Sign Technical Data Sheet08/2022
SIGNS
What is considered a sign? A sign is any object, device, display or structure or part thereof, visible from a public
area which is designed and used to communicate information to persons in public area and attract attention to an
institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, involving words, letters, figures,
designs, symbols, fixtures, logos, colors, illumination, or projected images. A sign does not include the display of
merchandise for sale on the site of the display.
Why are signs regulated? The sign code is intended to promote signs that are compatible with the use of the
property to which they are appurtenant, landscape, and architecture of surrounding buildings while not impeding
traffic safety for motorists and are maintained in a structural and sound condition. The sign ordinance regulates size,
color, illumination, movement, materials, location, height and condition of all signs placed on private property for
exterior observation. The sign ordinance shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the First Amendment
guarantee of free speech.
Types of Signs:
Flags: a piece of cloth or similar material, typically oblong or square, attachable by one (1) edge to a vertical pole or
rope and used as a symbol or decoration, including pennants. Flagpoles must have a diameter of less than or equal
to eight (8) inches.
Permanent: any non-portable sign supported by a fence, retaining wall, upright structural members, poles, braces
on or in the ground or attached to a building wall or painted on or against a flat vertical surface of a structure. This
includes but is not limited to: freestanding, monument, wall, projecting, awning, electronic message sign, marquee,
minor, pole, roof, window, and neon signs.
Temporary: A sign intended for short term use and constructed of cloth, canvas, vinyl, paper, plywood, fabric or
other lightweight material not well suited to provide a durable substrate or if made of some other material, and is
neither permanently installed in the ground nor permanently affixed to a building or structure which is permanently
installed in the ground. This includes but is not limited to: a-frame, banner, blade, feather, portable, vehicle or trailer,
and window signs. Temporary signs shall not be displayed more than thirty (30) days unless otherwise permitted.
How are signs measured and where can they be placed?
Area: For signs that are regular polygons or circles, the area is calculated by the mathematical formula for that
polygon or circle. If the sign is not a regular polygon or circle, the sign area is calculated using all that area within a
maximum of three (3) abutting or overlapping rectangles that enclose the sign face.
Faces: Only one (1) face of a double faced sign is calculated if the internal angle between its two (2) faces is no
more than forty-five (45) degrees. If one face is larger than the other, the area of the larger face shall be calculated.
Height: The maximum height for any sign shall be twelve (12) feet unless otherwise specified. Height is measured
as the maximum vertical distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached
component of the sign.
Placement: All freestanding signs shall be set back at least ten (10) feet from any property line.
Sign Illumination: All permitted signs may be backlit, internally lighted, or indirectly lighted unless otherwise
specified. All lighting must comply with the standards outlined in sections 10-45 and 10-46 of the Montgomery County
Zoning Ordinance. In no event shall the illumination of any sign resulting from any internal or external artificial light
source adversely affect surrounding properties, cause offensive glare, or create a traffic hazard.
Electronic Message Signs: Each message or image on an electronic message sign shall remain fixed and
unchanged for a minimum period of five (5) seconds. Images or messages may not flash, blink, move, scroll, dissolve,
or fade on the screen. The illumination intensity, contrast, or coloration of the message text must remain constant
for each display period. The intensity/brightness of such sign shall not exceed the industry standard recommended
0.3 foot candles above ambient light and shall be equipped with technology that automatically dims the illumination
intensity commensurate with ambient light conditions.
Do I need a permit? A sign permit is required prior to the display of any new sign or reface of an existing sign
except in certain instances as outlined in Section 10-46(a)(3)(4).
08/2022
Sign Requirements per Zoning District
Agricultural Districts: Agricultural (A-1) and Conservation (C-1) Zoning Districts
TYPE
FLAGS TEMPORARY PERMANENT
Residential Non-
Residential Residential Non-
Residential Residential Non-Residential
SIZE (each/total) 16 s.f./no
limit
24 s.f./no
limit
16 s.f./32
s.f.
16 s.f./32
s.f.
4 s.f./4 s.f. 50 s.f./50 s.f.
MAXIMUM NUMBER Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited 1
Unlimited – 1
free-standing
or monument
sign
ILLUMINATION As required by law None Indirect Internal or
Indirect
SETBACK Equal to height 10 ft. None 10 ft.
MAXIMUM HEIGHT 25 ft. 4 ft. 4 ft. 12 ft.
Residential Districts: Rural Residential (RR), Residential (R-1), (R2), (R3), Residential Multi-Family (RM1),
Planned Unit Development-Residential (PUD-Res), Planned Mobile Home Residential Park (PMR), Traditional
Neighborhood Development and Infill (TND-I), and Planned Unit Development – Traditional Neighborhood
Development (PUD-TND)
TYPE
FLAGS TEMPORARY PERMANENT
Residential Non-
Residential Residential Non-
Residential Residential Non-Residential
SIZE (each/total) 16 s.f./no
limit
24 s.f./no
limit
16 s.f./32
s.f.
16 s.f./32
s.f.
4 s.f./4 s.f. 50 s.f./50 s.f.
MAXIMUM NUMBER Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited 1
Unlimited – 1
free-standing
or monument
sign
ILLUMINATION As required by law None Indirect Internal or
Indirect
SETBACK Equal to height 10 ft. None 10 ft.
MAXIMUM HEIGHT 25 ft. 4 ft. 4 ft. 12 ft.
Commercial Districts & Industrial Districts: Community Business (CB), General Business (GB), Planned Unit
Development – Commercial (PUD-COM), Manufacturing (M1), Manufacturing Light (ML), Planned Industrial (PIN)
TYPE FLAGS TEMPORARY PERMANENT
SIZE (each/total) 32 s.f./no limit 32 s.f./32 s.f. 150 s.f./150 s.f.
MAXIMUM NUMBER Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited – 1 free-
standing/monument sign
ILLUMINATION As required by law None Internal/Indirect
SETBACK Equal to height 10 ft. 10 ft.
MAXIMUM HEIGHT 25 ft. 6 ft. 12 ft.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Montgomery County Planning & GIS Services
755 Roanoke Street Suite 2A, Christiansburg, VA 24073
CALL 540-394-2148 | EMAIL mcplan@montgomerycountyva.gov
VISIT www.MontgomeryCountyVA.gov/Planning
This sheet is intended to only be a guide for development regulations in this zoning district. Please see Chapter 10 of the Montgomery County Code for the
specific regulations. The full texts of the zoning and subdivision ordinances are available at the Planning Department Webpage or at www.municode.com.