# Sign Regulations in Hopewell, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hopewell, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/hopewell
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Hopewell/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=COCI_CH3AD_ARTIINGE_S3-1POSIPLETALST)

## At a glance

Hopewell, Virginia regulates 21 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Home Occupation Signs in the R-1, R1-A, R-2, R-3, R-4, PUD, PMH zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 2 sq ft (Sec. Section F.4.a, ARTICLE XVIII). Most commercial signs in Hopewell require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R1-A, R-2, R-3, R-4, PUD, PMH | 3 | 7 ft | 36 sq ft | — |
| RO-1, RO-4 | 3 | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| TH-1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| B-2 | 5 | 15 ft | 100 sq ft (minimum 20 sq ft) | — |
| B-3, B-4 | 5 | 10 ft | 200 sq ft (minimum 40 sq ft) | — |
| PSC, M-1, M-2 | 5 | 18 ft (shopping center 18 ft, direct-throughfare access 10 ft) | 200 sq ft (minimum 40 sq ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 10 ft above walkway, 15 ft above driveway/alley if freestanding | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### R-1, R1-A, R-2, R-3, R-4, PUD, PMH

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | 3 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | At dwelling unit from which a home occupation is conducted, one per dwelling unit | — | Section F.4.a, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Subdivision Entrance Freestanding Sign (Option 1) | 7 ft | 18 sq ft per sign (2 signs per entrance allowed) | — | — | Max 2 per entrance | At entrances to residential subdivision, multifamily development, or planned manufactured home park | — | Section F.4.d, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Subdivision Entrance Freestanding Sign (Option 2) | 7 ft | 36 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 per entrance | At entrances to residential subdivision, multifamily development, or planned manufactured home park | — | Section F.4.d, ARTICLE XVIII |

### B-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building-mounted Sign (1 tenant) | — | 100 sq ft (minimum 20 sq ft) | — | — | — | Wall, projecting, roof, marquee, or awning signs on buildings housing only one tenant | — | Section F.7.b–d, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Building-mounted Sign (multi-tenant) | — | 100 sq ft per tenant | — | — | — | Wall, projecting, roof, marquee, or awning signs for buildings with multiple tenants | — | Section F.7.c–d, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 15 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel/shopping center | In front of business | — | Section F.7.e, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Temporary Grand Opening Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Section F.7.g, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Temporary Portable (Porta) Sign - Special Sale | — | — | — | — | One per event | — | — | Section F.7.h, ARTICLE XVIII |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Campaign Sign | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Not on utility poles, control signs, trees, or in public right-of-way | — | Section F.11.a(1), ARTICLE XVIII |
| Temporary Banner Sign (Public Event) | — | — | — | — | — | Locations specifically approved by city council | — | Section F.11.a(2), ARTICLE XVIII |
| Temporary Event Sign (Not-for-Profit) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site for the event | — | Section F.11.a(4), ARTICLE XVIII |
| Store Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or within window | — | Section F.11.a(3), ARTICLE XVIII |
| Directional/Informational Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | For parking lots: at entrances, exits, etc. | — | Section F.11.d, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Institutional Sign | 10 ft above walkway, 15 ft above driveway/alley if freestanding | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises for public, charitable, education or religious institution. Wall or freestanding | — | Section F.11.e, ARTICLE XVIII |
| Real Estate Sign (On-site Residential) | 7 ft | 6 sq ft (with riders: 8 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per property | On premises for sale or rent | — | Section F.12.a(1), ARTICLE XVIII |
| Real Estate Sign (On-site Nonresidential/Business/Industrial) | 7 ft | 16 sq ft without permit, up to 32 sq ft with permit (height max 7 ft) | — | — | 1 per property | On premises for sale or rent; business/industrial only | — | Section F.12.b(4)-(5), ARTICLE XVIII |

