# Sign Regulations in Abingdon Town, Virginia

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Abingdon Town, Virginia, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Abingdon Town, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/abingdon-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/41428622#41428622)

## At a glance

Abingdon Town, Virginia regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs)s in the Agricultural, Forest and Open Space (AFOS) zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and 25 square feet, with a Minimum setback from any right-of-way is half the height of the sign, unless otherwise specified. (Sec. 8-4-5(b)) setback (Sec. Table 8.4.6(A); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2)). Most commercial signs in Abingdon Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural, Forest and Open Space (AFOS) | 6 | 15 feet | 32 square feet total | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 6 | 6 feet | 64 square feet total | — |
| Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial District (M-1), Office/Institutional District (OI), Planned Technology District (PTD) | 10 | 50 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| Old and Historic District | 5 | — | 12 square feet | — |
| Entrance Corridor Overlay District | 2 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Agricultural, Forest and Open Space (AFOS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | 15 feet | 25 square feet | — | Minimum setback from any right-of-way is half the height of the sign, unless otherwise specified. (Sec. 8-4-5(b)) | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(A); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | — | 25 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(A); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Minor Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage (residential); Not limited (nonresidential) | 1 per street frontage for residential uses; Not limited for nonresidential uses | — | Table 8.4.6(A); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Portable Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(A); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2); Sec. 8-4-5(f)(6) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Uses) | 4 feet | 32 square feet total | — | — | Not limited | Not limited | — | Table 8.4.6(A); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2); Sec. 8-4-5(f)(7) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | 4 feet | 32 square feet total | — | — | Not limited | Not limited | — | Table 8.4.6(A); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2); Sec. 8-4-5(f) |

### Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | Minimum setback from any right-of-way is half the height of the sign, unless otherwise specified. (Sec. 8-4-5(b)) | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(B); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(B); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Minor Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage (residential); Not limited (nonresidential) | 1 per street frontage for residential; Not limited for nonresidential uses | — | Table 8.4.6(B); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Portable Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(B); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2); Sec. 8-4-5(f)(6) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Uses) | 4 feet | 32 square feet total | — | — | Not limited | Not limited | — | Table 8.4.6(B); Sec. 8-4-5(f)(7) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Uses and Neighborhood Signs) | 4 feet | 64 square feet total | — | — | Not limited | Not limited | — | Table 8.4.6(B); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2); Sec. 8-4-5(f) |

### Business Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), Industrial District (M-1), Office/Institutional District (OI), Planned Technology District (PTD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (within 660 ft of I-81) | 50 feet | 200 square feet | — | Minimum setback from any right-of-way is half the height of the sign, unless otherwise specified. (Sec. 8-4-5(b)) | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(C); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (all other locations) | 15 feet | 60 square feet | — | Minimum setback from any right-of-way is half the height of the sign, unless otherwise specified. (Sec. 8-4-5(b)) | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(C); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | 1 per business per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(C); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2); Sec. 8-4-5(e) |
| Wall Sign (Front Facade) | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | 1 per business per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(C); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign (Side and Rear Facade) | — | — | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | 1 per business per street frontage | — | Table 8.4.6(C); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2) |
| Portable Sign | 4 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per business | 1 per business | — | Table 8.4.6(C); Sec. 8-4-6(a)(2); Sec. 8-4-5(f)(6) |
| Temporary Sign | 4 feet | 32 square feet total | — | — | Not limited | Not limited | — | Table 8.4.6(C); Sec. 8-4-5(f) |
| Minor Sign | 4 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | Not limited | Not limited | — | Table 8.4.6(C) |

