19900109 1990-2ORDINANCE NO. 3_990-2
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 26-4 (DEFINTIONS) AND
ARTICLE II, DIVISION 7 (SIGNS) OF CHAPTER 26 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA TO INCORPORATE COMPREHENSIVE
AMENDMENTS
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Fairfax, Virginia, that
Section 26-4 of the City Code is hereby amended by repealing the following
definitions:
"Sign, changeable-copy: A sign composed in whole or part of copy which can
be altered either manually or electronically." and
"Sign, marquee: A sign attached to or a part of a marquee."
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that Section 26-4 is hereby amended to revise
the definitions of portable sign, sandwich sign and shopping center to read as
follows:
"Sign, portable: A sign which is not permanently attached to a building or
like structure, including signs mounted and displayed on a stationary vehicle,
or which is not permanently mounted in the ground, designed and
constructed to be transported to other locations.
Sign, sandwich: Also called an A-frame sign. A portable sign which is
constructed of durable materials, which has two (2) flat faces, with or without
changeable copy, and is designed to be placed on the ground."
Shopping Center: A development on one acre or more of land that contains
two (2) or more commercial establishments, principally retail, that are owned,
planned, developed, designed or managed as a commercial group, whether or
not located on the same lot, and providing on-site parking in relationship to
the types and sizes of establishments."
BE IT STILL FURTHER ORDAINED that Section 26-4 is hereby amended to
add the following definitions:
"Office center: A development on one (1) acre or more of land containing
two (2) or more separate commercial buildings which are principally office,
that are planned, developed, designed or managed as a commercial group,
whether or not located on the same lot, and providing on-site parking in
relationship to the types and sizes of establishments.
Industrial center: A development on one (1) acre or more of land containing
two (2) or more separate commercial buildings which are principally
industrial, that are planned, developed, designed or managed as a commercial
group, whether or not located on the same lot, and providing on-site parking
in relationship to the types and sizes of establishments."
BE IT STILL FURTHER ORDAINED that Article II, Division 7 (Signs) of
Chapter 26 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, Virginia is hereby amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
1990-2 -2
"DIVISION 7. SIGNS
Sec. 26-40, Purpose
This Division is established to regulate the area, height, location and
structural type of signs in the City of Fairfax to promote the health,
safety, morals and general welfare of the community by protecting
property values; minimizing visual distractions to motorists and
eliminating signs which confuse or obstruct the vision necessary for
traffic safety; protecting and enhancing the image, appearance and
economic vitality of the City; providing for signage which is adequate
but not excessive; encouraging the compatibility of all signs with the
architecture of the principal use; and supporting and complementing
the City's Comprehensive Plan and Community Appearance Plan.
Sec. 26-41.
Signs located within the City shall be erected, relocated or
changed only in accordance with the provisions of this Division and all
other applicable laws, ordinances and regulations. Permanent signs
which are legally existing on the effective date of this ordinance shall
retain legal, nonconforming status as provided in Section 26-47 (e).
However, temporary window signs which do not comply with the
requirements of this Division shall not be granted legal, non-
conforming status and shall be removed within ninety (90) days of the
effective date of this ordinance.
Sec. 26-42. Exceptions from this Division
The following signs are exempt from the requirements of this Division
except for applicable provisions contained in Section 26-43 (General
Provisions):
ia)
Signs and notices posted by or under the direction of an
official of the government of the United States,
Commonwealth of Virginia or the City of Fairfax in the
performance of his official duties.
(b) Product dispensers and point-of-purchase displays;
(c)
Seasonal displays and decoration not advertising a product,
service or entertainment; displayed for a period not
exceeding forty-five (45) consecutive days.
(d) Religious symbols for non-commercial purposes;
(e) Indoor signs other than window signs.
(f) Signs which are less than one (1) square foot in area.
Sec. 26-43. General Provisions.
(a) Location
(1)
All signs are deemed to be accessory to the principal
use and shall be located entirely on the same lot as
the principal use, except as provided in Section 26-
45 (Temporary Signs).
1990-2 -3
(b)
(c)
(2)
Signs shall be located in a manner that will not
obstruct any passageway.
