Sec. 21-746

Signage

• Building-mounted sign illumination

  Illumination: Internally illuminated signs shall be prohibited.

• Maximum building-mounted sign area32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: One square foot of sign area for each lineal foot of building frontage on a public street occupied by the business, with a maximum sign area of 32 square feet. No sign area shall be required to be less than 16 square feet.

• Minimum building-mounted sign area16 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  No sign area shall be required to be less than 16 square feet.

• Maximum building-mounted sign area at rear entrance32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  When a business has a rear entrance from an adjacent parking lot, additional building-mounted signage shall be allowed at the rear entrance as follows: One square foot of sign for each lineal foot of exterior building width occupied by the business at the rear entrance, with a maximum sign area of 32 square feet.

• City sign illumination

  Illumination: Prohibited.

• City sign location on right-of-way

  Location on a city right-of-way: Allowed.

• Maximum city sign area20 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: 20 square feet.

• Maximum city sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.12 ft

  Maximum height: 12 feet.

• Illumination

  Illumination: Internally illuminated signs shall be prohibited.

• Location on city right-of-way

  Location on a city right-of-way: Prohibited.

• Maximum freestanding sign area (shared by two or more businesses)50 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: 32 square feet for single business sign; 50 square feet for a sign shared by two or more businesses located on the same site.

• Maximum freestanding sign area (single business)32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: 32 square feet.

• Maximum freestanding sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. (single business)12 ft

  Maximum height: 12 feet; except for decorative bar-iron cresting above the sign which may extend above the 12-foot height to a maximum height of 15 feet, provided that the bar-iron is no larger than 3/4-inch by 1½-inches in cross section.

• Maximum number of signs on one pole or supporting structure1 count

  Maximum number of signs on one pole or supporting structure: One.

• Number of freestanding signs (single business)1 count

  Number of freestanding signs permitted: One, but where the business has a rear entrance from an adjacent parking lot, one additional freestanding sign may be placed at the rear entrance.

• Projection over city right-of-way

  Projection over a city right-of-way: Permitted if the following conditions are met: Bottom of sign shall be at least eight feet above ground level. Edge of sign shall be at least three feet from curb line or edge of pavement. Liability insurance policy shall be maintained in accordance with section 21-740.

• Multiple tenant sign illumination

  Illumination: Internally illuminated signs shall be prohibited.

• Maximum multiple tenant sign area7.5 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: Seven and one-half square feet.

• Maximum banner area for museum over 75,000 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.100 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum banner area: 100 square feet.

• Maximum monument sign area for museum over 75,000 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.64 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: 64 square feet for each sign.

• Maximum monument sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for museum over 75,000 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.5 ft

  Maximum height: Five feet, provided that the height of the monument sign base shall be not more than 50 percent of the height of the sign face.

• Maximum banner area for museum under 75,000 sq ftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.15 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Temporary banner signs if the following conditions are met: Maximum banner area: 15 square feet.

• Restaurant additional sign illumination

  Illumination: Prohibited.

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

  Maximum sign area: Six square feet.

• Maximum additional restaurant sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft

  Maximum height: Six feet.

• Maximum additional shopping center sign area7.5 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: Seven and one-half square feet.

• Maximum additional shopping center sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.7.5 ft

  Maximum height for freestanding signs: Seven and one-half feet.

• Maximum shopping center sign area20 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: 20 square feet.

• Maximum shopping center sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.12 ft

  Maximum height: 12 feet; except for decorative bar-iron cresting above the sign which may extend above the 12-foot height, provided that the bar-iron is no larger than 3/4-inch by 1½-inches in cross section.

• Attachments to sidewalk signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  No temporary posters, letters, flyers, balloons, pennants, flags or other attention-getting devices may be attached to a sidewalk sign.

• Sidewalk sign design criteria

  Signs shall be constructed of wood that presents a finished appearance; or shall be wood, metal or plastic faced within a metal frame. Rough-cut plywood is prohibited. Chalk boards are permitted, but changeable copy with removable letters is prohibited. Dry erase boards are prohibited. Permitted sign colors shall be from the approved color palette in the City of Williamsburg Design Review Guidelines, Chapter VII, Signs. Creative shapes are encouraged.

• Sidewalk sign illumination

  Illumination: Prohibited.

• Location on public sidewalk

  Location on a public sidewalk: Prohibited except for sidewalks on Prince George Street between North Henry Street and Armistead Avenue, which is regulated by Chapter 15, Streets and Sidewalks, Article III, Sidewalks, subsection 15-41(c).

• Maximum sidewalk sign area8 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum sign area: Eight square feet.

• Maximum sidewalk sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.4 ft

  Maximum height: Four feet.

• Maximum sidewalk sign width2.5 ft

  Maximum width: Two and one-half feet.

• Sidewalk sign display time

  Sidewalk signs shall be displayed only when the business is open.

• Internally illuminated window signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Internally illuminated signs placed behind a window or door shall be prohibited.

• Maximum window area for non-illuminated inside signs50 pct

  Non-illuminated signs painted on or affixed to the inside of, or hung behind, windows or doors shall be permitted, provided that not more than 50 percent of the window area shall be taken up by said signs.