# Sign Regulations in Sarasota, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sarasota, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/sarasota
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/fl/sarasota/codes/zoning?nodeId=ARTVIIREGEAP_DIV1SI)

## At a glance

Sarasota, Florida regulates 133 sign types across 34 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (Downtown)s in the Downtown zone districts (DTN, DTNE, DTE, DTC, DTB) zoning district are capped at DTN: ≤4 ft; DTNE/DTE/DTC/DTB: ≤6 ft tall and DTN: ≤4 sq ft/face and ≤4 ft height; DTNE/DTE/DTC/DTB: ≤16 sq ft/face and ≤6 ft height, with a ≥5 ft from property line and meet sight triangle (Sec. VII-106(b)) setback (Sec. Sec. VII-110(5)(l)). Most commercial signs in Sarasota require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (34 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | Unless otherwise specified: 25 ft; caps by districts: RSF, RMF, OPB, MCI, CN = 20 ft; NT, RSM-9, OND, OCD, ORD, CND, CSD, CRD, CGD, CSC, ICD, IGD, IHD, POS = 16 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Residential single family districts (RSF-E, RSF-1, RSF-2, RSF-3, RSF-4) | 7 | Ground signs max 20 ft (general cap for RSF per VII-103(10)) | 100 sq ft total aggregate per sign | — |
| Residential Single Multiple 9 units per acre (RSM-9) | 6 | Max 16 ft (RSM-9 listed at 16 ft cap) | 100 sq ft total aggregate per sign | — |
| Residential Transition District 9 units per acre (RTD-9) | 4 | Sign post ≤6 ft (excluding decorative cap) | < 18 in x 24 in per face | — |
| Residential multiple family districts (RMF-1, RMF-2, RMF-3, RMF-4, RMF-5, RMF-6, RMF-7) | 16 | — | ≤250 sq ft total aggregate (combined) | — |
| Residential Multiple Family Revitalization (RMF-R) | 3 | — | ≤32 sq ft total aggregate | — |
| Waterfront Resort (WFR) | 4 | — | ≤250 sq ft total aggregate | — |
| Downtown zone districts (DTN, DTNE, DTE, DTC, DTB) | 16 | ≤10 ft | ≤500 sq ft | — |
| Office Professional Business (OPB) and Office Community District (OCD) | 9 | — | ≤40 sq ft | — |
| Office Professional Business 1 (OPB-1) and Office Neighborhood District (OND) | 4 | — | ≤40 sq ft | — |
| Office Park (OP) and Office Regional District (ORD) | 6 | — | ≤60 sq ft total aggregate (wall) OR ≤30 sq ft per face for double-faced ground signs (≤60 sq ft total) | — |
| Commercial Neighborhood (CN) and Commercial Neighborhood District (CND) | 9 | Ground sign height: CN ≤20 ft; CND ≤16 ft | Aggregate ≤300 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Storefront District (CSD) | 6 | Ground signs ≤20 ft high | Aggregate ≤120 sq ft | — |
| Commercial General (CG), Commercial Residential Transition (CRT), Commercial General District (CGD), Commercial Residential District (CRD) | 5 | Ground signs: CG & CRT ≤25 ft; CGD & CRD ≤16 ft | Aggregate ≤180 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Tourist (CT) | 11 | ≤40 inches (exclusive of posts) | ≤40 sq ft per sign | — |
| North Trail (NT) | 5 | ≤16 ft | ≤120 sq ft total aggregate (all faces) | — |
| Commercial Business Newtown (CBN) | 10 | ≤10 ft | ≤50 sq ft (all faces) | — |
| Commercial Intensive (CI) and Intensive Commercial District (ICD) | 3 | Ground signs: CI ≤25 ft; ICD ≤16 ft | Aggregate ≤250 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Light Warehousing (ILW), Industrial (I), Industrial General District (IGD), Industrial Heavy District (IHD) | 4 | Ground signs ≤25 ft | Aggregate ≤250 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Park (CP) | 8 | — | Combined wall + ground ≤120 sq ft for each street frontage | — |
| Commercial Shopping Center Neighborhood (CSC-N) | 6 | Either ≤4 ft overall height; OR ≤7 ft with 3.5 ft open clearance between ground and bottom of sign | ≤200 sq ft per sign (unless larger allowances for CSC/CSC-R, not applicable here) | — |
| Commercial Shopping Center Community (CSC-C) | 6 | ≤4 ft overall OR ≤7 ft with 3.5 ft open clearance | ≤200 sq ft total aggregate per sign | — |
| Commercial Shopping Center Regional (CSC-R) | 7 | ≤25 ft for ground signs | One sign per building elevation next to and visible from a public street up to 350 sq ft; may split this 350 sq ft between a wall sign and a mall frontage sign (mall frontage sign ≤50% of 350 sq ft) | — |
| Commercial Shopping Center (CSC) | 7 | ≤16 ft for ground signs | One sign per building elevation next to and visible from a public street up to 350 sq ft; may split this area between wall and mall frontage (mall ≤50% of 350 sq ft) | — |
| Park and Open Space (POS) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Marine Park (MP) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Governmental (G) | 2 | — | — | — |
| Botanical Gardens (BG) | 5 | Monument ≤7 ft; Wall sign ≤25 ft in height above ground | Total aggregate for up to two signs ≤200 sq ft; each sign ≤150 sq ft | — |
| Medical Charitable Institutional (MCI) | 10 | Ground sign max 20 ft (general cap for MCI per VII-103(10)) | ≤40 sq ft | — |
| Urban mixed-use zone districts (MU-1, MU-2, MU-3) | 10 | ≤10 ft | ≤120 sq ft (all faces) | — |

