# Sign Regulations in Culpeper, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Culpeper, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/culpeper
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Culpeper/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIITHCO_CH27ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

Culpeper, Virginia regulates 24 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Ground Mounted/Monument Sign (Permanent) (Residential Use)s in the Agricultural District (TA), Residential District (R) zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 24 sq. ft., with a 5 ft setback (Sec. Sec. 27-250(a)). Most commercial signs in Culpeper require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Agricultural District (TA), Residential District (R) | 10 | 25 ft | 65 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial District 1 (C-1) | 5 | 25 ft | 80 sq. ft. total | — |
| Commercial District 2 (C-2) | 5 | 25 ft | 120 sq. ft. total | — |
| Commercial District 3 (C-3), Commercial District 4 (C-4), Planned Unit Development (PUD), Planned Development/Mixed Commercial (PD/MC) | 6 | 25 ft | 180 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial District (M) | 7 | 25 ft | 180 sq. ft. | — |
| Historic Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 ft | — | — |

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

### Agricultural District (TA), Residential District (R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Mounted/Monument Sign (Permanent) (Residential Use) | 8 ft | 24 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft | 1 per subdivision, multi-family development or neighborhood | 1 per subdivision, multi-family development or neighborhood | — | Sec. 27-250(a) |
| Wall or Window Sign or Affixed to Mailbox (Permanent) (Residential Use) | 8 ft | 6 sq. ft. total | — | None | 2 per lot | 2 per lot | — | Sec. 27-250(a) |
| Flag (Residential Use) | 25 ft | 16 sq. ft. per side | — | 5 ft | Unlimited | Unlimited | — | Sec. 27-239(2), 27-250(a) |
| Minor Sign (Residential Use) | 4 ft | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | Not more than two per parcel exempt; one additional minor sign per parcel as wall sign with permit | Not more than two per parcel without permit. Additional minor sign allowed as wall sign with permit. | — | Sec. 27-239(5), 27-250(a,b) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Use) | 6 ft (no permit), 8 ft (with permit) | 12 sq. ft. (no permit); 16 sq. ft. (with permit/per Sec. 27-250(a)) | — | — | See additional requirements | See requirements | — | Sec. 27-239(4), 27-250(a,b) |
| Ground Mounted/Monument Sign (Permanent) (Nonresidential Use) | 8 ft | 65 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft | 1 per lot frontage of 75 ft | 1 per lot frontage of 75 ft | — | Sec. 27-250(b) |
| Flag (Nonresidential Use) | 25 ft | 16 sq. ft. per side | — | — | No limit | No limit | — | Sec. 27-250(b) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 8 ft | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 4 per year | — | — | Sec. 27-250(b) |

### Commercial District 3 (C-3), Commercial District 4 (C-4), Planned Unit Development (PUD), Planned Development/Mixed Commercial (PD/MC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Mounted/Monument Sign (Permanent) | 8 ft | 180 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft | 1 per business with lot frontage of 100 ft | 1 per business with lot frontage of 100 ft | — | Sec. 27-253 |
| Wall/Awning/Canopy/Window/Projecting/Marquee Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 27-253 |
| Flag | 25 ft | 24 sq. ft. per side | — | 5 ft | No limit | No limit | — | Sec. 27-253 |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 4 per calendar year | — | — | Sec. 27-253 |
| On-site Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq. ft. | — | 0 ft | 4 | 0 ft setback, 4 per lot | — | Sec. 27-253 |
| Minor Sign | 4 ft | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | See location_of_sign | Not more than two per parcel exempt; one additional minor sign per parcel as wall sign with permit. | — | Sec. 27-239(5), 27-253 |

### Industrial District (M)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Mounted/Monument Sign (Permanent) | 8 ft | 180 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft | 1 per business with lot frontage of 100 ft | 1 per business with lot frontage of 100 ft | — | Sec. 27-254(a), ref 27-253 |
| Wall/Awning/Canopy/Window/Projecting/Marquee Sign (Permanent) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 27-254(a), ref 27-253 |
| Flag | 25 ft | 24 sq. ft. per side | — | 5 ft | No limit | No limit | — | Sec. 27-254(a), ref 27-253 |
| Temporary Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 4 per calendar year | — | — | Sec. 27-254(a), ref 27-253 |
| On-site Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq. ft. | — | 0 ft | 4 | 0 ft setback, 4 per lot | — | Sec. 27-254(a), ref 27-253 |
| Minor Sign | 4 ft | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | See location_of_sign | Not more than two per parcel exempt; one additional minor sign per parcel as wall sign with permit. | — | Sec. 27-239(5), 27-254(a), ref 27-253 |
| Internal/Interior Sign (Not visible from public right-of-way) | No limit | No limit | — | — | No limit | Interior of sites, not visible from public right of way or public land | — | Sec. 27-254(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Culpeper

