# Sign Regulations in Panama City Beach, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Panama City Beach, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/panama-city-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-07-14
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.pcbfl.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/23394/638769332367800000#page=222)

## At a glance

Panama City Beach, Florida regulates 33 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Subdivision Entrance Sign (Monument or Fence)s in the Residential District - AR, R-1a, R-1b, R-1c, R-1c-T, R0, RTH, R-2, R-3 zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 75 sq ft, with a Must not encroach into corner visibility setback (Sec. 5.07.03 P). Most commercial signs in Panama City Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District - AR, R-1a, R-1b, R-1c, R-1c-T, R0, RTH, R-2, R-3 | 11 | 25 feet (flagpole) | 75 sq ft | — |
| Business District - CL, CM, CH | 19 | 50 ft (on Free-standing; see 5.07.05F) | 400 sq ft (neighborhood); 800 sq ft (community) | — |
| Shopping Center | 4 | — | 400 sq ft (Neighborhood SC < 30,000 GLA), 800 sq ft (Community SC >=30,000 GLA) | — |
| FBO district | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 3 feet | 2 sq ft per face unless larger required by law | — |

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

### Residential District - AR, R-1a, R-1b, R-1c, R-1c-T, R0, RTH, R-2, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free Expression Sign | 3 feet | 4.5 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | Displayed as a Building Sign, Window Sign, or Free-Standing Sign. | — | 5.07.03 A |
| Nameplate Sign | 3 feet | 2 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | At entrance drive or on dwelling structure | — | 5.07.03 B |
| Directional Sign | 3 feet | 2 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per quarter acre | On premises | — | 5.07.03 I |
| Real Estate Sign | 3 feet | 4.5 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On property for sale/lease | — | 5.07.03 J |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 3 feet | 4.5 sq ft per face | — | — | 3 | On property under construction | — | 5.07.03 K |
| Temporary Non-Commercial Sign (Election) | 3 feet | 4.5 sq ft per face | — | — | 5 | — | — | 5.07.03 L |
| Subdivision Entrance Sign (Monument or Fence) | 10 feet | 75 sq ft | — | Must not encroach into corner visibility | 1 per entrance | As close to entrance ROW as practicable, without obstructing traffic visibility | — | 5.07.03 P |
| Flag on Flagpoles | 25 feet (flagpole) | 16 sq ft (one side) per flag | — | Flag may not intrude into public right-of-way | 3 | From flagpole perpendicular to ground or from a building (lowest part at least 2 ft above ground) | — | 5.07.03 U |

### Business District - CL, CM, CH

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Free Expression Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per premises | May be displayed as Building Sign, Window Sign, or Free-Standing Sign | — | 5.07.03(1) |
| Temporary Banner | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | 10 ft | — | 1 per premises | Business District, against building or fence or lawful sign | — | 5.07.03(F), (5) |
| Directional Sign (Business) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | Per entrance/exit | On the premises to which they relate (must be in Business District), at each entrance or exit motorway | — | 5.07.03(I) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | Up to 3 per premises | On premises under construction | — | 5.07.03(K) |
| Election Sign (Temporary Non-Commercial Sign preceding election) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | Up to 5 per premises preceding/following election | Business District; On premises | — | 5.07.03(L) |
| Real Estate Sign | 3 ft | 4.5 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises for sale or lease | — | 5.07.03(J) |
| Free-Standing On-Premises Sign | 25 ft generally, up to 50 ft depending on location (see General Regs) | 300 sq ft or 2 sq ft/ft frontage, whichever is less | — | No closer than setback line; may be 5 ft from property line if open and <9ft; no part on right-of-way | 1 or 2 per premises (see requirements) | Business District, on-premises; At least 100 ft from listed major rights-of-way for greater/special height | — | 5.07.07(A) |
| Off-Premises Sign (Billboard) | 50 ft (on Free-standing; see 5.07.05F) | 400 sq ft per face | — | Not south of Front Beach Rd/Thomas Drive/S. Thomas Dr centerline; at least 125 ft from residential zone | Capped citywide | Business District, per cap and replacement scheme | — | 5.07.06 |

