Standards for on-site signs in office, commercial and industrial districts. Where property is in a site planned controlled zoning district or a designated Overlay District, additional or modified regulations may apply. In those zoned areas, the most restrictive regulation applies.
(1)
Regulations for freestanding signs. Freestanding signs shall be allowed in office, commercial and industrial districts, provided the following specific regulations are met, in addition to the general regulations stated above.
a.
Number: One (1) Freestanding sign is permitted for each parcel having street frontage.
i.
If a parcel is a corner lot, as defined in 27-100(d)(1), then one (1) additional freestanding sign is permitted to be located adjacent to the second street frontage provided that the second street frontage is a minimum of three hundred (300) feet of continuous, lineal public street frontage; or
ii.
Three hundred (300) feet, one (1) additional freestanding sign is permitted for each additional three hundred (300) feet of continuous, lineal street frontage.
b.
Placement (See Diagram 2):
i.
The placement and orientation of a freestanding sign, as permitted by this section, shall be limited to arterial and/or collector street roadways (as identified in the City of Tampa Department of Public Works “Roadway Functional Classification System”), unless either of the following situations exist:
1.
The zoning lot has street frontage only on local street; or
2.
The zoning lot has street frontage on a local street where the entire block face on the local street, on both sides of the local street, has no residentially zoned parcels.
ii.
Freestanding signs shall be placed no closer than one hundred fifty (150) feet apart on the same parcel.
c.
Size:
i.
The allowable sign area for a freestanding sign shall be one (1) square foot of sign surface area for each lineal foot of street frontage on an abutting public street as follows:
| Feet of Frontage |
Sign Surface Area |
| < 20 feet | 20 square feet per sign face |
| 20 feet to 50 feet | 20 square feet to 50 square feet per sign face, one foot square per foot of street frontage |
| > 50 feet | 50 square feet maximum, per sign face |
ii.
If a parcel is entitled to more than one (1) freestanding sign under this section, then two (2) or more allowable freestanding signs may be combined into a single freestanding sign, not to exceed a maximum allowable sign surface area of one hundred (100) square feet per sign face.
iii.
The allowable sign surface area shall not include any decorative elements surrounding the sign face. However the decorative elements shall not protrude more than three (3) feet beyond the sign face.
d.
Height: The maximum height of a freestanding sign at the five-foot setback line shall be ten (10) feet measured from the established grade at the property line, on which the parcel has access to that portion of the freestanding sign closest to the right-of-way at the leading edge of the freestanding sign. For every one (1) foot of additional setback, the height of the freestanding sign may be increased by one (1) foot to a maximum height of twenty (20) feet. In no event may the freestanding sign interfere with the visibility triangle as provided in section 27-240 of the City Code.
e.
Design: The sign face shall be supported by a sign structure which shall consist of a single pier or pillar with a minimum diameter or horizontal dimension of thirty (30) inches or, alternatively, by two (2) piers or pillars, each with a minimum diameter or horizontal dimension of twelve (12) inches. The sign structure shall have materials and architectural details consistent with the principal building it serves or in a manner shown in Diagrams 3 and 4 below.
Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
Diagram 4
(2)
Regulations for building signs. Building signs shall be allowed in office, commercial and industrial districts, provided the following specific regulations are met, in addition to the general regulations stated above:
a.
Number:
i.
Single occupancy parcels. One (1) building sign shall be permitted for each single-occupancy parcel having street frontage. Corner parcels or double-frontage parcels shall be allowed one (1) sign per street frontage.
ii.
Multi-occupancy parcels. One (1) building sign shall be permitted for each establishment with a main door entrance which faces a public street in a multiple-occupancy parcel. Establishments located at a corner shall be allowed one (1) building sign for each side of the establishment which faces a public street. Building signs displayed on a multi-occupancy parcel shall be uniformly designed.
b.
Size: The maximum allowable sign surface area for each building sign shall be one and one-quarter (1¼) square feet per linear foot of building frontage abutting public street, excluding parking garages that abut a public street.
c.
Design:
i.
One (1) Projecting sign may be substituted for each building sign, provided that the sign surface area of the projecting sign shall not exceed the maximum allowable display area of the building sign which the projecting sign replaces.
ii.
Building signs shall not project beyond the roofline or side walls of the establishment to which the sign is attached, nor shall the building sign project more than twelve (12) inches out from the wall to which it is attached.
iii.
Building signs may contain a six-inch decorative border which shall not be counted as part of the sign surface area calculations.
d.
Awning signs: Copy contained on an awning attached to a building shall be considered a building sign for purposes of calculating the maximum allowable. Sign surface area. The awning upon which the copy is displayed must be a single color, made of opaque materials for the portion of the awning which is not used as the sign surface area. Down lighting shall be encouraged.
