# Sign Regulations in Marianna, Florida

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

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

## At a glance

Marianna, Florida regulates 58 sign types across 10 zoning districts. A-frame/T-frame Menu or Sandwich Board Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5.5 ft tall, Up to 5.5 ft tall by 5 ft wide (dimensional cap), and 5 ft wide, with a Must not impede ADA accessibility; cannot extend into public way beyond clearance requirements setback (Sec. Sec. 5-11.1(11); Sec. 5-3 (Sandwich board sign)). Most commercial signs in Marianna require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | Up to 150 ft | Up to 500 sq ft per face; up to 4 faces | — |
| Residential district (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 7 | 15 ft | Aggregate up to 64 sq ft (per development for freestanding) | — |
| Mixed use district (MU) | 6 | 15 ft | Combined area ≤ 75 sq ft (all identification signs) | — |
| Commercial district (COM), Industrial district (IND) | 9 | Up to 75 ft for any on-premise sign in nonresidential districts | Total area of all signs on site ≤ 500 sq ft | — |
| Public/institutional district (PI), Recreation district (REC) | 5 | 50 ft | Aggregate of all freestanding signs ≤ 500 sq ft (for non-government uses) | — |
| Downtown improvement special treatment area (DISTA) | 8 | 5.5 ft | Aggregate of all building signs ≤ 100 sq ft | — |
| Industrial special treatment area (ISTA) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Distribution park special treatment area (DPSTA) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Automotive industry special treatment area (AISTA) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Main Street district | 2 | — | 16 sq ft per occupancy (per COM/IND standard) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft (per frontage) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the site of construction; one per street frontage | — | Sec. 5-11.1(2); Sec. 5-7(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or premises per street front | On the lot/premises being offered for sale/lease/rent | — | Sec. 5-11.1(3) (residential size); Sec. 5-7(7) |
| Real Estate Sign (Mixed Use & Commercial Districts) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot or premises per street front | On the lot/premises being offered for sale/lease/rent | — | Sec. 5-11.1(3) |
| Nameplate (≤ 2 sq ft) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Attached to the building | — | Sec. 5-7(4) |
| Nameplate (>2 to ≤4 sq ft) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Attached to the building | — | Sec. 5-11.1(4); Sec. 5-6 |
| Directional/Information Sign | — | 6 sq ft (each) | — | Exempt from setbacks if Director approves location for safety; otherwise behind applicable setbacks | Up to 8 per business | On-premises; typically behind applicable setbacks unless location approved by Director for safety | — | Sec. 5-11.1(6); Sec. 5-7(2); Sec. 5-3 (definition) |
| A-frame/T-frame Menu or Sandwich Board Sign | 5.5 ft | Up to 5.5 ft tall by 5 ft wide (dimensional cap) | 5 ft | Must not impede ADA accessibility; cannot extend into public way beyond clearance requirements | — | Sidewalks or immediate storefront area; must allow pedestrian clearance and not impede pedestrian or vehicular sight lines | — | Sec. 5-11.1(11); Sec. 5-3 (Sandwich board sign) |
| Off-Premises Sign (Small) | ≤ 15 ft | ≤ 60 sq ft | — | Must comply with general setbacks/sight distance | — | Permitted within RES, COM, MU, IND, REC zoning designations | — | Sec. 5-12.1(7)-(8) |

