# Sign Regulations in Chincoteague, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chincoteague, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/chincoteague
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Chincoteague/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH50STSIOTPUPL_ARTIVSTRONASTSIBUNU)

## At a glance

Chincoteague, Virginia regulates 33 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Single-family Subdivision Identification Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft from any property line, outside of all visibility triangles setback (Sec. Sec. 7.12.1).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts, Commercial District C-1, Commercial District C-2 | 18 | 20 ft | 64 sq ft (per sign); 100 sq ft (total combined area) | — |
| PSP—Public/semi-public Districts | 1 | — | 33 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address and Name of Resident Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.3.1 |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 5 feet from any property line | — | Not closer than 5 feet to any property line | — | Sec. 7.3.2 |
| First Amendment Right Sign (Residential Districts) | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | All applicable setbacks in residential district | — | — | — | Sec. 7.3.3, 7.2.17 |
| First Amendment Right Sign (Commercial Districts) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 7.3.3, 7.2.17 |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling | — | — | Sec. 7.3.6, 7.3.6.1, 7.3.6.2 |
| Private Drive Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per drive entrance | On-premises, limited to one per drive entrance | — | Sec. 7.3.7 |
| Security and Warning Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft (unimproved lot), 4 sq ft (improved lot) | — | As stated per improved/unimproved lot | — | On unimproved lots, not closer than 50 ft to each other and not within 10 ft of any property line; on improved lots, within 5 ft of structure. | — | Sec. 7.3.9 |
| Menu and Sandwich Board Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business or home occupation | Displayed on private property | — | Sec. 7.3.11 |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-family Subdivision Identification Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line, outside of all visibility triangles | 1 per main entrance, max 2 per subdivision | At street entrance to subdivision | — | Sec. 7.12.1 |
| Multifamily Complex Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line, outside of all sight visibility triangles | 1 per main entrance, max 2 per complex | At street or private drive entrance to complex | — | Sec. 7.12.2 |
| Accessory Management or Rental Office Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Affixed to main structure, below roof line | — | Sec. 7.12.3 |

### Commercial Districts, Commercial District C-1, Commercial District C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Signs (Single Business, Lot of Record) | Lowest point of roof (wall signs), up to 12 ft (freestanding signs), or lower of eaves/roofline for wall signs. See roof/mansard/freestanding for exceptions. | 64 sq ft (per sign); 100 sq ft (total combined area) | — | Freestanding: not within sight distance triangle; 10 ft from right-of-way unless attached to building | 2 (+2 optional if facing >1 street/waterway) | On building (wall), or freestanding; additional if facing >1 street/waterway | — | Sec. 7.13.1 |
| Business Signs (Multi-business Main Structure) | Lowest point of roof (wall signs), up to 12 ft (freestanding signs) | 64 sq ft (per sign, per business); 100 sq ft (total combined area, per business) | — | See above | 2 per business (+1 wall/projecting per business; +1 freestanding per business; +2 for structure facing multiple streets/waterways) | On building (wall or projecting), or freestanding; additional if facing >1 street/waterway | — | Sec. 7.13.2 |
| Business Signs (Multi-main Structures) | Lowest point of roof (wall signs), up to 12 ft (freestanding) | 64 sq ft (per sign, per business); 100 sq ft (total combined area per business) | — | See above | 2 per business + described options | On building (wall or projecting), or freestanding | — | Sec. 7.13.3 |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 64 sq ft per licensed business; 128 sq ft total per lot | — | Height measured from grade within 6 ft of sign; not within sight distance triangle. | Max 2 per lot | Not within sight distance triangle | — | Sec. 7.13.8 |
| Projecting Sign | 12 ft max (from grade), clearance min 9 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Fronting on any public entrance; may project over sidewalk or right-of-way with permit. | — | Sec. 7.13.11 |
| Office/Industrial Center Monument Sign (Center Identification) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per public street frontage | One per public street frontage | — | Sec. 7.13.14.1 |
| Office/Industrial Center Wall Sign (Individual Establishment) | 12 ft above ground | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | On building, below roof line | — | Sec. 7.13.14.2 |
| Directory Sign (Commercial/Industrial) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property, replaces other freestanding sign for same frontage | — | Sec. 7.13.15 |

## Prohibited signs in Chincoteague

- Signs shall not be erected in or over a street or highway right-of-way, or on public land except as permitted in sections 7.3.9. and 7.11.
- Signs may not be maintained in disrepair. Signs and components must be maintained in safe, clean, and attractive condition; disrepair is grounds for removal.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Glaring signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Simulated traffic signs and obstructions are prohibited.
- Vehicular signs are prohibited.
- Sidewalk signs are prohibited.
- Air or gas filled balloons and inflatable objects are prohibited (unless not exceeding 10 cubic feet and no commercial message is displayed).
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Rotating signs are prohibited.
- Pinwheels for commercial use are prohibited.
- Sexually graphic signs are prohibited.
- Statues placed for or with a commercial message used for the purpose to draw attention to a particular business exceeding four feet in height, three feet in width and/or three feet in length are prohibited.
- Changeable letter signs either freestanding or stand alone are prohibited (except as part of an approved freestanding sign).
- Off-premise signs are prohibited.
- Snipe signs are prohibited.
- Festoons are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected that will obstruct the sight distance triangle at any street intersection.
- All permitted signs in this chapter shall only advertise those uses being conducted on the premises on which they are displayed.
- Illumination of a grandfathered off premise sign is prohibited.
- The fixtures and source(s) of illumination used to illuminate signs shall not be directed toward nearby residential properties.
- Signs must comply with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chincoteague

- Address and name of resident signs up to four square feet in area are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Directional signs (private, on-site) up to four square feet in area are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- First Amendment right signs (noncommercial, meeting size/setback restrictions) are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Flags, emblems, and insignia of any governmental agency or religious, charitable, public, or nonprofit organization are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Handicapped parking space signs that meet ADA standards are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Home occupation signs (limited and regular) up to four square feet and non-illuminated are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Private drive signs (one per entrance, up to two square feet) are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Public signs erected by government agencies or utilities (including traffic, utility, safety, directional, and identification signs for public facilities) are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Security and warning signs (up to two square feet on unimproved, four feet high; spacing/setbacks apply) are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Vending machine identification signs (within the square footage of machine unit) are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Menu and sandwich board signs (on private property; max eight square feet; one per business/home occupation) are permitted as a matter of right with no sign permit required.
- Incidental and directory signs on the interior of a commercial lot are allowed and do not require a permit; such signs must relate to the business on the lot.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign regulations incorporated into a development plan approved by council may supersede all or part of the general sign regulations.
- In cases where the regulations do not specifically address a sign requested in conjunction with a permissible use, the zoning administrator shall make a written interpretation.
- For variances, see Article VIII of the zoning ordinance (implying a variance process exists for signs not meeting criteria).

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

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