Division 26. Sign Ordinance.

Section 26.30. RFM Resort Facilities Medium District.

In addition to the permanent and temporary signs and sign-types that are allowed pursuant to Section 26.26, the following permanent signs and temporary signs are also allowed within RFM Resort Facilities Medium District. The permanent signs described below require a sign permit.

(a) Freestanding monument signs. For each parcel with a lawful non-residential use within any RFM Resort Facilities Medium District, one freestanding monument sign shall be allowed. The freestanding monument sign shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) Maximum height. The monument sign shall not exceed 20 feet in height.

(2) Maximum size. The monument sign shall not exceed 135 square feet in sign area.

However, in the event that the parcel is greater than one acre in size and has two street frontages or more than 400 feet along one street frontage, two freestanding monument signs shall be allowed, but each freestanding monument sign shall be subject to the maximum height and maximum size criteria described above.

(b) Freestanding pole signs. In lieu of one freestanding monument sign, each parcel with a lawful non-residential use within the RFM Resort Facilities Medium District is allowed one freestanding pole sign. The freestanding pole sign shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) Maximum height. The pole sign shall not exceed 35 feet in height.

(2) Maximum size. The pole sign shall not exceed 1 square feet in sign area for each linear foot of street frontage, subject to a maximum sign area of no more than 135 square feet.

(3) Setback. The pole sign shall be set back at least ten feet from the property line.

(c) Attached signs. For each parcel with a lawful non-residential use within the RFM Resort Facilities Medium District, attached signs shall be allowed. Attached signs shall be subject to the following limitations:

(1) Maximum number. Up to three attached signs shall be allowed with a combined sign area not exceeding the maximum permitted in paragraph (c)(2); however, in the event the parcel contains a multi-tenant development, each individual business use may have one attached sign.

(2) Maximum size. An attached sign shall not have a sign area that exceeds one square foot for each linear foot of building frontage.

(3) Height restrictions. An attached sign may not appear above the first floor of a building.

(d) Drive-thru menu signs. For each parcel with a lawful non-residential use that utilizes a drive-through lane within RFM Resort Facilities Medium District, one drive-through menu sign shall be allowed for each drive-thru lane. An allowed drive-thru menu sign may be either a free-standing sign or an attached sign, and shall not exceed 40 square feet in sign area and ten feet in height. Drive-thru menu signs shall be in addition to the freestanding and attached signage otherwise allowed pursuant to the other provisions of this division.

(e) Attached menu display signs. For each parcel within RFM Resort Facilities Medium District with (a) a restaurant without drive-through service or (b) with a transient lodging facility that has restaurant facilities open to the general public, one attached menu display sign shall be allowed. An attached menu display sign shall be a wall sign not exceeding 12 square feet in sign area. An attached menu display sign shall be in addition to the freestanding and attached signage otherwise allowed pursuant to the other provisions of this division.

(f) Theater signs. For each parcel with a theater within RFM Resort Facilities Medium District, one attached theater sign shall be allowed. An attached theater sign shall be a wall sign not exceeding fifteen square feet in sign area for each auditorium within the theater, subject to a maximum limit of sixty-four square feet in sign area. An attached theater sign shall be in addition to the freestanding and attached signage otherwise allowed pursuant to the other provisions of this division.

(g) Waterside identification signs. For each parcel within RFM Resort Facilities Medium District with a residential complex, business property or shopping center theater that can only be viewed from a navigable waterway, one waterside identification sign shall be allowed. A waterside identification sign may be either a free-standing sign or an attached sign. A waterside identification sign shall not exceed eight feet in height and shall not exceed twenty square feet in sign area. A waterside identification sign shall be in addition to the freestanding and attached signage otherwise allowed pursuant to the other provisions of this division.

(h) Boat or beach concession signs. Each licensed boat or beach concession rental business operating along the Gulf of Mexico and on the site of a business having Gulf frontage may be permitted signs as follows:

(1) Permission required. The applicant shall provide the city with a letter, granting approval for placement of the signs, from the owner of the real property upon which signs are to be located prior to the issuance of a permit.

(2) Advertising permitted. Signs at boat or beach concession rental business licensed sites shall only provide descriptions of the specific activities and services offered at the site where the sign is located. Such signs shall not be permitted to advertise or imply the availability of any activities or services that are not specifically available at the site.

(3) Lighted signs shall be prohibited.

(4) Sandwich board signs. Operators may display sandwich board sign on the sandy beach during the hours of business operation in accordance with subparagraphs (i) through (iv) below. Such signs shall be removed from the beach when the business is closed.

(i) Maximum area: 12 square feet per face

(ii) Number permitted: One

(iii) Maximum height: Five feet

(iv) Setbacks: 40 feet from the water's edge

(5) Tiki hut or ticket office signs. Operators may display signs on the tiki huts or ticket offices as follows:

(i) Maximum area: Eight square feet per face

(ii) Number permitted: Three per tiki hut; not more than two on one side

(iii) Location: Signs may be attached to or painted on the sides of the tiki hut at a point no higher than four feet above the ground, provided however, that one of the signs may be raised and attached at a point on the side of the tiki hut just below the eave of the roof.

(6) Operators without a tiki hut or ticket office. Licensed board or beach concession rental businesses that do not use a tiki hut or other structure for their businesses shall be permitted to keep one sandwich board sign on the beach overnight, provided such sign is no larger than eight square feet in area per face and is located or protected so as to not be a hazard to people walking on the beach after dark.