms, utility, phone, entries, parking), max 2 sq ft each.
- Seasonal displays and decorations not advertising any product, service, or entertainment.
- Signs by a public utility for the protection of the public, display panel area max 2 sq ft.
- Signs attached to fences warning the public (hunting, fishing, trespassing, dangerous animals, swimming, etc.), display panel area max 2 sq ft, minimum horizontal distance between two such signs no less than 40 feet.
- Sign displaying business address or name/occupant and address of dwelling unit, display panel area max 2 sq ft.
- Machinery signs (on newspaper racks, vending machines, gasoline pumps, telephone booths).

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

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