# Sign Regulations in South Hill, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Hill, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/south-hill
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/South_Hill/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICO_CH94.1ZO_ARTXIISIRE)

## At a glance

South Hill, Virginia regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Multiple-Family / Manufactured Home Development Signs in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 32 sq ft (per sign), with a ≥15 ft from right-of-way and ≥25 ft from other property lines. setback (Sec. Sec. 94.1-294(2)). Most commercial signs in South Hill require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial District (C-1, C-2), Industrial District | 8 | 35 ft | 64 sq ft (per business); 750 sq ft (shopping centers/plazas/malls/business complexes) | — |
| Commercial C-2 Overlay District | 7 | 75 ft | 600 sq ft | — |
| Commercial C-3 District, Mixed Use MX-3 District | 5 | 8 ft | — | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 8 ft | 72 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 30 sq ft (freestanding banner) | — |

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

### Commercial District (C-1, C-2), Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 35 ft | 64 sq ft (per business); 750 sq ft (shopping centers/plazas/malls/business complexes) | — | — | 1 per business; shopping centers, plazas, etc. may have one freestanding ground sign in addition. | Freestanding in addition to allowable wall signs. 1 per entrance if lot has entrances from 2 streets. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(1) |
| Wall Sign (≤45 ft from right-of-way) | — | Max 25 sq ft (if <25 linear ft wall face), at no time to exceed 2 sq ft per linear ft of occupant's space width. | — | — | 1 per wall facing each street; additional allowed on rear per occupant | On building face; additional allowed on rear of each occupant's space. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(2) |
| Wall Sign (>45 ft from right-of-way) | — | At no time to exceed 2 sq ft per linear ft of occupant's space width. | — | — | 1 per wall facing each street; additional allowed on rear per occupant | On building face; additional allowed on rear of each occupant's space. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot/building frontage per use | One per lot or building frontage for each use, in lieu of a wall sign. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(3) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | In multiple building complexes or shopping centers; not legible from motoring public from street right-of-way. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(4) |
| Flashing Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(5) |
| Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On canopy fascia. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(6) |
| Changeable Message Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Same locations as wall/ground signs. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(a)(7) |

### Commercial C-2 Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (0-35 feet in height) | 35 ft | 64 sq ft (total for structure) | — | — | 1 per entrance; for convenience stores selling motor fuel, 1 ground sign. | Per entrance or per structure (see full table for detail). | — | Sec. 94.1-293(b)(3) |
| Ground Sign (>35–<40 ft in height) | 40 ft | 75 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 94.1-293(b) |
| Ground Sign (40–<50 ft in height) | 50 ft | 125 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 94.1-293(b) |
| Ground Sign (50–<60 ft in height) | 60 ft | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 94.1-293(b) |
| Ground Sign (60–75 ft in height) | 75 ft | 200 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 94.1-293(b) |
| Monopole Billboard Sign | 60 ft | 600 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business; 1 additional per shopping center/plaza/mall/complex with 3+ tenants. | On same lot as business advertised. No off-site advertising. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(c) |
| Off-site Directional Sign | 10 ft (top of signs) | 18 in x 24 in (3 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per business | Located on private property; co-located on one post or pole; must be on same side of highway as business. | — | Sec. 94.1-293(d) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Subdivision Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 94.1-294(1) |
| Multiple-Family / Manufactured Home Development Sign | 8 ft | 32 sq ft (per sign) | — | ≥15 ft from right-of-way and ≥25 ft from other property lines. | 1 per frontage, max 2 (not both on same street) | Freestanding ground or mounted on wall. Located ≥15 ft from right-of-way, ≥25 ft from other property line. | — | Sec. 94.1-294(2) |
| Community Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 94.1-294(3) |
| Educational / School Sign | — | 72 sq ft | — | — | — | Faces street frontage. | — | Sec. 94.1-294(4) |
| Church Sign | 8 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage, max 2 | Freestanding ground sign or wall sign | — | Sec. 94.1-294(5) |

## Prohibited signs in South Hill

- All off-site signs including advertising signs (billboards) are prohibited, unless specifically authorized herein.
- Any sign erected on public land other than those erected at the direction of a duly authorized public authority.
- Any sign simulating, or which is likely to be confused with, a traffic-control sign or any other sign displayed or required by the public authority.
- Any portable sign which does not conform to the requirements above for secondary signs, including any sign displayed on a stationary vehicle when said vehicle is used primarily for the purpose of and serving the function of an off-site sign.
- Any sign that violates any provision of any law of the commonwealth relating to outdoor advertising.
- Any sign painted directly on a building, except as otherwise provided herein.
- Any moving or animated sign intended to attract attention in such a way as to interfere with traffic safety, except the hands of a clock or time and temperature signs.
- Any sign displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of varying degrees of intensity, unless otherwise permitted within this article.
- Any sign consisting of illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines or open sales areas, roof lines, doors, windows or wall edges of any building.
- Any sign attached to natural vegetation.
- Any sign extending above the roof line of a building or its parapet wall.
- Any sign extending more than 35 feet above ground level unless otherwise provided.
- Any sign not specifically permitted by this article.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Hill

- The changing of message content on approved changeable-message signs.
- Signs erected by the town, including but not limited to traffic-control signs, signals, legal announcements, festivity signs, historical markers and directional signs.
- National, state or local flags or flags of other civic, charitable, educational or philanthropic groups maintained and displayed for the purpose of expressing one's patriotism or support, not to be construed as business or commercial advertising signs.
- Small signs displaying address numbers not exceeding two square feet in maximum aggregate area.
- Small signs displayed for direction or convenience of the public (e.g., restrooms, public telephones, freight entrances) not to exceed two square feet.
- Signs up to one square foot placed by public utilities indicating the location of underground utilities.
- Seasonal displays or decorations not advertising a product, service or entertainment.
- Signs warning the public against hunting, fishing, trespassing, dangerous animals, swimming or the like, not to exceed four square feet.
- Home occupation signs or nameplates in residential districts not to exceed two square feet, mounted flat against the building wall.
- Contractor signs during construction, one per development, not to exceed 32 square feet in area.
- Real estate signs advertising the sale or lease of the premises only: maximum area of four square feet for single-family and townhouse properties, 18 square feet for multi-family residential, commercial and industrial properties; must be installed on the property being sold.
- Political campaign signs announcing candidates seeking public office: up to eight square feet per premises in a residential zone and 32 square feet in a commercial or industrial zone; must be confined within private property and not encroach into the visibility triangle at street intersections.
- Interior paper window signs, provided they are located on the inside of the glass and not displayed for longer than 60 consecutive days.
- Entrance and exit signs containing only those words, up to two square feet.
- Temporary signage intended to notify the public of special events, grand openings, not of a recurring nature (excluding special sales and common merchandising events), for no more than 60 days.
- Memorial plaques or tablets.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign for which a permit is required by this chapter shall be hung, erected, or placed without a sign permit issued by the building official (Sec. 94.1-291).
- A properly filled out and completed application for a sign permit shall be filed on the appropriate forms (Sec. 94.1-292b).
- More than one sign on one building or grouping of buildings may be included in one application provided that all such signs are applied for at one time (Sec. 94.1-292c).
- Signs in the C-3 district must have an application submitted to the zoning administrator for approval (Sec. 94.1-293(e)(10)).
- Signs in residential zones specified in Sec. 94.1-294 require application to the building code official.
- Banner signs require a permit issued for 30 days, which renews automatically unless rescinded by the zoning administrator (Sec. 94.1-295(a)(2)).

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

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