# Sign Regulations in Seminole, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Seminole, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/seminole
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Seminole/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADECO_CH66SI)

## At a glance

Seminole, Florida regulates 42 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Land Use Classifications (General Commercial Subcategory) zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 100 sq ft per sign face, with a 10 ft min from property line; extra allowance for added setback setback (Sec. Sec. 66-307(c)(1)). Most commercial signs in Seminole require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 25 | 10 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| Residential Land Use Classifications | 4 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face | — |
| Public/Semipublic Land Use Classifications | 3 | 12 ft | 48 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Mixed Use Classifications | 6 | 12 ft | 50 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Commercial Land Use Classifications (Neighborhood Commercial Subcategory) | 8 | 15 ft | 75 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Commercial Land Use Classifications (General Commercial Subcategory) | 11 | 20 ft | Max 175 sq ft (for large single-use buildings) | — |
| Industrial Limited Warehouse Classifications | 10 | 20 ft | 75 sq ft per sign face | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-commercial Onsite Parking Space Sign | 6 ft | 1 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per parking space | Each parking space in non-commercial use having multiple parking spaces onsite | — | Sec. 66-161(3) |
| Free Expression Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Attached, window, or freestanding sign, one per frontage per parcel | — | Sec. 66-161(4) |
| Election Sign (Residential Use) | 6 ft (if freestanding) | 6 sq ft | — | — | Unclear (implied: 1 per frontage per parcel) | Attached or freestanding sign on each frontage per parcel | — | Sec. 66-161(5) |
| Election Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 6 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq ft | — | — | Unclear (implied: 1 per frontage per parcel) | Attached or freestanding sign on each frontage per parcel | — | Sec. 66-161(5) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Residential Use) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Temporary; one per parcel | — | Sec. 66-161(11) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Temporary; one per parcel | — | Sec. 66-161(11) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential Use) | 3 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | Implied: 1 per frontage/unit per parcel | Temporary; one per frontage per parcel | — | Sec. 66-161(12) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | Implied: 1 per frontage/unit per parcel | Temporary; one per frontage per parcel. More than one space allows one window/attached sign per space. | — | Sec. 66-161(12) |

### Commercial Land Use Classifications (General Commercial Subcategory)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per sign face | — | 10 ft min from property line; extra allowance for added setback | See rule | 1 per lot, 1 per eligible extra frontage, 1 extra for >500' frontage (min 300' apart) | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(1) |
| Time and Temperature Sign (Freestanding/Attached Portion) | — | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | Must be part of allowed sign | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(1)e |
| Theater/Movie Announcement Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Commercial General District for theaters | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(1)f |
| Menu Display Sign (Attached) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per restaurant | At restaurant entrance/service window | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(1)g |
| Drive-through Menu Sign (Freestanding) | 9 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-through lane | Drive-through lane | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(1)g |
| Gasoline Pump Price Sign | — | 1 sq ft per sign face per pump | — | — | Up to 2 per pump | On pump | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(1)h |
| Attached Sign (Wall, Canopy/Awning, Permanent Window, Projecting) | — | Max 175 sq ft (for large single-use buildings) | — | — | Cumulative | Building walls/exterior as per type | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(2) |
| Non-commercial Onsite Directional Signs | 3 ft | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | Unclear (by sq ft aggregate) | Each parcel or lot | — | Sec. 66-307(c)(4) |

### Industrial Limited Warehouse Classifications

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 75 sq ft per sign face | — | 10 ft min from property line | See rule | 1 per lot, 1 per added frontage; 1 extra for >500 ft frontage (min 300 ft apart) | — | Sec. 66-331(b) |
| Time and Temperature Sign (Freestanding/Attached Portion) | — | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | — | As portion of allowed sign | — | Sec. 66-331(b)(5) |
| Menu Display Sign (Attached) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per restaurant | At entrance or service window | — | Sec. 66-331(b)(6) |
| Drive-through Menu Sign (Freestanding) | 9 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive-through lane | Drive-through lane | — | Sec. 66-331(b)(6) |
| Gasoline Pump Price Sign | — | 1 sq ft per sign face per pump | — | — | Up to 2 per pump | On pump | — | Sec. 66-331(b)(7) |
| Attached Sign (Wall, Canopy/Awning, Permanent Window, Projecting, Integral Roof) | — | 75 sq ft total for all attached signs | — | — | — | Wall/canopy/projecting/etc. | — | Sec. 66-331(c)(2) |
| Gasoline Price Display Signs (aggregate) | — | 24 sq ft per sign face (total all such signs) | — | — | — | Gasoline stations only | — | Sec. 66-331(d) |
| Non-commercial Onsite Directional Signs | 3 ft | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | Unclear; aggregate applies | Each parcel or lot | — | Sec. 66-331(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Seminole

