For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Accessory sign: A sign that is clearly incidental or subordinate to the principal on-premises sign(s) on the lot.

Area of the sign: The area of a sign shall mean and include the area within rectangular lines or circular lines inscribed around any or all copy on the face of a sign. The area of a double-faced sign shall be the area of one face, except when the angle between the faces exceeds 60 degrees, at which point the area shall be assessed as a single-faced sign.

Billboard (outdoor advertising structure): Billboard shall mean any sign used as an outside display for the purpose of advertising any business, product, or service if said business, product or service is remote from the site or property on which said sign is erected or displayed.

Changeable copy sign: An accessory sign incorporated into a freestanding sign, the copy on which can be changed or altered by manual or electronic means. For purposes of this article, the term "changeable copy sign" shall not include scoreboards. Changeable copy signs include the following types: electronic message center signs and fixed message electronic signs, as each is defined in this article.

Copy: The display on a sign surface in either permanent, electronic, or removable letter, graphic, or numeric form and any associated background distinguishable from the sign structure or building.

Display area (of sign): The portion of a sign where the sign copy and/or slide(s) are displayed.

Double-faced sign: A double-faced sign is any sign with two parallel or nearly parallel faces, back-to-back, with not more than 48 inches separating the faces.

Electronic message center sign: A changeable copy sign, other than a fixed message electronic sign, having a variable message copy that is controlled and changed through an electronic device.

Fixed message electronic sign:A changeable copy sign with copy limited to numeric displays including, but not limited to time, temperature and date, and fuel prices for motor vehicles and portable devices (i.e., kerosene and propane).

Freestanding sign: A freestanding sign is any sign supported by upright structural members or by braces on or in the ground and not attached to the building. A wall sign shall not be considered a freestanding sign.

Minor sign: a wall or freestanding sign that is not illuminated and does not exceed one square foot in area in areas zoned residential and not more than four square feet in area in areas zoned other than residential.

Scoreboard: A board in a ballpark, sports arena or gym, sports park or recreation area, or the like that shows the score of a contest and other relevant information and; the board may include sponsorship information and sponsorship logos.

Sign: Any writing, letterwork or numeral, pictorial presentation, illustration or decoration, emblem, device, symbol or trademark, commercial flag, banner, or permanent sculpture, or any other device, figure, or similar character, other than in a business window which (a) is used to announce, direct attention to, identify, advertise, or otherwise make known; and, (b) is visible from a public right-of-way or from adjoining property.

Sign structure: Includes the supports, uprights, bracing and framework of any structure, be it single-faced, double-faced, V-type or otherwise, exhibiting a sign.

Slide: A visual image that may include text, symbols, pictorial elements and graphic art that is produced utilizing electronic sign software and is projected on the display area of the electronic message center sign.

Temporary sign: A sign constructed of cloth, canvas, vinyl, paper, plywood, fabric, or other lightweight material not well suited to provide durable substrate or, if made of some other material, is neither permanently installed in the ground nor permanently affixed to a building or structure which is permanently installed in the ground.

(Ord. of 11-7-90; Ord. of 8-17-10, § 1; Ord. of 12-19-17 [A-17-4], § (1))

A sign permit shall be required to erect, structurally alter, relocate, rearrange or replace any sign or advertising structure within the county, except otherwise provided herein. A permit fee shall not be required for maintenance or replacement due to normal wear. A permit shall be required for each sign with a fee in accordance with section 22-8.

(Ord. of 11-7-90; Ord. of 8-15-06, § 1)

(a)

Prior to the erection, installation, or alteration of any sign or advertising display requiring a permit, a permit application shall be submitted to the zoning administrator. Each application for each permit shall be accompanied by plans showing the exact dimensions of the sign, the area and height above grade level, the proposed location of the sign, including property lines, buildings, and existing signs on the premises; any proposed method of illumination, plans for erection, and the name and address of the sign owner and sign erector and written permission of the owner, lessee or the authorized agent of the building or land on which the sign is to be erected or placed. The zoning administrator reserves the right to request additional information about the sign based on the permit application and attachments.

(b)

A sign permit shall become null and void if the work for which the permit was issued has not been completed within a period of six months after the issuance of the permit and there shall be no refund of any fee required by this article.

(Ord. of 11-7-90; Ord. of 8-17-10, § 1)

No sign permit shall be required for any of the following signs, provided that they are not changeable copy signs, they are located on the parcel which is the subject of the sign, and that they comply with all other regulations of this article. Nothing in this section shall exempt anyone from any requirement of the state's building code.

