(A)

Signs obstruct views, distract motorists, displace alternative uses for land, and pose other problems that legitimately call for regulation. The purpose of this article is to regulate the size, color, illumination, movement, materials, location, height and condition of all signs placed on private property for exterior observation, thus ensuring the protection of property values, the character of the various neighborhoods, the creation of a convenient, attractive and harmonious community, protection against destruction of or encroachment upon historic areas, and the safety and welfare of pedestrians and wheeled traffic, while providing convenience to citizens and encouraging economic development. This article allows adequate communication through signage while encouraging aesthetic quality in the design, location, size and purpose of all signs. This article shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the First Amendment guarantee of free speech. If any provision of this article is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such finding shall not affect the validity of other provisions of this article which can be given effect without the invalid provision.

(B)

Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by special use permit under this article, by specific requirements in another portion of this chapter, or otherwise expressly allowed by the governing body are prohibited.

(C)

A sign placed on land or on a building for the purpose of identification, protection or directing persons to a use conducted therein shall be deemed to be an integral but accessory and subordinate part of the principal use of land or building. Therefore, the intent of this article is to establish limitations on signs in order to ensure they are appropriate to the land, building or use to which they are appurtenant and are adequate for their intended purpose while balancing the individual and community interests identified in subsection (a) of this section.

(D)

These regulations are intended to promote signs that are compatible with the use of the property to which they are appurtenant, landscape and architecture of surrounding buildings, are legible and appropriate to the activity to which they pertain, are not distracting to motorists, and are constructed and maintained in a structurally sound and attractive condition.

(E)

These regulations do not regulate every form and instance of visual speech that may be displayed anywhere within the jurisdictional limits of the city. Rather, they are intended to regulate those forms and instances that are most likely to meaningfully affect one or more of the purposes set forth above.

(F)

These regulations do not entirely eliminate all of the harms that may be created by the installation and display of signs. Rather, they strike an appropriate balance that preserves ample channels of communication by means of visual display while still reducing and mitigating the extent of the harms caused by signs.

(G)

This article governs the erection and display of all signs in the City except those erected and displayed by the City, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States in furtherance of their governmental responsibilities, and those required by law to be erected and displayed.

(H)

All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this Article IX are mere licenses revocable at any time by the director upon a violation of any applicable provision of this Article IX.

(I)

The provisions contained in this Article IX shall be considered separate from, supplemental to and additional to the provisions contained elsewhere in this ordinance or other city ordinances. Nothing contained in this Article IX shall excuse any person from compliance with all other applicable provisions of this ordinance or the city code.

(J)

Wherever authority is to be exercised under this Article IX by the city manager or the director, the authority may also be exercised by his or her designee.

(K)

This article shall apply to signs on property not used for public right-of-way. Under no circumstances shall any provision herein authorize placement of a sign on any public right-of-way.

(L)

Wherever this article permits a sign with commercial content, non-commercial content is also permitted subject to the same requirements of size, color, illumination, movement, materials, location, height and construction.

(A)

Billboard. Any sign that consists of a single panel surface larger than 100 square feet in size that is installed as an independent structure or is mounted on the side or top of a building, and this sign along with its location is sold, rented, or leased to a user that is not the property's business owner.

(B)

Digital sign. A sign that can change its content by way of electronic or mechanical means. Digital signs include, but are not limited to, images projected onto a building, televisions, monitors, and other screens.

(C)

Flag. A piece of cloth or similar material, shaped like a pennant, rectangle, or square, attachable by one straight edge to a pole or rope or attached at the top and draped.

(D)

Flashing sign. A sign consisting of, or illuminated by, flashing or intermittent lights or other lights of changing degrees of intensity, brightness or color except for digital signs.

(E)

Freestanding sign. A sign that is supported by an independent structure and is not attached to a building or other structure. Freestanding signs include, but are not limited to, monument signs, minor freestanding signs, and pole signs.

(F)

Freestanding sign, monument: A freestanding sign without visible supporting posts or poles under the sign face.

(G)

Height. The maximum vertical distance from the ground at the base of the sign to the highest point of the sign or sign structure.

(H)

Illuminated sign. A sign that is backlit, internally lighted, or lighted by direct external lighting fixtures.

(I)

Internally illuminated panel sign. An illuminated sign with a light fixture inside a rectangular box with a translucent sign face.

(J)

Moving sign. A sign that has moving parts. A flag is not a moving sign.

(K)

Pole sign. A freestanding sign that is mounted on one or more visible, ground-mounted poles. A flag, as defined by 9-102(C), affixed to a pole is not a pole sign.

(L)

Portable sign. A temporary, freestanding sign, including but not limited to A-frame signs.

