# Sign Regulations in Lake Wales, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lake Wales, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/lake-wales
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Lake_Wales/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH8EL_ARTIGEPR_S8-6POSI)

## At a glance

Lake Wales, Florida regulates 18 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Primary Frontage)s in the Nonresidential properties, D-MU District, C-1 District, C-2 District, C-3 Highway Commercial District, C-5 District, LCI-Limited Commercial District zoning district are capped at 15 ft or 0.6 x floor area (in 1,000s), not to exceed 24 ft tall and 180 sq ft, with a Not closer than 75 ft to another ground sign; 35 ft from intersection unless sign does not block visibility between 3-10 ft in height setback (Sec. Table 23-545). Most commercial signs in Lake Wales require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential properties, Single-family properties, Two-family properties | 2 | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family buildings | 3 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family complex or residential development | 2 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Vacant residential property | 2 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential properties, D-MU District, C-1 District, C-2 District, C-3 Highway Commercial District, C-5 District, LCI-Limited Commercial District | 9 | 15 ft or 0.6 x floor area (in 1,000s), not to exceed 24 ft | 180 sq ft | — |
| C-1A District | 1 | — | 60 sq ft | — |
| C-4 Village Center District, PF-Professional District, C-2R District, R District | 2 | 15 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| Business Complexes in C-2, C-3, C-5, and LCI Districts, I District, I-1 District, I-2 Industrial Infill District, BPC District | 2 | 18 ft or 0.9 x total business floor area in complex divided by 1,000, not to exceed 30 ft (15 ft in some districts) | 225 sq ft (100 sq ft in PF, C-4, C-2R, R) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Multi-family buildings

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Non-commercial Message) | — | — | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | § 23-526.3(b)1.A |
| Ground Sign (Non-commercial Message) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At multi-family building | — | § 23-526.3(b)1.A |
| Temporary Sign (Non-commercial Message) | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 4 maximum | Not in public right-of-way; securely anchored | — | § 23-526.3(b)1.B |

### Nonresidential properties, D-MU District, C-1 District, C-2 District, C-3 Highway Commercial District, C-5 District, LCI-Limited Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq ft in D-MU, C-1, C-5; 90 sq ft in C-2 | — | — | 1 per visible building side | Affixed, parallel to wall, projecting max 12 inches; not above roof line or facade | — | Table 23-545 |
| Ground Sign (Primary Frontage) | 15 ft or 0.6 x floor area (in 1,000s), not to exceed 24 ft | 180 sq ft | — | Not closer than 75 ft to another ground sign; 35 ft from intersection unless sign does not block visibility between 3-10 ft in height | 1 per primary street frontage; secondary as allowed | Frontage of 75 ft or more; at intersection of 2 streets allowed | — | Table 23-545 |
| Ground Sign (Secondary Frontage) | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per eligible secondary frontage | See above | — | Table 23-545 |
| Right-Angle Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per frontage | Buildings set back no more than 10 ft from public sidewalk or business complex sidewalk | — | Table 23-545 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | Table 23-545 |
| A-Frame Sidewalk Sign | 4 ft | — | 2 ft | — | 1 per business frontage | In front of business along sidewalk (see specified streets), on sidewalks over 5 ft wide | — | § 23-545.6(a), Table 23-545 |
| Temporary Sign (Non-commercial Message) - Under 1 acre | 5 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage or per 500 ft | One per street frontage or 500 ft of frontage | — | § 23-545.6(b)2.G |
| Temporary Sign (Non-commercial Message) - Over 1 acre | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage or per 500 ft | One per street frontage or per 500 ft of frontage | — | § 23-545.6(b)2.G |

### Business Complexes in C-2, C-3, C-5, and LCI Districts, I District, I-1 District, I-2 Industrial Infill District, BPC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Complex Ground Sign (Primary Frontage) | 18 ft or 0.9 x total business floor area in complex divided by 1,000, not to exceed 30 ft (15 ft in some districts) | 225 sq ft (100 sq ft in PF, C-4, C-2R, R) | — | 35 ft from intersections unless sign does not block visibility between 3 and 10 ft in height | 1 per primary street frontage | Primary street frontage | — | Table 23-545 |
| Business Complex Ground Sign (Secondary Frontage) | 15 ft (10 ft in some districts) | 36 sq ft (20 sq ft in some districts) | — | — | 1 per eligible secondary frontage | Secondary street frontage at least 150 ft from primary sign (measured along abutting roadways) | — | Table 23-545 |