## Prohibited signs in Hopewell

- Any sign that violates any provision of any law of the state or federal government relative to outdoor advertising.
- Any sign that violates any provision of the Uniform Statewide Building Code.
- Any sign that obscures a sign or signal displayed by a public authority for the purpose of giving traffic instructions, directions or other public information.
- Any sign which advertises an activity, business, product or service that is not conducted or sold on the premises upon which the sign is located.
- Any sign that prominently displays the word 'stop' or 'danger' or otherwise presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or caution or the existence of danger, or which is a copy or imitation of or which for any reason is likely to be confused with any sign displayed by a public authority.
- Any sign within the triangular area at the street corner of a corner lot described in section Q, Visual obstruction, of this article.
- Any sign that obstructs any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to produce light, air, ingress or egress for any building as required by law.
- Any sign of which all or any part is in motion by any means, including fluttering, rotating, or other moving signs set in motion by movement of the atmosphere (except the hands of a clock or a weather vane).
- Any sign that contains or consists of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners or other similarly-moving devices, unless specifically permitted by this ordinance.
- Any sign, except official notices and advertisement, which is nailed, tacked, posted, or in any other manner attached to any utility pole or structure for supporting wire, cable, or pipe, or to any tree on any street or sidewalk or to public property of any description.
- Any sign attached to a chimney, tower, tank or structure of like kind which extends above the district height limits.
- Any sign located above the roof line of a building.
- Any sign which encroaches on a public right-of-way.
- The parking of a vehicle to which a sign is attached for display purposes or the use of such a vehicle for a portable sign shall be prohibited.
- Signs attached to fences or walls are prohibited unless otherwise specifically allowed by this ordinance.
- No new billboard shall be erected after the date of the amendment of this ordinance. All existing billboard signs shall be deemed nonconforming and shall adhere to this article.
- Any signage that contains harassing, lewd, offensive, obscene, threatening, or violent language or images, as determined by the zoning administrator, shall be prohibited.
- Signage for sexually oriented businesses shall contain no photographs, silhouettes, drawings, graphic images or pictorial representations of any manner, and may contain only the name of the enterprise and/or specified phrases.
- No sign shall display flashing or intermittent lights, or other lights of changing degrees of intensity, brightness or color, except as specified for time or temperature signs, which must change no less than every five seconds.
- No colored lights shall be used at any location or in any manner so as to be confused with, or constituted as, traffic control devices.
- No exposed reflective type bulbs and no strobe or incandescent lamp which exceeds fifteen (15) watts shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign so as to expose the face of the bulb, light or lamp to any public street or adjacent property.
- Neither the direct nor reflected light from primary light sources shall create a traffic hazard to operators of motor vehicles on public thoroughfares.
- No building, structure, sign, merchandise, or other obstruction shall be located, constructed or encroach on any public right-of-way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hopewell

- Any sign four (4) square feet or less in area.
- Repainting without changing wording, composition or color, or minor, nonstructural repairs.
- The changing of the advertising copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign or billboard or on a theater marquee and similar approved signs which are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
- Signs permitted in all districts under subsection 11 of section F (which includes temporary campaign signs, street banners for public events, store window signs relating to business within, signs advertising civic/charitable events, seasonal, non-advertising displays, informational or directional signs or historic markers by a governmental agency, non-illuminated signs not exceeding half a square foot warning against hunting/fishing/trespassing, small parking lot identification or traffic control signs, institutional wall or freestanding signs meeting size and placement limits, building/date/plaque signs integral to the structure, signs required by law, signs within recreational facilities not visible from public streets, flags/emblems of governments or civic organizations, restroom/utility markers/directional signs up to 2 sq ft each, public utility underground utility signs up to 2 sq ft, official governmental notices or advertisements, small, non-illuminated, building-mount tenant signs up to 2 sq ft, approved church directional sign up to 4 sq ft located off-site but not in the right-of-way).
- On-site real estate signs advertising residential property for sale or rent provided they are in good condition, not illuminated, and removed within 10 days of transfer or rental.
- On-site open house real estate signs (max one per site, limited to 'open house', directional arrow, company/owner name/logo/contact/hours).
- Off-site real estate signs to for-sale/rent units (limited to one per intersection per house, restricted message, removed within 10 days of sale/rental).
- Real estate signs (as above) are limited to 6 sq ft/7 ft tall (2 riders can be attached up to 8 sq ft max total).
- Temporary signs as described above must be non-illuminated.
- One construction sign per commercial construction site (subject to removal timing as regulated in section 12.b).
- No permit is required for on-site real estate signs up to 16 sq ft in business or industrial districts.
- Names of buildings, date of erection, plaques, and similar notices integral to the building.
- Signs required by law or governmental order.
- Directional and informational small utility signs (subject to size limits).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before a sign is erected, altered, or relocated, except as otherwise provided.
- Each sign permit application must be accompanied by plans showing the area of the sign, size, character and design, method of illumination, exact location, fastening method, and names of owner and erector.
- A permit is not required for certain specified exempt sign types (see ordinance for full list).
- A permit for a sign becomes null and void if work is not completed within 6 months of issuance.
- Any sign not meeting the monument-type standards for freestanding signs may apply for a special exception with the board of zoning appeals.
- A certificate of appropriateness is required before any sign may be erected in the tourist/historic district or downtown central business district.
- A master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan requirement is not explicitly stated in the general sign regulations, but plans are required for individual permits; signs outside these standards may require a variance or special exception before the board of zoning appeals.
- Variances, special exceptions, or appeals related to sign standards are processed through the board of zoning appeals and/or city council, as dictated by the modifications and appeals sections.

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

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