Temporary Sign Guidelines for Political Campaigns

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The city of Clearwater’s Planning Department has provided the following guidance regarding the placement of all temporary signs. This also includes political campaign signs. Complete sign regulations are described in Section 3-1806 of the Community Development Code, which may be viewed online.

Temporary Sign Standards

Temporary signs are any signs not permanently affixed or attached to the ground or a structure, which can be removed without special handling and include signs for political campaigns.

Location: Temporary signs are allowed in all zoning districts, but there are limitations on their size, location, and number allowed.

Prohibited Locations

  • City rights-of-way
  • Obscuring traffic control signs
  • Blocking sidewalks
  • Limiting street visibility
  • Hanging above a roadway
  • Medians and traffic circles
  • City-owned structures, buildings and property
  • Within 20 feet of curbs at an intersection (sight visibility triangles)
  • Where they interfere with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Residential Districts

  • Number of signs per parcel: 8
  • Maximum sign size: 4 square feet
  • Maximum height: 6 feet
  • Setback from private property line: 5 feet
  • Setback to any paved street or road: 5 feet
  • Distance between signs on parcel: 15 feet
  • Maximum total sign area of all signs: 64 square feet
  • Attached to building, maximum height: 15 square feet
  • No direct illumination or fluorescent colors permitted.

Non-Residential Districts

  • Number of signs per parcel: 4
  • Maximum sign size: 16 square feet
  • Maximum height: 6 feet
  • Setback from private property line: 5 feet
  • Setback to any paved street or road: 5 feet
  • Distance between signs on parcel: 15 feet
  • Maximum total sign area of all signs: 128 square feet
  • Attached to building, maximum height: 15 square feet
  • No direct illumination or fluorescent colors permitted.

Window Signs

  • Must be displayed on the inside of the window surface.
  • Shall cover no more than 25 percent of the aggregate window surface area.
  • No illumination permitted.
  • Surface area reduction when window features existing signage listed in Community Code Section 3-1805.

Sight Visibility Triangles

Temporary signs are not permitted within any sight visibility triangle area.

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Important to Note:

  • All signs must be removed three calendar days after the event ends.
  • Total square footage limitation is per side for a back-to-back sign. For example, a four-square foot limitation means that the sign may have four-square feet of surface area per side of a back-to-back sign and an aggregate limit of eight-square feet is allowed if the sign is a back-to-back sign.
  • Minimum sign setbacks do not apply to attached signs.
  • There is no limit to the number of separate messages that may appear on the allowable surface(s) of the sign.
  • Any prohibited sign listed in Community Code Section 3-1804 shall not be used for temporary signage.
  • No permits required.

City of Clearwater Planning & Development Department
100 S. Myrtle Ave., 2nd Floor
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 562-4567

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