# Sign Regulations in Shenandoah, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Shenandoah, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/shenandoah
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Shenandoah/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CH50PL_ARTIIZO_DIV3SURE_S50-105SI)

## At a glance

Shenandoah, Virginia regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General commercial district (C) zoning district are capped at 30 ft above grade tall and 60 sq ft per sign, with a At least 10 ft from side lot line; no projection beyond setback. setback (Sec. Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.8). Most commercial signs in Shenandoah require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential district (R-1), Residential district (R-2), Residential district (R-3) | 6 | Cannot be higher than building it advertises | 24 sq ft per sign | — |
| General commercial district (C) | 7 | 30 ft above grade | Up to 150 sq ft per street/alley | — |
| Industrial district (I) | 3 | 45 ft above grade (1.5x 30 ft) if facing commercial/industrial | Up to 150 sq ft per street/alley/parking area (1.5x 100 sq ft) for buildings facing commercial/industrial zones. Otherwise, 100 sq ft. | — |
| Floodplain conservation district (Overlay) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 24 sq ft (combined area) | — |

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

### Residential district (R-1), Residential district (R-2), Residential district (R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation or Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | No more than one per use | Fixed flat on the main wall of building or in front yard (not within right-of-way). | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(2)a, Sec. 50-112 |
| Bulletin, Announcement Board or Identification Sign (for schools, parks, playgrounds, churches, hospitals, clubs, or other principal uses) | — | 24 sq ft per sign | — | — | No more than one per street frontage | On same lot as use (not in street right-of-way) | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(2)b |
| Subdivision Sign | — | 24 sq ft per sign | — | At least 10 ft from front lot line | One per perimeter street | At least 10 feet from front lot line, on property being advertised/identified | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(2)c |
| Freestanding Real Estate Sign (for multifamily dwellings) | Cannot be higher than building it advertises | 24 sq ft per sign | — | — | No more than one per lot on same street frontage | On premises advertised | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(3)a |
| Directional Sign (within housing development for multifamily dwellings) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Within housing development | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(3)b |
| Permanent Identifying Sign (for multifamily project/buildings) | — | 10 sq ft for project per entrance; 6 sq ft for individual buildings | — | — | One per project entrance; one per building | At entrance or on building within project | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(3)c |

### General commercial district (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (One-Story Building, or First-Floor Business in Multistory Building) | First-floor signs must be within 20 ft above sidewalk | 100 sq ft total per street/alley/parking area faced | — | No projection beyond established setback line unless indicated otherwise | — | On wall facing street, alley, or parking area | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.1, 2, 6, 7 |
| Wall Sign (Above First Floor, Multistory Building) | >20 ft above sidewalk, up to building's height limit | Varies; calculated by wall area above first 20 ft | — | — | — | Wall facing street/alley/parking area, above 20 ft | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.3 |
| Wall Sign (Multistory Building Occupied by One Business Only) | Any height on wall | 100 sq ft, or 1/40 of wall area facing street/alley/parking area | — | — | — | Wall facing street/alley/parking area | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.4 |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | On show windows | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.5 |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 ft above grade | 60 sq ft per sign | — | At least 10 ft from side lot line; no projection beyond setback. | One per building per street frontage (with qualifying use) | On lot, where drive-in service or parking provided (setback requirement applies) | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.8 |
| Identification Sign (Shopping Center, 3+ businesses, continuous street frontage 200 ft min.) | — | Up to 150 sq ft per street/alley | — | — | — | At shopping center (commercially zoned, with qualifying frontage) | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.9 |
| Advertising Signs for Theaters (Movie) | — | Per case/frame: 24 sq ft; total all such cases/frames: 48 sq ft per street/alley/parking area | — | — | — | On permanent cases/frames on theater buildings | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(4)c.10 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(1)a |
| Temporary Sign (event, campaign, civic) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of event/campaign | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(1)b |
| Sign Offering Sale/Rental or Future Use | — | 24 sq ft (combined area) | — | — | — | On property being advertised | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(1)c |
| Contractor/Developer Sign (Temporary, during work) | — | 18 sq ft per contractor/developer; one sign allowed for all combined subcontractors | — | — | One per contractor/developer; one composite sign for all subcontractors | On premises where work performed | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(1)d |
| Private, No Trespassing, Fishing/Hunting Control Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises to which restriction applies | — | Sec. 50-105(a)(1)e |

## Prohibited signs in Shenandoah

- No signs with red, green, or amber lights.
- No lights of intermittent, flashing, or animated types shall be permitted on signs.
- All signs, except temporary signs, must be constructed of durable material and kept in good condition and repair.
- Billboards are prohibited in all districts.
- No roof signs shall be permitted.
- No sign shall project beyond the established setback line unless otherwise indicated.
- No trespassing signs or other such signs may exceed four square feet.
- Freestanding signs must be set back at least ten feet from side lot lines and not exceed specified size and height limits.
- Signs shall not be erected, altered, or relocated without a required sign permit, except as otherwise provided.
- Nonconforming signs, once removed, may be replaced only with conforming signs, although they may be repainted or repaired within existing dimensions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Shenandoah

- Official traffic signs and other official federal, state, county, or town government signs are permitted in all zoning districts.
- Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive, political campaign, or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization not exceeding 12 square feet and removed within seven days after the event.
- Signs offering the sale, rental, or stating future use of premises not exceeding a combined 24 square feet.
- One temporary sign for each contractor or developer and one for all combined subcontractors not exceeding 18 square feet each, removed upon completion of work.
- No trespassing signs; signs indicating private nature of road, driveway, or premises; or signs controlling fishing or hunting on the premises, not exceeding four square feet.
- A permit shall not be required for any sign four square feet or less in area.
- A permit is not required for repainting signs without changing wording, composition, or color; or for minor nonstructural repairs.
- A permit is not required for changing the advertising copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign, theater marquee, or similar interchangeably copyable sign.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required before erecting, altering, or relocating a sign, except as provided for exempt signs.
- Each application for a sign permit must include plans showing the area, size, character, design, method of illumination, exact location, method of fastening, and names/addresses of the sign owner and sign erector.
- Sign permits are not required for signs four square feet or less, certain repainting, minor repairs, or for changing copy on certain sign types.
- Where a site plan is required (per Section 50-111), it must include the location, character, size, height, and orientation of proposed signs.
- No zoning or building permit shall be issued to construct, erect, or alter any building or structure, or to improve or develop land, unless a site plan (which may show proposed signage) is submitted and approved as required by Section 50-111.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/shenandoah