Inverness Code:
Sec. 2.10. Signs.
A. Purpose, Intent and Benefit.
1. The purpose of this Code is to establish sign standards that will be easy to interpret, that will promote safety, convenience and will expedite vehicular movement throughout the city. It is intended to encourage the use of signs which are:
a. Harmonious with the surrounding area;
b. Appropriately installed and maintained so as not to endanger the public or to be a distraction for motorists.
2. The benefits of this Code are as follows:
a. Better aesthetic and visual environment;
b. Better control of the type and number of signs permitted;
c. Appropriate placement of signs throughout the city;
d. Ease and clarity of the permitting process.
B. General Provisions.
1. Applicability. The requirements of this section shall apply to all incorporated land within the jurisdiction of the City of Inverness.
2. Relationships to the Building and Electrical Codes. These requirements are intended to compliment requirements of the Building and Electrical Codes adopted by the City. Where there is inconsistency between these regulations and the Building or Electrical Code, the more stringent requirements shall apply.
3. Permit required. All signs except those exempt under subsection K of this section shall require a sign permit.
C. Measurement Determinations.
1. Sign area.
a. Freestanding (ground) and projecting signs are denoted by a regular geometric shape that contains the area within a single continuous perimeter. The sign area encloses the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or any figure or similar character, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed. This excludes the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign is placed. Where a sign has two (2) display faces placed back to back and at no point more than two (2) feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one (1) face; if the two (2) faces are of equal area or as the area of the larger face if the two (2) faces are of unequal area. Where a sign has more than one (1) display face, all areas that can be viewed simultaneously shall be considered as the sign area. (See Figure 2-2.)
b. In the case of three (3) dimensionally product displays, the area shall be determined by drawing a geometric figure around the projected image of the sign and multiplying that area by two (2). The “projected image” is that image created by tracing the largest possible two-dimensional outline of the sign. (See Figure 2-3.)
c. Window signs: The area of any painted sign directly on a window shall be the area within a continuous geometric figure formed by extending lines around the extreme limits of writing, representation or figure of similar character depicted on the surface of the window. (See Figure 2-4.)
1) Maximum window coverage: The combined area of permanent and temporary signs placed on or behind windows shall not exceed twenty-five (25) percent of the total window area at the same floor level on the side of the building or unit upon which the signs are displayed.
d. Marquee signs: The area of signs applied directly to the fabric of a marquee shall be the total of all signs on all faces of the structure. All sign copy on each face shall be computed within one (1) geometric figure formed by extending lines around the extreme limits of writing, representation or any figure of similar character depicted on the surface of the face of the marquee.
e. Other signs: In the case of a sign (other than freestanding, projecting or marquee) whose message is fabricated together with a background that borders or frames the message, the sign face area shall be the total area of the entire background.
In the case of a sign (other than freestanding, projecting or marquee) whose message is applied to a background with no border or frame, the sign face area shall be the smallest regular geometric shape that can encompass all words, letters, figures, emblems and other elements of the sign message.
Figure 2-5 illustrates several types of signs that require calculation of sign area before they are permitted in the City of Inverness.
D. Sign Height. Sign height is determined by the vertical distance from the finished grade at the base of the supporting structure to the top of the sign or its frame or supporting structure, whichever is higher. (See Figure 2-5 and subsection K).
E. Sign Regulations Per Overlay and Specific Districts. Signs may be erected, maintained and displayed only when in compliance with the following provisions:
1. All districts.
a. No more than one (1) sign for each street frontage advertising the sale, lease or rental of the lot or premises on which it is placed shall be permitted. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area in residential districts or thirty-two (32) square feet in area in a residential/office, CBD, commercial or industrial district. Such sign shall be removed within twenty-one (21) days after subject property has been sold or the word “sold” or similar wording has been placed on the sign property.
b. Temporary signs placed on and identifying construction sites shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area and shall be removed upon completion of the construction.
c. No trespassing signs, not exceeding two (2) square feet in area may be erected provided no such sign shall be placed within seventy-five (75) feet of another such sign on the same premises. (Refer to K8.)
