§ 171-66C

Signage

• Districts where animated signs are allowed

  Animated signs are only permitted in Neighborhood Commercial, General Commercial, and Industrial Zones.

• Maximum banner area over right-of-way120 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Banners over a right-of-way shall not exceed 120 square feet in area and shall have a minimum street clearance of 17 feet over grade.

• Maximum banner display duration2 weeks

  Banners may be displayed over a right-of-way or within the median of a right-of-way for two consecutive weeks, provided that approval is granted by the Town Manager.

• Maximum entrance identification sign area50 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Such freestanding monument signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height or 50 square feet in area.

• Maximum entrance identification sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.20 ft

  Such freestanding monument signs shall not exceed 20 feet in height or 50 square feet in area.

• Maximum exempt address sign area6 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Street address signs and combination nameplate and street address signs that contain no advertising copy and which do not exceed six square feet (0.56 square meters) in area.

• Maximum exempt directional sign area3 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, including signs which identify restrooms, location of public telephones, public entrances, freight entrances or the like, provided that such signs do not exceed a total surface area of three square feet per sign on any lot or parcel.

• Maximum exempt gas price sign area12 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Gasoline price signs, provided that the total area of all such signs is 12 square feet or less.

• Maximum exempt menu sign area4 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Menu/daily special signs, not exceeding four square feet in size, provided that the sign is attached to a building facade.

• Maximum exempt sign area1 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Any sign with an area of one square foot or less.

• Maximum freestanding/projecting signs per parcel1 count

  Only one sign per parcel as designated on the Town real property tax maps may be freestanding or projecting except as provided in Subsection J of this section.

• Maximum historic districtHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. sign area12 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Historic district signs containing information relating to the historic, architectural, cultural, or archeological significance of the district. The maximum size sign permitted is 12 square feet, with a maximum height of nine feet.

• Maximum historic districtHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.9 ft

  Historic district signs containing information relating to the historic, architectural, cultural, or archeological significance of the district. The maximum size sign permitted is 12 square feet, with a maximum height of nine feet.

• Maximum historicHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. site sign area12 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Historic site signs, up to a maximum of one for each site, structure, or landmark registered with the Virginia Landmarks Register or the National Historic Register, are permitted in all zoning districts. The maximum size sign permitted is 12 square feet, with a maximum height of nine feet.

• Maximum historicHistoric districtAn area where exterior changes need design review to protect its character. site sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.9 ft

  Historic site signs, up to a maximum of one for each site, structure, or landmark registered with the Virginia Landmarks Register or the National Historic Register, are permitted in all zoning districts. The maximum size sign permitted is 12 square feet, with a maximum height of nine feet.

• Maximum marquee sign area (non-theater)20 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Signs on marquees for establishments other than theaters shall not exceed 20 square feet on any side or front section of the marquee.

• Maximum marquee sign vertical dimension (non-theater)3 ft

  Such signs may extend above the top of the marquee, provided that the vertical dimension of the structure, including both marquee and sign, shall not exceed three feet.

• Maximum repair cost for nonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. sign before removal50 pct

  Any legal nonconforming sign shall be removed or rebuilt without increasing the existing height or area if it is damaged, or removed if allowed to deteriorate to the extent that the cost of repair or restoration exceeds 50% of the replacement cost of the sign as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

• Days to remove obsolete sign copy30 days

  Any sign copy that no longer advertises or identifies a use conducted on the property on which said sign is erected must have the sign copy covered or removed within 30 days.

• Maximum freestanding/projecting sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.15 ft

  No part of any freestanding or projecting sign shall be higher than 15 feet from grade with the exception of signs within a two-mile radius of Interstate Route 77, which signs shall be allowed up to 25 feet in height.

• Maximum sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. within 2 miles of I-7725 ft

  No part of any freestanding or projecting sign shall be higher than 15 feet from grade with the exception of signs within a two-mile radius of Interstate Route 77, which signs shall be allowed up to 25 feet in height.

• Maximum number of signs per additional street frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.1 count

  Except where district regulations are more restrictive, any establishment may have no more than two signs per major street frontage and one additional sign for each additional street frontage unless stated otherwise.

• Maximum number of signs per major street frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.2 count

  Except where district regulations are more restrictive, any establishment may have no more than two signs per major street frontage and one additional sign for each additional street frontage unless stated otherwise.

• Maximum theater marquee vertical dimension5 ft

  Theater marquees shall not exceed five feet in the vertical dimension.

• Maximum under-marquee sign depth12 in

  Such signs shall not exceed 12 inches in depth with not more than an additional three inches in depth to include the supports and hangers attaching the sign to the marquee.

• Maximum under-marquee sign support depth3 in

  Such signs shall not exceed 12 inches in depth with not more than an additional three inches in depth to include the supports and hangers attaching the sign to the marquee.

• Days to repair or remove unsafe sign10 days

  When any sign becomes unsecure, in danger of falling or is otherwise deemed unsafe by the Zoning Administrator, or if any sign shall be unlawfully installed, erected or maintained in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the owner thereof or the person or firm using same shall, upon written notice by the Zoning Administrator forthwith in the case of immediate danger, and in any case within not more than 10 days, make such sign conform to the provisions of this chapter, or shall remove it.

• Minimum banner clearance over grade17 ft

  Banners over a right-of-way shall not exceed 120 square feet in area and shall have a minimum street clearance of 17 feet over grade.

• Minimum clearance for signs projecting over public walkways8 ft

  Signs projecting over public walkways shall be permitted to do so only subject to the projection and clearance limits either defined herein or, if not so defined, at a minimum height of eight feet (2,438 mm) from grade level to the bottom of the sign.

• Minimum clearance under marquee sign10 ft

  A sign or signs may also be suspended below the marquee, provided that a clearance of 10 feet is maintained between the bottom of the sign and the sidewalk or floor.

• NonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. sign removal after vacancy30 days

  Any sign that is hereafter unlawfully installed or maintained, presents a hazard to the public and any nonconforming sign (other than billboards) associated with premises that have been vacant for two years or more shall be taken down and removed by the owner, owner's agent or other person having the beneficial use of the premises upon which such sign is found, within 30 days after written notification to do so from the Zoning Administrator.

• Sign area reduction on replacement/consolidation30 pct

  When existing signs are replaced or consolidated, the maximum total sign surface area of the replacement or consolidated sign shall be: 1. Thirty percent less than the total sign surface area of the signs being replaced or consolidated; or 2. The area permitted by Subsection M of this section, whichever is greater.

• Minimum sign permit fee15 dollars

  A fee of $1 per square foot of sign area with a minimum of $15 shall accompany each application for a sign permit and shall be payable to the Town of Hillsville.

• Sign permit fee per square foot1 dollars

  A fee of $1 per square foot of sign area with a minimum of $15 shall accompany each application for a sign permit and shall be payable to the Town of Hillsville.

• Sign permit void if not installed within6 months

  Any sign permit issued shall be null and void if any sign for which the permit was issued is not installed in accordance with the permit within six months of the date the permit was approved.

• Sign permit void if use not commenced within6 months

  A sign permit shall become null and void if the use to which it pertains is not commenced within six months after the date the sign permit is issued.

• Sign setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from street line5 ft

  No sign other than an official traffic sign or similar sign shall be erected within five feet of the lines of any street, or within any public way, unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or regulations of this jurisdiction or by specific authorization of the Zoning Administrator.