# Sign Regulations in North Lauderdale, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Lauderdale, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/north-lauderdale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-25
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/fl/north_lauderdale/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH94SI)

## At a glance

North Lauderdale, Florida regulates 8 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the B-1 neighborhood business district (B-1), CF community facilities district (CF), CR commercial recreation district (CR), ROS recreation/open space district (ROS) zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and Min 32 sq ft per face, with a On private property, see setback section setback (Sec. Sec. 94-16(b)(3)). Most commercial signs in North Lauderdale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RS-5 single-family low-density district (RS-5), RM-10 multifamily low-medium-density district (RM-10), RM-16 multifamily medium-density district (RM-16), MH mobile home park district (MH) | 4 | 10 feet | Residential: Identification signs max 24 sq ft per face (SFR/duplex majority) or 1 sq ft per multifamily unit, not exceeding 96 sq ft per face | — |
| PUD planned unit development district (PUD) | 1 | Depends on use: Residential rules for residential PUD; if commercial, use relevant B district rule | — | — |
| B-1 neighborhood business district (B-1), CF community facilities district (CF), CR commercial recreation district (CR), ROS recreation/open space district (ROS) | 8 | 10 feet | Min 32 sq ft per face | — |
| B-2 community business district (B-2), B-4 professional office district (B-4), M-1 light industrial district (M-1) | 8 | 16 feet (can increase by 1 foot for each 2 feet additional setback beyond prescribed, up to max 16 feet) | Min 40 sq ft per face | — |
| B-3 regional business district (B-3) | 8 | Up to 24 feet (increase 1 foot per 2 feet setback beyond prescribed, max 24 feet) | Min 50 sq ft per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### B-1 neighborhood business district (B-1), CF community facilities district (CF), CR commercial recreation district (CR), ROS recreation/open space district (ROS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Min 18 sq ft per tenant | — | On private property, see setback section | 1 per tenant space | Exterior wall, over owned/leased space | — | Sec. 94-16(c)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 feet | Min 32 sq ft per face | — | On private property, see setback section | 1 per complex | On private property per setback rules | — | Sec. 94-16(b)(3) |
| Graphic Sign | — | Max 30% of solid wall portion; if any text, entire graphic counts as sign area | — | — | — | Building facade | — | Sec. 94-13(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 94-13(16) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning/canopy | — | Sec. 94-13(2) |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Hangs down from canopy/awning/marquee | — | Sec. 94-13(7) |
| Window Sign - Permanent | — | — | — | — | Unlimited | Windows | — | Sec. 94-13(20) |
| Temporary Sign (includes Construction, Political, Real Estate, Auction, Special Event, Subdivision, Window) | — | See functional type limits: Construction (16 sq ft), Political (24 sq ft w/permit), Real Estate (32 sq ft), Auction/Special Event (16/32 sq ft) | — | — | As per functional type | — | — | Sec. 94-14 |

### B-2 community business district (B-2), B-4 professional office district (B-4), M-1 light industrial district (M-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Min 24 sq ft per tenant | — | On private property, see setback rules | 1 per tenant space | Exterior wall, over owned/leased space | — | Sec. 94-16(c)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 16 feet (can increase by 1 foot for each 2 feet additional setback beyond prescribed, up to max 16 feet) | Min 40 sq ft per face | — | Prescribed setbacks plus extra for additional height | 1 per complex | On private property per setback rules | — | Sec. 94-12, 94-16(b)(2) |
| Graphic Sign | — | Max 30% of solid wall portion; if any text, entire graphic counts as sign area | — | — | — | Building facade | — | Sec. 94-13(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 94-13(16) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning/canopy | — | Sec. 94-13(2) |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Hangs down from canopy/awning/marquee | — | Sec. 94-13(7) |
| Window Sign - Permanent | — | — | — | — | Unlimited | Windows | — | Sec. 94-13(20) |
| Temporary Sign (includes Construction, Political, Real Estate, Auction, Special Event, Subdivision, Window) | — | See functional type limits: Construction (16 sq ft), Political (24 sq ft with permit), Real Estate (32 sq ft), Auction/Special Event (14/32 sq ft) | — | — | As per functional type | — | — | Sec. 94-14 |