_4 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 34 zones)

### Residential multiple family districts (RMF-1, RMF-2, RMF-3, RMF-4, RMF-5, RMF-6, RMF-7)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Development Ground Sign | — | 100 sq ft total aggregate per sign | — | — | Up to two | On subdivision property while under development | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(a) |
| Family Day Care Center Identification Wall Sign | — | 8 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | One | Wall | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(b) |
| Identification Sign - Permitted/Conditional Nonresidential Uses (Not Otherwise Listed) | — | Wall ≤12 sq ft; Ground/Bulletin ≤16 sq ft per face (32 sq ft total) | — | — | One wall and one ground/bulletin | Wall and/or ground | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(d) |
| Houses of Worship - Identification Signs | — | Two wall signs ≤32 sq ft each; one ground/bulletin per frontage ≤20 sq ft/face (≤40 sq ft total) | — | — | As specified | Wall and/or ground | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(e) |
| Identification Sign - Cemeteries/Parks/Playgrounds/Libraries/Botanical Gardens/Historical Monuments/Museums/Radio & Television Stations/Model Homes | — | 16 sq ft total aggregate (wall) | — | — | One | Wall | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(f) |
| Off-Street Parking Lot Identification Ground Sign | — | 4 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | One | Ground | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(g) |
| Hotel/Motel Signs - Option 1 (Wall/Projecting + Ground) | — | ≤250 sq ft total aggregate (combined) | — | Ground sign for RMF-4/5/6: min 40 inches from front property line | Two (one ground; one wall or projecting) | Ground and Wall/Projecting | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(k)1–2 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | ≤32 sq ft per face | — | Exempt sign setbacks: ≥5 ft from property line and meet sight triangle (Sec. VII-106(b)) | One per zoning lot | On premises | — | Sec. VII-110(2)(o) |

### Downtown zone districts (DTN, DTNE, DTE, DTC, DTB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign Band (All Downtown) | — | Height ≤2 ft by any length | — | — | One band per building facade | Top of 1st floor facade | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(c) |
| Building Identification Sign (DTC/DTB only) | — | Horizontal: ≤3 ft height; Vertical corner: ≤3 ft width and ≤3 stories height | — | — | One per building frontage | Top of highest floor facade (horizontal) or vertically at corner (vertical) | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(d) |
| Projecting Sign (DTN) | — | ≤4 sq ft per face | — | — | One per nonresidential use | Perpendicular to facade | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(e) (DTN column) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (DTNE/DTE) | ≤10 ft | ≤50 sq ft (all faces) | — | — | One per secondary street frontage | Secondary street frontage | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(f) (DTNE/DTE) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (DTC/DTB) | ≤10 ft | ≤50 sq ft (all faces) | — | — | One per secondary street frontage | Secondary street frontage | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(f) (DTC/DTB) |
| Temporary Portable A-Frame Sign (DTNE/DTE) | < 4 ft | < 18 in x 24 in per face | — | — | One per business | On private property | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(h) (DTNE/DTE) |
| Temporary Portable A-Frame Sign (DTC/DTB) | < 4 ft | < 18 in x 24 in per face | — | — | One per business | On private property | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(h) (DTC/DTB) |
| Real Estate Sign (Downtown) | DTN: ≤4 ft; DTNE/DTE/DTC/DTB: ≤6 ft | DTN: ≤4 sq ft/face and ≤4 ft height; DTNE/DTE/DTC/DTB: ≤16 sq ft/face and ≤6 ft height | — | Exempt sign setbacks apply: ≥5 ft from property line and meet sight triangle (Sec. VII-106(b)) | One per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. VII-110(5)(l) |

