Vero Beach council adopts sign-code changes to set mural standards

The Vero Beach City Council on June 9 approved an amendment to Chapter 38 of the municipal code that adds standards for murals and clarifies sign-code enforcement.

Planning Director Jason Jeffries told the council the ordinance removes “works of art” from the list of exempt signs and establishes placement standards and enforcement procedures. "This was a request to amend the Sign Code to add mural standards and to clarify sign enforcement," Jeffries said during his presentation. He estimated "maybe 10 or 12 at the most" existing businesses could be nonconforming under the new rules and said staff would notify those locations and sign vendors.

Councilmember John Carroll moved to approve the ordinance; Vice Mayor Taylor Dingle seconded and the measure passed 4-0, with Councilmembers Linda Moore and Carroll and Mayor John Cotugno voting yes. Mayor Cotugno opened and closed the public hearing with no public speakers at the meeting.

Under the ordinance, Jeffries advised that applicants should contact the Planning Department prior to installing window murals or graphics to ensure compliance. The city will not require the immediate removal of already-installed works of art, Jeffries said; instead, staff will notify property owners if their existing displays do not conform and explain replacement limitations going forward.

The City Clerk read the ordinance by title only. The ordinance includes standard codification, scrivener’s-error and severability language and will take effect as provided in the text.

The council’s approval follows a first reading in which the council made amendments that were incorporated into the final document before adoption.