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Sign Ordinances

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The following is a summary of Virginia code language and local ordinances. The information should be considered reliable, but not guaranteed, and should not be considered legal advice. Please see the applicable code sections for further information.

The following sign information is taken from state laws that pertain to ALL jurisdictions:

1. No signs may be placed in the public right-of-way unless otherwise specified by a jurisdiction for a certain time period. In districts where signs are prohibited in the right-of-way, no special permits will be issued for signs to be placed in the right-of-way. The public right-of-way, a distance from the curb to a certain point inward, varies for every highway and street. Contact the local zoning office for specifications. Please note that a median strip is characterized as a public right-of-way.

2. Offsite signs addressing the sale, rental or lease of real estate are not permitted. However offsite directional signs may be permitted by the locality only in those locations approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Signs posted in the highway right-of-way sponsored by Adopt-A-Highway are subject to removal at all times.

3. Signs should be free-standing. They should not be posted on trees, utility poles, traffic-control signs, fire hydrants, or any other public property.

4. Reflectors or flashing lights are prohibited, and real estate signs should not be illuminated in any way.

5. Moving signs intended to attract attention (i.e. balloons, streamers, pennants, etc.) are forbidden.

6. REALTORS® should always obtain permission from home owners before they place signs on private property. (Some jurisdictions even require that written approval from the affected home owners be submitted to the Zoning Administrator.)

7. If applicable, abide by all Property Owners Association (POA) regulations in regards to sign placement.

8. REALTORS® who display signs in violation of the ordinances can be fined and signs can be removed and disposed of without notice. Violations may be punishable by a fine of up to $100 per sign. Each day that a sign is posted illegally may be considered a separate violation.

9. If counties enter into agreements with VDOT, county employees and volunteers must comply with state regulations. If a lawfully placed sign is confiscated by an employee or volunteer, the sign owner shall have the right to reclaim the sign within five business days of the date of such confiscation.

Code of Virginia, Title 33.2, Chapter 12, § 33.2-1216, § 33.2-1224, and § 33.2-1225

The following sign placement information is taken from local ordinances and is divided by locality.

