Albemarle County, VA Sign Regulations: Freeway-Facing Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Extra approval
- Certificate of appropriateness, ARB (§ 18-4.15.2(b))
- I-64 status
- Listed EC street, § 18-30.6.2(a)(9)
- Total EC streets
- 23 designated corridors
- Exempt signs
- Ag product, political, public, temporary, window (§ 18-30.6.5(d))
- Review body
- Architectural Review Board
Summary
A sign visible from Interstate 64 or another designated Entrance Corridor street in Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville can't go up until the owner gets a certificate of appropriateness from the Architectural Review Board, per Code of Albemarle § 18-4.15.2(b). Interstate Route 64 is one of the 23 corridors listed in § 18-30.6.2(a), alongside stretches of US 29 and US 250.
Sec. 4.15.2 - Applicability. This section 4.15 shall apply as follows: a.General. The requirements of section 4.15 shall apply to all outdoor signs and window signs, including all outdoor signs and window signs in the entrance corridor overlay district, that are visible from beyond the boundaries of the lots on which they are located. Each sign subject to this section 4.15 shall comply with all regulations applicable to that sign.b.Within the entrance corridor overlay district. In addition to all other applicable requirements of section 4.15, prior to erecting an outdoor sign or window sign that would be visible from an entrance corridor street, the owner or lessee of the lot on which the sign will be located shall obtain a certificate of appropriateness for that sign as provided in section 30.6 unless the sign is exempt from needing a certificate of appropriateness under section 30.6.5(d). ... a.Significant routes of tourist access. The following arterial streets and highway are found to be significant routes of tourist access and are hereinafter referred to in section 30.6 as "EC streets": ... 9.Interstate Route 64.
Full Breakdown
15. 5(d), which covers agricultural product signs, political signs, public signs, sandwich board signs, temporary signs, window signs and other signs already exempt from the base sign permit. 2(a), alongside segments of US 29, US 250, Route 20 and Route 231. The Architectural Review Board reviews the sign's style, size, colors, materials, illumination and location against its adopted design guidelines and can impose conditions before issuing the certificate, and the zoning administrator separately confirms the sign satisfies those conditions once it's up. 5.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a sign visible from I-64 or another EC street without first getting a certificate of appropriateness from the Architectural Review Board is a permit violation; Community Development can withhold the building permit or site plan approval entirely, and the zoning administrator can order removal of a sign put up without the required ARB sign-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my business sign need approval if it faces I-64 in Albemarle County?
What streets count as Entrance Corridors in Albemarle County?
Are any signs exempt from the Entrance Corridor review?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albemarle County
Compare Albemarle County to another location·View the Virginia sign regulations overview
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