# Sign Regulations in Blacksburg, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Blacksburg, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/blacksburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Blacksburg/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_CH21STSI_ARTIGESTREWHVEDERE_DIV4SI)

## At a glance

Blacksburg, Virginia regulates 16 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Neighborhood Identification Signs in the Residential Zoning Districts (RR1, RR2, R-4, R-5, OTR, RM-27, RM-48) zoning district are capped at 5 ft. tall and 8 sq. ft., with a Within/near ROW or in median (with approval) setback (Sec. Sec. 5531(d)). Most commercial signs in Blacksburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 4 ft (where monument sign) | 32 sq. ft. per lot | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (RR1, RR2, R-4, R-5, OTR, RM-27, RM-48) | 5 | 9 ft. | If allowed: up to 50 sq. ft. total or 0.35 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Downtown Commercial Zoning District | 5 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| General Commercial Zoning District | 4 | 8 ft. | 75-150 ft frontage = 35 sq. ft.; >150 ft frontage = 40 sq. ft. | — |
| Office Zoning District | 4 | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Research and Development Zoning District, Industrial Zoning District | 5 | 12 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed Use District (MXD) | 4 | 8 ft. | 50 sq. ft. (not deducted from business signage) | — |
| Planned Residential Development (PR), Planned Commercial (PC), Planned Manufactured Home (PMH), Planned Industrial Development (PIN), Special Housing District | 1 | — | As specified in approved signage plan | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residential Zoning Districts (RR1, RR2, R-4, R-5, OTR, RM-27, RM-48)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 2 per lot (permanent) | — | — | Sec. 5532(e) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 3 per lot | — | — | Sec. 5532(a),(e) |
| Identification Sign (Freestanding Monument) | 8 ft (identification), 4 ft (business & directional) | If allowed: up to 50 sq. ft. total or 0.35 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Max 1 per principal entrance, up to 2 total for development | At principal entrances to residential development | — | Sec. 5532(b),(c),(e) |
| Neighborhood Identification Sign | 5 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | Within/near ROW or in median (with approval) | Max 4 per neighborhood | Within public right-of-way or within 5 ft of ROW, may be in median (with approval) | — | Sec. 5531(d) |
| Historic Site or District Sign | 9 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 1 historic site sign per site, historic district sign by plan | — | — | Sec. 5531(a)-(b) |

### Downtown Commercial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign - Single-Establishment | — | See formula | — | — | 2 per lot (plus 3 directional); 2 per establishment in multi-establishment | On building facades, must not project above roofline | — | Sec. 5533(d) |
| Business Sign - Multi-Establishment | — | 15 sq. ft. per establishment | — | — | 2 per establishment | On building facade | — | Sec. 5533(d) |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per lot | — | — | Sec. 5533(d) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Business) | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 1 per lot if meets frontage | On lot with >100 ft frontage | — | Sec. 5533(d) |
| Identification Sign | 8 ft. | 32 sq. ft. (not deducted from business signage allowance) | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 5533(d) |

### Research and Development Zoning District, Industrial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign | — | 10% of facade, max 120 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 2 per lot (plus 3 directional); max 2 per establishment | — | — | Sec. 5536(d) |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Business) | 8 ft. (business), 6 ft. (directional), 12 ft. (identification) | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 1 per lot | On lot with min. 200 ft. frontage | — | Sec. 5536(c)-(d) |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft. | 10 sq. ft. | — | — | Max 3 per lot | — | — | Sec. 5536(d) |
| Identification Sign (Industrial Park Entrance) | 12 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per main entrance | Main entrance of industrial park | — | Sec. 5536(d) |
| Advertising Sign (Industrial District - by Conditional Use Permit) | — | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | Per conditional use permit | Where approved in industrial district | — | Sec. 5536(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Blacksburg

