The City of Tavares has become a recognized tourist and economic growth center in Florida. Sign regulation is needed to encourage a visually pleasing environment in order to attract residential construction, tourist activity, business and industrial development. The City of Tavares also views sign regulation as a method of protecting the public investment, ensuring pedestrian and traffic safety, promoting the effectiveness of advertising, discouraging over-concentration, unsuitable location, and excessive height, bulk and area. It is the intent of this chapter to provide signage regulations to preserve scenic, economic and aesthetic values including the special character and attractiveness of the City of Tavares.

Where the provisions of this chapter are in conflict with any other regulations or parts of codes, the more stringent shall apply.

For the purpose of this chapter, the terms, phrases, and definitions contained below shall apply. Words used in the singular shall include the plural, and the plural, the singular. Words used in the present tense shall include the future tense. The word "shall" is mandatory and not discretionary. The word "may" is permissive. Words not defined herein shall be construed to have the meaning given by common and ordinary use as defined by the latest edition of Webster's Dictionary.

Abandoned Sign — A sign where the permitted use or structure that the sign is an accessory to has been discontinued or unoccupied for a period of eight (8) consecutive months or a sign that is unmaintained or otherwise in a state of disrepair that renders the sign unusable, ineffective or hazardous.

Banner Sign — A strip of cloth or similar material, not permanently affixed to a frame or surface, on which a sign is painted, generally suspended between poles or structures by cloth straps or ropes and is intended as a temporary sign.

Bench Sign — A sign located on any part of the surface of a bench or seat.

Billboard — A permanent ground sign supported by one or more poles attached to which is a sign area which is at least two-hundred (200) square feet in size

Building Sign — A sign displayed upon or attached to any part of the exterior of a building, including walls, windows, doors, parapets, marquees and roof slopes of forty-five (45) degrees or steeper.

Change In Use — A change in use of property occurs whenever the essential character or nature of the activity conducted on a lot changes. This occurs whenever:

(1)

The change involves a change from one principal use category to another.

(2)

The use changes to such an extent that the parking requirements for the overall use are increased.

(3)

A land use within a Planned Development is added or amended which increases the overall intensity of development within the PD.

(4)

A business or enterprise, different in type and category, intends to operate from the same lot, property and/or space from the previously existing business or enterprise.

(5)

A change in the status of property from unoccupied to occupied or vice versa does not necessarily constitute a change in use. Whether a change in use occurs shall be determined by comparing the two active uses of property without regard to any intervening period during which the property may have been occupied, unless the property has remained unoccupied for more than one-hundred-and-eighty (180) consecutive days or has been abandoned.

(6)

A change in ownership of a business or enterprise or a change in the name shall not be regarded as a change in use.

(7)

The intent of these provisions is to provide for the elimination of non-conforming structures and uses consistent with Policy 1-1.6.1 of the City of Tavares Comprehensive Plan unless special circumstance exist as determined by the City Council.

Copy — The linguistic or graphic content of a sign.

Copy Area — The advertising display surface area encompassed within any sign. Electric Sign — Any sign that contains moving or lighted elements wired for electricity.

Erect A Sign — To construct, reconstruct, build, relocate, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach, create, paint, draw, or in any other way bring into being or establish; but it shall not include any of the foregoing activities when performed as an incident to the change of message, or routine maintenance.

Feather Sign — A freestanding type of attention-getting device that resembles a sail made of fabric or nylon affixed to a single light weight pole used for attracting attention, promotion or advertising. See illustration as examples of feather signs.

Examples of Feather Signs

Frontage — The length of the property line of any one (1) parcel along a street on which it borders.

Governmental Sign — Any Sign erected and maintained by the City of Tavares, Lake County, the State of Florida or the Federal Government.

Ground Sign — A sign that is erected on the ground and whose base or means of support is concealed or enclosed.

Illuminated Sign — A sign which contains a source of light or which is designed or arranged to reflect light from an artificial source including indirect lighting, neon, incandescent lights, back-lighting, and shall also include signs with reflectors that depend upon automobile headlights for an image.

LED Sign — Light Emitting Diode (LED) sign utilizing technology of diodes arranged in pixels to create messages changeable by electronic means. Said signs are sometimes referred to as electronic message centers and shall include other similar signs such as liquid crystal display signs, fiber optic signs, plasma display screen signs, incandescent signs, time-temperature-date signs or any other such sign using similar technologies.

Marquee — A permanent, roof-like structure supported by a building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from weather, which extends beyond the building line or property line and fully or partially covers a sidewalk, public entrance or other pedestrian way.

Multiple Occupancy Complex — A commercial use, i.e. any use other than residential or agricultural, consisting of a parcel of property, or parcel of contiguous properties, existing as a unified or coordinated project, with a building or buildings housing more than one occupant.

