# Sign Regulations in Wheeling, West Virginia

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

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

## At a glance

Wheeling, West Virginia regulates 23 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Non-residential Building, C-1)s in the Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2) zoning district are capped at 20 ft. or roof level tall and 1 sq. ft. per 1 linear foot of street frontage or 100 sq. ft., with a Wall signs set back the same distance as required for structure, may project 18 in.; ground signs may be at property line but not in ROW; clear area 6 ft. tall within 55 ft. of corner setback (Sec. Table 9-C C-1, 1359.05; 1359.06). Most commercial signs in Wheeling require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-1C, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5) | 7 | 8 ft above curb level or grade | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2) | 6 | 25 ft. or roof level | 30 in x 36 in | — |
| Downtown Zones (D-1, D-2, D-3) | 7 | Building height + 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | — |
| Educational, Medical and Office Zone (EMO) | 5 | 20 ft. or roof level | 30 in x 36 in | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2) | 5 | 25 ft. or roof level | 30 in x 36 in | — |
| Special Districts (NWSD, EWSD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 8 ft. above curb or grade | 672 sq. ft. per side, cutouts allowed up to 100 sq. ft.; min 200 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R-1C, R-1B, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Residential Building) | 1 story or 15 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | As needed | Ground | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05; 1359.06 |
| Nameplate (Non-residential Building) | 1 story or 15 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Wall | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05; 1359.06 |
| Identification Sign (Non-residential Building) | 1 story or 15 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per use | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05; 1359.06 |
| Informational Sign | 8 ft above curb level or grade | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | As needed | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05; 1359.03(d) |
| Nameplate (Home Occupation) | 1 story or 15 ft. | — | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Wall | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05 |
| Incidental Sign (Home Occupation) | 1 story or 15 ft. | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per home occupation | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05 |
| Identification Sign (Planned Unit Development in R-5) | 1 story or 15 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per planned unit development | Wall or ground | — | 1359.05(e) |

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Residential Building) | 1 story or 15 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Wall | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05; 1359.06 |
| Identification Sign (Non-residential Building, C-1) | 20 ft. or roof level | 1 sq. ft. per 1 linear foot of street frontage or 100 sq. ft. | — | Wall signs set back the same distance as required for structure, may project 18 in.; ground signs may be at property line but not in ROW; clear area 6 ft. tall within 55 ft. of corner | 3 per tenant | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C C-1, 1359.05; 1359.06 |
| Identification Sign (Non-residential Building, C-2) | 25 ft. or roof level | 2.5 sq. ft. per 1 linear foot of street frontage or 250 sq. ft. | — | Wall signs set back the same distance as required for structure, may project 18 in.; ground signs may be at property line but not in ROW; clear area 6 ft. tall within 55 ft. of corner | 7 per tenant | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C C-2, 1359.05; 1359.06 |
| Nameplate (Non-residential Building) | 8 ft. above curb level or grade | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per tenant | Wall | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05 |
| Informational Sign | 8 ft. above curb level or grade | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | As needed | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05; 1359.07(h) |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | 30 in x 36 in | — | — | 1 per business | Directly in front of establishment on sidewalk | — | 1359.07(i) |

### Downtown Zones (D-1, D-2, D-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Residential Building) | 1 story or 15 ft. | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Wall | — | Table 9-C, 1359.05 |
| Identification Sign (Non-residential Building) | No higher than roof level | 5 sq. ft. per 1 linear foot of street frontage or 500 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per tenant | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C D-1, D-2, D-3, 1359.05, 1359.06 |
| Nameplate (Non-residential Building) | 8 ft above curb level or grade | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 per tenant | Wall | — | Table 9-C D-1, D-2, D-3 |
| Roof Sign (Non-residential Building) | Building height + 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. per sign face | — | 3 ft from exterior wall or parapet | 1 per building (up to 2 faces) | Roof | — | 1359.05(h); Table 9-C |
| Informational Sign (Ground, Wall, or Window) | 8 ft above curb level or grade | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | As needed | Wall, ground, or window | — | Table 9-C D-1, D-2, D-3 |
| Animated Sign (Option - Animation only in Downtown) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1359.05(d)(10) |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | 30 in x 36 in | — | — | 1 per business | Directly in front of establishment on sidewalk | — | 1359.07(i) |

