# Sign Regulations in Appomattox, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Appomattox, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/appomattox
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Appomattox/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH36ZO_ARTXVISI)

## At a glance

Appomattox, Virginia regulates 13 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant)s in the B-1, B-2, M-1 zoning district are capped at 24 ft tall and 100 sq ft (Sec. Sec. 36-729(3), (5)). Most commercial signs in Appomattox require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 4 ft | 32 sq ft (lots with over 100 linear ft of frontage: 100 sq ft) | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, MHP-1 | 3 | 10 ft above average grade | 100 sq ft per main entrance (may be divided into two signs) | — |
| B-1, B-2, M-1 | 6 | 24 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| P-1 Public Use District | 4 | 15 ft | 40 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | One design of each basic sign type per street frontage for each permitted use | Permitted for each street frontage for each permitted use on the premises. Must not extend beyond the lot line in specific districts. | — | Sec. 36-721(2), (6), (9); Sec. 36-720; Sec. 36-719 |
| Wall Sign (Building Mounted Sign incl. Projecting and Suspended) | — | — | — | — | One design of each basic sign type per street frontage for each permitted use | On wall, facing abutting street or parking lot. | — | Sec. 36-721(2), (7), (8) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft (lots with over 100 linear ft of frontage: 100 sq ft) | — | — | — | On the property where the event/activity/service occurs. Not in ROW, not on utility poles/traffic signs. | — | Sec. 36-718(3), (4); Sec. 36-723 |
| Changeable Message Sign (incl. Electronic) | — | Entire maximum allowable sign area | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 36-721(7) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | As needed to control egress/ingress | — | Sec. 36-729(6); Sec. 36-730(5) |

### B-1, B-2, M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Building-Mounted Sign) | — | As above; see formula | — | — | — | Facing abutting street or parking lot on the same parcel. | — | Sec. 36-729(1)-(2), (9) |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Tenant) | 24 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per establishment | Permanently fixed to ground; not beyond lot line | — | Sec. 36-729(3), (5) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Tenant) | — | 32 sq ft for first business; +10 sq ft for each subsequent tenant up to max 300 sq ft aggregate. | — | Min 75 ft between such signs | One per street | One per street frontage abutting business/shopping area. | — | Sec. 36-729(4)-(5) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | As needed to control egress and ingress | — | Sec. 36-729(6) |
| Open Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per use | On-premises | — | Sec. 36-729(7), (9) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Not allowed within ROW unless permitted by town or state DOT | — | Sec. 36-729(8) |

### P-1 Public Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Building-Mounted Sign) | — | Varies. See formula. | — | — | — | Facing abutting street or parking lot on the same parcel. | — | Sec. 36-730(1)-(2), (7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per establishment | Permanently fixed to ground; not beyond lot line | — | Sec. 36-730(3)-(4), (7) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | As needed to control egress and ingress | — | Sec. 36-730(5) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per access point | Not allowed within ROW unless permitted by town or state DOT | — | Sec. 36-730(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Appomattox

- Permanent pennants, banners, festoons, streamers, and all other flutter, spinning, or similar type signs and advertising devices are prohibited, except for national, state/local, decorative house, or bona fide civic, charitable, or fraternal organization flags.
- Flashing signs or signs containing strings of lights or running animation are not permitted in any district.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected, used, or operated which displays intermittent lights resembling or seeming to resemble the flashing lights customarily associated with danger or any emergency services vehicles.
- Separate signs attached to a freestanding sign or its supporting structure, advertising services (such as automobile travel clubs and/or credit cards accepted), are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs (billboards) shall not be allowed in any zoning districts (with restrictions on nonconforming billboard alteration or enlargement).
- No sign shall be attached to trees, utility poles, public property, improvements in the public right-of-way, or any unapproved supporting structure.
- All signs, banners, inflatable items and similar devices, and their supporting structures must be maintained in good order and repair and must be properly anchored.
- Lights for illuminated signs must be maintained in good working order.
- Signs causing glare for motorists and pedestrians or illumination spillover on neighboring properties are prohibited.
- The land adjoining a street intersection must be kept clear of obstructions between three feet and seven feet above the ground to protect visibility and safety.
- Temporary signs may not be placed on utility poles, traffic control signs, or within the public right-of-way.
- Nonconforming signs may not be enlarged, extended, modified, reconstructed, or altered in any way except as permitted.
- A nonconforming sign declared unsafe or in poor condition by a town official must be removed at the owner's expense.
- A nonconforming sign damaged or destroyed to an extent exceeding 50 percent of its appraised value may not be altered, replaced, or reinstalled unless brought into conformance.
- A sign must be removed by the owner or lessee when the business it advertises is no longer on the premises (within 60 days).

## Signs exempt from permit in Appomattox

- Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any federal, state, or town government function, or as required by law, ordinance, or governmental regulation including official traffic signs and signals, warning devices, and other similar signs.
- Changing the copy on a bulletin board, poster board, display encasement, marquee or changeable copy sign.
- Temporary signs that are not mounted to a permanent structure/foundation advertising a specific activity, service, or event, meeting requirements for duration, maintenance, size, location, and not being placed on utility poles, traffic signs or within the right-of-way.
- Non-illuminated temporary construction signs (max 32 sq ft) erected in connection with new construction while active, one per street frontage.
- Non-illuminated signs warning trespassers or announcing property as posted, without limitations on number or placement, limited to three square feet in area.
- Mounted, attached, or painted signs on vehicles in the normal course of business, conforming to motor vehicle laws and regulations, on vehicles in good operating condition with proper registration and inspection.
- Address signs displaying only the assigned property/building address, attached to a building or sign structure, not included in the maximum permissible sign area.
- Decals affixed to windows or door glass panes (e.g. business group membership, accepted credit cards), not exceeding 36 square inches.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Modified signs are permitted in all zoning districts by conditional use permit approving a comprehensive signage plan. Application must include a written plan detailing the type, quantity, size, shape, color, and location of all signs within the development.
- Newly constructed groups of buildings or shopping centers in certain districts (e.g., B-1, B-2, M-1) must have unified and/or coordinated building-mounted signs, and the total aggregate sign area for the unified/coordinated sign plan is specified by ordinance.
- A comprehensive signage plan is required for requests seeking a conditional use permit to deviate from the sign ordinance (i.e., master sign plan or substantial modifications).

## 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 4 zoning districts in Appomattox — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Appomattox+VA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-appomattox

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