Murals — Any artwork painted directly on a wall or other large permanent surface which exceeds five percent of the surface area of any single exterior wall of a building or structure onto which the image is to be affixed.

Owner — The owner of property, the tenant, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building, structure, or property upon which a sign may be located.

Parcel or Parcel of Land — A contiguous quantity of land in possession of, owned by, or recorded as property of the same claimant person in the public records of Lake County, Florida, as of the effective date of this chapter.

Permanent Sign — Designed, constructed and intended for more than short-term use.

Pole Sign — A sign supported by poles, uprights or braces which are not enclosed in a concealed base but are permanently placed on or in the ground and wholly independent of any building for support. This definition should not be construed to mean monopole style off-site signs.

Portable Sign — Any sign which is manifestly designed to be transported by trailer, or on its own wheels, or other means including such signs even though the wheels may be removed and the remaining chassis or support structure converted to an A or T frame sign and attached temporarily or permanently to the ground.

Roof Line — A horizontal line intersecting the highest point or points of a roof.

Roof Sign — A sign placed above the roof line of a building or on or against a roof slope of less than forty-five degrees (45°).

Shingle Sign — A sign over a show window or door of a store or business establishment. The sign shall be supported by a bracket or chains substantial enough to withstand the forces of wind and shall not exceed two-and-one-half square feet (2-1/2') in sign area.

Sign — Any object or device or part thereof situated outdoors or indoors visible from the exterior of the structure which is used to display words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, motion, illumination, or projected images.

Sign Face — The part of a sign that is or may be used for copy.

Sign Area — The area of any regular geometric shape, which contains the entire surface area of a sign upon which copy may be placed excluding any supporting base.

Sign Structure — Any construction used or designed to support a sign.

Snipe Sign — A Temporary Sign affixed to a tree, fence, pole, bench or similar objects or to the ground, either in the Right-of-Way or other public property, or on private property without the permission of the property owner.

Street — A public or private right-of-way for vehicular traffic, including highways, thoroughfares, lanes, roadways and boulevards.

Temporary — Designed, constructed, and intended to be used on a short-term basis. Vehicle Sign — Any sign affixed to a vehicle.

Wall Sign — A sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building with the face in a parallel plane of the building. Signs attached or erected against roofs of forty-five (45) degrees or greater slope shall also be considered a wall sign.

Window Sign — A permanent sign affixed to, suspended behind or painted on either face of a window or glass door that reads to the exterior of the building.

The following signs are expressly prohibited unless exempted by another section of these regulations:

(A)

Signs that are in violation of the Florida Building Code or The National Electrical Code as adopted by the City.

(B)

Any temporary sign within the right-of-way of any street or public way. Any temporary sign or snipe sign within the right-of-way shall become the property of the City and may be immediately removed by the City without notice.

(C)

Any sign that, in the opinion of the City Administrator or designee is abandoned.

(D)

Snipe Signs.

(E)

Signs with visible moving, revolving, or rotating parts or visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or mechanical means, except for traditional barber poles. This is not intended to prohibit billboards whose copy may be changed or rearranged electronically or mechanically without altering the sign structure.

(F)

Signs with lights or illuminations that flash, move, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, or vary in intensity or color, except for time-temperature-date signs and LED signs as provided for in Section 21-19.

(G)

Strings of light bulbs used on commercially developed parcels, other than traditional holiday decorations.

(H)

Signs, commonly referred to as wind signs, consisting of one or more banners, flags, pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers or captive balloons, or other objects or material fastened in such a manner as to move upon being subjected to pressure by wind; except as permitted and in conformity with Section 21-16 of these regulations.

(I)

Signs that incorporate projected images, emit any sound that is intended to attract attention, or involve the use of live animals.

(J)

Signs that emit odor or visible matter such as smoke or steam.

(K)

Signs that by reason of position, shape or color, would conflict with the proper functioning of any traffic sign or signal, or be of a size, location, movement, content, color, or illumination that may be reasonably confused with or construed as, or conceal, a traffic control device.

(L)

Signs that obstruct the vision of pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists traveling on or entering public streets and/or flooding light onto adjacent residentially zoned properties.

(M)

[Reserved.]

(N)

Signs, within ten (10) feet of public right-of-way or one-hundred (100) feet of traffic control lights, that contain red or green lights that might be confused with traffic control lights.

(O)

Signs of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of any motorist, cyclist, or pedestrian using or entering a public way.

(P)

Signs that contain a mechanism that causes unreasonable interference with radio, television or other communication signals.

(Q)

Searchlights.

(R)

Signs painted, pasted, or printed on any sidewalk, flagstone, curbstone, pavement or any portion of any street within a Public Right-of-Way except house numbers and traffic pavement control markers.

(S)

Signs or than Governmental Signs erected on public property, or on private property (such as private utility poles) located on public property.

