# Sign Regulations in Newport News, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newport News, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/newport-news
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-05
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Newport_News/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH33.01SI)

## At a glance

Newport News, Virginia regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Multiple-Family Dwellings)s in the R1 Single-Family Dwelling District, R2 Single-Family Dwelling District, R3 Single-Family Dwelling District, R4 Single-Family Dwelling District, R5 Low Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District, R6 Manufactured Home District, R7 Medium Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District, R8 High Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District zoning district are capped at 10 ft tall and 75 sq ft cumulative, with a Front 15 ft min (to front property line), side/rear 25 ft each. setback (Sec. Sec. 33.01-6(b)(2)a.). Most commercial signs in Newport News require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R1 Single-Family Dwelling District, R2 Single-Family Dwelling District, R3 Single-Family Dwelling District, R4 Single-Family Dwelling District, R5 Low Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District, R6 Manufactured Home District, R7 Medium Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District, R8 High Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District | 8 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft per facility | — |
| R9 Mixed Use District, P1 Park District, O1 Office District, O2 Office Park District, O3 Office/Research and Development District, C1 Retail Commercial District, C2 General Commercial District, C3 Regional Business District, C4 Oyster Point Business District, C5 Oyster Point Business/Manufacturing District, M1 Light Industrial District, M2 Heavy Industrial District | 8 | 15 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — |
| Hilton Village Historic District | 3 | — | 25% of each individual window opening; not exceeding 6 sq ft per sign | — |
| Lower Jefferson Avenue Urban Corridor Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Lee Hall Corridor Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Oyster Point Urban Core Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 3 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### R1 Single-Family Dwelling District, R2 Single-Family Dwelling District, R3 Single-Family Dwelling District, R4 Single-Family Dwelling District, R5 Low Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District, R6 Manufactured Home District, R7 Medium Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District, R8 High Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple-Family Dwellings) | 10 ft | 75 sq ft cumulative | — | Front 15 ft min (to front property line), side/rear 25 ft each. | Up to three per premises | Front, side, and rear yards. Minimum setback: 15 ft from paved street, at least to the front property line; side/rear 25 ft each. | — | Sec. 33.01-6(b)(2)a. |
| Wall/Building Sign (Multiple-Family Dwellings) | — | 100 sq ft per facility | — | — | No explicit number; area restriction applies | On building | — | Sec. 33.01-6(b)(2)b. |
| Residential Subdivision Sign | 3 ft | — | 10 ft | — | Max two per entrance | At entrance to subdivision development | — | Sec. 33.01-7(7) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease/Rent, Single-Family, Two-Family, Detached, Attached) | 3 ft (within 5 ft of street), 6 ft (if 15 ft from street) | 6 sq ft | — | Min 5 ft from paved street; if 15 ft, height up to 6 ft. | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 33.01-7(5)-(6) |
| Community Facility Freestanding Sign (Residential Districts) | 10 ft | 75 sq ft cumulative | — | Front 15 ft min (to front property line), side/rear 25 ft each. | Up to three per developed site | Front, side, and rear yards with setbacks: 15 ft front, 25 ft side/rear | — | Sec. 33.01-6(c)(1) |
| Community Facility Building Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 75 sq ft total | — | — | No explicit number; area restriction applies | On building | — | Sec. 33.01-6(c)(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Construction Site) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per site | Site under construction | — | Sec. 33.01-7(1) |
| Nameplate (Residential Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | No explicit number | On building | — | Sec. 33.01-7(3) |

