# Sign Regulations in Surfside, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Surfside, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/surfside
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Surfside/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH90ZO_ARTVISI)

## At a glance

Surfside, Florida regulates 19 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the H30C Zoning District; H40 Zoning District; MU Zoning District; H120 Zoning District zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 30 sq ft, with a 5 ft from all property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 90-73(b)(3)b.). Most commercial signs in Surfside require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SD-B40 Zoning District | 6 | — | 150 sq ft (total), 45 sq ft (single sign), 1 sq ft per frontage ft | — |
| H30C Zoning District; H40 Zoning District; MU Zoning District; H120 Zoning District | 7 | 18 in | 75 sq ft (multi-family/H30C/H40) | — |
| H30A Zoning District; H30B Zoning District | 1 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 42 in (for in-ground sign inc. frame) | 40 sq in | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### SD-B40 Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Ground level tenant space only; not allowed for upper floor tenants; cannot be mounted above ground level tenant space. Encroachment into right-of-way only if at least 8 ft vertical clearance | — | Sec. 90-73(a)(3)a. |
| Individually-mounted Letter Sign | — | 150 sq ft (total), 45 sq ft (single sign), 1 sq ft per frontage ft | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 90-73(a)(3)b. |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 20% of window/door area | — | — | 1 per window/door | Primary and side street level frontages; applied to (or within 12 inches of) glass window or door (inside or outside) | — | Sec. 90-73(a)(3)c. |
| Television Screen or Similar Electronic Feature | — | 20% of glass window (if within 36 in) | — | — | — | Inside storefront projecting to sidewalk, oriented to pedestrian, angled parallel to sidewalk | — | Sec. 90-73(a)(3)d. |
| Emergency Address Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Alley side (wall mounted or posted on rear door, Blocks 3–6, Altos Del Mar #6) | — | Sec. 90-73(a)(3)e. |
| Menu Sign (Exempt) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On wall, window, or front door of sit-down restaurant | — | Sec. 90-70(b)(7) |

### H30C Zoning District; H40 Zoning District; MU Zoning District; H120 Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Individually-mounted Letter Sign | — | 75 sq ft (multi-family/H30C/H40) | — | — | — | Building wall | — | Sec. 90-73(b)(3)a. |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all property lines | 1 per street frontage | 5 ft setback from property lines; may not project into setback; landscaped required at base | — | Sec. 90-73(b)(3)b. |
| Supplemental Sign | — | 3 sq ft; except H120 district hotel restaurant: 5 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 90-73(b)(3)c. |
| Parking Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | At each exit/entrance of parking lots | — | Sec. 90-73(b)(3)d. |
| Emergency Address Sign | 18 in | 18 in high x 24 in wide | 24 in | — | — | Free-standing post, east side of Collins Ave abutting the beach walking path | — | Sec. 90-73(b)(3)e. |
| Electric Vehicle Charging Station Sign | 18 in | 24 in wide x 18 in high | 24 in | — | — | At charging station | — | Sec. 90-73(b)(3)f. |
| Ground-affixed Letter or Number Sign | 5 ft from ground | 20 sq ft (per sign) | — | 2.5 ft from right-of-way | — | 2.5 ft from right-of-way | — | Sec. 90-73(b)(3)g. |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (SD-B40) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building frontage | On building wall, not above eave line | — | Sec. 90-74(a)(1) |
| Real Estate Sign (All Other Districts) | 42 in (for in-ground sign inc. frame) | 18 in x 24 in (main panel); riders: 6 in x 24 in up to 2 | 24 in | — | 1 per street frontage | On building wall or securely fastened to free-standing stake/post | — | Sec. 90-74(a)(2-5) |
| Temporary Sign (SD-B40) | — | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | 3 per building frontage | Building wall or window | — | Sec. 90-74(b) |
| Temporary Sign (All Other Districts) | 42 in (for in-ground signs incl. frame) | 3 sq ft per sign | — | — | 5 per property | Wall mounted or securely fastened to free-standing stake/post; outside sight triangle; cannot cross property line | — | Sec. 90-74(c) |
| Temporary Banner Sign (SD-B40) | — | 32 sq ft or 5% of building facade facing public street, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per building frontage or window | Building frontage (wall or window), attached to wall, not above eave line | — | Sec. 90-74(i) |
| Temporary Construction Site Identification Sign | 4 ft (top above grade) | 40 sq in | — | Min 5 ft from front property line unless building closer | 1 per site | Parallel or perpendicular to front property line, temp basis, freestanding or on building/door/window if less than 5 ft from property line | — | Sec. 90-74(g) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 20% of glass window/door area | — | — | 1 per window | Attached to or within 12 in of glass window/door | — | Sec. 90-74(h) |

