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Tallahassee, FL Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

No-permit size limit
16 sq ft or smaller, LDC § 7-32(14)
Display duration
No limit stated in the code
Consent requirement
None stated (unlike real estate signs)
Over the limit
Loses exemption, needs a permit under § 7-31
Siting limits still apply
No right-of-way visibility obstruction, § 7-81(3)

Summary

Political signs in Tallahassee skip the sign permit process entirely as long as each one stays at or under 16 square feet. Land Development Code § 7-32(14) places them in Article II's no-permit category, with no cap in the code on how many may go up or how long they can stay.

Political signs provided such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 75 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).

Full Breakdown

" That single dimensional cap is the entire rule; unlike the real estate signs exempted in item (12), which come with removal deadlines and consent requirements, or unlike item (6)'s city-sponsored banners, which run only for a period the city manager authorizes, political signs carry no stated display window and no requirement to get a property owner's written consent. The exemption is still layered under Chapter 7's general prohibitions. Section 7-81(3) bars any sign, political or otherwise, erected at a street intersection or within a right-of-way in a way that obstructs clear vision of traffic, and § 7-81(2) separately bars any sign or light that resembles a traffic control device.

A political sign that fits within the 16-square-foot cap and stays clear of those siting bans needs no application, fee, or inspection under Article II at all.

Violations & Fines

A political sign larger than 16 square feet loses the § 7-32(14) exemption and becomes subject to § 7-31(a), which makes it unlawful to erect any sign without a permit; under § 7-31(d) such a sign is illegal and "may be ordered immediately removed by the growth management department." A sign that obstructs a right-of-way sightline is enforceable under § 7-81(3) regardless of its size.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big can a political sign be in Tallahassee without a permit?
LDC § 7-32(14) exempts political signs from the sign permit requirement as long as each sign is 16 square feet or smaller; there's no limit in the code on the number of signs or how long they may be displayed under this exemption.
What happens if a political sign in Tallahassee is bigger than 16 square feet?
It loses the § 7-32(14) exemption and falls under § 7-31(a), which makes erecting any sign without a permit unlawful; the growth management department can order an unpermitted oversized sign removed immediately under § 7-31(d).
Can political signs be placed in the public right-of-way in Tallahassee?
The exemption in § 7-32(14) only addresses size; the chapter's general prohibitions in § 7-81(3) still bar any sign erected at a street intersection or in a right-of-way in a way that obstructs clear vision of traffic.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tallahassee

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsWindow SignsSome RestrictionsFreeway-Facing SignsSignificant RestrictionsDigital BillboardsSignificant RestrictionsHoliday DisplaysFew RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome RestrictionsHome Business: Customer Traffic RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Tallahassee rules

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