(3)
Unless otherwise specified in Table I, Table II, or
Table III of this Division, signs shall be located no
closer than twenty (20) feet from any public right-of-
way. If, however, at the time of sign permit
application, the Comprehensive Plan indicates an
expanded right-of-way for the purpose of
constructing or expanding public improvements,
then the sign owner shall relocate such sign the
required distance from the expanded right-of-way
location, at his expense, within ninety (90) days of
completion of that portion of the construction or
expansion adjacent to the sign location.
(4)
Building-mounted signs shall not extend beyond the
perimeter of any building edge, canopy border or
roof line.
(5)
Projecting signs shall not project more than four (4)
feet from the building face to which they are
attached.
(6)
Wall signs shall not extend more than one (1) foot
from the building face to which they are attached.
(7)
Ground-mounted signs shall be permitted only on lots
with at least one hundred (100) feet of road frontage,
except as specifically qualified herein.
(8)
Ground-mounted signs shall be setback a minimum of
twenty (20) feet from front, side and rear lot lines, except
as specifically qualified herein.
Lighting
11)
In no case shall sign lighting cause glare onto any
building or land, other than the building and
property upon which the sign is located.
(2)
Illuminated signs shall not be located within one
hundred (100) feet of any residential district. No
sign greater than six (6) feet in height that is located
within three hundred (300) feet of any residential
district shall be illuminated between the hours of
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(3)
External sign lighting shall be directed toward signs
and shall be shielded in such a manner as to
illuminate the sign face only.
Sign Structures. Sign structures shall not be illustrative in
nature. Any portion of a sign structure which is intended
to inform, persuade, advertise or visually attract attention
shall be considered part of the sign.
26-44. Signs Permitted
1990-2 -4
(a) Signs located in the City shall conform to the applicable
requirements contained in Table I, Table II, Table III and Sec.
26-44(b) (Special Regulations), unless expressly exempted or
modified elsewhere in this Division.
(b) Special Regulations
(1)
{2)
Window Signs. Permanent and temporary signs may
be displayed on or adjacent to the interior windows
of establishments in the "C" and I" districts and
commercial uses located in "planned development"
districts, provided that the cumulative area of all
commercial window si§ha§e, whether permanent or
temporary, does not exceed twenty-five (25) percent
of the total window area of the business
establishment for which they are displayed.
Multi-tenant Commercial Buildings
a. Shopping Centers
1. Shopping center identification signs: On
parcels having a minimum street frontage of one
hundred and fifty (150) feet, one (1) ground-
mounted or building-mounted sign shall be
permitted not to exceed one-half (1/2) square foot
for each linear foot of building frontage to a
maximum of fifty (50) square feet in area for the
purpose of identifying the name of the center.
Such sign shall not be used to identify any of the
individual businesses located in such center.
2. Building-mounted signs: Except as provided
in Sec. 26-44(b)(2)al (Shopping Center Identification
Signs) and 26.44 (b)(2)e (Design Approval Bonus),
the total area of building mounted signage shall not
exceed one and one-half (1.5) square feet for each
linear foot of building frontage on which the sign
is to be attached for any shopping center. Where
feasible, signs for such establishments shall be
grouped to form a single sign. Individual tenants
within such building shall be allocated building-
mounted signage as specified below.
(a)
Retail sales and personal service
establishments shall be permitted building-
mounted signage not to exceed one and one-
half (1.5) square feet for each linear foot of
building frontage on which the sign is to be
attached and which is occupied by each such
tenant to a maximum of one hundred fifty
(150) square feet per tenant.
Co)
Each other establishment shall be permitted
building-mounted signage not to exceed one
(1) square foot for each linear foot of building
1990-2 -5
frontage on which the sign is to be attached
and which is occupied by each such tenant to
a maximum of one hundred (100) square feet
per tenant.
Office
1.
o
(c)
Where a tenant has no building frontage,
building-mounted signage shall be
apportioned by the building owner or his
agent, but in no case exceed the requirements
established above with respect to sign areas
for individual tenants or building total.
Signs for individual establishments located in
detached buildings within a shopping center:
Same as for individual or multiple businesses as
appropriate (Sec. 26-44(b)(1) and 26-44(b)(2)a&b). No
ground mounted sign shall be permitted for
individual businesses situated within a shopping
center.
or Industrial Centers:
Center Identification Signs: On parcels having a
minimum street frontage of one hundred and fifty
(150) feet, one (1) ground-mounted center
identification sign shall be permitted identifying
the name of the center only. No such sign shall
exceed forty (40) square feet in area.
