Gainesville › Unified Land Development Code

Article 14 — Signs, Chapter 14-5 — BASIC SIGN PERMISSIONS

current as of 2025-12-16verified current · checked 2026-08-24Officialofficial source ↗7 sections · full chapter

§ 14-5-1

Principal Use Freestanding Sign, Single-Use

One principal use freestanding sign per property frontage is authorized for each developed property (i.e., excluding vacant properties) for a single use, except for single-family detached residences, two-family residences, and agricultural land uses, not to exceed the following:

Table 14-1: Sign Allowances for Single-use Freestanding Signs

	Zoning District	R-O	O-I, N-B	R-B, G-B	C-B	L-I, H-I
Maximum sign face area (sq. ft.)	24	25	54	64	32	64
Maximum sign structure area (sq. ft.)	32	38	76	96	48	96
Maximum height (ft.)	6	6	8	8	6	8
Table Notes: * These sign allowances are for non-single-family residential uses that are permitted outright or as a special use in these residential zoning districts.

R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II* R-O O-I, N-B R-B, G-B C-B L-I, H-I Maximum sign face area (sq. ft.) 24 25 54 64 32 64 Maximum sign structure area (sq. ft.) 32 38 76 96 48 96 Maximum height (ft.) 6 6 8 8 6 8 Table Notes:

*These sign allowances are for non-single-family residential uses that are permitted outright or as a special use in these residential zoning districts.

Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 416) ↗

§ 14-5-2

Principal Use Freestanding Sign, More than One Use

Principal use freestanding signs are authorized for each property developed (i.e., excluding vacant properties) for more than one use or tenant, not to exceed the following requirements:

Table 14-2: Sign Allowances for Multi-tentant Freestanding Signs

	Zoning District	R-O	O-I, N-B	R-B, G-B	C-B	L-I, H-I
Maximum number	N/A	1 per street front- age	1 per street front- age	1 per 200’ of street frontag e, maximu m 3 per lot	1 per street front- age	1 per street front- age
Maximum sign face area (sq. ft.)	N/A	32	96	100	48	100
Maximum sign structure area (sq. ft.)	N/A	48	120	160	60	160
Maximum height (ft.)	N/A	6	10	12	10	12

R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II R-O O-I, N-B R-B, G-B C-B L-I, H-I Maximum number N/A 1 per street front-age 1 per street front-age 1 per 200’ of street frontag e, maximu m 3 per lot 1 per street front-age 1 per street front-age Maximum sign face area (sq. ft.) N/A 32 96 100 48 100 Maximum sign structure area (sq. ft.) N/A 48 120 160 60 160 Maximum height (ft.) N/A 6 10 12 10 12

Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 416) ↗

§ 14-5-3

Accessory Freestanding Sign

(a)One accessory freestanding sign per property frontage shall be permitted for each lot used for commercial, industrial, institutional, residential dwelling, agricultural land use, and for each vacant property, not to exceed the following:

Table 14-3: Sign Allowances for Accessory Freestanding Signs

	Zoning District	R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R- II	R-O	O-I, N-B	R-B, G-B	C-B	L-I, H-I
Accessory freestanding sign maximum sign face area (sq. ft.)	4		4	12	18	N/A	18
Accessory freestanding sign maximum height, single-ground sign (ft.)	4		4	6	6	N/A	6

R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II R-O O-I, N-B R-B, G-B C-B L-I, H-I Accessory freestanding sign maximum sign face area (sq. ft.) 4 4 12 18 N/A 18 Accessory freestanding sign maximum height, single-ground sign (ft.)

4 4 6 6 N/A 6

(b)The Director may permit increases in area or height of one or more accessory freestanding signs as part of an approved uniform sign plan per Section 14-7-4.

Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 417) ↗

§ 14-5-4

Wall Sign

Wall signage is authorized in accordance with this section.

(a)Wall signage is permitted in accordance with this section for two building walls only, unless otherwise authorized via a uniform sign plan per Section 14-7-4.

(b)For a building with only one tenant or owner, wall sign authorization shall be calculated based on the entire building frontage.

