Zoning Permits Section

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our offices are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-222-1082 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 250
Fairfax, VA 22035
Leslie Johnson
Zoning Administrator

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Sign Permits

A sign permit is required for any sign that will be constructed, erected, altered, refaced, relocated, or expanded, except where otherwise noted in Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

All sign permit applications must be submitted electronically through the PLUS application portal.

For additional information on how to use the PLUS application portal, please visit the DPD PLUS Information & Support page. Instructional videos are available on the Fairfax County PLUS - YouTube channel.

If you have technical questions (e.g. account setup, password issues) regarding the PLUS system, please contact the Help Desk:

Launch PLUS

Required Documents

An application may require the following documents:

Sign Rendering: One color rendering of each proposed sign to include the length, width, and height of each sign. If a sign includes two sign faces, include the measurement between the sign faces and the angle between the sign faces if they are not parallel. More information on how to calculate sign area is included in subsection 7100.7. If the sign is building-mounted, show the location of the sign on the building. All renderings should be drawn to scale. This document type is always required.

Site Plan: A plan, which can be an existing site plan, drawn to scale, showing the location of the sign, any easements, and the distance of the sign from the nearest property line in a residential district or to the nearest curb line in a commercial or industrial district.  This document type is required only if a freestanding sign is proposed.

Building Plans: Stamped, engineered plans that provide details on how the sign(s) will be constructed and installed. If building plans are required, the applicant will receive a separate notification with additional details after the application is submitted. Building plans should not be uploaded when the application is initially submitted.

Programmed Nit Levels:  For electronic display signs, the sign manufacture specifications (including programmed nit levels) must be submitted. This document type is required only if an electronic display sign is proposed.

Additional Information

  • An application may take approximately 14 calendar days to process if no additional information is requested or required.
  • A sign permit will also serve as the building and electrical permit, as applicable, so separate building and electrical permits are not required.  
  • The sign permit fee is $130 per sign. Additional building, electrical, and technology fees may also apply. Fees are paid electronically at the end of the application submission process in PLUS. A service charge of 2.35% will be added to all fees paid with a credit card.
  • All signs must comply with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance, including sign regulations described in Article 7 and outdoor lighting standards described in Article 5. Signs must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
  • Certain sign regulations in Article 7 may be modified with approval of a special exception by the Board of Supervisors. In addition, signs may be further limited by the Board if subject to an approved special exception or comprehensive sign plan (CSP). The sign permit will be evaluated in accordance with any governing approvals.
  • Internally illuminated signs must have an opaque background with translucent text and symbols, or a translucent background that is not white, off-white, or yellow in color.
  • A Nonresidential Use Permit (also known as the certificate of occupancy) must be issued for the associated business or use before the sign permit can be issued. However, if a Nonresidential Use Permit has not been issued, an issued Commercial Addition/Alteration permit may be substituted. Applications for Commercial addition/alteration permits must be submitted electronically through the PLUS application portal.
  • A sign on a property in a historic overlay district must get approval from the Architectural Review Board before the sign permit can be approved. For additional information, contact the Planning Division at (703) 324-1380.
  • A sign permit does not constitute approval from a homeowners’ association and its related covenants.
  • If the sign will be on an awning or canopy or will be freestanding and over 6 feet tall, additional building plan review will be required. Additional information about when and how to submit building plans through PLUS will be provided following application submittal. A single sign permit application may include a maximum of 15 signs. However, it is recommended that applications for freestanding signs taller than 6 feet be filed separately from applications for building-mounted signs and freestanding signs 6 feet tall or less. 

  • An electronic display sign includes any sign that contains light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs, plasma display screens, or other illumination methods, that are electronically controlled and that contain a fixed or changeable copy or a change to the intensity of light or colors displayed.
  • Subsection 7101.1(A) of the Zoning Ordinance regulates many aspects of the design and operation of an electronic display sign, including color, brightness, sign type, sign number, and mode and frequency of sign message changes. Certain standards may be modified with approval of a special exception by the Board of Supervisors.
  • The calculated sign area includes all parts of the sign that meet the definition of an electronic display sign, including any part of the sign where text, images, or color can be displayed or programmed.
    • One freestanding electronic display sign is permitted per lot, with the display area limited to 50% of the maximum allowable sign area for that site. The photo below provides an example with the area shown in red being calculated towards 50% allowable sign area.   

    • A building-mounted electronic display sign is only permitted with the approval of a special exception. The entire area shown in red below would be included in the size calculation. 

  • One window sign with electronic display is permitted per establishment. These signs are limited to four square feet and are included in the maximum 30% coverage limitation that applies to all window signs.
  • The message may not move or change more frequently than once every eight seconds. The change must be instantaneous without rolling, fading, or otherwise giving the illusion of movement, nor flash or vary in brightness. Please note that a sign permit is not required to change the message on an allowed sign specifically designed for replaceable copy, including changeable copy signs and electronic display signs.
  • Electronic display signs subject to an approved special exception or comprehensive sign plan may have additional limits on size, brightness, frequency of message change, and other requirements. 

  • All signs must be installed in accordance with approved sign permits, all Zoning Ordinance requirements, and the requirements of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
  • The permit holder is responsible for scheduling inspections at the appropriate stages of construction. Sign permit inspections can be scheduled in PLUS. Please call the Building Division office at (703) 631-5101 for more information.
  • A copy of the sign permit must be posted on-site for the duration of the permit.
  • A sign permit expires 12 months after the date of issuance if all necessary final inspection(s) are not approved.

Signs located in the Town of Vienna or the Town of Clifton are not subject to the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance standards but require the following:

  • Before applying for a sign permit in PLUS, obtain written approval from the town. This approval must be included in the PLUS application. For questions about their processes, please contact the Town of Vienna at (703) 255-6341 and the Town of Clifton at (571) 781-2404.   
  • The review process described in the Application Review section does not apply to signs in the Town of Vienna or Clifton.

Related Resources

How to Calculate the Area of a Building Mounted Sign

How to Calculate the Area of a Freestanding Sign

How to Determine Your Zoning District

Motor Vehicle Fuel Signs

Murals

Research Historic Electronic Permit Records (PLUS)

Site Records Viewer

Contact Us

TopicDepartment to ContactContact Information:
Application submission and review processZoning Permits Section(703) 222-1082 or dpdzoningpermits@fairfaxcounty.gov
Building plansBuilding Division(703) 222-0801 or LandDevelopmentServices@fairfaxcounty.gov
InspectionsBuilding Division(703) 222-0801 or ldsbuildinginspections@fairfaxcounty.gov
Special exceptionZoning Evaluation Division(703) 324-1290 or dpzzed@fairfaxcounty.gov
Historic Overlay Districts and the Architectural Review BoardPlanning Division(703) 324-1380 or dpzpd@fairfaxounty.gov
Signs in the right-of-wayVirginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)1-800-367-7623
EnforcementDepartment of Code Compliance(703) 324-1300 or codecompliance@fairfaxcounty.gov
Research historic sign permit records maintained in the zoning street filesZoning Permits Section(703) 222-1082 or dpdzoningpermits@fairfaxcounty.gov
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