James City County, VA Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)

Section 24-2 lists seven conditions a home business must meet to qualify as a lawful "home occupation," and subsection (4) is the signage rule: it bars any exterior evidence of the business except one sign not exceeding four square feet. That sign must be physically attached to the dwelling itself, ruling out freestanding yard signs, sandwich boards or vehicle-mounted advertising for a home occupation, and it cannot be illuminated, so internally lit or spotlit signs are off the table regardless of size. Because the condition is folded into the definition of "home occupation" rather than the county's general sign regulations in article II, division 3 of chapter 24, a home business sign that exceeds four square feet, is freestanding, or is lit does more than violate a sign rule: it can cost the activity its status as a permitted accessory home occupation entirely, since subsection (4) is one of the mandatory conditions for that classification.

The other six conditions, covering where the activity occurs, its share of floor area, external alterations, on-site sales, disruptive equipment and traffic, apply independently of the sign rule, so a compliant sign doesn't excuse a violation elsewhere in the same definition.