Sign Regulations in Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia has specific sign regulations covering 24 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Directional Sign (Ground), Temporary Sign, Monument Sign. Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 27, 2026
Sign Regulation Overview for Morgantown, West Virginia
Sample Sign Requirements in Morgantown
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Sign | 48 inches (4 ft) | 12 sq ft per side | Setbacks must protect clear sight triangle per zoning ordinance (Sec. 1369.07(a)(3)) |
| Directory Sign (Ground - Monument Style, Logo/Name) | Up to 6 ft (shopping center logo/name directory); also see freestanding height table: 48 inches listed for Directory, Logo/Name | 18 sq ft (shopping center logo/name directory) | ≥20 ft from any public right-of-way when in shopping centers; maintain clear sight triangle (Sec. 1369.07(b)(1), (e)(1)c) |
| Directory Sign (Ground - Detailed) | 60 inches (5 ft) per Table 1369.09.01 (Directory, Detailed) | Not specified in Sec. 1369.07; allowed as one detailed directory sign in addition to logo/name directories | Maintain clear sight triangle |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
PermitPal Coverage for MorgantownFull Coverage
Sign Types Covered
24
- Directional Sign (Ground)
- Temporary Sign
- Monument Sign
- Sandwich Board Sign
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
13
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Morgantown
Other Cities in West Virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
In Morgantown, monument signs are limited to Up to 6 ft (shopping center logo/name directory); also see freestanding height table: 48 inches listed for Directory, Logo/Name. Height limits vary by zoning district and sign type. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your specific location.
To get a sign permit in Morgantown, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Morgantown, regulated sign types include Directional Sign (Ground), Temporary Sign, Monument Sign, Sandwich Board Sign, and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
In Morgantown, monument signs typically require a ≥20 ft from any public right-of-way when in shopping centers; maintain clear sight triangle (Sec. 1369.07(b)(1), (e)(1)c) setback from property lines. Setbacks may increase near residential zones or intersections. Wall signs attached to buildings generally don't have setback requirements. Use PermitPal for location-specific setback data.
Digital and LED signs in Morgantown are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Morgantown has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Morgantown, West Virginia Sign Rules at a Glance
Morgantown, West Virginia regulates 24 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Directory Sign (Ground - Monument Style)s in the Neighborhood Business District (B-1) zoning district are capped at 6 ft (per Sec. 1369.07(b)(1)); Table lists 48 inches for Directory, Logo/Name and 60 inches for Detailed tall and Logo/name directory: 18 sq ft (shopping centers); otherwise counts against additional 0.3 sq ft/lf non-wall allocation (Sec. 1369.09(c)(3)), with a ≥20 ft from ROW; clear sight triangle setback (Sec. Sec. 1369.07(b); Sec. 1369.08(b)-(c); Table 1369.06.01; Table 1369.09.01). Most commercial signs in Morgantown require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Morgantown, West Virginia
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Morgantown (13 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Family Residential District (R-1, R-1A) | 8 | 72 inches (6 ft) | Not specified in Sec. 1369.07; allowed as one detailed directory sign in addition to logo/name directories | — |
| Single- and Two-Family Residential District (R-2) | 8 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft per side | — |
| Multi-Family Residential District (R-3) | 7 | 72 inches (6 ft) | Wall-attached: 32 sq ft; Ground (if TUP): 16 sq ft/side; Special events: 20 sq ft each (up to two ground signs) | — |
| Professional, Residential and Office District (PRO) | 9 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft per side, but PRO district cap applies to business signs | — |
| Office and Institutional District (OI) | 9 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft per side | — |
| Neighborhood Business District (B-1) | 11 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Service Business District (B-2) | 11 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Business District (B-4) | 11 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center District (B-5) | 12 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District (I-1) | 9 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft per side | — |
| Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 11 | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Interstate Sign Overlay District (ISOD) | 3 | To be determined by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | Top ≤ 10 ft above ground | 36 in x 54 in per box | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Morgantown(sample of 3 of 13 zones)
Neighborhood Business District (B-1)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directory Sign (Ground - Monument Style) | 6 ft (per Sec. 1369.07(b)(1)); Table lists 48 inches for Directory, Logo/Name and 60 inches for Detailed | Logo/name directory: 18 sq ft (shopping centers); otherwise counts against additional 0.3 sq ft/lf non-wall allocation (Sec. 1369.09(c)(3)) | — | ≥20 ft from ROW; clear sight triangle | 1 per entrance (+1 detailed per site) | Near parking entrances/internal intersections; ≥20 ft from ROW | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(b); Sec. 1369.08(b)-(c); Table 1369.06.01; Table 1369.09.01 |
