# Sign Regulations in Fredericksburg, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fredericksburg, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/fredericksburg
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-07
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/29017316)

## At a glance

Fredericksburg, Virginia regulates 58 sign types across 16 zoning districts. Temporary Sign (Exempt) – Residential and PD-R and residential-use properties in other districts in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at If freestanding: up to 6 square feet may be up to 6 feet in height; the remaining 14 square feet limited to 4 feet in height. tall and Total up to 32 square feet (nonilluminated)., with a Must comply with § 72-59.5(B). setback (Sec. § 72-59.3(F)(1)). Most commercial signs in Fredericksburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (16 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | Freestanding: no more than 8 feet or the maximum height permitted for freestanding signs in §§ 72-59.6 and 72-59.7, whichever is less. | Lots with ≤150 ft frontage: up to 20 sq ft; lots with >150 ft frontage: up to 32 sq ft (nonilluminated). | — |
| Residential Districts (R-2, R-4, R-8, R-12, R-16, R-30, R-MH), Planned Development-Residential District (PD-R) | 7 | Up to 6 ft | Up to 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial/Office-Transitional District (C-T) | 10 | Up to 20 ft (general height for C-T district) | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side, whichever is greater | — |
| Commercial-Downtown District (C-D) | 6 | Up to 6 ft each | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side, whichever is greater | — |
| Commercial-Shopping Center District (C-SC) | 11 | Up to 20 ft | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side (whichever greater) | — |
| Commercial-Highway District (C-H) | 9 | Up to 20 ft | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side (whichever greater) | — |
| Light Intensity Industrial District (I-1) | 7 | Up to 20 ft | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side (whichever greater) | — |
| General Industrial District (I-2) | 7 | Up to 20 ft | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side (whichever greater) | — |
| Planned Development-Commercial District (PD-C) | 9 | Up to 150 ft | Sign panel area up to 1,000 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development-Mixed-Use District (PD-MU), Planned Development-Medical Center District (PD-MC) | 7 | Up to 30 ft | Up to 250 sq ft per building side or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage (whichever greater) | — |
| Creative Maker District (CM) (Maker Frontage B-C) | 10 | No taller than 25% of the height of the existing building or 20 ft, whichever is greater | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side (whichever greater) | — |
| Creative Maker District (CM) (Maker Frontage D-E) | 10 | No taller than 25% of the height of the existing building or 20 ft, whichever is greater | Up to 250 sq ft or 25% of total permitted building-mounted signage per building side (whichever greater) | — |
| Old and Historic Fredericksburg District (HFD) | 2 | Freestanding: no more than 8 ft or the maximum height permitted for freestanding signs in §§ 72-59.6 and 72-59.7, whichever is less | Up to 20 sq ft (nonilluminated) | — |
| Gateway Corridor Overlay District (GCO) (Cowan Boulevard Corridor and Fall Hill Avenue Corridor subdistricts) | 3 | Up to 10 ft (including base) | Up to 60 sq ft | — |
| Lafayette Boulevard Corridor Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Princess Anne Street Corridor Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 16 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Electronic Variable Message Sign (General Design Standards) | — | No more than 40% of permitted sign area may be an electronic variable message display, except: up to 100% for drive-through stacking lane signs; up to three areas each up to 15 inches high by 36 inches wide for gasoline sales use price displays. | — | — | — | Limited to freestanding signs only; permitted only in PD-C except specific allowances for drive-through stacking lane signs and certain gasoline sales price signs (see citations). | — | § 72-59.5(A) |
| Freestanding Sign (General Setbacks) | — | — | — | Set back at least half the sign’s height from any property or right-of-way line; set back at least a distance equal to the sign’s height from any existing freestanding sign. | — | Any district where freestanding signs are permitted. | — | § 72-59.5(B) |
| Banners (Temporary, Building-Mounted) | — | Up to 50% of aggregate area of permitted permanent building signage or 40 square feet, whichever is less. | — | — | Maximum 1 banner at any one time | Building-mounted; located on the same property as the sponsoring business or organization. | — | § 72-59.8(A)-(C) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt) – Residential and PD-R and residential-use properties in other districts | If freestanding: up to 6 square feet may be up to 6 feet in height; the remaining 14 square feet limited to 4 feet in height. | Total up to 32 square feet (nonilluminated). | — | Must comply with § 72-59.5(B). | One or more, totaling 32 square feet | On the same property; residential properties. | — | § 72-59.3(F)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt) – C-D, HFD, and GCO (non-residential properties only) | Freestanding: no more than 8 feet or the maximum height permitted for freestanding signs in §§ 72-59.6 and 72-59.7, whichever is less. | Up to 20 square feet (nonilluminated). | — | Must comply with § 72-59.5(B). | Maximum 1 | On the same property (non-residential properties in C-D, HFD, and GCO). | — | § 72-59.3(F)(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt) – All other districts (non-residential properties) | Freestanding: no more than 8 feet or the maximum height for freestanding signs in § 72-59.6, whichever is less. | Lots with ≤150 ft frontage: up to 20 sq ft; lots with >150 ft frontage: up to 32 sq ft (nonilluminated). | — | Must comply with § 72-59.5(B). | Maximum 1 | On the same property (non-residential properties). | — | § 72-59.3(F)(3) |
| Small Entrance Building-Mounted Sign (Exempt) | — | Up to 4 square feet per building entrance (within 6 feet of entrance). | — | — | — | Building-mounted adjacent to entrance. | — | § 72-59.3(B) |
| Flags (Exempt) | — | Up to 40 square feet. | — | — | — | Any district. | — | § 72-59.3(C); note in § 72-59.6(A)(2) tables |

