# Sign Regulations in Ocala, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ocala, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/ocala
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-23
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Ocala/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH110SI)

## At a glance

Ocala, Florida regulates 55 sign types across 25 zoning districts. Real Estate and Construction Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and As per Sec. 110-161(a), with a 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines setback (Sec. Sec. 110-6(13)). Most commercial signs in Ocala require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (25 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 21 | 12 ft | Total surface area not more than 200 sq in | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-1A, R-1AA, R-2, R-3, RZL, MH) | 5 | 8 ft | Remaining of 48 sq ft total | — |
| Residential Office (RO) | 6 | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Residential Business Historic (RBH) | 2 | 5 ft (freestanding) | 12 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural (A-1) | 1 | 50 ft max from roadway centerline, or 35 ft if 100 ft+ from building | 378 sq ft including border, 10% embellishments | — |
| Governmental Use (G-U) | 7 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Institutional (INST) | 9 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Office (O-1) | 6 | 8 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Office Historic (OH) | 2 | 5 ft (freestanding) | 12 sq ft | — |
| Office Park (OP) | 7 | 30 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Business (B-1) | 2 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Limited Neighborhood Business (B-1A) | 2 | 7 ft (freestanding) | 32 sq ft per street side | — |
| Business and Industrial Districts (B-2, B-2A, B-4, B-5, M-1, M-2, M-3) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |
| Community Redevelopment Area Mixed Use 2 (B-3C) | 3 | 7 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot | — |
| Planned Development (PD) | 1 | — | As approved | — |
| Planned Shopping Center (SC) | 4 | 30 ft | 200 sq ft primary face (up to 280 if others eliminated), 30 sq ft secondary per tenant | — |
| Form-Based Code (FBC) | 1 | — | As per Sec. 122-969 | — |
| Historic Districts | 4 | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Community Business (B-2) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |
| Limited Community Business (B-2A) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |
| General Business (B-4) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |
| Wholesale Business (B-5) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |
| Light Industrial (M-1) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |
| Medium Industrial (M-2) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |
| Heavy Industrial (M-3) | 3 | 30 ft | Total 100 sq ft or 2 sq ft per front foot (greater) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 25 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft or less | — | — | Not limited | On-site | — | Sec. 110-6(1) |
| No Trespassing or No Dumping Sign | — | 2 sq ft or less | — | — | Not limited | On-site | — | Sec. 110-6(2) |
| Directional or Instructional Sign | — | 4 sq ft or less | — | — | Not limited | On-site | — | Sec. 110-6(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | 18 sq ft or less | — | — | Not limited | At or near nonsignalized intersections, identifying business or public service within 500 ft on secondary roadway | — | Sec. 110-6(4) |
| Under-Canopy Sign | — | Less than 10 sq ft | — | — | Not limited | Behind right-of-way line for pedestrian identification | — | Sec. 110-6(8) |
| Temporary Window Sign or Window Banner | — | Covering no more than 25% of each window area | — | — | Not limited | Inside of building | — | Sec. 110-6(9) |
| Credit Card or Membership Sign | — | 2 sq ft or less | — | — | One per organization per frontage | Per street frontage | — | Sec. 110-6(10) |
| Real Estate and Construction Sign | 12 ft | As per Sec. 110-161(a) | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | As per zone in table | On-site | — | Sec. 110-6(13) |

### Governmental Use (G-U)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign - Local Roadway | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | 1 per frontage, 150 ft apart | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-157(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign - Local Roadway | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-157(a)(1) |
| Ground Sign - Collector Roadway | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | 1 per frontage, 150 ft apart | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-157(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign - Collector Roadway | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-157(a)(2) |
| Ground Sign - Principal or Minor Arterial | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | 1 per frontage, 150 ft apart | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-157(a)(3) |
| Wall Sign - Principal or Minor Arterial | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-157(a)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign - Parks | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 10 ft from side lines | 1 per park | Per park, location by director | — | Sec. 110-157(b) |

### Institutional (INST)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign - Local Roadway | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | 1 per frontage, 150 ft apart | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-156(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign - Local Roadway | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-156(a)(1) |
| Ground Sign - Collector Roadway | 8 ft | 48 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | 1 per frontage, 150 ft apart | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-156(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign - Collector Roadway | — | 48 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-156(a)(2) |
| Ground Sign - Principal or Minor Arterial | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | 1 per frontage, 150 ft apart | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-156(a)(3) |
| Wall Sign - Principal or Minor Arterial | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Each primary frontage | — | Sec. 110-156(a)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign - Hospitals | 30 ft | Total 2 sq ft per front foot | — | 5 ft from ROW, 25 ft from side lines | 2 per frontage, 150 ft apart | Each frontage | — | Sec. 110-156(b)(2)(a) |
| Roof Sign or Projecting Sign - Hospitals | — | Total 2 sq ft per front foot | — | — | 1 | Building | — | Sec. 110-156(b)(2)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Ocala

