# Sign Regulations in Franklin, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Franklin, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/franklin
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/43604775#43604775)

## At a glance

Franklin, Virginia regulates 38 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 64 square feet per face, with a At least 8 feet from city right-of-way or other public property setback (Sec. § 22.3B(2)(a)(2)-(3), (5)-(6)). Most commercial signs in Franklin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 22 | 190 feet | Up to 300 square feet, depending on frontage and setback | — |
| Residential District, Residential Zoning District | 5 | 7 feet above yard average ground level | 32 square feet per face | — |
| Business Park, Shopping Center | 3 | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| B-3 General Business District, B-3 | 8 | 190 feet | 300 square feet | — |
| Industrial District, M-1, M-2, Commercial or Industrial District, Commercial District, Industrial, Commercial | 4 | 190 feet | Up to 300 square feet (see formula) | — |
| B-2 Central Commercial District, Downtown Service Tax District, Business District | 3 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 64 square feet per face | — | At least 8 feet from city right-of-way or other public property | 1 | On the lot on which the business is located | — | § 22.3B(2)(a)(2)-(3), (5)-(6) |
| Freestanding Sign (Industrial Park, M-2 Heavy Industrial District, over 10 acres) | 20 feet | 160 square feet per face | — | 50 feet from public street | 1 | Set back at least 50 feet from a public street | — | § 22.3B(2)(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Park or Shopping Center) | 25 feet | 150 square feet | — | — | 1 | At Business Park/Shopping Center; must be encased in a structure architecturally similar to main building | — | § 22.3B(4)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Route 58 Corridor High-Rise Sign) | 190 feet | — | — | 20 feet from street or lot lines; no setback from Route 58 by-pass right of way | 1 high-rise structure (with up to 4 signs) | On premise within 500 feet of Route 58 by-pass in B-3 General Business or Industrial districts | — | § 22.3B(7) |
| Portable Sign (Business Districts) | 4 feet | 2.5 feet wide, 4 feet high | 2.5 feet | — | — | On sidewalk in front of business, in business or industrial districts | — | § 22.3D(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 8 square feet per face | — | 8 feet from edge of pavement, or one-third distance between pavement and residence (if residence/building is less than 24 feet from pavement) | 1 per street frontage | Only on the property for sale/lease | — | § 22.3G(4), (6), (7) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 32 square feet per face | — | 8 feet from edge of pavement or one-third rule | 1 per street frontage | Only on the property for sale/lease; not in residential zones | — | § 22.3G(5), (6) |
| Model Home/Sales Office Sign | 7 feet | 32 square feet | — | 8 feet from public right of way | 1 per builder | On-site | — | § 22.3H(1) |

### B-3 General Business District, B-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Route 58 Corridor High-Rise Sign | 190 feet | — | — | 20 feet from street/lot lines (except none from Route 58); 200' from residential property | 1 high-rise sign structure (up to 4 signs) | Within 500 feet of Route 58 by-pass right-of-way | — | § 22.3B(7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 64 square feet per face | — | 8 feet from ROW | 1 | — | — | § 22.3B(2)(a)(2) |
| Building Mounted Sign (100+ ft Frontage Option 1) | — | 125 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 22.3C(6)(a) |
| Building Mounted Sign (150–199 ft Frontage Option 2) | — | 150 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 22.3C(6)(b) |
| Building Mounted Sign (200–249 ft Frontage Option 3) | — | 175 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 22.3C(6)(c) |
| Building Mounted Sign (250–499 ft Frontage Option 4) | — | 200 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 22.3C(6)(d) |
| Building Mounted Sign (500–999 ft Frontage Option 5) | — | 250 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 22.3C(6)(e) |
| Building Mounted Sign (1000+ ft Frontage Option 6) | — | 300 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 22.3C(6)(f) |

### Industrial District, M-1, M-2, Commercial or Industrial District, Commercial District, Industrial, Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 64 square feet per face | — | 8 feet from city ROW | 1 | On the lot of business | — | § 22.3B(2)(a)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Industrial Park over 10 acres, M-2 Heavy Industrial District) | 20 feet | 160 square feet per face | — | 50 feet from public street | 1 | Set back 50 feet from public street | — | § 22.3B(2)(a)(2) |
| Route 58 Corridor High-Rise Sign | 190 feet | — | — | 20 feet from ROW/lot lines | 1 | Within 500 feet of Route 58 by-pass right-of-way | — | § 22.3B(7) |
| Building Mounted Sign (General and High-Frontage Rights) | — | Up to 300 square feet (see formula) | — | — | — | On building | — | § 22.3C(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Franklin

