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Leon County, FL Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

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

Key Facts

Coverage cap
25% or less of window glass area
Permit status
Exempt from sign permit below the cap
Window film
Graphic film counted as a window sign
Special districts
Window film prohibited in some districts outright
Adopted
Ord. No. 22-17, effective June 14, 2022

Summary

Leon County exempts window signs from its sign permit requirement, but caps them at 25 percent of the window or spandrel glass area under Sec. 10-9.202(13) and Sec. 10-9.401(o)(2)g. Go past that share of the glass and the signage no longer qualifies for the exemption.

City-specific rules exist: Tallahassee has its own window signs rules that differ from Leon County's county-level regulations. If you live in Tallahassee, check the city-specific page instead.

(13)Signs located inside windows which identify or advertise activities, services, goods, or products available within the building, and which collectively cover 25 percent or less of the window glass surface area. Window film with graphics is counted as a window sign and is prohibited in some special districts.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 104 defines a window sign as any sign placed inside or upon a window facing outside, intended to identify or advertise activities, services, goods or products available inside the building. Sec. 202(13) exempts window signs from the article's general sign permit requirement so long as they, collectively, cover 25 percent or less of the window glass surface area; that section specifically counts window film carrying graphics as a window sign, and warns that such film is prohibited outright in some special zoning districts regardless of coverage.

Division 4's on-site sign standards repeat and enforce the same limit: Sec. ' Because window signs sit outside the permit process, the county does not pre-approve their size or wording the way it does for wall or ground signs; the 25 percent cap is self-enforced by the business until a code inspector measures the glass and finds a violation. Signs that exceed the 25 percent threshold are treated as regular signs requiring a permit under Sec. 301 and must meet that division's application, wind-load and electrical standards instead of the window sign exemption.

Violations & Fines

Window signage exceeding 25 percent of the glass area loses its permit exemption entirely under Sec. 10-9.202(13), and Sec. 10-9.304 lets the county pursue enforcement under the Leon County Code of Laws, F.S. ch. 162, or F.S. § 403.413, treating the display as an unpermitted sign. A code inspector may order it removed or reduced, and each day the oversized signage remains up can be charged as a separate violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a window sign advertising my sale?
No, as long as it and every other sign inside your windows together cover 25 percent or less of the window glass, Sec. 10-9.202(13) exempts window signs from the county's sign permit requirement entirely.
What happens if my window graphics cover more than a quarter of the glass?
The exemption stops applying and the display is treated as an ordinary sign. You would need a permit under Sec. 10-9.301 and would have to meet that division's application, construction and electrical standards, not just the window sign rule.
Does frosted or printed window film count toward the 25 percent limit?
Yes. Sec. 10-9.202(13) specifically states that window film with graphics is counted as a window sign, and warns that this kind of film is prohibited altogether in some of the county's special zoning districts, regardless of how much glass it covers.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Leon County

All Leon County rules

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