Building Identification Signs: One (1) ground-
mounted sign shall be permitted for each detached
principal building within an office or industrial
center of two (2) or more acres. Such sign shall
identify only the name of the building or enterprise
located therein, the address, company logo, or any
combination thereof and shall be placed along the
building frontage. If the principal buildings are
arranged on the lot in such a manner as to face a
parking area, then the perimeter wall facing such
parking area may be considered the building
frontage. No such sign shall exceed twenty (20)
square feet in area.
Building Directory Sign: Detached multi-tenant
office or industrial buildings located within an
office or industrial center shall be permitted one (1)
building-mounted directory sign not to exceed
twenty (20) square feet in area for the purpose of
identifying the names and locations of uses within
the building. Ground-mounted directory signs, not
to exceed twenty (20) square feet in area, shall be
permitted for detached multi-tenant office or
industrial buildings within an office or industrial
center of two or more acres; however, the use of a
ground-mounted directory sign shall preclude the
1990-2
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C
o
use of any other ground-mounted sign on that
same building or street frontage.
All attached multi-tenant office or industrial
buildings shall be permitted one (1) building-
mounted directory sign not to exceed four (4) square
feet in area for the purpose of identifying the names
and locations of uses within the building.
Individual Multi-tenant Office or Industrial Building on
a Single Lot
Building Identification Signs: Individual multi-
tenant commercial buildings on a single lot shall be
permitted one (1) ground-mounted or building-
mounted sign not to exceed one-half (1/2) square
foot for each linear foot of building frontage to a
maximum of fifty (50) square feet in area for the
purpose of identifying the name of the building
within which such commercial uses are located.
Such sign shall identify only the name of the
building or the principal occupant thereof.
Building Directory Sign: Individual multi-tenant
office or industrial buildings on a single lot shall be
permitted one (1) building-mounted or ground-
mounted directory sign not to exceed twenty (20)
square feet in area for the purpose of identifying the
names and locations of uses within the building;
however, the use of a ground-mounted directory
sign shall preclude the use of any other ground-
mounted sign on that same building or street
frontage.
Individual Tenant Signs Prohibited: No separate
signs shall be permitted for individual tenants
within a multi-tenant office or industrial building.
do
(3)
Design Approval Bonus : The permitted sign area for
multi-tenant commercial buildings not located in the Old
and Historic District shall be increased by ten (10) percent
if the sign design and location are reviewed and approved
by the Board of Architectural Review (BAR). In its
deliberations, the BAR shall consider the visual
appropriateness and uniformity of signs with respect to
design, color and location, and their integration with the
architectural form of the building. The BAR may impose
conditions for approval relative to such considerations.
Service Stations: Service stations shall be permitted
the following signs in addition to the total sign area
permitted in Table I, Table II, and Table III of this
Division.
1990-2
(4)
a Two (2) square feet per pump to identify the
contents, price, and related information, to be placed
on each pump.
b. Four (4) square feet per pump lsland
identifying it as either "self-service" or "full-service",
to be placed on the island.
c. One (1) State Inspection sign, not to exceed
four (4) square feet.
d. One (1) Emission Control Inspection sign, not
to exceed four (4) square feet.
Old and Historic Fairfax District: The design and
display of signs in the Old and Historic Fairfax
District are subject to the provisions of Article XVII
(Old and Historic District regulations) except as
specifically qualified herein.
~ Bulk Regulations: Signs located in the Old and
Historic Fairfax District shall comply with the bulk
regulations contained in Table III.
b. Prohibited Materials: Plastic and neon signs
are not permitted.
c. Lettering Size: Lettering on signs shall not
exceed ten (10) inches in height.
d. Color: Sign color shall be compatible with the
color scheme of the building with which the sign is
associated.
e. Illumination: Signs may be illuminated by
white light only. Lighting shall be unobtrusive and
illuminate the sign face only. Back-lit signs are
prohibited.
f. Content: The content of signs shall be limited
to advertising the basic nature of businesses and
identifying the names and either addresses or
telephone numbers of businesses; provided,
however, that service stations located in the Old and
Historic Fairfax District shall be permitted the signs
in Section 26-44(b)(3) (special regulations for
service stations).
g. Context: Building-mounted signs shall be
designed and constructed as an integral part of the
building facade in terms of design and placement.
