Sec. 98-941

Signage

• Flags, banners, streamers restrictions

  Flags, banners, streamers and all other fluttering, spinning or similar type signs and advertising devices are prohibited except for national flags and flags of political subdivisions of the United States, flags of bona fide civic, charitable, fraternal and welfare organizations, and flags of corporations, provided that during nationally recognized holiday periods or during a special civic event flags, banners, streamers and other fluttering, spinning or similar type advertising devices pertaining to such periods or events may be displayed. Flags, banners and streamers and similar advertising devices used for a promotional campaign shall be allowed for a period not to exceed 30 days per 12-month period.

• Flashing signs or neon prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. for exterior use

  Flashing signs or exposed gas-filled or illuminated tubing such as neon are not permitted for exterior use.

• Only home occupationHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there. sign permitted for home occupationsHome occupationA business run from a dwelling, permitted so long as it stays subordinate to living there.

  The only sign that shall be permitted in conjunction with a home occupation, either on or off the site, is a home occupation sign.

• Signs with intermittent lights resembling danger prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  No sign shall be constructed, erected, used, operated or maintained which displays intermittent lights resembling or seeming to resemble the flashing lights customarily associated with danger or such as are customarily used by police, fire or ambulance vehicles or for navigation purposes.

• Maximum facade signs per establishment per street frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street. side1 count

  Not more than one facade sign per establishment shall be permitted for each side of a parcel with frontage on a street.

• Maximum freestanding signs per street frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street. side1 count

  Not more than one freestanding sign shall be permitted for each side of a parcel with frontage on a street.

• Maximum fuel pump island sign area per side30 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Signs permanently affixed to motor vehicle fuel pumping islands shall be limited to a total of 30 square feet per side of island, exclusive of signs affixed to the canopy.

• Maximum prestige identification signs per entrance1 count

  One prestige identification sign shall be permitted for each entrance into the subdivision, estate or facility.

• Signs attached to trees or utility poles prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  No sign shall be attached to trees, utility poles or other supporting structures unauthorized by the county.

• Signs must be maintained

  All signs shall be maintained in good condition and appearance. After due notice has been given, the zoning administrator may cause to be removed any sign which shows gross neglect or becomes dilapidated or unnecessary due to abandonment of the use.

• Signs above roof ridge line prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  No sign attached to a building shall extend over or above the ridge line of any roof or the top of any parapet wall of a building.

• Sign types permitted by districtZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2. per Table I

  Signs permitted within the county shall only be permitted in the districts specified in Table I following this section.

• Signs in public right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  No signs other than an official traffic sign approved and/or installed by the state department of transportation shall be located within any public right-of-way line or property line.

• Compliance with state outdoor advertising law

  Signs shall be subject to the provisions of Code of Virginia, § 33.1-351 et seq., if such standards are more restrictive than local ordinances.

• Temporary signs in existence conversion period365 days

  Temporary signs in existence at the time of adoption of the ordinance from which this article is derived shall have a period of one year to be made permanent in accordance with section 98-944, otherwise such signs shall follow the requirements of temporary signs.

• Maximum display period for temporary signs90 days

  Temporary signs may be displayed for a period of up to 90 days, after which they may not be displayed again at the same location within 90 days from the date removed.

• Signs with colored lights confusing motorists prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  No sign shall be constructed, erected, used, operated or maintained which is so located and so illuminated as to provide a background of colored lights blending with traffic signal lights to the extent of confusing a motorist when viewed from normal approaching positions of a vehicle at a distance of 25 to 300 feet.