# Sign Regulations in Leesburg, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Leesburg, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/leesburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Leesburg/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH3ADSI)

## At a glance

Leesburg, Florida regulates 24 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Signs in the Estate Density Residential (RE-1), Single Family Residential (R-1-A), Low Density Residential (R-1), Medium Density Residential (R-2), High Density Residential (R-3) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 60 sq ft (main entrance); 20 sq ft (secondary entrance); 1 double faced sign if in median, with a 15 ft from all property/right-of-way lines, except incorporated wall signs. setback (Sec. Sec. 25-424(a)(1)). Most commercial signs in Leesburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Estate Density Residential (RE-1), Single Family Residential (R-1-A), Low Density Residential (R-1), Medium Density Residential (R-2), High Density Residential (R-3) | 4 | 6 ft | 60 sq ft (main entrance); 20 sq ft (secondary entrance); 1 double faced sign if in median | — |
| Residential/Professional Office (R-P) | 4 | 8 ft (2-lane roads); 12 ft (4-lane divided) | 24 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial (C-1), Community Commercial (C-2), Highway Commercial (C-3), Mixed Commercial (C-4), Pine Street Commercial (PSC) | 6 | 20 ft (75,000+ sq ft); 16 ft (10,000–75,000 sq ft); 12 ft (≤10,000 sq ft) | 150–250 sq ft (size by frontage & setback, see Table 6.2) | — |
| Industrial (M-1), Commercial/Industrial (M-2), Commercial/Industrial Planned (CIP) | 4 | 14 ft max, 8 ft min clearance | 150–250 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 6 | Valance 7–9 ft above walk (existing bldgs); up to 10 ft; or Valance 9–12 ft above walk (new bldgs); top not to exceed 14 ft above walk | No more than 20% of window glass area; not to exceed 25% of allowable building signage if permanently attached. | — |
| Age Restricted Development (ARD), Small Planned Unit Development (SPUD), Planned Unit Development (PUD), Planned Development Overlay (PDO) | 1 | — | See underlying district or master development plan | — |
| Institutional (I), Public (P) | 2 | 8 ft (2-lane); 12 ft (4-lane divided) | 150–250 sq ft (see Table 6.2) | — |
| Traditional Design Overlay (TDO), Contemporary Design Overlay (CDO), Historic Preservation Overlay (HPO) | 1 | — | Same as underlying zone (commercial sign rules) | — |
| Airport Zones Overlay (AZO), Instrument Approach Zone, Noninstrument Approach Zone, Transition Zones, Horizontal Zone, Conical Zone | 1 | May not exceed allowable structure/tree height in overlay. Airport elevation restrictions apply: Varies by exact zone (see below) | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 60 ft pole (max); see size rules | 320 sq ft/side (max); or 378 sq ft for digital if two removed; see digital sign requirements | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Estate Density Residential (RE-1), Single Family Residential (R-1-A), Low Density Residential (R-1), Medium Density Residential (R-2), High Density Residential (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft (main entrance); 20 sq ft (secondary entrance); 1 double faced sign if in median | — | 15 ft from all property/right-of-way lines, except incorporated wall signs. | Max 2 at main entrance; 1 at secondary. One additional sign per 300+ ft entrance & multiple entrances. | At entrance to subdivision, secondary entranceways permitted one sign | — | Sec. 25-424(a)(1) |
| Temporary Subdivision Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft (parcel < 50 ac); 64 sq ft (parcel ≥ 50 ac) | — | 20 ft from any property line | 1 | On-site only, 20 ft min from any property line | — | Sec. 25-424(a)(2) |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign (Wall or Freestanding) | — | Wall: 2 sq ft without permit; Wall: 4 sq ft without permit; Freestanding: 6 sq ft (permit required); Freestanding: 16 sq ft (permit required) | — | — | — | At principal structure entrance, on house or yard | — | Sec. 25-424(f)(3) |
| Temporary and Accessory Signs (inc. Real Estate, Garage Sale, Political, Model Home, Land Development Signs, etc.) | 4'6" (real estate) | Real estate: 4 sq ft (residential), Model Home: 6 sq ft, Garage/Estate sale: 6 sq ft, Land development: 4–36 sq ft (by acreage) | — | 15 ft from property lines, see code by type. | As permitted per type (examples: Real estate: 1 per lot per street frontage; Garage sale: 1 per property; Model: 6 open house signs per project; see details) | Min 15 ft from property line or public ROW | — | Sec. 25-424(i) |

