# Sign Regulations in Vienna, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Vienna, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/vienna
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-06
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/va/vienna/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH18ZOSUOR_ART5BDESTUBINCOUS_DIV7SI)

## At a glance

Vienna, Virginia regulates 26 sign types across 14 zoning districts. Monument (Primary Frontage ≤ 124 ft)s in the AC zoning district are capped at 10 ft. max tall and Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A, with a Setback ≥ sign height from ROW; Sight Triangle compliance setback (Sec. § 18-595.2.A (AC group area); § 18-595.2.B (height); § 18-595.2.C.i (counts for AC group); § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592). Most commercial signs in Vienna require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (14 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 5 ft. max | 32 sq. ft. max total sign area | — |
| AC | 19 | 10 ft. max | 32 sq. ft. total sign area | — |
| AE, AW, GS | 14 | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — |
| CS | 14 | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — |
| CP | 13 | 10 ft. max | 500 sq. ft. aggregate (building-mounted) | — |
| M | 13 | 10 ft. max | 32 sq. ft. total sign area | — |
| NM | 9 | 4 ft. max | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft. per sign; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. total | — |
| CS-O | 9 | 4 ft. max | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. total | — |
| RS-10, RS-12.5, RS-16 | 9 | 4 ft. max | 36 sq. ft. aggregate (ground-mounted) | — |
| RMU | 9 | 4 ft. max | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Parks & Recreation (PR) | 9 | Yard: 4 ft.; Non-commercial: 5 ft. | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. | — |
| T | 9 | 4 ft. max | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. | — |
| AC-O | 15 | 10 ft. max | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Parks & Conservation (PC) | 5 | Yard: 4 ft.; Non-commercial: 5 ft. | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 14 zones)

### AC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument (Primary Frontage ≤ 124 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW; Sight Triangle compliance | 1 per site | Ground-mounted on site | — | § 18-595.2.A (AC group area); § 18-595.2.B (height); § 18-595.2.C.i (counts for AC group); § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Monument (Primary Frontage ≥ 125 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW; Sight Triangle compliance | 2 per site | Ground-mounted on site | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Secondary - Ground-mounted | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | No count limit | Ground-mounted on site | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Freestanding Hanging (Primary Frontage ≤ 124 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | 2 per site | Ground-mounted freestanding | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Freestanding Hanging (Primary Frontage ≥ 125 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | 3 per site | Ground-mounted freestanding | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Wall Sign | — | Aggregate per building frontage; per-sign area not specified | — | — | No count limit | Building-mounted | — | § 18-595.3.A; § 18-595.3.B.i (AC group counts); § 18-590.4; § 18-592 |
| Temporary Yard Sign | 4 ft. max | 25 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | Limited by cumulative area | On private property | — | § 18-596.1; § 18-596.2.E; § 18-596.1 (Banners & yard signs) |
| Temporary Non-Commercial Sign (Construction / For sale / Rent / Lease) | 5 ft. max | 32 sq. ft. total sign area | — | — | 1 per frontage max. | On private property | — | § 18-596.1; § 18-596.2.D |

### AE, AW, GS

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument (Primary Frontage ≤ 124 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | 1 per site | Ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A (AE/AW/GS group); § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Monument (Primary Frontage ≥ 125 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site per § 18-595.2.A | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | 2 per site | Ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Secondary - Ground-mounted | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | No count limit | Ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Freestanding Hanging (Primary Frontage ≤ 124 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | 2 per site | Freestanding ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Freestanding Hanging (Primary Frontage ≥ 125 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site | — | Setback ≥ sign height from ROW | 3 per site | Freestanding ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Wall Sign | — | Aggregate per building frontage | — | — | No count limit | Building-mounted | — | § 18-595.3.A; § 18-595.3.B.i (AE/AW/GS group counts); § 18-590.4; § 18-592 |
| Wall, Minor Sign | — | — | — | — | No count limit | Building-mounted | — | § 18-595.3.A; § 18-595.3.B.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-592 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | No count limit | On awning | — | § 18-595.3.A; § 18-595.3.B.i; § 18-590.4; § 18-592 |

