# Sign Regulations in Kenbridge, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kenbridge, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/kenbridge
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Kenbridge/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXBZO_ART12SUREAPALDI_ALREDI_S12-11SIREREDI)

## At a glance

Kenbridge, Virginia regulates 14 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Identification Signs in the Residential Districts (R-5, R-6, R-10, R-20) zoning district are capped at 5 feet tall and 5 square feet, with a 15 feet from the property line setback (Sec. Sec. 12-11(a)). Most commercial signs in Kenbridge require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-5, R-6, R-10, R-20) | 4 | 5 feet | 5 square feet | — |
| Commercial Districts | 7 | 25 feet (regular); 30 feet (shopping center sign of 200 sq ft) | Per sign: not specified; aggregate: max 150 sq ft per lot | — |
| Industrial Districts | 7 | 25 feet (regular); 30 feet (shopping center sign of 200 sq ft) | Per sign: not specified; aggregate: max 150 sq ft per lot | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 3 feet (if freestanding) | 6 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts (R-5, R-6, R-10, R-20)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | 5 feet | 5 square feet | — | 15 feet from the property line | One per lot | On the lot; minimum setback of 15 feet from the property line | — | Sec. 12-11(a) |
| Temporary Sale or Lease Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On the premises for sale, rental, or lease | — | Sec. 12-11(b) |
| Political Campaign or Election Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | — | Outside of public rights-of-way | — | Sec. 12-11(c) |
| Alarm Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 12-11(d) |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to extend above extremities of wall/roof | Per sign: not specified; aggregate: max 150 sq ft per lot | — | — | Aggregate of max 5 permanent signs per business per lot | Attached flat to main building wall or to gable/hip roof | — | Sec. 12-18(a)(c) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above building wall | 50 square feet | — | — | One per building frontage | Projecting from wall of main building | — | Sec. 12-18(d) |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | — | 25% of awning/canopy face | — | — | One awning/canopy sign per building; one per face | Attached to awning or canopy of main building; can extend over sidewalk if minimum clearance of 10 feet over right-of-way | — | Sec. 12-18(e) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet (regular); 30 feet (shopping center sign of 200 sq ft) | 100 square feet (regular lot); 200 square feet (shopping center, when only one sign is used on site) | — | Not within 3 feet of right-of-way/property line/driveway; not within 50 feet of residential lot | One per street frontage (of 100 ft or more) | Along each street frontage of 100 feet or more; not within 50 feet of a residential lot; not within 3 feet of street right-of-way, property line, or driveway; minimum 100 feet separation between freestanding signs on same lot | — | Sec. 12-18(f) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | 5 feet from right-of-way/property line/driveway | 1 per lot (more in shopping center with spacing requirements) | Not within 5 feet of street right-of-way, property line, or driveway | — | Sec. 12-15; Sec. 12-18(g) |
| Banner Sign | — | Determined by formula | — | — | No more than 2 at a time per lot (one per frontage) | Affixed to building frontage | — | Sec. 12-16; Sec. 12-18(g) |
| Pennants, Sandwich Board Sign, Balloons | — | — | — | — | — | Commercial Districts only | — | Sec. 12-18(h) |

### Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to extend above extremities of wall/roof | Per sign: not specified; aggregate: max 150 sq ft per lot | — | — | Aggregate of max 5 permanent signs per business per lot | Attached flat to main building wall or to gable/hip roof | — | Sec. 12-18(a)(c) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above building wall | 50 square feet | — | — | One per building frontage | Projecting from wall of main building | — | Sec. 12-18(d) |
| Awning and Canopy Sign | — | 25% of awning/canopy face | — | — | One awning/canopy sign per building; one per face | Attached to awning or canopy of main building; can extend over sidewalk if minimum clearance of 10 feet over right-of-way | — | Sec. 12-18(e) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet (regular); 30 feet (shopping center sign of 200 sq ft) | 100 square feet (regular lot); 200 square feet (shopping center, when only one sign is used on site) | — | Not within 3 feet of right-of-way/property line/driveway; not within 50 feet of residential lot | One per street frontage (of 100 ft or more) | Along each street frontage of 100 feet or more; not within 50 feet of a residential lot; not within 3 feet of street right-of-way, property line, or driveway; minimum 100 feet separation between freestanding signs on same lot | — | Sec. 12-18(f) |
| Portable Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | 5 feet from right-of-way/property line/driveway | 1 per lot (more in shopping center with spacing requirements) | Not within 5 feet of street right-of-way, property line, or driveway | — | Sec. 12-15; Sec. 12-18(g) |
| Banner Sign | — | Determined by formula | — | — | No more than 2 at a time per lot (one per frontage) | Affixed to building frontage | — | Sec. 12-16; Sec. 12-18(g) |
| Pennants, Sandwich Board Sign, Balloons | — | — | — | — | — | Industrial Districts only | — | Sec. 12-18(h) |

## Prohibited signs in Kenbridge

- No sign shall be located, arranged or designed so that it interferes with traffic by way of glare, blocking reasonable sight lines for streets, sidewalks or driveways, confusion with a traffic control device or official sign, or by any other means.
- No portion of any sign or its supporting structure shall extend beyond the property lines of the lot on which it is located or project over the right-of-way of a public street.
- Animated signs (signs that move, or on which text moves or scrolls) shall not be permitted in any district.
- No wall sign or other sign shall be attached to or obstruct any window, door, stairway or other opening intended for ingress or egress or for needed ventilation and light.
- No person except a public officer or employee in performance of a public duty shall paste, paint, print, nail, tack, erect, place or fasten any sign, pennant, banner or notice of any kind within, facing or visible to any public street or public open space, except as provided for in this ordinance.
- No off-premises signs or billboard signs shall be permitted (an off-premises sign advertises a business not located on the premises).
- Signs displayed on a stationary vehicle are prohibited in all districts when the vehicle is used primarily as an off-site sign.
- No sign shall be permitted to be nailed or otherwise affixed to any existing sign structure unless it is to become an integral part of the existing sign structure.
- All signs shall conform to applicable provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kenbridge

- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers or names of occupants on the premises.
- Flags and insignia of a governmental unit except if displayed in connection with commercial promotions, and decorative flags or banners with no advertising/commercial message not displayed as part of a commercial promotion.
- Legal notices; identification, informational or directional signs erected or required by governing bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of a building, except for letters, trademarks, logos, or moving parts or lights intended to advertise or attract attention.
- Signs or emblems of civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.
- Memorial signs and historical markers pertaining to the site when erected and maintained by a public agency or not-for-profit organization.
- Signs not exceeding five square feet in area providing directions to a public use, church or school, containing no advertising matter, erected and maintained by public agency or not-for-profit organization.
- Signs placed by a public utility showing the location of underground facilities.
- Signs displayed on private property for direction or convenience of the public (e.g. restrooms, public telephone, freight entrances, no trespassing) that contain no advertising matter.
- Political campaign or election signs located outside of public rights-of-way, provided such signs are not erected for more than 60 days and are removed within 14 days after the campaign or election.
- Signs located within a building, so long as such signs are not oriented to and are not viewed from a public right-of-way, private road, parking area or public space outside the building.
- 911 markers.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign, unless specifically exempted, shall be erected or installed unless a zoning permit for such sign has been issued by the zoning administrator after determination that the sign conforms to all applicable provisions.
- Applications for zoning permits for signs must be submitted and considered in accordance with the provisions of this article.
- Failure to obtain a required zoning permit constitutes a violation of this ordinance.
- A zoning permit is required for each portable sign each time it is placed on a lot.
- A zoning permit is required for each banner sign.
- Zoning permits are required for on-site directional signs only if they are freestanding and visible from adjacent properties or streets.
- Zoning permits are not required for temporary sale or lease signs or temporary construction signs.
- Zoning permits for allowed signs in residential districts (such as identification, temporary sale/lease, political campaign, alarm signs) are not required.

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

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