### Neighborhood Commercial (C-1), Community Commercial (C-2), Highway Commercial (C-3), Mixed Commercial (C-4), Pine Street Commercial (PSC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Single Occupancy) | 8 ft (2-lane); 12 ft (4-lane divided); up to 20 ft for campus/complex; up to 25-60 ft for >50 acre campuses | 60 sq ft/face (arterial), 48 sq ft/face (collector), 32 sq ft/face (other); up to 120 sq ft total for 601+ ft ROW; see Table 6.1 for complex/campus | — | 5 ft (ROW); 10 ft (side/rear); 20 ft (residential) | See Table 6.1: 1 for 0–300 ft frontage; 2 for 301–600 ft; 3 for 601+ ft | 1 per parcel per primary street frontage | — | Sec. 25-424(c)(1) and Table 6.1 |
| Wall Sign | — | 150–250 sq ft (size by frontage & setback, see Table 6.2) | — | — | 1 per frontage; possible 2 on corner/parcels with multiple frontages | On building facade(s); secondary frontage permitted up to 50% additional if meeting facade/entrance criteria | — | Sec. 25-424(c)(1)b, Table 6.2 |
| Ground Sign (Multi-Occupancy) | 20 ft (75,000+ sq ft); 16 ft (10,000–75,000 sq ft); 12 ft (≤10,000 sq ft) | Up to 120 sq ft (75,000+ sq ft center), 75 sq ft (10,000–75,000 sq ft); 60 sq ft (≤10,000 sq ft). Add'l 16 sq ft for major tenant if ≥600 ft separation. | — | 5 ft (ROW), 50 ft (side lot lines) | 1 per street frontage (+1 for secondary if orientation/entrances; +1 16 sq ft for major tenant if separation) | At center; 1 add’l on secondary frontage if multiple | — | Sec. 25-424(c)(2) |
| Shopping Center Wall Sign | — | Up to 150 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall | — | Sec. 25-424(c)(2)b |
| Feather Flag (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | No explicit numerical limit, see above | On-site only | — | Sec. 25-424(c)(3) |
| Projecting Sign | 14 ft max, min 8 ft clearance, min 6 ft if over non-ped. area | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 25-424(c)(9) |

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | Valance 7–9 ft above walk (existing bldgs); up to 10 ft; or Valance 9–12 ft above walk (new bldgs); top not to exceed 14 ft above walk | — | — | Zero or as permitted by city | — | Front/sides/rear of building, can encroach ROW if city approves | — | Sec. 25-281(50–54) |
| Under Canopy Sign | 7 ft above walk (existing); 9 ft (new bldgs) | 12 sq ft | — | — | No explicit limit | Suspended below canopy/awning at front/entrance(s) | — | Sec. 25-281(55–59) |
| Easel Sign (Business Display) | — | 8 sq ft; min 2' wide | — | — | — | In front of business; may be in ROW with permit | — | Sec. 25-281(60–67) |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 20% of window glass area; not to exceed 25% of allowable building signage if permanently attached. | — | — | — | In window | — | Sec. 25-424(i)(2)g |
| Prohibited Signs (CBD) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 25-281(70–78); 25-425 |
| All Standard Commercial Sign Types (Ground, Wall, Projecting, Awning, etc.) | — | See commercial district limits unless otherwise stated (emulates commercial district) | — | — | — | CBD core: no freestanding signs; elsewhere per commercial rules | — | Sec. 25-281(49); 25-424(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Leesburg

- No sign, permanent or temporary, shall be erected or placed so that it interferes with a clear sight triangle distance per the code.
- No sign shall be placed in the public rights-of-way unless approved by the city commission.
- Signs on trailer frames with or without mounted wheels are prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed within ten (10) feet of any electric lines unless approved by the electric department.
- Vehicle signs or signs on or attached to vehicles which have a total copy area in excess of ten (10) square feet are prohibited, except when vehicles are owned or leased by the business advertised and used on a regular basis to support the activities of the specific business advertised.
- A vehicle shall not be considered 'regularly used in the conduct of the specific business' if the vehicle is used primarily for advertising, or for the purpose of advertising.
- Signage on vehicles shall not be used for commercial advertising of other businesses.
- Flashing, moving, animated coursing, blinker, racer-type, intermittent, rotating, moving or revolving signs, whirligig devices, inflatable signs, and other similar types of attention-getting devices are prohibited unless specifically allowed for temporary or accessory signs.
- Signs other than dedicatory or commemorative plaques, on bus stop or other transit shelters, whether on public rights-of-way or private property are prohibited.
- Signs on benches or waste receptacles, other than dedicatory or commemorative plaques, whether on public rights-of-way or private property are prohibited.
- Roof signs, any sign erected, constructed, and maintained upon and which projects beyond the roof of the building, are prohibited.
- Traffic sign replicas are prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Pylon signs are prohibited.
- Nonregulatory signs are prohibited from being placed in any public right-of-way, attached to a utility pole or affixed to a tree or other sign.
- Portable signs, as defined, are prohibited unless otherwise provided for in this article. All nonconforming portable commercial and industrial business signs shall be removed or brought into compliance by June 1, 2005.
- Electronic changeable copy signs are prohibited when not in compliance with section 25-424(f)(1).
- Murals are prohibited when not in compliance with section 25-424(f)(11).
- Search, flood or spot lights are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, placed, replaced, constructed, enlarged, moved or converted without first obtaining a sign permit from the building department as required by the ordinance.
- It is unlawful for any person to erect or maintain any sign which is not in compliance with the sign code.
- No sign shall be allowed that creates electrical interference with radio communication between the airport and aircraft, makes it difficult for flyers to distinguish between airport lights and others, results in glare, impairs visibility in the vicinity of airports, or otherwise endangers the landing, taking-off, or maneuvering of aircraft.