(3)
Regulations for projecting signs. Projecting signs shall be allowed in office, commercial and industrial districts, provided the following specific regulations are met, in addition to the general regulations stated above:
a.
Projecting signs may be substituted for the permitted wall sign referenced above, provided that the display area square footage of the projecting sign is not greater than the maximum square footage permitted for a wall.
b.
Projecting signs shall not project more than four (4) feet from the building wall to which the projecting sign is attached.
c.
Projecting signs shall not be located above the roofline of the building nor more than eighteen (18) feet above the grade of the street, whichever is less.
d.
The supporting hardware of a projecting sign shall not be visible from the street or sidewalk.
e.
Projecting signs shall not be constructed in violation of the public space encroachment limitations specified in this chapter.
f.
Projecting signs shall not be erected closer than ten (10) feet from an interior lot line or an adjacent establishment.
g.
Projecting signs, when specifically allowed by this Code, which project over any public or private pedestrian way shall be elevated a minimum of nine (9) feet above such pedestrian way. Projecting signs, when specifically allowed by this Code, which project over any public or private street shall be elevated a minimum of fifteen (15) feet above such street.
(4)
Regulations for marquee, canopy and awning signs. Marquee, canopy and awning signs shall be allowed in office, commercial and industrial districts, provided the following specific regulations are met, in addition to the general regulations stated above:
a.
One (1) sign located on a marquee, canopy or awning shall be affixed flat to the surface and shall not rise in vertical dimension above the marquee, canopy or awning.
b.
The maximum allowable display area for awning, canopy and marquee signs shall not exceed two (2) square feet per linear foot of building frontage facing a public street.
c.
Canopy and awning signs shall be permitted only when in lieu of a wall sign.
(5)
[Reserved.]
(6)
One directional sign per entrance into a commercial, office or industrial development, subdivision or zoning lot with a maximum height of five (5) feet for the structure, twelve (12) inches for the copy, and thirty-two (32) square feet. The directional sign shall meet the separation and setback requirements of on-site signs.
(7)
Alternative signage plan. As an alternative to the foregoing regulations, the following developments may establish an alternative signage plan:
a.
The owner(s) of one (1) or more parcels that constitute one (1) zoning lot of record or is/are subject to the same PD zoning site plan may erect on-site signs in accordance with an approved signage plan. A signage plan may be approved by city council as part of the PD zoning of the project or development. If a signage plan is not approved as part of the PD zoning of a project, then a permit may be issued for a signage plan according to the following criteria:
1.
All parcels subject to the signage plan shall be part of the same zoning lot of record and shall be interconnected with internal driveways and easements so that the parcels function as a single project; and
2.
The signage plan shall depict the location and nature of all signs to be erected; and
3.
The signage plan shall not allow more signage than would be allowed under the foregoing regulations if applied to each parcel separately; and
4.
The signs proposed in the signage plan shall conform with the height, setback and distance requirements from other parcels not subject to the signage plan or public place contained in the foregoing regulations; and
5.
The proposed signage plan shall be set forth in a written agreement executed by all persons or entities owning property or having a mortgage interest in one (1) or more of the parcels subject to said signage plan. If the signage plan is approved by staff, then the agreement shall be recorded in the Public Records of Hillsborough County, Florida as covenants and restrictions applicable to signage on all of the subject parcels. A copy of the recorded agreement shall be provided to the city prior to the issuance of any permits to construct or erect signs pursuant to said signage plan.
b.
For developments consisting of more than one (1) parcel or as a single parcel if there is common ownership and there is common ownership and there is proposed a common signage plan which advances the purpose of this chapter by substantially relinquishing entitlements to signage on one (1) parcel in exchange for signage on the adjacent parcel. The signage plan must meet the following criteria:
1.
The purpose of the signage plan is to provide direction to uses located off the arterial or collector roadway.
2.
The directional sign may not exceed fifty (50) square feet in area and should be located so as to facilitiate finding the “user” named on the sign.
3.
For each square foot of signage placed off site, there shall be an “in kind” reduction of signage on site.
4.
The allowable directional signage area on the parcel having frontage on the arterial or collector street may not exceed fifty (50) square feet above the maximum allowed for on-site sign, per this section 20.5-13.
5.
The affected parcels of the development shall abut common improved street right-of-way.
6.
The affected parcels of the development shall not be more than one-quarter (¼) mile (one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet) apart, measured from the nearest property lines.
7.
The affected parcels of the development shall be located in non-residential zoning districts and shall not be separated by a residential zoning category.
8.
The plan must be recorded at the clerk of the circuit court and any revocation of the approved plan must be done with the consent of the City of Tampa. The revocation of the plan will require that each individual zoning lot must comply with the sign regulations of the City of Tampa as a single site.
