§ 12-7. Additional signs permitted.

The following signs shall be permitted subject to the permit requirement in section 12-2:

(1)

Neighborhood identification signs. Residential communities located in any residential, agricultural, or conservation district shall be permitted one (1) community identification sign per community entrance. A residential community in this context shall mean any single-family, townhouse, apartment, condominium, or manufactured housing development. One (1) such sign shall be permitted on each side of an entrance if the sign is attached to and designed to be an integral part of a wall or other ornamental feature. The maximum area for each such sign shall be thirty (30) square feet, and the maximum height shall be six (6) feet. There is no minimum setback requirement for such signs. The location of such signs shall be within common area or within a recorded easement. (See Appendix B - Zoning, article 9, section 9-4 for visibility requirements at intersections.)

(2)

Non-residential signs in residential districts. Churches and other similar places of religious assembly, schools, libraries, museums, and parks located in any residential, agricultural, or conservation district shall be permitted one (1) sign not to exceed forty (40) square feet in area nor six (6) feet in height. Such sign may be a monument type and may be an internally illuminated sign subject to section 12-2(2) and/or an electronic display sign subject to the requirements of section 12-7(6), regardless of the district in which located. The hours of permissible operation for electronic display signs shall be limited to 6 AM to 10 PM, and such signs shall meet the minimum side yard setback for all districts but shall be no closer than thirty (30) feet from the lot line of any adjacent parcel that is not in common ownership with the use identified on the sign. Electronic display signs shall not be permitted on the following properties:

a.

Parcels with frontage along Main Street (Business 17) from the northern intersection with Route 17 the southern intersection with Route 17 regardless of other frontages within the historic Court House area.

b.

Parcels located adjacent to or across from historic properties listed in Appendix B - Zoning, article 6, section 6-1, the Virginia Landmarks Register, or the National Register of Historic Places.

(3)

Drive-through order boards. No more than two (2) detached order boards for each drive-through aisle, for businesses with drive-through facilities, provided that no such sign shall exceed forty (40) square feet in area or eight (8) feet in height.

(4)

Shopping center signs. Shopping centers, as defined in article 2, shall be permitted one (1) freestanding sign. The maximum area shall be one hundred (100) sq. ft. for a small shopping center; one hundred twenty-five (125) sq. ft. for a medium shopping center; and one hundred fifty (150) sq. ft. for a large shopping center. The maximum height shall be twenty (20) feet. The minimum applicable setback shall be ten (10) feet. Individual freestanding signs for individual shopping center tenants shall not be permitted.

(5)

Industrial park and office park identification signs. Industrial parks and office parks shall be permitted one (1) freestanding identification sign. The maximum area for each such sign shall be thirty (30) sq. ft., and the maximum height shall be twelve (12) feet. There is no minimum setback requirement for such signs. (See Appendix B - Zoning, article 9, section 9-4 for visibility requirements at intersections.)

(6)

Electronic Display Signs/Variable Message Boards/and Message Centers: Variable message boards/electronic display signs and message centers shall be limited to the B-1, B-2, and I-1 districts within the Highway Corridor Development District (HCDD). Each message or image on an electronic changeable sign shall remain fixed and unchanged for a minimum period of five (5) seconds. There shall be no appearance of flashing, blinking, movement, scrolling, dissolving, or fading in which images or messages "move" or in which part of one message or image appears simultaneously with any part of a second or subsequent one. The illumination intensity, contrast or coloration of the message text or image shall remain constant for each display period. The intensity/brightness of such sign, as measured by the difference between the off and solid-message measurements, shall not exceed the industry standard recommended 0.3 foot candles. Such signs shall be equipped with technology that automatically dims the electronic message illumination intensity commensurate with ambient light conditions (i.e. illumination intensity lower in low-light and nighttime conditions than in daylight).

(7)

Building Identification Signs. Buildings within the B-2 district shall be permitted one (1) building identification sign. The maximum area for such on-structure signs shall be twenty-four (24) square feet. Building identification signage greater than 30% of the permitted signage area shall count towards the overall permitted signage area on a freestanding sign.

(8)

For non-residential uses, excluding Home Occupations permitted pursuant section 9-9, without frontage on Route 17 or on Route 14:

(a)

One (1) off premises sign within the HCDD, measuring no higher than six (6) feet, having a sign area of no greater than thirty-two (32) square feet, subject to a minimum setback of ten (10) feet; and

(b)

Two (2) "off premises directional signs" in any district, each measuring no higher than five (5) feet, having a sign area of no greater than six (6) square feet, and subject to a minimum setback of ten (10) feet. "Off premises directional signs" for the purpose of this subsection shall be limited to signs indicating the name of the business to which the sign pertains and directional arrows or language indicating the location of the business.

For the purpose of (a) and (b) above, only one (1) permit application and fee shall be required for the up to three (3) signs allowed, provided such application includes all such signage. A permit and associated fee shall be required for each sign not included in a previous permit.

Each parcel shall be limited to one (1) off premises business sign, whether permanent or temporary, and whether permitted by this section or any other section of this chapter, except for real estate signs. The off premises sign shall be in addition to the freestanding signage permitted pursuant to Section 12-6. A permit issued pursuant to this section does not exempt a sign from any permitting requirements through other state or federal agencies.

Signs permitted by this section shall not be lighted or electronic, except as expressly permitted hereby.

(Ord. of 8-2-2011(3); Ord. of 11-7-2012(2); Ord. of 10-6-2015(3); Ord. of 4-5-2016(3); Ord. of 12-13-2016)

Editor's note— An ordinance adopted Aug. 2, 2011, changed the title of § 12-7 from "Additional signs permitted, county-wide" to read as herein set out.

(Ord. of 8-2-2011(3); Ord. of 11-7-2012(2); Ord. of 10-6-2015(3); Ord. of 4-5-2016(3); Ord. of 12-13-2016)

Editor's note

An ordinance adopted Aug. 2, 2011, changed the title of § 12-7 from "Additional signs permitted, county-wide" to read as herein set out.