# Sign Regulations in Princeton, West Virginia

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

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

## At a glance

Princeton, West Virginia regulates 40 sign types across 4 zoning districts. A-Frame Sign (Option 1)s in the Commercial District (C-1, O-I, C-2, C-R) zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall, 3 ft x 5 ft per side, and 3 ft wide (Sec. [1365.07(f)]). Most commercial signs in Princeton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 14 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial District (C-1, O-I, C-2, C-R) | 21 | 5 ft | 1000 sq. ft. | — |
| Industrial District (I) | 12 | — | 400 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| House or Building Identification/Building Marker | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On the referenced building | — | [1365.06(a)(1)] |
| Temporary Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per entrance, not more than 2 entrances | At principal entrance(s) to subdivision | — | [1365.06(a)(5)] |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | On-site | — | [1365.06(a)(7)] |
| Home Improvement Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per yard | Yard where improvements are being made | — | [1365.06(a)(8)] |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign (On-Site) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 on-site + 2 directional | On property of residence where yard sale is held | — | [1365.06(a)(10)], [711.10] |
| Permanent Subdivision Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per entrance | At major entrances to subdivision (not on public right-of-way) | — | [1365.06(b)(1)] |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On the property | — | [1365.06(b)(2)] |
| Bed and Breakfast Inn Sign | — | 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | On the property | — | [1365.06(b)(3)] |

### Commercial District (C-1, O-I, C-2, C-R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Mall, Shopping Center, Strip Center) | — | 1000 sq. ft. | — | 3 ft from property line, 50 ft from any R-1, R-2, R-3 | 1 per lot | On-site | — | [1365.07(b)(1)(Mall, Shopping Center, Strip Center)] |
| Freestanding Sign (Single business < 10,000 sq. ft. floor space) | — | 120 sq. ft. | — | 3 ft from property line, 50 ft from any R-1, R-2, R-3 | 1 per lot | On-site | — | [1365.07(b)(1)(Single business < 10,000 sq. ft. floor space)] |
| Freestanding Sign (Single business ≥ 10,000 sq. ft. floor space) | — | 300 sq. ft. | — | 3 ft from property line, 50 ft from any R-1, R-2, R-3 | 1 per lot | On-site | — | [1365.07(b)(1)(Single business ≥ 10,000 sq. ft. floor space)] |
| Projecting Sign (Single business < 10,000 sq. ft. floor space) | — | 60 sq. ft. | — | 4 ft from right-of-way, 50 ft from R-1, R-2, R-3, C-R | 1 per building | On-site building | — | [1365.07(c)(2)(A-B)] |
| Projecting Sign (Single business ≥ 10,000 sq. ft. floor space) | — | 150 sq. ft. | — | 4 ft from right-of-way, 50 ft from R-1, R-2, R-3, C-R | 1 per building | On-site building | — | [1365.07(c)(2)(A-B)] |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Business Building) | — | 100 sq. ft. or 5% of wall area, whichever is greater (per sign) | — | — | 1 per business per wall, 2 per business per building | On each wall | — | [1365.07(d)(1-2), (4-5)] |
| Wall Sign (Single Business Building) | — | 100 sq. ft. or 5% of wall area, whichever is greater (per wall) | — | — | 3 on one wall, max 4 per building | Any wall | — | [1365.07(d)(3-5)] |
| A-Frame Sign (Option 1) | 5 ft | 3 ft x 5 ft per side | 3 ft | — | 1 | On private property where business is located | — | [1365.07(f)] |

