Loudoun County, VA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 8.05.C, Table 8.05-2
- Location limit
- First story or street level only
- Sign count
- 3 per building (4 in Mixed Use)
- Size cap
- 1.5 sf per sign
- Digital signage
- Barred except Urban/Suburban Mixed Use
- Permit
- Sign Permit required in most groups
Summary
In unincorporated Loudoun County, window signs are allowed in addition to wall signs, but only on the first story or street level of a building: never above. Zoning Ordinance Section 8.05.C, Table 8.05-2, caps most sign groups at three window signs per building, each capped at 1.5 square feet, and requires a Sign Permit in every group but Neighborhood-NR.
Window Signs (See Figure 8.05-2) are allowed in addition to Wall Signs. For multistory buildings, Window Signs may be located on the first story of the building or street level. Window Signs are not permitted on the second building story or above. Window Signs must comply with Table 8.05-2.
Full Breakdown
05 of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance governs Attached Signs, and subsection C addresses Window Signs specifically for property in the unincorporated county (Leesburg, Purcellville and the other incorporated towns administer their own codes). 05-2) are allowed in addition to Wall Signs. For multistory buildings, Window Signs may be located on the first story of the building or street level. Window Signs are not permitted on the second building story or above. 05-2 sets numeric caps by sign group. 5 square feet, with a Sign Permit required everywhere window signs are allowed except Neighborhood-NR, where they aren't permitted at all.
The Urban and Suburban Mixed Use group gets a larger allowance, 4 window signs per building façade or per tenant space, but cumulative coverage there is capped at whichever is less: 25% of the total window area or 10 square feet. Digital window signage is barred in every group except Urban/Suburban Mixed Use, where up to 100% of the sign area (or 30 square feet, whichever is greater) may be digital; backlighting and external or halo illumination follow the same group-by-group split. 10 before a qualifying window sign is installed; no height standard applies because these signs sit inside window glazing rather than on a freestanding structure.
Violations & Fines
Window signs that exceed the count, area or digital limits in Table 8.05-2, or that appear above the first story of a multistory building, violate the Zoning Ordinance. Most sign violations are civil under Section 10.13.E: $200 for a first offense and $500 for each additional offense, capped at $5,000 total, after which repeat violations from the same facts can be prosecuted as a criminal misdemeanor under Section 10.13.D. The Zoning Administrator may also order the sign removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a window sign on the second floor of my Loudoun County building?
How many window signs can a business display?
Do window signs need a permit in Loudoun County?
Are digital window signs allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
Compare Loudoun County to another location·View the Virginia sign regulations overview
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