# Sign Regulations in Palm Beach, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Palm Beach, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/palm-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Palm_Beach/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH18BUBURE_ARTXIIISIAW)

## At a glance

Palm Beach, Florida regulates 29 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Yard Identification Sign (Multifamily/Other)s in the Residential Districts, R-AA, R-A, R-B zoning district are capped at 6 ft. above lot grade tall and 6 sq. ft., with a 10 ft to front/street side lot line setback (Sec. Sec. 134-2402(2)). Most commercial signs in Palm Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Flagpole height not to exceed 40% above building height limit of the district unless property is over 5 acres, in which case flagpole may exceed with special exception; flag must be set back at least 120 ft from any lot line if over max limits. | 216 sq. ft. (for 70 ft pole, or otherwise as provided in table/proportion formula) | — |
| Residential Districts, R-AA, R-A, R-B | 15 | 30 inches above yard ground level | 40 sq. in. | — |
| R-C, R-D(1), R-D(2), PUD | 2 | — | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Districts, C-TS, C-WA, C-B, C-OPI | 15 | 15 ft OR below ceiling height of first floor (lowest of the two); cannot go higher except on some existing multistory facades. | See residential district sale/rental sign sections 134-2403 (R-AA, R-A, R-B) or 134-2404 (R-C, R-D(1), R-D(2), PUD) | — |
| C-PC | 2 | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Residential Districts, R-AA, R-A, R-B

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign (Single-Family) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per lot/main building | On property | — | Sec. 134-2402(1) |
| Yard Identification Sign (Multifamily/Other) | 6 ft. above lot grade | 6 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft to front/street side lot line | 1 per lot; 2 for corner or through lot | Yard area, not closer than 10 ft to front/street side lot line | — | Sec. 134-2402(2) |
| Sale or Rental Sign (R-AA, R-A, R-B) | 4 ft. | 40 sq. in. | — | 5 ft from front property line | 1 per premises | On property for sale/rent, not closer than 5 ft from front property line | — | Sec. 134-2403 |
| Development Sign (R-AA, R-A, R-B) | 4 ft. | 40 sq. in. | — | 5 ft from front/street side lot line | 1 per property; or 1 per frontage | On developing property | — | Sec. 134-2406 |
| Temporary Political Sign | 4 ft. including supports | 4 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft from front property/street, 10 ft from other lot lines | 1 per candidate/measure; max 3 total temp signs | On private property with owner's permission only | — | Sec. 134-2409 |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign | 4 ft. including supports | 4 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft from front property/street, 10 ft from other lot lines | 1 per issue/message; max 3 total temp signs | Private property with owner's permission | — | Sec. 134-2409 |
| Artisan Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from front/street side lot line | 1 per artisan | On premise where artisan is working | — | Sec. 134-2408 |
| Development Sign (R-C, R-D(1), R-D(2), PUD) | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft from front/street side lot line | 1 per property; or 1 per frontage | On developing property | — | Sec. 134-2407 |

### Commercial Districts, C-TS, C-WA, C-B, C-OPI

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Sign | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | One per wall with street frontage | Front of wall of building, flat against wall, each wall that fronts a street. | — | Sec. 134-2437(1) |
| Business Identification Sign | 15 ft OR below ceiling height of first floor (lowest of the two); cannot go higher except on some existing multistory facades. | Maximum 20 sq. ft. per individual sign, 10 sq. ft. if frontage <18 ft. | — | — | — | Flat on wall, in windows/doors on ground floor, or in via as hanging sign. | — | Sec. 134-2437(2), 134-2438, 134-2440, 134-2441, 134-2439 |
| Business Directory Sign (Via Entrance) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One per direction of via entrance | Facing each direction of via/arcade entrance, mounted on wall. | — | Sec. 134-2437(3) |
| Property Identification Yard Sign | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | No further than 10 ft from entrance | One per vehicular entrance | Within 10 feet of vehicular entrance from street. | — | Sec. 134-2437(5), 134-2437(6) |
| Temporary Political Sign | 4 ft. including supports | 4 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft from front/street, 10 ft from other lot lines (option 1); none required if in window/door (option 2) | 1 per candidate/ballot measure; max 3 temp signs (option 1); Option 2 (window/door) per total allowance | On lots/storefronts with owner's permission. Alternatively, see below (option 2). | — | Sec. 134-2447 |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | See temporary political sign options | 1 per issue/message; max 3 temp signs (option 1); Option 2 (window/door) per total allowance | On lots with permission or in windows/doors (see above for temporary political signs). | — | Sec. 134-2447 |
| Menu Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | Within 4 ft. of entrance | 1 per establishment | Within 4 ft. of front entrance to restaurant/take-out retail establishment. | — | Sec. 134-2448 |
| Development Sign | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft from front/street side lot line | One per property; or one per frontage | On property being developed | — | Sec. 134-2446 |

