# Sign Regulations in Tequesta, Florida

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tequesta, Florida (FL)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/florida/tequesta
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/FL/Tequesta/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH78ZO_ARTXISI)

## At a glance

Tequesta, Florida regulates 20 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Places of Assembly)s in the Residential District (R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3) zoning district are capped at 7 feet tall and 30 square feet, with a 10-foot minimum from property lines (Sec. 78-739) setback (Sec. Sec. 78-740(a)(4)a). Most commercial signs in Tequesta require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3) | 4 | 7 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| R/OP District | 3 | 7 feet | 30 square feet | — |
| Mixed Use District (MU) | 5 | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3) | 9 | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| Recreational District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 36 inches above grade | 24 sq ft if pole <20 ft; 40 sq ft if 20-25 ft pole | — |

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

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Identification Sign (Multi-family) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | One per building | Attached to each multi-family building or structure | — | Sec. 78-740(a)(1) |
| Parking Lot/Driveway Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | No limit indicated | At entrances to driveways and/or parking lots for multi-family uses | — | Sec. 78-740(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Places of Assembly) | 7 feet | 30 square feet | — | 10-foot minimum from property lines (Sec. 78-739) | One per place of assembly | On property of the place of assembly, subject to 10-foot setback from property lines | — | Sec. 78-740(a)(4)a |
| Wall Sign (Places of Assembly) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | No limit indicated | Wall-mounted on place of assembly | — | Sec. 78-740(a)(4)b |

### Mixed Use District (MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Areas) | — | 60 square feet | — | — | One per establishment standard, multiple allowed with uniformity | On building or structure in commercial areas | — | Sec. 78-741(1)a, Sec. 78-740(b)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Composite/Altered for Common Entrance Buildings) | — | Composite sign: 60 sq ft OR individual signs, max 3 sq ft each and 60 sq ft total | — | — | Composite, or aggregate of individual not >60 sq ft | For buildings with common entrances/doorways (no individual frontage) | — | Sec. 78-740(b)(4) |
| Ceiling-mounted Sign (Shopping Center Walkways) | — | 5 square feet | — | — | One per establishment | On shopping center walkways, ceiling mounted | — | Sec. 78-740(b)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Centers, MU Commercial Areas) | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — | 10-foot minimum from property lines (Sec. 78-739) | One per shopping center | On property, subject to 10-foot setback; landscaping and irrigation required | — | Sec. 78-741(2)a |
| Freestanding Sign (MU Residential Areas) | 7 feet (places of assembly) | 30 square feet (Places of assembly), 20 square feet (multi-family bldgs), 2 sq ft (parking entrances) | — | — | Per residential regulations | See residential sign regulations | — | Sec. 78-740(a) |

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2, C-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (General) | — | 60 square feet | — | — | One per establishment (more possible with approval) | On building or structure | — | Sec. 78-741(1)a-b, Sec. 78-740(b)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Composite/Multiple Tenants Common Entrance) | — | Composite sign: 60 sq ft OR individual signs, max 3 sq ft each, 60 sq ft aggregate | — | — | Composite, or aggregate of individual not >60 sq ft | On building (see above) | — | Sec. 78-740(b)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center, C-1) | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — | 10-foot minimum from property lines (Sec. 78-739) | One per shopping center | Within the middle one-third of the property fronting public street; 10-foot setback; landscaping and irrigation required | — | Sec. 78-741(2)a, e.i |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center, C-2 & C-3) | 20 feet | 60 square feet up to 100 square feet if on U.S. 1 (special conditions apply) | — | 10-foot minimum from property lines (Sec. 78-739) | One per shopping center or outparcel as specified | On property, 10-foot setback, landscaping/irrigation required | — | Sec. 78-741(2)b-c-d; e.ii-iii |
| Freestanding Sign (Outparcel, C-2 with U.S. 1 frontage) | 8 feet | 45 square feet | — | 10-foot minimum | One per outparcel | On outparcel, subject to 10-foot setback | — | Sec. 78-741(2)d.i |
| Freestanding Sign (Add'l for large frontage, C-2 w/US 1 frontage) | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — | 10-foot minimum | Two per eligible center (only under described conditions) | On shopping center parcel | — | Sec. 78-741(2)d.iii |
| Freestanding Sign (Establishments not in Shopping Center, C-1) | 16 feet | 60 square feet | — | 10-foot minimum | One per building | On property, 10-foot setback, landscaping/irrigation required | — | Sec. 78-741(2)e.i |
| Freestanding Sign (Establishments not in Shopping Center, C-2/C-3) | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — | 10-foot minimum | One per building | On property, 10-foot setback, landscaping/irrigation required | — | Sec. 78-741(2)e.ii |