(M)

Roof sign. A wall sign attached to a building which extends, in whole or in part, above the roof line or eaves or is located on a penthouse. The term "roof sign" shall not include a wall sign which is mounted on a parapet wall above the roof line and below the top of the parapet.

(N)

Sign. An object, device, display structure, or part thereof, visible to and designed to communicate information to persons in a public area by any means involving words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, logos, colors, illumination, or projected images. A sign may have one or two faces and may have messages on each face.

(O)

Sign face. The portion of a sign which contains words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, logos, or similar and any distinctive background, separate from the building or structure to which it is attached, containing these elements.

(P)

Sign area. The sum of the areas of the smallest rectangle around each individual word, figure, design, symbol, logo, or similar and any distinctive background, separate from the building, containing these elements. For freestanding signs, sign area shall not include the base of the sign and shall only include the area of one sign face.

(Q)

Sign area ratio. The ratio of the building wall's width to the sign area.

(R)

Sign structure. Any structure supporting a sign face.

(S)

Temporary sign. A sign intended to be displayed for a short period of time.

(T)

Wall sign. A sign attached to a building or painted on or against a flat vertical surface of a structure.

(U)

Window sign. A sign visible through any window or door and attached to or within four feet in front of or behind window or door.

(Ord. No. 5029, § 2, 6-18-16; Ord. No. 5579, § 4, 4-26-25)

Signs are permitted on any lot, in any zone, and in any required yard subject to all other applicable requirements of this Article.

(A)

Sign regulations for a lot containing a single-unit, two-unit, townhouse, and multi-unit up to four unit use.

(B)

Sign regulations for a lot containing a non-residential, multi-unit with more than four units, and mixed uses Freestanding monument and wall signs may be illuminated subject to the limitations established by section 9-202.

(A)

Waiver of requirement by special use permit. A special use permit may be obtained pursuant to section 11-500, which authorizes the provision of signage otherwise not permitted by this Article IX, subject to the following:

(1)

The special use permit applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed signage would correspond with the intent of this Article IX; and

(2)

City council finds that:

i.

The proposed signage has an exceptional design or approach that cannot be accomplished within the existing regulations;

ii.

The proposed signage will not have an adverse impact on the nearby neighborhood; and

iii.

The signs comply with the applicable standards for approval of a special use permit set forth in section 11-504.

(B)

Signs permitted with administrative special use permit. The following signs may be allowed with administrative approval, subject to section 11-513:

(A)

Any signs that exceed the maximum permitted number, height, or sign area;

(B)

Temporary signs that are posted for more than 120 days without interruption; and

(C)

Digital signs.

The following signs are prohibited:

(A)

Flashing signs;

(B)

Illuminated wall signs located higher than 35 feet above grade within historic districts or facing the George Washington Memorial Parkway;

(C)

Internally illuminated panel signs;

(D)

Moving signs;

(E)

Pole signs that exceed six feet in height;

(F)

Roof signs;

(G)

Signs erected on public land; other than 1) those approved by the city manager or his or her designee in writing, 2) those where an ordinance authorizing such encroachment has been enacted by city council those approved by the City under a right-of-way agreement, 3) those authorized by law without such approval, or 4) those permitted under Virginia Code § 24.2-310E;

(H)

Signs that simulate traffic control signs or any other sign displayed by a public authority. Any such sign is subject to immediate removal and disposal by an authorized city official as a nuisance;

(I)

Any sign that causes a safety hazard for vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic due to its location;

(J)

Signs that emit sound, smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, bubbles, liquid, or gas; and

(K)

Billboards.

(A)

Limitations for illuminated signs.

(1)

Signs shall comply with the limitations established for lighting in City Code section 13-1-3 and

(2)

Signs facing or located on a lot abutting a residential zone shall not be illuminated between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m..

(B)

Limitations for portable signs.

(1)

Signs shall be located on the property of the sign owner, outside a minimum lateral walkway clearance of five feet for pedestrian travel, within 15 feet of the front building wall, and a minimum of 15 feet from any driveway or intersection; and

(2)

Signs shall only be displayed during operating hours of the business.

(C)

Removal and maintenance requirements.

(1)

Whenever the use of a building or structure or real property is discontinued, all sign faces pertaining to that use which were previously erected or displayed shall be removed within 30 days of the discontinuance of the use.

(2)

Irrespective of any continued use or any discontinuance in use of a building or structure, a supporting standard or structure for a sign shall be removed if the standard or structure is not occupied by a sign permitted by this ordinance for a continuous period of one year.

