# Sign Regulations in Fayetteville, West Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fayetteville, West Virginia (WV)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/west-virginia/fayetteville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-19

## At a glance

Fayetteville, West Virginia regulates 35 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Non-dwelling)s in the Single Family Zoning District, Multi-Family Zoning District, Conservation Zoning District, Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 16 sq ft, with a half sign height from right-of-way setback (Sec. 1325.17(a)(2),(4)). Most commercial signs in Fayetteville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single Family Zoning District, Multi-Family Zoning District, Conservation Zoning District, Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District | 15 | 25 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Use District | 13 | 30 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial District | 13 | 40 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | Up to 16 sq ft exempt (all larger see zone rules) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Single Family Zoning District, Multi-Family Zoning District, Conservation Zoning District, Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Geological Sign (Dwelling) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Accessory to dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(1),(4) and sign chart |
| Minor Sign (Dwelling) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 2 per use | Accessory to dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(1),(4); 1325.05(e) |
| Temporary Sign (Dwelling) | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Accessory to dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(1),(4); 1325.05; 1325.15(a,c) |
| Flag (Dwelling) | 25 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Accessory to dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(3),(4); 1325.05(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-dwelling) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | Minimum setback: half sign height from right-of-way | 1 per use | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(2),(4) |
| Geological Sign (Non-dwelling) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(2),(4) |
| Minor Sign (Non-dwelling) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 2 per use | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(2),(4); 1325.05(e) |
| Wicket Sign (Non-dwelling) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(a)(2),(4) |

### Mixed Use District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Permanent Signs (Dwelling in Mixed Use) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft (dwelling signs as in residential districts, see above) | — | — | — | Accessory to dwellings | — | 1325.17(b)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-dwelling) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | Half height setback from right-of-way | 1 per use | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(b)(2),(5) |
| Wall Sign (Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | — | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(b)(2),(5); 1325.09(e)-(f) |
| A-frame Sign (Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | 1325.17(b)(2); 1325.05(f) |
| Awning Sign (Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | 1325.17(b)(2) |
| Canopy Sign (Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | 1325.17(b)(2) |
| Temporary Sign (Non-dwelling) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | 1325.17(b)(5); 1325.15(a,d,e) |
| Flag (Non-dwelling) | 30 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1325.17(b)(4),(5); 1325.05(b) |

### General Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Permanent Signs (Dwelling in General Commercial) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft (dwelling signs as in residential districts, see above) | — | — | — | Accessory to dwellings | — | 1325.17(c)(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Non-dwelling) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | Half height setback from right-of-way | 1 per use | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(c)(2),(5) |
| Wall Sign (Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | — | Accessory to non-dwellings | — | 1325.17(c)(2),(5); 1325.09(e)-(f) |
| A-frame Sign (Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | 1325.17(c)(2); 1325.05(f) |
| Awning Sign (Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | 1325.17(c)(2) |
| Neon Sign (Window, Non-dwelling) | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | 1325.17(c)(2); 1325.07(b)(7) |
| Temporary Sign (Non-dwelling) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | 1325.17(c)(5); 1325.15(a,d,e) |
| Flag (Non-dwelling) | 40 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1325.17(c)(4),(5); 1325.05(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Fayetteville

- Signs that violate any state or federal law relating to outdoor advertising or in violation of this code.
- Signs attached to natural vegetation.
- Signs simulating, or which are likely to be confused with, a traffic control sign or any other sign displayed by a public authority.
- Vehicle or trailer signs.
- Freestanding signs more than twenty-five (25) feet in height or with less than eight (8) feet of clearance beneath the sign face.
- Signs hanging from supports, except against the face of a building.
- Animated signs, except where animated sign features as part of an electronic message display are expressly permitted.
- Flashing signs or other signs displaying flashing, scrolling, or intermittent lights or lights of changing degrees of intensity, except where such signs are expressly permitted.
- Partially animated and fully animated electronic message displays.
- Feather signs more than ten (10) feet in height. No more than two (2) feather signs may be placed per fifty (50) square feet of frontage.
- Signs painted directly on a building, except where expressly permitted by this article.
- Signs consisting of illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining property lines or open sales areas, rooflines, doors, windows or wall edges of any building, except for temporary decorations not to exceed three months per year.
- Signs that emit smoke, flame, scent, mist, aerosol, liquid, or gas.
- Signs that emit sound.
- Any electronic sign that is generated by a series of moving images, such as an LED, digital display, or other video technology, whether displayed on a building, vehicle, or mobile unit.
- Pennants or strings of flags visible from, and within fifty (50) feet of, any public right-of-way.
- Neon signs, except in windows where expressly permitted.
- Off-premises signs, unless specifically permitted by this article.
- Signs erected on public land other than those approved by an authorized Town official in writing, required by law without such approval, or permitted under West Virginia law.
- Roof signs. Signs on the roof surface or extending above the roofline of a building or its parapet wall.
- Any sign located in the vision triangle formed by any two (2) or more intersecting streets.
- No sign, awning, banner, fixture or other structure may overhang any street, sidewalk or public place by less than seven feet from the surface thereof.
- No signs or advertisements of any kind shall be posted or affixed to any appurtenance situate on or within any rights of way owned or maintained by the Town.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fayetteville

- Signs required by law.
- Flags up to sixteen (16) square feet.
- The changing of messages on marquees and the repair of an existing permitted sign, except that repair of a nonconforming sign must comply with Section 1325.11.
- Temporary signs as follows, subject to sign area and height limitations of the district in which the sign is located: (a) One sign, not illuminated, no more than twelve (12) square feet in area, located on property where a building permit is active; (b) On any property where a dwelling is for sale or rent, one sign up to thirty-two (32) square feet and maximum height of six (6) feet; on commercial property for sale or rent, two signs up to thirty-two (32) square feet and maximum height of eight (8) feet; (c) On residential property, not more than two temporary signs totaling no more than twelve (12) square feet, removed within thirty (30) days after being erected; (d) Window signs.
- Signs shall be placed as required with permanent signs.
- All other temporary signs require a permit.
- Two (2) minor signs per use.
- A-frame signs more than fifty (50) feet from the nearest public right of way.
- Pavement markings or any sign applied directly and entirely to and flush with an asphalt, concrete, or similar paved surface.
- A permanent window sign.
- Signs permitted under this section shall count towards the allowable maximum sign square footage for a particular use or particular property.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required prior to the display and erection of any sign, except as provided in the exceptions section.
- All applications for a sign permit must provide sufficient information for zoning compliance review.
- Wall signs larger than fifty (50) square feet require, as part of the zoning permit application, express permission from the building operator and owner, applicant identification, and a clear drawing of the proposed sign.
- Wall signs larger than one hundred (100) square feet are subject to design review by the Board of Zoning Appeals before a permit is issued.
- The Board of Zoning Appeals shall issue permits for signs subject to design review and render a determination within forty (40) business days.
- Appeals from the denial or granting of a sign permit shall be made to the Board of Zoning Appeals per the appeal procedures.

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

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