View Local Ordinances

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Sign Ordinances

City of Alexandria
Prohibited signs:
1. No sign may be placed in the public right-of-way. (New Ordinance effective March 1, 2016 adds a civil violation subject to a $100-$500 fine for illegal placement of signs in the public right-of-way)
2. Moving or windblown signs and banners are prohibited.
3. No sign may be displayed which obstructs, obscures or impairs the free and clear vision of motorists.
  City Code, Title 5, Section 5-2-171
On-site sign regulations: (New Ordinance effective June 18, 2016 modifies allowable sign size/height)
1. One (1) sign or combination of signs with a total area of no more than seven (7) square feet on any property for sale or rent, during the time the property is actively marketed and advertised for sale or rent.
2. Signs shall not exceed seven square feet in area in residential and mixed-use zones (Zones: R-20, R-12, R-8, R-5, R-2-5, RB, RM, RS, RT, POS, and WPR Zones).
3. Signs shall not exceed six (6) feet in height on any property for sale or rent.
  Zoning Ordinance, Article IX, Section 9-201
Off-site sign regulations:
1. Additional temporary signs are permitted on any property with the permission of the property owner for no more than ninety (90) days, and there shall be a 30-day interruption between posting periods for temporary signs.
2. No single sign is permitted to be larger than four (4) square feet.
  Zoning Ordinance, Article IX, Section 9-204
Arlington County
Prohibited signs:
1. Any sign or device to attract attention with any part that moves by any means, including fluttering, rotating or otherwise moving devices, or set in motion by movement of the atmosphere including, but not limited to, pennants, propellers, discs, balloons, and similar devices.
2. Any sign that falsely presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or caution or the existence of danger or that is a copy or imitation of or that for any reason is likely to be confused with any sign displayed or authorized by a public authority.
3. Any flashing sign or device displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity. Reflective signs or signs that produce light of such brightness as to constitute a hazard or nuisance to any person, building or property.(Zoning Ordinance: Article 13; Section 13.4.2)
On-site sign regulations:
1. No more than 3 temporary commercial signs may be displayed on a property.
2. Signs shall not exceed 6.5 square feet in area or 5 feet in height. Signs shall be removed no later than the date on which the transaction is completed.
  (Zoning Ordinance: Article 13; Section 13.5.3)
Off-site sign regulations:
1. Signs may be displayed only from sundown on Friday to sundown on Sunday and on legal holidays.
2. Signs may be placed only on that portion of the public right-of-way abutting a street, road, highway or sidewalk but not on landscaped beautification areas, traffic circles or control devices or signs, or any paved portion of a pedestrian refuge area, nor shall such signs be placed on or abutting any other public lands such as school sites, recreation fields, parks, and parkways.
3. No more than one sign may be placed for any commercial activity or entity at any street intersection.
4. Signs shall not exceed 1.5 square feet in area or three feet in height.
5. Signs may only be placed within ½ mile of the activity, in the landscape and utility strip or median at an intersection.
  (Zoning Ordinance: Article 13; Section 13.11.2)
City of Fairfax
Prohibited signs:
1. Moving signs or devices intended to attract attention, including pennants, balloons, propellers, discs, flutter and feather flags, inflatables, wavy man, handhelds, and stick in the ground signs are prohibited
2. Signs attached to bike racks, bollards, hydrants, parking meters, public benches, refuse containers, sidewalks or walkways, street light poles, trees, utility poles and similar facilities are prohibited.
  City Code, Chapter 110, Article II4, Division 7, Section 110-183 Section 4.6.4.
On-site sign regulations:
1. Limited to a maximum of one sign per street frontage.
2. Signs shall not exceed a total area of 10 square feet or a maximum height of five feet.
3. Signs must be located at least 10 feet from all property lines, or on a fence (permanent or temporary) or wall.
4. Signs must be on the property that is being sold.
5. Signs must be removed upon settlement or closing of sale, or leasing of 75 percent of leasable floor area.
  City Code, Chapter 110, Article 4, Section 4.6.12(E)
Off-site sign regulations:
1. Portable and off-site signs prohibited. Includes signs that describe or call attention to products, activities, or services that are not customarily engaged in, produced, or sold on the premises upon which the sign is located.
  City Code, Chapter 110, Article 4, Section 4.6.4
Fairfax County
Prohibited signs:
1. Any off-premise commercial sign when displayed 12:01 PM Monday through 11:59 AM Friday.
2. A moving or windblown sign, but not a changeable copy or electronic display sign, the hands of a clock, or a weather vane.
3. Any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights, or lights of changing degrees of intensity of color.
4. Any sign which, due to its location, size, shape and/or color, may obstruct, impair, interfere with the view of, or be confused with, any traffic control sign, signal or device erected by a public authority or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic. These signs are subject to immediate removal and disposal by an authorized County official as a nuisance.
5. Any sign that obstructs a window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, opening or access intended for light, air, ingress to, or egress from, a building.
6. Signs may not be placed in the median at any time.
Zoning Ordinance, Article 12, Section 12-106

On-site sign regulations:

The following minor signs are allowed but cannot be illuminated, and, unless otherwise stated, do not require a sign permit:
1. Signs that are displayed on a lot or property that is actively marketed for sale, rent or lease, as follows:
  1. A single building-mounted or freestanding sign is allowed, except that 2 signs are permitted on a corner lot when each sign faces a different street frontage. Such sign(s) must be removed within 7 days of the settlement, rental or lease of the property.
  2. Sign(s) located on a property developed with, or planned for development of, a single family detached or attached dwelling unit, cannot exceed 6 square feet in area and a height of 6 feet.
  3. Sign(s) located on a property developed with, or planned for development of, a multiple family dwelling unit cannot exceed 12 square feet in area and a height of 8 feet.
  4. Sign(s) located on a property developed with, or planned for development of, any non-residential use, or on a residential property containing a minimum of 20 acres, cannot exceed 32 square feet in area and a height of 8 feet.
2. Yard signs on any lot developed with a residential use cannot exceed 12 square feet in total area, with no single sign exceeding 4 square feet in area and a height of 4 feet.
Zoning Ordinance, Article 12, Section 12-105(2)

