News

Home

Posted on: March 4, 2020

About Atlantic Beach's sign regulations ...

SignRegulationsGraphicDid you know?

  1. The City of Atlantic Beach first adopted sign regulations in 1966. The regulations were amended in 1968 (twice), 1981, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1997 (twice), 2001, 2002, 2003 (twice), 2004, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
  2. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that regulations that categorize signs based on the type of information they convey (temporary, political and ideological) and apply different standards to each category are content-based regulations and, thus, are not allowed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
  3. That ruling meant that nearly every community in Florida, and many throughout the United States, had sign regulations in place that were unconstitutional.
  4. In 2016, acknowledging the unconstitutionality of its sign regulations, the Atlantic Beach City Commission suspended its enforcement of its content-based sign regulations, including temporary, political and ideological signs.
  5. The City of Atlantic  Beach’s 2020 proposed sign code update would bring the city’s regulations governing temporary signs into constitutional compliance.
  6. In three recent public meetings to review the proposed update, including the Feb. 24 City Commission workshop, no citizens voiced opposition to the revisions that were presented. 
  7. The dates of the first and second readings of the ordinance updating the sign code have not been set. As such, the City Commission has not taken a vote or otherwise taken a position on the proposed sign regulations. 
  8. The City wants to hear from Atlantic Beach residents on this and all matters. You may speak at any City Commission meeting; email the entire City Commission at electedofficials@coab.us; contact any of the city commissions directly (see www.coab.us/commissiondirectory); and/or contact Planning and Community Development Director Amanda Askew at aaskew@coab.us.

The Supreme Court case

In the case Reed et al. v. Town of Gilbert, Arizona, et al., (No. 13-502, June 18, 2015), the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that regulations that categorize signs based on the type of information they convey (e.g. temporary, political and ideological) and then apply different standards to each category are content-based regulations of speech and are not allowed under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

In this case, Gilbert, Ariz., had sign regulations that prohibit the display of outdoor signs without a permit, but exempts 23 categories of signs, including the three relevant here:

  • Ideological Signs are defined as signs “communicating a message or ideas” that do not fit in any other category and may be up to 20 square feet without placement or time restrictions.
  • Political Signs are defined as signs “designed to influence the outcome of an election” and may be up to 32 square feet, but may only be displayed during an election season.
  • Temporary Directional Signs are defined as signs directing the public to a church or other “qualifying event” and include greater restrictions: No more than four of the signs, limited to six square feet, may be on a single property at any time, and signs may be displayed no more than 12 hours before the “qualifying event” and 1 hour after.

Upon appeal, the United States Supreme Court held the sign provisions are content-based regulations of speech – the categories of temporary, political and ideological signs are based on their messages and different restrictions apply to each category. As such, the restrictions that depend entirely on the sign’s communicative content and are unconstitutional.

Helpful links (in chronological order): 

Want to know more about how communities are dealing with topic? Here’s a helpful essay on Florida sign regulations, legal issues and the First Amendment by Patrick W. Krechowski, Esq.

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Home

Artisans' Faire on tap for November 30

Posted on: November 27, 2023

Luminaria returns to Beaches on Dec. 23

Posted on: November 29, 2023

Track your water use

Posted on: July 7, 2023

Yard Waste Collection Guidelines

Posted on: August 13, 2023

Flood protection in-a-nutshell

Posted on: April 29, 2023

Protect Our Beaches Campaign

Posted on: December 13, 2022

Adopt-a-Tree, why don't ya

Posted on: September 19, 2022

City adopts mission, values statements

Posted on: August 24, 2022

Make sure your signs meet code

Posted on: August 24, 2022

Please join the AB Cares team, if you can

Posted on: September 8, 2022

Mosquitoes buggin’ ya? We feel ya.

Posted on: August 3, 2022

About traffic signals …

Posted on: February 14, 2021

New city manager Killingsworth on the job

Posted on: September 26, 2023

Cleaning up after the storm.