(T)

Signs which are located in or over any lakes, rivers, canals, or other bodies of water within the City are prohibited, except the following:

(1)

Governmental Signs.

(U)

Vehicle signs with a total sign area on any vehicle in excess of ten (10) square feet, when the vehicle:

(1)

Is parked for more than sixty (60) consecutive minutes within one-hundred (100) feet of any street right-of-way, and

(2)

Is visible from the street right-of-way that the vehicle is within one hundred (100) feet of; and

(3)

Is not regularly used in the conduct of the business advertised on the vehicle. A vehicle used primarily for advertising, or for the purpose of providing transportation for owners or employees of the occupancy advertised on the vehicle, shall not be considered a vehicle used in the conduct of the business.

(V)

[Reserved.]

(W)

Portable signs as defined by these regulations, except for portable signs utilized by governmental agencies for public safety purposes. Such governmental public safety signs may be LED signs as defined in Section 21-19 and such signs may display public safety and public information messages. Portable signs of this nature are considered Governmental Signs.

(X)

Signs, flyers or handbills of any kind attached or against any tree along any street, avenue or thoroughfare.

(Y)

Roof signs.

(Z)

Pole signs.

(AA)

Billboard Signs, except as provided for in Section 21-17 of these regulations.

(BB)

Signs affixed to benches or waste receptacles located within the City Right-of-Way.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 21-5, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign in the City, or cause the same to be done, without first obtaining a sign permit for each such sign. Sign permit procedures are set forth in Chapter 4.

The following signs are exempt from the permit and/or permit fee requirements of this chapter, unless they have an electrical connection, in which event an electrical permit shall be required. All exempt signs must comply with the minimum requirements of these regulations related to zoning classification, setback, size limitation and construction. The square footage of sign area used for exempt signs in non-residential zoned districts shall apply to, and be counted as part of, the maximum sign area allowable for a particular parcel.

(A)

One (1) shingle sign having a face area of not more than two and one-half square feet (2 ½'), located over a show window or door of a business establishment.

(B)

Paper signs located on the interior show windows only of commercial establishments.

(C)

Temporary signs as outlined in Section 21-16.

(D)

[Reserved.]

(E)

Governmental Signs.

(F)

House identification, address numbers or bronzed or cut masonry nameplates attached to a building face that do not exceed two (2) square feet.

(G)

Signs incorporated onto machinery or equipment by a manufacturer or distributor,, such as signs customarily affixed to vending machines, newspaper racks, telephone booths and gasoline pumps.

(H)

[Reserved.]

(I)

Signs carried by a person.

(J)

Repainting or otherwise changing the copy of a sign that does not alter any other portion of the sign or sign structure shall not require a permit.

(K)

Painted signs are exempt from permitting but subject to review for compliance with the maximum sign area calculations outlined in this chapter and compliance with Section 21-6.

(L)

Window signs are exempt from permitting provided that the sign covers less than forty (40) percent of the window. Window signs which exceed a coverage area of forty (40) percent are prohibited.

(M)

Murals are exempt from permitting. However, murals which can be seen from the public right-of-way must be approved by the City Council through a resolution.

(A)

Ground signs.

(1)

The width of the base of all ground signs shall be at least one-half (½) the width of the sign face. The base shall be finished in brick, stucco, finished metal, textured masonry or similar materials or embedded within a raised landscaped planter.

(2)

Ground Signs located with the CD and MU Districts shall be designed in conformity with Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(3)

Construction standards.

(a)

Every ground sign shall provide rigid construction to withstand wind action from any direction.

(b)

Portable sign frames may not be used for permanent ground signs.

(c)

Whenever anchors or supports consist of wood embedded in the soil, the wood shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative.

(4)

Visibility. Where a ground sign is erected on a corner lot, it shall not be erected within twenty- five (25) feet of the intersection corner of an intersecting street which would obstruct the view around such corner.

(B)

Wall signs. The construction of wall signs shall conform to the following standards:

(1)

A wall sign shall not extend beyond any edge of the surface to which it is attached, nor disrupt a major architectural feature of the building.

(2)

A wall sign above a pedestrian way shall have a minimum of seven feet, six inches (7' 6") clearance to the walkway.

(3)

No wall sign or supporting structure shall project more than twelve inches (12") from the surface to which it is attached. Further, no wall sign shall extend above the roof line except where an exterior parapet wall projects above the roof line, in which case such sign may extend to the top of the parapet wall provided the wall is sufficiently reinforced to withstand the additional structural stresses created by the wall sign.

(4)

Wall signs not required to be designed by an engineer shall be attached in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Florida Building Code.

(C)

Awnings. Awnings containing copy may be permitted in the non-residential districts. Copy on awnings shall not be counted the maximum allowable copy area. The following regulations shall apply to awnings. For additional standards relating to awnings in the CD and MU districts, see Section 21-20 of this chapter.