- Signs that violate any law of the commonwealth relating to outdoor advertising.
- Signs attached to natural vegetation.
- Signs simulating, or which are likely to be confused with, a traffic control sign or any other sign displayed by a public authority.
- Vehicle or trailer signs.
- Freestanding, ground-mounted or monument signs that are more than eight (8) feet in height or that have the bottom edge of the sign face six (6) feet or higher above the grade.
- Signs hanging from supports, except against the face of a building.
- Any sign displayed without complying with all applicable regulations of this chapter.
- Signs painted directly on a building, except where expressly permitted.
- Animated signs, except for permitted flags or changeable displays no more often than every seven seconds.
- Flashing signs or other signs displaying flashing, scrolling, or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, except as expressly permitted.
- Signs consisting of illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines, open sales areas, rooflines, doors, windows, or wall edges of any building, except for temporary decorations not to exceed three months per year.
- Signs that emit smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, liquid, or gas.
- Signs that emit sound.
- Any electronic sign that is generated by a series of moving images, such as an LED, digital display, or other video technology, whether displayed on a building, vehicle, or mobile unit.
- Strings of flags visible from, and within fifty (50) feet of, any public right-of-way.
- Off-premises signs, unless specifically permitted.
- Signs erected on public land other than those approved by the town in writing, required by law without such approval, or permitted under Code of Virginia, § 24.2-310(E).
- Signs on the roof surface or extending above the roofline or parapet wall of a building.
- Neon signs, except in windows.
- Any sign located in the vision triangle formed by two intersecting streets, as regulated by section 27-299.
- Window signs whose aggregate area on a window or door exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total area of the window or door.
- Window signs on a floor above the first floor of a building unless the business advertised is only on the floor where the window sign is displayed.
- Freestanding ground mounted or monument signs placed on berms.

## Signs exempt from permit in Culpeper

- Signs erected by a governmental body or required by law.
- Flags up to sixteen (16) square feet in size not containing any commercial advertising, subject to location restrictions.
- Changing of messages on marquees and repair of existing permitted signs (except repairs of nonconforming signs must comply with section 27-244(e)).
- Temporary signs as provided: one sign up to 12 square feet on property with active building permit; one 'for sale or rent' sign up to 12 square feet/6 feet high in residential districts or up to 32 square feet/8 feet high in other districts; official notices/advertisements by public or court officers; temporary signs totaling no more than 12 square feet on residential property and removed within 90 days after erection; residential window signs obstructing no more than 25% of window area; temporary signs as allowed in sections 27-250—27-253.
- Not more than two (2) minor signs per parcel. Additional minor signs are allowed in certain districts with a permit.
- A-frame signs more than fifty (50) feet from the nearest public right-of-way.
- Pavement markings (signs applied directly and entirely to and flush with a paved surface).
- Permanent window signs, if aggregate area on each window/door does not exceed 25% of the total window/door area.
- On-site signs where permitted in Division 2.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign plan may be approved by conditional use permit in all zoning districts. Such a plan establishes details including time, manner, placement, frequency of message changes, sign materials, hours of lighting, height, total square footage, and number of signs on a site.
- The definition of 'comprehensive sign plan' applies to properties with multiple tenants or owners with shared parking or facilities.
- All signs for properties with multiple tenants or users must not exceed maximum sign area computed as if there were a single tenant/user.
- Permit requirements: A sign permit is required prior to display and erection of any sign or mural except for exemptions listed in section 27-239.
- Permits for murals are also required in all districts.
- A certificate of appropriateness from the architectural review board is not required for any sign, but colors in the historic overlay district must match or be similar to those on an approved color chart.
- Applications for a conditional use permit for a comprehensive sign plan must be made to the town and are subject to special approval procedures.

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

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