Posted on: August 30, 2023

Nuisance Flooding: August 2023

Posted on: August 28, 2023

Grant funding update

Posted on: July 10, 2023

Donner Park splash pad update

Posted on: June 7, 2023

Wild Wonders 2023 schedule

Posted on: May 15, 2023

Kids to Parks Day set for May 20

Posted on: May 8, 2023

City Manager Recruitment Update

Posted on: May 15, 2023

Charter Review Committee established

Posted on: January 26, 2023

Egg hunt on tap for April 8

Posted on: January 19, 2023

Mayor's Message (February 2023)

Posted on: February 20, 2023

Mayor's Message (January 2023)

Posted on: January 20, 2023

Charter Review

Posted on: January 10, 2023

November 8 Municipal Election Update

Posted on: November 22, 2022

Tropical Storm Nicole Update

Posted on: November 7, 2022

King tides in AB during fall 2022

Posted on: September 7, 2022

Crime prevention tips

Posted on: August 26, 2022

Donner Road construction underway

Posted on: July 15, 2022

Senior Tai Chi classes

Posted on: July 28, 2022

Sculptures of Atlantic Beach

Posted on: June 30, 2022

Beaches Community Resources Guide

Posted on: June 2, 2022

Lower Speed Limit = Safer Community

Posted on: April 7, 2022

Earth Day Art Show April 22

Posted on: April 1, 2022

Welcome, British Royal Navy sailors

Posted on: March 24, 2022

Volunteer Opportunities

Posted on: March 15, 2022

City of AB honors 'Dutton Island 5'

Posted on: February 15, 2022

Town Hall meeting this Saturday

Posted on: January 20, 2022

Complete Streets Project: Main Street

Posted on: December 10, 2021

Complete Streets: A Primer

Posted on: December 10, 2021

COAB Tree Giveaway Program

Posted on: December 6, 2021

16th Street beach walkover project update

Posted on: November 13, 2021

King tides in AB during fall 2021

Posted on: September 9, 2021

King tides in AB during fall 2021

Posted on: September 9, 2021

City of Atlantic Beach COVID-19 Update

Posted on: August 17, 2021

AB Jazz Fest postponed

Posted on: July 29, 2021

Saluting AB’s Small Businesses

Posted on: July 23, 2021

Trees in AB: Call before you cut

Posted on: July 19, 2021

Bridgeport barge update

Posted on: July 15, 2021

About palm tree pruning

Posted on: May 27, 2021

Stay in the Know, AB

Posted on: March 6, 2021

City of AB Connectivity Plan

Posted on: May 5, 2021

Public Parking Workshop May 6

Posted on: April 29, 2021

City of AB helping 'LEED' the way.

Posted on: April 28, 2021

City Commission Priorities

Posted on: April 27, 2021

USS Stark ceremony to be held May 17

Posted on: April 23, 2021

City Hall Closed Presidents’ Day

Posted on: February 12, 2021

COVID-19 Update

Posted on: January 28, 2021

MLK Celebration to be held online

Posted on: January 14, 2021

Latest COVID-19 testing information

Posted on: January 14, 2021

Please don't feed geese and other wildlife

Posted on: December 24, 2020

Put AB Under Your Tree

Posted on: December 2, 2020

Duval County election results

Posted on: November 4, 2020

Howell Park enhancements under way

Posted on: September 30, 2020

Get the SaferWatch app

Posted on: September 22, 2020

18th Street Enhancement Project update

Posted on: August 17, 2020

Isaias Update

Posted on: August 1, 2020

Are you storm-ready?

Posted on: July 30, 2020

Stay safe at the beach

Posted on: July 9, 2020

Promoting Racial Equity

Posted on: June 19, 2020

Juneteenth Freedom Day

Posted on: June 19, 2020

Sign regulations update

Posted on: May 7, 2020

Coronavirus information

Posted on: March 4, 2020

JEA trimming trees in Atlantic Beach

Posted on: January 21, 2020