Sec. 24.1-702
Dimensional standards
Height & bulk
- Minimum landscaping
- 6%
Extracted standards
26 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Landscaping & trees
- Landscaped area must be 4 times sign area4 multiplier
The planting area shall contain four (4) times the area of the sign
- Landscaped planting area required around permanent freestanding signs
A landscaped planting area shall be provided around the base of any permanent free-standing sign having an area equal to or greater than twenty-four (24) square feet.
- Minimum landscape credits required12 credits
including sufficient quantities to earn at least 12 landscape "credits," pursuant to Section 24.1-242 of this chapter
- Minimum width of landscaped area around signs6 ft
be a minimum of six feet (6') in width
Signage
- EMC signs must have automatic dimmer
All electronic message center signs shall be equipped with a sensor or other device that automatically determines the ambient illumination and which is programmed to automatically dim the illumination intensity according to ambient light conditions so as to ensure compliance with the 0.3 footcandle standard.
- Building-mounted EMC signs prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
building mounted electronic message center signs shall not be permitted;
- Manufacturer certification required for EMC signs
Prior to the County's final inspection and approval of an electronic message center sign, the applicant shall provide written certification from the sign manufacturer/installer that the sensor is working correctly to keep the sign's illumination intensity within the prescribed brightness limitations set by this ordinance.
- Maximum illuminance difference for EMC signs0.3 footcandle
The difference between the two readings shall not exceed 0.3 footcandle.
- Minimum message duration for electronic message center signs8 sec
each message or image shall remain fixed and unchanged for a minimum period of eight (8) seconds;
- Minimum separation between EMC signs on adjoining properties50 ft
the minimum separation between any two electronic message center signs located on adjoining properties shall be fifty feet (50').
- Movement, scrolling, dissolving, fading prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. on EMC signs
there shall be no appearance of movement, scrolling, dissolving or fading in which images or messages "move" or in which part of one message or image appears simultaneously with any part of a second or subsequent one;
- EMC signs in residential districts must have black background at night
when such sign is installed on property located in a Residential zoning district it shall be designed and operated so that between dusk and dawn the background field for any variable text message on the sign shall be black and the lights constituting the message text or any image shall be amber or orange;
- External lighting fixtures must be shielded
External lighting fixtures shall be shielded and directed in such a manner as to prevent glare onto adjacent roadways or properties.
- Maximum cumulative wall sign area240 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
In no event shall the cumulative wall sign area for a building, or for an individual tenant space if the building consists of multiple attached units, exceed 240 square feet.
- Maximum additional heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. for freestanding signs due to road elevation10 ft
If the adjoining road surface elevation is more than five (5) feet above the average finished grade at the location where the sign will be located, then the sign height may be increased by one (1) foot for each two (2) feet of elevation difference in excess of five (5), up to a maximum additional height allowance of ten (10) feet.
- Maximum permanent freestanding signs for corner lots1 count
Corner and through lots shall be entitled to one (1) permanent free-standing sign for each public road frontage.
- Maximum permanent freestanding signs per lot1 count
Except as specifically permitted in this chapter, not more than one (1) permanent free-standing sign shall be permitted for each lot or parcel.
- Maximum illuminance at non-residential property lines0.5 footcandle
Illuminance intensity of any illuminated sign shall be limited to not more than 0.5 footcandle at all perimeter property lines abutting non-residentially zoned property
- Maximum illuminance at residential property lines0.1 footcandle
and not more than 0.1 footcandle at all perimeter property lines abutting residentially zoned property.
- Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. for freestanding signs10 ft
The minimum setback of any free-standing sign, or any portion thereof, from any property line shall be ten feet (10').
- Non-commercial content allowed on commercial signs
Whenever this article permits a sign with commercial content, non-commercial content is also permitted subject to the same requirements as to size, height, location, materials, construction, illumination, color and movement.
Except as allowed in Section 24.1-703 for the IG district, no roof sign, whether temporary or permanent, shall be permitted.
- Sign permit required
No sign, unless herein exempted, shall be erected, constructed or altered until a permit has been issued by the county.
- Signs in public right-of-way prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
No sign, other than a sign approved or installed by the Virginia Department of Transportation, shall be located within or over any public right-of-way.
- Sign placement must comply with sight triangle
Sign placement shall comply with the sight triangle set forth in Section 24.1-226 of this chapter.
- Signs on trees or utility poles prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance.
Except as specifically permitted in this chapter, no sign, whether permanent or temporary, shall be attached to trees or utility poles.
From the ordinance
No sign, unless herein exempted, shall be erected, constructed or altered until a permit has been issued by the county.