# Sign Regulations in Onancock, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Onancock, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/onancock
- **Data last verified:** 2025-03-24
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Onancock/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH38ZO_ARTXISIRE)

## At a glance

Onancock, Virginia regulates 18 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Real Estate Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 square feet (Sec. Sec. 38-409 (a)(9)). Most commercial signs in Onancock require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | — | 30% of window area | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-W | 2 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Residentially zoned areas | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Memorial Tablet | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(1) |
| Traffic Control Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(2) |
| Ballpark Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Ballpark or similar public recreational use | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(3) |
| Public Utility Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(6) |
| Church Bulletin Board | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(7) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(8) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | 2 | On the property to which the sale and rental pertains | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(9) |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area | — | — | — | On window | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(12) |

### B-1, B-2, B-W

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to a building, structure, or awning | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(10) |
| Product Price Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 | Attached to a permanent structure | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(11) |

### Residentially zoned areas

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Non-commercial Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 38-409 (a)(15) |

## Prohibited signs in Onancock

- It shall be unlawful for any person, without legal authority, to extinguish, obstruct, damage or interfere with any street light, marker or sign within the town.
- It shall be unlawful to display, erect, paint, or otherwise maintain a sign except in conformance with this chapter.
- Signs not expressly permitted in, or which violate any provision of, this chapter.
- Signs located on a public right-of-way or other town-owned property without a permitted encroachment agreement.
- Signs displayed on any vehicle unless the vehicle is licensed in accordance with state and local requirements and has a current state registration and inspection.
- Abandoned nonconforming signs.
- Discontinued signs.
- Internally lighted signage in the B-1, B-W, or any residentially zoned structure.
- No person except a public officer or town employee in performance of a public duty, shall display in any fashion or manner any advertisement or message on any town owned property.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to create a traffic hazard by obstructing vision.
- No sign will be erected which imitates or resembles any official traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign will be erected which advertises any activities which are illegal under state or federal law.
- No sign will be erected which is inconsistent with state law or the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign will be allowed which involves noise, motion, or rotation of any part of the structure or displays intermittent or flashing lights.
- No sign will be erected which is mobile or on wheels.
- Sandwich board signage must be removed when the business is not open.
- Any banner wishing to advertise an event on town owned property must be approved by the town manager.
- Banners determined unreadable in their entirety from a moving vehicle will not be approved.
- Externally lit signs must be illuminated with steady, stationary fixtures.

## Signs exempt from permit in Onancock

- A permit shall not be required for routine maintenance or a change in changeable copy to a legally existing sign that results in no alteration to the sign structure.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Onancock, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Onancock+VA&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-onancock

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