AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 22, 2025
TO: City Commission
FROM: Bill McDaniel, City Manager
SUBJECT: Legislative public hearing regarding a text amendment adding Article XIII Chapter 102, Murals (PB-2025-26).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of the proposed text amendment is to introduce regulations regarding murals proposed within commercial or industrial zoned properties within the City of Plant City.
The text below summarizes the major revisions:
Section 102-2070
• Speaks to the intent of the new Article that murals provide a content-neutral process for the review, approval, and maintenance of murals proposed within the City.
Section 102-2071
• Provides definitions for Architectural Features, Commercial Zoning District, Industrial Zoning District and Mural.
Section 102-2072
• Restricts murals to commercial and industrial districts as defined in Section 102-2071.
Section 102-2073
• Restricts murals within the Downtown Historic District from being painted on contributing buildings that have brick or sensitive materials that have not been previously covered prior to August 1, 2025.
Section 102-2074
• Establishes that murals are the responsibility of the owner of real property upon which the mural is placed and requires the mural to be maintained in good condition free from chips, stains, graffiti, defacing and fading paint.
• Establishes that any mural not kept in good repair will be deemed a public nuisance.
Section 102-2075
• Establishes the requirements for a mural permit and its requirements for submittal.
Section 102-2076
• Establishes the criteria for approval.
§ Must be an original concept.
§ Requires that the façade where the mural is applied be in good condition and covered with protective coating to minimize deterioration from ultraviolet light and graffiti.
§ Murals become the property of the property owner.
§ Prohibits murals with moving parts.
§ Murals shall not extend more than an inch from the wall upon which it is tiled or painted or to which it is affixed.
§ Murals must be weatherproofed.
§ Provides restrictions on lighting.
§ Prohibits murals from extending beyond or project above the vertical or horizontal line of any wall or structure upon which the mural is applied or installed.
§ Prohibits murals from obstructing windows, doors or architectural features.
§ Prohibits obscene subject matter as defined by Florida Statutes.
Section 30-61 and 30-62
• Adds Murals that are not well maintained to the list of Public Nuisances.
Section 38-162(f)
• Removes language regarding restriction of murals within the Downtown Historic District.
On September 16, 2025 the Historic Resource Board voted 4-0 to forward the text amendment to the City Commission with a recommendation of Approval, subject to the following condition:
Language be added limiting Murals to the side and rear walls of buildings located within the City’s Historic Downtown Commercial District.
On September 17, 2025 the Planning Board voted 5-1 to forward the text amendment to the City Commission with a recommendation of Approval, subject to the following conditions:
1.The board concurred with the Historic Resource Board’s suggestion and offer the same condition limiting Murals to the side and rear walls of buildings located within the City’s Historic Downtown Commercial District.
2. Language should be added defining the term “Sensitive Materials” as shown in Section 102-2073
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Commission adopt an Ordinance approving the proposed text amendment, subject to the following conditions:
1. Section 102-2071. Definitions should be updated to include the following definition: Sensitive Materials means substances or materials that are essential to the original structure, aesthetic, or historical value of a building, yet are delicate, rare, or prone to deterioration. These materials, which may include traditional construction elements like wood, stone, stucco, plaster, metal, and glass, as well as architectural finishes applied during the building's original construction, requires specialized care during preservation efforts.
2. Section 102-2073 should be updated to include: (b) Murals are limited to the side and rear walls of buildings located within the Downtown Plant City Commercial Historic District.
FISCAL IMPACT
No Fiscal Impact.
Prepared by: Robyn Baker, AICP, Director of Planning and Zoning