# Sign Regulations in Palatka, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Palatka, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/palatka
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-17
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Palatka/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH62SI)

## At a glance

Palatka, Florida regulates 14 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Bulletin Board Signs in the Downtown zoning districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall, Contained within a brick structure, and 3 feet wide (Sec. Bulletin board sign means a public multi-sided sign structure intended and reserved for the posting of temporary notices by individuals or public or quasi-public organizations, clubs, and the like, and is allowed only in downtown zoning districts.). Most commercial signs in Palatka require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Downtown zoning districts | 3 | 8 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Recreation and Open Space zoning district | 1 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| PBF-1, PBF-2 | 1 | — | 50 square feet | — |
| Commercial zoning districts | 1 | 7 feet | 25 square feet | — |
| Downtown Riverfront (DR), Downtown Business (DB) | 1 | — | 15 square feet | — |
| C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1 | 2 | — | 25% of wall area | — |
| M-1 | 1 | — | 300 feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 200 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Downtown zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board Sign | 6 feet | Contained within a brick structure | 3 feet | — | One per two-block area | Public right-of-way on sidewalks within two feet of the curb | — | Bulletin board sign means a public multi-sided sign structure intended and reserved for the posting of temporary notices by individuals or public or quasi-public organizations, clubs, and the like, and is allowed only in downtown zoning districts. |
| Downtown Gateway Sign | 8 feet | 100 square feet | — | — | — | Downtown business district | — | Downtown gateway sign means a public sign structure that is an entrance feature to the downtown business district, allowed only in downtown zoning districts. |
| Downtown Street Art Sign | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | — | One per business | Within two feet into the sidewalk right-of-way | — | Downtown street art sign means a private freestanding, three-dimensional, non-moving object that is not merchandise, but is used to attract the attention of potential customers, allowed only in downtown zoning districts. |

### C-1, C-2, C-3, M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Graphic | — | 25% of wall area | — | — | — | C-1, C-2, C-3 and M-1 zoning areas | — | Wall graphics are permitted in the following zoning areas: C-1, C-2, C-3 and M-1 only. |
| Flashing Sign | — | — | — | Five-foot minimum setback | — | C-1, C-2, C-3 and M-1 zoning areas | — | Flashing lights will be permitted in zoning areas where specified providing the following provisions are met (applicable only to portable temporary signs): |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 200 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | The maximum size of a wall sign shall not exceed 200 square feet. |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Temporary sign means any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wall board or other light materials, with or without frames, designed to last 60 days maximum or less. |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any zoning district | — | Political or campaign signs on behalf of candidates for public office or measure on elections ballots may be erected in any zoning district. |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 8 square feet for residential property, 96 square feet for commercial property | — | Minimum of five feet from the front property right-of-way and 15 feet from the side lot line | — | Premises upon which it is located | — | Sign, real estate means a sign which advertises the sale, rental or development of the premises upon which it is located. |

## Prohibited signs in Palatka

- No person shall paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription whatever in a park or on public lands or highways or roads adjacent to a park except by permission of the city manager.
- Signs not defined and described in chapter 62 are prohibited.
- No sign shall display any statement, word, character or illustration which is obscene, as defined under state law, or that is otherwise unlawful under state or federal law.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location in such manner as to obstruct free and clear vision at the intersection of any streets or other public ways.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at any location where by reason of the position, illumination, shape or color it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic signal, sign or device.
- No sign shall make use of the word 'Stop,' 'Look' or 'Danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol or character in such manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No red, blue, white or clear flashing lights will be permitted.
- No flashing lights will be permitted below a height of ten feet from ground elevation.
- No reflector type bulbs will be permitted.
- No sign shall be attached to or be placed against a building in such a manner as to prevent ingress and egress through any door or window of any building, nor shall any sign obstruct or be attached to a fire escape.
- No person shall paint, paste, print, nail or fasten in any manner whatsoever any banner, sign, paper, or advertisement or notice of any kind whatsoever on any curbstone, flagstone, pavement or any other portion or part of any sidewalk or street, or upon any tree, lamppost, parking meter post or telephone pole or upon any structure within the limits of any street within the city, unless otherwise permitted under this chapter.
- No sign or other advertising media shall be placed on or over any of the waters of the city, except those legally erected and maintained as of February 23, 1984.

## Signs exempt from permit in Palatka

- A banner sign shall not require a permit and shall not be included in the limitation of two signs per business.
- A new permit will not be required for repairs, including repainting, of $500.00 or less to any existing sign, providing the sign conforms with the provisions of this chapter and a valid permit has been previously issued for the sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Scoreboards in excess of 200 square feet may be approved by grant of variance.
- Any flashing sign which does not meet the criteria in subsection (a) of this section may be permitted by the planning board as a conditional use providing it is in an area properly zoned.
- The changing of a sign face with no increase in size or location will not require a site plan review by city personnel.
- The board of zoning appeals shall utilize the following criteria in considering sign variance requests: That sign size or height limitations cause an exceptional and unique hardship; That the unique hardship is not due solely to the owner's actions; That the variance authorized will be compatible with the physical characteristics of the neighborhood.

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

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