### B-3 regional business district (B-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | Min 32 sq ft per tenant | — | On private property, see setback rules | 1 per tenant space | Exterior wall, over owned/leased space | — | Sec. 94-16(c)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | Up to 24 feet (increase 1 foot per 2 feet setback beyond prescribed, max 24 feet) | Min 50 sq ft per face | — | Prescribed plus extra for additional height | 1 per complex | On private property per setback rules | — | Sec. 94-12, 94-16(b)(1) |
| Graphic Sign | — | Max 30% of solid wall portion; if any text, whole graphic counts as sign area | — | — | — | Building facade | — | Sec. 94-13(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 94-13(16) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On awning/canopy | — | Sec. 94-13(2) |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Hangs from canopy/awning/marquee | — | Sec. 94-13(7) |
| Window Sign - Permanent | — | — | — | — | Unlimited | Windows | — | Sec. 94-13(20) |
| Temporary Sign (includes Construction, Political, Real Estate, Auction, Special Event, Subdivision, Window) | — | See functional type limits: Construction (16 sq ft), Political (24 sq ft with permit), Real Estate (32 sq ft), Auction/Special Event (14/32 sq ft) | — | — | As per functional type | — | — | Sec. 94-14 |

## Prohibited signs in North Lauderdale

- Signs attached to any tree, fence, branch or other sign, except warning signs and nonadvertising public interest signs authorized by the governing body (snipe signs).
- Attention-getting devices such as balloons, spinners, streamers and similar devices or ornamentation.
- Flashing or blinking signs, except when used for decorative purposes during a holiday season.
- Strings of light bulbs, except when used for lighting of seasonal sales and for decorative purposes during a holiday season.
- Any sign which is erected above the roof line of a building or structure, and which receives any or all of its support from such roof.
- Any existing sign which has not been approved by the city.
- Any sign not expressly permitted in this chapter.
- Those signs which have not been authorized by the governing body to be placed within the public right-of-way.
- Animated signs.
- Sidewalk or sandwich signs.
- Exposed neon tubes or bare bulb signs.
- Permanent signs which are illuminated from outside the boundaries of the sign by exposed and unprotected light fixtures and/or visible lighting fixtures. Such light fixtures when ground based shall be screened from general view by the use of landscape materials.
- Signs affixed to a vehicle or trailer when used on a given location or site in addition to or in lieu of a temporary or permanent sign permitted under this chapter, unless required by governmental agencies. Vehicles and trailers are exempt from this prohibition provided the vehicle or trailer is operable and used/moved on a daily basis for the conducting of the work or service or to provide transportation to and from the facility.
- Signs projecting more than 18 inches from the foremost point of attachment of the sign to the structure upon which it is constructed.
- Signs located on the sides of buildings or structures unless the building or structure is located on a corner plot or if the building or structure is located a distance of 100 feet or more from the nearest property line to which the sign is directed toward.
- Signs shall not be erected, maintained, modified or relocated so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, operable window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected within the public right-of-way, unless specifically exempted or approved by the governing body, in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where by reason of the position, shape or color it may interfere with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- All signs, with the exception of public signs, must be placed on private property. Signs may not be located in the right-of-way unless permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
- No sign or support shall be placed in such position or manner as to obstruct or interfere with, either physically or visually, any fire alarm, police alarm, traffic signal or sign, or any devices maintained by or under public authority or ingress or egress from any public or private right-of-way, roadway or driveway.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Lauderdale

- Public signs.
- Signs of public service companies for the purpose of safety.
- Signs located in the interior of any building which are designed and located to be viewed exclusively by patrons of such use or uses.
- Public interest signs authorized by the governing body.
- Address and nameplate signs displayed by the inhabitants of single-family, duplex, and townhouse residential structures.
- Signs painted directly upon or affixed to the body or other integral part of a currently licensed motor or recreation vehicle for the purpose of advertising, decoration or identification.
- No trespassing signs or other such signs regulating the use of a property, such as no hunting, no fishing, etc.
- Names of buildings and subdivisions, and date of erection when cut into any masonry or stone surface or inlaid so as to be part of a building, or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
- Flags of any country, state, county or unit of local government. However, erection of a flagpole or standard may require a structural permit.
- Gasoline and service station pump signs which are internally mounted to indicate the number of gallons, the price and the total amount of the purchase.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A uniform sign plan must be presented to and approved by the planning and zoning board and the development review committee for all shopping centers (business zoning districts) at site plan approval for new shopping centers.
- All signage plans for shopping centers must be coordinated through and approved by the shopping center owner.
- A uniform signage plan must be presented for the whole shopping center that is compatible with the architectural design of the entire center and enhances the aesthetics.
- Uniform sign plans for shopping centers must be approved by the planning and zoning board and the development review committee, as a unit.
- For temporary balloon/banner signs for special promotions and grand openings, a signage plan which complies with the Florida Building Code must be submitted.
- For use of graphic signs, all proposed use must be approved by the development review committee, planning and zoning board, and governing body.

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

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