### Residential district (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision/Tract Identification - Freestanding (Residential) | 15 ft | Aggregate up to 64 sq ft (per development for freestanding) | — | Minimum 7 ft from all lot lines and any public right-of-way (measured from leading edge); at corners: 15-ft radius from ROW intersection; at street/driveway corners: 10-ft radius from ROW intersection | Aggregate cap applies (not per-sign count) | At development entrances or on-site common areas | — | Sec. 5-11.2(2); Sec. 5-11.2(5) |
| Subdivision/Tract Identification - Wall/Building (Residential) | — | Aggregate up to 64 sq ft (per development for wall/building) | — | — | Aggregate cap applies | On building/wall within development | — | Sec. 5-11.2(2) |
| Home Occupation/Home Office Sign (Wall) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | On the residence | — | Sec. 5-11.2(3) |
| Institutional Sign (Residential) - Freestanding | 15 ft | Aggregate up to 64 sq ft (freestanding) | — | 7 ft min from lot lines/ROW; corner/driveway intersection radii per Sec. 5-11.2(5) | Aggregate cap applies | On premises of church/synagogue or similar institutional use | — | Sec. 5-11.2(4)-(6) |
| Institutional Sign (Residential) - Wall | — | Aggregate up to 64 sq ft (wall) | — | — | Aggregate cap applies | On the institutional building | — | Sec. 5-11.2(4) |
| Freestanding Sign - General Limits (Residential) | 15 ft | — | — | At least 7 ft from all lot lines/ROW; 15-ft radius at street-street corners; 10-ft radius at street-driveway corners | — | On private property | — | Sec. 5-11.2(5)-(6) |
| Murals (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | On building walls | — | Sec. 5-11.2(7) |

### Commercial district (COM), Industrial district (IND)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Allowed in MU Districts | — | — | — | — | — | As allowed under MU provisions | — | Sec. 5-11.4(1) |
| Freestanding Signs (COM/IND) - Aggregate | Up to 75 ft for any on-premise sign in nonresidential districts | Total area of all signs on site ≤ 500 sq ft | — | At least 7 ft from lot lines/ROW; 15-ft corner and street/driveway sight triangles; may not extend over any public way | — | On-premises for businesses and industries | — | Sec. 5-11.4(2)-(3),(9) |
| Wall Signs (COM/IND) - Aggregate | — | Aggregate wall sign area ≤ 200 sq ft | — | — | — | On building façades | — | Sec. 5-11.4(5)-(6),(10) |
| Under-Canopy Sign (COM/IND) | — | 16 sq ft (per occupancy) | — | — | 1 per occupancy | Suspended beneath a canopy/ceiling/roof/marquee over sidewalk area | — | Sec. 5-11.4(7) |
| Projecting Sign (COM/IND) | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to and projecting from a building wall | — | Sec. 5-11.4(10) |
| Incidental Signs (COM/IND) | — | Aggregate ≤ 4 sq ft per occupancy | — | — | — | On windows/walls | — | Sec. 5-11.4(8); Sec. 5-7(9) |
| Freestanding Sign - Ground Clearance (COM/IND) | — | — | — | As per Sec. 5-11.4(3)-(4) | — | On private property | — | Sec. 5-11.4(11) |
| Murals (COM/IND) | — | — | — | — | — | On exterior building walls | — | Sec. 5-11.4(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Marianna

- Abandoned signs are prohibited citywide.
- Non-governmental signs within a dedicated City street right-of-way are prohibited unless specifically authorized by the City.
- Flashing, fluttering, undulating, swinging, rotating, or otherwise moving signs are prohibited (except City-approved under-marquee and under-canopy signs in the Main Street district).
- Any sign that blocks or restricts the sight distance of a motor vehicle operator at any driveway or intersection is prohibited.
- Any sign extending over, across, or above any public way (including roadways and sidewalks) is prohibited, except governmental signs and City-approved under-canopy and under-marquee signs in the Main Street district; all signs must comply with ADA accessibility requirements.
- Signs using traffic-related words or symbols such as “Stop,” “danger,” or “detour” in a manner that could mislead, confuse, or distract drivers are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as specifically permitted in section 5-11.
- Real estate signs with arrows pointing to property other than where the sign is located are prohibited.
- Beacon lighting is prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited within the City limits.
- Banners or flying paraphernalia are prohibited, except official federal, state, county, or educational institution flags, and symbolic flags as permitted in section 5-11.1.
- Signs erected or maintained upon trees or painted/drawn upon rocks or other natural features are prohibited, except “posted property” signs.
- Bandit signs are prohibited (on-site or off-site), except for real estate signs and as allowed in subsection 5-11.1(12).
- Snipe signs are prohibited except as allowed in section 5-7.11.
- Signs that are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare, impair vision, or constitute a hazard or nuisance to motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, or neighboring properties are prohibited (per FDOT/State/Federal guidelines).
- No display or device may use rapid flashing lights; dissolve and fade transitions are allowed; no advertising sign may involve rapid motion or rotation of the structure.
- Sign lighting may not be installed or located so as to cause confusion with traffic control lights.
- Illumination by spotlights or floodlights or other lighting is not allowed if emitted light shines onto an adjoining property or into the eyes of drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians.
- Exposed incandescent lights may not be used for lighting outdoor signs.
- Revolving beacons and flashing lights are prohibited.
- No sign may be suspended by non-rigid attachments that allow the sign to swing in the wind (except under-canopy and under-marquee signs).
- No sign may obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window, or door opening used as a means of egress.
- No sign may be attached in a manner that interferes with any opening required for ventilation.
- Signs must maintain required clearances from overhead electrical conductors per the National Electrical Code; electrical signs must meet Florida Building Code, National Electrical Code, and testing agency specifications and bear a visible testing agency label.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marianna