## Prohibited signs in Lake Wales

- No sign shall be placed on a roof or above the roof line of a building.
- No sign, except those placed by an authorized governmental agency, shall be placed in or project into the public right-of-way or in public parks or other public property.
- No sign shall interfere with traffic or be confused with or obstruct the view or effectiveness of any official traffic sign, traffic signal, traffic marking or obstruct the sight distance of motorists or pedestrians.
- No sign shall be painted on or attached to a tree or utility pole.
- All signs not specifically allowed are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed herein.
- Internally lit signs, including those designed for internal lighting, are prohibited except in designated districts and locations.
- No sign shall contain any statement, word, character or illustration of an obscene, indecent or immoral nature.
- Signs on vacant properties are prohibited except as specifically allowed for temporary signs with non-commercial messages.
- Lighting restrictions: In residential and professional zoning districts, lights of colors other than white or yellow are prohibited except for Christmas or seasonal lighting. Floodlights may not shine onto adjoining property or in the eyes of motorists or pedestrians. Flashing, strobe, or other moving lights or lighted copy are prohibited except as expressly allowed for electronic signs.
- No commercial messages on signs in residential districts except as specifically allowed.
- Lighted signs in residential districts are prohibited except as specifically allowed.
- No sign shall be attached to a tree, hedge, street sign, light pole, or other appurtenance.
- No sign shall be displayed in the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be placed so as to block visibility at the intersection of a roadway and another roadway, alley, or driveway.
- No sign shall be painted on or attached to a tree or utility pole.
- All ground signs must observe required setbacks from intersections for visibility.
- Wind signs, including banners, pennants, spinners, streamers, and other wind-actuated components, may only be permitted through a temporary sign permit application.
- No vehicle or trailer displaying a sign shall be parked so as to serve as a sign.
- No fence or wall can contain any substance designed or likely to inflict injury (relevant if sign is on fence or wall).

## Signs exempt from permit in Lake Wales

- Decorations or displays of non-commercial nature.
- Cornerstones, foundation stones and memorial signs or tablets displaying the names of buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
- Any sign installed in a building or enclosed space and not legible from the public right-of-way or from private or public property other than the property on which it is located.
- Any sign that is less than four square feet in area and less than four feet in height (if freestanding), that is not separately illuminated and that is not legible from the public right-of-way or from private or public property other than the property on which it is located.
- Signs required by law or deemed necessary by the administrative official for safety or warnings, including traffic signs and street address numbers.
- Temporary signs with non-commercial messages meeting ordinance criteria regarding number, size, illumination, and time limits.
- Signs painted on or attached (as a magnetic sign) to a vehicle which is used on a regular basis for transportation and which is legally parked.
- Incidental signs not directed at or legible or visible by persons off-site.
- Flags and insignia of any government (subject to standards regarding number, size, and height).
- Signs erected by the city or approved by the city commission to designate historic districts, business districts, parks, or public facilities or banners erected or approved by the city in connection with streetscape projects or to publicize special events.
- A sign on the back wall of a building in a delivery area not exceeding 10 square feet in area.
- Signs that are wholly within a group of buildings or complex or at a drive-up window or other part of the site not visible from the public thoroughfare.
- One neon sign not exceeding two square feet in size in one display window per business.
- Temporary painted or paper signs in windows, limited to 25 percent of the total window area.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master plan for signage (master signage plan) is required for any nonresidential development with more than one principal building, for business complexes, shopping centers, and for buildings with multiple tenants.
- The master signage plan must be submitted with a site plan application and must demonstrate sign consistency in type, size, lighting, placement, style, and color for all tenants within the development.
- For existing business centers or buildings with multiple tenants, a master plan for signage shall be required with any application for a sign, including any sign for an individual unit or tenant. All new or modified signs shall comply with the master plan as approved.
- Placement of a sign on a property with two or more multi-family buildings shall be in compliance with a master signage plan.
- A certificate of appropriateness for the master signage plan is required for properties within the Downtown Historic District.
- Approved master plans for signage govern all signage for the project, including outparcels.
- Amendments to the master signage plan may be approved administratively or referred to the planning board for review if originally approved by the planning board as part of the site plan process.

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

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