## Prohibited signs in Surfside

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or affixed in violation of these regulations or not specifically provided for and permitted by these regulations.
- Awning signs or any sign printed on or attached to an awning or canopy are prohibited.
- Balloon signs or other inflatable signs are prohibited, except balloons may be permitted for a period not to exceed 24 hours for a temporary, non-commercial event at a residence.
- Banner signs are prohibited except as otherwise permitted by Code.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Cabinet signs are prohibited.
- Changeable copy signs or marquees are prohibited.
- Home business signs are prohibited.
- Flags are prohibited except as otherwise permitted by Code.
- Lighted signs including strings of lights or lights framing a window are prohibited.
- Mirror devices used as part of a sign are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs including persons wearing costumes and/or holding temporary signs with commercial copy are prohibited.
- Pole-mounted signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs including A-frame, sandwich board, and moveable makeshift signs such as signs attached to a mannequin or mounted on furniture, or any other similar portable sign or moveable object primarily designed for display or to attract sidewalk traffic are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs whose face is designed or constructed to be placed or transported on wheels are prohibited.
- Snipe or bandit signs are prohibited except political signs and real estate signs.
- Temporary signs including posters and handbills are prohibited except as otherwise permitted by Code.
- Umbrella signs are prohibited.
- Signs containing wording which constitutes fraudulent or misleading advertising are prohibited.
- Signs containing obscene matter or wording which violates any federal, state or county statute, ordinance or rule are prohibited.
- Signs with spinning devices, streamers, fluttering or other similar advertising devices are prohibited.
- Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, or odors are prohibited.
- Signs not erected by a public authority which simulate, copy, or imply any official traffic sign, signal or police caution device are prohibited.
- Signs that display lights which are intermittent, blinking, moving, revolving, flashing or similar (with holiday exception of December 10 through January 5) are prohibited.
- Signs which prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape are prohibited.
- Signs shall not be placed in any location which obstructs a motorist's vision of an intersection, traffic control signal, vehicular, pedestrian or bicycle traffic.
- Signs shall not be placed on or near the rear of a lot or building so as to face another zoning district except as permitted.
- No sign shall be suspended across any vacant lot, unoccupied building or temporary structure nor affixed to them except as otherwise permitted.
- Except as otherwise authorized by the town manager or designee, no sign of any type shall be suspended across or affixed in any public street, right-of-way, sidewalk, easement, alley or waterway, or to any curb, sidewalk, tree, utility pole, hydrant, traffic signal, street sign, or other structure within public property.
- Signs placed without the express permission of the property owner or agent are prohibited.
- No permanent sign shall be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, maintained, or relocated without a sign permit issued by the town (except as otherwise provided in this Code).

## Signs exempt from permit in Surfside

- National flag (if displayed in a window, it shall not exceed 20% of the window glass area).
- Banners erected by the town including street pole banners.
- Non-illuminated numerical address.
- Open/closed sign suspended behind a glass window or door, not exceeding one square foot; may be illuminated by white internal illumination, but not blinking.
- Non-illuminated business hours sign suspended behind a glass window or door, not exceeding one square foot.
- All temporary signs as provided in section 90-74.
- Menu sign not exceeding two square feet, displayed on the wall, window, or front door of a sit-down restaurant within the SD-B40 district only.
- Plastic or metal wall sign not larger than 16 inches wide and five inches high stating 'Managed by ____' with appropriate managing party name.
- Fumigation warning sign as required by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
- Any sign placed or erected by the town.
- Construction site signs meeting the requirements of section 90-74(g) do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A written application for a sign permit must be submitted prior to erection, construction, alteration, maintenance, or relocation of any permanent sign, except for exempt signs.
- The application must include drawings and specifications to fully advise the town on location, construction, illumination, mounting, consent from property owner, etc.
- All signs (unless otherwise exempt) are subject to review by the design review board, which assesses compliance with code, materials, design, illumination and appropriateness.
- No sign shall be approved or permitted unless found in compliance with the code and applicable building and electrical codes.
- Signs not in compliance or installed without a permit are considered non-complying and are subject to code enforcement or removal by the town.

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

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