| Directional Sign (Ground) | — | 4 sq ft | — | Clear sight triangle | — | On private property guiding on-site traffic | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(k) |
| Menu Board (Drive-Thru Accessory) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On-site at drive-thru restaurant only | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(d); Table 1369.06.01 |
| Monument Sign | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft per side (counts against non-wall allocation 0.3 sq ft/lf) | — | Clear sight triangle | 1 per principal entrance; spacing ≥100 ft | On private property at principal entrance(s) | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(e); Sec. 1369.08(b)-(c) |
| Post and Panel Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per side (counts against non-wall allocation 0.3 sq ft/lf) | — | Clear sight triangle | 1 per principal entrance; spacing ≥100 ft | On private property at principal entrance(s) | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(f); Sec. 1369.08(b)-(c) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 48 inches (4 ft) | — | 24 inches (2 ft) | — | 1 per business | On private sidewalk; public sidewalk/ROW placement limited to B-4 | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(j); Sec. 1369.14(c) |
| Suspended Sign | — | Up to 6 sq ft (not counted toward wall sign area); under-canopy max 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Under canopy or projecting from building; may protrude into ROW only in B-4 | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(g); Sec. 1369.14 |
| Temporary Sign | Ground with TUP: 42 inches | Wall-attached: 32 sq ft; Ground (if TUP): 16 sq ft/side; Special events: 20 sq ft (two allowed) | — | Maintain clear sight triangle for ground temporary signs | Per permit limits | On private property | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(h); Sec. 1369.08(c) |
Service Business District (B-2)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directory Sign (Ground - Monument Style) | 6 ft (Sec. 1369.07(b)(1)); Table lists 48 inches (Logo/Name) and 60 inches (Detailed) | Logo/name directory: 18 sq ft (shopping centers); otherwise sized within site needs | — | ≥20 ft from ROW; clear sight triangle | 1 per entrance (+1 detailed per site) | Near parking entrances/internal intersections; ≥20 ft from ROW | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(b); Sec. 1369.08(a); Table 1369.06.01; Table 1369.09.01 |
| Directional Sign (Ground) | — | 4 sq ft | — | Clear sight triangle | — | On private property guiding on-site traffic | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(k) |
| Menu Board (Drive-Thru Accessory) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On-site at drive-thru restaurant only | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(d); Table 1369.06.01 |
| Monument Sign | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft per side | — | Clear sight triangle | 1 per principal entrance; spacing ≥100 ft | On private property at principal entrance(s) | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(e); Sec. 1369.08(a) |
| Post and Panel Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | Clear sight triangle | 1 per principal entrance; spacing ≥100 ft | On private property at principal entrance(s) | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(f); Sec. 1369.08(a) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 48 inches (4 ft) | — | 24 inches (2 ft) | — | 1 per business | On private sidewalk; public sidewalk/ROW placement limited to B-4 | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(j); Sec. 1369.14(c) |
| Suspended Sign | — | Up to 6 sq ft (not counted toward wall sign area); under-canopy: 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Under canopy or projecting; may protrude into ROW only in B-4 | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(g); Sec. 1369.14 |
| Temporary Sign | Ground with TUP: 42 inches | Wall-attached: 32 sq ft; Ground (if TUP): 16 sq ft/side; Special events: 20 sq ft (two allowed) | — | Maintain clear sight triangle for ground temporary signs | Per permit limits | On private property | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(h) |
Shopping Center District (B-5)
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directory Sign (Ground - Monument Style) | 6 ft (Sec. 1369.07(b)(1)); Table lists 48 inches for Directory, Logo/Name and 60 inches for Detailed | Logo/name directory: 18 sq ft (shopping centers) | — | ≥20 ft from ROW; clear sight triangle | 1 per entrance (+1 detailed per site) | Near entrances to parking areas and principal internal intersections; ≥20 ft from ROW | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(b); Sec. 1369.08(a); Table 1369.09.01 |
| Directional Sign (Ground) | — | 4 sq ft | — | Clear sight triangle | — | On private property guiding on-site traffic | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(k) |
| Menu Board (Drive-Thru Accessory) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On-site at drive-thru restaurant only | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(d); Table 1369.06.01 |
| Monument Sign | 72 inches (6 ft) | 32 sq ft per side | — | Clear sight triangle | 1 per principal entrance; spacing ≥100 ft | On private property at principal entrance(s) | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(e); Sec. 1369.08(a) |
