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Loudoun County, VA Sign Regulations: Garage Sale Signs (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Zoning Ordinance § 8.06.D, Table 8.06-3
Permit duration
120 days within any 12-month period
Size cap
32 sf, 8 ft max height
Setback
5 ft minimum from right-of-way
Spacing
20 ft minimum from other signs
Illumination
No digital, backlit or illuminated signs

Summary

Garage sale signs in unincorporated Loudoun County fall under the Zoning Ordinance's Temporary Sign standard, Section 8.06.D. A Sign Permit is required, valid for 120 days within any 12-month period, and each sign is capped at 32 square feet and 8 feet tall, set back at least 5 feet from the right-of-way, and must come down before the permit expires.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Loudoun County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Temporary Signs must comply with Table 8.06-3. Sign Permits for Temporary Signs are limited to 120 days within a 12-month period. The Zoning Administrator may grant extensions to a Sign Permit for a Temporary Sign based on written justification for the need of an extension. Signs must be removed prior to Sign Permit expiration. The Sign Permit Application must include the dates of sign display, which do not have to be consecutive.

Source: Loudoun Zoning §5-1200View official code

Full Breakdown

The Zoning Ordinance's definitions section expressly lists "garage sale signs" as an example of a Temporary Sign, alongside real estate and political signs. 06-3. Sign Permits for Temporary Signs are limited to 120 days within a 12-month period... The Zoning Administrator may grant extensions to a Sign Permit for a Temporary Sign based on written justification for the need of an extension... Signs must be removed prior to Sign Permit expiration... 06-3 sets the physical standards that apply to every Temporary Sign, garage-sale signs included, regardless of sign group: a Sign Permit is required, each sign is capped at 32 square feet with a maximum height of 8 feet, it must sit at least 5 feet back from the road right-of-way, and must stand at least 20 feet from any other sign.

Temporary Signs cannot be digital, backlit, or externally or halo-illuminated. " Because the code counts display dates rather than consecutive calendar days, a homeowner running several garage sales across a year can spread the 120 permitted days across multiple weekends, but the Sign Permit application must list each date up front, and the sign has to come down once the permit expires or the 120-day allotment within the rolling 12-month window is used up.

Violations & Fines

A garage sale sign left up past its Sign Permit's 120-day window, placed closer than 5 feet to the right-of-way, or built past the 32-square-foot/8-foot cap violates Section 8.06.D and Table 8.06-3. Most sign violations carry a $200 civil penalty for the first offense and $500 for each additional offense under Section 10.13.E, capped at $5,000 before criminal misdemeanor charges apply under Section 10.13.D.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Sign Permit required for a garage sale sign in Loudoun County?
Yes. Zoning Ordinance Table 8.06-3 marks "Permit required?" as Y for all Temporary Signs, the category that expressly includes garage sale signs under the ordinance's definitions section. The Sign Permit application must list the dates the sign will be displayed, and those dates don't need to be consecutive.
How long can a garage sale sign stay up?
Section 8.06.D limits Sign Permits for Temporary Signs, including garage sale signs, to 120 days within any 12-month period, and the sign "must be removed prior to Sign Permit expiration." The Zoning Administrator can grant an extension only on written justification of need.
How big can a garage sale sign be?
Table 8.06-3 caps every Temporary Sign at 32 square feet in area and 8 feet in height, with a minimum 5-foot setback from the road right-of-way and at least 20 feet of spacing from any other sign on the property.
Can a garage sale sign light up or flash?
No. Table 8.06-3 marks digital, backlit and both external and halo illumination as not permitted ("N") for every Temporary Sign in Loudoun County, so garage sale signs must be non-illuminated static signs regardless of sign group.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Loudoun County

All Loudoun County rules

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