# Sign Regulations in Philippi, West Virginia

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

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

## At a glance

Philippi, West Virginia regulates 11 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the C-3, I-1 zoning district are capped at 20 feet at right-of-way; for each 5 ft setback, add 1 ft to max, total cap 30 ft tall and 64 sq ft sign face, with a 20 ft at ROW, add 1 ft height per 5 ft setback up to 30 ft max setback (Sec. § 1361.13(a, c, f)). Most commercial signs in Philippi require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 15 feet above ground | — | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3 | 3 | 6 feet | 16 sq ft | — |
| HR-O | 2 | 4 feet | Sign face max 6 sq ft; overall sign area max 12 sq ft | — |
| C-1 | 3 | 6 feet | Sign face max 32 sq ft; sign area max 64 sq ft | — |
| C-2 | 5 | 15 feet | Max 25% of any window area | — |
| C-3, I-1 | 4 | 20 feet at right-of-way; for each 5 ft setback, add 1 ft to max, total cap 30 ft | 64 sq ft sign face | — |
| COS | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### R-1, R-2, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Temporary Garage Sale) | 4 feet | Sign face max 6 sq ft; overall sign area max 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises for garage sale | — | § 1361.09(d) |
| Wall Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On each dwelling unit | — | § 1361.09(e) |
| Subdivision Ground Sign (Permanent) | 6 feet | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major entrance | At each major entrance to subdivision | — | § 1361.09(f) |

### C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 15 feet | — | — | — | 1 per entrance | One per entrance | — | § 1361.12(a, c, d) |
| Wall Sign | — | 12 sq ft per principal building entrance | — | — | — | Each principal building entrance | — | § 1361.12(b), (c), (d) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft (per entrance, see wall/proj aggregate) | — | — | — | At each principal building entrance | — | § 1361.12(b), (c), (d) |
| Window Sign | — | Max 25% of any window area | — | — | — | Windows | — | § 1361.12(b)(3) |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 1361.08, § 1361.12(d) |

### C-3, I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 20 feet at right-of-way; for each 5 ft setback, add 1 ft to max, total cap 30 ft | 64 sq ft sign face | — | 20 ft at ROW, add 1 ft height per 5 ft setback up to 30 ft max | 1 per premises | At street right-of-way line or further back | — | § 1361.13(a, c, f) |
| Wall Sign | — | Aggregate wall area per code | — | — | — | — | — | § 1361.13(a, d, f) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | — | — | § 1361.13(a, d, f) |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 1361.13(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Philippi

- All signs not expressly permitted under this article or exempt from these regulations are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs.
- Beacons and searchlights, except for emergency health or safety purposes.
- Billboards and other off-premise signs, except as may be permitted by § 1361.05(j).
- Blinking, flashing or intermittent lighting signs, including message center signs.
- Moving, animated or rotating signs.
- Pennants, streamers and similar devices.
- All helium, gas and air balloons located on or anchored to structures, vehicles, the ground or anything connected to the ground.
- Roof signs which extend above the roof line.
- Signs attached to any tree, utility pole or fence and signs painted directly on buildings, rocks, tree and other natural features.
- Signs attached to the face of accessory buildings, except those attached to automatic teller machines or similar structures.
- Any sign which constitutes a traffic hazard or a detriment to public safety or may be confused with a traffic control signal or device or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle.
- Signs which make use of words, symbols, phrases or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- Signs or parts thereof which are erected within or above a public right-of-way, except as may be permitted on a temporary basis by the Mayor.
- Spinning devices or strings of spinning devices.
- Electronic copy signs.
- Window signs, including approved temporary signs in any district which cover more than 25% of the total window area.

## Signs exempt from permit in Philippi

- Temporary or permanent signs, including banners, erected and maintained by the city, county, state or federal government for traffic direction, or for direction to or identification of an historic site or structure, government facility or event as declared by the Mayor.
- Directional ground signs not to exceed two signs per driveway indicating entrance and exit locations with size not to exceed three square feet per sign face and feet in height.
- Flag, emblems and insignias of national, state or local political subdivisions.
- Name and/or address descriptions mounted to the front wall of a building, lamp post or similar post in the front yard not to exceed two square feet in area.
- Any window sign located inside or behind a window shall not be subject to the provisions of this ordinance, except to comply with § 1361.04, provided that the window sign is located in a building where a commercial or industrial use is permitted as a principal use and provided that it is not more than 25% of any window area.
- Flags which are considered to be home flags that are placed to show spirit, pride or some type of season or activity.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit (sign permit) is required for the construction, erection, relocation or alteration of any sign, unless specifically exempted by the ordinance (§ 1361.05(a)).
- An application and approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals is required for exceptions to off-premises sign prohibitions and may include a public hearing (§ 1361.05(j)).
- A permit is not required for certain temporary signs specifically exempted by the ordinance (§ 1361.08(a), (c)).
- For permanent subdivision entrance signs in residential districts, a permit is required (§ 1361.09(f)).
- For signs within the COS district, a permit is required (§ 1361.14).
- All permanent signs in C-1, C-2, C-3, and I-1 districts require permits.

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

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