## Prohibited signs in Wheeling

- No sign shall be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained except in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and requirements of this ordinance.
- All signs not expressly permitted under this ordinance or exempt from regulation are prohibited in the city.
- No sign shall be placed in the public right-of-way, except sidewalk signs as identified in the ordinance.
- No sign shall contain information regarding a business, product, or service not conducted at or available from the premises at which the sign is located, except for outdoor advertising signs as regulated.
- No sign shall be placed in a position that will obstruct or impair vision or interfere with vehicular traffic or otherwise create a hazard or disturbance to public health, safety, or welfare.
- No sign, display, or device shall be attached to any tree, fence, or utility pole or be painted on, affixed, or otherwise attached to any rock, ledge, or other natural feature.
- No sign, display, or device shall be located to obscure any signs displayed by public authority.
- No sign, display, or device shall obscure the view of connecting roads or intersections, or obstruct proper sight distance, or interfere with pedestrian or traffic flow.
- No sign, display, or device shall hinder the clear unobstructed view of approaching or merging traffic, or obscure from view any traffic sign or other official sign.
- No sign shall utilize more than five colors. Black and white are considered colors.
- No sign may be illuminated in a manner that flashes, blinks, fluctuates, or contains flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving lights.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving light(s).
- No illuminated sign or device shall be placed or directed so as to beam or reflect illumination upon a public street, highway, sidewalk, or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
- Strings of lights shall not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention when not part of a sign.
- Animated or flashing or moving signs are prohibited except as specifically permitted.
- "Day-glo" colors are prohibited.
- Beacons, pennants, strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background (except those exempt), inflatable signs, and balloons, are prohibited.
- No sign shall be illuminated by lighting other than white lights of constant intensity.
- No sign shall have more than two faces.
- No off-premise sign shall be attached to a tree, fence, or utility pole or painted on, affixed, or attached to any rock, ledge, or other natural feature.
- No advertising display or device shall use the word "stop" or "danger," or imitate traffic signs, or attempt/purport to direct traffic.
- No advertising sign shall be erected or maintained which involves rapid motion or rotation of the structure or any part thereof, except permitted changeable message signs and smartboard technology signs.
- Any sign erected without a permit or not in conformity with this ordinance or any applicable Planning and Zoning Code provisions is subject to immediate removal at the responsible party’s expense.
- All signs must comply with all other safety and building code regulations.
- No local authority or person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any street or highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device that imitates an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or attempts to direct movement of traffic, or hides or interferes with the effectiveness of any official sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wheeling

- Public signs of a non-commercial nature and in the public interest erected by or on the order of a public officer in the performance of public duty; these may be of any type, number, area, height, location, illumination, or animation as approved by the Traffic Commission and/or City Council.
- Nameplates and incidental signs, subject to applicable rules, regulations, and standards for the particular zone.
- Institutional signs for public, non-profit, charitable, educational, or religious institutions located on the premises, not exceeding 32 square feet; if building-mounted, these must be flat wall signs not above the roofline; if ground-mounted, top not more than 6 feet above ground. May be illuminated only from a concealed light source and shall not flash, blink, or fluctuate.
- Integral signs such as building names, dates of erection, monumental citations, commemorative tablets, and the like, when carved into stone, concrete, or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other permanent construction and made an integral part of the structure.
- Holiday decorations, clearly incidental and customary and commonly associated with any national, local, or religious holiday.
- Temporary signs advertising special events may be erected 30 days prior, remain during, and be removed within 10 days after the event; not to exceed 32 square feet and not allowed on utility poles, traffic devices, or within any public right-of-way.
- Signs within buildings may be erected without a permit, but any sign permanently attached and intended to be visible from outside must comply with all other provisions for the applicable zone.
- On-site informational signs (wall, window, or ground), limited to 4 square feet per sign, 8 feet in height, not illuminated except from a concealed source that does not flash, blink, or fluctuate, and not animated except necessary to display correct measurement (gauges, dials).
- One sidewalk sign per business directly in front of their establishment in commercial or industrial zoning districts, no larger than 30" × 36", placed to allow 4' of clear travel path, displayed only during business hours. The city assumes no liability.
- Certain signs listed in Section 1359.07 are not subject to permit but must still comply with all other applicable regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required to tack signs or distribute samples in the city (Section 503.03).
- A sign shall be considered a structure, and a sign permit must be obtained for the erection, location, or alteration of all signs except those listed in Section 1359.07 (which are specifically exempt).
- No indication in the provided text that a master sign plan or variance meeting is required. Sign permits are required for all non-exempt signs as laid out in Section 1359.06.
- No special process for a sign plan is mentioned; compliance is handled via the permitting system.
- Roof signs require engineering certification and must be recertified every five years by a licensed professional engineer or architect.

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

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