City of Largo, Florida

Important Reminder About Signs in Largo

As a business owner within the City of Largo, you may have recently received or will be receiving your annual business tax renewal documents by mail to be able to operate within the City of Largo. This renewal includes a reminder that on June 5, 2017, all properties with pole signs will be required to either transition their pole signs into monument signs or will be required to remove pole signs from the property. This monument sign requirement was established on June 5, 2007, when the Largo City Commission approved comprehensive changes to the City's Sign Code. One of the key changes involves the transition from pole signs to monument signs with the intent to create an aesthetic in keeping with the community's desires. Pole signs are now considered non-conforming; the new standard requires freestanding signs to be monument style signs with a maximum height of eight (8) feet.

In an effort to assist the business community, the City of Largo established a ten year amortization period, or transition period, within the new sign code. This ten-year period for signs was established to allow businesses to recover the costs of these signs and budget funds for a new monument sign. Although there are five years remaining on the amortization period, the City Commission seeks to further assist the business community by developing an incentive program for the early replacement of pole signs.

This summer, the City Commission will review an ordinance for the adoption of a sign incentive program to begin in October 2012. The proposed program will consist of a tiered incentive over a period of four years. The program consists of a "sign bonus each year, where property owners may qualify for additional square footage for a monument sign, or the additional square footage may be credited towards wall signage. Additionally, the first year of the program will offer ten $200 grants to businesses to assist with business fees paid to the City for building permit fees, building permit application fees, planning review fees, engineering review fees, and demolition fees.

The program outline provides a description of the incentives offered by the City on a year-by-year basis, through September 2016:

For more updates, please visit www.largo.com/commercialsigns often, and please sign up for the Business E-newsletter for quarterly updates that contain details on sign updates and how to participate in the Tiered Early Sign Replacement Program.

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