NONCONFORMING SIGNS GRACE PERIOD ENDING
By Robert C. Solera, Assistant Administrator - Building Department

On December 10th, 2002 the City of Sunny Isles Beach passed and adopted its Land Development Regulations (LDRs) in Section 265-60 that addressed nonconforming signs. Once the LDR was adopted a “grace period” of 3 years was granted to allow property owners to conform by December 20, 2005.

All signs that do not conform to the City’s LDRs or become nonconforming by amendments to §265-60 is considered to be illegal and shall be completely removed from the premises or altered to conform.

The Planning & Zoning Department in conjunction with the Code Enforcement & Licensing Department has mailed letters to property owners to remind them that the time for compliance for all non-conforming signs is expiring. As a result, we have received a number of calls regarding clarification as to the sign requirements. The best option is to hire a sign contractor that is registered with the Building Department to do work within the city. A registered contractor will be able to determine, based on the LDRs, if the sign is in compliance or if any adjustments need to be made in order to comply.

The Land Development Regulation’s sign section of the Code is very specific as to what type of sign is allowed within the districts of the City. Based on the Code, the City Manager or his designee may and can cause the removal of any sign that does not comply with the requirements of the Code.

This article, in addition to the letters that have been sent already to property owners, should be considered as a reminder of the upcoming due date to resolve issues with nonconforming signs.

At this time, the City is prepared to receive the influx of property owners that need to update their signs. Staff in the Building Department and the Planning & Zoning Department is available to answer any questions regarding the erection or alteration of signs as well as our zoning requirements. You may acquire a copy of sign requirements that is specific to your zoning district and a copy of §265-60 (nonconforming signs) at the 3rd floor counter of the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center.

The information below was taken from the Land Development Regulations section that is specific to Non-residential and mixed use district signs requirements:

§265-56. Nonresidential and mixed use district signs; detached, freestanding or monument signs.

A. Approvals necessary: City Manager.

B. Maximum number: one per parcel; parcel must have frontage of at least 100 feet on a public street, except for gasoline station parcels where a forty-eight-square foot sign shall be permitted not withstanding the street frontage or distance separation of the parcel occupied by the gasoline station. (Subdivisions of an existing building or planned building group shall not entitle the new parcels to additional monument signs.

C. Maximum sign area: 48 square feet.

D. Sign height: 10 feet.

E. Setback: six feet from right-of-way, 20 feet from side property line.

F. Illumination: externally illuminated or internally illuminated sign letters or logos only. If parcel has 300 or more feet of parcel frontage and two two-way access points, one additional sign may be permitted, with the aggregate of both signs not to exceed 72 square feet. Logos may cover no more than 25% of the sign area.

G. Supplemental provisions: a changeable copy sign for schools, religious and public institutions only may be permitted in lieu of the permitted monument sign.

H. Wall signs: permitted only on buildings where the majority of the first floor is in retail use or on building facades abutting streets or pedestrian plazas.

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.

(2) Maximum number.
(a) Office: one per wall face, or two for walls over 80 feet in length.
(b) Retail: one sign per tenant.

(3) Maximum sign area: for establishments with up to two hundred feet of frontage on a single elevation, one square foot for each lineal foot of tenant frontage up to a maximum of 35 square feet. For establishments with over 200 feet of frontage on a single elevation, one square foot for each one lineal foot of tenant frontage up to a maximum permitted sign area of 50 square feet.

(4) Illumination: reverse channel letter sign only.

(5) Supplemental provisions: see gas station provisions contained in this section.

I. Wall signs: permitted only on office and hotel buildings for signs located between the first and fourth floors.

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.

(2) Maximum number: one wall sign per building. Corner or through store locations may have an additional wall sign. Such second sign shall be limited to 50% of the square footage of the primary sign and shall not be placed on the same building elevation as the primary sign.

(3) Maximum sign area: one square foot for each one lineal foot of building frontage up to a maximum of 100 square feet.

(4) Illumination: reverse channel letter sign only location no wall sign shall be installed on a building elevation that faces an adjacent residentially zoned property located within 300 feet of the elevation.

J. Wall signs: permitted only on office and hotel buildings for signs located four stories high and above.

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.

(2) Maximum number: two wall signs per building, with only one wall sign per building elevation.

(3) Maximum sign area: one and one-half square foot for each one lineal foot of building frontage, up to a maximum of 150 square feet.

(4) Illumination: reverse channel letter sign only.

(5) Location: no wall sign shall be installed on a building elevation that faces an adjacent residentially zoned property located within 300 feet of the elevation.

K. Canopy sign.

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.
(2) Maximum number: one per establishment.
(3) Maximum sign area: four square feet.
(4) Illumination: internal illumination of letters only.
(5) Minimum clearance above walk: eight feet. Must be rigidly attached.

L. Awning sign.

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.
(2) Maximum number: one per establishment.
(3) Lettering: one line; letters not to exceed six inches in height.
(4) Illumination: prohibited
(5) Logo: maximum of four square feet.

M. Directory sign.

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.
(2) Maximum number: one per multitenant center, in addition to other permitted signs.
(3) Maximum sign area: 32 square feet. Complex name and/ or address shall not exceed 50% of base height.
(4) Illumination: externally or internally illuminated signs.
(5) Location: on building wall (or freestanding within internal courtyard).

N. Window sign (permanent).

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.
(2) Maximum number: one per establishment.
(3) Maximum sign area: four square feet.
(4) Illumination: prohibited.

O. Directional sign.

(1) Approvals necessary: City Manager.
(2) Maximum number: to be approved as part of site plan; if not approved as part of site plan, permit required.
(3) Maximum sign area: four square feet.
(4) Height: three feet.
(5) Other restrictions: logos may cover no more than 25% of the sign area.

The information above is available to online to the City of Sunny Isles Beach website at www.sibfl.net and by clicking on the “code of ordinances online” icon on the left hand of the site.

If you require additional information regarding issues covered in this article or any other question related to your improvement project, please feel free to contact me at (305) 947-2150 x1789.

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