- Billboards. Existing billboards shall not be permitted to convert to a CEVM.
- Any attached sign that exceeds 100 square feet in sign area.
- Any freestanding sign that is higher than 20 feet, other than flagpoles as allowed in certain zoning districts.
- Any freestanding sign that exceeds 100 square feet in sign area.
- Abandoned and discontinued signs.
- Flashing signs.
- Revolving or rotating signs.
- Signs which move, twirl or swing, including multi-prism and tri-vision signs.
- Floodlights and beacon lights, except when required by the Federal Aviation Agency.
- Bus shelter advertising signs; bench advertising signs.
- Wind signs.
- Projecting signs, except as allowed within certain locations within certain zoning districts.
- Pavement markings, except official traffic control markings and building address markings required by law.
- Portable signs.
- Roof signs, and above roof signs, except as provided in a development agreement to be consistent with the adopted architectural standards.
- Sandwich board signs.
- Any sign attached to or painted on walls, piers or seawalls, other than a warning sign or safety sign.
- Signs in or upon any river, bay, lake or other body of water within the city, except official regulatory or warning signs.
- Signs that emit sound, vapor, smoke, odor, particles, or gaseous matter.
- Signs that involve the use of live animals.
- Signs containing any food or other substance that attracts large numbers of birds or animals.
- Commercial mascot and commercial message signs carried, waved or otherwise displayed by persons on public rights-of-way or visible from them, when for commercial purposes.
- Signs that have unshielded illuminating devices.
- Signs that obstruct, conceal, hide or otherwise obscure from view any official traffic control device or signal.
- Snipe signs.
- Three-dimensional objects used as signs.
- Umbrella signs.
- Any sign within a sight visibility triangle that obstructs a clear view of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Any sign in or over the public right-of-way, except certain officially approved types per city council resolution and non-content-based criteria.
- Any sign (other than a traffic control device sign) that uses the word 'stop' or 'danger,' or imitates a traffic control device sign, adjacent to the right-of-way.
- Any sign nailed, fastened, affixed to, or painted on any tree (living or dead) or vegetation.
- Any sign prohibited by state or federal law.
- Any sign located on real property without the property owner's permission.
- Holographic display signs.
- Pennants, streamers, balloons, wind-activated banners, cold air inflatables, and other fixed aerial signage, except where specifically provided.
- Vehicle signs with a total sign area on any vehicle exceeding ten square feet and the vehicle is not regularly used in the conduct of business and is visible from right-of-way within 100 feet, or parked primarily for advertising purposes.
- Mobile billboard advertising, except for vehicles used as part of regular business, buses, or taxicabs.
- Wall or building wrap signs.
- Commercial mascots (humans or animals used as advertising devices for commercial establishments, such as by holding or wearing insignia, masks, or costumes).
- CEVM billboards, including conversion of non-CEVM billboards to CEVM billboards.

## Signs exempt from permit in Seminole

- A sign (except a window sign) located entirely inside the premises of a building or enclosed space.
- A sign on a car, other than a prohibited vehicle sign or signs.
- A statutory sign.
- A traffic control device sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permits are generally required for permanent signs unless otherwise exempted; a building permit under the Florida Building Code is a separate requirement.
- Permits are NOT required for: signs described in section 66-7 (general exemptions), and allowed temporary and allowed permanent signs as described in section 66-161.
- Permits are NOT required for changing sign copy as long as no structural or dimensional changes are made.
- For certain sign types (such as temporary banners exceeding specific sizes), a separate banner permit is required, based on guidelines not related to viewpoint or content, to be established by council resolution. Until such criteria are adopted, no such signs over the threshold size are permitted.
- Freestanding signs require a boundary survey within 24 months, signed and sealed by a licensed surveyor/engineer, showing proposed sign location.
- Landscape plans may be required as part of the sign permit application, as applicable.
- If a sign permit application requires a variance, rezoning, or comprehensive plan amendment, or if other changes are needed, the review process is paused until those actions are completed.
- Variances may be sought at the developmental review board, but not for height, size, or number of signs; only setback variances may be granted.
- No mention of a requirement for a Master Sign Plan is found in these sections. Multi-tenant developments are cited but not explicitly required to have a master sign plan; sign permits and code compliance are still required.

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

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