(1)

Awnings shall be entirely supported from the building and shall meet all applicable fire and building codes.

(2)

The maximum height of awnings, measured on a vertical plane from the point of attachment at the top of the awning to a point horizontal to the lowest edge of fabric, shall not exceed five feet (5'), or thirty-five percent (35%) of the building height, whichever is greater. Fixed awnings on private property must be have at least six feet, eight inches (6' 8") of clearance to the ground. Fixed awnings extending into a public right-of-way must have at least nine feet (9') in the clearance, between the lowest point of projection and the sidewalk immediately below. If a valance is attached to an awning, no portion of said valance may have less than seven feet (7') of clearance.

(3)

Awnings are allowed to project three feet (3') into required yards, provided such projection does not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the minimum yard dimension. Where existing buildings have setbacks of less than five feet (5') from the property line, awnings may project two-thirds of the width of the setback.

(D)

Murals. Murals shall conform to the following standards:

(1)

[Reserved.]

(2)

A request to paint a mural must be submitted to the Community Development Department to forward to City Council for approval. The request is to include a color rendition of the proposed mural.

(3)

The City Council shall approve or deny the request and such determination shall be final.

All signs, including signs that are exempt from permitting under Section 21-5, together with their supports, braces, guys and anchors, electrical parts and lighting fixtures, and all painted and display areas, shall be maintained in accordance with the building and electrical codes adopted by the City, and shall present a neat and clean appearance. The vegetation around, in front of, behind, and underneath the base of ground signs for a distance of ten feet (10') shall be neatly trimmed and free of unsightly weeds, and no rubbish or debris shall be permitted under or near the sign.

(A)

Copy area for signs enclosed in a frame. All area within the perimeter frame or border of the sign shall be considered copy area.

(B)

Copy area for individual symbols. Individual letters, numbers, logos, insignias, and similar symbols, attached to a wall shall be calculated by drawing a straight line closest to copy extremities encompassing individual letters or words.

(C)

Wall and window signs. Only one side of a wall or window sign shall be counted.

(A)

Total allowable copy area.

(1)

C-1, C-2, I zoning districts = One-and-one-half square feet (1.5') for every lineal foot of building frontage, up to a maximum of One-hundred-and-eighty square feet (180').

(2)

Within the CD and MU Districts, allowable copy area shall conform to Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(3)

PD zoning district. Total allowable copy area for signs for businesses within a PD district shall be in accordance with the equivalent standard zoning district in which the use would be permitted unless otherwise specified in the adopting ordinance. If the use is allowed in more than one standard zoning district, the more restrictive sign area allocations shall apply.

(B)

Ground signs.

(1)

Number of ground signs per parcel. One (1) ground sign shall be allowed per parcel or one sign per each abutting right-of-way except that two (2) ground signs shall be allowed if a parcel has right-of-way frontage in excess of four-hundred lineal feet (400'). In that case, each ground sign shall be separated by a minimum of one-hundred lineal feet (100'). In cases where there is more than one ground sign, both ground signs shall be counted individually toward the maximum allowable sign area.

(2)

Minimum setbacks. Ground signs for single use businesses shall be set back a minimum of five feet (5') from rights-of-way and observe side setbacks for the parcel's respective zoning district.

(3)

Maximum height (including the base).

(a)

C-1, C-2, I zoning districts = twelve feet (12').

(b)

Within the CD and MU Districts, maximum allowable heights shall conform to Section 21- 21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(c)

PD zoning district. Maximum height for signs for businesses within a PD zoning district shall be in accordance with the equivalent standard zoning district in which the use would be permitted unless otherwise specified in the adopting ordinance. If the use is allowed in more than one standard zoning district, the more restrictive height shall apply.

(4)

Maximum sign area per sign face (not including base).

(a)

C-1, C-2, I zoning districts = eighty (80) square feet.

(b)

Within the CD and MU Districts, maximum allowable sign areas shall conform to Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(c)

PD zoning district. Maximum sign area for signs for businesses within a PD zoning district shall be in accordance with the equivalent standard zoning district in which the use would be permitted unless otherwise specified in the adopting ordinance. If the use is allowed in more than one standard zoning district, the more restrictive allocation shall apply.

(C)

Wall and window signs.

(1)

C-1, C-2, I, PD zoning districts = one-and-one-half (1.5) square feet per one (1) foot of building frontage up to a maximum of one-hundred (100) square feet.

(2)

Within the CD and MU Districts, maximum allowable sign areas shall conform to Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(3)

Window signage used by convenience stores shall allow a clear and unobstructed view from outside the building and in a normal line of sight of the cash register and sales transaction area. Window signage in all other single-use businesses shall not use signage that covers more than forty percent (40%) of the window area.

(D)

Temporary Signs.

