Gainesville sign permit requirements
What the Gainesville sign code and sign ordinance allow, summarised from ARTICLE IX. - SIGNS. Every figure below shows the ordinance's own wording, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
Is a permit required?
Sec. 30-9.7Permit required for all signs except those in sections 30-9.5 (no-permit signs) and 30-9.6; wall/building-mounted signs otherwise require a permit
“Permit required. With the exception of the signage provided for in section 30-9.5 and section 30-9.6 , it shall be unlawful to use, erect, maintain, alter, or extend any new or existing sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the city in accordance with this section.”
Wall sign — maximum area
Sec. 30-9.7Nonresidential, development two stories or less: 2 signs per tenant, length of leased space × 1.5, up to 200 sq ft max aggregate per tenant (300 max aggregate for developments greater than two stories)
| Sign location | Max. number | Max. sign area (sq. feet) |
| Residential districts | 1 - Principal use 1 - Accessory use (if applicable) | 24 - Principal use 18 - Accessory use |
| Nonresidential districts — development two stories or less | 2 per tenant | Length of leased space × 1.5, up to 200 max aggregate per tenant |
| 1 for each exterior building wall that is part of a tenant's space | 50 - second side 24 - third side 24 - fourth side | |
| 1 directional | 6 | |
| Nonresidential districts — development greater than two stories | 2 (3 if primary frontage greater than 500 linear feet), plus 1 for each exterior wall | 300 max aggregate |
| 2 per tenant, within the building sign band | Length of leased space × 1.5. up to 100 max aggregate per tenant | |
| 1 directional | 6 | |
| Parking garage | 1 per street frontage | 75 max aggregate |
| 2 per tenant | Length of leased space × 1.5, up to 100 max aggregate per tenant | |
| 2 directional | 6 |
Reproduced from Sec. 30-9.7. Check it against the source before ordering.
Freestanding sign — maximum height
Sec. 30-9.7Nonresidential districts: 10 feet (primary frontage); 8 feet for secondary frontage and outparcels
| Sign location | Max. number (may choose either monument or pole) | Max. sign area (sq. ft.) | Max. sign structure height (feet) | Max. sign structure width (feet) |
| Residential districts | 1 | Monument: • 32 Pole: • 24 | 8 | 12 |
| Nonresidential districts | 1 primary frontage | Monument: • 32 if frontage up to 50 ft. • 40 if frontage 51—100 ft. • Frontage length × 0.5 (up to 120 max) if frontage greater than 100 ft. Pole: • 24 if frontage up to 50 ft. • 32 if frontage 51—100 ft. • Frontage length × 0.4 (up to 96 max) if frontage greater than 100 ft. | 10 | 15 |
| 1 additional primary frontage if greater than 500 linear feet | Monument: • 75 Pole: • 50 | 10 | 15 | |
| 1 secondary frontage | Monument: • 30 Pole: • 24 | 8 | 12 | |
| 1 outparcel | Monument: • 38 if frontage 151—200 ft. • 58 if frontage greater than 200 ft. Pole: • 32 if frontage 151—200 ft. • 48 if frontage greater than 200 ft. | 8 | 12 | |
| Unlimited directional for developments with greater than 300,000 square feet of floor area; shall be located at least 100 feet from any public right-of-way | 50 • single-occupancy developments shall be limited to two square feet per individual sign face | 6 | 12 | |
| Identification | 1 per entrance; may be one double-sided sign or two single-faced signs on either side of an entrance | Residential development: • 16 for primary entrance if less than 6 units • 24 for primary entrance if 6 or more units • 16 for each additional entrance | 8 | 12 |
| Minor subdivision: • 18 | ||||
| Nonresidential subdivision: • 6 per lot (up to 115 max for monument signs or 96 max for pole signs) |
Reproduced from Sec. 30-9.7. Check it against the source before ordering.
Freestanding sign — setback
Sec. 30-9.7At least 50 feet from any other permanent freestanding sign, minimum setback of 10 feet from any front or side property line
“Shall be located at least 50 feet from any other permanent freestanding sign, and shall have a minimum setback of ten feet from any front or side property line.”
Projecting sign — clearance
Sec. 30-9.7No more than four feet horizontally from the wall; shall not project vertically above the roofline; at least nine-foot vertical clearance where a pedestrian walkway passes under
“Signs shall not extend horizontally beyond the edges of the awning, marquee, mansard, or parapet to which they are attached or from which they are suspended and no more than four feet horizontally from the wall. Signs shall not project vertically above the roofline. Such signs under which a pedestrian walkway passes shall have at least a nine-foot vertical clearance.”
Illumination
Sec. 30-9.4Only permanent signs may be illuminated; temporary signs may not. Steady light only, no blinking/flashing/moving; no glare; no bare-bulb illumination; must meet Land Development Code light trespass requirements
“Only permanent signs may be illuminated. Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.”
Which zoning district this describes
Sec. 30-9.7Code varies by residential vs. nonresidential district. Values reported are for nonresidential (commercial) districts. Additional provisions apply to the I-75 corridor and Gainesville Regional Airport
Set out in the same table as wall sign — maximum area above.
Set out in a table in the ordinance
These limits depend on street type, lot size or building frontage, and the ordinance expresses them as a table. We'd rather send you to the real table than reproduce it wrongly.
- • Freestanding sign — maximum area Sec. 30-9.7
Not covered in the sign chapter we read: wall sign — % of facade, projecting sign — maximum area, window signs — maximum coverage, digital / electronic message centres, prohibited sign types. That doesn't mean the city has no rule — it may sit elsewhere in the code.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Tell us — corrections from local sign shops are how this stays accurate.
Common questions
- Do you need a permit for a sign in Gainesville, FL?
- Permit required for all signs except those in sections 30-9.5 (no-permit signs) and 30-9.6; wall/building-mounted signs otherwise require a permit
- How big can a wall sign be in Gainesville, FL?
- Nonresidential, development two stories or less: 2 signs per tenant, length of leased space × 1.5, up to 200 sq ft max aggregate per tenant (300 max aggregate for developments greater than two stories)
- How tall can a freestanding sign be in Gainesville, FL?
- Nonresidential districts: 10 feet (primary frontage); 8 feet for secondary frontage and outparcels
- How far back from the road must a sign sit in Gainesville, FL?
- At least 50 feet from any other permanent freestanding sign, minimum setback of 10 feet from any front or side property line
- How much clearance does a projecting sign need in Gainesville, FL?
- No more than four feet horizontally from the wall; shall not project vertically above the roofline; at least nine-foot vertical clearance where a pedestrian walkway passes under
- Can a sign be illuminated in Gainesville, FL?
- Only permanent signs may be illuminated; temporary signs may not. Steady light only, no blinking/flashing/moving; no glare; no bare-bulb illumination; must meet Land Development Code light trespass requirements
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