# Sign Regulations in Chesapeake, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chesapeake, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/chesapeake
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Chesapeake/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH70SU_ARTIVIM_DIV3STPACUGUSIDRSTSILIUT)

## At a glance

Chesapeake, Virginia regulates 18 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Single-family Residential Districts, Two-family Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 2 sq ft (cumulative), with a 6 ft setback (Sec. Table A—Permanent Signage; § 14-704, § 14-707). Most commercial signs in Chesapeake require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-family Residential Districts, Two-family Residential Districts | 5 | 8 ft | See residential development/subdivision sign standards: up to 48 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family Residential Districts, R-TH-1, R-MF-1, R-MF-2 | 4 | 8 ft | <100 ft lot frontage: 0; ≥100 ft: 32 sq ft (cumulative) | — |
| RE-1 (Residential Estate District) | 2 | 4 ft | 2 sq ft (cumulative) | — |
| A-1 (Agriculture), C-1 (Conservation) | 3 | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts, B-1 (Neighborhood Business), B-2 (General Business), B-3 (Highway Service District), B-5 (Urban Business), Assembly Center Districts, Office and Institutional Districts, MXD (Mixed Use Urban District), M-1 (Light Industrial), M-2 (General Industrial), M-3 (Waterfront Industrial), Commercial/Industrial Center, Commercial/Industrial Park | 6 | 16 ft | 125 sq ft | — |
| Planned Unit Development Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Great Bridge Historic Gateway Overlay District, Dollar Tree Planned Unit Development, Urban Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 35 ft | 750 sq ft | — |

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

### Single-family Residential Districts, Two-family Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft (cumulative) | — | 6 ft | 1 per dwelling unit | Setback 6 ft from property line | — | Table A—Permanent Signage; § 14-704, § 14-707 |
| Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft (cumulative) | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On building walls | — | Table A—Permanent Signage; § 14-704, § 14-707 |
| Yard Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from pavement/curb or 1 ft behind sidewalk | 1 per 25 ft of lot line | Setback 10 ft from edge of pavement or curb, or 1 ft behind sidewalk | — | Table B—Temporary Signage; § 14-704 |
| For Sale/For Rent Sign | — | 16 sq ft (cumulative) | — | 10 ft from pavement/curb or 1 ft behind sidewalk | 1 per 100 ft of lot line, up to 4 | Setback per yard sign | — | Table B—Temporary Signage |
| Ground Sign (Subdivision Entrance) | 8 ft | See residential development/subdivision sign standards: up to 48 sq ft | — | 15 ft from right-of-way | Maximum 2 for any single residential development or subdivision | At subdivision/community entrance, 15 ft setback from right-of-way | — | § 14-705(E), § 14-707 |

### Multi-family Residential Districts, R-TH-1, R-MF-1, R-MF-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | <100 ft lot frontage: 0; ≥100 ft: 32 sq ft (cumulative) | — | 5 ft from right-of-way | <100 ft lot frontage: 0; ≥100 ft: 1 | Setback 5 ft from right-of-way | — | Table A—Permanent Signage; § 14-704, § 14-707 |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft (cumulative); 8 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per 50 ft of building frontage | On building wall | — | Table A—Permanent Signage; § 14-704 |
| Ground Sign | 2.5 ft | 9 sq ft per face | — | — | At vehicular entrance: 1 per entrance | 1 per vehicular entrance; all other locations, no max | — | Table A—Permanent Signage |
| Yard Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 8 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from pavement/curb, or 1 ft behind sidewalk | 1 per 25 ft of lot line | Setback 10 ft from pavement/curb or 1 ft behind sidewalk | — | Table B—Temporary Signage |

### Business Districts, B-1 (Neighborhood Business), B-2 (General Business), B-3 (Highway Service District), B-5 (Urban Business), Assembly Center Districts, Office and Institutional Districts, MXD (Mixed Use Urban District), M-1 (Light Industrial), M-2 (General Industrial), M-3 (Waterfront Industrial), Commercial/Industrial Center, Commercial/Industrial Park

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (≤2 acres) | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 15 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per frontage | Setback 15 ft from street right-of-way | — | Table A—Permanent Signage, § 14-704(E) |
| Freestanding Sign (2–<5 acres) | 12 ft | 96 sq ft | — | 35 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per frontage | Setback 35 ft from street right-of-way | — | Table A—Permanent Signage |
| Freestanding Sign (≥5 acres) | 16 ft | 125 sq ft | — | 50 ft from street right-of-way | 1 per frontage | Setback 50 ft from street right-of-way | — | Table A—Permanent Signage |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | Table A—Permanent Signage |
| Ground Sign (Entrances only) | 4 ft | 4 sq ft (cumulative) | — | 5 ft | 2 (entrances only) | At vehicular entrances, setback 5 ft from right-of-way | — | Table A—Permanent Signage |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | — | 1 per establishment | See location requirements | — | § 14-704(H)(3)(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Chesapeake

- Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by conditional use permit under this article, by specific requirements in another portion of this chapter, or otherwise expressly allowed by the city council are forbidden.
- All signs which do not comply with the requirements of this ordinance and are not legally nonconforming signs are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited, unless specifically permitted by this ordinance.
- Signs erected or maintained which copy, imitate or approximate an official highway sign are prohibited.
- Signs with flashing or intermittent lights/LEDs or lights/LEDs of changing degrees of intensity are prohibited unless specifically allowed.
- Illuminated signs in residential districts are prohibited except for signs at entrances to residential developments with indirect lighting, and signs in residential districts with specific conditional use permit approval.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, or maintained so as to obstruct or interfere with fire escapes, windows, doors, or required means of egress or openings needed for ventilation.
- Signs or illumination that cause direct glare into or upon any building other than the building to which the sign is accessory are prohibited.
- Signs located on any public right-of-way are prohibited, except those permitted by other code sections.
- Signs that violate any state law relating to billboard signs are prohibited.
- Any sign that projects beyond a lot line is prohibited, unless expressly permitted.
- Any sign that overhangs with clearance less than 10 ft above a walkway or 15 ft above a driveway/alley/travel lane is prohibited, unless specifically approved.
- Any sign which by location, position, size, shape or color may interfere with or be confused with a traffic control sign, signal, or device is prohibited. Signs are also prohibited from using the words "stop," "slow," "caution," "yield," "danger," "warning," or "go" when such sign may be confused with a traffic control sign.
- Any offsite sign is prohibited, unless specifically allowed elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Signs attached to natural vegetation are prohibited.
- Vehicle or trailer signs are prohibited except as permitted portable signs.
- Signs hanging from supports other than the face of a building are prohibited.
- Any sign displayed without complying with all applicable code regulations is prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on a building are prohibited, except those that meet the requirements of a permitted wall sign.
- Signs designed to rotate, move, or appear to rotate/move are prohibited (except permitted flags).
- Signs consisting of illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines, open sales areas, rooflines, doors, windows, or wall edges are prohibited, except for temporary decorations not exceeding 3 months per year.
- Signs that emit smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, liquid, or gas are prohibited.
- Signs that emit sound are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except as specifically permitted.
- Roof signs that project upward above the roof of a building are prohibited, except on parapet walls that are at least two-thirds the length of the building frontage and on regional hospitals.
- Any sign that obstructs free or clear vision, or causes a safety hazard for vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians due to its location is prohibited.
- Window signs whose aggregate area on a window or door exceed 25% of the total area of the window or door panel are prohibited.
- No sign shall be suspended by non-rigid attachments that allow it to swing in the wind.
- All permanent freestanding signs must be erected on or permanently attached to concrete foundations or comparably secure means.
- Temporary signs may not be placed in the public right-of-way, except for public service signs.
- Yard signs are prohibited from being placed on any improved or unimproved portion of public right-of-way, including medians and sidewalks.
- Otherwise permitted accessory structures shall not be permitted if they are used to support a use which is not a permitted principal or accessory use on the property.
- Otherwise permitted accessory uses or structures shall not be permitted if they are utilized in such a manner or degree that they become a principal use or structure.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chesapeake

- The following permanent signs are permitted and may be erected without a permit, but must comply with building code and applicable law: Letters less than 19 inches in height and 1 inch in thickness carved into or constructed of the same material as the building frontage in such a way that they are an architectural detail of the building, provided they are not illuminated apart from the building, are not made of a reflecting material, and are the same color as the building.
- Changing of the copy on a sign used as a freestanding sign at an establishment with drive-through lanes, message board, or other similar use, as determined by the zoning administrator, does not require a permit.
- Changing of the graphics on a legal nonconforming billboard sign does not require a permit.
- Signs applied directly to a home, mailbox, or entirely and flush with an asphalt, concrete or similar paved surface are permitted without a permit provided such sign does not exceed 2 square feet and no more than 2 such signs per residence.
- Handicapped parking signs are exempted from permit requirements.
- Official notices posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance of official duties are permitted as temporary signs (subject to durational limits in tables for temporary signs).
- Up to four (4) flag signs per parcel may be erected as temporary signs without a permit, provided siting and size restrictions are adhered to.
- Seasonal displays and decorations are permitted as temporary signs without a permit, subject to durational limits in the tables for temporary signs.
- Sandwich board signs in business, assembly center, office and institutional, and industrial districts do not require a permit if complying with all stated location, size, and time restrictions.
- Temporary signs affixed to or clearly visible through windows or doors in commercial or industrial establishments are permitted provided no individual sign exceeds 12 square feet, and such signs do not require a permit.
- Yard signs on property zoned or used for residential purposes are permitted as temporary signs without a permit provided they comply with setback, location, and duration restrictions in the ordinance.
- Signs located on property zoned or used for agricultural purposes at test plot locations under cultivation, with maximum sign area of 2 square feet, are permitted as temporary signs without a permit, provided durational and other requirements are met.
- Public service signs are permitted as temporary signs without a permit.
- Changing the graphics or message on message boards or billboards does not require a permit and does not affect nonconforming status.
- No permit is required for temporary signs located on property for sale or for rent, provided size, number, setback, and duration requirements are met.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for any sign erection, alteration, repair, relocation or modification unless specifically exempted elsewhere in the ordinance.
- Permit applications must include a site plan showing, among other things, the proposed location and dimensions of the sign and all existing signs on the lot.
- For certain temporary displays (e.g., special sign displays for new business openings or special sales), the zoning administrator may require a specific site plan for safety review and may require modifications.
- For residential development/subdivision signs, plans showing proposed design, location, size, dimensions, and height of the sign must be submitted, including the location of utility easements and a visibility triangle.
- The zoning administrator may require additional information (including a specific site plan) for permit application review, as deemed necessary.
- Variance or conditional use permit hearings are required for: billboard signs (via conditional use permit), certain freestanding sign height limitations (planning commission/board of zoning appeals), freestanding book exchanges not meeting standard criteria (board of zoning appeals), increased temporary sign quantities or sizes (planning commission/site plan review), murals (require a zoning permit and documentation/illustration depicting the mural for city review).

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

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