Loudoun County, VA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Sign Permit under Table 8.06-3
- Max sign area
- 32 sq ft
- Max height
- 8 feet
- Display limit
- 120 days per 12-month period
- Road right-of-way setback
- 5 feet minimum
- Spacing from other signs
- 20 feet minimum
Summary
Loudoun County zones political yard signs as Temporary Signs, and the Zoning Ordinance requires a Sign Permit before one goes up. Temporary Signs top out at 32 square feet and 8 feet tall, must sit at least 5 feet off the road right-of-way and 20 feet from other signs, and the permit itself lasts no more than 120 days in any 12-month period.
Sign, Temporary: A sign constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wood, wallboard, metal, or other light materials, with or without frames, which is intended to be displayed for a temporary duration or is of a nonrecurring nature. Examples of temporary signs include real estate signs, garage sale signs, holiday decorations, and political signs. ... D. Temporary Signs. Temporary Signs must comply with Table 8.06-3. Sign Permits for Temporary Signs are limited to 120 days within a 12-month period. ... Signs must be removed prior to Sign Permit expiration. [Table 8.06-3] Permit required? Y ... Individual sign area (sf, max) 32 sf ... Height (ft, max) 8 ft ... ROW Setback (ft, min) 5 ft ... Spacing from other signs (ft, min) 20 ft
Full Breakdown
Chapter 12's definition of "Sign, Temporary" specifically lists political signs, alongside real estate and garage sale signs, as an example of this sign type. 06-3, which applies uniformly across all Sign Groups from Rural to Urban. That table requires a Sign Permit for every Temporary Sign, caps individual sign area at 32 square feet, limits height to 8 feet, and bars digital display, backlighting, and external illumination outright. Placement rules add a 5-foot minimum setback from the public road right-of-way and 20 feet of spacing from any other sign.
D itself caps how long the permit runs: Sign Permits for Temporary Signs are limited to 120 days within a 12-month period, the sign must come down before the permit expires, and the permit application has to list the specific display dates up front (they don't need to be consecutive). The Zoning Administrator may grant an extension on written request. 01); political signs on private property get no separate exemption and follow the same Temporary Sign track as any other short-term sign.
Violations & Fines
Signs erected or maintained in violation of Chapter 8, including an expired or oversized political sign, trigger a written order from the Zoning Administrator under Section 8.10.B, sent by registered mail to the property owner and the person responsible for the sign. The recipient has 5 business days to bring the sign into compliance or remove it, and the Administrator may grant one extension of up to 10 business days for written cause. Failing to comply is grounds for a civil summons under Section 10.13.D and further action to have the sign removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to put up a political yard sign in Loudoun County?
How big and how long can a political sign be displayed?
How far from the road does my political sign need to be?
What happens if my political sign violates the rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
Compare Loudoun County to another location·View the Virginia sign regulations overview
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