The following sign regulations are established to assure compatibility of signs with surrounding land usage, to enhance the economy of the county, to protect the public investment in streets and highways, to promote the safety and recreational value of public travel, to preserve natural beauty and to protect tax revenues by promoting the reasonable, orderly and effective display of outdoor advertising.

(Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

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. All signs located on a state right-of-way or in a close proximity thereto must be approved by the department of highways and transportation.

(Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

The following shall not be deemed to be included within the definition of "sign":

11-3-1. Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, street or road names, or legal devices.

11-3-2. Memorial tablets or signs.

11-3-3. Signs required to be maintained by law or governmental order, rule or regulation, with a total surface area not exceeding ten square feet on any lot or parcel.

11-3-4. Signs which are within a ballpark or other similar private recreational use and which cannot be seen from a public street or adjacent properties.

11-3-5. Flags, either attached or freestanding, not to exceed 60 square feet per flag. (Ord. of 11-14-96)

11-3-6. Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, including signs which identify restrooms, location of public telephones, freight entrances, no trespassing and posted signs, or the like.

11-3-7. Signs directing traffic on private property but bearing no advertising matter, with a total surface area not exceeding eight square feet per sign on any lot or parcel and provided that no parts of such signs other than columns and supports shall be located between three and one-half and seven feet above grade.

11-3-8. Signs placed by a public utility showing the location of underground facilities.

11-3-9. Emblems of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations not to exceed 32 square feet in size.

(Ord. of 11-14-96(4); Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

Signs will be permitted in various districts as follows:

11-4-1. Agricultural, limited, A-1.

a.

Business signs, not be exceed 32 square feet in area.

b.

Church bulletin boards and identification signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 20 square feet, per sign.

c.

Directional signs, with a total surface area not exceeding eight square feet per sign.

d.

Home occupation signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 16 square feet per sign.

e.

Temporary signs, with special permission from the zoning administrator.

11-4-2. Agricultural, general, A-2.

a.

General advertising signs, not to exceed 32 square feet in area.

b.

Business signs, not to exceed 32 square feet in area.

c.

Church bulletin board and identification signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 20 square feet per sign.

d.

Directional signs, with a total surface area not exceeding eight square feet per sign.

e.

Home occupation signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 16 square feet per sign.

f.

Temporary signs, with special permission from the zoning administrator.

11-4-3. Residential general, medium general, community and waterfront overlay, R-1, R-3, R-4 and W-1.

a.

Business signs with a total surface area not exceeding 16 square feet.

b.

Church bulletin boards and identification signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 20 square feet per sign.

c.

Directional signs, with a total surface area not exceeding eight square feet per sign.

d.

Home occupation signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 16 square feet per sign.

e.

Temporary signs, with special permission from the zoning administrator.

11-4-4. Commercial, C-1.

a.

General advertising signs, not to exceed 32 square feet in area.

b.

Business signs as follows:

(1)

Business signs. Attached business signs shall not exceed two square feet for each foot of main building width facing a street, alley or parking area and shall not exceed 200 square feet in area.

(2)

Freestanding business signs. Freestanding business signs shall be limited to one sign per parcel of land. The size of the sign shall not exceed 75 square feet in area or one square foot for each foot of lot frontage, whichever is the lesser. Monument type signs that do not exceed six feet in height may be constructed up to 120 square feet regardless of lot frontage.

c.

Church bulletin boards and identification signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 20 square feet per sign.

d.

Directional signs, with a total surface area not exceeding eight square feet per sign.

e.

Home occupation signs, with a total surface area not exceeding 16 square feet per sign.

f.

Temporary signs, with special permission from the zoning administrator.

11-4-5. Commercial, limited, C-2. Business signs, attached to the main structure, not to exceed 75 square feet in area for a single business. Detached signs not to exceed 32 square feet. Total sign area for a single business not to exceed 125 square feet. Monument type signs that do not exceed six feet in height may be constructed up to 60 square feet.

11-4-6. Industrial, limited, M-1. All types of signs permitted not to exceed 200 square feet in total signage.

(Ord. of 11-24-96(1); Ord. of 11-28-05(1); Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

Editor's note— Subsection 11-4-6 was originally numbered as 11-5. The numbering has been changed at the discretion of the editor for purposes of conformity.

Note— See the editor's note following section 11-4.

All parts of signs shall be located five feet from the edge of the Virginia Department of Transportation right-of-way. Exempted from this setback includes signs that advertise the sale or rent of the premises, which may be erected up to the Virginia Department of Transportation right-of-way. The placement of signs within the right-of-way is permitted with the expressed approval of the Virginia Department of Transportation and the zoning administrator.

(Ord. of 10-24-96(1); Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

Signs shall not exceed a height of 15 feet above ground level or the street to which it is oriented, whichever is higher, without special permission from the zoning administrator.

(Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

No sign shall be erected, maintained or operated:

11-8-1. Except for authorized traffic signs, no sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to create a traffic hazard by obstructing vision between heights of two and one-half; and eight feet, or at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign.

11-8-2. Which imitates or resembles any official traffic sign, signal or device or uses the words "Stop" or "Danger" prominently displayed or presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or the existence of danger on any highway.

11-8-3. Which is not effectively shielded so as to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of the traveled ways of a street or highway and which is of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or to impair the vision of the driver of any vehicle.

11-8-4. Which advertises 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.

11-8-5. Which is obsolete or inconsistent with state law or the provisions of this ordinance.

(Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

Any sign lawfully in existence at the time of the effective date of this ordinance may be maintained although it does not conform with the provisions of this ordinance.

(Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

The entire area within a circle, triangle or parallelogram enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or any figure of similar character, together with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display of use to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed. Where a sign has two or more faces, or panels, the area of all faces, or panels, shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back to back or at 45 degrees or less.

(Ord. of 9-28-17(1))

Signs shall comply with the lighting requirements provided herein. Signs shall not have reflective backgrounds but may use reflective lettering. Digital or electronically controlled message components shall comprise no more than 50 percent of sign area. No flashing or scrolling text shall be permitted, and with the exception of the date and time, no message shall be displayed for an interval of less than 30 seconds. Freestanding signs may be illuminated only by an externally located stationary light source, shielded and directed solely at the sign (one source per sign face). Colored lamps are not permitted.

(Ord. of 9-28-17(1))