d. One (1) identification sign may be erected for each street frontage of a school, college, church, hospital or other similar public or semipublic institution. Such signs shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area and shall not be placed closer than five (5) feet to right-of-way or twenty-five (25) feet to a side property line. Provided, however, that if a facility identified above is within a non-residential district then such regulation within such applicable district shall apply.
e. One (1) sign advertising or announcing a special event or function of a religious, charitable or fraternal organization may be erected on the premises where such event is taking place provided said sign does not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area, is not located within five (5) feet of right-of-way or twenty-five (25) feet to a side property line, except for corner lots, which must conform to a sight triangle (see Figure 2-6) such sign shall not be erected more than fifteen (15) days prior to the event and shall be removed promptly after the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
2. Residential districts.
a. Single-family dwelling: One (1) nameplate or identification sign, not exceeding one hundred forty-four (144) square inches in area, may be erected.
b. Duplex or two-family dwelling: One (1) nameplate or identification sign, not exceeding one hundred forty-four (144) square inches in area, may be erected for each dwelling unit.
c. Multiple-family dwelling: One (1) sign identifying the building and its address and the management’s name, address and phone number may be erected provided the sign shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet in area and shall not be located within fifteen (15) feet of any property line.
d. Model homes: One (1) sign, not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet, may be erected on the site of a model home. No streamers, flags, banners, pennants or similar devices shall be permitted.
3. Residential/Professional district.
a. Signage may be erected, affixed or attached to the front, side or rear of a building so occupied.
b. Total permitted signage area of thirty-two (32) square feet may consist of an affixed, attached and one (1) freestanding sign or a combination of said signs.
c. There shall be a minimum sign setback of five (5) feet from any property line and shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.
d. One (1) sign, not exceeding three (3) square feet in area, may be erected to control and direct traffic at each entrance and/or exit for off-street parking areas. Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area, that are necessary to direct and control traffic within a parking area may be erected. Traffic control signs will not be considered as part of the total permitted sign area.
4. CBD district.
a. Permitted uses within CBD districts may erect, affix, paint or attach signs to the front, side or rear of the building so occupied. In the event of a shopping center or other multiple occupancy of a building, the sign or signs may only be erected, affixed or attached to that portion of the building occupied by said use. The sign area of such sign(s) shall not exceed ten (10) percent of the area of the front facade of the building or portion of the building occupied by said use. The sign area of any sign painted on or affixed to a door, window or any other part of the building or property shall be considered as part of the total permitted sign area.
b. In the event the portion of the building occupied does not front on a public right-of-way an identification sign, sized in accordance with paragraph 4.a. above, may be placed on that portion of the building fronting on a right-of-way. In this case the total sign area fronting on a right-of-way shall not exceed thirty (30) percent of the front facade.
c. One (1) sign, not exceeding three (3) square feet in area, may be erected to control and direct traffic at each entrance and/or exit of off-street parking areas. Signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area, that are necessary to direct and control traffic within a parking area may be erected. Traffic-control signs shall not be considered as part of the total permitted sign area.
d. Where permitted, a model home may erect a sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in area.
5. Commercial districts. Any use permitted in CBD.
6. Industrial districts.
a. Permitted uses within the industrial district may erect, affix, paint or attach signs to the front, side or rear of the building so occupied. In the event of multiple occupancy or use, the sign or signs may only be erected, affixed, painted or attached to the portion of the building occupied by said use. The sign area of such sign(s) shall not exceed fifteen (15) percent of the area of that front facade of the building or portion of the building occupied by said use. The sign area of any sign painted on or affixed to a door, window or any other part of the building or property shall be considered as part of the total permitted sign area.
b. Same uses as permitted under commercial and CBD.
7. Government use.
a. One (1) attached sign not exceeding twelve (12) square feet in sign surface area and one (1) detached or freestanding sign not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet in sign surface area and not exceeding fifteen (15) feet in height above finished grade on each street side on a parcel containing uses indicated in the land use regulation schedules as public and semi-public.
F. Sign Maintenance, Inspections and Non-Conforming Use.
1. All signs, including their supporting structures, shall be maintained in a safe and attractive manner.
2. Should any sign be found unsafe, improperly maintained or in violation of this Code, the Building and Zoning Official shall notify the sign owner or property owner either in person or in writing. If the needed repair, maintenance or violation is not corrected within five (5) days, the Building and Zoning Official may have the said sign removed or repaired at the owner’s expense. Any sign posing an immediate hazard or danger may be removed by the Building and Zoning Official without notice.
