# Sign Regulations in South Charleston, West Virginia

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

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

## At a glance

South Charleston, West Virginia regulates 25 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Groundpole Sign (C-4, C-6, C-10)s in the C-4 District, C-6 District, C-10 District zoning district are capped at 40 ft tall and 150 sq ft, with a Same as for buildings in district setback (Sec. 1345.03(a)(2)(B)). Most commercial signs in South Charleston require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 6 | 6 ft (for real estate/subdivision); others not specified | 24 sq ft | — |
| C-2 District | 2 | 9 ft max height | 24 sq ft | — |
| C-4 District, C-6 District, C-10 District | 4 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| C-8 District | 2 | Maximum: roof or parapet line; Minimum: 9 ft above sidewalk (25 ft if projecting full width) | 300 sq ft | — |
| I-2 District, I-4 District | 4 | 40 ft | 300 sq ft | — |
| C-10 District, I-2 District, I-4 District | 2 | 50 ft | 672 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 48 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground-pole Sign (Residential) | 6 ft (for real estate/subdivision); others not specified | 2 sq ft for nameplate; 24 sq ft for institutional identification; 24 sq ft for real estate/subdivision; 16 sq ft for nonconforming businesses wall sign | — | — | Real estate/subdivision: one per major entrance | Per Article 1325 and requirements below; Real estate/subdivision sign: one per major entrance | — | 1345.03(a)(1)(A)-(D) |
| Wall Sign (Residential, Nonconforming Business) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | 1345.03(a)(1)(C) |
| Nameplate Sign (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Near entrance or on property | — | 1345.03(a)(1)(A) |
| Identification Sign (Institutional Use) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On institutional property | — | 1345.03(a)(1)(B) |
| Real Estate/Subdivision Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | One per major entrance | At each major entrance | — | 1345.03(a)(1)(D) |
| Sign Related to Home Occupation | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1345.03(a)(1)(E) |

### C-4 District, C-6 District, C-10 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Groundpole Sign (C-4, C-6, C-10) | 40 ft | 150 sq ft | — | Same as for buildings in district | 2 total for place of business | On private property | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(B) |
| Wall Sign (C-4, C-6, C-8, C-10) | Not to extend above roof or parapet line | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per facing | On face of building | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(C) |
| Roof Sign (C-4, C-6, C-10) | 25 ft above roof line max; total height from ground max 45 ft | 300 sq ft | — | — | 2 total for place of business for major identification signs | On roof | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(D) |
| Projecting Sign (C-4, C-6, C-8, C-10) - General | Maximum: roof or parapet line; Minimum: 9 ft above sidewalk (25 ft if projecting full width of sidewalk) | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(E) |

### I-2 District, I-4 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Groundpole Sign (I-2, I-4) | 40 ft | 300 sq ft | — | Same as for buildings in district | 2 total for place of business | On private property | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(B) |
| Wall Sign (I-2, I-4) | Not above roof or parapet | 300 sq ft | — | — | 1 per facing | On face of building | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(C) |
| Roof Sign (I-2, I-4) | 25 ft above roof, max 45 ft above ground | 300 sq ft | — | — | 2 major ID signs per business | On roof | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(D) |
| Projecting Sign (I-2, I-4) - General | Maximum: roof or parapet line; Minimum: 9 ft above sidewalk (25 ft if projecting full width) | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | 1345.03(a)(2)(E) |

## Prohibited signs in South Charleston

- Signs that incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving lights, except theater marquees with flashing, low-intensity, yellow lights and temperature signs, if permitted by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- String lights or any unshielded light that is visible by the public from a public street and is used in connection with commercial premises for commercial purposes other than Christmas decorations.
- Any exterior sign which has any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement achieved by electronic or mechanical means or by the action of normal wind currents.
- Any sign which obstructs or detracts from the visibility of any traffic sign or traffic control device on public streets and roads, by reason of the size, location, coloring or illumination of such sign.
- Any sign or sign structure which is structurally unsafe.
- Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to safety or health by reason of inadequate maintenance or abandonment.
- Any sign or sign structure which is not kept in good repair.
- Any sign or sign structure which is capable of causing electrical shocks to persons likely to come into contact with it.
- Signs which make use of words such as "Stop," "Look," "Danger," "Yield" or similar words, phrases, symbols or characters in such a manner as to imply the need or requirement of stopping or the existence of danger.
- Ground-pole signs that extend or are built over public property.
- Temporary window feature signs using more than thirty percent (30%) of a window in a commercial business.
- Wall signs painted on buildings.
- Signs are prohibited within the public right-of-way of any street, road or highway maintained by the City or State of West Virginia.
- No person shall place or cause to be placed upon any public right of way, traffic control device, utility pole or other public facilities and appurtenances, any sign, placard, sticker or other instrument designed to convey information.
- No local authority or person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any street or highway any unauthorized traffic control device or traffic control signal, or any unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.
- No person shall place or maintain upon any street or highway any traffic control device bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
- Stacked signs are prohibited.
- Off-premise, outdoor advertising signs and billboards will not be permitted to be erected unless the back of the sign is shielded from public view and from buildings or streets by another sign, another structure of equal or greater dimensions, or by a high planting, or unless such back is enclosed in a solid backing and painted a neutral color.
- Placement of one panel on top of another panel for billboards is prohibited.
- No more than one off-premise outdoor advertising sign per location is permitted.
- No moving, rotating, fluttering, blinking or flashing elements are permitted on off-premise, outdoor advertising signs.
- No animation, video, audio, pyrotechnic, or bluecasting components are permitted on off-premise, outdoor advertising signs.
- Signs must not resemble or simulate any lights or official signage used to control traffic.

## Signs exempt from permit in South Charleston

- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices or warnings at railroad crossings, are exempt from the provisions of this ordinance.
- For-sale or for-rent signs not larger than four square feet in area, advertising only the property upon which they are located, are exempt from building permit requirements.
- Signs on taxicabs and buses and identification signs painted on or affixed to moving vehicles are exempt from building permit requirements.
- Street name and traffic control signs of a type approved by the Planning Commission and the City Engineer are exempt.
- Railroad signs or signals erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Before any sign or other structure is permitted to be erected in the City, the Building Inspector shall examine the proposed sign and location to ensure that such sign will be in conformance with this Zoning Ordinance.
- Plans showing the size, height and location of banners, pennants, spinners or streamers promoting for-profit events must be submitted with the fee for permit.
- Application for a temporary directional sign for houses of divine worship must include a diagram of the proposed sign and be submitted to the office of the City Engineer.
- Application for special exemptions for directional and identification signs for houses of divine worship, governmental buildings, historical areas, and public park areas must include a diagram of the proposed sign and be submitted to the office of the City Engineer.
- Permits for all outdoor advertising signs shall attach survey, zoning information, type of sign, message duration time, maximum height, sign face area, tax parcel ID, yard setbacks, distance to residential/institutional uses and other outdoor advertising signs, right of way line distance, manufacturer's info, and list of property owners within 200 feet.

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

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