Norfolk, VA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Norfolk Code § 42-10.1
- Wayfinding sign fee
- $150.00 per sign, per year
- Sign limit
- 3 signs max per facility citywide
- Sign removal deadline
- 10 days after business closes/moves
- Permit status
- Revocable license, not a right
- Reviewing office
- Dept. of Public Works
Summary
Structures that project into a Norfolk right-of-way normally need city council authorization under § 42-10, but § 42-10.1 lets the city manager administratively permit two specific encroachments: wayfinding signs for $150 per sign per year, and public-art wraps on utility boxes. Every such permit is a revocable license, not a property right.
(b)Permit for installation of wayfinding signs. Notwithstanding the general prohibitions set forth in section 42-10, the city manager or his designee is authorized to approve the installation of a wayfinding sign allowing it to encroach in the public right-of-way in order to aid the navigation of vehicular tourist traffic associated with facilities or establishments located within the city and identified by IDSP signage. Such approval shall only be granted in accordance with the standards set forth below, shall be documented by issuance of a permit, and shall require the permittee and owner or operator of the referenced facility or establishment to comply with the following conditions:(1)The owner or operator of the facility or establishment to which the sign refers shall pay an annual fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per sign for the right to encroach in the public right-of-way and for other administrative and maintenance costs associated with the sign... (d)Status of permit. Any permit issued for a wayfinding sign pursuant to this section shall constitute a license only and shall be revocable by the city at any time.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).
Full Breakdown
Section 42-10 makes it unlawful to extend any porch, fence or projection beyond the building line, or to place any sign, structure or object in a city right-of-way, without authorization of the city council. 1 carves out an administrative track for two narrow categories. 00 per sign, maintains the sign's structural integrity and visibility, and agrees to remove it within 10 days if the business closes or moves; no more than three signs may refer to the same establishment citywide. A utility box artwork wrap, a vinyl covering displaying approved public art on a ground-mounted utility box, can likewise be permitted once the Norfolk Arts Commission approves the image and the artist and box owner sign release agreements.
Applications for either permit go to the department of public works, which reviews sign construction materials, content and proposed location against IDSP and durability standards before issuance. Because status of a permit under this section is a license only, the city can revoke it at any time without compensation, and the sign or wrap is treated as abandoned property that the city may remove if the underlying permission is revoked.
Violations & Fines
Installing a wayfinding sign, utility box wrap, or any other structure in the right-of-way without going through the § 42-10.1 permit process, or council authorization under § 42-10, falls under the general encroachment offense in § 42-10(g): a Class 1 misdemeanor, with each day the unauthorized item remains a separate offense. The city may also remove the item and bill the owner, with unpaid removal costs becoming a lien on the owner's real property under § 42-10(d).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a permit to put a directional sign in Norfolk's right-of-way?
Can Norfolk revoke my encroachment permit after it's issued?
Do I need city council approval to build something in Norfolk's right-of-way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk
Compare Norfolk to another location·View the Virginia sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.