3. All nonconforming signs attached to a building or erected on a parcel of land shall be removed if the business or use to which the signs pertain is changed, removed, vacated or abandoned.
(Ord. No. 337, State Statute 10, 1-7-86)
G. Political Signs.
1. No political signs shall be erected on or over any public right-of-way, attached to any tree or utility pole nor shall any political sign be placed on any property without written consent of the owner of said property.
2. Any person or any entity wishing to place political signs within the city shall register with the Department of Development Services prior to installing the signs. The registration shall constitute a permit allowing such political signs, provided however, that permitee complies with the following requirements:
a. That permitee removes all signs no later than seven (7) days after the election or referendum.
b. That permitee acknowledges that any of permittee’s signs placed on city property or within city right-of-ways may be removed and discarded by the city without notice to permitee.
c. That all political signs shall be set back two (2) feet from any public right-of-ways.
d. A political sign shall not exceed nine (9) square feet in a residential district or thirty-two (32) square feet in a non-residential district and shall have a maximum height of five (5) feet in residential districts and ten (10) feet in non-residential districts.
e. Number of Signs. Only one (1) political sign will be permitted per lot by the same candidate. For the purpose of determining the number of signs, a sign shall be construed to be a single display surface, effect or device containing elements organized, related and composed to form a single sign unit. Where a sign has two faces placed back to back and at no point more than two (2) feet from one another, it shall be counted as one sign.
(Ord. No. 2002-612, § 1, 11-5-02)
H. Signs Prohibited in All Zoning Districts.
1. Signs with flashing or intermittent lighting. This prohibition shall not include time, temperature or electrically controlled changing copy signs.
2. Roof mounted sign or signs that protrude above the roof line.
3. Immoral display. Any sign which displays any statement, work, character or illustration of an obscene, indecent or immoral nature.
4. Signs that emulate federal, state, county or city traffic-control signs or devices.
5. Signs that are located on, project into or over a public right-of-way.
6. Signs that project more than three (3) feet from the building to which they are attached.
7. Advertising signs in residential districts.
8. Advertising signs within five (5) feet of a property line.
9. Signs that revolve, rotate, move or give the illusion of movement shall not be located within fifty (50) feet of a right-of-way.
10. Non-governmental signage and off-site signs shall be prohibited from existing and future rights-of-way.
(Ord. No. 98-573, § 1, 10-6-98)
I. Freestanding (Ground) Signs. One (1) freestanding, on-premises identification sign permanently erected with a footing and foundation, may be erected on a lot in a CBD, commercial or industrial district. Such sign shall not exceed eighty (80) square feet in area, twenty-five (25) feet in height or be located within five (5) feet of a property line. (See special exception for shopping centers.)
(Ord. No. 93-484, § 6, 11-2-93)
J. Banners, Temporary or Portable Signs.
1. Banners, flags, pennants, streamers or similar devices are permitted for a minimum of seven (7) consecutive days for a maximum of forty-nine (49) days during a twelve-month period.
2. All temporary or portable signs, except those announcing or advertising temporary events are prohibited within the City of Inverness.
3. A permit shall be required prior to placement of the sign. The permit shall indicate the date the sign is placed and the date it is to be removed. In the event the sign is not removed by the specified removal date, the building or zoning official shall have the sign removed at the owner’s expense.
(Ord. No. 95-526, § 1, 1-3-95; Ord. No. 98-573, § 1, 10-6-98)
K. Exempt Signs. The following types of signs are exempt from permit requirement, provided that each sign is placed and constructed so as not to create a hazard and provided that the location requirement of subsection E of this section is met.
1. Signs necessary to promote health, safety and welfare and other regulatory, statutory, traffic control or directional signs erected on public property with permission as appropriate from the United States Government, State of Florida, Citrus County or the City of Inverness.
2. Public utility signs that identify the location of underground utility lines and facilities, high voltage lines and facilities and other utility facilities and appurtenances.
3. Decorative flags and bunting for a celebration, convention or commemoration of significance for the entire community when authorized by the City Manager for a prescribed period of time.
