# Sign Regulations in Lynchburg, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lynchburg, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/lynchburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Lynchburg/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH3AD_ARTIINGE_S3-3SIPURI-W)

## At a glance

Lynchburg, Virginia regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the B-1, IN-1 zoning district are capped at 10 ft. tall and 24 sq. ft. per face (2 faces max), with a Min. 2 ft. from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 35.2-64.13(b)). Most commercial signs in Lynchburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-C, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 7 | 8 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — |
| B-1, IN-1 | 6 | 10 ft. | Max 32 sq. ft. | — |
| B-3, B-5, IN-2, I-1, I-2, I-3 | 10 | 40 ft. from grade | 675 sq. ft. | — |
| B-4 | 5 | 7 ft.; must be monument style | 32 sq. ft./face (2 faces max); Multi-structure: 50 sq. ft./face | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | 4 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### R-C, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property where home occupation is located, one per street frontage | — | Sec. 35.2-64.12(a) |
| Permitted Non-Residential Use Sign | — | 18 sq. ft. (aggregate for each use) | — | — | — | On the premises | — | Sec. 35.2-64.12(b) |
| Development Identification Sign | 8 ft. | 40 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per main street entrance | At each main street entrance to a development | — | Sec. 35.2-64.12(c) |
| Changeable Copy Sign (Institutional Uses) | 8 ft. | 18 sq. ft. (digital reader board); 30 sq. ft. (total sign area) | — | — | — | Must be monument sign; oriented and abutting arterial street | — | Sec. 35.2-64.12(d) |
| Temporary Banner | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft. | 1 per street frontage | On property | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(b)-(d) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. (R-C, R-1, R-2, R-3); 16 sq. ft. (R-4) | — | — | 1 per contractor/engineer/architect | On property under construction | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(e), Exhibit VI-10 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. (R-C, R-1, R-2, R-3); 16 sq. ft. (R-4) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the property for sale/lease | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(f), Exhibit VI-11 |

### B-1, IN-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 sq. ft., or up to 50 sq. ft. as per formula | — | — | — | Each wall facing abutting street or parking lot | — | Sec. 35.2-64.13(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft. | 24 sq. ft. per face (2 faces max) | — | Min. 2 ft. from property line | 1 per street abutting lot | 1 per street abutting lot, minimum 2 ft from property line | — | Sec. 35.2-64.13(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Structure Development) | 10 ft. | Max 32 sq. ft. | — | Min. 2 ft. from property line | 1 per street abutting campus/development | At each street abutting area/campus | — | Sec. 35.2-64.13(c) |
| Temporary Banner | — | 24 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft. | 1 per street frontage | On property | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(b)-(d) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per contractor/architect/engineer | On property under construction | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(e), Exhibit VI-10 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/lease | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(f), Exhibit VI-11 |

### B-3, B-5, IN-2, I-1, I-2, I-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 17 ft. | 50 sq. ft./face (2 faces max), max 66 sq. ft. total for sign & changeable copy sign, changeable copy max 22 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft. min. | 1 per abutting street | 1 per street abutting lot, min 2 ft from property line | — | Sec. 35.2-64.14(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Structure Development, 100k-200k sq ft) | 17 ft. | 75 sq. ft. + 16 sq. ft. (changeable copy), per face | — | 2 ft. min. | 1 per street entrance | At street entrance | — | Sec. 35.2-64.14(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multi-Structure Development, >200k sq ft) | 17 ft. | 125 sq. ft. + 16 sq. ft. (changeable copy), per face | — | 2 ft. min. | 1 per street entrance | At street entrance | — | Sec. 35.2-64.14(c) |
| Development Identification Sign (Business Park/Industrial/Corporate Campus) | 12 ft. | As above, max may be split on two signs on each entrance side | — | — | 1 per entrance (may split area on 2 signs) | At main street entrance(s) | — | Sec. 35.2-64.14(c)6 |
| Temporary Banner | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 8 ft. | 1 per street frontage | — | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(b)-(d) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per contractor/architect/engineer | On lot under construction | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(e), Exhibit VI-10 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On property for sale/lease | — | Sec. 35.2-64.9(f), Exhibit VI-11 |
| Billboard (B-5, I-2, I-3 only) | 40 ft. from grade | 675 sq. ft. | — | 50 ft. from limited access highway ROW (see 35.2-61.3(h)) | — | Min. 500 ft. from exit ramp on limited access highway, 150 ft from residential/sensitive use, 1320 ft min. from John Lynch and Carter Glass bridges | — | Sec. 35.2-64.16 |

## Prohibited signs in Lynchburg

- Portable signs, pennants, streamers, off site directional signs, and flashing signs are prohibited.
- No sign, name plate, display or advertising device of any kind whatsoever shall be inscribed upon or attached to any chimney, tower, tank or other structure which extends above the district height limitations.
- Signs may not be placed on utility poles, traffic control signs or within the public rights-of-way, except where specifically exempt or allowed.
- No sign shall encroach on areas necessary for visibility at intersections.
- Signs must not interfere with the vision of motorists.
- No sign simulating movement, video, animation, or flashing (on-and-off) illumination is permitted, except for signs indicating time and/or temperature or similar signs erected for the convenience of the public, and only as allowed per district regulations.
- No fluorescent paint or highly reflective paint/surface shall be used on any sign.
- No billboard shall be erected, rebuilt, altered or relocated without a Building Permit.
- Billboards: No billboard(s) shall be double-decked, multi-decked, stacked or side-by-side structures with more than one surface area facing the same direction.
- No sign shall project above the parapet wall of the building.
- Unlawful or abandoned non-conforming signs and their structures must be removed after notice from the City.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lynchburg

- Signs that are subject to the regulations of the Virginia Department of Transportation and placed in public rights-of-way or on City-owned property by the City for public information purposes.
- Flags.
- Memorial signs or tablets.
- Decorative embellishments attached to light poles.
- Scoreboards.
- Signs intended for wayfinding purposes or signs that are only legible from within an IN-1 or IN-2, Institutional District.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign modification in a historic district requires a certificate of appropriateness issued by the Historic Preservation Commission, except where variance, conditional use permit, or rezoning is required.
- Newly constructed groups of buildings (multi-structure developments) in B-1, IN-1, B-3, B-5, IN-2, I-1, I-2, I-3 districts shall have unified and coordinated building mounted signs.
- Sign permits are required for the construction, installation or modification of any sign not specifically exempted.
- As part of the approval process (especially site plan approval for new developments or redevelopments), details of the sign's dimensions, materials, and location must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator.
- Appeals of denied sign permits are handled by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- In historic districts, sign modifications beyond basic standards may require a variance, conditional use permit, or rezoning.
- Permits for temporary banners and inflatable signs are required and limited in duration.
- Signs not regulated by content: denial of a permit cannot be based on sign content.
- Site plan approval may include sign plan review for compliance with the sign ordinance for new developments or redevelopments.

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

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