### Medical Charitable Institutional (MCI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Houses of Worship | Ground sign max 20 ft (general cap for MCI per VII-103(10)) | Two wall signs ≤32 sq ft each; one ground/bulletin per street frontage ≤20 sq ft per face (≤40 sq ft total) | — | — | As specified | Wall; Ground/Bulletin per frontage | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(a) |
| Colleges/Universities - Entrance Ground Sign | — | ≤32 sq ft per face | — | — | One per major entrance | At each major entrance | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(b) |
| Fraternity/Sorority Wall Sign | — | ≤8 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | One | On building | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(c) |
| Offices/Medical/Clinics/Fairs/Sports/Training - Option 1 (Wall Sign) | — | ≤40 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | Wall | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(d) |
| Offices/Medical/Clinics/Fairs/Sports/Training - Option 2 (Ground or Hanging Sign) | Ground signs max 20 ft (general cap per VII-103(10)) | ≤30 sq ft per face (≤60 sq ft total) | — | — | One per street frontage | Ground or Hanging | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(d) |
| Child Care/Family Day Care Identification Sign | — | ≤8 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | One | On premises | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(e) |
| Private Club Sign | — | ≤12 sq ft total aggregate | — | — | One | Wall, Ground, or Projecting | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(f) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | ≤16 sq ft per face | — | Exempt sign setbacks apply | One per street frontage | On premises | — | Sec. VII-110(21)(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Sarasota

- No sign may be located, placed, posted, erected, altered, extended, installed, or continued without first obtaining a sign permit, unless specifically exempt (Sec. VII-102; Sec. VII-107).
- All signs must be kept in good condition and maintained in a good state of repair (Sec. VII-103(1)).
- No sign may directly or indirectly create a traffic or fire hazard or interfere with the free and unobstructed use of streets or sidewalks (Sec. VII-103(2)).
- No sign may be erected or maintained so as to obstruct free and clear vision at intersections, drives, or other vehicular access ways (Sec. VII-103(3)).
- No sign may be placed or illuminated in a manner that interferes with, obstructs the view of, or could be confused with any authorized traffic sign/signal/device, or that uses words like “stop,” “look,” or “danger” in a way that misleads or confuses traffic (Sec. VII-103(4)).
- No sign may be attached to or placed against a building so as to prevent ingress or egress through any door or window, nor may any sign obstruct or be attached to a fire escape (Sec. VII-103(5)).
- Illuminated signs must have light sources directed away from adjacent properties (Sec. VII-103(6)).
- Projecting signs may not project more than four feet from the building wall (Sec. VII-103(7)).
- Signs over sidewalks must have a minimum clearance of eight feet; signs over vehicular ways must have a minimum clearance of 15 feet (Sec. VII-103(8)).
- Ground signs within 50 feet of a street intersection must either be behind any required yard/building setback or have their bottom at least ten feet above the crown of the road and comply with sight triangle restrictions (Sec. VII-103(9)).
- Unless otherwise specified, ground signs may not exceed 25 feet in height (with lower maximums in certain districts) (Sec. VII-103(10)).
- On-site ground signs are prohibited in required setbacks unless they meet the specific exceptions and conditions in Sec. VII-103(11) (Sec. VII-103(11)).
- Signs which are not specifically permitted in a zoning district or otherwise expressly permitted under the regulations are prohibited (Sec. VII-109(a)).
- Obscene, indecent, or immoral signs are prohibited (Sec. VII-109(b)).
- Signs in public rights-of-way (or overhanging/infringing upon them) are prohibited, except those erected by or required by a governmental agency (Sec. VII-109(c)).
- Signs on public property are prohibited, except those erected by a public authority for public purposes (Sec. VII-109(d)).
- Revolving, whirling, or animated signs are prohibited (Sec. VII-109(f)).
- Wind signs are prohibited (Sec. VII-109(g)).
- Signs on utility poles or on trees, shrubs, or plants are prohibited (Sec. VII-109(h)).
- Signs in setback areas are prohibited except as allowed by Sec. VII-103(11) (Sec. VII-109(i)).
- Roof signs are prohibited (Sec. VII-109(j)).
- Buildings designed to represent or depict an article, product, or item of food available on the premises (i.e., buildings that constitute signs) are prohibited (Sec. VII-109(k)).
- Off-site signs are prohibited, with limited exceptions for banners on city light poles authorized by Ordinance 15-5125 and banners on school campus fencing (Sec. VII-109(l)).
- Work on unpermitted signs is prohibited (Sec. VII-107(3)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Sarasota

