Uses
Prohibited14
- animated sign
- flashing sign
- sign emitting smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, liquid, or gas
- sign emitting sound
- electronic sign (except as expressly permitted)
- off-premises sign (unless specifically permitted)
- sign on public land or within public right-of-way (unless approved)
- roof sign (unless approved as part of comprehensive sign plan)
- sign in vision triangle
- sign obstructing clear vision at curve
- side and rear wall sign facing and within 100 feet of a residential district
- vehicle or trailer sign
- sign attached to natural vegetation
- sign simulating traffic control sign
Extracted standards
32 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Signage
- Abandoned commercial sign blank face requirement60 days
The owner of any commercial sign advertising a use or business that has ceased operating shall, within 60 days of the cessation of use or business operation, replace the sign face with a blank face until such time as a use or business has resumed operating on the property.
- Separation between additional permanent ground/freestanding signs150 ft
Second and all additional permanent ground/freestanding signs on any premises must either: a. Have a separation of 150 linear feet from any other permanent ground/freestanding sign; or b. Meet the front yard setback requirements of the zoning district in which the premises is located.
- B-2 freestanding sign setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from curb2 ft
In the B-2 central business district, all permanent freestanding signs must remain a minimum of two feet from the back of the street curb
- B-2 sign projection over public property42 in
and all signs may project a maximum of 42 inches over public property.
- Combined area sign maximum faces4 faces
A combined area sign may have up to four faces, joined at the corners at 90 degree or less angles with no face exceeding the area normally allocated a single ground/freestanding sign face.
- Comprehensive sign plan districts
Comprehensive sign plans may be approved by conditional use permit in the MU-1, MU-2, B-1, B-2, B-3, I-1, and I-2 districts.
- Double-faced sign area calculation
The permitted area of a double-faced sign shall be considered to be the area on one side only. If one face contains a larger sign area than the other, the larger face shall be used in calculating the sign area. A double-faced sign must have an internal angle between its two faces of no more than 45 degrees.
- Electronic message static duration4 seconds
Electronic messaging signage (including the primary message and any and all secondary messages, backgrounds, etc.) is required to remain static for at least four seconds and may not flash or change intensity by pulsing or pulsating.
- Electronic messaging conditional useConditional useAllowed only after a discretionary approval — usually a public hearing and a board vote. permit required
Electronic messaging signage shall require conditional use permit approval within historic districts as designated by the Virginia Landmarks Register or within the B-2, central business zoning district.
- Permanent freestanding sign setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from property lines3 ft
and a minimum of three feet from all other property lines.
- Permanent freestanding sign setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from right-of-way10 ft
Except as otherwise permitted, permanent freestanding signs shall be set back a minimum of ten feet from any public right-of-way
- Home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there. sign placement
Home occupation signs in residential districts, if permitted, shall be wall-mounted in close proximity to the front door.
- Illumination causing glare or traffic hazard prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
The illumination from any sign resulting in any internal or external artificial light source that adversely affects surrounding properties, causes offensive glare, or creates a traffic hazard shall be prohibited. Furthermore, no sign shall be permitted to affect highway safety or shine directly into a residential dwelling unit.
- Indirect lighting shielding
In the case of indirect lighting, the source shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the face of the sign. However, projecting signs shall be indirectly illuminated or have shielded direct lighting, unless otherwise prohibited within this chapter. Indirect lighting shall consist of full cut-off or directionally shielded lighting fixtures that are aimed and controlled so that the directed light shall be substantially confined to the sign to minimize glare and light trespass. The beam width shall not be wider than that needed to light the sign.
- Sign repair/removal after notice30 days
Any sign requiring maintenance or removal shall be repaired or removed within 30 days of a written notice to the owner and/or permit holder.
- Sign maintenance
All signs and components thereof shall be maintained in good repair and in a safe, neat, and clean condition. Signs showing visible signs of wear, fading, chipped paint, rotting or rusting structure, or non-working components, must be repaired or be subject to code enforcement as a nuisance.
- Minor signs per parcel2 signs
Not more than two minor signs per parcel.
- NonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. sign removal after use ceases2 years
A nonconforming sign structure shall be removed if the use to which it is accessory has not been in operation for a period of two years or more.
- NonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. sign removal notice15 days
If the owner or lessee fails to remove the sign structure, the zoning administrator or designee shall give the owner 15 days' written notice to remove it.
- Permit processing time10 business days
The zoning administrator or designee shall promptly process the sign permit application and approve the application, reject the application, or notify the applicant of deficiencies in the application within ten business days after receipt.
- Sign permit required
A sign permit is required prior to the display and erection of any sign except as provided in section 42-704 of this article.
- Permit void if not installed6 months
If a sign is not installed within six months following the issuance of a sign permit, the permit shall be void.
- Portable sign area (commercial/industrial districts)20 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
20 square feet in size in the B-1, B-2, B-3, MU-2, I-1, and I-2 zoning districts
- Portable sign area (residential districts)12 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
One or more portable signs per tax map parcel not exceeding 12 square feet in size in the A, R1-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, and MU-1 zoning districts
- Projecting sign thickness for area calculation4 in
For projecting signs with a thickness of four inches or more, the sign area also includes the area of the visible sides of the sign, calculated as a rectangle enclosing each entire side view.
- Sign area calculation method
With signs that are regular polygons or circles the area can be calculated by the mathematical formula for that polygon or circle. With signs that are not regular polygons or circles, the sign area is calculated using all that area within a maximum of three abutting or overlapping rectangles that enclose the sign face.
- Temporary/portable sign setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from property lines3 ft
and a minimum of three feet from all other property lines.
- Temporary/portable sign setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from right-of-way5 ft
Except as otherwise permitted, freestanding temporary and portable signs shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any public right-of-way
- Temporary sign area (commercial/industrial districts)20 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
20 square feet in size in the B-1, B-2, B-3, MU-2, I-1, and I-2 zoning districts
- Temporary sign area (residential districts)12 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
One or more temporary signs per tax map parcel with a total area not exceeding 12 square feet in size in the A, R1-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, and MU-1 zoning districts
- Temporary sign display duration90 days
removed within 90 days after being erected
- Average wall heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. per story12 ft
In cases where the height of the building cannot be determined the average height shall be 12 feet per story.
From the ordinance
In addition to signs prohibited elsewhere in the town code or by applicable state or federal law, the following signs are prohibited: (a) General prohibitions: (1) Signs that violate any law of the Commonwealth of Virginia relating to outdoor advertising. (2) Signs attached to natural vegetation. (3) Signs simulating, or which are likely to be confused with, a traffic control sign... (4) Vehicle or trailer signs as defined herein. (5) Any sign displayed without complying with all applicable regulations of this chapter. (b) Prohibitions based on materials: (1) Animated signs... (2) Flashing signs... (3) Signs that emit smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, liquid, or gas. (4) Signs that emit sound. (5) Any electronic sign except as expressly permitted herein. (c) Prohibitions based on location: (1) Off-premises signs unless specifically permitted... (2) Signs erected on public land or within the public right-of-way... (3) Roof signs unless approved as part of a comprehensive sign plan... (4) Any sign located in the vision triangle... (5) Signs at or near any curve... (6) Side and rear wall signs facing and within 100 feet of a residential district.