Pinellas County Sign Code
Sec. 138-1334. Signs.
(a) Definitions. All words used in this section, except where specifically
defined in this subsection, shall carry their customary meaning when
not inconsistent with the context in which they are used. The following
words set forth in this subsection shall have the meanings as defined
in this subsection:
Advertising means any form of public announcement intended to aid, directly
or indirectly, in the sale, use, or promotion of a product, commodity,
service, activity or entertainment.
Area or surface area of signs means the square foot area enclosed by
a rectangle, parallelogram, triangle, circle, semicircle or other geometric
figures, or other architectural design, the sides of which make contact
with the extreme points or edges of the sign, excluding the supporting
structure which does not form part of the sign proper or of the display.
The area of a sign composed of characters or words attached directly to
a large, uniform building wall surface shall be the smallest rectangle,
triangle, circle, parallelogram or other geometric figure, or other architectural
design, which encloses the whole group of words or characters.
Artwork means drawings, pictures, symbols, paintings or sculptures which
in no way identify a product or business and which are not displayed in
conjunction with a commercial, for-profit or nonprofit enterprise.
Banners means any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that
is mounted to a pole, a wall or a building at one or more edges. Flags
shall not be considered banners.
Beacon means a stationary or revolving light which flashes or projects
illumination, single color or multicolored, in any manner which is intended
to attract or divert attention; except, however, this term is not intended
to include any kind of lighting device which is required or necessary
under the safety regulations described by the Federal Aviation Agency
or similar agencies.
Building official means the local government official or his designee
responsible for the administration, interpretation and enforcement of
the building codes of the local government.
Bulletin board means a sign of permanent character, but with removable
letters, words, numerals or symbols, indicating the names of persons associated
with, or events conducted upon, or products or services offered upon,
the premises upon which such sign is maintained.
Business establishment means any individual person, nonprofit organization,
partnership, corporation, other organization or legal entity holding a
valid occupational license and occupying distinct and separate physical
space.
Changeable message means a portion of a sign which message copy is changed
manually or automatically in the field through the utilization of attachable
letters, numbers, symbols and other similar characteristics.
Double-faced sign means a sign which has two display surfaces backed
against the same background, one face of which is designed to be seen
from one direction and the other from the opposite direction, every point
on each face being either in contact with the other face or in contact
with the same background.
Erect means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix,
and shall also include the painting of signs.
Flag means any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinct colors,
patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision,
corporation, business or other entity.
Frontage means the length of the property line for a parcel which runs
parallel to, and along, a road right-of-way or street, exclusive of alleyways.
"Building frontage" means the single facade constituting the
length of the building or that portion of a building occupied by a single
office, business, or enterprise abutting a street, parking area, or other
means of customer access such as an arcade, mall or walkway.
Ground level means the level of finished grade of a parcel of land,
exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating, solely for
the purpose of locating a sign. Ground level on marina docks or floating
structures shall be the finish grade of the landward portion of the adjoining
parcel.
Height means the vertical distance measured from the ground level nearest
the base of the sign to the highest point of the sign.
Local government means the county government and the municipalities
within the county.
Maintenance means the replacing, repairing or repainting of a portion
of a sign structure, periodically changing changeable copy, or renewing
copy which has been made unusable by ordinary wear, weather or accident.
Multitenant building means a building where more than one business is
serviced by a common entrance, and where such businesses may be located
above the first story or otherwise be without frontage on a public right-of-way.
Pennant means any series of small flaglike or streamerlike pieces of
cloth, plastic or paper, or similar material attached in a row to any
staff, cord, building, or at only one or two edges, the remainder hanging
loosely.
Person means any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership,
and the like, singular or plural.
Property means the overall area represented by the outside boundaries
of a parcel of land or development.
Sign means any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color,
form, graphic, illumination, architectural style or design or writing
to advertise, attract attention, announce the purpose of, or identify
the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any
kind to the public. "Sign" includes sign structure.
A-frame or sandwich sign means a portable sign which is ordinarily
in the shape of an "A" or some variation thereof.
Abandoned signs means signs on which is advertised a business that
is no longer licensed, no longer has a certificate of occupancy, or
is no longer doing business at that location and such circumstances
have continued for a period of more than 90 consecutive days.
Animated signs means any sign which includes action, motion, the optical
illusion of action or motion or color changes of all or any part of
the sign facing, requiring electrical energy or set in motion by movement
of the atmosphere or a sign made up of a series of sections that turn
and stop to show two or more pictures or messages in the copy area.