- Items excluded from regulation (Sec. 5-2): official traffic control or governmental signs; the copy and message of signs; window displays; product dispensers and point-of-purchase displays; athletic scoreboards; advertising on athletic field fences; flags of any nation, government, or noncommercial organization; gravestones; barber poles; religious symbols; commemorative plaques; street numbers; and any display or construction not defined as a sign.
- No permit is required for maintenance of a sign.
- No permit is required for change of copy on printed or changeable copy signs.
- Construction signs of 32 square feet or less, including bandit signs, do not require a permit.
- Directional/information signs of six square feet or less located behind applicable setbacks do not require a permit.
- Holiday or special event decorations do not require a permit.
- Name plates of two square feet or less do not require a permit.
- Political signs do not require a permit.
- Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency or community-wide event, do not require a permit.
- Real estate signs do not require a permit.
- Non-permanent window signs do not require a permit.
- Incidental signs do not require a permit.
- “For sale” signs of two square feet or less do not require a permit.
- Snipe signs for garage/yard sales or similar events in residential and mixed-use districts do not require a permit if not in a City or State right-of-way, with property owner permission, and removed within 24 hours after the event.
- Bandit signs and banners at or for public events on City, school board, college, county, or other public property do not require a permit if removed after the event.
- Signs located at City or school recreational areas provided by sponsors do not require a permit.
- Integral signs (memorial tablets, building names/dates in masonry or bronze/incombustible materials) do not require a permit.
- Flags, balloons, festoons, and streamers do not require a permit (feather flags/banners must be permitted under section 5-11).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before erecting, placing, or constructing any sign, except for the exemptions in Sec. 5-7.
- Permit applications must include: owner information; property address/location and property owner; sign type; a site plan showing the proposed sign location and the locations and square footages of all existing signs on the premises; and specifications/scale drawings showing materials, design, dimensions, structural supports, and electrical components.
- For any sign 30 feet or greater in overall height, permit drawings and structural specifications must bear the seal and signature of a Florida registered engineer (wind load compliance).
- If a sign needs a variance or any decision beyond staff authority, a written variance request is required; applicable administrative procedures, including proper public notice and any required public hearings, will be followed.
- If any sign is installed or altered before receipt of a permit, it must be removed; no variance from this removal requirement will be granted.
- Temporary banners and feather flags for special sales events require a permit; applications must be filed at least five business days prior to the event; allowed once each quarter for 30 days; no permit fee for this item.
- High-rise signs located in a parking lot or traffic way must include protective barriers at the base in the site plan drawings.
- Outdoor advertising along State roads requires authorization from the Florida Department of Transportation; street banner signs over State roads also require State approval.
- Murals on residential and historical buildings listed in the Jackson County Survey of Historically Significant Sites require City Commission approval (no charge under the mural provisions).
- No master sign plan requirement is specified in the provided ordinance text.

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

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