Signs shall be compatible with and relate to the
design elements of a building including proportion,
scale, materials, color and details. Signs shall not
obscure, depreciate, or compete with a building's
significant architectural features.
h. Sign Approval: Signs erected or altered in the
Old and Historic Fairfax District are subject to
approval by the BAR as specified in Article XVII (Old
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1990-2
and Historic District regulations) in addition to
administrative procedures contained in Section 26-
47 (Administration and Enforcement). In rendering
its decision, the BAR shall consider the criteria
contained in Section 26-194.4 (Special Design
Requirements), Section 26-206.1 (Design Criteria)
and this Section, and shall ensure consistency with
the purpose and intent of the Old and Historic
District as set forth in Section 26-193. If necessary,
the BAR shall impose conditions to insure
compliance with the above stated criteria, in¢ludin§
limitation, as appropriate, of the types, styles, sizes, and
numbers of signs on any building in the Old and Historic
Fairfax District. An applicant may appeal any decision
rendered by the BAR to the City Council as specified
in Section 26-201.
Sec. 26-45. Temporary Signs.
The following non-illuminated temporary signs are permitted in
any district provided that a permit has been approved by the zoning
administrator and applicable fees and deposits (as established by City
Council in the Schedule of Rates and Levies) to guarantee removal of
such signs have been submitted. If temporary signs are not removed
on or prior to the permit expiration date, then the zoning
administrator shall cause the signs to be removed, and the deposit
shall be forfeited.
(a) Construction Signs: Signs shall be permitted identifying
contractors, architects and developers, connected with
developments under construction. There shall be a
maximum total of two (2) such signs per development,
with a maximum of thirty-two (32) square feet per sign;
provided, however, that in the case of isolated individual
residential units that are not part of a larger development,
one (1) such sign shall be permitted, not to exceed ten
(10) square feet in area. The permit for such temporary
signs shall expire thirty (30) days after the issuance of the
final Certificate of Occupancy.
{b)
Real Estate Signs for Commercial Property: Real estate
signs advertising the sale or lease of a commercial or
industrial establishment or property shall be permitted,
provided such signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32)
square feet in area. One (1) such sign shall be permitted
per establishment except that there may be two (2) such
signs on a corner lot having total lot frontage of at least
two hundred (200) square feet. The permit for such signs
shall expire after ninety (90) days but may be reissued for
additional ninety (90) day increments. Such signs shall be
removed within seven (7) days of settlement or upon
leasing seventy-five (75)percent of gross leasable area of
establishment.
(c)
Political Signs: Signs of political candidates, parties or
groups supporting the candidacy of any individual for
office, or urging public support of or opposition to any
public issues to be voted upon, provided such permits shall
be limited to thirty (30) days' duration. Said signs shall be
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mm,mm.
1990-2
(d)
(e)
(0
Sec. 26-46.
placed no closer than eight (8) feet from the street curb or
edge of the street pavement in the absence of a curb. Said
signs shall be removed within three (3) days following the
election or primary date to which they pertain.
Business Openings and Sales Events Signs: Signs,
including banners, advertising the initial openings of
business establishments or special sales events; provided
such permits shall be limited to ten (10) consecutive days'
duration and the issuance of such permits is limited to
four (4) events per year for any one business
establishment. No moving signs or devices as described in
Section 26-46(c) are permitted for business openings and sales
events.
Residential Directional Signs: Directional signs placed on
private property with permission of the owner and not
exceeding four (4) square feet in area, directing the public
to a residential development. Such signs may be placed no
closer than eight (8) feet from the curb or the edge of the
street pavement in the absence of a curb, and shall not
exceed three (3) feet in height. Permits for such signs
shall be limited to ninety (90) days duration.
Signs advertising temporary and seasonal product stands of
produce, fireworks, Christmas trees, plants and similar items;
provided that the permit for such signs shall be of the same
duration as the temporary occupancy permit issued for the stand.
Only one such sign shall be permitted for each stand; and such
sign shall not exceed twenty (20) square feet in area.
Prohibited Signs.
