Culpeper County Unincorporated

Temporary signs in windows: Temporary window signs may be displayed, provided that the area occupied by temporary signs shall not exceed forty percent (40%) of the area of the window on, or within which they are displayed.

Temporary signs, announcing a campaign, drive or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational, historical or religious organization. Such signs may be either building-mounted or freestanding and shall not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet in area. If freestanding, no such sign shall exceed ten (10) feet in height or be located closer than five (5) feet to any lot line. Such signs may be located on or off-site, and may be posted for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Such signs shall also be removed not less than five (5) days following the event.

Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of a premise or part of the premises on which the signs are displayed. Such signs shall not exceed a total area of four (4) square feet or a maximum height of six (6) feet when advertising a single family detached, attached or multiple family dwelling unit; a total area of thirty-two (32) square feet and a maximum height of twelve (12) feet when advertising a multiple family dwelling development; a total area of thirty-two (32) square feet and a maximum height of ten (10) feet when advertising any commercial or industrial property, or any residential or agricultural property containing a minimum of twenty (20) acres. Such signs shall not exceed one (1) in number per property, except that there may be two (2) such signs on a corner lot. Such signs shall be removed within five (5) days of the settlement, rental or lease.

Temporary signs for a new residential, commercial or industrial development, which identify the name of the proposed development, the character of the building(s), enterprise(s), or the purpose for which the development is intended. Any such sign shall be limited to one (1) in number for each development, may be freestanding or building-mounted and shall be limited to a maximum area of thirty-two (32) square feet, and if freestanding, a maximum height of twelve (12) feet. No such sign shall be located closer than ten (10) feet to any lot line. Such sign shall be located on the site of the development and shall be removed within five (5) days following completion of construction. No such sign shall be displayed for a period in excess of two (2) years, except if construction has not been completed, a sign permit may be obtained for an additional period as may be approved by the Zoning Administrator.

Temporary signs for home improvements to individual single family dwelling units. Any such sign may identify the contractor, architect, or firm involved with the home improvement but shall not include any advertisement of any product. Such sign shall be located on the lot of the dwelling unit with the home improvement, shall not exceed a total area of four (4) square feet and a maximum height of four (4) feet, shall be limited to one (1) in number per dwelling unit, and may be freestanding. No such sign shall be displayed prior to commencement of the on-site home improvement work, and such sign shall be removed within three (3) days after the home improvement is complete. However, in no event shall such sign be displayed for a period in excess of twelve (12) months.

Temporary signs announcing events such as 'Grand Opening', 'Under New Management', or 'Going Out of Business'. Such signs may be either freestanding or building-mounted and shall be subject to the following conditions: (a) A maximum of one (1) square foot of sign per linear foot of front wall. For multi-tenant buildings, a maximum of one (1) square foot of sign per tenant storefront width; (b) If freestanding, not to exceed ten (10) feet in height or located closer than ten (10) feet to any lot line; (c) For a period not to exceed thirty (30) days; (d) On a given property, such temporary sign may be displayed only one (1) time by the same proprietor in a twelve (12) month period.

Temporary signs identifying permitted produce or wayside stands from each direction may be placed to identify such stands. Such signs shall be placed at least five hundred (500) feet, but no more than two thousand five hundred (2,500) feet from the entrance to the stand. Such signs must designate whether stand is open and be designed in such a way that they can be closed, covered or removed so that message is only displayed during operating hours of the stand.

Temporary signs advertising the sale of seasonal products such as Christmas trees, pumpkins, and fireworks. Such signs may be either freestanding or building-mounted, and the total area of all such signs shall not exceed sixty-four (64) square feet. If freestanding, such signs shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height or be located closer than ten (10) feet to any lot line. Such signs shall not be posted for a period that exceeds forty-five (45) days.

Temporary private garage or yard sale signs. Such signs shall not exceed three (3) square feet in area or four (4) feet in height. Such signs shall not exceed five (5) in number per garage/yard sale being advertised. These signs may be off-site, and may not be posted more than seven (7) days before the event. They must be removed within two (2) days after the event.

