# Sign Regulations in Virginia Beach, Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/virginia/virginia-beach
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/VA/Virginia_Beach/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=CO_APXAZOOR_ART3PRDI_S303SIRE)

## At a glance

Virginia Beach, Virginia regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Temporary Sign (Noncommercial Event)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft (freestanding); if wall-mounted, not above roofline tall and 32 sq ft, with a At least 7 ft from property line setback (Sec. Sec. 211(b)(1)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 30 ft above ground (if on ground) or roofline (if on roof) | 75 sq ft surface area | — |
| Preservation District, Agricultural District, Residential District, Apartment District, Historic and Cultural District, PD-H1 Planned Development District (noncommercial areas), PD-H2 Planned Development District (noncommercial areas) | 1 | 8 ft | 16 sq ft per lot | — |
| Business District, Office District, Hotel District, Industrial District, B-3A Pembroke Central Business Core District, B-4C Central Business Mixed Use District, B-4K Historic Kempsville Area Mixed Use District, RT-1 Resort Tourist District, RT-2 Resort Tourist District, RT-3 Resort Tourist District, RT-4 Resort Tourist District, Oceanfront Resort District, PD-H1 Planned Development District (commercial/mixed areas), PD-H2 Planned Development District (commercial/mixed areas) | 1 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per lot | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Noncommercial Event) | 12 ft (freestanding); if wall-mounted, not above roofline | 32 sq ft | — | At least 7 ft from property line | — | Entirely upon property of event | — | Sec. 211(b)(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Commercial Event/Business Promotion) | — | 32 sq ft | — | At least 7 ft from property line | — | At the site of the business establishment | — | Sec. 211(b)(2) |
| Temporary Balloon Sign | 30 ft above ground (if on ground) or roofline (if on roof) | 75 sq ft surface area | — | — | — | May be affixed to the roof or ground | — | Sec. 211(b)(3) |
| Temporary Sign (Civic League/HOA Event) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | On property owned by the civic league/HOA | — | Sec. 211(b)(4) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft per road frontage | — | Min 10 ft from any property line | 1 per road frontage | Active construction sites | — | Sec. 211(g) |
| Private Traffic Direction Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance or exit/drive-through lane | At entrance/exit and at drive-through lanes | — | Sec. 211(d) |
| Signs for Public or Private School | — | Wall: 1 sq ft per 2 linear feet of wall, up to 100 sq ft/wall (250 sq ft if >500 ft from street); Monument sign: 40 sq ft/face | — | — | Wall: 2/wall; Monument: varies by lot size | On building walls facing public street, or at principal vehicular entrance for free-standing sign. | — | Sec. 211(j) |
| Signs for Public Parks and Recreation Centers | — | Wall: 1 sq ft per 2 linear feet of building wall, max 100 sq ft/wall (250 sq ft if >500 ft from street); Monument: 40 sq ft/face | — | — | Wall: 2/wall; Monument: varies by lot size | Walls facing public street; monument at principal vehicular entrance per street if 15+ acre lot | — | Sec. 211(m) |

### Preservation District, Agricultural District, Residential District, Apartment District, Historic and Cultural District, PD-H1 Planned Development District (noncommercial areas), PD-H2 Planned Development District (noncommercial areas)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Other) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft per lot | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 211(b)(5)a |

### Business District, Office District, Hotel District, Industrial District, B-3A Pembroke Central Business Core District, B-4C Central Business Mixed Use District, B-4K Historic Kempsville Area Mixed Use District, RT-1 Resort Tourist District, RT-2 Resort Tourist District, RT-3 Resort Tourist District, RT-4 Resort Tourist District, Oceanfront Resort District, PD-H1 Planned Development District (commercial/mixed areas), PD-H2 Planned Development District (commercial/mixed areas)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Other) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft per lot | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 211(b)(5)a |