The following signs are prohibited in the City:
{a)
Signs located in a manner that would constitute a hazard
to the public health, safety or welfare.
(b)
Non-governmental signs imitating or closely resembling
official traffic or government signs or signals.
(c)
Moving signs or devices intended to attract attention, all
or any part of which is intended to move including but not
limited to pennants, flags, balloons, propellers and discs.
(d)
Signs displaying flashing or intermittent lights or lights of
changing degrees of intensity, except signs indicating the
time or temperature. Also prohibited are portable spotlights
or beacons used as advertising to draw attention to any use.
(e)
Any illuminated tubing, exposed bulbs, or strings of lights
outlining property lines or open sales areas, roof lines,
doors, windows, or wall edges of any building or outlining
any structure except as permitted for seasonal displays (in
Section 26-42(c).
(f)
Temporary signs and banners except as expressly
permitted in Section 26-45 (Temporary Signs).
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1990-2 -10
(g) Billboards.
{h)
Signs painted on or attached to trees, utility poles, street
light poles, public benches, refuse containers, parking
meters, hydrants or like structures, except those
identifying the name or manufacturer of the product.
(i)
Signs painted or displayed on vehicles or trailers parked
in places visible from public rights-of-way and used
primarily for the purpose of advertising. This prohibition
does not apply to signs painted or displayed on
commercial vehicles which are incidental to the primary
use of the vehicle as a delivery, service, or transportation
vehicle.
{j)
Portable signs, except temporary signs permitted by
Section 26-45.
(k)
Any commercial display of vehicles with open hoods,
trunks, or doors; or located on a building, ramp or other
elevated structure.
{1)
Sandwich board signs, except as permitted in the Old and
Historic District.
(m)
Pylon signs., except freestanding hanging signs allowed in the
Old and Historic District (ref. Table III, and § 26-44(b)(4)).
(n) Any other sign not expressly permitted by this division.
Sec. 26-47. Administration and Enforcement.
(a)
Permit Required. Except as otherwise provided in this
Division, no sign shall be erected, altered, or replaced
until a permit for such action has been issued by the
Zoning Administrator; provided, however, that no permit
is required for the repair or regular maintenance of an
approved or non-conforming sign to its originally approved
state.
(b) Permit Application
(1)
The application for a sign permit shall be submitted
by the owner, lessee or authorized agent of the
property on which the sign shall be located or
altered, on forms furnished by the Zoning
Administrator.
(2)
Accompanying the application, the applicant shall
submit a permit fee and deposit consistent with the
Schedule of Rates and Levies adopted by City Council.
(3)
The Zoning Administrator shall within five (5)
working days of the date of submittal, either
approve, deny or refer the application back to the
applicant to provide additional information. If the
application is denied, the Zoning Administrator shall
specify the reasons for denial in writing.
1990-2
(c)
(d)
(4)
An approved sign permit shall be valid for signs
erected, altered, or replaced within one (1) year from the
date of approval, unless otherwise specified. If the
action for which the permit was granted has not
been completed within that one (1)year period, the
permit shall be null and void.
Permit Number. A permit number issued by the Zoning
Administrator shall be affixed to the sign in a conspicuous
place.
Sign Maintenance and Removal
All signs and their components shall be maintained
in good repair and in a safe, neat and clean
condition.
(2)
The Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector may
cause to have removed or repaired immediately
without written notice any sign which, in his
opinion, has become insecure, in danger of falling, or
otherwise unsafe and presents an eminent threat to
public safety.
(3)
Any sign that is erected without a required permit or
is otherwise erected, used or maintained in violation
of the provisions of this Division is hereby declared
to be a public nuisance. The sign owner or the
owner or lessee of the property on which the sign is
located shall cause the sign to be removed within
fifteen (15) days of notification by the zoning
administrator of its illegal status, and, if removal has
not been accomplished within the prescribed time,
the zoning administrator shall cause the sign to be
removed. The zoning administrator may remove or
order the removal of any sign he deems to be a public
nuisance at the expense of the property owner.
Cardboard and paper signs which have been removed
by the City shall be destroyed upon removal. All
other signs which have been removed by the City
shall be held for a period of thirty (30) days and may
be reclaimed within that time by payment of the
costs of removal. Thereafter, such signs shall be
deemed to have been forfeited by the owner and may
be destroyed.
