Wall sign rules in Richmond
Allowed. 170 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, SC200 sq ft (aggregate 2 sq ft per linear ft of facade width, max 200 sq ft (whichever is less))“Aggregate (total) sign area of 2 sf. per linear ft. of facade width, or 200 sf., whichever is less”Sec. 4.7.302, Table 4.7.302 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 - Sign sizes by district not all shown. Wall, monument and pylon sign areas and ratios differ by zoning district in Table 4.7.302 (Nonresidential, Public/Institutional, and Mixed-Use Sign Types). Limits that differ between districts are not all shown here; check the table or ask the Building Department.
- Pole signs are prohibited. Sec. 4.7.103 lists pole signs and cabinet signs as prohibited; freestanding pylon signs must look like a solid mass from the ground up (Sec. 4.7.201.B).
All wall sign figures for an addressChannel letters rules in Richmond
Allowed. 106 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, minimum setback, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, SC60 sq ft (Aggregate 2 sq ft per linear ft of facade width, or 60 sq ft, whichever is less)Applies to: Channel letters installed as a wall sign; building frontages facing Jackson Street“Building frontages facing Jackson Street: there will be an aggregate allowance of 2 sf. per linear ft. of facade width, or 60 sf., whichever…”Sec. 4.7.302, Table 4.7.302 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 - Sign sizes by district not all shown. Wall, monument and pylon sign areas and ratios differ by zoning district in Table 4.7.302 (Nonresidential, Public/Institutional, and Mixed-Use Sign Types). Limits that differ between districts are not all shown here; check the table or ask the Building Department.
All channel letters figures for an addressMonument sign rules in Richmond
Allowed. 136 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, electronic message limits, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, SC36 sq ftNote: Per monument; see allowances (24 sq ft on local streets)“Maximum Sign Area per Monument 36 sf. (see allowances)”Sec. 4.7.302, Table 4.7.302 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 - Sign sizes by district not all shown. Wall, monument and pylon sign areas and ratios differ by zoning district in Table 4.7.302 (Nonresidential, Public/Institutional, and Mixed-Use Sign Types). Limits that differ between districts are not all shown here; check the table or ask the Building Department.
- Pole signs are prohibited. Sec. 4.7.103 lists pole signs and cabinet signs as prohibited; freestanding pylon signs must look like a solid mass from the ground up (Sec. 4.7.201.B).
All monument sign figures for an addressPole or pylon sign rules in Richmond
Allowed in some districts. 174 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, illumination, electronic message limits, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, GC160 sq ftApplies to: Sign Overlay District 1 (Sec. 4.7.201.C); single tenant“Single Tenant - 160 sf. Multi-Tenant - 576 sf.; 144 sf. maximum for each tenant”Sec. 4.7.302, Table 4.7.302 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 - Pylon size depends on the sign overlay district. Freestanding pylon signs (GC, BP, IN, MU and PI only) get different area, height and width limits in Sign Overlay District 1 (along US 59 / I-69, and US 90-A from the Grand Parkway to Pitts Road), Districts 2 and 3 (listed corridors such as US 90-A west of Pitts Road, FM 359, FM 762 / Thompson Road, Williams Way and Ransom Road) and everywhere else (Sec. 4.7.201.C). The city has no map layer for these districts; ask the Building Department which applies.
- Sign sizes by district not all shown. Wall, monument and pylon sign areas and ratios differ by zoning district in Table 4.7.302 (Nonresidential, Public/Institutional, and Mixed-Use Sign Types). Limits that differ between districts are not all shown here; check the table or ask the Building Department.
- Pole signs are prohibited. Sec. 4.7.103 lists pole signs and cabinet signs as prohibited; freestanding pylon signs must look like a solid mass from the ground up (Sec. 4.7.201.B).
All pole or pylon sign figures for an addressBlade or projecting sign rules in Richmond
Allowed in some districts. 78 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, number allowed, minimum setback, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, SC24 sq ft“Maximum Sign Area [spans 4 columns] 24 sf. [spans 2 columns] -- 6 sf. -- 24 sf.”Sec. 4.7.302, Table 4.7.302 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 - Projecting signs: the code contradicts itself. Sec. 4.7.103 prohibits projecting signs except in the Olde Town (OT), Downtown (DN) and Mixed-Use (MU) districts, but Table 4.7.302 also lists them as allowed in SC, GC and RV. The required clearance also differs between the two. Ask the city before ordering a projecting sign.
All blade or projecting sign figures for an addressAwning or canopy sign rules in Richmond
Allowed. 78 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, minimum clearance, number allowed, illumination, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, SC0.5 sq ft per linear ft of awning/canopy length“0.5 sf. per linear foot of awning/canopy length”Sec. 4.7.302, Table 4.7.302 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 All awning or canopy sign figures for an addressWindow sign rules in Richmond
Allowed. 47 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, illumination, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, SC15%Note: Maximum signable area ratio (share of the glass area within the window frame)“Maximum Signable Area Ratio 15 % 30% [spans 3 columns] 15% [spans 3 columns] 30% 15%”Sec. 4.7.302, Table 4.7.302 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 - Window sign limits differ. The sign table and the window sign definition give different coverage limits for window signs. Ask the city which applies.
All window sign figures for an addressElectronic message sign rules in Richmond
Allowed in some districts. 45 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, number allowed, minimum spacing, illumination, electronic message limits, submit with the application, other limit.
Example: Maximum area100 sq ft (lesser of 100 sq ft or 40 percent of the sign area of a marquee sign)Applies to: Marquee signs“or the lesser of 100 square feet or 40 percent of the sign area of a marquee sign.”Sec. 4.7.202.B.1.b · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 All electronic message sign figures for an addressTemporary banner rules in Richmond
Allowed, with conditions. 124 confirmed rules: permit required, maximum area, maximum height, number allowed, minimum setback, minimum spacing, electronic message limits, other limit.
Example: Maximum area, SC6 sq ftApplies to: Attached promotional sign“Maximum Sign Area [spans 3 columns] 6 sf. 12 sf. [spans 2 columns] 8 sf. [spans 2 columns] 12 sf. 6 sf. [spans 2…”Sec. 4.7.401, Table 4.7.401 · View source · last checked Nov 14, 2026 - Banners only for special events. Banners are not a temporary sign type in the UDO; they are allowed only as attention-getting devices for a special event, with an operating permit and plan, for a limited time.
All temporary banner figures for an address239 more lines could not be confirmed by our automatic checks, so no figures are shown for them. A lookup lists them with the section to check.