(1)

No more than two (2) Temporary Signs shall be placed on a parcel and each sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any road right-of-way and ten (10) feet from all side property lines.

(A)

Ground Signs.

(1)

Number of signs. One ground sign per street frontage on the same ownership parcel is allowed provided the street is considered an arterial or collector road. If the frontage on the arterial or collector road is greater than eight-hundred lineal feet (800'), two (2) signs may be allowed provided they are placed a minimum of seven-hundred (700') feet apart. Shopping centers fronting a local road are allowed one (1) ground sign on the primary road frontage. In cases where there is more than one ground sign, all ground signs shall be counted individually toward the maximum allowable sign area.

(2)

Minimum Setbacks. Ground signs for commercial shopping centers shall be set back a minimum of five feet (5') from right-of-way and observe side setbacks for the parcel's respective zoning district.

(3)

Maximum Height (including base).

(a)

The maximum height of ground signs for shopping centers in C-1 and C-2 zoning districts shall be fifteen (15) feet.

(b)

The maximum height of ground signs located within the CD and MU Districts shall be as specified within Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(4)

Maximum Sign Area per sign face (not including base). The total allowable sign area for ground signs for commercial shopping centers shall be as follows:

(a)

Within the CD and MU Districts, maximum allowable sign areas shall conform to Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(b)

Shopping centers fewer than seventy-five-thousand (75,000) square feet in building size are allowed a maximum sign area of ninety (90) square feet or less.

(c)

Shopping centers seventy-five-thousand (75,000) square feet to two-hundred-and fifty- thousand (250,000) square feet in building size are allowed one-hundred and thirty-four (134) square feet or less.

(d)

Shopping centers over two-hundred-and-fifty-thousand (250,000) square feet in building size are allowed one-hundred and eighty square (180) feet or less.

(B)

Directory Signage. Directory signage for a shopping center shall conform to the following standards.

(1)

One wall or freestanding directory sign for each building not to exceed two square feet (2') for each tenant or twenty-four square feet (24') in total area, whichever is less. Such signage shall be oriented to parking and pedestrian areas for directional purposes only, and shall not be oriented outside of the complex.

(2)

Freestanding directory signs shall not exceed eight feet (8) in height and four (4) feet in width.

(C)

Individual Businesses within a Shopping Center.

(1)

Ground Signs. No ground signs are permitted for individual businesses within a shopping center.

(2)

Wall and Window Signs. For individual businesses within shopping centers, the total allowable copy area for wall and window signs shall be two square feet for each lineal foot of business frontage up to a maximum of one-hundred (100) square feet. Within the CD and MU Districts, maximum copy areas shall conform to Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District.

(a)

Corner stores within shopping centers may be allowed additional signage for the side façade based on two (2) square feet per business front foot, but in no case shall more than one side facade of a corner store exceed one-hundred (100) square feet of sign area. Within the CD and MU Districts, the regulations within Section 21-21, Signs in the Commercial and Mixed Use Zoning District shall apply. Sign area is not transferable between facades. Any additional side façade signage may be in addition to the maximum allowable sign area as prescribed in section (C)(2) above.

(b)

In no case shall window signage cover more than forty percent (40%) of the window area.

(D)

Out Parcels. Out parcels within shopping centers shall conform with Section 21-9 of these regulations.

(E)

Temporary Signs.

(1)

No more than two (2) Temporary Signs shall be placed on a parcel and each sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any road right-of-way and ten (10) feet from all side property lines.

Subdivisions of land or multi-tenant complexes, shall be permitted signage as follows:

(A)

Ground Signs.

(1)

Number of Signs. One (1) sign for each right-of-way subdivision entrance consisting of identification signage. The sign may be a single sign with two (2) faces of equal size or may be two (2) single faced structures of equal size located on each side of the entrance.

(2)

Minimum Setbacks. A minimum of twenty-five feet (25') from side lot lines and five feet (5') from the right-of-way.

(3)

Maximum Height (including base). Fifteen (15) feet.

(4)

Maximum Sign Area per sign face (not including base). Eighty (80) square feet per sign.

(B)

Directory Signs. Directory signage for an industrial or office park or complex shall conform to the following standards:

(1)

One (1) wall or freestanding directory sign for each building not to exceed two square feet (2') for each tenant or twenty-four square feet (24') in total area, whichever is less. Such signage shall be oriented to parking and pedestrian areas for directional purposes only, and shall not be oriented outside of the complex.

(2)

Freestanding directory signs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height and four (4) feet in width.

(C)

Multi-tenant Complex within an Industrial or Office Park.

(1)

Ground Sign.

(a)

Number of Signs. One (1) per multi-tenant complex.

(b)

Minimum Setbacks. A minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from side lot lines and five (5) feet from the right-of-way.

(c)

Maximum Height (including base). Fifteen feet (15').

