§ 11.01.00. General Provisions.

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

11.01.02 Permits Required. Unless otherwise provided by this Chapter, all Signs shall require permits and payment of fees as adopted by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. The issuance of sign permits shall be governed by Chapter XIV, Land Development Regulations.

11.01.03 Relationship to Building and Electrical Codes. These sign regulations are intended to complement the requirements of the building and electrical codes adopted by Lake County. Wherever there is an inconsistency between these regulations and the building or electrical code, the more stringent requirement shall apply.

11.01.04 Signs shall be an accessory use. All Signs, except Temporary Signs or Signs located on a property classified as agricultural by the Lake County Property Appraiser pursuant to Chapter 193, Florida Statutes, as amended, shall be an accessory to a permitted use or structure.

11.01.05 Prohibited Signs. The following types of Signs are prohibited in all zoning districts within Lake County:

A.

Abandoned Signs.

B.

Beacons or flashing lights.

C.

Pole Signs.

D.

Unsafe Signs.

E.

Snipe Signs.

F.

Portable Signs.

G.

Any Sign which obstructs visibility at an intersection according to the Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways, as amended, and as determined by the County Department of Public Works.

H.

Signs imitating or resembling Government Signs or signals, that are not erected by a Governmental or Public Agency or not erected under the direction of a Governmental or Public Agency.

I.

Roof Signs.

J.

Signs placed on vehicles or trailers, which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying said signs. This does not apply to buses, taxicabs, and similar common carrier vehicles.

K.

Signs that create traffic or pedestrian hazards.

L.

Signs constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, paper, plywood, or other light material which are not intended or designed for permanent display unless those signs meet the criteria set forth in section 11.01.06(H).

11.01.06 Exempt Signs. The following types of signs are exempt from the permitting requirements of this chapter:

A.

Any Government Sign.

B.

Signs or nameplates that do not exceed two (2) square feet of Sign Copy Area.

C.

Window Signs.

D.

Any Sign carried by a person.

E.

Decorations.

F.

House identification/address numbers.

G.

Farm Sign as defined under Section 604.50, Florida Statutes, as amended.

H.

Signs constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, paper, plywood, or other light material which are not intended or designed for permanent display provided the following standards are met:

1.

For every acre a property or parcel has, a single sign less than or equal to sixteen (16) square feet of sign copy area and greater than three (3) square feet of sign copy area, may be displayed on said property or parcel. The following criteria shall apply:

i.

Minimum sign separation of two hundred fifty (250) feet.

ii.

Each sign shall be a maximum of six (6) feet in height.

iii.

Electric or illuminated signs are prohibited.

iv.

Each sign shall not obstruct the visibility of a permanent sign.

v.

Each sign shall be located a minimum of twenty (20) feet from the edge of pavement and a minimum of ten (10) feet from side property lines.

vi.

Each sign shall be kept in a good and safe condition and not permitted to deteriorate to a point of decay as evidenced by, but not limited to, corrosion, rust, peeling paint, etc.

2.

For parcels or lots that front on a four (4) or more lane roadway, a single sign less than or equal to thirty-two (32) square feet of sign copy area and greater than three (3) square feet of sign copy area, may be displayed on said property or parcel. The following criteria shall apply:

i.

Minimum sign separation of two hundred fifty (250) feet.

ii.

Each sign shall be a maximum of six (6) feet in height.

iii.

Electric or illuminated signs are prohibited.

iv.

Each sign shall not obstruct the visibility of a permanent sign.

v.

Each sign shall be located a minimum of twenty (20) feet from the edge of pavement and a minimum of ten (10) feet from side property lines.

vi.

Each sign shall be kept in a good and safe condition and not permitted to deteriorate to a point of decay as evidenced by, but not limited to, corrosion, rust, peeling paint, etc.

3.

For any sign less than or equal to three (3) square feet of Sign Copy Area in size the following criteria shall apply:

i.

Each sign shall be a maximum of six (6) feet in height.

ii.

Electric or illuminated signs are prohibited.

iii.

Signs are prohibited on vacant property unless associated with a temporary vendor's permit.

iv.

Each sign cannot obstruct the visibility of a permanent sign.

v.

Each sign shall be located a minimum of twenty (20) feet from the edge of pavement and a minimum of ten (10) feet from side property lines.

vi.

Each sign shall be kept in a good and safe condition and not permitted to deteriorate to a point of decay as evidenced by, but not limited to, corrosion, rust, peeling paint, etc.

11.01.07 Temporary Signs.

A.

A Temporary Sign may only be displayed for a maximum of ninety (90) days during a calendar year.

B.

A Temporary Sign is exempt from the permitting requirements under Section 11.01.02.

C.

A Temporary Sign shall:

1.

Not exceed six (6) feet in height;

2.

Not exceed thirty-two (32) feet in Sign Copy Area;

3.

Not be an Electric Sign or Portable Sign;

4.

Not obstruct the visibility of a permanent sign;

5.

Not be illuminated; and

6.

Not be erected on vacant property, unless associated with a temporary vendor's permit.

11.01.08 Digital Signs. Digital Signs Shall display static messages for a period of at least eight (8) seconds. The Digital Sign shall remain blank for at least one (1) second between displays. The messages and displays shall not be animated, appear in incremental stages or move across the changeable Sign Copy Area.

11.01.09 Maintenance. All Signs shall be erected, maintained, in good repair, treated and/or painted so as to always be safe, clean, reasonably rust-free or termite-free, and free of debris.

11.01.10 Enforcement.

A.

Prohibited signs on public property or rights-of-way shall be removed immediately, and may be removed by the County or its agents without notice.

B.

A right-of-way utilization permit is required to place a Sign within the County right-of-way.

C.

Abandoned Signs shall be removed by the owner or agent.

D.

It shall be a violation of this section for any person, organization or entity to erect or display a Sign that is prohibited, unpermitted and/or otherwise not in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. Any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to the code enforcement procedures in Chapter 8 of the Lake County Code.

(Ord. No. 2017-14, § 3, 3-21-17; Ord. No. 2018-49, § 2, 10-9-18)