- Any sign located within 50 feet of any residentially zoned property, except signs advertising uses allowed outright or by special exception in that residential zone that conform with the provisions of this chapter relating to that zone.
- Any sign which constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to traffic safety by reason of its size, location, movement, content, coloring or method of illumination.
- Any sign which obstructs the vision between pedestrians and vehicles using the public right-of-way, including but not restricted to those not meeting visibility standards in sections 122-253 and 122-1242. Specifically prohibited are signs using flashing, revolving or stroboscopic lights; bare bulbs in excess of eleven watts; and words and traffic control symbols so as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic, such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'caution,' 'danger' or 'slow.'
- Signs attached to trees or utility poles.
- Signs attached to or painted on vehicles which are not regularly used by the advertised business and are obviously parked in such a way as to advertise to the passing motorist or pedestrian.
- Privately constructed signs in public rights-of-way not specifically permitted by this chapter.
- Signs made of combustible materials that are attached to fire escapes or firefighting equipment.
- Outside pennants, banners, balloons, flags or streamers, except as otherwise specifically allowed in this chapter.
- Any other signs, on-premises or off-premises, that are not specifically permitted or exempted by this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ocala

- Identification signs of two square feet or less.
- 'No trespassing' or 'no dumping' signs of two square feet or less.
- Directional or instructional signs of four square feet or less, containing business identification only, where vehicle or pedestrian movements are involved.
- Directional signs of 18 square feet or less located at or near nonsignalized intersections that identify business or public service uses within 500 feet of the intersections, but located on a secondary roadway. The signs will not require a permit but must be approved by the city and any other agency having jurisdiction.
- Governmental signs for traffic control, street designation, or direction to public facilities, and any public sign deemed necessary by a public officer in the performance of his public duty, or as approved by the city council.
- Memorial signs or tablets when cut into any masonry surface or constructed of a noncombustible material.
- Noncommercial flags.
- Under-canopy signs behind the right-of-way line, for pedestrian identification, of less than ten square feet.
- Temporary window signs and window banners placed on the inside of the building, used to advertise special sales or events, covering no more than 25 percent of each window area.
- Credit card or membership signs of two square feet or less, one for each different organization permitted for each street frontage.
- A maximum of two menu boards or price lists for drive-through facilities, of no more than 24 square feet each. Such signs shall be located adjacent to and oriented toward the drive-through area.
- Graphics and trademarks on vending machines, gas pumps and other machinery customarily used for sales outside of buildings.
- Real estate and construction signs allowed under section 110-161.
- Standard-sized menus mounted at the entrances to the restaurants.
- Political election signs posted between the opening of the election qualifying period and ten days after election.
- Garage sale signs permitted under section 50-104.
- Banners for charitable or nonprofit organizations suspended across Silver Springs Boulevard at 900 East Silver Springs Boulevard as permitted by the state and the city.
- Pennants, banners, balloons, commercial flags or streamers having a total surface area of not more than 200 square inches, so long as no such pennant, banner, balloon, commercial flag or streamer is placed or allowed to exist within 50 feet of any other pennant, banner, balloon, commercial flag or streamer located on the same property.
- Advertisements on benches and shelters at officially designated SunTran bus stops subject to compliance with specified size, location, and policy requirements.
- Wayfinding signage.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For shopping centers, the location and type of all signage must be submitted for review at the time of site plan review; a sign package (freestanding and wall signage) for a new shopping center shall be approved at the time of site plan review.
- For planned developments (PD), all signage shall be approved by city council as part of the PD plan process.
- For properties in historic districts, plans for all proposed signs requiring a permit shall be submitted for approval to the historic preservation advisory board.
- For B-1 and B-1A districts, all signs proposed for a development shall be submitted with a site plan to be reviewed by the site plan review committee.
- For industrial and commercial subdivisions, location, size and distribution of signage shall be recorded on the record plat approved by the planning and zoning commission.
- Variances to the sign code may be granted by the sign code board of adjustment (zoning board of adjustment) in cases of unnecessary hardship.
- In certain zoning districts (e.g., O-1, OP, INST, G-U, RO), approvals for internal illumination, animation (level 3), or sponsor signage may require planning and zoning commission review.
- For off-site signs, a site plan is required as part of the permit application, reviewed by appropriate departments and agencies.

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

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