Off-site sign regulations:
1. On Private property, off-premise commercial signs may be displayed noon Friday to noon Monday with the consent of the property owner.
2. Off-premise commercial signs must meet the provisions of Par. 4 of Section 12-105, which limits yard signs on any residential lot to not exceed 12 square feet in total area, with no single sign exceeding 4 square feet in area and a height of 4 feet.
Zoning Ordinance, Article 12, Section 12-105/106
Under agreement with Fairfax County, signs may be posted in the right-of-way beside streets and roads in Fairfax County from noon Friday to noon Monday. (NEVER IN THE MEDIAN.) Under the Illegal Sign Removal Program Fairfax County removes signs that are illegally put on or along roads every week between Tuesday and Thursday. This includes political campaign signs, advertising signs and more. The law allows the county to collect a $100 civil penalty against sign owners. The penalty is assessed for each sign posted.
City of Falls Church
Prohibited signs:
1. No sign shall be located less than five feet from a property line or within a public right of way.
2. Balloons , pennants, pieces of material and other devices which move in the breeze are prohibited.
3. No sign shall be located where it impedes use of any door, window, sidewalk, walkway, driveway or other vehicle area.
4. Signs shall not be on any property without the express written permission of the property owner or his agent.
5. Signs bearing the words Stop, Go Slow or other similar words which imply official warning are prohibited.
6. Signs using traffic symbols or red, amber and green in such combinations as to be confused with traffic control devices are prohibited.
7. Signs which advertise a use that has been discontinued for a period of 30 days or more are prohibited.
  City Code, Chapter 48, Article VI, Division I, Sec. 48-1242
On-site sign regulations:
1. Only one sign is permitted per property.
2. In residential districts, signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. In other districts, signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.
3. Signs shall be removed within one week of occupancy of the property.
4. One additional "open" sign is permitted on the premises during an open house. No such sign shall exceed six feet in height.
  City Code, Chapter 48, Article VI, Division I, Sec. 48-1241(b)(7)
Off-site sign regulations:
1. Signs shall only be displayed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
2. Signs shall not exceed six square feet in area nor three feet in height.
  No more than four signs may be displayed per property.
3. Signs shall be made of a weatherproof material.
  City Code, Chapter 48, Article VI, Division I, Sec. 48-1241(b)(15)
Town of Herndon
Prohibited signs:
1. Signs attached to natural vegetation.
2. Animated signs
3. Flashing signs or other signs displaying flashing, scrolling or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity.
4. Signs that emit sound, smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, liquid, or gas.
5. Off-site signs
6. Any sign located in the vision triangle formed by any two intersecting streets.
7. Signs are not permitted in the public right-of-way.
  Town Code, Chapter 78, Article XIV, Sec. 78-140.4
On-site sign regulations:
1. Free-standing and temporary signs shall not exceed a height of six feet above grade and a maximum area of 12 square feet.
2. No sign license required for one or more temporary signs on single-family residential properties which are removed within 90 days after being erected.
  Town Code, Chapter 78, Article XIV, Sec. 78-140.5 and Sec 78-141.1
Off-site sign regulations:
1. None are permitted.
  Town Code, Chapter 78, Article V, Sec. 78-508 (7)
Loudoun County
Prohibited signs:
1. Signs on trees, fences, public utility pole, etc.
2. Balloons, banners, pennants, or inflated devices with the intent to draw attention are prohibited.
3. No sign shall be located in such a manner as, in the opinion of the zoning administrator, to cause a traffic hazard.
  Zoning Ordinance, Division C, Section 5-1202(A)(5) and (D)
On-site sign regulations:
1. Only one sign is permitted on a property lot that is less than 10 acres. Two signs are permitted on properties of 10 acres or more.
2. Residential for sale signs may not exceed six square feet in area.
3. All signs must be set back a minimum of five feet from the public right-of-way and may not exceed six feet in height.
4. No sign shall be erected without first obtaining a permit from the Zoning Administrator.
  Zoning Ordinance, Division C, Section 5-1204 (D), Sign Matrix Section 6(a)
Off-site sign regulations:
1. An unlimited number of temporary signs are permitted on all parcels. Signs may not exceed 32 square feet in size with a maximum height of eight feet.
2. Signs must be setback five feet from the right of way.
3. Signs must be properly secured and not impede visibility at intersections.
4. No sign shall be erected without first obtaining a permit from the Zoning Administrator.
5. Permit limited to 120 days within a 12 month period. Dates of sign display, which do not have to be consecutive, included with zoning permit.
  Zoning Ordinance, Division C, Section 5-1204 (D), Sign Matrix Section 5a
City of Manassas
Prohibited signs:
1. Any sign in which all or part is set in motion by any means, including the atmosphere, is prohibited.
2. Signs shall not be posted on utility poles, public signposts or trees.
3. No sign simulating or which is likely to be confused with a traffic control sign or other sign displayed by a public authority may be posted.
  Zoning Ordinance, Article IV, Sec. 130-128
On-site sign regulations:
1. On a property under construction or renovation, for sale, or for rent, signs shall not exceed four square feet for single-family detached properties or 18 square feet for all other residential, non-residential, or mixed-use properties.
2. All primary ground signs shall be required to be set back from any public right- of-way at least half the height of the sign.
  Zoning Ordinance, Article IV, Sec. 130-124 and 130-129 (e)
Off-site sign regulations:
1. Prohibited
  Zoning Ordinance, Article IV, Sec. 130-128(c)
City of Manassas Park
Prohibited signs:
1. Any sign that obscures a sign or signal displayed by a governmental authority.
2. Any sign in which all or part is in motion or set in motion by the atmosphere is prohibited; this includes banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similarly moving devices.
3. Posting of signs upon trees, utility poles, traffic control signs, lights or devices is prohibited.
4. No signs may be posted in the triangular area at the street corner of a corner lot.
  City Code, Chapter 31, Article VI, Section 31-29
On-site sign regulations:
1. One temporary sign may be placed on a lot for sale or lease.
2. Signs shall be removed no later than fourteen (14) days following the date on which a sale or lease contract was executed.
3. Signs shall be located no closer than ten (10) feet from any property line.
4. On lots less than one acre: signs may not exceed six square feet or six feet in height.
5. On lots of one to five acres: signs may not exceed 15 square feet or eight feet in height.
6. On lots over five acres: signs may not exceed 32 square feet or 12 feet in height.
  City Code, Chapter 31, Article VI, Section 31-29(K)(2)
Off-site sign regulations:
1. A maximum of 20 square feet of temporary signage is permitted on single family property. Temporary yard signs shall not exceed six feet in height.
2. Off-premises signs shall require a permit on property that is zoned B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, I-2, and commercial areas of a PUD. Permission must be granted from the property owner or his designated agent.
3. An off-premises sign shall be a freestanding sign.
4. Off-premises signs shall be constructed of materials that are durable enough to safely, securely and effectively meet the proposed duration of such sign.
5. Off-premises signs shall have a maximum height of eight feet and a maximum sign area of 32 square feet.
6. There shall be a maximum of two off-premises signs per property.
  City Code, Chapter 31, Article VI, Section 31-29(K)(4) and Section 31-29 (I)
Prince William County
Prohibited signs:
1. Signs affixed to trees, bus shelters, utility poles, benches, trash receptacles, or any other unapproved supporting structure, or otherwise placed in the public street.
2. Signs that employ any parts or elements which revolve, rotate, whirl, spin or otherwise make use of motion to attract attention.
3. Flashing signs or other signs displaying flashing, scrolling or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity.
4. Signs that emit smoke, flames, visible vapors, particles, mist, aerosol, liquid, gas, and normally detectable sound or odor.
5. Strings of flags, pennants, streamers, balloons and inflatable signs, or animated signs, such as wind-activated devices.
6. Signs Located in Public Streets and Right of Ways.
7. Feather signs.
County Code, Chapter 32, Section 32-250.24