| Post and Panel Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft per side | — | Clear sight triangle | 1 per principal entrance; spacing ≥100 ft | On private property at principal entrance(s) | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(f); Sec. 1369.08(a) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 48 inches (4 ft) | — | 24 inches (2 ft) | — | 1 per business | On private sidewalk; public ROW placement limited to B-4 | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(j); Sec. 1369.14(c) |
| Suspended Sign | — | Up to 6 sq ft (not counted toward wall sign area); under-canopy: 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | Under canopy or projecting; may protrude into ROW only in B-4 (not B-5) | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(g); Sec. 1369.14 |
| Temporary Sign | Ground with TUP: 42 inches | Wall-attached: 32 sq ft; Ground (if TUP): 16 sq ft/side; Special events: 20 sq ft (two allowed) | — | Maintain clear sight triangle for ground temporary signs | Per permit limits | On private property | — | Unlock | Sec. 1369.07(h) |
PermitPal covers all 13 zoning districts in Morgantown — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 13 zones for Morgantown — start freeProhibited Signs in Morgantown
- All signs not expressly permitted by the ordinance or exempt are prohibited.
- Any sign that copies or imitates an official sign or purports to have official status is prohibited.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Windblown devices are prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, and strings of light bulbs are prohibited except for holiday decorations.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Signs with moving or flashing lights are prohibited, except as allowed for electronic scrolling message signs; neon signs are allowed only where signs are permitted and not in residential districts and only if of a permitted type.
- Any sign attached to an accessory structure that is legible from the public right-of-way or from other property is prohibited.
- Any other attention-attracting device is prohibited unless it conforms to the dimensional, design, lighting, and other standards applicable to a permitted sign in the same location.
- Any sign that obstructs or substantially interferes with any window, door, fire escape, stairway, ladder, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress, or egress to any building is prohibited.
- Any sign attached to gas pumps or gas pump islands that can be read from a public street by most persons of normal vision is prohibited.
- Off‑premise and billboard signs are prohibited except where specifically allowed by the ordinance.
- Pylon signs are prohibited except where specifically allowed by the ordinance.
- Signs mounted on or above the roofline of any building are prohibited, except in the B-4 district where they may be permitted as a conditional use and count toward the total sign allotment.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Any sign located in a public right‑of‑way is prohibited except as expressly provided in the ordinance.
- No sign may be erected within the clear vision triangle.
Exempt Signs in Morgantown
- Official or public notices or warnings required by law, regulation, ordinance, public utility, or court order, and signs erected by statutorily exempt public entities.
- Traffic signs on private property (e.g., stop, yield) that meet the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and contain no commercial message.
- Signs hanging or standing inside a building, not attached to a window or door, even if visible from a public street.
- Any sign inside an athletic field or other enclosed outdoor space.
- Works of art with no commercial message.
- Holiday decorations with no commercial message displayed between November 15 and January 15.
- On‑premise real estate signs indicating for sale, for lease, etc.
- Lettering attached to a business window or door that only describes hours of operation, street address, or other non‑commercial copy/logos.
- Yard sale signs.
- Signs attached to or painted onto service vehicles.
- Signs on fuel pumps that cannot generally be read from off the premises.
- Political signs.
- Signs erected by any entity legally exempt from municipal zoning.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Morgantown
- Sign permits are required prior to erection for the sign types indicated in the permitted signs table; building and floodplain permits may also be required prior to issuance.
- A building permit is required for signs costing more than $250 (including labor and materials).
- Floodplain permits may be required where applicable.
- For B‑4 district signs requiring a permit and larger than six square feet, consultation with the Downtown Design Review Committee is required before approval.
- One sign permit application may include multiple signs on the same site; applications must include detailed drawings of dimensions, design, structure, and location.
- No new sign permit will be issued for a parcel that has an illegal sign (e.g., erected without a permit or not removed after business cessation).
- Temporary signs require a temporary sign permit; each permit allows a specified 30‑day period and is subject to limits on number and frequency as stated in the ordinance.
- Heights for pole, pylon, and billboard signs in the Interstate Sign Overlay District are to be determined by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Roofline signs in the B‑4 district may be allowed only as a conditional use and count toward the site’s total sign allotment.
Source: municode municipal code