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Pinellas Park council adopts first reading of comprehensive sign ordinance rewrite
Summary
Council passed on first reading Ordinance 4281 to repeal and replace Article 6 (signs). The rewrite updates permit procedures (electronic filing), aligns with recent Supreme Court First Amendment rulings, tightens safety-related prohibitions and raises some fees (temporary-sign fee from $25 to $100).
The City Council unanimously passed on first reading Ordinance 4281 to repeal and replace Article 6 of the Land Development Code, creating a new city sign ordinance.
Development review manager Megan Montesino told the council the rewrite clarifies definitions, moves sign-permit applications online, updates the nonconforming sign section, and adds safety-focused prohibitions such as removing signs that obstruct official traffic control devices. The ordinance also increases the temporary-sign application fee from $25 to $100 and limits certain window signs to 25% of total window area.
Montesino said the changes are intended to comply with recent Supreme Court decisions that limit content-based regulation of signs while preserving objective, safety-based rules. Questions from council members clarified that political campaign signs are handled under separate state statutes; the city can regulate size, shape and timing around elections but generally cannot regulate content.
Staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval. After discussion, the council voted to approve the ordinance on first reading.
The ordinance also establishes a variance process (Board of Adjustment review), updates enforcement language for imminent public-safety threats, and contains transition rules for pre-existing permits.