### C-PC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Property Identification Yard Sign | 6 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | Within 10 ft of entrance/exit | No more than 2 yard signs flanking each entrance/exit | Within 10 ft of vehicular entrance/exit from street. | — | Sec. 134-2437(6) |
| Development Sign | — | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | One per property; or one per frontage | On property being developed | — | Sec. 134-2446 |

## Prohibited signs in Palm Beach

- Signs that are not specifically permitted by this division are prohibited.
- No sign other than an official traffic sign erected by the town, county, state, federal government, or agencies thereof shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street or public way.
- No sign or banner shall be hung on, from, or beneath any canopy, awning, or marquee.
- No sign, including numerals, lettering, illustrations, logos, or characters, shall be painted or installed on any awning visible from public or private streets.
- No sign shall be permitted within any district for any purpose which is flashing or which has any animation or movement associated with it.
- No banner signs of any kind, including those produced on cloth, paper or fabric, shall be permitted. This does not prohibit display of flags, as defined in the ordinance.
- Strip lighting of any nature, including neon tubing, fluorescent lights, or similar, shall not be used to outline any building, fence, wall, or other structure.
- Strobe or flash lighting and/or neon lighting which draws attention to a tenant space, building, or structure is not permitted.
- No sign shall be permitted or erected until an illuminated sign has been approved as a special exception use (with stated exception for certain low-level signs).
- No sign shall be permitted on any premises, improved or unimproved, except as relating to that property and as permitted by division 2 or 3 of this article or as otherwise allowed in this Code.
- No person shall paint, paste, print or nail any paper sign or advertisement or notice of any kind on any curbstone, flagstone or other portion of any sidewalk or street or upon any tree, lamppost, hitching post, utility pole, hydrant, bridge, or similar structure within the limits of the town, except by resolution of the town council.
- No person shall paint, paste, print, or nail any banner, sign, handbill, advertisement or notice of any kind on any private pole, advertising board, sign, or any private structure or building unless he is the owner or lessee of such structure.
- No sign shall be attached to or placed against a building in such a manner as to prevent ingress or egress through any door or opening that is to be used in event of fire or emergency; nor shall any sign obstruct or be attached to a fire escape.
- No sign, including those painted or attached, with lettering, illustrations, logos or characters shall be visible from public or private streets in residential districts except as provided in division 2 of this article.
- Supporting structures for any sign shall not carry any lettering and shall not exceed the maximum allowable sign area.
- Flags exceeding maximum permitted dimensions or flagpoles exceeding height regulations are only allowed as a special exception, with additional setback requirements.

## Signs exempt from permit in Palm Beach

- Official traffic signs erected by the town, county, state, United States government and/or any agency thereof within right-of-way lines.
- Nameplates and identification signs for single-family dwellings do not require the name of manufacturer or producer on the sign.
- A permit and architectural/landmarks review are NOT required for the following types of temporary signs if otherwise compliant: a. Identification of sale or rental signs for single family, two-family, and multi-family dwellings permitted in R or commercial districts. b. Temporary political signs or other temporary noncommercial signs in R or commercial districts. c. Development signs. d. Artisan signs. e. Menu signs in commercial districts. f. Temporary display signs in commercial districts.
- Legal notices required by law are exempt from the provision against painting, pasting, or nailing signs in certain places.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs may only be erected and maintained as authorized and in compliance with this article and other applicable ordinances; all signs are subject to the Florida Building Code and Fire Prevention Code.
- A permit and review by the architectural review commission or landmarks preservation commission (if applicable) is required for all signs except for specific exempted temporary signs.
- Approval by the town council at a town council meeting is required for governmental signs regarding their number, size, location, appearance, and content.
- Illuminated (lighted) signs require approval as a special exception use (see sections 134-227 through 134-233), except for low-level illuminated signs indicating street number and entrance/exit drives of parking areas.

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

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