# Sign Regulations in Quincy, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Quincy, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/quincy
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Quincy/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH46LADECO_ARTVIHIPR_DIV3SICEBUDI)

## At a glance

Quincy, Florida regulates 21 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Subdivision Entrance)s in the Conservation District (CN), Agricultural District (AG), Residential, Large Tract District (R-LT), Residential, Low-Density District (R-1A), Residential Single-Family District (R-1), Residential One- and Two-Family District (R-2), Residential Multiple-Family District (R-3) zoning district are capped at 8 ft. above finished grade tall and 32 sq. ft., with a Not specified setback (Sec. Sec. 46-911(2)). Most commercial signs in Quincy require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conservation District (CN), Agricultural District (AG), Residential, Large Tract District (R-LT), Residential, Low-Density District (R-1A), Residential Single-Family District (R-1), Residential One- and Two-Family District (R-2), Residential Multiple-Family District (R-3) | 4 | 8 ft. above finished grade | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Light Commercial District (LC-1), General Commercial District (C-1), Heavy Commercial and Light Manufacturing District (C-2), Manufacturing District (M-1), Mixed Use District (MUD, also referenced as MU), Business Park District (BP) | 6 | 25 ft. above finished grade | 32 sq. ft. per parcel (commercial/industrial) | — |
| Government or Public District (GOVT) | 2 | 15 ft. above finished grade | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Airport District (AP) | 1 | — | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 7 | 5 ft | ≤64 sq. ft. (<30 ft bldg), Max height 3 ft (≥30 ft bldg) | — |
| Planned Unit Development (PUD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 8 ft. (freestanding residential); 15 ft. (institutional) | For commercial: 32 sq. ft.; for residential: 4 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Conservation District (CN), Agricultural District (AG), Residential, Large Tract District (R-LT), Residential, Low-Density District (R-1A), Residential Single-Family District (R-1), Residential One- and Two-Family District (R-2), Residential Multiple-Family District (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 sign per permitted home occupation | At the residence of the home occupation | — | Sec. 46-173(a)(4), Sec. 46-43(a)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | 8 ft. above finished grade | 32 sq. ft. | — | Not specified | 1 per entrance (option for 2 as conditional use) | At each entrance to subdivision | — | Sec. 46-911(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Family Dwelling) | 8 ft. above finished grade | 32 sq. ft. | — | Not specified | 1 per street side | At each street side of multi-family parcel | — | Sec. 46-911(1) |
| Wall Sign (Residential Care/Day Care Facility) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per parcel | On building parcel | — | Sec. 46-911(3) |

### Light Commercial District (LC-1), General Commercial District (C-1), Heavy Commercial and Light Manufacturing District (C-2), Manufacturing District (M-1), Mixed Use District (MUD, also referenced as MU), Business Park District (BP)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 10% of facade area | — | Building sign – N/A (on facade) | — | On building facade (front/building face) | — | Sec. 46-911(5)(a), (j) |
| Freestanding or Detached Sign | 25 ft. above finished grade | 10% of facade area | — | — | One per store front by right, two per store front as conditional use (see requirements) | Within property boundaries, not in public right-of-way | — | Sec. 46-911(5)(b), (c), (j), (e) |
| Wall Directory Sign (Multiple Occupancy Complex) | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per building | By main building entrance | — | Sec. 46-911(f) |
| Portable Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | As permitted by city; not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 46-911(h) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. per parcel (commercial/industrial) | — | Not less than 30 ft from street intersection; not in right-of-way | — | On private property; at least 30 ft. from street intersection and not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 46-912(a,b) |
| Mural | — | Minimum 15 ft. height x 30 ft. length | — | — | — | On outdoor wall | — | Sec. 46-913 |

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Building Sign) | 3 ft. (≥30 ft width bldg) | ≤64 sq. ft. (<30 ft bldg), Max height 3 ft (≥30 ft bldg) | ≤½ bldg frontage | — | See Sec. 46-662 (number of signs depends on storefront street frontage: 2 for ≤40 ft, 4 for 41–100 ft, 6 for >100 ft) | Between second story windowsill and storefront window, or in a historic signage area | — | Sec. 46-684, 46-664, 46-666, 46-585 |
| Hanging Sign | — | — | If canopy/awning: ≤75% of canopy projection; else ≤50% of sidewalk width; vertical ≤½ horizontal | — | 1 per storefront/unit | Perpendicular to building face or hung on valence at grade-level entrance | — | Sec. 46-683, 46-666, 46-585 |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | ≤30% of horizontal measure of valence | — | — | — | On valence or body of awning at grade entry | — | Sec. 46-681, 46-585 |
| Window Sign | — | ≤25% of individual windowpane area | — | — | Counted as part of overall sign number per Sec. 46-662 | On or applied to window glass | — | Sec. 46-682 |
| Freestanding/Yard Sign | 5 ft | 5 ft max height x 10 ft max width | 10 ft | — | — | Within property boundaries | — | Sec. 46-685 |
| Mural | — | — | — | — | — | On visible wall | — | Sec. 46-689 |
| Temporary Sign | — | ≤10% of overall window area | — | — | — | Inside window/sandwich board on sidewalk (does not obstruct walking traffic) | — | Sec. 46-690 |

