# Sign Regulations in South Palm Beach, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Palm Beach, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/south-palm-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/South_Palm_Beach/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH2AD_ARTIVBOCO_DIV2ARREBO_S2-92JUINREAPBUPELAWOINRESICOVA)

## At a glance

South Palm Beach, Florida regulates 13 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet from adjacent grade tall and 15 sq ft per side, with a At least 5 feet from right-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 26-473(c), Sec. 26-470(b)-(d), Sec. 26-477, Sec. 26-475, Sec. 26-474(a), Sec. 26-383, Sec. 26-380). Most commercial signs in South Palm Beach require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 6 feet from adjacent grade | 15 sq ft per side | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-2A) | 3 | 6 feet | 18 sq ft per sign face | — |
| Public Ownership | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-2, R-2A Multifamily Residence Districts | 2 | 6 feet as measured from adjacent natural grade | 18 sq ft per sign face | — |
| R-1 Single-Family Residence District | 2 | 3 feet | 6 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 6 feet from adjacent grade | 15 sq ft per side | — | At least 5 feet from right-of-way | One per parcel | Minimum 5 feet from right-of-way or expanded intersection; not in sight triangles; must be within landscape areas | — | Sec. 26-473(c), Sec. 26-470(b)-(d), Sec. 26-477, Sec. 26-475, Sec. 26-474(a), Sec. 26-383, Sec. 26-380 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 15 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Public or private property with owner permission and approved location, size, construction | — | Sec. 26-469 |
| Directional Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft per side, max 6 per commercial or multifamily parcel | — | — | Max 6 per commercial/multifamily parcel | — | — | Sec. 26-474(b)(7) |
| Instructional Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft per side, max 5 per commercial or multifamily parcel | — | — | Max 5 per commercial/multifamily parcel | — | — | Sec. 26-474(b)(8) |
| Home Number-Nameplate | — | 1.5 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per principal building/use | On principal building/use | — | Sec. 26-474(b)(9) |
| Political Sign | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On private property | — | Sec. 26-474(b)(3) |
| Government/Legal/Regulatory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 26-474(b)(1), (6) |

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Entrance Sign | 6 feet | 18 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per development | At front property line, adjacent to right-of-way | — | Sec. 26-471 |
| Real Estate Sign (Single-Family Residential) | 3 feet | 6 sq ft (per sign) | — | Min 15 ft from property line or pavement/walkway | 1 double-faced sign per street frontage | Minimum 15 feet from property line/edge of pavement/walkway, whichever is greater | — | Sec. 26-472(1),(3),(4),(5) |
| Real Estate Sign (Multifamily Residential) | 6 feet | 15 sq ft (per sign, per side) for sale of entire condominium or cooperative building/property | — | Min 15 ft from property line or pavement/walkway | 1 double-faced sign per street frontage | Minimum 15 feet from property line/edge of pavement/walkway, whichever is greater | — | Sec. 26-472(2),(3),(4),(5) |

### R-2, R-2A Multifamily Residence Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Entrance Sign | 6 feet as measured from adjacent natural grade | 18 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per development | Front property line, adjacent to right-of-way | — | Sec. 26-471(f) |
| Real Estate Sign (Multifamily) | 6 feet | 15 sq ft per side (for entire building) | — | Min 15 ft | 1 per street frontage | Minimum 15 ft from property line or edge of pavement/walkway, whichever is greater | — | Sec. 26-472(2-5) |