- A sign which imitates or approximates an official highway sign or carries the word, 'STOP' or 'DANGER'; or any sign which obscures a sign displayed by public authority for the purpose of giving traffic instruction or direction or other public information.
- Flashing or revolving lights, or beacons intended to direct attention to a location, building or service, or any similar device otherwise displayed that imitates by its design or use, emergency service vehicles or equipment. Flashing or revolving lights that by their design or use imitate emergency service vehicles or equipment, placed within an establishment so as to be visible from a public right-of-way are also prohibited.
- Any sign, except an official public notice, which is nailed, tacked, posted, or in any other manner attached to any utility pole, or structure supporting wire, cable, or pipe; or to public property of any description.
- Signs advertising activities or products that are illegal under federal, state, Town or county law.
- Any electrical sign that does not display the UL, ETL, CSA or ULC label.
- Any sign that due to its size, location or height obstructs the vision of motorists or pedestrians at any intersection, or similarly obstructs the vision of motorists entering a public right-of-way from private property.
- A sign which obstructs any window or door opening used as a means of egress, or which prevents free passage from one (1) part of a roof to any other part thereof, and a sign which interferes with an opening required for ventilation.
- A sign in a public right-of-way except as provided in Sections 5562 (Banners), 5523 (Location), and 5531(d) (Neighborhood identification signs).
- A sign or illumination that causes any glare into or upon any building or land other than the building and land to which the sign is accessory.
- A sign that violates any provision of any federal or state law relative to outdoor advertising.
- Signs with moving components.
- Pennants, streamers, except as provided in Section 5504 (Temporary signs).
- Large floating or stationary balloons.
- Signs attached, painted, or mounted to unlicensed and inoperative or generally stationary vehicles.
- A-frames and portable roadside signs.
- Strip lights or strip lighting.
- Any sign representing or depicting specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas or sexually oriented goods. Any sign containing obscene text or pictures as defined by the Virginia Code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Blacksburg

- Any sign with an area of one square foot or less.
- Signs on the inside of store windows, except those signs specified as 'Prohibited Signs' in this Article.
- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, such as, but not limited to, traffic, warning, directional, street, regulatory signs or governmental signs which are directly related to the health, safety, convenience or welfare of the community. Governmental signs for proprietary or identification purposes are not exempt.
- Memorial signs two square feet or less in display area and integrated with the primary structure (not freestanding); bulletin boards used for public or permitted civic uses up to 12 square feet in area and mounted on a wall.
- Signs displayed for the direction or convenience of the public, including restrooms, public telephones, entrances, or similar, provided such signs do not exceed three square feet per sign on any lot or parcel.
- Gasoline price signs, provided the total area of all such signs is twelve square feet or less.
- Signs displayed during the month of December for the purpose of selling Christmas trees and other holiday vegetation and accessory items.
- Flags of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States of America, and any other flag of a state or nation flown for noncommercial purposes; or flags displaying purely ornamental and noncommercial information.
- Street address signs, not exceeding 10 square feet in size.
- Signs displayed on a truck, bus, or other vehicle while in use in the normal conduct of business (not when parked for display purposes or used as a portable sign).
- Menu/Daily Special signs, not exceeding four square feet in size, provided the sign is attached to a building facade.
- Street Graphics.
- Signs that are not legible from a public right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for a sign permit in the Planned Commercial, Planned Residential, Planned Industrial, and Planned Manufactured Home districts must be in accord with the sign plan approved for that district.
- In planned developments (Planned Residential, Planned Commercial, Planned Industrial, Planned Manufactured Home districts), a signage plan must be submitted as part of the required preliminary development plan. The signage plan must provide information on the general size, location, style, color, and materials of all signs proposed.
- Prior to the issuance of a sign permit for any sign in an existing planned zoning district, a signage plan approved by the Administrator must be in place for each establishment or multi-establishment building.
- A signage plan is required as part of any application for a conditional use permit, and for special housing districts, to allow the Planning Commission and Town Council to judge the compatibility of the proposed signage with the character of the neighborhood and development.
- For historic district signs, the sign plan must be submitted with the rezoning application for the historic district.

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

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