The following general standards shall apply to all signs city-wide:
(A) Obscene. It shall be unlawful for any person to display upon any sign or other advertising structure any obscene or indecent matter. No sign shall display any statement, word, character, or illustration of an obscene nature, as defined by F.S. Ch. 847, as may be amended from time to time.
(B) Measurement. A sign calculation graphic will be maintained in the Planning and Economic Development Department.
(C) Misleading. It shall be unlawful for a person to display false or misleading statements upon signs, intended to mislead the public as to anything sold, any services to be performed or information disseminated. The fact that any sign or display shall contain words or language sufficient to mislead a reasonable and prudent person in reading same, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the person displaying the sign or permitting same to be displayed.
(D) Non-commercial copy. Any sign authorized in this subchapter may contain non-commercial copy in lieu of any other copy. However, in nonresidential zoning districts, the area of a sign containing non-commercial copy shall be construed to count towards the total signage area allowed for the sign type that it most closely resembles. Any sign allowed under this subchapter may contain, in lieu of any other message or copy, any lawful non-commercial message that does not direct attention to a business operated for profit, or to a product, commodity or service for sale or lease, or to any other commercial interest or activity, so long as said sign complies with the size, height, area and other requirements of this subchapter.
(E) In accordance with F.S. § 526.111, 526.121, and 553.79, as may be amended from time to time, this subchapter shall not apply to the design, construction, or location of signage advertising the retail price of gasoline.
(F) In accordance with F.S. § 533.79, as amended from time to time, this subchapter does not authorize the city to adopt or enforce any regulation that conflicts with or impairs corporate trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, color patterns, design scheme insignia, image standards, or other features of corporate branding identity on real property or improvements thereon used in activities conducted under F.S. Ch. 526, or in carrying out business activities defined as a franchise by Federal Trade Commission regulations in 16 C.F.R. § 436.1, et seq. This division does not affect any requirement for design and construction in the Florida Building Code.
(Ord. 2021-02, adopted 3-17-21; sought to be reconsidered, Commission passed 4-21-2021)