# Sign Regulations in Bluefield, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bluefield, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/bluefield
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Bluefield/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=SPBLADERE_CH74ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

Bluefield, Virginia regulates 19 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Institutional Sign or Bulletin Boards in the Agriculture District (A-5), Residential Estates District (R-1A), Residential Limited District (R-1), Residential Limited District (R-2), Medium to High Density Residential District (R-3), Residential Limited with Mobile Homes District (R-4), Manufactured Housing Subdivision District (MHS) zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 25 square feet, with a 10 feet from all public rights-of-way setback (Sec. Sec. 74-1165(b)(2), Sec. 74-1153). Most commercial signs in Bluefield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open Space District (O-1) | 1 | — | 40 square feet | — |
| Agriculture District (A-5), Residential Estates District (R-1A), Residential Limited District (R-1), Residential Limited District (R-2), Medium to High Density Residential District (R-3), Residential Limited with Mobile Homes District (R-4), Manufactured Housing Subdivision District (MHS) | 5 | 6 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| Limited Business District (B-1), General Business District (B-2), Intermediate Business District (B-3), Shopping Center District (SC-1), Shopping Center Out Parcels District (SC-OP), Light Industries District (M-1), Heavy Industries District (M-2) | 7 | 20 feet (or bottom sill of second story window or lowest point of roof, whichever is lowest) | 60 square feet | — |
| Educational Institutions District (E-1) | 2 | 20 feet (or bottom sill of second story window or lowest roof point, whichever is lowest) | 60 square feet | — |
| Floodplain District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Mountain Ridge Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 5 feet | See Sec. 74-1156 (generally small, less than 4 square feet, or as stated) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Agriculture District (A-5), Residential Estates District (R-1A), Residential Limited District (R-1), Residential Limited District (R-2), Medium to High Density Residential District (R-3), Residential Limited with Mobile Homes District (R-4), Manufactured Housing Subdivision District (MHS)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Mounted (Freestanding) Sign (Residential Development/Subdivision Identification) | — | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from all public rights-of-way | — | At least 10 feet from all public rights-of-way | — | Sec. 74-1165(b)(1), Sec. 74-1153, Sec. 74-1162(a) |
| Institutional Sign or Bulletin Board | 6 feet | 25 square feet | — | 10 feet from all public rights-of-way | One per use | On property of the institution (e.g., school, church), subject to setback requirements | — | Sec. 74-1165(b)(2), Sec. 74-1153 |
| Professional Office, Nursing Home or Bed and Breakfast Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | 10 feet from all public rights-of-way | One per principal structure | On property of principal structure | — | Sec. 74-1165(b)(3), Sec. 74-1165(b) |
| Accessory Management or Rental Office Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — | 10 feet from all public rights-of-way | One per use | On property of accessory management or rental office | — | Sec. 74-1165(c)(1) |
| Accessory Use Sign (Other) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet from all public rights-of-way | One per use | On property of accessory use | — | Sec. 74-1165(c)(2) |

### Limited Business District (B-1), General Business District (B-2), Intermediate Business District (B-3), Shopping Center District (SC-1), Shopping Center Out Parcels District (SC-OP), Light Industries District (M-1), Heavy Industries District (M-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Marquee Sign (Individual Business) | 20 feet (or bottom sill of second story window or lowest point of roof, whichever is lowest) | 60 square feet | — | — | Up to 2 per business | On building façade, not above roof line; business or industrial zones | — | Sec. 74-1166(b)(2)a, Sec. 74-1164(3), Sec. 74-1161, Sec. 74-1162 |
| Ground-Mounted or Monument-Style Sign (Individual Business) | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — | 5 feet from public right-of-way/service drive/entrance; 10 feet if 50 ft+ right-of-way | Up to 2 per business | At least 5 feet from any public right-of-way, service drive, or entrance; in landscaped area with vegetation | — | Sec. 74-1166(b)(2)b, Sec. 74-1164(1), Sec. 74-1161, Sec. 74-1162 |
| Projecting Sign (Individual Business) | 14 feet or bottom sill of second story window or lowest roof point | 15 square feet | — | — | Up to 2 per business | On building, projecting up to 18 inches; not over public right-of-way | — | Sec. 74-1166(b)(2)d, Sec. 74-1164(2), Sec. 74-1161, Sec. 74-1162 |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | Attached to front of awning/canopy/marquee | — | Sec. 74-1166(b)(2)c, Sec. 74-1164(4) |
| Directory Sign (Multiple Businesses on One Lot) | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — | 5 feet minimum from public right-of-way | One per street frontage | Ground-mounted; one per street frontage per zoning lot | — | Sec. 74-1166(c)(4), Sec. 74-1164(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Establishments with Individual Entrances) | — | 60 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | Above individual entrance on façade | — | Sec. 74-1166(c)(5) |
| Center Identification Sign (Shopping/Office/Industrial Center) | — | 60 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Ground-mounted or monument-style, one per street frontage | — | Sec. 74-1167(a)(2) |