(c)For a building containing more than one business, establishment, or leasable space, wall signage allowances for each such business, establishment, or leasable space shall be calculated individually for each tenant space based on the amount of building frontage leased by that business or establishment and shall be the leased portion of the total building frontage.

(d)Wall signs shall be mounted flush against the facade of the building adjacent to the front entryway of the unit, unless otherwise approved by the Director.

(e)Wall signs shall not exceed the following:

Table 14-4: Sign Allowances for Wall Signs

	Zoning District	R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II	R-O	O-I, N-B	R-B, G-B	C-B	L-I, H-I
Maximum sign area (sq. ft.) of all wall signs per building frontage	N/A		N/A	1 square foot for each linear foot of leased building frontage
Maximum height	N/A		N/A	Wall signs shall not exceed the height of the building wall on which it is attached

R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II R-O O-I, N-B R-B, G-B C-B L-I, H-I Maximum number per leased building frontage N/A N/A 1 1 1 1 Zoning District R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II R-O O-I, N-B R-B, G-B C-B L-I, H-I Maximum sign area (sq. ft.) of all wall signs per building frontage N/A N/A 1 square foot for each linear foot of leased building frontage Maximum height N/A N/A Wall signs shall not exceed the height of the building wall on which it is attached

(f)When an establishment has two or more building frontages, wall signage on the second (non-primary) building wall shall be limited to 0.5 square feet for each linear foot of leased building frontage. For example, in the illustration below, Suite A and B are each allowed one wall sign, while Suite C is allowed one wall sign per building frontage, subject to the limitations of this Section 14-5-4.

(g)In addition to the sign area allowance of this Section, one additional square foot for each linear foot of leased building frontage of sign area is permitted if the wall sign is located on a building that is setback on the lot at least four times the distance of the required building setback.

(h)The Director may authorize more than one wall sign per leased building frontage, and/or an increase in sign area, as part of approval of a uniform sign plan per Section 14-7-4.

Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 418) ↗

§ 14-5-5

Window Signs

Signs within windows and doors, except incidental signs exempt from the requirements of this Article, shall be permitted in nonresidential zoning districts, not to exceed 10% of any individual window and 50% of glass panes of any doors. No more than two windows and two doors for any establishment may be utilized for signage.

§ 14-5-6

Awning Signs

(a)Sign shall not extend outside the awning.

(b)Only awnings over ground story doors or windows may contain signs.

(c)Awnings that are internally or backlit through translucent materials are prohibited.

(d)Signs may be on the front valance, the side valance, or on the sloping face of the awning.

(e)Signs on awnings attached to a building face shall be regulated as wall signs, except that an additional awning sign may be authorized per design review in the C-B zoning district.

§ 14-5-7

Project Entrance Sign

(a)Applicability. This section shall not apply to a lot which is authorized to have a principal use freestanding sign. This section shall apply to lots at the intersection of a public right of way and a public or private street or driveway serving any of the following: a subdivision of detached, single-family homes; an office, commercial or industrial subdivision.

(b)One two-sided project entrance sign allowance. Any development meeting the applicability of subsection “a” above shall be permitted one freestanding sign (which may be two sided) at each entrance to the subdivision or complex, subject to the following:

Table 14-5: Sign Allowance for Project Entrance Signs

	Zoning District	R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II	R-O	O-I, N-B	R-B, G-B	C-B	L-I, H-I
Freestanding sign maximum sign face area (sq. ft.)	32		32	64	96	N/A	96
Freestanding sign maximum height, single-ground sign (ft.)	8		8	10	10	N/A	12

R-I-A, R-I, N-C, R-II R-O O-I, N-B R-B, G-B C-B L-I, H-I Freestanding sign maximum sign face area (sq. ft.) 32 32 64 96 N/A 96 Freestanding sign maximum height, single-ground sign (ft.) 8 8 10 10 N/A 12

(c)Two, one-sided project entrance sign allowance. In lieu of a single project entrance sign allowed per this section, any meeting the applicability of subsection “a” above shall be permitted two, one-sided freestanding signs at each entrance, integrated into an entrance monument wall, one on each side of said entrance, provided that the signs together do not exceed the area allowances for a single project entrance sign area limitations of this section.

Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 419) ↗