Amelia County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXIX
Sign Controls
§ 325-29.1 Intent.
These regulations are intended to ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses to promote the public health, safety and welfare by providing standards to ensure against signs which unduly distract or obstruct the vision of motorists and pedestrians, signs which are structurally unsafe, and signs which by their location, design or materials create hazardous conditions for the public. These regulations shall govern and control the erection, remodeling, enlarging, moving, maintenance and operation of all exterior signs within all zoning districts established by this chapter. These regulations are not intended to infringe on an individual's right to freedom of speech and shall be applicable to only those signs that are visible from public rights-of-way and adjoining properties. All applicants for sign permits shall follow suggested design guidelines for signs enumerated in this article. No sign shall be permitted, erected or used in Amelia County, except as permitted in this article.
§ 325-29.2 Definitions.
[Amended 2-18-2009; 12-18-2013; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
See § 325-2.1, Definitions.
§ 325-29.3 General provisions.
[Amended 2-18-2009; 12-18-2013]
A.
A sign permit is required prior to erecting a sign controlled by this article and is valid for six months.
B.
Signs may be illuminated provided the illumination shall be properly focused upon the sign itself as to prevent glare upon the surrounding area.
C.
Signs that flash, are animated, or use light-emitting diode (LED) and/or intermittent illumination shall be allowed; however, at no time shall these signs be allowed to distract drivers of vehicles. Television quality animation shall not be allowed. No strobe-type lights are allowed; flashing lights will not increase in intensity or brightness. Electronic messages are not considered flashing. Message changes shall be no more frequent than every five seconds.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
D.
Mobile signs shall not be permitted as permanent signs.
E.
Red and green lighted signs shall not be permitted within 100 feet of a signaled intersection.
F.
On stores and other permitted commercial or industrial uses, exterior signs pertaining to the use permitted are not to exceed one square foot per linear foot of property frontage and shall be attached flat against the wall of the building and must be limited to the store front portion of the facade not projecting above the roof line or coping nor facing the side lot of an adjoining residential property, and be in general conformity to the structure and the surrounding architecture.
G.
No sign will be permitted which would extend above the building roofline.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
H.
Projecting signs shall be at least eight feet above grade level.
I.
Square footage of signs shall be calculated as aggregate for all surface area.
J.
Business signs shall include all signs for business to determine square footage.
K.
Maximum height of any sign shall be 35 feet.
L.
Freestanding signs shall be at least five feet off property lines and not located in a Virginia Department of Transportation right-of-way.
§ 325-29.4 Advertising outdoors regulated.
No person, except a public officer or employee in performance of a public duty, shall paste, post, paint, print, nail, tack, erect, place, maintain, or fasten any sign, pennant, outdoor advertising sign, billboard, or notice of any kind, or cause the same to be done, facing or visible from any public street or public open space, except as provided herein.
§ 325-29.5 Excluded signs.
The following shall not be deemed to be included within the definition of "sign":
A.
Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal devices, or warnings at railroad crossings.
B.
Memorial tablets or signs; grave stones.
C.
Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, with a total surface area not exceeding 10 square feet on any lot or parcel.
D.
Signs which are within a ball park or other similar private recreational use and which cannot be seen from a pubic street or adjacent properties.
E.
Flags or emblems of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization, temporary in nature of not more than 50 square feet.
F.
Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public including signs which identify restrooms, location of public telephone, freight entrances or the like.
G.
Signs placed by a public utility showing the location of underground facilities.
H.
Signs designating private property (i.e., no trespassing, no hunting, etc.).
I.
Signs of one square foot or less.
J.
Temporary signs.
§ 325-29.6 Restricted signs.
[Amended 2-18-2009; 12-18-2013; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The following signs are prohibited:
A.
Unauthorized signs at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to create a traffic hazard by obstructing vision between heights of 2 1/2 and eight feet; or at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign.
B.
Signs which produce noise or sound capable of being heard even though the sounds produced are not undesirable sounds.
C.
Signs which emit visible smoke, vapor, particles, or odor.
D.
Signs erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct, or be attached to, any firefighting equipment, window, door, or opening used as a means of ingress or egress for firefighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for proper light and ventilation.
E.
Signs with any lighting or control mechanism which causes radio or television or other communication interference.
F.
Those which imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or use the word "stop" or "danger" prominently displayed or present, or imply the need of requirement of stopping or the existence of danger on any highway.
G.
Those which are not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed on any portion of the traveled ways of a street or highway and which are of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any vehicle.
H.
Signs which advertise any activities which are illegal under state or federal law or regulations in effect at the location of such sign or at the location of such activities.
I.
Any sign affixed to, hung, placed, or painted on any other sign, cliff, tree, public utility pole, radio or television or similar tower, provided that this prohibition shall not affect official traffic, parking or informational signs placed on utility poles by the state or County government.
K.
Abandoned signs. For the purpose of this section, a sign shall be considered abandoned if the business for which the sign was erected has not been in operation for a period of at least two years. Following the expiration of the two-year period any abandoned nonconforming sign shall be removed by the owner of the property on which the sign is located, if notified by the County to do so. If, following such two-year period, the County has made reasonable attempt to notify the property owner, the County through its own agents or employees may enter the property upon which the sign is located and remove any such sign whenever the owner refused to do so. The cost of such removal shall be chargeable to the owner of the property. Nothing herein shall prevent the County from applying to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order requiring the removal of such abandoned nonconforming sign by the owner by means of injunction or other appropriate remedy.
L.
Signs which are inconsistent with state law or the provisions of this chapter.
§ 325-29.7 Signs permitted.
[Amended 2-18-2009]
Signs will be permitted in the various districts only as follows:
A.