## Signs exempt from permit in Leesburg

- No permit is required for a change of copy on any conforming sign.
- No permit is required for the repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure for which a valid permit exists.
- Signs exempted from permit requirements include: nameplate, address, owner or occupant nameplate and other signs up to two (2) square feet; integral signs carved into stone, concrete or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum or other noncombustible material and not exceeding six (6) square feet; historical marker not exceeding six (6) square feet; parking lot signs indicating restrictions of up to ten (10) feet in height and not exceeding six (6) square feet; noncommercial signs designating the location of public telephones, restrooms, restrictions on smoking and restrictions on building entrances not to exceed two (2) square feet; up to two (2) rental/management office signs in a multifamily project not exceeding four (4) feet high and three (3) square feet each; window signs not exceeding 20% of the window area; home occupation identification signs not exceeding one-half (½) square foot per sign face, maximum three (3) square feet total.
- Temporary easel signs not placed in public rights-of-way are exempt from sign permits, provided they meet location and size requirements.
- Temporary political and campaign signs are permitted subject to specific conditions, including duration and removal, and posting of a cash bond.
- Temporary real estate signs are permitted subject to specific size, location and time limits.
- Standard real estate open house signs, garage sale, yard sales, estate sale signs and similar, with prescribed limits, do not require permits if time, area, and location standards are met.
- Land development project signs up to a certain size and in undeveloped subdivisions are allowed as temporary signs, subject to limits outlined in the code.
- Menu boards up to specified size and orientation are exempt from some permit requirements.
- On-site directional or instructional signs used to direct on-premises vehicular or pedestrian traffic up to six (6) square feet not exceeding four (4) feet in height are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary signs required by law, such as for construction, safety, or identification, are exempt.
- Certain street number, government, legal, safety, and historic signs are exempt as defined in the code.
- Certain window signs (meeting area and size requirements) are exempt.
- Government flags, subject to quantity, height, and size limitations, are exempt from the sign code.
- Decorative style feather flags, when approved as part of a PUD conceptual plan, are exempt.
- Special event signs are permitted for up to fourteen (14) days and do not require a permit if under 48 sq. ft. and on private property.
- Temporary construction signs on-site that meet location, duration and size requirements may be permitted for the period of construction.
- Bed and breakfast attached wall signs of up to four (4) square feet and attached to the house do not require a permit.
- No permit is required for the replacement of the face panel of a sign with the same size panel.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For planned unit development (PUD), small planned unit development (SPUD), planned development overlay (PDO), and age restricted development (ARD), a master development plan must be submitted as part of the application and review process, which may include a master sign plan as required by the planning and zoning division.
- Changes to approved master development plans (such as in a PUD) may require new or revised sign plans to reflect changes in site layout, use, frontage, or number/size of tenants.
- A sign plan is generally recommended or required as part of site plan approval for large shopping centers, multi-tenant developments, and campus-style complexes, and must be part of the site plan or building permit application package.
- Sign permit applications must be accompanied by clear and legible drawings showing the location of all existing and proposed signs, including dimensions, materials, method of attachment, and relationship to building and property lines, and these may collectively be referred to as a sign plan.
- If a variance from the sign code is requested, an application and supporting documentation must be submitted, and the request will be analyzed by planning/zoning and may require a public hearing.
- No building permit or certificate of occupancy shall be issued for a project that requires site plan/building permit approval unless all sign plans are in compliance with the sign code and specifically included in the development/site plan approval.
- Multi-tenant sites and shopping centers must submit a sign program or master sign plan at or before the time of initial site plan approval or building permit application.
- Conditional use permits or planned zoning districts may impose additional or alternative sign regulations via a master sign plan, and such requirements are binding as part of site and sign plan review.
- Master sign plans, when required (e.g., for multi-tenant centers or PUDs), must be reviewed and approved by the planning and zoning division as part of the development/site plan process and become part of the permanent zoning/development order.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/leesburg