(1)

One identification sign not to exceed one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers, names of occupants or premises and hours of operation.

(2)

Signs identifying municipal and governmental buildings or buildings used for religious purposes, when erected upon the building or property upon which such building is located, provided that such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.

(3)

Public signs in the interest of, if erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of his public duty such as directional signs, regulatory signs, warning signs, and information signs. These would include fundraising efforts by nonprofit organizations and would be limited to an area of 32 square feet.

(4)

Temporary signs as follows:

(a)

Not more than three signs located on property where a building permit is active. Such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area for each sign.

(b)

On any property for sale or rent in residential districts, not more than one sign with a total area of up to six square feet, and on any property for sale or rent in commercial, industrial, or agricultural districts, not more than one sign with a total area of up to 32 square feet.

(c)

Official notices or advertisements posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance of his official or directed duties; provided that all such signs be removed no more than ten days after their purpose has been accomplished.

(d)

On residential property, one or more temporary signs, provided that the total area of such signs shall not exceed four square feet each and the signs are removed within 180 days after being erected. On commercial, agricultural, or industrial property one or more temporary signs, provided that the total area of such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet each and the signs are removed within 180 days after being erected. Such signs shall not be illuminated. Temporary signs shall be confined within private property and shall not encroach into the visibility triangle at street intersections. Persons responsible jointly and severally for the maintenance and removal of temporary signs are:

(a)

The owner of the premises on which the sign is located;

(b)

The person erecting the sign; or

(c)

The person causing the erection of the sign.

(5)

Sign warning the public against trespassing, dangerous animals, swimming or the like, provided such signs do not exceed three square feet in area per sign.

(6)

One minor sign per lot.

(7)

Signs required by law.

(8)

Signs designating entrances, exits or conditions of use for parking lots. Such signs shall not exceed seven square feet in area for each sign.

(9)

Commemorative plaques and historic markers recognized by the county, not to exceed 25 square feet in area.

(Ord. of 11-7-90; Ord. of 8-17-10, § 1; Ord. of 11-16-10, § 1; Ord. of 12-18-12 [A-12-13], § 1; Ord. of 12-19-17 [A-17-4], § (1))

The following signs shall be prohibited in all districts:

(1)

Signs which by reason of their location, position, size, shape, color, design or means of illumination may be construed as or confused with, or may interfere with, obstruct or obscure the view of all or any portion of a traffic control sign, signal, or device.

(2)

Signs which imitate an official sign or signal or which contain the words "stop," "go," "slow," "yield," "caution," "danger," "warning," or similar words which imply any official warning or command or which may imply the need for special actions on the part of any vehicle or pedestrian.

(3)

Any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights changing degrees of intensity, except a changeable copy sign.

(4)

Signs which contain or consist of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving devices in residential areas. These devices, when not part of any sign, are similarly prohibited.

(5)

Any sign or means of sign illumination which causes glare into or upon any building other than the building to which the sign may be related or any sign or means of sign illumination which causes glare into oncoming traffic.

(6)

Any sign affixed to, hung, placed, or painted on any other sign, fence, cliff, radio, television, or similar tower, provided that this prohibition shall not affect official traffic, parking or informational signs placed on utility poles by the county government.

(7)

Any portable or nonstructural sign over 16 square feet.

(8)

Any sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product, or activity located, conducted, or sold on the premises. Where the owner or lessor of the premises is seeking a new tenant, such signs may remain in place for not more than 90 days from the date of vacancy unless permission to extend is acquired from the director of planning.

(9)

Signs advertising activities which are illegal under federal, state, or county laws or regulations.

(Ord. of 11-7-90; Ord. of 8-17-10, § 1; Ord. of 11-16-10, § 1; Ord. of 12-19-17 [A-17-4], § (1))

The regulations set forth in this section pertain to the various types and specifications for signs expressly permitted in each designated zoning district:

(1)

The maximum advertising display area for on-premises signs is as follows:

a.

A-1—50 square feet.

b.

A-2—150 square feet.

c.

B-1—130 square feet.

d.

B-2—250 square feet or one and three-fourths square foot per linear foot of building frontage, whichever is greater.

e.

B-3—One square foot per linear foot of building frontage.

f.