In order to accommodate changes in technology, but to prevent such changes
from creating distractions to the motoring public, animated signs shall
include electronic reader boards unless the message changes instanteously,
without scrolling, and at a frequency of greater than one minute between
messages.
Attached signs means any sign attached to, on, or supported by any
part of a building (e.g., walls, integral roof, awning, windows, or
canopy) which encloses or covers usable space.
Bench signs/bus shelter signs means a bench or bus shelter upon which
a sign is drawn, painted, printed, or otherwise affixed, and, where
authorized by action of the board of county commissioners, shall be
exempt from the provision of this section as per F.S. º 337.407(2).
Canopy (awning) sign means any sign that is a part of or attached
to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic or structural protective
cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. A marquee
is not a canopy.
Construction sign means any sign giving the name of principal contractors,
architects, and lending institutions responsible for construction on
the site where the sign is placed, together with other information included
thereon.
Directional sign means any sign which exclusively contains information
providing direction or location of any object, place, or area, including
but not limited to those signs indicating avenues of ingress/egress.
Exempt signs means all signs for which permits are not required, but
which must, nonetheless, conform to the other terms and conditions of
this section.
Freestanding sign means any sign supported by structures or supports
that are placed on or anchored in the ground and that are independent
of any building or other structure.
Gasoline price display signs means changeable message signs, typically
mounted on the freestanding identification sign, which display the prices
of gasoline for sale.
Identification signs means any sign which indicates no more than the
name, address, company logo and occupation or function of an establishment
or premises.
Menu sign (for drive-through establishments) means a product sign
placed so as to be viewed from a drive-through lane, and which contains
only a listing of products, with prices, offered for sale by the business,
and which may provide a mechanism for ordering products while viewing
the sign.
Nonconforming sign means any sign that does not conform to the requirements
of this section.
Off-premises sign means any sign identifying or advertising a product,
business, person, activity, condition, or service not located or available
on the same zone lot where the sign is installed and maintained.
On-premises sign means any sign which identifies a use or business
or advertises a product for sale or service to be rendered on the zone
lot where the sign is located.
Political sign means any sign which constitutes a political advertisement
the primary purpose of which is related to the candidacy of any person
for public office or any issue which has been submitted for referendum
approval.
Portable sign means any sign not permanently attached to the ground
or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported,
including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means
of wheels; signs converted from A-frames; menu and sandwich board signs;
balloons and other inflatables; and umbrellas used for advertising.
Projecting sign means any sign affixed perpendicularly to a building
or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than six
inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
Public/semipublic sign means any sign erected on a site for a nonprofit
or quasipublic use, such as a library, school, church, hospital, or
government owned building.
Real estate sign means any sign advertising the sale, rental or lease
of premises, or part of the premises, on which the sign is displayed.
Roof sign means any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over
the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure. "Integral
roof sign" means any sign erected or constructed as an integral
or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design,
such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion
of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the
rest of the roof by a space of more than six inches. Any integral portion
of the roof shall not extend more than five feet above the structural
roof.
Snipe sign means a sign which is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued,
or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or to other objects
with the message appearing thereon not applicable to the present use
of the premises or structure upon which the sign is located.
Subdivision sign means a sign which contains only the name of a platted
subdivision or other residential development.
Vehicle sign means a sign attached to or placed on a vehicle, including
automobiles, trucks, boats, campers, and trailers, that is parked on
or otherwise utilizing a public right-of-way, public property or on
private property so as to be intended to be viewed from a vehicular
right-of-way for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products
or services or of directing people to a business or activity. This definition
is not to be construed to include those signs that identify a firm or
its principal products on a vehicle or such advertising devices as may
be attached to and within the normal unaltered lines of the vehicle
of a licensed transit carrier, when and during that period of time such
vehicle is regularly and customarily used to traverse the public highways
during the normal course of business.
Wall sign means a sign which is painted on, fastened to, or erected
against the wall of a building with its face in a parallel plane to
the plane of the building facade or wall.
Warning sign means a sign located on property posting such property
for warning or prohibitions on parking, trespassing, hunting, fishing,
swimming, or other activity, provided such signs do not carry any commercial
message or identification.
Window sign means a sign located on a window or within a building
or other enclosed structure, which is visible from the exterior through
a window or other opening.
Sign face means the part of the sign that is or can be used to identify,
display, advertise, communicate information, or for visual representation
which attracts or intends to attract the attention of the public for any
purpose.
Sign structure means any structure which is designed specifically for
the purpose of supporting a sign, has supported or is capable of supporting
a sign. This definition shall include any decorative covers, braces, wires,
supports, or components attached to or placed around the sign structure.
Street means a public right-of-way intended for the use of vehicular
and pedestrian traffic.
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