# Sign Regulations in New Smyrna Beach, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Smyrna Beach, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/new-smyrna-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/fl/new_smyrna_beach/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIILADERE_ARTVIDEDEIMST_604.00REIM)

## At a glance

New Smyrna Beach, Florida regulates 41 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Sandwich Board Signs in the Mixed Use District (MU), Business District (B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-6A), Corridor Overlay Zone (COZ), Commercial Marina District (CM), Industrial District (I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4) zoning district are capped at 42 inches tall, 42 in height x 36 in width, and 36 inches wide, with a No closer than 1 foot inside the curb. setback (Sec. Section C (Exemptions), Sandwich Board provisions.). Most commercial signs in New Smyrna Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mixed Use District (MU), Business District (B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-6A), Corridor Overlay Zone (COZ), Commercial Marina District (CM), Industrial District (I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4) | 10 | 42 inches | 100 sq ft per premises | — |
| Business District (B-5, Planned Shopping Center); Multi-Tenant Commercial Building | 8 | 15 feet (B-5) or by underlying zoning district | 200 sq ft | — |
| Office or Industrial Parks | 4 | 10 feet | 80 sq ft | — |
| Airport Industrial Park (I-3 Airport Industrial Park) | 4 | 4 feet | 200 sq ft per face | — |
| Residential District (R, RA, RE, R-1, R-2, R2-A, R-3, R3-A, R3-B, R-4, R-5, R-6, MH-1, MH-2) | 5 | 8 ft above grade | 100 sq ft | — |
| Resort Commercial District (RC), Florida Room District (FR), Agriculture District (A-1, A-2), Planned Unit Development (PUD), Non-residential Subdivision, Non-residential uses in RA zoning district | 2 | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| B-6 Medical-Professional Zoning District (B-6 west of Intracoastal Waterway) | 1 | — | 250 sq ft per banner; 100 sq ft per 100 linear ft street frontage total | — |
| New Smyrna Beach National Register of Historic Places Historic District, Coronado National Register of Historic Places Historic District | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft per flag, 72 sq ft combined | — |

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

### Mixed Use District (MU), Business District (B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-6A), Corridor Overlay Zone (COZ), Commercial Marina District (CM), Industrial District (I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 10 feet | 48 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from front property line unless otherwise specified. | 1 per frontage (additional allowed on second frontage as specified). | Primary frontage; an additional sign for the second frontage, max 2 sq ft per 1 linear foot of frontage, max 24 sq ft on second frontage; must be at least 50 feet from any other ground sign on the same premises. | — | 604.12.G.1.a + Figure 604.12.G.1.a.1. |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft per premises | — | — | Within the maximum area. | On the building wall | — | 604.12.G.1.b. |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | See intersection visibility standards, not in required parking space. | 1 per business or shopping center whose freestanding sign not erected. | On premises of business/shopping center not yet with allowed freestanding sign. | — | 604.12.G.1.e. |
| Construction Site Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project | Construction project site | — | 604.12.G.1.f. |
| Development Project Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On development site with active construction or sales | — | 604.12.G.1.g. |
| Awning Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | On awning of business | — | 604.12.G.1.i. |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 42 inches | 42 in height x 36 in width | 36 inches | No closer than 1 foot inside the curb. | 1 per property/tenant space; 1 additional within 500 ft meeting requirements | On public sidewalk within MU district in front of business (or within 500 ft with conditions) | — | Section C (Exemptions), Sandwich Board provisions. |
| Window Sign | — | 35% of window area | — | — | See area restriction | On windows | — | Section C (Exemptions), Window signs. |

### Business District (B-5, Planned Shopping Center); Multi-Tenant Commercial Building

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (Shopping Center under 75,000 sq ft) | 15 feet (B-5) or by underlying zoning district | 62 sq ft | — | 5 ft from arterial right-of-way, 50 ft from side lot lines | — | Adjacent to arterial right-of-way frontage | — | 604.12.G.2.a. |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (75,000 - 250,000 sq ft) | 15 feet (B-5) or by underlying zoning district | 141 sq ft | — | 5 ft from arterial right-of-way, 50 ft from side lot lines | — | Adjacent to arterial right-of-way frontage | — | 604.12.G.2.a. |
| Freestanding Ground Sign (over 250,000 sq ft) | 15 feet (B-5) or by underlying zoning district | 157 sq ft | — | 5 ft from arterial right-of-way, 50 ft from side lot lines | — | Adjacent to arterial right-of-way frontage | — | 604.12.G.2.a. |
| Wall Sign (Anchor Store) | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Anchor store walls | — | 604.12.G.2.b.1. |
| Marquee Sign (Anchor Store) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Hanging below marquee | — | 604.12.G.2.b.2. |
| Wall Sign (Tenant, not anchor or outparcel) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Tenant walls | — | 604.12.G.2.c.1. |
| Marquee Sign (Tenant, not anchor or outparcel) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Hanging below marquee | — | 604.12.G.2.c.2. |
| Outparcel Signs | — | — | — | — | — | On outparcel, per section 604.12G(1) | — | 604.12.G.2.d. |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | — | 40 sq ft per flag, 72 sq ft combined | — | — | 2 | On or adjacent to building | — | 604.12.G.10. |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Temporary signs over 6 sq ft: 5 ft from front, 25 ft from side property line. | Up to 3 non-exempt per premises unless otherwise stated. | On premises | — | 604.12.G.6.c. |
| Temporary Sign (Residential) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 10 per premises | Yard or premises | — | 604.12.G.6.b. |
| House of Worship Signs - Freestanding | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property of house of worship | — | 604.12.G.5.a. |
| House of Worship Signs - Wall | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | 604.12.G.5.b. |
| Electronic Message Center | — | — | — | Min separation between EMC signs: 600 ft | — | B-3 and B-5 districts only (with US 1 restrictions and additional separation requirements) | — | 604.12.G.8. |