### Commercial/Office-Transitional District (C-T)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Adjacent to ROW > 70 ft) | Up to 5 ft (general); up to 10 ft for major entrance signs (see below) | Up to 40 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per parcel per street frontage | Adjacent to public street right-of-way greater than 70 feet | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-T) |
| Freestanding Sign (Adjacent to ROW ≤ 70 ft) | Up to 5 ft (general); up to 8 ft for major entrance signs (see below) | Up to 30 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per parcel per street frontage | Adjacent to public street right-of-way 70 feet or less | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-T) |
| Major Entrance Monument Sign (Office Park or Retail Center) (ROW > 70 ft) | Up to 10 ft | Up to 60 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per major entrance | At major entrance to an office park or retail center; adjacent to ROW > 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-T) |
| Major Entrance Monument Sign (Office Park or Retail Center) (ROW ≤ 70 ft) | Up to 8 ft | Up to 40 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per major entrance | At major entrance to an office park or retail center; adjacent to ROW ≤ 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-T) |
| Gasoline Sales Use – Freestanding Sign | Up to 20 ft (general height for C-T district) | Up to 25 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per gasoline sales use | On gasoline sales use parcel | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Table; § 72-59.5(A)(1)(b) |
| Flagpole | Equal to maximum permitted building height (Article III) | — | — | — | 1 per parcel | Per parcel | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables; flagpole note |
| Drive-Through Stacking Lane Sign - Menu Board | Up to 6 ft | Up to 30 sq ft | — | — | 2 per stacking lane | Accessory drive-through use stacking lane | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Other; § 72-59.5(A)(1)(a) |
| Drive-Through Stacking Lane Sign - Secondary Board | Up to 6 ft | Up to 15 sq ft | — | — | See paired allowance | Accessory drive-through use stacking lane | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Other; § 72-59.5(A)(1)(a) |

### Commercial-Shopping Center District (C-SC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Adjacent to ROW > 70 ft) | Up to 20 ft | Up to 100 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | — | Adjacent to ROW > 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-SC) |
| Freestanding Sign (Adjacent to ROW ≤ 70 ft) | Up to 20 ft | Up to 75 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | — | Adjacent to ROW ≤ 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-SC) |
| Major Entrance Monument Sign (Office Park/Retail Center) (ROW > 70 ft) | Up to 20 ft | Up to 100 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per major entrance | At major entrance to an office park or retail center; adjacent to ROW > 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-SC) |
| Major Entrance Monument Sign (Office Park/Retail Center) (ROW ≤ 70 ft) | Up to 20 ft | Up to 75 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per major entrance | At major entrance to an office park or retail center; adjacent to ROW ≤ 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-SC) |
| Major Entrance Monument Sign (Shopping Center) (ROW > 70 ft) | Up to 20 ft | Up to 100 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per shopping center major entrance | At major entrance to a shopping center; adjacent to ROW > 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-SC) |
| Major Entrance Monument Sign (Shopping Center) (ROW ≤ 70 ft) | Up to 20 ft | Up to 75 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per shopping center major entrance | At major entrance to a shopping center; adjacent to ROW ≤ 70 ft | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Tables (C-SC) |
| Gasoline Sales Use – Freestanding Sign | Up to 20 ft | Up to 25 sq ft | — | Setbacks per § 72-59.5(B) | 1 per gasoline sales use | On gasoline sales use parcel | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Table; § 72-59.5(A)(1)(b) |
| Drive-Through Stacking Lane Signs (Menu + Secondary Boards) | 6 ft each | 30 sq ft (menu) and 15 sq ft (secondary) | — | — | 2 per stacking lane | Accessory drive-through stacking lane | — | § 72-59.6(A)(2) Other; § 72-59.5(A)(1)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Fredericksburg

