Tampa, FL Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 27-289.3(a)(5)
- Illumination
- Prohibited: no lights, no electronic component
- Size cap (residential)
- 8 square feet, 6 feet tall
- Duration
- Remove within 6 days after event ends
- Enforcement
- Neighborhood improvement manager; 30-day notice
- Escalation
- Each continued day is a separate offense
Summary
Tampa's Sign Code exempts holiday, seasonal, and commemorative displays from a sign permit as a category of temporary signage, but only if they carry zero illumination. Sec. 27-289.3(a)(5) caps every unpermitted temporary sign at 8 square feet in residential zones and bars any electronic component or lighting, so lit yard displays that qualify as signs must go dark or seek a permit.
(5)Temporary signs, subject to the following restrictions:a.Each zoning lot of record shall be allowed the following temporary signs without permit...3.Any number of signs, which are associated with an event, including but not limited to:...iv.Holiday, seasonal, or commemorative decorations; orv.For a public or semipublic event or function.b.All temporary signs placed under this subsection (5) shall not be considered as part of the maximum square footage permitted on any parcel, and are subject to the following restrictions:1.No illumination is permitted, nor may any part of the sign be electronic.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 148).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 3(a)(5) of the Tampa Sign Code lets any zoning lot post temporary signs without a permit, including those tied to 'holiday, seasonal, or commemorative decorations,' alongside real-estate, construction, election, and event signage. ' Size is also capped by zoning district: 8 square feet and 6 feet tall in residential districts, and 8 to 16 square feet at up to 10 feet tall in non-residential districts depending on street frontage. Event-tied signs, including holiday decorations, must be erected no more than 60 days before the event and removed within six days after it ends.
A homeowner who wants an illuminated or electronic holiday display exceeding these exempt-sign limits must instead apply for the permitted 'oversize' temporary sign under subsection (b)(1), capped at 30 consecutive days (60 per year, 90 in the Central Business District) and generally no more than 15 feet tall. Enforcement runs through the neighborhood improvement manager, who can order removal of a noncomplying sign at the owner's expense under Sec. 14(d) after written notice, 30 days for signs on private property, five days for temporary signs.
Violations & Fines
A holiday display that qualifies as an exempt temporary sign but carries lights, an LED component, or an electronic message violates Sec. 27-289.3(a)(5)b.1 outright, regardless of size. General sign violations are punishable under City Code § 1-6 plus a triple-permit fee under Sec. 27-289.14(b)(1); the neighborhood improvement manager can order removal at the owner's cost after notice, and each day of noncompliance after notice is a separate offense under Sec. 27-289.14(a)(2).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put string lights on my holiday yard display in Tampa?
How big can an unpermitted holiday sign be in Tampa?
What happens if I leave an illuminated holiday sign up too long?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tampa
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