Roanoke, VA Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

2-671(b), part of the building-mounted sign standards, Roanoke lets storefronts cover up to half of every window's glass area with signage before the display becomes an unlawful zoning violation. The Zoning Ordinance defines 'window area' in Appendix A as the total square footage of glass within a frame to which a window sign is applied, attached, suspended from, or through which it is displayed, and clarifies that this includes glass windows, doors, sidelights, and transoms, whether fixed or operable. A 'window sign' is defined as any sign applied or attached directly to the interior or exterior of a window, or suspended or located within twelve inches of a window or door, so that it is visible from the street, sidewalk, or a public or private outdoor common space; merchandise displayed in a window does not count.

2-677, and up to fifty percent window coverage at the same time. The fifty-percent ceiling applies per window, not per storefront as a whole, so a business with several display windows must keep each one under the cap individually. 2-571: violations are treated as unlawful development or use, punishable as a misdemeanor, and each day a noncompliant window display remains up is a separate offense.