# Sign Regulations in South Bay, Florida

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

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

## At a glance

South Bay, Florida regulates 9 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Free-standing (Pole) Signs in the Non-residential zoning districts zoning district are capped at 15 feet at 15 ft setback; can increase by 1 ft for every 2 ft additional setback, up to max 20 ft tall and 75 square feet per street frontage (for >100 ft); otherwise prorated, with a 15 ft minimum for 15 ft height; add 1 ft height per 2 ft extra setback up to 20 ft setback (Sec. Sec. 20.15.B.1-5, Sec. 20.2, Sec. 20.4). Most commercial signs in South Bay require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 1 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| Non-residential zoning districts | 6 | 15 feet at 15 ft setback; can increase by 1 ft for every 2 ft additional setback, up to max 20 ft | 100 square feet (combined wall and freestanding signs) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 32 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 square feet | — | As established for each residential zoning district | One per public street frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent; setback per residential zone | — | Sec. 20.16.A.1-4, Sec. 20.2, Sec. 20.12 |

### Non-residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | — | 10 square feet | — | As established for each non-residential zoning district | One per public street frontage | On property for sale/lease/rent; setback per non-residential zone | — | Sec. 20.16.B.1-4 |
| Free-standing (Pole) Sign | 15 feet at 15 ft setback; can increase by 1 ft for every 2 ft additional setback, up to max 20 ft | 75 square feet per street frontage (for >100 ft); otherwise prorated | — | 15 ft minimum for 15 ft height; add 1 ft height per 2 ft extra setback up to 20 ft | One per commercial establishment | Within landscaped area; at least 3 ft from edge of landscape area to supports | — | Sec. 20.15.B.1-5, Sec. 20.2, Sec. 20.4 |
| Wall Sign (Flat/Painted) | — | 50 square feet stand-alone; 100 sq. ft. in combination with freestanding sign | — | — | Not specified (limited by combination formula when combined with freestanding sign) | On building face (side, front, or rear) | — | Sec. 20.15.D.1-5, Sec. 20.2 |
| Wall Sign (with Freestanding Sign - Combination) | — | 100 square feet (combined wall and freestanding signs) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 20.15.B.3, Sec. 20.15.D.3 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 40 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to building/structure with proper engineering | — | Sec. 20.15.C.1-7, Sec. 20.4, Sec. 20.2 |
| Group Sign (Shopping Center Identification) | — | 100 square feet (group sign); 4 sq. ft. per shop as part of group sign | — | — | One per shopping center | At shopping center (freestanding) | — | Sec. 20.15.E |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | Private property | — | Sec. 20.14.A |
| Electric Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 20.14.B |
| Governmental, Regulatory, Directory, Address, and Small Informational Signs | — | Small directional: 8 sq. ft. max; Address sign: 1 sq. ft. max; Home Occupation nameplate: 1 sq. ft. max; Construction temporary: 32 sq. ft. max | — | — | — | Various (as defined for purpose: directions, address, construction site, etc.) | — | Sec. 20.12 |

## Prohibited signs in South Bay

- No sign shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height except as provided.
- No portion of any sign shall project over a public sidewalk, right-of-way, or required landscape strip.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct, or be attached to any firefighting equipment, window, door, or opening used as a means of ingress or egress or for firefighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for proper light and ventilation.
- Signs or advertising matter at street intersections or locations that obstruct free and clear vision, or interfere with/are confused with authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices, or which make use of words like 'stop', 'look', 'drive-in', 'danger', that may mislead or confuse vehicular traffic.
- Signs with any lighting or control mechanism which causes radio, television, or other communication interruption or interference.
- Any illuminated sign of such intensity that the vision of the observer becomes momentarily impaired.
- Signs that produce noise or sound capable of being heard, even if not understandable.
- Signs which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, or odor.
- Signs affixed to or on any non-motorized wheeled vehicle.
- Flags, banners, streamers, twirling, 'A' type, sandwich type, sidewalk or curb signs; balloons or other air or gas filled figures and blank copy signs.
- Any outdoor advertising using live animals or human beings as part of the advertising visible from any public street or public place.
- Any banner over any street or sidewalk within any city playground or park without permission from the city.
- Any sign, portable or fixed, placed or erected on or over any part of the ultimate road right-of-way other than directional signs erected by authorized officials.
- Temporary political signs erected within five (5) feet of any public right-of-way.
- Any unauthorized sign on city property.
- Any sign exhibiting lewd, lascivious, indecent, or immoral material.
- Any signs attached to trees, utility poles, trailers, roller casters and any other unapproved supporting structure including portable signs and vehicular signs.
- Flashing, rotating, revolving, moving or oscillating signs.
- All roof signs.
- No projecting sign is permitted in conjunction with free-standing or wall signs.
- No flat/wall/painted wall sign is permitted to coexist with any projecting sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Bay

- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices, or warnings at railroad crossings.
- Flags or emblems of the United States, the State of Florida or other governmental agency.
- Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive or event, provided such signs are removed within thirty (30) days following the campaign, drive, or event.
- Memorial signs or tablets erected and authorized by a duly constituted governmental body.
- One temporary sign denoting architect, engineer, or contractor when placed on construction sites and not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in surface area, provided removed upon issuance of certificate of occupancy or abandonment of work.
- Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule, or regulation.
- Small directional signs displayed for the public, including signs identifying rest rooms, freight entrances, or the like, not exceeding eight (8) square feet on any lot.
- Address signs restricted to not more than one for each principal building or use on a premises and none exceeding one square foot in surface area showing only the numerical address designations.
- Home occupation nameplates or signs, maximum size one (1) square foot.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for each sign must be accompanied by two copies of detailed drawings drawn to scale, containing complete plans and specifications to show methods of construction and anchoring to building or ground.
- Permit applications must include the location and total surface area of all other permitted signs existing on the property or buildings.
- Sign contractor must have city approved plans on the job and available to the inspector for inspection.
- No explicit reference to a required master sign plan, but permit applications and approvals require submission of scaled plans and complete specifications for each sign.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for South Bay, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=South+Bay+FL&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-south-bay

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