# Sign Regulations in Jacksonville, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Jacksonville, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/jacksonville
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/fl/jacksonville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITXVIILAUS_CH656ZOCO_PT13SIRE)

## At a glance

Jacksonville, Florida regulates 112 sign types across 20 zoning districts. Monument Sign - Parkings in the Downtown Sign Overlay Zone zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and 24 square feet, with a No 10 ft setback req setback (Sec. Sec. 656.1333(d)(1)(i)). Most commercial signs in Jacksonville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (20 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 20 inches letter height | 32 square feet (4 sq ft in RR/RLD) | — |
| Residential zoning districts (RR, RLD, RMD-A, RMD-B) | 5 | 20 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Residential zoning districts (RMD-C, RMD-D, RMD-E, RHD) | 5 | 24 square feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Commercial zoning districts (CO, CRO) | 8 | 12 feet | 150 square feet (arterial side) | — |
| Commercial Neighborhood (CN) | 2 | — | 200 square feet | — |
| Commercial zoning districts (CCG, CCBD, CR) | 4 | — | 300 square feet | — |
| Residential Office (RO) | 1 | — | 5 square feet collectively | — |
| Industrial zoning districts (IBP, IL, IH, IW) | 4 | — | 300 square feet | — |
| Agriculture (AGR) | 2 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Public Buildings and Facilities (PBF-1, PBF-2, PBF-3) | 4 | — | 300 square feet | — |
| Conservation (CSV) | 1 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| Recreation and Open Space (ROS) | 1 | — | 24 square feet | — |
| Downtown Sign Overlay Zone | 14 | 30 inches | 400 square feet | — |
| Sports and Entertainment Complex Sign Overlay Zone | 8 | — | — | — |
| PUD (Planned Unit Development) # 2005-0411 | 20 | 65 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| CA-4, CA-4R, CA-5, CA-5C | 20 | 48 in | 100 sq ft per side | — |
| CA-3, CA-3E, CA-5 | 8 | 50 ft | 200 sq ft per side | — |
| CA-5C | 8 | 50 ft | 200 sq ft per side | — |
| R-60 | 1 | — | 10% of total Facade area at applicable Frontage or 300 sq ft, whichever is less | — |
| PUD ORDINANCE 2015-282-E | 9 | Max 15 ft | Max 100 sq ft per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 20 zones)

### Downtown Sign Overlay Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Building ID | — | 300 square feet | — | — | 1 per side | On facade fronting street | — | Sec. 656.1333(a)(1)(i) |
| Wall Sign - Building ID Tall | — | 400 square feet | — | — | 1 per side | On facade fronting street | — | Sec. 656.1333(a)(1)(i) |
| Awning Sign | 20 inches letters | 300 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | Sec. 656.1333(a)(1)(iii) |
| Under Canopy Sign - Ground Floor | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per tenant | Under canopy | — | Sec. 656.1333(b)(2)(i)(A) |
| Exterior Directory Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance | Wall, window, projecting per entrance | — | Sec. 656.1333(c) |
| Monument Sign - Parking | 15 feet | 24 square feet | — | No 10 ft setback req | 1 per lot or per entrance | Surface lot | — | Sec. 656.1333(d)(1)(i) |
| Universal Parking Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | Per entrance | At entrances | — | Sec. 656.1333(d)(2)(i)(C) |
| A-Frame Sign | 30 inches | 4 square feet per side | 24 inches | — | 1 per business | Same block/side as business entrance | — | Sec. 656.1333(g) |