(4)
Any permanent sign face or nonconforming sign
structure advertising a discontinued use is deemed to be
an obsolete sign and must be removed within thirty (30)
days o£ discontinuance of the advertised activity. If the
owner or lessee fails to remove the sign within thirty
(30) days, the zoning administrator shall cause the
sign to be removed or initiate such other action as
may be necessary to gain compliance with the
provisions of this Division.
(5)
Whenever the zoning administrator or building
inspector causes a sign to be removed or repaired
under the provisions of this subsection, the cost of
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1990-2
(e)
such removal or repair shall be chargeable to the
owner of the sign or the owner or lessee of the
property and shall constitute a lien upon the
property upon which the sign was located until paid.
Nonconforming Signs
Signs and sign structures lawfully existing on the
effective date of this ordinance or prior ordinances
which do not conform to the provisions of this
Division shall be deemed to be legally nonconforming
signs and may remain except for the window signs
specified in Section 26-41, and except as qualified
below. Such signs and sign structures shall not be
enlarged, extended, reconstructed or altered in any
manner unless made to conform to the provision of
this division; except that a sign face may be changed
as long as the sign area and height of the new face is
equal to or less than that of the sign face it replaces.
(2)
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent
keeping in good repair a nonconforming sign;
provided, however, that no nonconforming sign
which has been declared by the Zoning
Administrator or Building Inspector to be unsafe
because of its physical condition, as provided in
subparagraph (d) above, shall be repaired, rebuilt or
restored unless the sign is thereby made to conform
to all applicable provisions of this Division.
(3)
No nonconforming sign shall be moved for any
distance on the same lot or to any other lot unless
the change in location will make the sign conform to
all applicable provisions of this Division.
(4)
If a nonconforming sign is removed, any sign
subsequently erected on the property shall be in
accordance with the provisions of this Division.
(5)
A nonconforming sign that is destroyed or damaged
by any casualty to an extent not exceeding fifty (50)
percent of its estimated value may be restored
within two (2) years after such destruction or
damage but shall not be enlarged in any manner.
However, if a nonconforming sign is damaged to an
extent that the cost of repair or restoration would
exceed fifty (50) percent of the estimated value prior
to the damage, it shall not be restored or repaired
except in accordance with all of the provisions of
this Division.
(6)
A nonconforming sign shall be subject to the removal
provisions of subparagraph (d) above. In addition, a
nonconforming sign shall be removed if the
structure to which it is accessory is demolished or
destroyed to the extent that the cost of repair or
restoration of the structure would exceed fifty (50)
per cent of its estimated value prior to the damage.
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1990-2
Sec. 26-48. Special Exceptions
City Council may, by special exception, modify the requirements
contained in this Division in accordance with the following provisions:
(a)
Special Exceptions shall be granted only in accordance
with the procedures and limitations established for Special
Use Permits in Section 26-103.
(b) Special Exceptions shall be granted only if:
(1)
The applicant has clearly demonstrated that
requirements contained in this Division will present
a unique burden due to unusual topography,
vegetation, building design or lot shape; and
(2)
The City Council has determined that the granting of
Special Exceptions will not be inconsistent with the
Comprehensive Plan or the purpose of this Division
as stated in Section 26-40.
(c)
Special Exceptions for signs within the Old and Historic
District shall be granted only after the BAR has reviewed
the application and forwarded its recommendation to City
Council finding that the requested exception is consistent
with the purpose and intent of the Old and Historic
District contained in Section 26-193 and design criteria
contained in Sections 26-194.4 and 26-206.1.
Sec. 26-48.1 Signs Not Requiring Permits.
The following signs are exempt from permit requirements
provided they conform to general provisions contained in Section 26-
43 and the requirements presented below.
(a)
Non-illuminated signs advertising for rent, sale or lease of
a residential, commercial or industrial unit located on the
site on which the rent, sale or lease shall occur. One such
sign shall be permitted for each unit to be rented, sold or
leased which shall not exceed four (4) square feet in area
and shall not exceed a height of five (5) feet. Such free
standing signs shall be placed no closer than eight (8) feet
from any public right of way.
