# Sign Regulations in Farmville, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Farmville, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/farmville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Farmville/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH23STSI_ARTIIIUSREMOMODE_DIVIIISI)

## At a glance

Farmville, Virginia regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Building < 30 ft frontage)s in the B-1 zoning district zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 9 sq. ft. per side (Sec. Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3).

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1 zoning district | 11 | 15 ft. above grade level | Lesser of 20% of window area or 6 sq. ft. | — |
| B-2 zoning district; B-3 zoning district | 8 | 15 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| R-1 zoning district | 3 | 6 ft. (Except window signs) | 16 sq. ft. total per property | — |
| R-2 zoning district; R-3 zoning district | 5 | 6 ft. (except window signs) | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| R-4 zoning district | 5 | 12 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| Residential Zoning Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 2 | 4 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### B-1 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Building < 30 ft frontage) | 8 ft. | 9 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per business | On site | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3 |
| Freestanding Sign (Building > 30 ft frontage) | 8 ft. | 15 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per business | On site | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3 |
| Projecting Sign (Building < 30 ft frontage) | Min 8 ft, Max 15 ft above grade | 9 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3 |
| Projecting Sign (Building > 30 ft frontage) | Min 8 ft, Max 15 ft above grade | 15 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3 |
| Wall Sign | 15 ft. above grade level | 15 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Wall | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3 |
| Canopy Sign | No less than 8 ft clearance; not to exceed canopy height | Letters not more than 6 inches high | — | — | Not limited | On canopy | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3 |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per business or per 30 feet of frontage | On sidewalk or adjacent area | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3; Sec. 29-31(h)(3) |
| Painted Sign | As per other standards | 10% of wall area | — | — | 1 per side or rear wall | Side or rear wall | — | Sec. 29-31(e), Table 3 |

### B-2 zoning district; B-3 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | Lesser of 20% of window area or 6 sq. ft. | — | — | Not limited | Window | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage, limit 2 per lot | On site | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4 |
| Projecting Sign | No less than 9 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business per street frontage | Projecting from building | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4 |
| Wall Sign | Not limited | 100 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per business per street frontage | Wall | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4 |
| Canopy Sign | No less than 9 ft clearance; not to exceed canopy height | Letters not more than 12 inches high | — | — | Permitted | On canopy | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4 |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 ft. | 6 sq. ft. per side | — | — | 1 per 30 feet of frontage | On sidewalk or adjacent area | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4; Sec. 29-31(h)(3) |
| Painted Sign | Not limited | 50% of wall area | — | — | 1 per side or rear wall | Side or rear wall | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4 |
| Temporary Sign (Freestanding, Banner, Wall only) | 4 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | Not limited | Freestanding, banner or wall | — | Sec. 29-31(f), Table 4, note 1; Sec. 29-31(h)(2) |

### R-4 zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Use) | 4 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | Lot | — | Sec. 29-31(g), Table 5 |
| Wall Sign (Residential Use) | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | On building | — | Sec. 29-31(g), Table 5 |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 5 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per separate road frontage | Separate road frontage | — | Sec. 29-31(g), Table 5 |
| Wall Sign (Non-Residential Use) | 12 ft. | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per separate road frontage | Separate road frontage | — | Sec. 29-31(g), Table 5 |
| Temporary Freestanding/Window Sign | 6 ft. (except window signs) | 16 sq. ft. total per property | — | — | Not limited, provided area is not exceeded | Freestanding or window and on property | — | Sec. 29-31(h)(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Farmville

- Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed under this article, by specific requirements in another portion of this chapter, or otherwise expressly allowed by the town are forbidden.
- Inflatable, moving or rotating, animated, or flashing signs lighted in a varying degree including strobe lights.
- Off-premises signs.
- Signs or parts of a sign located anywhere on the roof or wall of a building so that they extend above or beyond the perimeter of the building's roof, wall, or parapet wall or into a front, side or rear yard setback.
- Signs illuminated with sodium halide lights; and any illuminated sign that emits excessive levels of light as determined by the zoning administrator.
- Abandoned sign structures.
- Changeable copy signs, except as specifically permitted by this zoning ordinance.
- Any signs, including posters and handbills, affixed to or painted on any structures, trees or other natural vegetation, rocks, or poles.
- Any sign that may be confused with or obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign or signal, or obstruct the sight-distance triangle at any road intersection, or extend into the public right-of-way or otherwise create a distraction for drivers.
- Portable signs, including those on wheels, except A-frame/sandwich boards complying with the provisions of this section.
- Signs that prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or that prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part or otherwise adversely affect safety or are in violation of any building code or other applicable law.
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound, odor, or open flames used to attract public attention.
- Mirrors or mirror devices on, in, or as part of a sign.
- Signs placed, affixed or painted on a motor vehicle or trailer parked with the primary purpose of providing signage, and not used in the normal conduct of business.
- Signs located in the public right-of-way, unless approved and erected by the town.
- Mobile billboards.
- 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 advertising activities or products that are illegal under federal, state, town or county law.

## Signs exempt from permit in Farmville

- Signs erected by a governmental body or required by law, including official traffic signs or sign structures, provisional warning signs or sign structures, and temporary signs indicating danger.
- Minor signs as defined by this chapter not exceeding three total signs per street frontage per parcel.
- Change of message of an approved sign.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of signs or sign structures, unless a structural change is made.
- Temporary signs in the R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-4 districts, and as set forth in this section, including real estate signs, contractor signs, and special event signs.
- A sign displayed on an operable truck, bus or other vehicle, while in use in the normal course of business with the exception of mobile billboards that are prohibited.
- Flags of the United States of America, Commonwealth of Virginia, Town of Farmville, Longwood University or other flags displayed for non-commercial purposes.
- Any property actively offered for sale or lease may display one sign per street frontage in addition to those otherwise allowed by this chapter, limited to a maximum area of twelve square feet in all zoning districts. Such signs shall be removed when the property is no longer offered for sale or lease and shall not be banner type signs.
- Signs affixed to the interior of a permanent fence of a recreational or sports facility at a private community recreational use, public facility, or educational facility.
- Menu boards for drive-in restaurants.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications must provide a plan showing location of existing and proposed sign(s) on building façade(s) or grounds and exterior dimensions of buildings subject to the sign permit.
- Scaled drawings showing dimensions, scale, and elevation of proposed sign(s) including materials, hardware, and mounting/illumination methods are required with the permit application.
- There is no mention of a 'master sign plan' or a requirement for a variance meeting or approval for a comprehensive sign plan across a site or multi-tenant development in the provided text.

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

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