14-51.014. General Criteria

(1) Guide signs for other than recreational, historical, or cultural facilities, shall be white on green in color. Guide signs for recreational, historical, or cultural facilities shall be white on brown in color. For existing white on green destination guide signs a combination sign consisting of white on green and white on brown shall be used with the colors separated by a common white border.

(2) Signing for a destination with a limited period of operation shall be displayed only during those periods of operation, and only if the destination meets the trips generated annually criteria referenced in Table 2 or Table 4. If occasional off-season usage exceeds 25 percent of the trips generated annually for most of the year, the signs may be displayed permanently.

(3) Traffic control signs for major short term events, e.g., golf and tennis tournaments, boat and auto shows, that will attract a significant number of non-residents, shall be evaluated based on the criteria established in Rule 14-51.013, F.A.C.

(a) Static or portable changeable message signs (PCMS) shall be erected no more than three days before, nor remain more than three days after, the signed event. Sign costs, such as design, installation, maintenance, and removal shall be paid by the applicant.

(b) Both static and PCMS signing will be installed through the Department’s permit system. PCMS devices, and approved messages displayed on them shall be devoid of advertisements. PCMS devices shall be approved by the Department for use on the state highway system.

(c) All applicable Department clear recovery zone requirements shall be met and short-term event signing cannot interfere with visibility/effectiveness of existing traffic control devices.

(4) In no case shall information relating to destinations, motorist services, and multi-modal facilities be displayed on a supplemental guide sign until trailblazer directional guide signing has been installed.

(5) When there are more qualified destinations than can be signed, the local government recommendation as to the facilities to be signed will be considered. If the local government has no preference, the destinations that create the greatest traffic demand shall be signed, subject to standards specified in the following sections.

(6) No supplemental guide signs for destinations shall be erected prior to approval by the District Traffic Operations Engineer. Applicants seeking a guide sign to be installed by permit must submit a Guide Sign Permit form, 850-040-92 effective 12/15, incorporated herein at https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-06099.

(7) Guide signs shall not be installed where such signing interferes with the function of traffic control devices, impairs visibility, or violates minimum spacing distances listed in Table 1. Priority guidelines in sign installation are contained in Section 2A.16 of the MUTCD. The descending order of priority is regulatory (white signs), warning (yellow signs), exit (principle) direction and supplemental destination (green signs), general service (blue signs), and historical, recreational, and cultural (brown signs).

Table 1 – Minimum Spacing Distances for Signs
Speed (mph)	Minimum Spacing Distance (feet)
25 or less	Distance to ensure traffic control devices are not blocked from view.
30  35	200
35  45	250
50  60	300
60  70 (Interstate)	800

(8) Any qualifying destination, such as a college or university, that incorporates a pictograph in the sign design, as allowed in the MUTCD, must fabricate, install, and maintain the sign assembly through the Department’s permit system.

(9) Guide signs will only be permitted to destinations that have an on-premises sign visible from the roadway on which the destination is located.

(10) Guide signs will only be permitted to destinations that are open for business year round, have restrooms for patron use, and paved handicapped parking facilities.

(11) All proposed signs must fulfill a need for the use of a traffic control device as specified in Section 1A.2 of the MUTCD.

Rulemaking Authority 316.0745 FS. Law Implemented 316.0745 FS. History–New 3-27-05, Amended 6-24-08, 11-24-11, 1-12-16.