### Educational Institutions District (E-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Marquee Sign | 20 feet (or bottom sill of second story window or lowest roof point, whichever is lowest) | 60 square feet | — | — | — | On building | — | Sec. 74-1166, applies due to business/office/educational-use context |
| Freestanding (Ground-Mounted) Sign | 20 feet | 60 square feet | — | 5 feet from public right-of-way | — | Ground-mounted; at least 5 feet from public right-of-way | — | Sec. 74-1166, applies due to business/office/educational-use context |

## Prohibited signs in Bluefield

- No sign shall be erected, used, altered, or reconstructed without a zoning permit except as provided in the article.
- No sign may be erected on another's property without permission.
- No sign shall violate any provision of federal, state, town, or county regulations.
- Billboards and off-premises signs are prohibited in areas zoned as residential.
- All billboards and off-premises signs that are permitted shall be at least 500 feet apart and not within 1,500 feet of any church, cemetery, school, historical site, or residential zone; maximum size 300 square feet; may be double-faced.
- Simulated traffic signs, any sign which may be confused with or obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign or signal, any sign which imitates or approximates an official highway sign, or obscures a sign displayed by public authority for traffic or public information are prohibited.
- Glaring signs, flashing signs, or signs with light sources of such brightness as to constitute a hazard are prohibited.
- Signs erected upon the roof of a structure that constitute a safety hazard are prohibited.
- Any sign (except official public notice) attached to any tree, natural vegetation, rock, utility pole, or structure supporting wire, cable, pipe, or to public property of any type is prohibited.
- Any sign obstructing vision of motorists or pedestrians at an intersection, obstructing vision of motorists entering a public right-of-way from private property, or blocking any window, door, fire escape, or stairway is prohibited.
- Signs erected in or over a public right-of-way or public property are prohibited.
- Signs advertising activities or products that are illegal are prohibited.
- Large floating or stationary balloons that constitute a hazard are prohibited.
- Signs attached, painted, or mounted to inoperative vehicles or inoperative trailers are prohibited.
- A-frames and portable roadside signs are prohibited.
- No more than two sign faces are permitted per sign.
- No light from any illuminated sign shall cause direct glare onto adjacent properties, buildings, or public rights-of-way.
- No sign may have more than permitted cyclical period or area for electronic, flashing, or animated signs.
- Freestanding signs or signs attached to fences at approximately eye level, warning the public against hunting, fishing, trespassing, dangerous animals, or swimming, may not violate other general prohibitions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bluefield

- Signs identifying addresses of premises not exceeding four square feet in area.
- Commemorative plaques and historical markers erected by a governmental body or organization permitted by the zoning administrator.
- Signs identifying handicapped parking or fire lanes.
- Private directional, security, warning, and/or driveway signs not exceeding three square feet in area and three feet in height.
- Public signs, including traffic, utility, parking, directional, identification, event, and other signs displayed for governmental purposes.
- Displays of a patriotic, religious, civic, or political character on private property.
- Signs not visible beyond the boundaries of the lot or parcel upon which they are located.
- Signs connected to private yard sales, not exceeding five per sale, not attached to trees/utility poles/public ROW, max display seven consecutive days, and only with valid yard sale permit.
- Signs connected to the sale of real estate not exceeding five square feet for single-family residential districts or ten square feet for others; one real estate sign per property.
- Signs on the inside of windows on private property.
- Memorial signs on private property not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Signs displayed during November 1 through December 31 for the purpose of selling holiday vegetation and accessory items.
- Flags of the United States, Virginia, or any state or nation flown for noncommercial purposes.
- Flags displaying purely ornamental and noncommercial information (e.g., graphic depictions of flowers, nature scenes, animals, etc.).
- Signs displayed on a vehicle in use so long as they do not constitute a hazard as determined by the zoning administrator.
- Freestanding signs or signs attached to fences at approximately eye level, warning the public against hunting, fishing, trespassing, dangerous animals, swimming, or the like.
- Signs erected on private property for a period not greater than 60 days/year, not exceeding 24 square feet and five feet in height, do not require a zoning permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A zoning permit application is required for every sign except those specifically exempted under this article.
- For a sign permit, the application must contain or have attached; name, address, and telephone number of the sign erector, sign owner, and property owner, positions, type/design/materials, purpose, drawings, size/placement of existing signs, and other information requested by the zoning administrator.
- A signage plan is required as part of any application for a special sign permit for designated commercial properties in B-2, B-3, or SC-1 districts located within 2,500 feet of the U.S. Route 460 median (must detail size, location, style, color, materials, and scaled color plans).
- For large retail establishments (>60,000 sq. ft.) and developments in the SC-1 or SC-OP districts, preliminary and final design guideline plans must be submitted and reviewed by staff, the planning commission, and town council; guidelines include signage requirements.
- All signs must conform to district-specific standards as detailed in the ordinance.
- Appeals of sign permit denials by the zoning administrator may be made to the board of zoning appeals within 30 days.
- Special sign permits (allowing variance from normal sign code) may be approved by the zoning administrator upon submission of a signage plan when unique conditions are met.

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

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