Homestead's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In Homestead, Florida, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Political Signs

Political signs in Homestead are protected as free speech. Florida law limits local regulation of political signs on private property. Signs must not obstruct traffic visibility or be placed on public rights-of-way without authorization. Temporary political signs do not require permits. Signs must be removed within a reasonable period after the election.

Key details: Permit: Not required on private property. Size Limit: 4–6 sq ft in residential zones. State Law: FL Statute 106.1435. Removal: Within 7–15 days after election. Public ROW: Not permitted without authorization.

Signs on public ROW or utility poles may be removed by the city. Signs obstructing visibility face removal for safety. No fines for political signs on private property during election season. Contact Code Compliance at (305) 224-4800.

The rules around political signs in Homestead lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Window Signs

Homestead caps window signs outside single-family residential zones to one sign per window or door, limited to address, phone number and hours, plus a separate open/closed sign. Aggregate window signage cannot exceed 25% of the window panel or 30 square feet per establishment.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Sec. 23-80(5). Aggregate cap: 25% of window panel area. Hard ceiling: 30 sq ft total per establishment. Open/closed sign: 2 sq ft max, 12-in. letters. Address numerals: 6-in. max height.

Exceeding the 25% window panel coverage cap, the 30-square-foot aggregate limit per establishment, or displaying copy beyond address/phone/hours on a window sign violates Sec. 23-80(5) and is a code enforcement board matter under Chapter 7, subject to citation and required removal or resizing of the noncompliant sign.

Digital Billboards

Homestead allows digital billboards only along the FDOT Turnpike corridor, capped at 500 nits from sunset to sunrise and 5,000 nits otherwise, with mandatory ambient-light sensors and a message change no faster than every 8 seconds.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Sec. 23-94(f). Night brightness cap: 500 nits (sunset to sunrise). Day brightness cap: 5,000 nits. Message change rate: No faster than every 8 seconds. Malfunction rule: Black screen, restored within 24 hours.

Operating a digital billboard above the 500-nit nighttime or 5,000-nit daytime brightness caps, changing the message faster than every 8 seconds, or failing to revert a malfunctioning sign to a black screen within 24 hours violates Sec. 23-94(f) and is enforced through the city's code enforcement board and permit revocation under Chapter 7.

Freeway-Facing Signs

Homestead has opted out of the Miami-Dade County code section restricting signs near expressways, expressly allowing signs within 660 feet of an expressway under the city's own Chapter 23 standards instead of the tighter county rule.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Sec. 23-95. County section opted out of: Miami-Dade Code Sec. 33-121.12. Distance allowed: Within 660 feet of an expressway. Adopted by: Ord. No. 2023-03-04, 3-29-23. Still governed by: City Chapter 23 sign standards (Sec. 23-94).

Erecting a sign near an expressway without the city permit required by Sec. 23-93, or in violation of the size, height, setback, or spacing standards of Sec. 23-94 that continue to govern despite the county opt-out, is a Chapter 7 code enforcement board violation subject to citation, fines, and required sign removal or modification.

Homestead is more permissive than most cities when it comes to freeway-facing signs. That said, there are still limits.

Garage Sale Signs

Homestead bans yard sale signs on trees, poles or any other property in the public right-of-way, and requires the seller's written consent from the owner before posting a sign on someone else's private property, under Sec. 16-143. The rule sits inside the city's broader yard sale permitting article.

Key details: Right-of-way signs: Prohibited on trees/poles. Neighbor's private property: Written consent required first. Governing article: Ch. 16, Art. VII, Yard Sales. Related permit: Required for 2-day sales, Sec. 16-141.

Posting a yard sale sign on a tree, pole, or other property in the public right-of-way, or on another person's private property without that owner's prior written consent, violates Sec. 16-143 and is enforceable through the city's code enforcement process along with the rest of Article VII's yard sale requirements.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Homestead gives residents more room on sign regulations. 2 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Homestead's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.