- All signs and sign structures not specifically exempted or permitted by § 72-59 are prohibited.
- Signs that violate any provision of United States or Virginia law.
- Signs that obstruct a door, fire escape, or building opening intended for light, air, or access to a building.
- Any signs in motion by any means (including pennant strands, streamers, floating or stationary balloons, strings of flags, sail/feather signs, inflated devices, and signs held by persons), including fluttering or rotating.
- Signs displaying animation, flashing or intermittent lights, or lights changing degrees of intensity, including electronic variable message signs, except as otherwise permitted in § 72-59.5.
- Signs that obscure a governmental sign or are likely to be mistaken for governmental signs.
- Signs likely to cause a pedestrian or vehicular traffic hazard.
- Signs that are structurally unsafe or in poor, physically deteriorated condition.
- Portable signs.
- Signs that emit smoke, flame, scent, mist aerosol, liquid, gas, or sound (other than a customer/business employee intercom).
- Any sign displayed on a motor vehicle or trailer when the vehicle or trailer is used primarily for the purpose of and serving the function of a portable sign, except when loading/unloading or parked away from a public street.
- Signs representing or depicting specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas, or sexually oriented goods, and signs containing obscene text or pictures as defined by the Code of Virginia.
- Off-premises advertising signs, except as specifically permitted by § 72-59 or another section of the City Code.
- Roof signs, except as permitted in the Creative Maker District under § 72-59.7.
- Signs erected on public property, including rights-of-way, unless approved in writing by an authorized City official, required by law, or permitted under Code of Virginia § 24.2-310; such signs may be immediately removed and disposed of by an authorized official.
- Any sign or illumination that causes direct glare into or onto any building other than the building where the sign is located.
- Any sign, except official notices required by federal, state, or local law, attached to any pipe or utility pole (public or private) or to natural vegetation.
- Any exterior permanent lighting by exposed tubing or strings of lights outlining any part of a building or affixed to any architectural feature.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fredericksburg

- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body.
- Up to four square feet of building-mounted signage within six feet of any building entrance (not illuminated in R and PD-R districts).
- Flags up to 40 square feet.
- Address number signs: not larger than one square foot in R and PD-R districts; not larger than two square feet in all other districts.
- Seasonal displays and decorations.
- Temporary signs, subject to district-specific size, height, and location limits (see § 72-59.3F).
- Permanent ground or building-mounted signs up to two square feet when adjacent to parking lot entrances and exits and parking spaces.
- Normal maintenance and repair of a conforming sign.
- Change of advertised copy on a variable message board sign or marquee designed and approved for replaceable copy.
- Public art.
- Signs that are illegible because their physical attributes do not allow differentiation of content by an observer with 20/20 vision from the public right-of-way, public property, or across a property boundary.
- Any sign applied directly and entirely to and flush with an asphalt, concrete, or similar paved surface.
- Any sign within a building, provided it does not display animation, flashing or intermittent lights, or lights changing degrees of intensity; does not change messages on less than an eight-second cycle; and is not in motion, unless otherwise prohibited.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A signage design package is required for all signs in PD-C, PD-MU, and PD-MC districts that will have multiple land uses or multiple development phases (§ 72-59.6B).
- Signage design package must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator with the final site design for the first phase of development or before construction of the first phase; ZA reviews within 60 days, resubmittals within 45 days; minor amendments may be approved at ZA’s discretion; decisions may be appealed to the BZA (§ 72-59.6B(1)-(2)).
- Upon approval, all new signs within PD-C, PD-MU, or PD-MC must adhere to the standards of the approved signage design package; packages must conform to sign permit requirements (§ 72-59.6B(4)-(5)).
- In Gateway Overlay Districts (Cowan Boulevard Corridor and Fall Hill Avenue Corridor subdistricts), each site or development must have an overall signage plan reviewed as part of the sign permit, with a consistent style, size, and color scheme for all signs on the property (§ 72-59.7B(1)(a)).
- In the Old and Historic Fredericksburg District, all signs must be approved by the Architectural Review Board; the ARB may regulate area, height, placement, materials, color, lighting, graphics, lettering, and architectural styling, consistent with applicable guidelines (§ 72-59.7A(1)).
- Before a sign permit is issued, an application for a certificate of zoning use and a certificate of appropriateness must be approved, along with any required building or electrical permits (§ 72-59.2C).
- In Creative Maker Districts, the Board of Zoning Appeals may grant a special exception from regulations governing sign height and total permitted square feet; reviewed under § 72-22.8 (§ 72-59.6C(3)(d)).
- For Electronic Variable Message Signs, the display manufacturer must submit a certification letter with the sign permit application confirming programming will meet code and be locked from alteration (§ 72-59.5A(5)).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/fredericksburg