## Prohibited signs in Tequesta

- No blinking, flashing, intermittent, animated or reflective type sign illumination shall be permitted. Sign illumination must be constant in intensity with a soft and muted effect.
- No sign shall extend above the roof height unless backed by a parapet wall extending the entire length of the building and with the same or greater height than the sign.
- No neon or gaseous tubing or other lineal use of lighting in outlining either the sign or the building or structure shall be permitted.
- No painted wall signs shall be permitted. Lettering on walls must be of raised design.
- Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle (including trailers) that is not being regularly used in the conduct of the business being advertised shall be prohibited. Vehicles used primarily for advertising are not considered 'regularly used.' No such vehicle with signs shall be parked on public or private property primarily for advertising.
- Signs on shop windows, display windows, or doors or other windows are limited: permanent signs can only occupy up to 30 percent of the window or door area and must count toward overall sign area.
- No outdoor merchandising displays, outdoor placement of sample goods or merchandising material, banners, feather or flutter flags, or outdoor portable signs or advertising displays shall be permitted except specific exceptions (e.g., sandwich boards per 78-742(n), special event permit, approved by village manager for new business openings, or up to 10 linear feet merchandise display under certain conditions).
- No signs identifying or designating parking spaces as reserved for individual tenants, businesses and/or property owners shall be allowed except for 'short term use' signs as provided by section 78-697. Signs identifying handicapped parking spaces per law are exempt.
- No off-premises or billboard signs shall be permitted except as set forth at subsection 78-748(d)(1).
- No signs placed, attached, posted, or located, on or to any tree, utility pole, street light, sidewalk, curb, fire hydrant, bridge or any other Village or public property or rights-of-way shall be permitted, except public utility, convenience, and warning signs approved and erected by government agencies.
- No signs in motion, including swinging, rotating or revolving signs, or signs containing video type imagery shall be permitted.
- No signs which copy or imitate official signs or which purport to have official status shall be permitted.
- No signs which display any obscene or illegal written or graphic message shall be permitted.
- No signs which obstruct or interfere with any door, fire exit, stairway, ladder or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress for any building shall be permitted.
- No signs which constitute a traffic safety or fire hazard, by reason of size, location, coloring or method of illumination, which obstruct the vision of motorists or pedestrians; or which obstruct or detract from any official traffic control devices or utilize the words 'stop', 'look', 'danger', or similar in a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic shall be permitted.
- No cube sign or advertising structure comprised of four faces, with copy on three or more faces shall be permitted.
- No aircraft search lights shall be permitted, unless approved in conjunction with a special events permit.
- No sign which emits any noise, or any odor, or any visible smoke or vapor particles shall be permitted.
- No signs shall be permitted on a plot or parcel except in accordance with the provisions of this article.
- No signs shall be permitted in the village except those specifically allowed by this article.
- No conforming permanent sign or sign structure shall be erected on the same parcel with an existing nonconforming permanent sign until the nonconforming sign has been removed or made to conform with the requirements of this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tequesta

- Professional nameplates.
- Signs on residential property designating the owner's name or name of home not to exceed one square foot in size.
- Control signs such as those designating exits, entrances or no trespassing, not to exceed two square feet in size; larger signs may be permitted upon application to and approval by the building official.
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer, contractor or developer when placed upon work under construction, and not exceeding 16 square feet in area; must be removed within three days after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
- Occupational signs on or near to a main entrance denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building or public institutional building and not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze and other incombustible materials.
- Lettering on windows not to exceed three inches in height per letter, indicating the occupant of the office and the nature of business.
- Signs required by law, including by any agency of the state or federal government.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and other such temporary, emergency or non-commercial signs.
- Safety or caution signs such as 'No Smoking' signs near flammable materials.
- Those temporary signs described in subsection 78-748.
- One sandwich board sign, no larger than 36 inches tall by 24 inches wide, located on the business' property and no further than five feet from the building in which the business is located, which does not interfere with sidewalk access by pedestrians or violate building code accessibility requirements. Must be removed at the end of each business day and stored indoors.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All proposed signage which is part of an application for site plan review must be submitted to the planning and zoning board for review, and to the village council for approval as part of the site plan review process.
- Permanent signs in any R/OP district, and for places of assembly in residential districts or the R/OP district, must be approved by the planning and zoning board, or by the village council as part of site plan review.
- Any freestanding permanent signs in commercial districts must be approved by the planning and zoning board, or by the village council in accordance with the site plan review process.
- Decorative integrated signs and architectural lighting may be allowed in conjunction with the site plan approval or modification process.
- Permanent entrance signs for developments or projects must be approved by the building official.
- Temporary subdivision development signs that are placed off-site or renewals beyond the initial period require review by the planning and zoning board and approval by the village council as part of the site plan review process.

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

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