## Prohibited signs in New Smyrna Beach

- Beacon light signs are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Moving signs are prohibited.
- Off-site signs are prohibited except exempt bench signs.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Trailer/mobile signs are prohibited.
- Traveling light signs are prohibited.
- Signs which in any way simulate or appear to simulate emergency vehicles, traffic control signs or devices, or directional, informational, or warning signs erected or maintained by any public body, or any railroad, public utility, or similar body, are prohibited.
- Private signs, whether temporary or permanent, placed on public property, except as expressly permitted by the appropriate public body, are prohibited.
- Signs containing any statements, words, or pictures of an obscene nature (utterly without redeeming social value as determined by the community standard prevailing in New Smyrna Beach and the immediate surrounding area) are prohibited.
- Signs exceeding three square feet attached to passenger vehicles are prohibited.
- Signs which in any way obstruct, cover, or block any fire escape, window, or door, or which are attached to any fire escape or ventilation device, are prohibited.
- Signs which include pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or wind-operated devices, except as provided herein, are prohibited.
- Signs designed to be visible from any part of the Atlantic Ocean beach area, or from any waterway within the City limits, except as allowed in specified zoning districts or as exempt, are prohibited.
- Commercial signs that are carried, waved, or otherwise displayed by persons ('sign walkers', 'sign spinners', or 'commercial mascots') either on public rights-of-way or in a manner visible from public rights-of-way are prohibited.
- Signs located in the visibility triangle of any corner lot, except as provided, are prohibited.
- Any sign which otherwise obstructs the view in any direction at a street intersection is prohibited.
- Commercial signs attached to or painted on vehicles or trailers which are not regularly used as part of the advertised business and are obviously parked for the primary purpose of advertising to passing motorists or pedestrians are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Smyrna Beach

- Automobile vehicle wraps on currently registered vehicles are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Banners, for the promotion of a new business in a nonresidential zoning district for up to 45 consecutive days after receiving a Business Tax Receipt (32 sq ft max; subject to conditions), are exempt.
- Bench signs approved by the city commission on benches placed on public property for the use and convenience of the general public are exempt.
- Flags which do not bear any commercial advertising, mounted on a single or separate flag poles installed on or adjacent to (within 15 feet) a building (maximum 2 per premises, 40 sq ft each) are exempt.
- Integral signs, with individual letters or numerals not exceeding two inches in height, and the sign itself not exceeding three square feet, are exempt.
- Neon or other light signs hung inside the window of an establishment intended to be seen from outside (no more than five per premises; powered by plug into wall outlet) are exempt.
- In commercial districts, one non-electric noncommercial sign not exceeding six square feet for each street or waterway frontage is exempt.
- In residential districts, one non-electric sign not exceeding three square feet, and temporary signs allowed per subsection G.(6), are exempt.
- Sandwich boards, subject to detailed criteria, are exempt within the MU (mixed use) zoning districts.
- Signs attached to passenger vehicles that do not exceed three square feet in copy area are exempt.
- Signs located on soda, candy, or food dispensing machines are exempt.
- Signs necessary to protect public safety, prevent property damage, meet due process or other requirements of law, or serve compelling governmental interests are exempt, including: no trespassing, warning, traffic control, or similar signs (not more than 2 sq ft where necessary); legal notices as required by law; one sign (up to 3 sq ft) per premises showing property numbers, post office numbers, or occupant names; signs required by any State of Florida professional licensing body up to state minimum requirements.
- Window signs provided that the total area of all signs does not exceed 35 percent of the total glass area of the window containing the display are exempt.
- Window wraps which do not advertise a business or product are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No indication is present in this ordinance text that a master sign plan, sign plan, or planned sign variance process is required in general or for multiple-tenant/multi-building situations. The only plan-related requirement is that applications for sign permits must include drawings to scale showing the sign's details and placement relative to buildings and property lines.
- A variance to the sign requirements may be granted by the planning and zoning board in accordance with standard variance procedures, when literal enforcement would cause substantial practical difficulty or hardship.
- Applications for vintage sign designation must be reviewed and approved by the Historic New Smyrna Beach Preservation Commission at a public hearing.
- If a sign extends over public property or right-of-way (e.g., projecting signs, marquee signs), additional approvals such as a license agreement or permission from the jurisdictional authority may be required.

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

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