The purpose and intent of the Punta Gorda Sign Standards is to:

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

City Code of Ordinance - Chapter 26, Land Development Regulations - Section 11.3 
 Permitted Signs  Permitted Use
 (a)  Awning  All non-residential uses
 (b)  Building Marker  All uses
 (c)  Changeable Copy  Theaters, service stations, churches, public land, banks & educational institutions
 (d)  Construction  All uses without obtaining sign permit
 (e)  Directory  Multi-tenant or multi building uses
 (f)   Flags & Flagpoles  All uses & exempt from sigh permitting requirements 
 (g)  Ground  Multi-family & non-residential uses outside the City Center
 (h)  Incidental  All uses
 (I)   Marquee  Theaters only
 (j)   Menu  As an accessory use to restaurants with drive-thru window
 (k)  Political  All uses & exempt from permitting requirements
 (l)   Real Estate  All uses & exempt from permitting requirements
 (m) Suspended  Under awnings for all non-residential uses
 (n)  Temporary Pre-Development  All multi-family or commercial uses
 (o)  Wall  All non-residential use other than otherwise specified
 (p)  Window  All non-residential
 (q)  Yard Sale  All uses

City Code of Ordinance - Chapter 26, Land Development Regulations - Section 11.4 - City Center
Permitted Signs
(a)  Façade
(b)  Projecting
(c)  Awning
(d)  Suspended
(e)  Other CC provisions

 

City Code of Ordinance - Chapter 26, Land Development Regulations - Section 11.6 - Prohibited Signs & Devices
(a)  Any that copies or imitates an official sign or could create a traffic hazard
(b)  Any illuminated tube or string of lights
(c)  Any Non-Governmental sign, banner, sandwich board, sidewalk or curb sign
(d)  Flashing signs, signs with flashing or reflective disks
(e)  Sign attached to an accessory structure
(f)   Sign that obstructs or interferes with any window, door, fire escape
(g)  Beacons, windblown devices of any type, pole signs, pennants, streamers, feather or flutter flags
(h)  Signs placed on a piece of property without permission
(I)   Signs that bear or contain statements, words, pictures of an obscene, pornographic, immoral character
(j)   Abandoned signs
(k)  Billboards
(l)   Unsafe signs
(m) Roof signs
(n)  Unlawful signs
(o)  Bench signs

The City Council, upon review and recommendation of the Board of Zoning Appeals, may grant a sign variance for:

  • dimensional requirements to wall sign area [not method of computation]
  • sign setbacks if it concludes that strict enforcement of the sign regulations would result in practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships for the applicant 

The City Council, in granting a variance, shall ensure that the spirit of the sign regulations are maintained, public welfare and safety ensured, and substantial justice done.

The City Council may reach these conclusions if it makes findings of fact:

  • Finding 1. The applicant’s situation is unique and is not one that is shared by other properties
  • Finding 2. Granting the variance will not deter from the original intent of the uniform sign plan or the ordinance for uniformity and aesthetic appeal between signs on the same and adjoining property 

Sign Variance Process

  1. Pre-application meeting
  2. Application Filing
  3. Staff/DRC review
  4. Public Hearing Notice
  5. Board of Zoning Appeals Review & Recommendation
  6. City Council Review & Decision