- Changing the copy on a marquee, electronic message board, or changeable copy sign board (Sec. VII-106(a)(1)).
- Cleaning, painting, or comparable general maintenance or repair that does not alter any regulated feature (Sec. VII-106(a)(2)).
- Integral signs (e.g., building names, dates, commemorative tablets) that are part of the structure and do not exceed 4 sq ft (Sec. VII-106(a)(3)).
- Legal notices and identification/informational/directional signs required by governmental bodies (Sec. VII-106(a)(4)).
- Public signs of a non-commercial nature in the public interest, erected by or on order of a public officer/agency (including SMH district associated signs) (Sec. VII-106(a)(5)).
- Non-electrical signs within a stadium that face inward toward the playing field (Sec. VII-106(a)(6)).
- Window signs (note: additional regulations apply in Downtown CT, CBN, MU districts, HAOD, and NTOD where a sign permit is required) (Sec. VII-106(a)(7)).
- Property identification signs up to 2 sq ft bearing only address, postbox number, occupant name, or premises identification (Sec. VII-106(a)(8)).
- Non-advertising directional or warning signs (e.g., entrance, exit, no trespassing) up to 2 sq ft located on and pertaining to a private lot (Sec. VII-106(a)(9)).
- One non-illuminated temporary construction project ground sign up to 32 sq ft, with timing limits tied to construction start/CO and permit expiration (Sec. VII-106(a)(10)).
- One non-illuminated real estate “for sale” or “for rent” sign per lot up to 4 sq ft per face (Sec. VII-106(a)(11)).
- Professional nameplates up to 2 sq ft (Sec. VII-106(a)(12)).
- One non-illuminated bulletin board or identification sign per street frontage for public/charitable/eleemosynary institutions up to 12 sq ft total; for houses of worship, one double-faced non-illuminated bulletin/identification sign per frontage up to 20 sq ft per face (illuminated versions require a permit) (Sec. VII-106(a)(13)).
- Entrance identification signs at drives of residences, estates, and ranches up to 2 sq ft (Sec. VII-106(a)(14)).
- One hard hat sign up to 2 sq ft at each entrance to a construction area (Sec. VII-106(a)(15)).
- Political campaign signs: up to 16 sq ft total per premises in residential zones and 32 sq ft in commercial/industrial zones; display limited to 90 days before and 21 days after the election (with interim allowance between primary and final elections) and must be on private property (Sec. VII-106(a)(16)).
- Banners on city light poles when authorized and installed under Ordinance 15-5125 (Sec. VII-106(a)(17)).
- Banners fastened to fences on the campus of a public or private elementary, middle, or high school (Sec. VII-106(a)(18)).
- Exempt signs may be located in required front setbacks no closer than 5 feet from the property line and must meet sight triangle restrictions (Sec. VII-106(b)).
- The face area of exempt signs is not counted toward maximum allowable sign area; exempt signs are in addition to permitted signs (Sec. VII-106(c)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or formal sign plan requirement is stated in the provided ordinance text.
- All non-exempt signs require a building sign permit; applications must include information/documentation as required by the Director of Neighborhood and Development Services (Sec. VII-107(1)).
- Downtown and Urban Mixed-Use sections state that signage is to be integrated with building materials as determined by the director, but no separate master sign plan is specified (Sec. VII-110(5) and Sec. VII-110(28)).

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

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