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Chapter 21 Sign Regulations Table of Contents Section 21 - 1 Purpose Section 21 - 2 Definitions
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Sign Regulations

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Adopted September 7, 2005
Chapter 21
Sign Regulations

Table of Contents


Section 21 - 1 Purpose


Section 21 - 2 Definitions


Section 21 - 3 Prohibited Signs


Section
21
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4
Permits
Required

Section 21 - 5 Signs Exempt from Permitting Requirements

Section
21
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6
Design
Requirements

(A) Ground signs
(B) Wall signs
(C) Awnings

Section
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7
Maintenance


Section 21 8 Calculation of Copy Area
(A) Copy area for signs enclosed in a frame
(B) Copy area for individual symbols





(C) Wall and window signs
(D) Ground sign

Section 21 - 9 Single Use Businesses





(A) Total allowable copy area
(B) Ground signs
(C) Wall and window signs

Section 21 - 10 Commercial Shopping Centers





(A) Ground signs
(B) Directory signs
(C) Individual businesses within a shopping center
(D) Out parcels

Section 21 - 11 Industrial and Office Parks and Complexes





(A) Ground signs
(B) Directory signs
(C) Multi-tenant complex within an Industrial or Office Park
(D) Individual single use businesses within an Industrial or Office Park

Section 21 - 12 Residential Subdivision Signs



(A) Number of signs
(B) Minimum setbacks
(C) Maximum height
(D) Maximum copy area


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Section 21 - 13 Multi-Family Residential Complex
(A) Number of signs
(B) Minimum setbacks
(C) Maximum height
(D) Maximum copy area








Section 21 - 14 Uses in PFD Districts or Non-Residential Uses in Residential Districts


(A) Minimum setbacks
(B) Uses



Section
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15
Temporary
Signs
(A) Special event signs
(B) Real estate and construction signs
(C) Political signs


(D) Temporary Outside Sales.

Section 21 - 16 Miscellaneous Signs
(A) Flags
(B)

Bench
and
Receptacle
Signs

(C) Off-site directional signs
(D) Garage/Yard sales signs

Section 21 - 17 Billboards

(A) Restrictions
(B) Limitation on Number of Billboards and Replacement Procedure

Section 21 - 18 Non-conforming Signs
(A) Compliance
(B) Existing legal non-conforming signs.






Section 21 - 19 LED Signs

Section 21 - 20 Variance
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Chapter 21
Sign Regulations


Section 21-1 Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to establish regulations for the erection and use of signs and outdoor advertising
within the City limits of Tavares. These regulations are established to provide reasonable advertising and
identification of businesses within Tavares while also protecting the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of
Tavares by reducing the adverse effects of signage and displays on highway safety, building safety, property
values and the aesthetic enjoyment of the City. These regulations are further intended to avoid excessive
competition and visual clutter among sign displays in the demand for public attention.


Section 21-2 Definitions

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 which no longer serves to advertise a bona fide business conducted, service
performed or product sold where such business, service or products have been discontinued for a
period of twelve (12) months.


Accessory Sign - A permanent ground or building sign that is permitted under these regulations as
incidental to an existing or proposed use of land.


Advertising - Sign copy intended to directly or indirectly promote the sale or use of a product, service,
commodity, entertainment, or real or personal property.


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 square feet (200) in size and which is used or installed to attract
attention to a place or product sold, other than at the location of said sign.


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
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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.


Commemorative Sign - A sign located in public rights-of-way, which serves as a memorial to
individuals or organizations, for donated community improvements such as ornamental plants, statues
and signs.


Construction Sign - A sign giving the names of principal contractors, architects and lending institutions
responsible for construction of the site where the sign is placed, together with other information
included thereof.


Copy - The linguistic or graphic content of a sign.



Copy Area - The advertising display surface area encompassed within any sign.


Directory Sign - A sign on which the names and locations of occupants or the use of a building is
given. This shall include office building and church directories.


Electric Sign - Any sign containing electric wiring.


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.


Flashing Sign - Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or which includes the
illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent
light source. Automatic changing signs such as time and temperature or public service item signs are
not considered as flashing signs.


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


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


Harmful to Minors - With regard to sign content, any description or representation, in whatever form, of
nudity, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement, when it:

(1)
predominately appeals to the prurient, shameful, or morbid interest of minors in sex, and

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(2)
is patently offensive to contemporary standards in the adult community as a whole with
respect to what is suitable sexual material for minors, a