(d)

Maximum Sign Area per sign face (not including base).

1.

Multi-tenant complexes under fifty-thousand (50,000) square feet in building size are allowed eighty (80) square feet.

2.

Multi-tenant complexes of fifty-thousand (50,000) square feet to one-hundred- thousand (100,000) square feet in building size are allowed one-hundred and two (102) square feet.

3.

Multi-tenant complexes of over one-hundred-thousand (100,000) square feet in building size are allowed one-hundred fifteen (115) square feet.

(2)

Wall Signage. Wall signage for individual tenants in multi-tenant complexes are permitted one (1') square foot of signage for each two feet (2') of tenant building frontage up to a maximum of one-hundred square feet (100').

(D)

Individual Single Use Businesses within an Industrial or Office Park. Individual single use businesses within an Industrial Park shall conform with Section 21-9 of these regulations.

(E)

Temporary Signs.

(1)

No more than two (2) Temporary Signs shall be placed on a parcel and each sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any road right-of-way and ten (10) feet from all side property lines.

Ground signs shall be permitted for residential subdivisions, which have received final plat approval, as follows:

(A)

Number of Signs. One (1) ground sign for each entrance. The sign may be a single sign with two (2) faces or two (2) single face structures of equal size on each side of the subdivision entrance. The maximum allowable Sign Copy Area for each sign face shall not exceed fifty (50) square feet.

(B)

Minimum Setbacks. The setback from rights-of-way shall be five feet (5').

(C)

Maximum Height (including base). Eight (8) feet above the crown of the road.

(D)

Maximum Sign Area per sign face (not including base). Fifty (50) square feet.

Ground signs shall be permitted for multi-family residential complexes as follows:

(A)

Number of Signs. One (1) ground sign for each street frontage. The sign may be a single sign with two (2) faces or two (2) single face structures of equal size on each side of the complex entrance.

(B)

Minimum Setbacks. The setback from rights-of-way shall be five feet (5') and shall observe side setbacks for the parcel's respective zoning district.

(C)

Maximum Height (including base). Six (6) feet.

(D)

Maximum Sign Area per sign face (not including base).

1.

Twelve (12) dwelling units or less = twenty-five (25) square feet.

2.

Thirteen (13) dwelling units or more = fifty (50) square feet.

(E)

Temporary Signs.

(1)

No more than two (2) Temporary Signs shall be placed on a parcel and each sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any road right-of-way and ten (10) feet from all side property lines.

Ground signs shall be permitted within the PFD district or non-residential uses in residential districts as follows:

(A)

Minimum Setbacks. Ground signs shall be set back five feet (5') from rights-of-way and must meet side setbacks for the parcel's respective zoning district.

(B)

Uses.

(1)

Houses of worship shall be permitted one (1) ground sign with a maximum sign area of fifty (50) square feet per face (not including base) and a maximum height of eight (8) feet (including base).

(2)

Day care centers shall be permitted one (1) ground sign with a maximum sign area of twenty-five (25) square feet per face (not including base) and a maximum height of eight (8) feet (including base).

(3)

All other PFD or non-residential uses in residential districts shall be permitted one (1) ground sign with a maximum sign area of fifty (50) square feet per face (not including base) and a maximum height of eight (8) feet (including base).

(4)

Home occupation uses may be permitted one (1) wall sign with a maximum area of one square foot (1'). This sign shall be affixed to the wall adjacent to the front entrance.

(C)

Temporary Signs.

(1)

No more than two (2) Temporary Signs shall be placed on a parcel and each sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any road right-of-way and ten (10) feet from all side property lines.

The following provisions govern signage in all single family or two family residential districts or within Residential Planned Developments that allow these uses. Signs shall not be joined together to create a larger sign than allowed.

(A)

Signs owned or controlled by a homeowners' association or other similar entity and located at the entrance of a subdivision or development.

(1)

A maximum of two (2) Ground Signs, Wall Signs, or gate signs may be located at the main entrance to a subdivision or development. The maximum allowable Sign Copy Area for each sign face shall not exceed sixty (60) square feet.

(a)

The Sign Copy Area shall not exceed the height or length of the wall or gate upon which it is located. The Ground Sign shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.

(b)

Setbacks. Signs shall maintain a fifteen (15) foot setback from all property and right-of-way lines, with the exception of Signs which are part of a wall, which may be located along the property lines.

(c)

Maintenance. The City shall not accept any liability or responsibility for maintenance of decorative entrances, structures or landscaping features. Sign construction and maintenance shall be at the expense of the developer or the homeowners' association and their successors, assigns and heirs.

(d)

Sign Illumination. Ground Signs may be illuminated internally or externally. The source of externally illuminated signs shall be installed so that it is arranged or screened as to not shine, glare or adversely impact adjacent properties or roadways.