### Industrial District (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (On-site) | — | 400 sq. ft. | — | 3 ft from property line, 50 ft from R-1, R-2, R-3, C-R, C-1, C-2, O-I | 1 per lot | On-site | — | [1365.08(b)(2)] |
| Freestanding Sign (Off-site) | — | — | — | — | — | Off-site | — | [1365.08(b)(1)] |
| Projecting Sign (On-site) | — | 400 sq. ft. | — | 4 ft from ROW, 50 ft from R-1, R-2, R-3, C-R, C-1, C-2, O-I | 1 per building | On-site | — | [1365.08(c)(2)] |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Business Building) | — | 100 sq. ft. or 5% of wall, whichever is greater | — | — | 1 per business per wall, 2 per business per building | Building wall | — | [1365.08(d)(1-2,4-5)] |
| Wall Sign (Single Business Building) | — | 100 sq. ft. or 5% of wall area, whichever is greater (per wall) | — | — | 3 on one wall, 4 per building | Building wall | — | [1365.08(d)(3-5)] |
| Area Identification Sign | — | 60 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Wall or other structure | — | [1365.08(e)] |
| Sign Painted on Window or Door / Awnings and Canopies Letters | — | — | — | — | — | On windows, doors, awnings, or canopies | — | [1365.08(f)] |
| Directional, Identification, Informational Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | Wall or freestanding; 1 informational sign at each entrance/exit | — | [1365.08(g)] |

## Prohibited signs in Princeton

- All signs not expressly permitted by this article or exempt from regulation hereunder are prohibited in the City.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected at or near any street or public right-of-way so as to obstruct clear vision or interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic control device.
- No signs other than signs approved by the Princeton City Council or its authorized representative shall be erected on any public property.
- No signs shall be placed or painted on any tree or rock.
- No signs shall be placed on any utility pole, light pole, telephone pole, stop signs, traffic signs, etc., except for utility identification or similar purposes.
- It is unlawful to continue in operation or erect any attraction device or sign which contains a beacon of any type and/or contains a spot light focused directly into the eyes of the public.
- It is unlawful to use a vehicle or trailer as a sign in circumvention of this article.
- No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window, sidewalk, street, or fire escape, or so as to prevent free access from one part of a roof to any other part; no sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- All on-site, non-conforming signs not otherwise prohibited by the provisions of this article shall be removed or shall be altered to conform to the provisions when the nature or name of the business changes and the sign is changed or modified.
- No person shall stick or post any advertisement, poster, sign, handbill or placard upon any building, vehicle, tree, post, fence, billboard, or other structure that is private property without the owner's permission.
- No person shall attach any advertisement, poster, sign, or similar to any telegraph, telephone, railway or electric light pole, public building, utility, city property, or within street lines, except as permitted by law or written permission.
- It is unlawful to post advertisements for yard sales or any other advertisement on any City property.
- Garage/yard sale and other signs shall not be placed on or attached to any utility pole, street sign, or traffic control sign.
- Portable temporary signs are only allowed without a permit for not more than ten (10) days; permit required after that or if no longer portable.
- Signs not to constitute a traffic hazard—prohibition on obstructing vision or confusing/interfering with traffic control devices.
- Signs may not be erected in a manner as to interfere with traffic (vehicular or pedestrian) or with any residential, commercial or industrial property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Princeton

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot on which such sign is located.
- Holiday lights and decoration on residential zone lots with no commercial message.
- Traffic control devices placed by any government entity.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit system is established that requires a sign permit to be secured prior to the construction, placement, erection, or modification of any sign requiring a permit under the provision of this ordinance.
- All applications for sign permits of any kind shall be submitted to the Zoning Official.
- No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for an existing or proposed sign unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of this ordinance in every respect.
- Permit applications are reviewed for completeness and compliance; incomplete or non-conforming applications are rejected.
- Signs shall be erected, installed, or created only in accordance with a duly issued and valid Sign Construction Permit from the Zoning Official.
- Variance, special use, or exceptions such as larger commercial freestanding signs must be brought before the Planning Commission for review and approval (e.g., mall or shopping center signs over standard sizes).
- Areas of conflict and interpretation may be addressed through the City Clerk for resolution, in coordination with the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Princeton Planning Commission and/or the Princeton City Council.
- Upon refusal by the Zoning Official to grant a sign permit, an appeal may be filed with the Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Fee schedule applies for sign permits, with fees based on value.

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

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