- It is unlawful to put up, pull down, write on, cut or otherwise injure or deface any handbill or other public notice posted on any public bulletin board without the consent and permission of the property owner.
- No person shall affix any advertisement, handbill or other public notice to any publicly owned tree, utility pole, traffic or street sign or pole or in any manner injure the same.
- No exterior sign shall advertise a service, product, business, activity or institution which is offered, sold, carried on, produced or manufactured elsewhere than on the premises where such sign is located, except for certain nonprofit temporary event signs.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain portable signs except as specifically provided.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain any lighted sign on an intermittent or flashing circuit, or to outline the exterior of buildings with lights, except during recognized holidays or celebrations with authorization.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain a revolving or otherwise moving sign.
- Bulbs used on signs shall be only white in color.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain a roof sign except for holiday decorations.
- It is unlawful to erect or put up any flexible, moving or fluttering banners, flags, balloons or other devices to attract attention, subject to limited exceptions, and with restrictions on location, duration, and notification.
- It is unlawful to erect or maintain a sign on a bench or other exterior furniture.
- No real estate sign or open house directional sign shall be placed on any city right-of-way.
- No signs advertising a garage or yard sale shall be placed on any property other than that of the residence of the person conducting the sale.
- No sign, display, or advertising matter shall be erected at the intersection of any streets or in the right-of-way in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or to interfere with or obstruct the view of any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No unshielded illuminated devices that produce glare or are a hazard to motorists are permitted.
- No lights or signs that resemble any traffic control device, official traffic control signs, or emergency vehicle markings are permitted. Signs may not make use of words or symbols that would interfere with or mislead vehicular traffic.
- Signs attached to the exterior of a motor vehicle or painted onto a motor vehicle parked on or beside a public street for the sole purpose of advertising are prohibited.
- Any sign that remains on property that becomes vacant and unoccupied, or pertains to a business without a valid business license, or a time/event that has passed, is deemed abandoned.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the zoning administrator unless the sign is exempt.
- Signs which do not maintain required standards of structural repair and visual appearance (e.g., deteriorated, damaged, faded, cracked, not in working order, etc.) are prohibited.
- Any person who violates any sign provision may be punished by a fine of not more than $100.00. Each day constitutes a separate offense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Franklin

- One professional name plate attached to the building not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Any flag of the United States, the State of Virginia, the City of Franklin, and flags not exceeding 15 square feet in size of any other governmental entity, religious or fraternal organization, or seasonal flags.
- Decorative flags and bunting for a city-wide celebration, conventions, and commemorations when authorized by the zoning administrator for a one-week period.
- Holiday lights and decorations.
- Memorial or historic tablets, or information as to the name of the building, date of erection, or other material of historic interest, when cut into a masonry surface or constructed of durable material and not exceeding six square feet.
- Nonadvertising directional signs or symbols located on and pertaining to a parcel of private property, not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Identification signs at the entrance drive of residences and farms which do not exceed two square feet in area.
- Window signs which identify or advertise the business which occupies the premises, community activities, services, goods, or products available within the building, and which collectively cover 30 percent or less of the window glass surface area.
- Signs incorporated on machinery or equipment at the manufacturer's or distributor's level, which advertise only the product or service dispensed by the machine or equipment.
- Warning signs such as 'No Soliciting,' 'No Trespassing,' 'Beware of Dog,' etc., not exceeding two square feet.
- One sign displaying the occupant's name on each residential dwelling unit not exceeding two square feet.
- Real estate signs as set forth in subsection 22.3(e), except for real estate signs advertising nonresidential property which require a zoning certificate.
- One garage or yard sale sign having a surface area not exceeding six square feet.
- Publicly owned and maintained directional or regulatory signage or symbols.
- Signs announcing business openings.
- Construction signs.
- Political signs.
- Signs on motor vehicles.
- Advertising signs at public athletic fields.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be permitted as either a main or accessory use except in accordance with the provisions of this section.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the zoning administrator unless the sign is exempt under subsection 22.4(d) of this section.
- Permit applications must include a site plan and elevation drawings of the proposed sign, with structural and electrical details, as well as an agreement to indemnify the city.
- No permit or fee shall be required for some temporary displays (e.g., promotional banners in business and industrial districts if proper notification is provided).
- No permits and no fees shall be required for real estate signs (except for nonresidential property which requires a zoning certificate).

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

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