14-10.007. Maintenance of Nonconforming Signs

(1) A nonconforming sign must remain substantially the same as it was as of the date it became nonconforming.

(2) Reasonable repair and maintenance of nonconforming signs, including change of advertising message, is permitted and is not a change which would terminate the nonconforming status. Reasonable repair and maintenance means the work necessary to keep the sign structure in a state of good repair, including the replacement in kind of materials in the sign structure. Where the replacement of materials is involved, such replacement may not exceed 50% of the structural materials in the sign within any 24 month period. “Structural materials” are all those materials incorporated into the sign as load-bearing parts, including vertical supports, horizontal stringers, braces, bracing wires, brackets, and catwalks. Structural materials do not include the sign face, any skirt, any electrical service, or electric lighting, except in cases where such items have been incorporated into the sign as load-bearing parts. The following are examples of modifications which do not constitute reasonable repair or maintenance, and which constitute substantial changes to a nonconforming sign that will result in the loss of nonconforming status:

(a) Modification that changes the structure of, or the type of structure of, the sign, such as conversion of a back-to-back sign to a V-type, or conversion of a wooden sign structure to a metal structure;

1. The Department will authorize structural alterations to a nonconforming sign in instances where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements or other safety related requirements necessitate alterations, provided that the reconstruction shall not be authorized primarily for the purpose of replacement of deteriorated materials. The Department will accept a notice or other writing from OSHA or other regulatory body to the permittee requiring the intended alteration as documentation of safety requirements. If the structural alterations are intended to be made to comply with OSHA regulations, the permittee must submit to the Department a statement in writing citing the OSHA regulation with which it is intending to comply and explaining how the intended alteration is required by the cited OSHA regulation. If the structural alterations are required to be made to comply with building codes applicable to existing structures, the permittee must submit to the Department a statement in writing citing the specific requirement of the building code which the alterations are intended to meet. Structural alterations are allowed only if no alternatives are available which address safety requirements. Documentation of the requirements must be submitted to, and approved by, the Department prior to making any structural alterations. The location, structural configuration, number of faces, size of the sign faces, sign structure height, and the materials used in the sign structure and sign faces must be the same type as those used in the sign prior to approval of the alterations. Structural configuration means the physical arrangement of a sign whether arranged as a single-faced, V-type, back-to-back, side-to-side, or stacked sign. During the period of temporary removal for those approved structural alterations, the permittee must permanently display the permit tag at the sign location.

2. The addition of a catwalk or other fall protection device for safety reasons, where the device does not increase the structural integrity of the sign or prolong the life of the sign, is allowed without obtaining prior approval from the Department;

(b) Modification that changes the area of the sign facing or the HAGL of the sign, however:

1. Reduction in the area of the sign facing or the HAGL of the sign, which reduction is required by an ordinance adopted by a local governmental entity with jurisdiction over the sign, is not a change which would terminate the nonconforming status of the sign, provided like materials are used and no enhancements are made to the visibility of the sign.

2. Embellishments may be added to nonconforming signs subject to the limitations regarding size of sign facing, and provided they do not exceed 10% of the area of the sign facing prior to the addition of the embellishment;

(c) Modification that enhances the visibility of the sign’s message, or the period of time that the sign’s message is visible;

(d) Modification that adds automatic changeable faces; or

(e) Modification that adds artificial lighting, or changes the existing lighting such that the illumination to the sign facing is substantially increased.

(3) Prohibited modifications need not be physically part of the sign if they have the effect of enhancing the sign’s message, the visibility of the message, or the period of time that the message is visible. However, in such cases, the modifications will not be considered a modification to the sign if:

(a) The modification is the result of removal, cutting, or trimming of vegetation in front of the sign pursuant to a permit for such removal, cutting, or trimming from the Department; or

(b) The modification only incidentally affects the visibility of the sign’s message, and the bona fide purpose of the modification is unrelated to the sign.

(4) A nonconforming sign may not be disassembled, or in a state of being no longer erect and then re-erected at the same location except as provided in paragraph (5)(a), below.

(5) A nonconforming sign may continue to exist so long as it is not destroyed, abandoned, or discontinued. “Destroyed,” “abandoned,” and “discontinued” have the following meanings:

(a) “Destroyed” means more than 60% of the upright supports of a sign structure are physically damaged such that normal repair practices of the industry would call for, in the case of wooden sign structures, replacement of the broken supports and, in the case of a metal sign structure, replacement of at least 25% of the length above ground of each broken, bent, or twisted support. A sign will not be considered “destroyed” within the meaning of this section where the destruction is caused by vandalism or other criminal or tortious act.

(b) A nonconforming sign is “abandoned” or “discontinued” when a sign structure no longer exists at the permitted location or the sign owner fails to operate and maintain the sign for a period of 12 months or longer. Signs displaying bona fide public interest messages are not “abandoned” or “discontinued” within the meaning of this section. The following conditions shall be considered failure to operate and maintain the sign:

1. Signs displaying only an “available for lease” or similar message,

2. Signs displaying advertising for a product or service which is no longer available,

3. Signs which are blank or do not identify a particular product, service, or facility.

Rulemaking Authority 334.044(2), 479.02(7) FS. Law Implemented 339.05, 479.02, 479.07(9) FS. History–New 3-28-77, Amended 12-18-77, 1-1-86, Formerly 14-10.07, Amended 6-28-98, 8-10-99, 8-19-01, 11-27-07, 1-7-16.