## Prohibited signs in Abingdon Town

- Signs not expressly permitted are prohibited.
- Any sign affixed to, hung, placed, or painted on any other sign, fence, cliff, rock, tree, natural feature, public utility pole or structure supporting wire, cable, or pipe, or radio, television, or similar tower is prohibited, except for official signs placed by the Town government.
- Any sign or banner within or across a public right-of-way, unless specifically approved by the Town Manager or their designee, is prohibited.
- Any sign that, due to its size, illumination, location, or height, obstructs the vision of motorists or pedestrians at any intersection, or similarly obstructs vision when entering a public right-of-way, is prohibited.
- Signs simulating or likely to be confused with traffic control signs or any sign displayed by a public authority are prohibited.
- Lighted window signage (whether inside or outside a window) is prohibited except for hours of operation signage.
- Signs attached, painted, or mounted to unlicensed, inoperative, or generally stationary vehicles are prohibited. Vehicles and trailers cannot be used primarily as static displays or for off-premise advertising.
- Signs on the roof surface or extending above the roofline of a structure, building, or parapet wall are prohibited.
- Off-premise signs are prohibited unless specifically permitted by ordinance.
- Flashing signs are prohibited, except those officially erected for safety purposes.
- Signs that emit sound, smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, liquid, fluorescent colors, or gas are prohibited.
- Wind signs—banners, pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers, captive balloons, or inflatable signs designed to move in the wind—are prohibited.
- Signs that violate any federal or state law relative to outdoor advertising are prohibited.
- Any sign representing or depicting specified sexual activities, specified anatomical areas, or sexually oriented goods is prohibited. Any sign containing obscene text or pictures is prohibited by state law.
- No sign shall be illuminated in a way that shines into oncoming traffic, affects highway safety, or shines directly into a residential dwelling unit.
- Any sign must comply with all provisions of the article, the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and federal and state regulations.
- A temporary sign shall not be illuminated.
- Individual homeowners cannot advertise for businesses or events as that is considered off-premise signage.
- Entrance/exit and on-site directional signs cannot be associated with a business.
- It is unlawful to fail or refuse to comply with the directions indicated on any sign, signal, or marker erected in accordance with the sign ordinances when visible and legible.
- It is unlawful to erect signs within the sight triangle area at street intersections (area formed by lines 20 feet along each right-of-way line from the intersection), except for street signage in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

## Signs exempt from permit in Abingdon Town

- Signs erected by the Town or required by law, including official traffic signs, wayfinding and topic-specific signs, provisional warning signs, sign structures, and temporary signs indicating danger, do not require a permit.
- Creeper Trail signage, including trailhead signage, trail kiosks, and mile marker signage, is exempt from permit requirements.
- Roadway and safety signage does not require a permit.
- Wayfinding signage as part of the Town's Master Wayfinding Plan does not require a permit.
- Memorial plaques and building cornerstones not exceeding six square feet in area, cut or carved into a masonry surface or other noncombustible material and made an integral part of the building, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary signs for properties under construction, renovation, for sale, or for rent, not exceeding four square feet for single-family detached or 18 square feet for other properties, are exempt from permit requirements.
- Window signs on the interior of the window (hours of operation signage) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs displayed on an operable truck, bus, or other vehicle while in normal use (not parked for display or used as a portable sign) do not require a permit.
- House number, mailbox number, and decorative yard signage are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs affixed to the interior of a permanent fence of a recreational or sports facility, displayed only during the regular season, are exempt.
- Yard sale signs (must be removed upon completion of sale) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Street signage in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is exempt from intersection sight triangle prohibitions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, installed, altered, modified, refaced, rehung, or replaced without obtaining a permit, except as otherwise provided (see exemptions).
- Signs within the Town's Old and Historic District require a certificate of appropriateness issued by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB).
- Signs within the Town's Entrance Corridor require a certificate of appropriateness issued by the Planning Commission.
- A comprehensive (master) sign plan may be submitted for special exceptions within B, M, and PTD Districts, approved by special use permit.
- A comprehensive sign plan must include: locations for freestanding/building signs, types of signs, materials, maximum number and size, illumination details, and description of ornamental structures.
- A comprehensive sign plan may be amended by submitting a revised plan for approval through the special use permit process.
- No permit is required for temporary off-premise signage on residential parcels, provided size and duration limits are met.
- A temporary sign permit, including a site/sketch plan, is required prior to installing any temporary sign or portable sign (except listed exemptions).
- Portable signs obstructing sidewalks require a sidewalk encroachment permit if applicable.
- No permit is required for yard sale signs, hours of operation window signs, or other exempt signage listed in Section 8-4-3.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 6 zoning districts in Abingdon Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Abingdon+Town+VA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-abingdon-town

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