(2)

One (1) Sign at each secondary entrance of a subdivision or development, which shall be restricted to a Ground Sign, not to exceed twenty (20) square feet in area per face and the height shall be limited to four (4) feet.

(B)

Bed and Breakfast Establishments.

(1)

On a parcel where a bed and breakfast establishment is located a Sign not exceeding four (4) square feet is allowed to be attached to the home and a permit is not required. A free standing sign not exceeding six (6) square feet is also allowed; a permit is required.

(C)

Temporary Signs.

(1)

No more than two (2) Temporary Signs shall be placed on a parcel and each sign shall be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from any road right-of-way and ten (10) feet from all side property lines.

(2)

Subdivisions or other similar developments undergoing construction. One (1) Temporary Sign may be permitted for each parcel undergoing construction. The Temporary Sign shall not exceed five (5) square feet and shall not be located closer than ten (10) feet to all property line or twenty-five (25) feet from any right-of-way.

(A)

Temporary Signs may only be displayed for a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) days during a calendar year. Temporary Signs are exempt from the permitting requirements under Section 21-4.

A Temporary Sign shall:

(1)

Not exceed six (6) feet in height.

(2)

Not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in size.

(3)

Not be an Electric Sign or Portable Sign;

(4)

Not obstruct the visibility of a permanent sign;

(5)

Not be illuminated; and

(6)

Shall be limited to two (2) signs per parcel of property.

(A)

Flags. Flags shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Number of Flags Permitted. Three (3) flags shall be permitted per parcel; however the display of flags within any multi-occupancy development shall be designed for the use of the entire development, rather than for use by any individual tenant for his/her tenant space.

(2)

Maximum Size. Fifty (50) square feet.

(3)

Maximum Height. The maximum height of any flagpole shall be thirty-five (35) feet. In the absence of a flag pole the maximum height of a flag affixed to a structure shall be thirty-five (35) feet.

(B)

Feather Signs. Feather Signs as defined in Section 21-2 shall be subject to the following regulations:

(1)

Feather Signs may not be placed in City Right-of-Ways, protrude over any city sidewalks or obstruct traffic visibility as determined by the City's Code Enforcement Officer.

(2)

Feather signs shall not exceed fifteen (15') feet in height.

Billboards may be located in C-2 or C-1 zoning districts only.

(A)

Restrictions. Billboards shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(1)

Billboards shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height from the finished grade to the top of the sign and shall not exceed four-hundred (400) square feet of sign area.

(2)

Billboards shall not be spaced less than one-thousand (1000) feet apart on the same side of the highway.

(3)

Billboards shall be located not less than fifteen (15) feet from the front property line and ten (10) feet from utility lines and shall be located no closer than five (5) feet from the side lot lines and on a corner lot shall be located no closer than one-hundred (100) feet from an intersection.

(4)

Billboards shall be no closer than one-hundred (100) feet from any residential zoning district boundary line.

(5)

Billboards shall be oriented toward the roadway or street, away from the residential districts.

(6)

May utilize embellishments of ten (10) percent of the sign area.

(7)

Nothing in these regulations shall prohibit the owner of a billboard to make improvements or otherwise enhance the appearance of an existing billboard. Enhancements and improvements to existing billboards are encouraged whenever possible.

(B)

Limitation on Number of Billboards and Replacement Procedure.

(1)

A billboard inventory shall be developed which lists all locations of billboard signs for which a City of Tavares sign permit has been issued on or before January 6, 1993. The billboard inventory shall be maintained in the office of the City Administrator or designee and shall at all times reflect current information relating to the locations of the billboards. Unpermitted billboards shall be deemed illegal and shall be subject to immediate removal.

(2)

Billboards listed and maintained in the billboard inventory may be reconstructed in conformity with the provisions of this section. A billboard may be reconstructed upon the same parcel of land that it occupied on January 6, 1993 and if so reconstructed, shall be required to conform to the construction standards set forth in this section. A billboard constructed on new parcels of land shall be required to conform to all provisions of this section. A billboard may not be constructed upon a new parcel of land unless an existing billboard is removed and the City of Tavares sign permit for the removed billboard is transferred to the new location. It is the intent of this provision that the number of billboards shall not increase beyond the number existing on January 6, 1993. A City of Tavares sign permit for a billboard may be freely transferred from one (1) parcel of land to another, provided the billboard to be constructed on the new parcel of land fully complies with all the provisions of this section. A City of Tavares billboard sign permit may be transferred from one (1) permit owner to another.

(A)

Compliance. All signs within the City at the time of adoption of this chapter are required to meet all the conditions of this chapter except as provided herein.

(1)

Any sign erected without the required City, State or Federal permit shall be required to conform with these regulations.