Temporary political campaign signs may be permitted off-site in any district subject to the following conditions: (a) No one (1) such sign shall exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area, and no freestanding sign shall exceed ten (10) feet in height. (b) All signs shall be removed within ten (10) days after the nomination, election or referendum. (c) Nothing in this provision shall be construed to authorize the posting of political campaign signs upon trees, utility poles, traffic control signs, lights or devices, or in any place or manner prohibited by the provisions of this article. (d) Political campaign signs erected on election day at officially designated polling places for a period not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours.

Any sign not specifically authorized by this Article is prohibited unless required by law. The following signs and conditions are also prohibited in any zoning district:

Sign area for all sign types is measured as follows: (a) Sign copy mounted, affixed, or painted on a background panel or area distinctively painted, textured, or constructed as a background for the sign copy, is measured as that area contained within the sum of the smallest rectangle(s) that will enclose both the sign copy and the background. (b) Sign copy mounted as individual letters or graphics against a wall, fascia, mansard, or parapet of a building or surface of another structure, that has not been painted, textured, or otherwise altered to provide a distinctive background for the sign copy, is measured as the smallest area to be enclosed by eight (8) parallel lines. (c) Multi-face signs are measured as follows: (i) Two (2) face signs: If the interior angle between the two (2) sign faces is forty-five degrees (45°) or less, the sign area is of one (1) sign face only. If the angle between the two (2) sign faces is greater than forty-five degrees (45°), the sign area is the sum of the areas of the two (2) sign faces. Each face shall contain the identical copy, layout, colors and graphic images. (ii) Three (3) or four (4) face signs: The sign area is fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the areas of all sign faces. (iii) Spherical, free-form, sculptural, or other non-planar sign area is fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the areas using only the four (4) vertical sides of the smallest four-sided polyhedron that will encompass the sign structure. Signs with greater than four (4) faces are prohibited.

Sign height is measured as follows: (a) Freestanding signs: Sign height is the perpendicular distance measured from the finished grade at the center of the base of a sign to the topmost portion of a sign. The height and width of any monument sign base or other structure erected to support or adorn the sign is measured as part of the sign height and area. (b) Building mounted signs: The height of wall, fascia, mansard, parapet or other building mounted signs is the perpendicular distance measured from the base of the wall on which the sign is located to the top center of the sign or sign structure.

All permanent signs may be non-illuminated, illuminated by internal, internal indirect (halo), or lit by external direct illumination, unless otherwise specified. Conformance with Article 32, Outdoor Lighting Standards, is required.

Externally lit signs are permitted to be illuminated only with steady, stationary, down directed and shielded light sources directed solely onto the sign. Light bulbs or light tubes used for illuminating a sign shall not be directly visible from adjacent public rights-of-way or residential properties.

Raceway cabinets, where used as an element of building mounted wall signs, shall match to the greatest extent possible the building color at the location of the building where the sign is located. Where a raceway provides a contrast background to sign copy, the colored area is counted in the aggregate sign area permitted for the site or occupancy. Raceways shall not be used on roof mounted signs, freestanding signs, or landscape wall signs.

To the greatest extent possible, all support elements shall be hidden or concealed from plain view.

When electrical service is provided to freestanding signs or landscape wall signs, all such electrical service is required to be underground and concealed. Electrical service to building mounted signs, including conduit, housings, and wire, are to be entirely concealed.

It shall be unlawful for any owner of record, lessor, lessee, manager, agent, or other person having lawful possession or control over a building, structure, or parcel of land to fail to maintain all signage thereon, in conformance with this ordinance. Failure to maintain signs constitutes a violation of this ordinance.

Complete maintenance is required for all signs, whether or not in existence prior to adoption of this Article. Maintenance of a sign shall include periodic cleaning, replacement of flickering, burned out or broken light bulbs or fixtures, repair or replacement of any faded, peeled, cracked, or otherwise damaged or broken parts of a sign, and any other activity necessary to restore the sign so that it continues to conform to the requirements and contents of the sign permit issued for its installation and provisions of this Article.