### PUD (Planned Unit Development) # 2005-0411

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Project Identity Pylon - On JTB (southeast corner) | 50 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On JTB (southeast corner) | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E |
| Project Identity Monument - On Town Center Prkwy (west side) | 35 ft | 200 sq ft | — | Minimum 200 ft from other monument signs | 2 | On Town Center Prkwy (west side) | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E |
| Project Identity Monument - On Road C (north side) | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Minimum 200 ft from other monument signs | 1 | On Road C (north side) | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E and Amendment 2005-411-E |
| Project Identity Monument - On Road B (southwest side) | 35 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Minimum 200 ft from other monument signs | 1 | On Road B (southwest side) | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E |
| Peripheral Parcel Identity Monument - Parcels less than 1.5 acres | 10 ft | 25 sq ft | — | Minimum 200 ft between signs; no less than 200 ft apart | 1 per parcel (2 if frontage >500 ft) | Oriented to street frontage | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E |
| Peripheral Parcel Identity Monument - Parcels 1.5 to 5 acres | 15 ft | 50 sq ft | — | Minimum 200 ft between signs | 1 per parcel | Oriented to street frontage | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E |
| Peripheral Parcel Identity Monument - Parcels 5 to 20 acres | 20 ft | 75 sq ft | — | Minimum 200 ft between signs | 1 per parcel | Oriented to street frontage | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E |
| Peripheral Parcel Identity Monument - Parcels greater than 20 acres | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Minimum 200 ft between signs | 1 per parcel | Oriented to street frontage | — | Exhibit C Revised Sign Guidelines, Section 3.4, PUD Ordinance 2001-412-E |

### CA-4, CA-4R, CA-5, CA-5C

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign – Residential Community Identity (CA-4, CA-4R) | 15 ft | 24 sq ft per side | — | Located at least 100 ft apart. | 1 per Public Frontage per Residential community | At Residential community Public Frontages within Character Areas CA-4 and CA-4R. | — | Section 9.c, Residential Community Identity Monument Signs in Character Areas CA-3, -3E, -4, -4R, and -5, Revised Exhibit 3 R-63–64 (around Page 63 of 92) |
| Monument Sign – Individual Identity Monument Signs for Non‑Residential Uses (CA-4) – Outparcel Monument Sign (≤10,000 sq ft GLA) | 10 ft | 25 sq ft per side | — | Monument signs must be at least 100 ft apart. | 1 per Public Frontage per non‑residential lot/Building Site | On individual non‑residential lot or Building Site in CA-4, along Public Frontage (excluding Primary Circulation Route East, which is only referenced for CA-5). | — | Section 9.e.i and 9.e.i(1), Individual Identity Monument Signs for Non-Residential Uses in Character Areas CA-5 (excluding Primary Circulation Route East), CA-5C & CA-4, Revised Exhibit 3 R-63–64 (around Page 63–64 of 92) |
| Monument Sign – Individual Identity Monument Signs for Non‑Residential Uses (CA-4) – Secondary Monument Sign (10,000–30,000 sq ft GLA) | 15 ft | 60 sq ft per side | — | Monument signs must be at least 100 ft apart. | 1 per Public Frontage per non‑residential lot/Building Site | On individual non‑residential lot or Building Site in CA-4, along Public Frontage. | — | Section 9.e.i and 9.e.i(2), Revised Exhibit 3 R-63–64 |
| Monument Sign – Individual Identity Monument Signs for Non‑Residential Uses (CA-4) – Primary Monument Sign (>30,000 sq ft GLA) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | Monument signs must be at least 100 ft apart. | 1 per Public Frontage per non‑residential lot/Building Site | On individual non‑residential lot or Building Site in CA-4, along Public Frontage. | — | Section 9.e.i and 9.e.i(3), Revised Exhibit 3 R-63–64 |
| Monument Sign – Individual Identity Monument Signs for Non‑Residential Uses (CA-4) – Freeway Frontage Exception | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | Monument signs must be at least 100 ft apart. | 1 per Public Frontage per non‑residential lot/Building Site | Identity monument signs for Non‑Residential uses with frontage on I‑295 or J. Turner Butler Boulevard in CA-4 (by cross‑reference for CA-5/CA-5C; text explicitly names CA-5 and CA-5C for this provision, so for CA-4 this higher limit does NOT apply). | — | Section 9.e.i(4), Revised Exhibit 3 R-63–64 |
| Blade Sign | 4 ft (panel height) | 12 sq ft | 2 ft (panel width) | — | 1 per Facade per business | Mounted on first floor of building, perpendicular to building Facade wall, typically hung from decorative bracket to swing slightly. | — | Table I.K.9 – Blade Sign, Revised Exhibit 3 R-56–57, Page 57 of 92 |
| Directory Sign (CA-4 only – upper floor entrance) | 3 ft (panel) | 6 sq ft | 2 ft (panel) | — | 1 per ground floor entrance to upper floor business(es) | At ground floor entrance to upper floor business(es) within CA-4. | — | Table I.K.9 – Directory Sign, Revised Exhibit 3 R-57–58, Page 58 of 92 |
| Plaque Sign | 7 ft mounting height max; panel height max 2 ft | 1 sq ft | 18 in (panel width) | — | 1 per Principal Frontage | Mounted on building, typically identifying building, builder, or professional firm, in CA‑4, CA‑5, CA‑5C. | — | Table I.K.9 – Plaque Sign, Revised Exhibit 3 R-59–60, Page 60 of 92 |