### AC-O

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument (Primary Frontage ≤ 124 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site (ground-mounted) | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 1 per site | Ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A (AC-O grouped with AC/CS/M area); § 18-595.2.B (AC-O: 10 ft); § 18-595.2.C.i (AC-O in AC group counts); § 18-590.4 (AC-O not listed); § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Monument (Primary Frontage ≥ 125 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 2 per site | Ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4 (AC-O not listed); § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Secondary - Ground-mounted | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site | — | Setback ≥ sign height | No count limit | Ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4 (AC-O not listed); § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Freestanding Hanging (Primary Frontage ≤ 124 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 2 per site | Freestanding ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4 (AC-O not listed); § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Freestanding Hanging (Primary Frontage ≥ 125 ft) | 10 ft. max | Aggregate per site | — | Setback ≥ sign height | 3 per site | Freestanding ground-mounted | — | § 18-595.2.A; § 18-595.2.B; § 18-595.2.C.i; § 18-590.4 (AC-O not listed); § 18-591; § 18-592 |
| Wall Sign | — | Aggregate per building frontage | — | — | No count limit | Building-mounted | — | § 18-595.3.A; § 18-595.3.B.i (AC-O in AC group counts); § 18-590.4 (AC-O not listed); § 18-592 |
| Wall, Minor Sign | — | — | — | — | No count limit | Building-mounted | — | § 18-595.3.A; § 18-595.3.B.i; § 18-590.4 (AC-O not listed); § 18-592 |
| Temporary signs (all types) | Yard: 4 ft.; Non-commercial: 5 ft. | Window: 25% of single window; A-Frame: 12 sq. ft.; Banner/Yard: 25 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Window: 1 per window; A-Frame: 1 per tenant; Banner/Yard: cumulative 50 sq. ft.; Non-commercial: 1 per frontage | On private property | — | § 18-596.1–3; § 18-592.2.B |

## Prohibited signs in Vienna

- Signs or sign structures erected without the express written permission of the property owner or authorized agent are prohibited (applies in all zones and districts).
- Signs that constitute a public nuisance due to amplified sound, smoke, vapor, particle emission, or objectionable odors are prohibited (applies in all zones and districts).
- Moving or rotating signs and devices such as flags, pennants, streamers, balloons, or similar motion/rotation displays are prohibited (applies in all zones and districts).
- Electronic message signs; changeable copy; changing colors; flashing, blinking, or oscillating effects; lighting effects that imitate movement; or video display of any kind are prohibited, except where expressly permitted or for continuously displayed fuel station pricing with occasional changes (applies in all zones and districts).
- Exposed-tubing lighting arrangements are prohibited, except existing pre-08/19/1991 installations maintained in good condition without alteration or replacement, and non-blinking exposed-tubing signs not exceeding 1.5 sq ft total area per business (applies in all zones and districts).
- Portable signs located on trailers, wheels, or affixed to vehicles intended for advertising are prohibited, except business-related vehicles parked on-site with valid tags and registration (applies in all zones and districts).
- Obscene signs (words, pictures, or statements) are prohibited (applies in all zones and districts).
- Signs placed in the public right-of-way without the Town’s expressed consent are prohibited (applies in all zones and districts).
- Signs may not be erected upon the roof of any building, except on the sides of a mansard-type roof (applies in all zones and districts).

## Signs exempt from permit in Vienna

- The sign ordinance does not apply to any sign placed in a public right-of-way and does not authorize or prohibit placement of any sign there (general applicability exemption).
- Items not considered signs and excluded from sign area calculations: federal, state, and local flags; street address signs; and displays less than 1.5 square feet in area (exclusion applies town-wide).
- Exempt from Board of Architectural Review: signs that meet the requirements of a previously approved Master Sign Plan; temporary signs as described in § 18-596 (exemption applies town-wide).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Master Sign Plan: If a Master Sign Plan has been previously approved by the Board of Architectural Review, signs that meet its requirements are exempt from BAR review (§ 18-592.2.A).
- Review requirement: All permanent signs require Board of Architectural Review review and a Certificate of Approval prior to permitting or construction (§ 18-592.1).
- Temporary signs are exempt from Board of Architectural Review (§ 18-592.2.B).
- No explicit requirement within this division to submit a Master Sign Plan; however, having one approved by BAR provides review exemptions. See § 18-821 for review procedure.

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

---

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