Kissimmee's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In Kissimmee, 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.
Window Signs
Ground-floor window signs in Kissimmee can't cover more than a third of the window, must sit in the top or bottom third, and the glass must stay at least 66 percent see-through.
Key details: Max coverage: 1/3 of window area. Placement: Top or bottom third only. Minimum transparency required: 66 percent. Permit needed (permanent signs): No.
No specific fine is listed; oversized, blacked-out or non-transparent ground-floor window signage is a sign-code violation the building department can require the owner to correct or remove under Kissimmee LDC section 14-11-13.
Political Signs
Kissimmee caps political signs at one per candidate or issue per property, bars them from public property and utility poles, and limits display to 90 days before a candidate election or 30 days for a referendum.
Key details: Location: Private property, owner consent only. Number: 1 sign per candidate/issue per property. Residential size cap: 3 sq ft, 3 ft tall. Display window: Up to 90 days pre-election.
Signs left up past the removal deadline are collected by code enforcement and held for a $10 per-sign fee; unclaimed signs after ten days following a lifted hurricane advisory are discarded, per Kissimmee LDC section 14-11-9.N.
Digital Billboards
Kissimmee limits electronic message-center signs to one change every four seconds with no scrolling or animation, and restricts them to non-residential lots on arterial or collector streets.
Key details: Change interval: No more than once every 4 seconds. Animation/scrolling: Prohibited outright. Zoning limit: Non-residential lots on arterial/collector streets. Billboard districts: B-3, HC, IB on Vine St., Turnpike.
A message center that changes faster than every four seconds, scrolls, or animates is a code violation subject to code enforcement citation and can void the sign permit; unpermitted digital billboards are removable as prohibited off-site signs.
Garage Sale Signs
Kissimmee limits garage sale signs to one per lot, no larger than two square feet, displayed for up to three days per sale, placed on-site where the sale is happening, and unilluminated: no permit needed.
Key details: Signs allowed per lot: One sign per lot. Max sign size: Two square feet. Max display time: Three days per sale. Illumination: Not permitted. Permit needed: No permit required.
Posting more than one sign per lot, oversized signs, illuminated signs, or leaving a sign up past three days is a sign code violation Kissimmee code enforcement can cite and order removed.
Holiday Displays
Kissimmee lets commercial-grade accent and string lighting on non-residential buildings flash and change color only during temporary holiday displays; year-round accent lighting must stay a single, steady color.
Key details: Applies to: Non-residential districts. Standard rule: Single color, stationary. Holiday exception: Carved out in § 14-11-3.B.7. Neon/fluorescent lighting: Prohibited outright.
No fixed fine is listed for accent lighting; noncompliant year-round lighting, such as flashing, multicolor or neon fixtures, is a sign-code violation the building department can require the owner to correct or remove under Kissimmee LDC section 14-11-13.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Kissimmee gives residents more flexibility on holiday displays.
The Bottom Line
Kissimmee's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Kissimmee is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Kissimmee can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.