### Shopping Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Entrance) | — | 400 sq ft (Neighborhood SC < 30,000 GLA), 800 sq ft (Community SC >=30,000 GLA) | — | — | 1 per abutting improved street | At entrance(s) to shopping center on each abutting street | — | 5.07.07 E.1 |
| Building/Canopy Sign (Individual Tenants) | — | 2 sq ft per linear foot of establishment frontage | — | — | 1 per frontage | On building/canopy of individual tenant in SC | — | 5.07.07 E.2.a |
| Projecting Sign (Individual Tenants) | — | — | 1 ft by 6 ft, or the width of the canopy, whichever is less | — | 1 per establishment | Projecting/hanging from canopy | — | 5.07.07 E.2.b |
| Movie Theater/Playhouse Wall Sign (Attractions) | — | 150 sq ft each | — | — | 2 per complex | Wall sign on theater or playhouse | — | 5.07.03 S |

## Prohibited signs in Panama City Beach

- It is unlawful to erect, display, relocate, or alter any sign or sign structure not exempt from permitting without a valid and current permit.
- It is unlawful to erect, display, or allow any of the following sign types: Swinging Sign; Snipe Sign; Revolving, rotating, twirling or other moving Sign; Portable Sign (including Trailer Sign); Banner, except as provided for in the code; Fixed Aerial Sign, except as provided for in the code; Inflatable Sign, except as provided for in the code; Pennants, Streamers, Balloons or Bunting (except exempt Flags); Flashing light or Beacon, except as required for safety by regulatory agency.
- No animated or changeable copy signs are allowed except on certain roads and for active businesses as specified.
- Vehicle Signs used primarily for advertising and parked or placed within 100 feet of any street and visible from such street are prohibited.
- Signs emitting sound, vapor, smoke, odor, particles or visible matter are prohibited.
- Signs or sign structures obstructing ingress/egress of required door, window, fire escape or exit way are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct, may be confused with, or purport to be governmental or official traffic/safety signs or markers are prohibited.
- Signs impeding driver vision at ingress/egress points/intersections are prohibited.
- Sign statuary exceeding the limits imposed by the Sign Code is prohibited.
- Signs on or within any street or public right-of-way or the Gulf of Mexico are prohibited except for public traffic, safety and information signs erected by government and for hand-held Non-Commercial demonstration signs in pedestrian access areas.
- Signs erected or displayed in any fresh water wetlands or salt marsh areas subject to periodic inundation are prohibited.
- Signs on or towed behind a boat or raft on City waters are prohibited.
- Abandoned and dilapidated signs are prohibited.
- Window signs exceeding 25% of building glass area are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Commercial mascots or sign holders in streets are prohibited.
- Signs located on property without the owner's permission are prohibited.
- Blank Off-Premises sign faces are prohibited except if displaying public service information.
- Non-Traffic Control Device signs using the words “stop” or “danger,” or copying/imitation of such signs adjacent to a street are prohibited.
- Signs prohibited by state or federal law are prohibited.
- Signs containing mirrors or reflective/phosphorescent surfaces are prohibited.
- Signs incorporating any laser light are prohibited.
- Prohibited pavement markings except for official or building address markings and decorations with owner's consent.
- In residential districts: animated signs, changeable copy signs (unless manually changed), LED signs, Off-Premises signs are prohibited.
- Wall wrap signs are prohibited.
- Holographic display signs are prohibited.
- Obscene signs are prohibited, per Florida Statutes definition.
- Any sign not permitted by the Sign Code, whether or not permit is required, is prohibited unless and until the code is amended to allow it.
- Digital light shows are prohibited.
- Outside of an FBO district, signs advertising existence or availability of transient residential rentals are prohibited.
- No sign shall be applied or suspended from the exterior of any pedestrian crossover.
- No sign face or structure shall be limited based on the content or viewpoint of its message, except for obscene signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Panama City Beach

