Prince William County Unincorporated

The purpose of this article is to regulate the size, color, illumination, movement, materials, location, height and condition of all signs placed on private property for exterior observation. (Sec. 32-250.21.1)

Signs not expressly permitted as being allowed by right or by special use permit, rezoning, or proffer amendment under this article... are not permitted. (Sec. 32-250.21.2)

The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this division: ...

No sign shall be erected, altered, or relocated without a sign permit, except as otherwise provided in this division.

The following signs shall be prohibited in the County: ...

Signs are accessory uses. Prohibited signs include those that violate law, affixed to trees, simulate traffic control, employ motion, flashing, emit smoke, strings of flags, beacons, roofline-mounted, not securely affixed, obstruct windows, in right-of-way, vehicle signs, feather signs.

The area of a sign shall be measured as the area of the smallest rectangle that encloses all of the sign's display surface, including any border, frame, or other decorative element.

All signs shall be maintained in good condition, including the replacement of broken or missing parts, the repair of damaged surfaces, and the removal of graffiti.

The following signs shall be permitted in the County, subject to the general regulations set forth in this section and the specific requirements set forth in Section 32-250.28: ...

Temporary signs shall be permitted in any zoning district, subject to the following standards: ...

Buffer areas are required on properties in accordance with the circumstances and widths specified in section 800 of the Design and Construction Standards Manual. A 50-foot wide buffer required between golf course and residential/agricultural. A 100-foot wide buffer required between railroad and residential/agricultural.

Notwithstanding the requirements of the Design and Construction Standards Manual, a parcel created and zoned before May 4, 1982, shall be required to provide no more than ten percent of its total area for such buffer, subject to the provision of an absolute minimum buffer of 15 feet on each parcel.

Buffer areas shall preserve existing vegetation, as appropriate, or shall be landscaped in accordance with section 800 of the Design and Construction Standards Manual.

Buffer areas shall comply with the following standards: ...

The development of all land shall be subject to tree canopy cover requirements as set forth in section 800 of the Design and Construction Standards Manual. Surface off-street parking areas with 20 or more spaces shall contain interior planting strips or islands comprising at least five percent of the total parking area.

The development of all land shall be subject to tree canopy cover requirements as set forth in section 800 of the Design and Construction Standards Manual.

All development shall provide tree canopy coverage in accordance with the following standards: ...

Surface off-street parking areas with 20 or more spaces shall contain interior planting strips or islands comprising at least five percent of the total parking area

All parking lots with more than twenty (20) parking spaces shall provide landscaping in accordance with the following standards: ...

Landscaping shall be installed in accordance with the phasing of the development, and shall be installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for each phase of the development.