(b)
Non-illuminated "yard sale" and "open house" signs not
exceeding two (2) square feet in area. Such signs shall be
posted no more than twenty-four (24) hours in advance of
the event; shall be posted for a period not to exceed three
(3) consecutive days; shall be removed by 9:00 P.M. of the
final day of the event; and shall not be located in any public
right of way. Each such sign placed off-site shall require
the permission of the owner of the property on which the
placement of said sign is sought.
(c)
On-site directional signs for the convenience of the public
including but not limited to directional traffic signs
indicating entrance and exit, and signs indicating the
location of restrooms, public telephones, or parking areas;
provided that each directional sign shall not exceed two
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L990-2
(2) square feet and shall comply with minimum yard
requirements for parking areas.
(d) Flags of the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia,
the City of Fairfax, other countries and states, religious
groups, civic organizations and service clubs; provided,
however, that there shall be no more than three (3) flags
on any one lot, each flag and pole shall conform to the
height and setback restrictions of the zoning district in
which they are located, and no such flag shall exceed
twenty-four (24) square feet in area.
In addition, any commercial or industrial use on a parcel of
two (2) acres or more may display its corporate emblem in
the form of a flag, provided:
(1) There is no more than one such flag on any parcel,
and
(2) The area of such corporate flag shall be deducted
from the permitted area of the building-mounted
sign.
(e) Political signs at a polling place for a period not to exceed
twenty-four (24) hours.
(f) Signs on residential structures or premises and mail boxes
identifying the name or address of the occupant, not to
exceed one (1) square foot in area.
(g) Signs prohibiting persons from trespassing, hunting,
fishing, or swimming and warning of dangerous animals,
not to exceed two (2) square feet in area.
(h) Historical markers, monuments, memorial signs,
commemorative plaques.
(i) Non-illuminated signs posted by civic, fraternal, charitable
or public service organizations, not to exceed twenty-four
square feet in area and limited to thirty (30) days duration.
One additional thirty (30) day period may be granted subject to
the approval of the zoning administrator.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 26-43{a) which
regulate sign location, such signs may be no closer than
eight (8) feet from the street curb or the edge of street
pavement in the absence of a curb subject to the approval
of the City manager or his designee to insure vehicular and
pedestrian safety.
(i) Signs advertising the place and time of city-sponsored
holiday celebrations, fairs, festivals, and similar events,
provided that such signs shall be posted [or no more than
thirty (30)days. Signs advertising charitable and public
events and holiday celebrations may be permitted in public
rights-of-way if the city manager or his designee determines
that the public safety will not be compromised.
(k) Civic posters and public service announcements displayed in
windows o[ commercial establishments.
1990-2
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(1)
Temporary commercial window signage in conformance with
the requirements contained in section 26-44(b)(1)."
This ordinance shall become effective as provided by law.
November 27, 1989,,
Public hearing before Planning Commission: _
Public hearing before City Council: January 9, 1990_
Adopted: January, 9, 1990
ATTEST:
1990-2
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0
0
1990-2
-17
1990-2
-18
Table II
Regulations for Ground.MountedBusiness Signs1
Street Total Maximum Maximum Height Maximum Setback
Classification2 6 rea Number Per
Use3
~,rterial 0.5 sq. ft. per 6 ft. 14 20 ft.
linear foot of
building frontage
to maximum of 50
square feet
Collector 0.5 sq. ft. per 6 ft. 1 20 ft.
~inear foot of
building frontage
to maximum of 40
square feet
Local 0.5 sq. ft. per 1 20 ft.
linear foot of 6 ft.
building frontage
to maximum of 25
square feet
1 Individual business establishments. For multi-tenant establishments, see § 26-44(b)(2).
2 Classification of streets determined by city council and contained in comprehensive plan.
3 Refers to total maximum number of ground-mounted signs permitted, except as provided below.
4 Commercial uses, other than multitenant as defined in § 26-44(b)(2), having frontage on more than one
arterial street shall be permitted up to two (2) ground-mounted signs; provided that only one ground-
mounted sign shall be permitted along any one street frontage, and such signs shall comply with applicable
standards contained in Table H and the following criteria:
a. If the lot is a through lot, then total arterial frontage must be at least two hundred (200) feet, and
such signs shall be separated by a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet.
b. If the lot is a comer lot, then each arterial frontage must be at least three hundred (300) feet and
such signs shall be separated by a distance of at least three hundred fifty (350) feet.