## Prohibited signs in Virginia Beach

- Signs that imitate an official traffic sign or signal or contain the words 'stop,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning,' or words of similar import, except as provided for private traffic direction signs.
- Signs that, by reason of their size, location, movement, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, are likely to be confused with or construed as a traffic-control device, or that obscure any traffic or street sign or signal or obstruct the view in any direction at a street intersection.
- Signs on any public property in any zoning district, except as otherwise expressly allowed.
- Signs that contain or consist of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, strings of light bulbs, or other similar moving devices. Such devices, when not part of any sign, are also prohibited when intended to attract attention to the establishment on which they are located.
- Signs posted on or otherwise affixed to utility poles, trees, or fences, or in an unauthorized manner to walls or other signs.
- Signs advertising activities that are illegal.
- All portable or nonstructural signs, except as temporary signs as may be expressly allowed. For purposes of this ordinance, a sign shall be considered as portable or nonstructural if it has no permanently mounted, self-supporting structure or is not an integral part of a building to which it is accessory.
- Signs projecting above the roofline or to a height greater than three-fourths of the vertical distance between the eaveline and ridgeline of the roof of the building or structure on which they are located, provided that signs mounted on parapet walls may extend to a height equal to, but no greater than, the height of the parapet wall.
- Electronic display signs, except as expressly allowed by the city council in conjunction with major entertainment venues or as otherwise provided in this ordinance.
- Any sign that emits sound, smoke, vapor, particles, or odors.
- Any sign larger in any respect than allowed in the zoning district in which the sign is located.
- No sign shall consist of or contain more than two faces, except for marquee signs on buildings occupied by theaters, cinemas, performing arts facilities, or similar venues, or as allowed for major entertainment venues.
- No sign shall contain or consist of blinking, flashing, or intermittent lights or similar illuminating devices.
- No exposed reflective type bulbs or incandescent lamps shall be used on the exterior surface of any sign in such a manner that will cause offensive glare on adjacent property or create a traffic hazard.
- The light from any illuminated sign shall be so shaded, shielded, or directed that light intensity or brightness does not adversely affect surrounding or facing premises nor compromise safe vision of operators of vehicles on public or private roads, highways, or parking areas.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed, replaced, repaired, repainted or otherwise displayed, unless a permit authorizing the same has been issued by the zoning administrator, except as otherwise provided.

## Signs exempt from permit in Virginia Beach

- Temporary signs at the site of any public, charitable, educational, religious, or other noncommercial event or function, located entirely upon the property on which such event or function is held (subject to standards for size, setback, timing, etc.).
- Temporary signs of a commercial nature at the site of any business establishment holding a grand opening or other special event or promotion, subject to similar limitations as above.
- Temporary signs displayed upon balloons, subject to other temporary sign requirements.
- Temporary signs erected by civic leagues or property owners' associations that are holding or have scheduled a meeting or event, subject to standards.
- Other temporary signs within prescribed area limits (16 sf in residential-type areas, 32 sf in other zones), subject to height limits.
- Private traffic direction signs not exceeding four square feet in area; one at each entrance or exit and at drive-through lanes.
- Construction signs: one sign not exceeding 32 square feet in area on each roadway frontage adjoining an active construction site while construction is actively underway, with 10-foot setback.
- Construction fence signs: banners, wraps, or similar material securely affixed to temporary protective fencing at construction or demolition sites, maintained in good condition.
- Signs for public schools and private schools with similar curriculums: limited numbers and sizes of wall and freestanding monument signs per prescribed criteria.
- Signs for city-owned parks and recreation centers: limited numbers and sizes of wall and freestanding monument signs per prescribed criteria.
- Any permitted sign may display any lawful noncommercial message in lieu of any other message, provided all physical requirements for the sign are met.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permits are required for all signs unless otherwise exempted.
- For major entertainment venues and major retail venues, a sign plan must be submitted with an application to the Planning Director with detailed information about type, location, size, dimensions, height of all signs, and additional characteristics as required. Applications for such signage must be heard by both the Planning Commission and the City Council.
- Where a sign plan for a major entertainment venue includes electronic display signage, additional specifications and certifications must be provided.
- Individual banners for recurring events at major entertainment venues do not require separate approvals, but their general number, size, and location must be included in the sign plan.
- For deviations from the regulations, including for nonconforming signs, variances may be sought from the City Council or the Board of Zoning Appeals; City Council may consider sign area, height, number, etc. in cases of repairs, replacements, relocations, or alterations.
- Any application for sign permit may require plans, diagrams, and other information necessary to determine compliance with the ordinance and other codes, as deemed necessary by the zoning administrator.

## Full detail

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

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