# Sign Regulations in Herndon, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Herndon, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/herndon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Herndon/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH78ZO_ARTXIVSI)

## At a glance

Herndon, Virginia regulates 23 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Districts (CS, CO, PD-B, O&LI) zoning district are capped at 8' (6" min letter height) tall and 50 SF, with a 5' min from ROW setback (Sec. Table 78-141.4(a), Sec. 78-141.4(a)). Most commercial signs in Herndon require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 25' (flagpole) | 16 SF (per flag), up to 3 allowed | — |
| Single-Family Residential Districts | 2 | 6' | 24 SF | — |
| Multi-Family Residential Districts | 3 | 6' | 24 SF | — |
| Nonresidential Uses in Residential Districts | 3 | 6' | 24 SF | — |
| Commercial Districts (CS, CO, PD-B, O&LI) | 9 | 8' (6" min letter height) | 150 SF | — |
| Worldgate District (PD-W) | 16 | 20' | 300 SF | — |
| Downtown Mixed-Use Districts (CC, PD-D, PD-TD) | 7 | 12' max | 24 SF max | — |
| Planned Development—Urban Residential District (PD-UR) | 2 | 6' max | 24 SF max | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Commercial Districts (CS, CO, PD-B, O&LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8' (6" min letter height) | 50 SF | — | 5' min from ROW | See Location Of Sign | 1 per street frontage, 2 max; OR 2 max per frontage with >1 primary entrance and >300' frontage; 5' min from ROW. | — | Table 78-141.4(a), Sec. 78-141.4(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 SF | — | — | Unlimited | Unlimited number; facade no more than 20' high; exceptions for CS / PD-B as above. | — | Table 78-141.4(a), Sec. 78-141.4(a) |
| Temporary Sign | 6' max (if freestanding) | 24 SF | — | 5' min from ROW (if freestanding) | Up to 1 per street frontage | Up to 1 per street frontage; If freestanding: 5' from ROW; if wall: no more than 20' high on building | — | Table 78-141.4(a), Sec. 78-141.4(a) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 SF max | — | — | 1 per establishment frontage | 1 per establishment frontage; limited to ground floor or 20' above normal grade, whichever is less. | — | Table 78-141.4(b), Sec. 78-141.4(b) |
| Parapet Sign | — | 150 SF max per sign | — | — | Up to 2 per building | Up to 2 per building, on parapet of multi-story buildings. | — | Table 78-141.4(b), Sec. 78-141.4(b) |
| Internal Sign | 6' max if freestanding, 10' max if wall | 24 SF max per sign | — | 50' from ROW | Up to 3 per primary building | Up to 3 per primary building; at least 50' from any ROW. | — | Table 78-141.4(b), Sec. 78-141.4(b) |
| Drive-Through Related Sign - Primary | 6' max | 24 SF | — | 25' min from ROW | Up to 2 per drive-through | Up to 2 per drive-through; minimum 25' from ROW. | — | Table 78-141.4(b), Sec. 78-141.4(b) |
| Drive-Through Related Sign - Secondary | 3' max | 4 SF | — | 5' min from ROW | Up to 4 per drive-through | Up to 4 per drive-through; minimum 5' from ROW. | — | Table 78-141.4(b), Sec. 78-141.4(b) |

### Worldgate District (PD-W)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 20' | 150 SF | — | — | 1 max | Corner of Worldgate Dr. & Centreville Rd. | — | Table 78-141.5(a), Sec. 78-141.5(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Vehicle Entrance | 15' | 75 SF | — | — | 2 max | At vehicle entrances off Worldgate Dr. | — | Table 78-141.5(a), Sec. 78-141.5(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Column | 16' | 35 SF | — | — | 2 max | At internal entrance to garage ramp | — | Table 78-141.5(a), Sec. 78-141.5(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Internal | 5' | 10 SF | — | 50' from ROW | 4 max | At least 50' from right-of-way | — | Table 78-141.5(a), Sec. 78-141.5(a) |
| Wall Sign - Blade | 13' max | 40 SF max | — | — | 1 max | Mounted on garage at entrance off Worldgate Dr. | — | Table 78-141.5(b), Sec. 78-141.5(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8' max (6" min letter height) | 50 SF | — | 5' min from ROW | See Location Of Sign | 1 per street frontage, 2 max, or 2 max per street frontage with >1 primary entrance and >300' frontage; 5' min. from ROW | — | Table 78-141.5(c), Sec. 78-141.5(c) |
| Temporary Sign | 6' max (if freestanding) | 24 SF | — | 5' min from ROW (if freestanding) | Up to 1 per street frontage | Up to 1 per street frontage; If freestanding: 5' from ROW; if wall: no more than 20' high on building | — | Table 78-141.5(c), Sec. 78-141.5(c) |
| Internal Sign | 6' max if freestanding, 10' max if wall | 24 SF max per sign | — | 50' from ROW | Up to 3 per primary building | Up to 3 per primary building; at least 50' from any ROW. | — | Table 78-141.5(d), Sec. 78-141.5(d) |

