# Sign Regulations in Kingwood, West Virginia

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kingwood, West Virginia (WV)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/west-virginia/kingwood
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Kingwood, West Virginia regulates 17 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Menu Board Signs in the B-1 District, B-2 District, I-1 District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft (Sec. § 152.049(E)). Most commercial signs in Kingwood require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1 District, B-2 District, I-1 District | 2 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential district | 3 | — | 96 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | — | 48 sq in | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### B-1 District, B-2 District, I-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner | — | Equal to total area of current permitted permanent signs | — | — | — | Must be attached to a permanent structure. Can also be placed between poles or structures of an existing permanent sign. | — | § 152.049(D)(1)-(2) |
| Menu Board Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Accessory use to a restaurant with drive-thru; not legible from public right-of-way or adjacent property | — | § 152.049(E) |

### Nonresidential district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall or Ground Sign | — | 50 sq ft per 25 ft of frontage; total not to exceed 1,000 sq ft | — | — | 2 per business | On the building or on the ground not more than 100 ft from the building. | — | § 152.049(G)(2) |
| Signs associated with churches and similar places of worship | — | 96 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 152.049(A)(8) |
| Signs associated with public and nonprofit schools | — | 96 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 152.049(A)(9) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 152.049(A)(4) |
| Sign advertising sale or lease of property | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 152.049(A)(1) |
| Construction Site Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On construction site; must be removed 30 days after construction is complete | — | § 152.049(A)(2) |
| Governmental Sign and Legal Notice | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 152.049(A)(3) |
| Window Sign (painted or applied lettering or design) | — | — | — | — | — | Directly on surface of windows | — | § 152.049(A)(7) |
| Signs hanging or standing inside building (not attached to window or door) | — | — | — | — | — | Inside building, visible from public street, not attached to window or door | — | § 152.049(A)(11) |
| Sign inside athletic field or enclosed outdoor space | — | — | — | — | — | Inside athletic field or other enclosed outdoor space | — | § 152.049(A)(12) |
| Small Business Sign | — | 48 sq in | — | — | — | — | — | § 152.049(A)(13) |

## Prohibited signs in Kingwood

- No person or local authority shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any street or highway any unauthorized traffic-control device, signal, sign, marking, or device that imitates or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, that attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or that hides or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain, nor shall any public authority permit upon any street or highway, any traffic-control device bearing any commercial advertising.
- Spotlights, floodlights, luminous tubes, or lighted signs installed in any way that allows direct rays to penetrate into any residence are prohibited.
- Signs that project above the roofline on which they are mounted are prohibited unless attached properly to withstand applicable wind loads.
- Signs that copy or imitate an official sign or purport to have official status are prohibited.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Windblown devices are prohibited.
- Any sign that obstructs or substantially interferes with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening meant to provide air, ingress, or egress to any building is prohibited.
- Off-premise and billboard signs of any kind except those specifically allowed are prohibited.
- Pylon signs except as specifically allowed are prohibited.
- No sign or banner beyond authorized traffic signs shall be erected at the intersection of any streets so as to create a traffic hazard by obstructing the visibility triangle, or where it may interfere with, obstruct the view, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign.
- Signs that flash, blink, rotate, or scroll are prohibited.
- No billboard, sign, or advertising structure, other than signs flat against a commercial building, shall face any public square or entrance to any public park, school, library, church, or similar institution within 200 feet thereof.
- No billboard or outdoor advertising structure not pertaining to the use of any property shall be painted or located on any wall, building, or fence, or erected upon the roof of any building.
- No sign or banner shall be erected in the visibility triangle as defined in the chapter. Any such sign or banner shall be removed upon direction of the Mayor.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kingwood

- Signs advertising the sale or lease of property.
- Signs indicating the architect, engineer, project name, source of financing, and contractor when displayed during the construction period on a construction site and removed 30 days after construction is completed.
- Governmental signs and legal notices.
- Directional signs not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Flags of any country, state, or unit of local government.
- Memorial plaques and historical signs.
- Lettering or design painted or applied directly to the surface of windows of a structure.
- Signs associated with churches and similar places of worship in a non-residential district not exceeding 96 square feet.
- Signs associated with public and nonprofit schools not exceeding 96 square feet.
- Political signs.
- Signs hanging or standing inside a building, not attached to a window or door, but visible from a public street.
- Any signs inside an athletic field or other enclosed outdoor space.
- Business signs of less than 48 square inches.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A separate building permit is required for any sign, pennant, or notice not specifically included in an original building permit, except for those exempt under the listed exemptions.
- A separate building permit is required for signs (including permitted identification and advertising signs) if not submitted with the application for the primary land use.
- No indication in the provided text of the requirement for a master sign plan, sign plan review board, or variance meeting for signage.

## Full detail

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

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