(3)

It shall be the responsibility of the owner of the building, structure, or real property to accomplish the removal. If, after written notice to the owner from the director, such signs or supporting standards or structures are not removed within ten days of the notice, the director shall cause the removal and charge the cost to the owner.

(4)

Any sign erected on public land is subject to immediate removal and disposal by any authorized official. Removal of the sign under this provision does not preclude liability of the person responsible for the sign.

(5)

All signs shall be maintained at all times in a safe structural condition and in a neat and clean condition and shall be kept free from defective or missing parts or peeling paint.

(6)

The building official may find cause to have signs removed or repaired immediately without written notice any sign which, in their opinion, has become insecure, in danger of falling, or otherwise unsafe, and, as such, presents an immediate threat to the safety of the public. If such action is necessary to render a sign safe, the cost of such emergency removal or repair shall be at the expense of the owner or lessee thereof as provided in the Uniform Statewide Building Code.

(Ord. No. 5029, § 2, 6-18-16; Ord. No. 5515, § 9, 12-16-23; Ord. No. 5579, § 4, 4-26-25)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 5579, § 4, adopted April 26, 2025, amended the title of § 9-200 to read as herein set out. The former § 9-200 title pertained to sign regulation by zoning district.

(A)

Certificate of appropriateness. A certificate of appropriateness from the board of architectural review or the director pursuant to sections 10-113 and 10-203 is required for any sign, marquee or awning permanently affixed or displayed when subject to view from a public street or place and affixed to a building or structure located in or otherwise displayed within the Old and Historic Alexandria District or the Parker-Gray District or when affixed to or displayed on a 100-year-old building designated by city council under section 10-300.

(B)

Exemptions. The following signs shall not be subject to the requirement of section 9-301(A):

(1)

Any window sign that is not internally illuminated;

(2)

One sign of one square foot or less in area that is not internally illuminated;

(3)

Temporary signs as follows: One sign, no more than 20 square feet in area and located no more than 20 feet above the building average finished grade. Such sign may be freestanding, wall mounted, projecting or inserted within a window. Freestanding temporary signs shall not exceed six feet in height. If signs are being installed on a brick surface the installation should not damage the brick, and the sign should be anchored into the mortar joints.

(C)

Compliance required. Any sign, marquee or awning required to obtain a certificate of appropriateness under section 9-301(A) and any sign identified in section 9-301(B) may be erected or displayed only if authorized by and in compliance with all other applicable requirements of this Article IX.

(D)

Grandfathered signs. Any sign, marquee or awning legally erected or displayed within the Old and Historic Alexandria District on or before January 12, 1976, or within the Parker-Gray District on or before November 16, 1985, or on a lot or building listed under section 10-300 on or before the date of such listing may continue to be displayed and may be repainted with the same text, colors and design or repaired without a certificate of appropriateness; provided, that a certificate of appropriateness shall be required before any such sign, marquee or awning is altered, rebuilt or moved to a new location.

(E)

Prohibited signs. No freestanding signs which are located on a parcel fronting the George Washington Memorial Parkway or Washington Street, shall be permitted unless it is the minimum signage necessary to comply with section 9-7-7 of the city code.

(Ord. No. 5029, § 2, 6-18-16; Ord. No. 5057, § 1, 3-18-17; Ord. No. 5189, § 5, 12-15-18)

(A)

Nonconforming signs means any sign that existed prior to the effective date of any change in the zoning regulations or restrictions but which thereafter, by reason of such change, is not in compliance with the zoning regulations or restrictions then in effect. The burden of establishing nonconforming status of signs and of the physical characteristics/location of such signs shall be that of the owner of the property. Upon notice from the zoning administrator, a property owner shall submit verification that sign(s) were lawfully existing at time of erection. Failure to provide such verification shall be cause for order to remove sign(s) or bring sign(s) into compliance with the current ordinance. Nonconforming signs shall be permitted to continue indefinitely and shall be considered legal uses and structures subject to the following:

(B)

No nonconforming sign shall be modified or relocated unless such modification or relocation complies with this article.

(C)

If a nonconforming sign, other than a pole sign, is destroyed, demolished, or otherwise removed, it may be reconstructed provided that there is no increase in the degree of noncompliance which existed prior to such destruction, demolition, or removal.

(D)

A pole sign which exceeds six feet in height shall be removed if:

(1)

The pole sign is destroyed, demolished, or otherwise removed or

(2)

The cost to repair a damaged sign is more than 50% of the replacement value of the sign.

(E)

Reserved.

(F)

A nonconforming sign which is changed to becoming conforming or is replaced by a conforming sign shall no longer be deemed nonconforming, and thereafter such sign shall be in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. 5029, § 2, 6-18-16; Ord. No. 5579, § 4, 4-26-25)