### Downtown Mixed-Use Districts (CC, PD-D, PD-TD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8' max | 24 SF max | — | 5' min from ROW | 1 per street frontage (with >150' street frontage) | Allowed if street frontage > 150'; 1 per street frontage; 5' min from ROW. | — | Table 78-141.6(a), Sec. 78-141.6(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 SF max per sign | — | — | Up to 2 per establishment | Up to 2 per establishment; limited to ground floor, except when approved for alternate location via certificate of appropriateness. | — | Table 78-141.6(a), Sec. 78-141.6(a) |
| Temporary Sign | 6' max (if freestanding) | 12 SF max | — | — | Up to 1 per property | Up to 1 per property; If freestanding: 6' max height. | — | Table 78-141.6(a), Sec. 78-141.6(a) |
| Projecting Sign - Ground Floor | 6' max | 12 SF max | — | — | 1 per ground floor establishment | 1 per ground floor establishment; no more than 25' high on building, not to project more than 4' from face of building. | — | Table 78-141.6(b), Sec. 78-141.6(b) |
| Projecting Sign - Upper Floors | 12' max | 24 SF max | — | — | 1 per building upper floors | 1 per building, upper floors. | — | Table 78-141.6(b), Sec. 78-141.6(b) |
| Canopy/Awning Sign | 1' max | 12 SF max | — | — | 1 per ground floor establishment | Limited to ground floor. | — | Table 78-141.6(b), Sec. 78-141.6(b) |
| A-frame Sign | 4' max | 12 SF max | 3' max | — | 1 per ground floor establishment | In front of establishment; not within pedestrian area of sidewalk. | — | Table 78-141.6(b), Sec. 78-141.6(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Herndon

- 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.
- 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 in the historic district overlay when approved by the HDRB.
- Animated signs (except flags expressly permitted or the changing of message content no more often than once every ten seconds).
- Flashing signs or other signs displaying flashing, scrolling or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity.
- Signs consisting of illuminated tubing or strings of lights.
- 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 or pennants.
- Pole signs.
- Off-site signs.
- Signs erected on public land other than those approved by an authorized town official in writing, required by law without such approval, or permitted under Virginia Code § 24.2-310E.
- Signs on the roof surface or extending above the roofline of a building or its parapet wall.
- Neon signs, except when no more than two square feet and installed in windows, and except as permitted in the CC, PD-D, PD-TD and PD-TOC zoning districts.
- Neon window signs within the CC, PD-D, PD-TD, and PD-TOC zoning districts.
- Any sign located in the vision triangle formed by any two intersecting streets, as regulated by the provisions of section 78-71.2(e).
- Box signs, cabinet signs, and signs with exposed raceway transformers.
- Signs on, worn, or held by humans or animals.
- Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by specific requirements in another portion of this chapter are forbidden.
- Additional flags beyond three per property.
- Signs that create a safety hazard or are not kept in good repair.
- Any sign not constructed and mounted in compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Herndon

- Signs erected by a governmental body or required by law.
- Up to three flags no more than 16 square feet each and not containing any commercial advertising, provided that the flags comply with section 78-140.6(e).
- The changing of messages on changeable copy signs, when the change does not impact the sign colors, sizes, or general design of the sign face.
- Repair of an existing licensed sign (repair of a nonconforming sign must comply with section 78-140.7).
- Official notices or advertisements posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public or court officer in the performance of his official or directed duties, provided that all such signs shall be removed no more than ten days after their purpose has been accomplished.
- On single-family residential properties: a) One or more temporary noncommercial signs with a total area of no more than 12 square feet, removed within 90 days after being erected (except signs associated with home-based businesses). b) One or more temporary noncommercial window signs, provided the total extent does not obstruct more than 25 percent of any window, removed within 90 days (except home-based businesses). c) One noncommercial wall sign or sign posted on a mailbox, no more than one square foot in size.
- On nonresidential properties: a) Up to two minor signs per parcel. b) Permanent, non-internally illuminated, window signage, provided aggregate area does not exceed 25 percent of the window. c) Temporary, non-internally illuminated, window signage, not to exceed 25 percent of window area, removed within 90 days. d) One window-mounted neon sign, no more than two square feet, per ground floor business, except in the CC, PD-D, PD-TD, and PD-TOC zoning districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign license is required prior to the display and erection of any sign except for those exempted in section 78-140.5(n).
- Any nonresidential development or district in which two or more individual establishments are located may request the approval of a master sign plan for signs within the development.
- After approval of a master sign plan, individual signs that meet all standards of the approved master sign plan shall be approved administratively with a master sign plan conformance license.
- Applications for signs that do not comply with an approved master sign plan are forwarded to the applicable review board for approval.
- Permanent signs within the Herndon Architectural Control District require additional compliance with Town Code chapter 58 (planning), in addition to the zoning ordinance, building code, or other laws.
- Permanent signs in the historic district overlay shall comply with relevant design guidelines and uniform standards as interpreted by the HDRB and the zoning administrator, or as adopted in superseding documents.
- Decisions on sign applications heard by a review board may be appealed to the Herndon Town Council; decisions on all other sign applications may be appealed to the board of zoning appeals.

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

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