### R9 Mixed Use District, P1 Park District, O1 Office District, O2 Office Park District, O3 Office/Research and Development District, C1 Retail Commercial District, C2 General Commercial District, C3 Regional Business District, C4 Oyster Point Business District, C5 Oyster Point Business/Manufacturing District, M1 Light Industrial District, M2 Heavy Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial/Industrial Use) | 15 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — | Front: 15 ft minimum; side/rear: 25 ft each | One per site; one additional for >150 ft frontage | Front yard setback: min 15 ft from paved street, at least to front property line; side/rear setback: 25 ft each | — | Sec. 33.01-6(e)(1) |
| Wall/Building Sign (Commercial/Industrial Use) | — | — | — | — | No explicit number; area restriction applies | On each building frontage | — | Sec. 33.01-6(e)(2) |
| Window Sign (Commercial/Industrial Use) | — | 25% of each individual window opening; if illuminated, counted as part of building sign area | — | — | No explicit number | Ground floor only | — | Sec. 33.01-6(e)(3) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease/Rent, Commercial/Industrial Use) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 33.01-7(6) |
| Electronic Display Sign (Freestanding) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per sign face (freestanding only) | — | Same as other freestanding signs (see above) | One per developed site | As freestanding sign | — | Sec. 33.01-6.1 |
| Temporary Sign (Construction Site) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per site | Site under construction | — | Sec. 33.01-7(1) |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding On-Premises) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | No explicit number | At site entrance | — | Sec. 33.01-7(2) |
| Nameplate (Commercial Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | No explicit number | On building | — | Sec. 33.01-7(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | — | 25% of each canopy face | — | — | No explicit number | On canopy face | — | Sec. 33.01-4(l) |
| Marquee Sign (Electronic Display Allowed) | — | — | — | — | No explicit number | On marquee | — | Sec. 33.01-6.1(a) |
| Temporary Sign (For Sale/Lease/Rent, Multiple-Family, Commercial, Industrial, Public Property) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | Sec. 33.01-7(6) |
| Temporary Sign (Construction Site - All Zones) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per site | Site under construction | — | Sec. 33.01-7(1) |
| Directional Sign | 3 ft | 2 sq ft (menu board up to 6 sq ft) | — | — | No explicit number | Site entrances | — | Sec. 33.01-7(2) |
| Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | No explicit number | Attached to building | — | Sec. 33.01-7(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Newport News

- Posters or temporary signs on any public property or public right-of-way, including those attached to trees, telephone poles, public benches, streetlights, or other objects.
- Temporary signs, except as exempted in section 33.01-7(6), including without limitation, flags, banners, pennants, festoons, and any other nonpermanent sign.
- Vehicular signs on cars or trucks which are parked or located for the primary purpose of displaying said sign.
- Signs projecting above the top or ridge of any roof, or above the parapet if higher.
- Animated signs. (Electronic display signs operating in conformance with section 33.01-6.1 are not considered animated signs.)
- Portable signs as defined in section 33.01-3.
- Off-premises signs visible from the main traveled way of any interstate system highway, federal-aid primary highway, or national highway system highway that fail to meet the provisions of Chapter 12 of Title 33.2 of the Code of Virginia, including permit issuance and requirements of the Sign Ordinance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newport News

- Official traffic or other municipal signs.
- Signs concerning public safety or public hazards.
- Copy and message of permitted signs.
- Signs not legible from a public right-of-way.
- Window displays of merchandise.
- Point of purchase displays.
- Scoreboards on athletic fields.
- Flags of any nation, government, or noncommercial organizations.
- Gravestones.
- Commemorative plaques.
- The display of street numbers.
- Signs attached to or displayed on vehicles operated on public streets.
- Any display or construction not defined herein as a sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No signs may be constructed, erected, enlarged, altered, or displayed until a sign permit has been issued by the zoning administrator, unless otherwise provided or exempted in the ordinance.
- Sign permits are not required for nonstructural maintenance of a sign or for a change of copy on a permitted painted, printed sign, or readerboard.
- No permit is required for signs permitted in section 33.01-6(b)(1) (see ordinance for residential exemptions).
- Permits are required for illuminated or electrically serviced window signs exceeding 25% of a window opening.
- Sign design in the C3 Regional Business District and certain overlay/historic districts are subject to review and approval by respective boards and may require plans or submittals described in those sections.
- Where regulations reference a 'site plan ordinance', conformance and approval may be required for signage as part of a larger development site plan.

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

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