4. Memorial signs or tablets, and names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials and attached to the surface of a building.
5. Signs incorporated into machinery or equipment by a manufacturer or distributor which identify or advertise only the product or service dispensed by the machine or equipment, such as signs customarily affixed to vending machines, newspaper boxes, telephone booths and gasoline pumps.
6. Advertising and identifying signs located on taxicabs, buses, trailers, trucks or vehicle bumpers, provided such sign does not violate subsection H of this section.
7. Warning signs may be permitted provided that they do not exceed two (2) square feet and are located within the property lines. Warning signs may include, but shall not be limited to, “No Trespassing”, “Beware of Dog”, “No dumping”, “No Loitering”, and “No Parking” signs. Such signs will be limited to one (1) per residential lot of one hundred fifty (150) feet or less of frontage and for parcels with frontage greater than one hundred fifty (150) feet will maintain a minimum separation of seventy-five (75) feet, providing there is no conflict with Florida Statutes. In that event, the State Statutory requirement shall prevail.
8. Signs may be allowed for occupant identification, subject to the following standards:
a. One (1) sign shall be allowed, not to exceed one (1) square foot in area;
b. The sign may designate the occupant or a lawful home occupation.
9. Where a church, academic school, public assembly facility or hospital/emergency room is located on a local street, one (1) or more directional signs may be allowed.
a. A directional sign shall not be located in the public right-of-way.
b. A directional sign shall not exceed three (3) square feet in area.
10. Legal notices and official instruments.
11. Holiday lights and decorations.
12. Signs carried by a person and not set on or affixed to the ground.
13. On-site religious displays.
14. National or state flags.
15. Temporary signs for the sale of real estate as herein provided in this section, E.1.a.
L. Advertising signs (off-premises advertising signs):
1. No off-premises advertising sign shall be located within one thousand (1,000) feet of any other advertising or freestanding sign on the same side of the street. The City Council shall have the option, if certain conditions are found to exist, to grant a waiver of the distance requirements of one thousand (1,000) feet. The waiver option may be granted by the council when there are special or unique circumstances where the off-premises advertising sign applied for does not have a significant negative impact on surrounding land owners or the general public.
2. The total sign area of an advertising sign or signs at one (1) location shall not exceed three hundred (300) square feet. In the event of a back-to-back sign, only one (1) side shall be measured for sign area.
3. No advertising sign shall exceed twenty-five (25) feet in overall height.
4. In accordance with Chapter 12, Inverness City Code, an occupational license shall be obtained each year. The license number shall be painted on or affixed to each advertising sign. Any advertising sign not displaying the license number may be removed at the direction of the Zoning Official after fifteen (15) days’ written notice to the sign owner or property owner.
5. All off-premises advertising signs must be approved by City Council.
(Ord. No. 93-482, § 1, 9-7-93)
M. Subdivision Signage.
1. Street name and approved traffic-signs.
a. Street names signs:
1) Street name and approved traffic-control signs designed, constructed and mounted in accordance with city standards shall be placed at the intersection of or along each street or thoroughfare in the subdivision.
2) Street names are subject to building and zoning department approval to avoid duplication.
3) Street numbers will be assigned by the building and zoning department.
4) The minimum height of a street name sign, measures to the top of the sign, shall be seven (7) feet. Each sign post shall be at least three (3) feet below grade, encased in concrete with a minimum of four (4) inches in diameter.
5) The point of installation of street name signs shall be determined by the intersection of lines measured seven (7) feet from parallel to the intersecting streets.
2. Signs at subdivision entrances.
a. One (1) sign is permitted at only one (1) entrance into the development from each abutting street. The sign may be a single sign with two (2) single-faced structures of equal size located on each side of the entrance. No face of the sign shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in size, and may be illuminated in a steady light only.
b. Traffic-control signs:
1) The minimum height of a traffic-control sign measured from grade level to the bottom of the sign shall be five (5) feet.
2) Sign materials shall be reflective sheeting.
3) Each traffic sign post shall be at least three (3) feet in the ground, encased in concrete with a minimum diameter of four (4) inches.
4) Each traffic sign shall be a “breakaway” type according to Federal Highway Administration standards.Fig. 2-2Fig. 2-3Fig. 2-4Fig. 2-5
