Zoning

The Zoning Division is responsible for reviewing all development and construction applications for compliance with Chapter 26 Land Development Regulation. The Zoning Division reviews all commercial and multifamily projects through the Development Review Committee (DRC) which includes Public Works, Utilities, Police, Fire, Building and Urban Design. (DRC Application)

Pre-application meetings called "Design Studio" are available with zoning and planning staff to discuss any questions you may have about the requirements applicable to any project within the City. These meetings occur the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. To schedule a meeting call Julie Ryan at 941-575-3372 or email at jryan@ci.punta-gorda.fl.us.

Up Coming Design Studio Dates

Every piece of property in the City has been given a specific zoning category. Zoning maps can be reviewed at the City Hall Annex (126 Harvey Street) or online at the Charlotte County GIS website.

REGULATING DISTRICTS

The Regulating Districts are established below in a hierarchy from “highest” to
“lowest”. Under the hierarchy established by this Code, the Environmental Preserve
District is the most restrictive base district, and the Public District is the least
restrictive base district. The Overlay Districts and Planned Development Districts are
not included in this hierarchy.

Zoning Map

Overlay Districts
SRO Map	SRO	Special Residential Overlay District
HO Map	HO	Historic Overlay District
TW Map		Trabue Woods Historic Overlay District
MO Map	MO	Medical Overlay District
WO Map	WO	Waterfront Overlay District

 

Planned Development Districts
PDN	Planned Development Neighborhood
PDV	Planned Development Village
PEC	Planned Employment Center

 

The various city applications in pdf format are available by clicking here

To view other City maps - click here

 

Signage

within the

City of Punta Gorda

ARTICLE 11
SIGN STANDARDS
Section 11.1. Purpose and Intent

The purpose and intent of this Article is to encourage the effective use of signs as a
means of communication in the City; to maintain and enhance the pleasing look of the City which assists in attracting events of regional, national and international interest; to preserve Punta Gorda as a community that is attractive to business; to improve pedestrian and traffic safety; to minimize the possible adverse effects of signs on nearby public and private property; to foster the integration of signage with architectural and landscape designs; to streamline the approval process by requiring master signage plans and to enable the fair and consistent enforcement of these sign regulations and to implement relevant provisions of the comprehensive plan.

The City continuously invests in parks, trails, landscaping, quality public facilities
and other features and amenities that enhance the attractiveness of Punta Gorda. A
primary purpose of this Article is to ensure that signs in the community are compatible with this high quality character to maintain and protect the economic base of the City. 

City Code of Ordinance - Sign Standard

 

Check List for Applying for a Sign Permit:

1. Applicant has applied for an Local Business Tax Receipt (LBT) prior to the release of a sign permit .
2. A Sign Permit Application form is completed and submitted with all of the following:
   • Letter of authorization from the property, building, and/or unit owner
   • Two (2) complete set of drawings showing: New sign details, location, size,dimensions, square footage,  and sign material
   • Total signage to include type and square footage MUST be calculated when replacing or adding to signage currently on site
   • Measurement indicating the length of the structure, building and/or unit where sign will be placed
   • Legible site plan including location of proposed sign
   • Method of attachment to wall, or 2 sets of sign sealed engineering drawings which meets Florida Building Code standards.  Note:  Engineering drawings are not required for vinyl graphics
   • A recorded notice of commencement is required for all contracts in excess of $2,500.00

All signs with the expectation of window graphics MUST be installed by a contractor licensed to perform work within the City of Punta Gorda.

 

Signs – Frequently Asked Questions:

Q.  How are signs measured?

A.  The area of any sign face shall be computed by means of the smallest single geometric form (parallelogram, triangle, circle, semi-circle or other regular geometric shape) that will encompass the extreme limits of the following, including the blank areas between the display elements.

• Writing
• Representation
• Emblem, logo or other display
• Any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed.
• All changeable copy area on a changeable copy sign.

Q.     What types of signs require a permit?

A.      All new signs, face changes, window/door graphics require a permit thru the City of Punta Gorda.

Q.     How large of a sign am I permitted?

A.      The size of sign depends upon the type of sign proposed and the zoning district the in which business is located.

          i. Highway Commercial (HC) zoning district –

a.) Wall Signs – Any sign directly painted on or attached to and extending not more than 6 inches from an exterior wall in a parallel manner. Permitted size is 1 square foot of signage for each linear foot of building or tenant frontage.

b.) Ground signs – A sign that is permanently attached to the ground or which has supports which places the bottom of the sign less than 1 foot from the ground directly beneath the sign. Permitted size shall not exceed 15 feet in height and 64 square feet in area. Pole signs and pylon signs are not considered ground signs and are prohibited.

c.) Window signs – Any sign that is directly applied to or otherwise displayed from the inside or outside of glassed areas of a building. Window signs shall cover no more than 33 percent of each window section or pane. Window signs shall not have flashing lights, or lights of changing degree of intensity or color or signs with electrically scrolled messages or have flashing or reflective disks.

                   ii.  City Center (CC) zoning district –

a.) Façade signs – A single external sign band or zone shall exist on the street frontage façade of each building. The band shall not exceed 3.5 feet in vertical dimension by the width of the façade. The zone shall not exceed 1.5 square feet of area for each linear foot of the façade. The sign shall consist of letters and graphics applied directly on the façade of the building and extending no more than 6 inches from an exterior wall in a parallel manner.

b.) Projecting sign – A sign mounted perpendicular to the building wall shall not exceed an area of 10 square feet and a width of 3 feet. The distance from the ground to the lower edge of the sign shall be 9 feet or greater when located over a pedestrian walkway. Projecting signs are not permitted in conjunction with façade signs or ground signs.

c.) Ground signs – Buildings with a setback of 15 feet or more from the fronting right-of-way are allowed a single ground sign. Such sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in area and a height of 5 feet. Such sign shall have architectural ties to the main building. The sign is not permitted in conjunction with a façade or projecting sign.

d.) Window signs – Window signs shall be limited to no more than 33 percent of a window up to a maximum of 12 square feet. Window signs are only allowed on ground and second floor windows for non-residential uses.

Q.  What is needed to apply for a sign permit?

A.  The business must first apply for a Local Business Tax (LBT) Receipt through the City Clerk’s office prior to any sign permit being released. A sign permit application is required, along with a letter of authorization from the property owner and/or authorized agent, two sets of plans indicating the sign, size, location, materials and method of attachment. Engineered drawings are required for façade, projecting and/or ground signs.

These are excerpts only of the sign code. For a complete copy of Article 11, Sign Standards, please visit:City Code of Ordinance - Sign Standard .

For additional information please contact Zoning Coordinator, Lisa Hannon, (941)575-3314 or lhannon@ci.punta-gorda.fl.us.

Click here for a Sign Permit Application

 

Printable Brochures

• Real Estate Signs
• Real Estate Signs in the SRO (Special Residential Overlay) District
• Portable Signs
• Sign Standards and Rules
• Permitted Signs
• Signs in the CC (City Center) District
• Business Events
• Business Promotions
• Grand Opening Events
• Temporary Promotional Events

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional questions or comments can be emailed to the

Zoning Official, Teri Tubbs at ttubbs@ci.punta-gorda.fl.us

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City Hall Annex
126 Harvey Street
Punta Gorda, FL. 33950
Tel. (941) 575-3372
Fax. (941) 575-3356
urbandesign@ci.punta-gorda.fl.us