(A) Billboard signs may be permitted on industrial or commercial zoned properties which are not within one-half (1/2) mile of an Interstate 95 interchange, but which abut Palm Bay Road or Interstate 95, subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Height shall not exceed sixty (60) feet;
(2) Sign Surface Area shall be:
(a) between three hundred and sixty (360) square feet and six hundred and eighty (680) square feet, (excluding cabinetry and trim); and
(b) between two hundred (200) square feet and three hundred eighty-five (385) square feet, (excluding cabinetry and trim) along Palm Bay Road; and
(c) embellishments shall not extend more than five (5) feet beyond the permanent sign face.
(3) No Billboard sign shall be located less than 1,500 linear feet from any other Billboard Sign, measured in a straight line distance from sign to sign.
(4) Each Billboard sign shall be setback from all property lines of the parcel upon which they are erected upon a distance equal to half the height of the sign.
(B) Interchange signs may be permitted on industrial or commercial zoned properties located within one-half (1/2) mile of an Interstate 95 interchange if such property abuts Interstate 95 or if such Interchange sign is located within one-half (1/2) mile of an Interstate 95 interchange, subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Height shall not exceed sixty (60) feet;
(2) Sign Surface Area shall be no greater than:
(a) four hundred (400) square feet per sign face and a maximum of one sign per side for an Interchange sign with a height of sixty (60) feet; and
(b) two hundred fifty (250) square feet per sign face for an Interchange sign with a height of less than sixty (60) feet;
(3) No Interchange sign shall be located less than one thousand (1,000) linear feet from any other Interchange sign, measured in a straight-line distance from sign to sign.
(4) Each Interchange sign shall be setback:
(a) a minimum of twenty (20) feet from any public or private right-of-way lines; and
(b) a minimum of ten (10) feet from any other property line.
(C) Digital Billboards may be permitted on new and existing Billboard Signs on industrial or commercial zoned properties abutting Palm Bay Road, on industrial or commercial zoned properties abutting Interstate 95, and on industrial or commercial zoned properties if such Digital Billboard sign is located within one-half (1/2) mile of an Interstate 95 interchange within the City limits, subject to the restrictions in sub-sections (A) and (B) above. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, an existing legal nonconforming Billboard Sign, regardless of location, may be converted to a Digital Billboard and may be altered or reconstructed to the extent necessary to complete such conversion, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary contained in this
Chapter 178 or in Chapter 185, subject to the following criteria:
(1) Such Digital Billboard sign shall conform to State outdoor advertising regulations. There are currently only two (2) Billboard Signs in the City of Palm Bay that meet these regulations. One is located at 4250 Minton Road NE, and the other is located at the northwest corner of U.S. Highway No. 1 and Robert J. Conlan Boulevard NE;
(2) Such Digital Billboard sign shall have an active State outdoor advertising permit from the Florida Department of Transportation;
(3) The messaging area of the Digital Billboard sign (excluding framing, cabinetry and trim) shall not be larger than the existing sign face area;
(4) The sign height and location shall not be changed.
(5) Minimum display time. Each message on the Digital Billboard sign shall be displayed for a minimum of (8) eight seconds.
(6) Message Changes. All Digital Billboard static message changes shall be completed within one (1) second.
(7) Brightness level. Digital Billboard signs shall not operate at brightness levels of more than 0.3 foot candles above ambient light, as measured using a foot candle meter at a pre-set distance.
Sign Face Size | Distance to be measured from |
10' 6" x 36' | 200' |
14' x 48' | 250' |
(8) Each Digital Billboard sign display shall have a light sensing device that will adjust the brightness as ambient light conditions change;
(9) Digital Billboard signs shall be operated with systems and monitoring in place to either turn the display off or show a "full black" image on the display in the event of a malfunction that affects at least fifty percent of the sign area; and
(D) Digital Billboards may be operated with conventional printed display faces.
(E) Owners of Digital Billboards are strongly encouraged to coordinate with law enforcement and emergency management authorities to display, when appropriate, regional emergency information important to the traveling public including, but not limited to Amber Alerts or emergency management information, such as Hurricane Evacuation Orders. Owners of Digital Billboards are strongly encouraged to display advertising copy on the electronic/digital sign face on behalf of the City, with no charge for advertising space, of the following types advertising messages only: public service, welcome messages or community events in the City of Palm Bay.
(Ord. 2017-39, passed 6-15-2017; Am. Ord. 2017-74, passed 11-16-2017; Am. Ord. 2018-54, passed 11-1-2018; Am. Ord. 2023- 82, passed 9-7-23)