## Prohibited signs in Quincy

- It is unlawful to erect, cause to be erected, maintain, or cause to be maintained any sign not expressly authorized by or exempted from the code (Sec. 46-649(a); Sec. 46-909(a)).
- Signs in violation of the building code or electrical code adopted by the city are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(1); Sec. 46-909(b)(1)).
- Any sign that constitutes a safety hazard, as determined by the building official or public safety director/chief of police, is prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(2); Sec. 46-909(b)(2)).
- Signs with visible moving, revolving, or rotating parts (or optical illusions of movement), or any mechanical, electrical, or apparent visible movement, are prohibited except traditional barber poles (Sec. 46-649(b)(3); Sec. 46-909(b)(3)).
- Signs with lights or illuminations that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, or vary in intensity or color, except for time-temperature-date signs (and certain small window signs), are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(4); Sec. 46-909(b)(4)).
- Strings of lightbulbs for purposes other than traditional holiday decorations are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(5); Sec. 46-909(b)(5)).
- Signs that incorporate projected images, emit sound or odor, or visible matter such as smoke or steam, are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(6)-(7); Sec. 46-909(b)(6)-(7)).
- Signs or sign structures that interfere with free use of any fire escape, emergency exit, standpipe, or obstruct any window affecting light or ventilation are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(8); Sec. 46-909(b)(8)).
- Signs that resemble official signs or markers erected by governmental agencies, or which cause confusion with traffic control devices, or which could conceal or be confused with such devices, are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(9); Sec. 46-909(b)(9)).
- Signs that obstruct the vision of pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists traveling on or entering public streets are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(10); Sec. 46-909(b)(10)).
- Signs that contain lighting or control mechanisms that cause unreasonable interference with radio, television, or other communication signals are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(11); Sec. 46-909(b)(11)).
- Searchlights used to advertise or promote a business or attract customers are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(12); Sec. 46-909(b)(12)).
- Signs painted, pasted, or printed on any curbstone, flagstone, pavement, sidewalk, or street, except house numbers and traffic control signs, are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(13); Sec. 46-909(b)(13)).
- Signs erected on public property are prohibited, except those erected by public authority or as otherwise authorized (Sec. 46-649(b)(14); Sec. 46-909(b)(14)).
- Signs erected over or across any public street or sidewalk, except as expressly authorized, are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(15); Sec. 46-909(b)(15)).
- Portable signs are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(16); Sec. 46-909(b)(h)).
- Billboard signs are prohibited, except those erected prior to the effective date of the code (Sec. 46-649(b)(17); Sec. 46-909(b)(17)).
- Snipe signs are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(18); Sec. 46-909(b)(18)).
- Immoral or pornographic signs are prohibited (Sec. 46-649(b)(19)).
- All signs, including their supports, braces, guys, anchors, electrical parts, lighting fixtures, and display areas must be maintained in safe, clean condition; otherwise, they are subject to repair or removal (Sec. 46-648; Sec. 46-905).

## Signs exempt from permit in Quincy

- Signs that are not designed or located to be visible from any street or adjoining property (Sec. 46-645(b)(1); Sec. 46-907(1)).
- Signs necessary to promote health, safety, and welfare, and other regulatory, statutory, traffic control, or directional signs erected on public property with proper authorization (Sec. 46-645(b)(2); Sec. 46-907(2)).
- Legal notices and official instruments (Sec. 46-645(b)(3); Sec. 46-907(3)).
- Decorative flags and bunting for public events or commemorations placed or authorized by the city commission for a prescribed period (Sec. 46-645(b)(4)).
- Holiday lights and decorations (Sec. 46-645(b)(5); Sec. 46-823(d)(6)).
- Merchandise displays behind storefront windows, provided no part of the display moves in a hazardous way or contains flashing/blinking lights (Sec. 46-645(b)(6); Sec. 46-907(4)).
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names, and dates of erection, cut into masonry or constructed of incombustible materials and attached to the building (Sec. 46-645(b)(7)).
- Signs incorporated into machinery or equipment by a manufacturer or distributor, such as those customarily affixed to vending machines, newspaper racks, telephone booths, and gas pumps (Sec. 46-645(b)(8); Sec. 46-907(6)).
- Advertising and identifying signs located on taxicabs, buses, trailers, trucks, or vehicle bumpers (Sec. 46-645(b)(9)).
- Public warning signs to indicate the danger of trespassing, swimming, animals, or similar hazards (Sec. 46-645(b)(10); Sec. 46-907(7)).
- Signs carried by a person (Sec. 46-645(b)(11); Sec. 46-907(8)).
- Religious displays (Sec. 46-645(b)(12)).
- Billboard signs erected prior to the effective date of the ordinance (Sec. 46-645(b)(13); Sec. 46-907(9)).
- Signs constructed or placed by the city itself or with the city's consent or approval for special events (Sec. 46-645(b)(14)).
- All valid state and local traffic and parking regulation signs (Sec. 46-645(b)(15); Sec. 46-907(10)).
- One unlighted real estate sign located on the premises being advertised for sale or rent, not exceeding 32 sq ft for commercial signs or 4 sq ft for residential signs (Sec. 46-645(b)(16)).
- Text or images cut into masonry or constructed of bronze/(incombustible) materials and attached to a building (Sec. 46-907(5)).
- Signs on building doors, or inside door glass at street level entrance, not exceeding 50% of the door's surface area (Sec. 46-907(11)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit (sign plan) is required for all signs within the city, except for exempt signs (Sec. 46-902).
- A permit is required for all signs in the historic district; sign plans (drawings showing size, mounting, location) must be submitted for approval (Sec. 46-585(a)).
- For signage outside the central business district, permit application must include a drawing showing size, mounting specifications, and proposed location (Sec. 46-43(a)(1)).
- For signage within the central business district (historic), sign appropriateness is reviewed by a committee (Sec. 46-585(a)(2)).
- Proposed developments (new or redeveloped) in commercial/mixed-use/industrial zones must include a landscaping and buffer plan; this may include sign locations if landscaping affects sign visibility (Sec. 46-208(f), 46-209(e), 46-210(e), etc.).
- Murals (as signs) must have designs submitted to and approved by the historic preservation commission prior to permitting by the building official (Sec. 46-689(1); Sec. 46-913(3)).

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

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