All signs shall comply with the following regulations:
(1)
Compliance with other codes. All signs shall be erected, altered or maintained in accordance with the city’s adopted building and electrical codes and all other applicable regulations.
(2)
Fire and health hazards. Vegetation shall be kept trimmed in front of, behind, and underneath the base of any ground sign for a distance of ten feet (10′), and no rubbish shall be permitted to remain under or near such sign which would constitute a fire or health hazard.
(3)
Public interference. Signs shall not create a traffic or fire hazard, nor create conditions which adversely affect public safety.
(4)
Signs over public right-of-way. Only one (1) sign per business use is allowed to overhang the public right-of-way. The portion of any sign overhanging the right-of-way shall not extend more than four feet (4′) beyond the right-of-way line and shall not exceed forty (40) square feet in area, provided that there is a minimum clearance of eight feet (8′) above the ground and that such signs do not overhang a vertical projection of the curbline. No support of the sign structure shall be upon the public right-of-way. No permit shall be issued for any sign overhanging the public rights-of-way in accordance with this provision unless the applicant posts a bond, or public liability insurance. Such bond or liability insurance shall be kept in effect at all times.
(5)
Wind pressure and dead load requirements. All signs shall be designed and constructed in strict conformity with the state building code; the chief building official is authorized to require certification thereof by a licensed professional engineer.
(6)
Illumination. The brightness of an illuminated sign shall not exceed thirty (30) footcandles as measured with a light meter five feet (5′) away from the sign. Except for signs located facing or fronting the public right-of-way, signs that are within one hundred-fifty feet (150′) of a residential district or existing, conforming single-family home shall be indirectly illuminated and designed to have the minimum impact on the residential neighborhood. White backgrounds are prohibited for interior illuminated signs.
(7)
Prohibited lights. There shall be no red, amber, blue or green lights, either fixed, moving or flashing, which could create confusion with traffic lights or lights on emergency vehicles.
(8)
Shielding. All illuminated signs shall provide shielding of the source of illumination in order to prevent a direct view of the light source from a street or from a residence in a residential area.
(9)
Obscene nature. No sign shall be erected that displays any statement, word, character or illustration of an obscene nature, as defined by F.S. ch. 847.
Sec. 3-45. – Commercial versus noncommercial speech and content neutrality.
(a)
Substitution of noncommercial speech for commercial speech. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code to the contrary, any sign erected pursuant to the provisions of this division or Code may, at the option of the owner, contain a noncommercial message unrelated to the business located on the premises where the sign is erected. The noncommercial message may occupy the entire sign face or any portion thereof. The sign face may be changed from commercial to noncommercial messages, or from one (1) noncommercial message to another, as frequently as desired by the owner of the sign, provided that the size, height, setback and other dimensional criteria contained in this division and Code have been satisfied.
(b)
Content neutrality as to sign message. Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, no sign or sign structure shall be subject to any limitation based upon the content (viewpoint) of the message contained on such sign or displayed on such sign structure.