Sign regulations:

The following signs may be erected, constructed, posted, painted, altered, or relocated without a sign permit issued by the Zoning Administrator or authorized person:
1. Yard Signs. Signs that are displayed on a property with a residential use or residential project. A residential use or residential project shall be permitted 3 yard signs per 1,000 feet of linear road frontage, separated by a minimum of 250 feet. Each sign shall have a maximum sign area 6 square feet and a maximum height of 5 feet. These signs are intended to be temporary in use and shall be the responsibility of the property owner for maintenance.
County Code, Chapter 32, Section 32-250.24
Town of Vienna
Prohibited signs:
1. Signs which involve motion or rotation of parts are prohibited. Banners, streamers, and similar devices used for advertising purposes are prohibited.
2. Under no circumstance should any such signs be positioned within the public street right of way. Signs should only be posted on private property with the express written permission of the owner or agent.
3. It is unlawful to place signs on street lights, telephone poles, markers or other signs or to place a sign without a permit within 10 feet of the curb or edge of pavement.
4. Free-standing signs and any permanent wall signs are prohibited from displaying phone numbers, email or internet addresses except where required by federal, state or local law. Evidence of such requirement must be submitted with any permit application for a sign containing a telephone or facsimile number, or an Internet or electronic mail address.
  Town Code, Chapter 18, Article 19, Section 18-178
On-site sign regulations:
1. Only one sign is permitted on the property.
2. Signs shall not exceed six square feet in area.
  Town Code, Chapter 18, Article 19, Section 18-177
Off-site sign regulations:
1. Signs must be a minimum of 10 feet from the street curb or edge of pavement without a permit.
2. A maximum of two real estate directional signs may be displayed on Saturday and Sunday only.
3. A temporary real estate sign not exceeding 50 square feet in area may be erected upon issuance of a six-month permit. Such a sign must be at least 75 feet from any dwelling, and shall be dismantled within five days of the expiration of the permit. Town Department of Planning and Zoning, Sign Ordinance Summary, “Temporary Signs”, located here.

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