## Prohibited signs in Jacksonville

- Signs that do not meet all requirements of the Building Code, including issuance of a permit.
- Signs tacked, tied, or pasted to a hydrant, tree, lamppost, telephone, telegraph or electric utility pole, fence, or building.
- Signs hung or supported from another sign and not built as an integral part thereof.
- Signs placed in a public space or street right-of-way, except as provided in specific exemptions.
- Signs of a temporary nature not permanently anchored to the ground or other structure, such as A-frame or portable signs (excluding mobile signs).
- Signs containing lighting that produces glare to vehicular traffic or electric incandescent bulbs exceeding 40 percent of the lumen output of a 100-watt clear bulb, with lighting less than 20 feet above ground.
- Signs with illumination or electrical lighting that pulsates, flashes, flickers, alternates, or changes intensity, located within ten feet of a street right-of-way.
- Signs consisting of streamers, ribbons, pennants, or wind-activated devices encompassing more than 25 square feet in total area.
- Mobile billboards.
- Projections of light, laser beams, or other media forming text, graphics, logos, or artwork upon streets, walkways, fences, sign structures, land, water surfaces, or exterior walls (except on own property within sign limits).
- Off-site signs containing commercial messages visible from public rights-of-way.
- Signs within 200 feet of a National Register of Historic Places structure (with exceptions for certain wall, freestanding, or ground signs).
- Signs prohibited by F.S. Ch. 479.
- Animated, flashing, and revolving signs.
- Remote controlled blimps containing commercial advertising.

## Signs exempt from permit in Jacksonville

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants, or other non-commercial identification.
- Legal notices, identification, informational, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings (except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights).
- On-premises incidental directional or directing signs for pedestrian or vehicular traffic (no advertisement, not exceeding two square feet).
- Signs not exceeding four square feet.
- Signs erected pursuant to Sections 656.1306 (real estate signs) and 656.1307 (construction signs).
- Poster signs erected behind glass windows or painted on glass windows.
- Signs painted or attached to trucks or other vehicles for identification purposes.
- Signs posted on electric poles or light standards maintained by JEA advertising events in publicly-owned facilities or holiday decorations (approved by Council and JEA).
- Historical markers erected by authorized public authorities.
- Signs warning against hunting, fishing, or trespassing (not exceeding two square feet).
- Signs being fabricated, manufactured, or constructed off-site.
- Signs on property owned or leased by federal, state, or local government, or for government-sponsored events.
- Signs on machinery or equipment advertising products sold therein.
- Signs at athletic fields of schools and amateur athletic associations recognizing sponsors (facing interior, attached to fencing, not exceeding 25 square feet each, no alcohol/tobacco ads).
- Signs on transit shelters in public rights-of-way, publicly owned property, or private property (subject to zoning limitations).
- Signs erected and maintained for governmental functions or as required by law.
- Sponsor recognition signs at athletic fields (similar to above).
- Historic landmark signs designated by Council.
- Landmark signs with historical, architectural, cultural, or community significance designated by Council.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Comprehensive sign plan required for buildings with multiple ground floor retail tenants in the Downtown Sign Overlay Zone to allocate sign allowances, designate locations, and specify types of construction and illumination.
- Sign plan submission required for applications in the Downtown Sign Overlay Zone, including visual representation of sign construction, lettering, illumination, colors, area, height, and building elevation.
- Subdivision identification signs must be included as part of site plan or sketch plan approval pursuant to Section 656.404 or Chapter 654.
- Sign waivers (for height, size, number, setback, or type) may be approved by City Council under Section 656.1310, subject to limitations (e.g., no more than 20% height increase, 25% size increase).
- Special sign exceptions in Downtown Sign Overlay Zone may be approved by Downtown Development Review Board based on visual harmony, preservation of design patterns, and minimization of view obstructions.

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

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