- Certain types of signs may be erected and displayed without a sign permit if the required conditions stated are met. All such signs are still subject to prohibitions and general sign standards.
- One (1) Free Expression (Non-Commercial) sign per premises, of limited size and height, is permitted in any district without a permit.
- One (1) nameplate sign identifying a private residence occupant at the entrance or on dwelling, up to 2 sq. ft. and 3 ft. high.
- One (1) set of street address numbers per property, within specified size range.
- Legal notices and public notices or informational signs as authorized/required by law.
- Temporary banner replacing a damaged sign in a business district, within specified time and size limits.
- One temporary banner per premises in a business district, meeting detailed conditions for registration, placement, size, and duration.
- Memorial signs or tablets naming a building and date of erection, permanently part of the building and up to 2 sq. ft.
- Directional signs of limited number, size, and height, plus larger 'Entrance'/'Exit' signs at commercial premises, with limitations.
- One (1) real estate sign per premises, limited in size and height, must be removed upon sale/lease.
- During construction, up to 3 additional temporary signs per premises, limited in size/height and number.
- Up to 5 additional non-commercial temporary signs in specified timeframes before and after elections.
- Signs on machinery or equipment by the manufacturer/distributor identifying manufacturer, machine, and dispensed product (not fuel pump signs).
- Warning and safety signs up to size/height limits unless larger sign required by law.
- Drive-through menu display signs (2 per lane), within area and height limits.
- Subdivision entrance signs (monument or fence), within area/height/location limits.
- Fuel pump signs providing limited information, up to 2 sq. ft. per side.
- Portable signs or booth/stall signs on Gulf beach, per business/entity, within area/height and spacing limits.
- Movie theater or playhouse wall signs for attractions (up to 2 per complex), within size limits.
- Up to three (3) flags per premises, in both business and residential districts, within size/mounting/height/placement limits as provided.
- No flag may be displayed on or above the sandy Gulf beaches.
- For business premises: up to 4 small signs (5"x10") exclusively advertising acceptance of credit cards, placed on a building wall.
- Signs (non-commercial) on the sandy beach warning swimmers or informing about flag warnings, within size/height limits.
- Yard or garage sale signs, displayed no more than 72 hours on site of sale or other residential property with permission, within size/height limits.
- One valet parking station sign per station, no more than 2 sq. ft. per face, visible only during operation hours and on same parcel.
- A sign on a motor vehicle licensed by Florida, unless a prohibited vehicle sign.
- Traffic control device signs as defined.
- Parking lot or garage entrance/exit signage (1 per), within size/height and content limits.
- Non-commercial signs may be substituted for any exempt sign(s) under these exemptions provided requirements are met and not otherwise prohibited.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any sign or sign structure to be erected, displayed, relocated, or altered unless exempted from permitting.
- No permit is required for maintenance, altering, or repairing a sign as long as no alterations are made to the sign’s height, width, length, depth, area, weight, location, or structural support, and if such work involves only changing/renewing copy or restoring sign appearance.
- A permit application must include detailed site/structure/sign plans depending on sign type.
- An illuminated sign requires both a sign permit and an electrical permit prior to installation.
- A permit application may be subject to a variance, rezoning, or comprehensive plan amendment if deviations from standards are requested; in such cases, sign permit review is suspended until a final decision on these matters.
- If a requested sign is not allowed by the code, an applicant may submit a written application/amendment proposal and fee to request the code be amended to allow the sign (see Section 5.07.04.KK).
- If a master sign plan or collective sign standards exist for a multi-tenant development or similar, shopping centers are handled as a single premises per the provisions outlined for shopping centers, requiring site and elevation plans with specific sign allocations as part of the permit process.
- Public art on public property or publicly accessible private property requires a permit and review/approval by the Public Art Committee.
- Any denial of a permit may be appealed to the Planning Board.
- Permits for public art are valid for 365 days from issuance; other sign permits are valid for 180 days from issuance unless work commences or is timely extended.
- If a variance is needed (e.g., for sign size, location, height, etc.), a variance meeting/decision is required before permit issuance.

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

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