# Sign Regulations in Parkersburg, West Virginia

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

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

## At a glance

Parkersburg, West Virginia regulates 33 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2, M-3 zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall and 25 sq ft per facing, with a 10 ft from ROW setback (Sec. 1364.02(14); 1364.12(c)). Most commercial signs in Parkersburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 40 ft above grade | 672 sq ft per face (+ 20% embellishment) | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2, M-3 | 12 | 40 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| B-2 | 2 | Max 3 ft above roofline | 75% of street frontage, not to exceed 300 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2, M-3, Non-residential use in R district | 1 | 3 ft | 3 sq ft per side | — |
| B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2, M-E3, Non-residential use in R district | 1 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| ALL | 2 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Auction Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | 1 per lot | — | 1364.02(1); 1364.05 |
| Banner Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 | 1 per site (only in specified business and manufacturing zones) | — | 1364.02(2); 1364.05 |
| Construction Sign | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | 2 | 2 per site, all zones | — | 1364.02(6); 1364.05 |
| Directional Sign | — | 5 sq ft (general version), 4 sq ft (off-premise version) | — | — | Unlimited (on-premise), 1 per intersection (off-premise) | Unlimited on-premise; 1 per intersection/change (off-premise) | — | 1364.02(7,24); 1364.05 |
| Wall Directory Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | 1 per building | — | 1364.02(8); 1364.05 |
| Instructional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited | Unlimited | — | 1364.02(19); 1364.05 |
| Subdivision Sign | 8 ft | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | 1 per entrance | — | 1364.02(39); 1364.05; 1364.12(k) |
| Off-premise Billboard Sign | 40 ft above grade | 672 sq ft per face (+ 20% embellishment) | — | 25 ft front, 5 ft side/rear, 30 ft from ROW at intersection | — | Permitted only in B-2, M-1, and M-2 | — | 1364.14 |

### B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, M-1, M-2, M-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | — | 33% of canopy | — | — | Unlimited | Unlimited | — | 1364.02(4); 1364.12(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 1 x street frontage, max 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 | 1 per premise | — | 1364.02(13); 1364.12(b) |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 25 sq ft per facing | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 1364.02(14); 1364.12(c) |
| Identification Sign | 35 ft | 2 x street frontage, max 400 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 | 1 per multi-tenant use | — | 1364.02(16); 1364.12(d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 1/2 x building frontage | — | — | 1 | 1 per business location | — | 1364.02(29); 1364.12(f) |
| Public Service Message/Marquee | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 1364.02(31); 1364.12(g) |
| Pylon | 40 ft | 2 x street frontage, max 400 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 | 1 per location | — | 1364.02(33); 1364.12(h) |
| Reader Board | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 | 1 per location (wall, freestanding or ground sign) | — | 1364.02(34); 1364.12(i) |

### ALL

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign - Non-residential Use | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 1364.02(35)(A); 1364.05 |
| Real Estate Sign - Residential Use | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 10 ft from ROW | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 1364.02(35)(B); 1364.05 |

## Prohibited signs in Parkersburg

- No sign or other form of advertisement shall be exhibited for more than two days prior to a pending sale, and signs must be removed at the end of the sale.
- No signs shall be placed in any City right-of-way or on or attached to any utility poles, street signs, or traffic control signs.
- No flood lights shall be utilized as a part of a sign illumination system which are not shielded so that the light is not visible from any public right of way or adjacent property nor shall any sign otherwise reflect or emit a glaring light so as to impair driver vision or impair the privacy of an adjoining residential use.
- No sign illumination system shall contain or utilize any beacon, spot, search or stroboscopic light or reflector which is visible from any public right of way or adjacent property, nor shall such light be operated outside under any circumstances, except by authorized public agencies.
- No sign shall obstruct the view of a motor vehicle operator entering a public roadway, from a driveway, street or alley.
- No sign shall be permitted which may be confused with an official traffic sign, signal or device, railroad sign or signal or any other official sign or which uses the words, “stop”, “warning”, “danger”, “caution” or similar words implying the existence of danger or need for stopping or maneuvering.
- No sign is permitted to be displayed on any trees, natural feature, shrubs or utility poles within the public right of way (excluding governmental signs).
- No signs or sign structure shall be placed closer than five feet to the public right of way.
- No sign projecting into a public right of way shall be lower than nine feet.
- No person shall locate a sign on the premises so as to intentionally or effectively deny an adjoining property owner reasonable public vision access to an existing sign.
- No sign shall be placed upon a vacant lot except for real estate, political or construction signs.
- No sign or other obstruction to vision shall be installed, constructed, set out, or maintained so as to obstruct cross-visibility in the sight triangle (at intersections) between 30 inches and 72 inches above the level of the center of the street intersection.
- No sign illumination system shall contain or utilize flashing, intermittent or moving lights.
- No sign may be constructed which resembles any official marker erected by a governmental entity, or which by reason of position, shape or color would conflict with the proper functioning of any official traffic control device.
- No person shall erect, set up, place, retain or maintain any sign of any nature or description on or over any street, alley, sidewalk or public place within the City, without first obtaining a zoning permit and a sign permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Parkersburg

- Auction signs (one per site, up to 20 sq. ft., all zones, 30-day display limit) are exempt from permit and fee requirements if all provisions are met.
- Construction signs (up to two per site, up to 64 sq. ft., all zones) are exempt if removed within 14 days after project completion.
- Directional signs (unlimited, up to 5 sq. ft. each, all zones) are exempt.
- Wall directory signs (one per building, up to 20 sq. ft., all zones) are exempt.
- Flag signs (unlimited, all zones) are exempt.
- Hazard signs (for duration of hazard, all zones) are exempt.
- Instructional signs (unlimited, up to 3 sq. ft., all zones) are exempt.
- Memorial or plaque signs (one per site, up to 9 sq. ft., all zones) are exempt.
- Nameplate/address signs (one per site, up to 3 sq. ft., non-illuminated, all zones) are exempt.
- Off-premise directional signs for places of worship/schools (one per intersection, up to 4 sq. ft., all zones) are exempt.
- Pennants (unlimited, all zones) are exempt.
- Political signs (unlimited, all zones) are exempt if erected 60 days before and removed within 7 days after election.
- Public signs (unlimited, all zones) are exempt.
- Pump signs (one per pump, up to 2 sq. ft., all zones) are exempt.
- Real estate signs (one per street frontage, up to 8 sq. ft. residential or 32 sq. ft. non-residential, all zones) are exempt under listed conditions.
- Subdivision entrance signs (one per entrance, up to 30 sq. ft., all zones) are exempt.
- Menu/sandwich signs provided conditions are met (non-illuminated, 7am–9pm display, permitted zones).
- Mural signs with no advertising content (one per property, permitted commercial/industrial zones) are exempt.
- Window signs (up to 33% of window area, certain zoning and non-residential uses in R) are exempt under conditions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for each sign is required unless specifically exempted by the ordinance; the application must include specifications and may require a site plan or survey with exact location and distances from property lines.
- All plans for off-premise billboard signs require submission of a structural engineer’s stamped plan, a site plan or legal survey showing perimeter, exact location, and distances from all property lines.
- No off-premise billboard sign shall be erected without first securing a zoning permit, a construction permit and payment of all applicable fees with an on-site inspection required before permit issuance.
- For signs placed or maintained over public property, the applicant must file a $300,000 public liability insurance policy with the Code Enforcement/Zoning Division.
- Every sign permit application is subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator or his designee; approval is required before erection.
- Variances may be sought before the Board of Zoning Appeals when a sign cannot otherwise comply (e.g., no legal location for sign due to setback requirements).

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

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