In districts M-1 and M-2, sign area shall not exceed in the aggregate three square feet in area per linear foot of building frontage, such frontage being measured as the longest horizontal dimension of the building and which does not pass through or between any adjacent element provided, however, that no such sign or signs shall exceed an aggregate total of 350 square feet in area.

(2)

Reserved.

(3)

All other signs shall be subject to setback restrictions of the district in which said signs are placed.

(4)

The maximum permitted height of any freestanding sign shall be the higher of (i) ten feet above ground elevation or (ii) ten feet above street level of the highest public road that is within 100 feet of the sign, unless otherwise exempted in the Code of Dinwiddie County.

(5)

Billboard or outdoor advertising structures are permitted only in A-2, M-1, M-2, B-2, and B-3 zoning districts. They may have a maximum size of 300 square feet and must be spaced at least 1,000 feet apart.

(Ord. of 11-7-90; Ord. of 6-20-00; Ord. of 12-18-12, § 1; Ord. of 9-19-17 [A-17-9], § (1); Ord. of 12-19-17 [A-17-4], § (1))

The following requirements shall apply to electronic message center signs:

(a)

Electronic message center signs shall be allowed by right in the B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1, M-2, PUD-C, and PMD Districts. Electronic message center signs shall be allowed by conditional use permit in the A-1 and A-2 Districts. Electronic message center signs shall be allowed by conditional use permit in the R-R, RR-1, R-1, R-1A, R-2, and PRD Districts only in conjunction with churches and other religious uses and community uses such as ruritan clubs, community centers, public parks, schools and recreation areas. In all districts, electronic message center signs shall comply with the provisions of this section and all applicable sign regulations set forth in this article.

(b)

A maximum of one electronic message center sign with a maximum of two sides shall be permitted per lot of record.

(c)

Electronic message center signs shall be incorporated into the face of, and shall be made an integral part of, an overall freestanding sign.

(d)

Electronic message center sign copy may comprise no more than 80 percent of the total display area of the sign.

(e)

An electronic message center sign may display no more than three lines of characters at one time.

(f)

Electronic message center signs may have a maximum of three colors per slide, except for logos and pictures.

(g)

Electronic message center sign copy may change no more frequently than once every eight seconds.

(h)

Electronic message center copy must change instantaneously or fade transition with a maximum of one second of time between each displayed message. Fade transition is the only motion permitted by electronic message center signs. There shall be no additional motion permitted, including but not limited to rolling, scrolling, flashing, blending, blinking, bijou lighting effects, animation, shimmering, or any other potentially distracting motion.

(i)

The maximum brightness of the electronic message center sign, as measured at the sign's face, shall not exceed 5,000 nits (candelas per square meter) from sunrise to sunset and 750 nits (candelas per square meter) from sunset to sunrise. The sign must be equipped with a dimmer control for this purpose.

(j)

The electronic message center sign shall not have any distracting appearance of motion.

(k)

Electronic message center signs must be located so that they are not visible from any controlled-access highway or ramp.

(Ord. of 8-17-10, § 1)

All signs, including these exempt from the permit requirements of this article, together with all of their supports, braces, connections, anchors, and electrical equipment shall be maintained in good structural condition at all times. All materials used in the sign shall be kept in good condition, free of holes, rotting, peeling paint or other forms of decay. If the sign is illuminated, all lighting shall be maintained in working order and meet the standards and requirements of the county's building code.

Whenever a sign fails to meet the maintenance requirements, as specified in this section, or becomes structurally unsafe, or endangers the public safety, the zoning administrator or the building inspector shall order that such sign be properly maintained, repaired, made safe, or removed. Such order shall be complied with within 30 days of receipt thereof by the person, firm or corporation owning or using the sign, or the owner of the building or premises on which such sign is affixed or erected.

The ground area around any freestanding sign shall be kept free and clear of weeds, trash and other debris.

(Ord. of 11-7-90)

Any sign erected or placed before the effective date of this article which does not conform to the provisions of this article, shall not be enlarged, structurally altered, reconstructed, or changed in any manner, except as otherwise provided. Any electronic message center sign lawfully erected or placed and lawfully permitted before August 17, 2010 which does not conform to the provisions of this article shall not be enlarged, structurally altered, reconstructed, or changed in any manner, except as otherwise provided. No nonconforming sign shall be moved on the same lot.

If a nonconforming sign violates any part of this section, it shall be removed and replaced only if it conforms to this article. The zoning administrator shall administer this section of the Code.

(Ord. of 11-7-90; Ord. of 8-17-10, § 1)