## Prohibited signs in South Palm Beach

- Animated signs with surface movements are prohibited.
- Awning signs are prohibited.
- Murals or other painted wall signs are prohibited.
- Flashing lights, flashing and/or moving messages, bright flashing colors, or exposed outdoor neon are prohibited, as are changeable sign copy (except as expressly permitted), search lights and beacons not operated by a governmental agency, signs with chasing borders and twinkling lamps, and any illuminated sign of an intensity that impairs vision constituting a driving hazard.
- Extruding figures, translucent fiberglass or composite awning signs, waving, fluttering, or revolving objects, or any such device to attract attention are prohibited.
- Statuary of any kind, except that of a distinctly religious nature on the same lot as a place of worship, is prohibited.
- Signs that produce noise or sounds capable of being heard are prohibited.
- Signs which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, or odor are prohibited.
- Signs erected at street intersections, or in/near right-of-way, that obstruct vision or may be confused/interfere with traffic signals, or with the use of certain words or symbols misleading drivers, as determined by the town council, are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct or are attached to firefighting equipment, windows, doors, or any means of ingress or egress or proper ventilation are prohibited.
- Signs with lighting or control causing radio/television/other communication interruption or interference are prohibited.
- Flags, banners, streamers, twirling, sandwich board, sidewalk or curb signs, balloons, air- or gas-filled figures, blank copy signs, and vehicular signs are prohibited.
- Moving or stationary advertising signs on vessels on canals or water bodies are prohibited.
- Outdoor advertising using live animals or people visible from a street or adjacent property is prohibited.
- Signs/billboards offering services or products not offered or provided on the same lot/premises as the advertising structure (no off-premises signs) are prohibited.
- Any snipe sign is prohibited.
- Any banner over any street/sidewalk without permission from the town manager is prohibited.
- Any sign, portable or fixed, placed or erected on or over public road right-of-way, other than directional signs by officials, is prohibited.
- Any sign or device displaying signage on town property or rights-of-way, unless specifically authorized in writing by the town manager, is prohibited.
- Signs displaying lewd, lascivious, indecent, pornographic, profane, or immoral material are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees, utility poles, trailers, trash receptacles, unapproved supporting structures including portable and vehicular signs (including those on trailers) are prohibited.
- Any roof sign or projecting sign is prohibited.
- Bus bench advertising, except where the bench advertises the carrier it serves (unless otherwise approved by town council), is prohibited.
- No portions of any sign may project over a public sidewalk, driveway, parking area, right-of-way, or required landscape buffer, except monument signs may be placed within landscape buffers.
- All lighted signs permitted must be backlit or ground lit with white lights only.
- Signs (antennas/towers) are not allowed to have signs attached to them.
- No sign shall be placed where it may interfere with or obstruct a motorist’s view, or be confused with traffic signs; any sign later determined to be a traffic hazard must be removed at owner's expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Palm Beach

- Signs of a duly-constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices, or warnings at railroad crossings, are exempt from permit and zoning requirements.
- Flags or emblems of the United States, State of Florida, or other governmental body within the state are exempt from permit and zoning requirements.
- Political campaign signs of not more than four square feet per side, erected on private property, not more than 30 days prior to any election and removed within 10 days after, are exempt; must not create hazardous conditions.
- Memorial signs or tablets authorized in writing by the town manager are exempt.
- Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer, or general contractor on construction sites, not exceeding 15 sq ft per side per development lot, and removed upon certificate of occupancy or abandonment of work, are exempt.
- Signs required to be maintained by law, governmental rule, order, or regulation are exempt.
- Non-electrical directional signs for public, identifying restrooms, entrances, stairs, etc., with total surface area not exceeding 1.5 sq ft per side and not more than 6 per commercial or multifamily parcel, are exempt.
- Non-electrical instructional signs, not exceeding 1.5 sq ft per side and no more than 5 per commercial or multifamily parcel, are exempt.
- Home number-nameplate signs (one per principal building/use), not exceeding 1.5 sq ft per side, showing only numerical address, are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a sign permit must be filed, and all monument signs must be designed and certified by a state-registered engineer, with submission of sufficient data for compliance with the Florida Building Code.
- A sign permit must be obtained before posting, displaying, painting, or erecting any sign or advertising structure, except for the exempted types listed in Sec. 26-474(b).
- Variances from sign code require initial review by the architectural review board and a noticed quasi-judicial hearing before the town council.
- For wireless towers/antennas, all new towers/antennas require major site plan review as stated in Sec. 26-505(a).
- For a special exception for towers/antennas, a site plan and additional information (location, setbacks, landscaping, etc.) must be submitted as part of the application.
- For multiple-user wireless tower/antenna sites, the code encourages submission of a single application/plan for approval of multiple users on a site.

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

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