(2)

Any repair or modification of a sign that exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the value of the sign in its preexisting state shall require conformance to the provisions of this chapter. Changes in advertising message are not considered a change that would terminate legally existing non- conforming status rights.

(3)

Abandoned non-conforming signs shall be not be permitted for reuse.

(4)

A nonconforming sign may not be relocated, except to bring it into compliance with these regulations.

(5)

A sign destroyed by vandalism or other criminal or tortuous acts may be re-erected in kind provided the replacement complies with the regulations of this chapter.

(6)

Any sign that becomes non-conforming or must be removed as a result of an eminent domain action may not be replaced, except in conformity with the requirements of this chapter.

(7)

Any addition to a structure or parking area that increases its square footage or size by twenty-five percent (25%) or more shall require all signage to conform to these regulations.

(8)

Any sign for which a permit has been issued by the City and has been made nonconforming by these regulations with respect to maximum copy area or height requirements may continue in existence on a permanent basis if the particular nonconformity does not exceed more than ten percent (10%) of the specific requirement.

(B)

Existing Legal Non-Conforming Signs. Existing signs that do not conform to these regulations at the time of their adoption may be considered legally existing non-conformities, provided:

(1)

Use of a non-conforming sign(s) shall terminate upon any change in use and shall be required to comply with the provisions of these regulations.

(2)

Any nonconforming signs destroyed by fire, wind, explosion, war flood or other catastrophe to such an extent that the cost of repair or reconstruction will exceed fifty percent (50%) of the replacement cost at the time of damage, shall not be reconstructed except in conformity with these regulations.

Light Emitting Diode Signs, or LED Signs, may be permitted under the following conditions:

(A)

LED signs may only be permitted in the C-1, C-2, MU, CD, I and PFD zoning districts.

(B)

LED signs shall comply with the applicable sign provisions for the specific zoning district as provided for in this chapter.

The commercial downtown and mixed use zoning districts are special districts designed to accommodate both commercial and residential uses in a compact urban form which supports pedestrian activity, commerce, entertainment and quality urban residential living. Signs in this area are to compliment the residential nature of the district and market area businesses and destinations.

(A)

Awnings. Awnings in the downtown are strongly encouraged. Awnings provide shade and comfort to outdoor spaces and reduce energy consumption by reducing heat penetration through windows. In the CD and MU zoning districts, awnings are permitted in accordance with Section 21-6(C). The following regulations shall also apply.

(1)

Text shall be permitted on awnings and the text area shall not be counted toward the maximum allowable signage.

(2)

[Reserved.]

(3)

Awnings may project over any abutting sidewalk provided that the awning is entirely supported from the building and subject to an approved permit. Fixed awnings on private property must have at least six feet, eight inches (6'8") of clearance to the ground. Fixed awnings extending into a public right-of-way must have at least nine (9) feet of clearance between the lowest point of projection and the sidewalk immediately below. If a valance is attached to an awning, no portion of said valance may have less than seven (7) feet of clearance.

(B)

Ground Signs.

(1)

Number. One ground sign shall be permitted per parcel of property or one sign per each abutting right-of-way.

(2)

Area. The maximum area for ground sign shall be twenty four (24) square feet per sign face.

(3)

Design. Ground signs may be permitted with an unenclosed base. Such signs shall be professionally designed and decorative or ornamental in nature. Signs are encouraged to be designed in the style of the City's branding signage.

(4)

Height. The maximum permitted height of a ground sign shall be four (4) feet. However, the base may be enclosed within a raised landscape planter that raises the effective sign height a maximum of two additional feet.

(C)

Wall Signs.

(1)

Area. One-and-one-half (1.5) square feet for every lineal foot of building face which can be seen from the public right-of-way, up to a maximum of one-hundred and twenty (120) square feet per building face. Sign area is not transferable between facades.

(D)

Shingle Signs.

(1)

Number. One sign per building or one per business provided that each sign can be hung above the entrance or street facing window of the business it advertises and each sign is separated by a minimum of ten (10) linear feet.

(2)

Area. The maximum permitted sign area of a shingle sign in the CD and MU district shall be six (6) square feet and the supporting structure shall be permitted to extend three (3) feet from the building face.

(3)

Height. Shingle signs on private property must have at least seven (7) feet of clearance to the ground. Shingle signs extending into a public right-of-way must have at least nine (9) feet of ground clearance.

(E)

[Reserved.]

(F)

Directory Signs.

(1)

One (1) wall directory sign for each building not to exceed two (2) square feet for each tenant or six (6) square feet in total area, whichever is less. Such signage shall be oriented to pedestrian areas only.

(2)

Freestanding directory signs shall not exceed eight (8) feet in height and four (4) feet in width.

A variance to the dimensional and location requirements of these sign regulations may be requested as set forth in Chapter 4 where such variances will not be contrary to the public interest and where, owning to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this sign code would result in unnecessary hardship.