Sec. 21-746

Signage

• Accent sign allowed

  One illuminated or non-illuminated 'accent' sign placed behind a window shall be allowed for each business, not to exceed two square feet in area.

• Accent sign illumination allowed

  Illumination may be internal, external, by exposed LED lights, or by one or more exposed tubular electrical discharge lamps containing neon or other similar gasses (commonly referred to as a neon sign).

• Maximum accent sign area2 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  not to exceed two square feet in area.

• Building-mounted sign area formula

  One square foot 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.

• Maximum building-mounted sign area per frontageFrontageThe length of a lot line that touches a public street.32 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  The maximum sign area on any one side of the building shall not exceed 32 square feet.

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

  with a maximum sign area of 32 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.

• City directional sign illumination prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Illumination: Prohibited.

• City directional sign location on city right-of-way allowed

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

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

  Maximum height: 12 feet.

• Maximum freestanding 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 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 freestanding sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. with cresting15 ft

  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.

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

  Illumination: Internally illuminated signs shall be prohibited.

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

  Internally illuminated signs, except for 'open' signs permitted in subsection 21-746(2)f.4., shall be prohibited.

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

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

• Multiple tenant sign internally illuminated prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Illumination: Internally illuminated signs shall be prohibited.

• Multiple tenant sign location on city right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Location on a city right-of-way: 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.

• Multiple tenant sign projection over city right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Projection over a city right-of-way: Prohibited.

• Maximum museum banner area15 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.

  Maximum banner area: 15 square feet.

• Museum temporary banner sign allowed

  Temporary banner signs if the following conditions are met: i. Number of banners permitted: One building-mounted banner sign for each building used primarily as a museum or art gallery. ii. Maximum banner area: 15 square feet.

• Projecting sign area deducted from maximum

  Sign area shall be deducted from the maximum sign area allowed by subsection (2)a., above.

• Projecting sign projection over city right-of-way allowed

  Projection over a city right-of-way shall be permitted if the following conditions are met: 1. Bottom of sign shall be at least eight feet above ground level. 2. Edge of sign shall be at least three feet from curb line or edge of pavement. 3. Liability insurance policy shall be maintained in accordance with section 21-740.

• Rear entrance building-mounted sign area formula

  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.

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

  with a maximum sign area of 32 square feet.

• Residential signs regulated by residential sign districtZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2.

  For residential uses, signs shall be regulated by section 21-743, Sign regulations for the residential sign district.

• Restaurant additional sign color palette required

  Permitted sign colors shall be from the approved color palette in the City of Williamsburg Design Review Guidelines, Chapter VII, Signs.

• Restaurant additional sign illumination prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Illumination: Prohibited.

• Restaurant additional sign location on city right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

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

• Restaurant additional sign material requirement

  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.

• 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.

• Restaurant additional sign projection over city right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Projection over a city right-of-way: Prohibited.

• Additional restaurant signage allowed

  In addition to permitted signage, a restaurant may also have the following additional signage if the following conditions are met (no architectural review board approval or sign permit shall be required)

• Sidewalk sign attachments 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.

• Chalkboards allowed, changeable copy with removable letters prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Chalk boards are permitted, but changeable copy with removable letters is prohibited.

• Permitted sign colors from approved color palette

  Permitted sign colors shall be from the approved color palette in the City of Williamsburg Design Review Guidelines, Chapter VII, Signs.

• Creative shapes encouraged

  Creative shapes are encouraged (e.g., ice cream cone, coffee cup, cupcake).

• Sidewalk sign display time

  Time of display: Sidewalk signs shall be displayed only when the business is open.

• Dry erase boards prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Dry erase boards are prohibited.

• Sidewalk sign illumination prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Illumination: Prohibited.

• Sidewalk sign location on public sidewalk prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

  Location on a public sidewalk: Prohibited.

• Sidewalk sign material requirement

  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.

• 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 signs allowed in college commercial area east of Virginia Avenue

  Portable freestanding sidewalk signs (also referred to as A-frame signs and sandwich boards) shall be permitted on private property in the college commercial area east of Virginia Avenue if the following conditions are met.

• Sign location on city right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.

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

• Sign projection over city right-of-way allowed

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

• Distance beyond which illuminated signs not considered signs10 ft

  Internally illuminated signs located more than ten feet behind a window or door shall not be considered signs for the purpose of this section.

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

  Internally illuminated signs placed behind a window or door shall be prohibited, except for 'accent' signs allowed by subsection 21-746(2)f.4.

• Maximum window sign coverage50 pct

  not more than 50 percent of the window area shall be taken up by said signs.

• Non-illuminated inside window signs allowed

  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.

• Non-illuminated inside window signs not counted as building-mounted area

  These signs shall not be counted as building-mounted sign area.

• Non-illuminated outside window signs deducted from building-mounted area

  Non-illuminated signs painted on or affixed to the outside of windows or doors shall be permitted, but shall be deducted from the building-mounted sign area allowed by subsection 21-746(2)a.