# Sign Regulations in South Miami, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Miami, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/south-miami
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/South_Miami/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH3ADSI)

## At a glance

South Miami, Florida regulates 37 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Construction Signs in the RT-Townhouse Districts zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 4 sq ft (Sec. Sec 20-4.3(H)(2)). Most commercial signs in South Miami require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RS-Single Family Residential Districts | 6 | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — |
| RT-Townhouse Districts | 11 | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| RM-Multi-Family Residential Districts | 9 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| RO-Residential Office Districts | 12 | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| All Other Zoning Districts | 30 | 8 ft | 35 sq ft (up to 45 sq ft with conditions) | — |
| Properties along South Dixie Highway, Properties along Bird Road (SW 40 Street) | 2 | 12 ft | 35 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### RT-Townhouse Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2) |
| Building Marker Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2) |
| Construction Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per lot | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Per lot, up to 2 signs | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per single-family residential dwelling unit | On private property where garage sale is located | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2), Sec 20-4.10 |
| Name Plate - Live-Work Unit | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per work space | Per work space of live-work units | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2) |
| Project Identification Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per lot | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per lot | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(2) |

### RO-Residential Office Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |
| Building Marker Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |
| Construction Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per project | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |
| Temporary Construction Fence Sign | — | Covers height and width of approved construction fence | — | — | 1 per project | On permitted construction fence | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Per lot | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |
| Flat Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 6 ft | — | 1 | Postal address side of building | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |
| Name Plate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business establishment | Per licensed business establishment | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per lot | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(4) |

### All Other Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |
| Building Marker Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per premises | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |
| Construction Sign - Sites < 5 acres | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Per project | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |
| Construction Sign - Sites >= 5 acres | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public street | Per project, per street frontage | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |
| Landscape Sign | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per project | Per project | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |
| Free Standing Menu Board | 7.5 ft | 35 sq ft (up to 45 sq ft with conditions) | — | — | 1 per drive-through | At each drive-through of licensed restaurant | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |
| Portable Sign for Outdoor Dining | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | Within leased area of public sidewalks or on private property | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |
| Signs for Commercial Parking Lots | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Up to 4 per site | Within private property | — | Sec 20-4.3(H)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in South Miami

- No sign shall be constructed, erected, used, operated or maintained which blinks, flashes, rotates or displays intermittent lights similar to or resembling flashing lights customarily associated with danger or customarily used by police, fire or other emergency vehicles.
- No sign shall use the words 'stop' or 'danger' or implies the need or requirement for stopping; or which is a copy or imitation of an official sign, except when such words are used in descriptive advertising lines not intended to copy or imply an official traffic warning.
- No sign shall create a blended background of colored lights with traffic signal lights which might confuse motorists when viewed from a distance of up to 300 feet.
- No sign shall project over any public street, sidewalk or alley in a single-family residential zoning district.
- No snipe sign shall be placed on either public or private property.
- No balloon or blimp shall be used as a sign.
- No sign shall be located on the roof, except for signs located on mansard or shed roofs where such signs are permitted.
- No sign shall advertise products, services or establishments not available on premises.
- No sign shall be located on a back lit and translucent awning.
- No flat or hanging sign shall provide inadequate clearance above public walkways as required by the Land Development Code and the Florida Building Code.
- No sign shall block egress, ingress, light or ventilation to a site.
- No sign shall convey the impression that property or structures can be used for purposes not permitted by this Code or other regulations.
- No pennant, streamer or other fluttering, spinning or similar type sign, including all animated signs, is permitted.
- No portable or movable signs are permitted, including those tied down with metal straps, chaining, or otherwise temporarily anchored to an existing structure, except permitted PORTABLE OUTDOOR DINING signs.
- No sign painted or affixed in any manner to any vehicle, trailer or truck or similar transportable device and which is used to advertise a place of business or activity as viewed from a public right-of-way, except for operational commercial vehicles and licensed/certified common carrier vehicles is permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Miami

- Commercial vehicle signs are permitted when such vehicles are operational and used daily for delivery or service purposes and not used or intended for use as portable signs.
- Buses, taxis, or similar common carrier vehicles which are licensed or certified by Miami-Dade County or other governmental agencies are permitted to display signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign, unless excepted, shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered or relocated, until a permit has been authorized and issued by the Planning and Zoning Department pursuant to this Code and the required submittals in Section 20-4.3(J).
- Applications for all signs, excluding signs under subsection (C), require survey or accurate site plan, location of proposed signs, scaled drawings, completed building/electrical permit applications, and plans as required by the Florida Building Code.
- LANDSCAPE and PROJECTING SIGNS must be reviewed by the Design Review Board (DRB), with required submittals per Section 20-4.3(J).
- ADDITIONAL SIGNS as described under Section 20-4.3(L) may be permitted upon the approval of the DRB.
- All signs to be permanently erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered or relocated on a designated historic structure or a 'contributive' building must be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Board prior to issuance of a building permit.
- Signs in PUD and Downtown SoMi districts are subject to their respective special regulations; see those sections for sign plan requirements.

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

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