Agricultural A-5 and Rural Preservation RP-5.
(1)
Business signs not to exceed 20 square feet.
(2)
Church bulletin boards and identification signs not to exceed 16 square feet.
(3)
Directional signs not exceed 16 square feet.
(4)
Home occupation signs not to exceed four square feet.
(5)
Location signs not to exceed 32 square feet.
(6)
Temporary signs not to exceed 32 square feet.
B.
Residential RR-3, ER-1, R-1 and R-2.
[Amended 2-18-2009]
(1)
Business signs, with a total square footage not exceeding 16 square feet per sign.
(2)
Church bulletin boards and identification signs, with a total surface area not to exceed 16 square feet.
(3)
Directional signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 16 square feet.
(4)
Home occupation signs, with a total surface area not exceeding four square feet.
(5)
Location signs not to exceed 32 square feet (RR-3 District only).
(6)
Temporary signs not to exceed 32 square feet.
C.
Business B-1.
[Amended 2-18-2009]
(1)
Business signs along highways with two lanes shall be permitted up to 36 square feet per operating business, regardless of the amount of floor area and/or number of businesses. Business signs along highways with four or more lanes shall be permitted up to 64 square feet per operating business having less than 10,000 square feet of floor area. For multiple businesses on the same or adjoining parcels, having separate federal identification numbers and 10,000 square feet of floor area or more, one sign shall be permitted up to 110 square feet to allow for the combination of multiple signs into a singular sign. Gas stations may have two additional reader signs for price and service advertisement not to exceed 40 square feet each.
(2)
Church bulletin boards and identification signs not to exceed 16 square feet.
(3)
Directional signs not to exceed 16 square feet.
(4)
Home occupation signs not to exceed four square feet.
(5)
Location signs not to exceed 32 square feet.
(6)
Temporary signs not to exceed 32 square feet.
E.
Industrial M-1 and M-2.
[Amended 2-18-2009; 12-18-2013; 9-17-2014]
(1)
Business signs along highways with two lanes shall be permitted up to 64 square feet per operating business, regardless of the amount of floor area and/or number of businesses. Industrial development parks along highways with two lanes and more than two tenants shall be permitted up to 200 square feet. These signs should be located at an entrance to the park.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(2)
Business signs along highways with four or more lanes shall be permitted up to 64 square feet per operating business having less than 10,000 square feet of floor area. For multiple businesses on the same or adjoining parcels, having separate federal identification numbers and 10,000 square feet or more of floor area, one sign shall be permitted up to 110 square feet to allow for the combination of multiple signs into a single sign with each individual business having up to an additional 20 square feet. Industrial development parks along highways with four or more lanes, and more than two tenants shall be permitted up to 300 square feet. These signs should be located at an entrance to the park.
(3)
Church bulletin boards and identification signs not to exceed 16 square feet.
(4)
Directional signs not to exceed 20 square feet.
(5)
Location signs not to exceed 32 square feet.
(6)
Temporary signs not to exceed 32 square feet.
§ 325-29.8 Construction and conformance.
[Amended 2-18-2009]
A.
Every sign permitted by this article must be constructed of durable materials and must be kept in good condition and repair. The Zoning Administrator shall notify the appropriate person that such sign or outdoor advertising matter shall be repaired or removed within a specified time period, and if not repaired or removed, the County shall remove the sign or take other action to require prompt compliance with this chapter.
B.
All signs must be registered with the Zoning Administrator. Existing signs not conforming to all conditions of this article shall not be repaired, altered, or rebuilt unless same are made to conform to these conditions set forth in this article.
§ 325-29.9 Nonconforming signs.
[Amended 2-18-2009; 12-18-2013]
Any sign lawfully in existence at the time of the effective date of this chapter may be maintained although it does not conform to the provisions of this chapter. Such nonconforming sign shall comply in all respects with the requirements of Article V which pertains to nonconforming uses. All signs must conform to the Uniform Statewide Building Code and other applicable County ordinances.
§ 325-29.10 Removal of signs.
[Amended 2-18-2009]
A.
The Zoning Administrator may order the removal of any sign erected or maintained in violation of this article. Upon determination of such violation, the Zoning Administrator shall give 30 days' written violation notice, by certified mail, to the owner of such sign, or of the building, structure or premises upon which such sign is located to remove the sign or to bring it into compliance with applicable regulations. If the owner or person notified of the violation fails to remove or alter the sign to comply with the applicable requirements of this article within the 30 days, the Zoning Administrator shall cause such sign to be removed at the cost of the owner or person notified of the violation.
B.
Removal of sign shall mean the dismantling and removal from premises of all signs, embellishments, and structures designed specially to support such sign.
C.
This process described herein also is applicable to abandoned signs.
§ 325-29.11 Suggested design guidelines.
[Amended 2-18-2009]
The aesthetic appeals of a sign are as influential upon the public as its text. Each sign's use of color, size, shape, placement and selection of lettering can attract or detract from its effectiveness. An effectively designed sign should identify the business clearly and attractively, enhance the building on which it is located, and make a positive contribution to the general appearance of the street and neighborhood.
A.
Simplicity. This principle is part of the following elements but is so important that it needs to be singled out. Simplicity is the key; less is more.
B.
Compatibility. The sign should always be considered as part of the building and not as an unrelated object attached to it. It should therefore be compatible with the supporting architecture and with its neighbors.
C.
Scale. Legibility does not depend on size, but on design. Signs which are smaller in size, and are of cleaner and simpler design, are easier to read than signs which push for all the maximums. The sign should also be in proportion to the storefront, the building and the neighbors.
E.
Quality of materials. Quality construction materials meeting the requirements of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code shall be used in every application.