# Billboard Permits in Virginia: Rules, Spacing and Fees

URL: https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-virginia
Type: Permits by state · Published: 2026-10-12 · Updated: 2026-10-12 · By: Gabie Research

Short answer: In Virginia, VDOT's Office of Land Use issues billboard permits. The fee depends on the size of each face: $15, $30 or $165, plus a $50 inspection charge on Interstate and primary roads. Signs must be 500 feet apart on Interstates. A face can be up to 1,200 square feet. Digital messages may change no more than once every four seconds.

Key takeaways:
- VDOT's Office of Land Use in Mechanicsville issues the permit. You apply on VDOT's online system or on Form OA-105A.
- The fee is $15, $30 or $165 per face by size. Renewal costs the same each year. Original applications also pay a $50 inspection charge.
- Interstates need 500 feet between signs. Other primary roads need 300 feet outside towns and 100 inside.
- New Interstate signs are allowed only where the land was zoned commercial or industrial by September 21, 1959.
- Tree pruning needs a $400 yearly permit, a $2,500 surety, $1 million in insurance and a certified arborist.

VDOT issues billboard permits in Virginia. The fee is $15, $30 or $165 per face, by size. Original applications add a $50 inspection charge on Interstate, primary and NHS roads, or $25 on other highways. Signs on Interstates must sit 500 feet apart. A face can be up to 1,200 square feet.

## Who issues billboard permits in Virginia?

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) runs the [outdoor advertising program](https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/about/our-system/signs-signals/signs-business/outdoor-advertising/). The Office of Land Use handles it. Paper forms go to Office of Land Use, Outdoor Advertising, 9120 Lockwood Blvd., Mechanicsville, VA 23116. The phone is (804) 786-0654. The email is outdooradvertisingrenewals@vdot.virginia.gov.

You can also apply or renew on VDOT's online system at oaplusonline.vdot.virginia.gov. Online filing saves $5. On paper, use [Form OA-105A](https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/media/vdotvirginiagov/about/vdots-transportation-system/signs-and-signals/signs-for-business-and-tourism/outdoor-advertising/oa-permit-app-2025-10-06_acc.pdf) and a check to the Treasurer of Virginia.

The law is the Outdoor Advertising Act, [Code of Virginia sections 33.2-1200 to 33.2-1234](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title33.2/chapter12/article1/). The rules are in [24VAC30-120](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title24/agency30/chapter120).

## What changed from 2024 to 2026?

Older guides miss these changes:

- The Code repealed sections 33.2-1205 to 33.2-1207 on July 1, 2025. The Code page shows no old text. Ask VDOT if any old license or bond duty remains.
- VDOT posted a new permit form on October 6, 2025.
- On November 17, 2025, VDOT said it plans to repeal 24VAC30-120 and adopt a new chapter, [24VAC30-122](https://register.dls.virginia.gov/details.aspx?id=12017). Comments closed December 17, 2025. On February 17, 2026, the state Transportation Board approved proposed amendments. Check the Virginia Register for the final text.
- The Code lists changes to the exempt-signs section in 2025 and 2026. It does not say what they were.

The numbers below come from the rules in force today.

## Which roads need a state permit?

State law covers the whole state outside town limits. Inside towns, it still covers signs seen from certain roads. These are Interstates, the 1991 federal-aid primary system and the National Highway System. That follows [23 U.S.C. 131](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/131).

The control zone is 660 feet from the right-of-way. Outside urban areas, the rule also reaches signs farther out that drivers can read. Those are limited to the types federal law allows.

Some places are off limits. Since December 18, 1991, billboards are barred beside Virginia byways and scenic highways on these roads. Outside towns, no billboard may sit within 660 feet of the Blue Ridge Parkway or other parkways. The same goes for public parks, cemeteries, playgrounds and national or state forests.

## Where can a billboard go?

- **Interstates:** only in areas zoned commercial or industrial by September 21, 1959. No unzoned sites.
- **Other controlled roads:** zoned or unzoned commercial or industrial land.
- **Unzoned land:** a working business, plus 500 feet beyond its edge. Each side of the road counts alone.
- **Not a business:** signs, farms, temporary uses, homes and railroad tracks. Sites more than 300 feet from the road do not count either.

A town or county with its own full sign rules can ask VDOT to certify them. Then the local size, spacing and light rules apply in zoned areas.

## Virginia billboard rules at a glance

| Rule | Virginia limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Control zone | 660 ft from the right-of-way; farther outside urban areas | Va. Code 33.2-1217 |
| Unzoned area | 500 ft beyond the business | 24VAC30-120-10 |
| Interstates | Zoned areas as of Sept. 21, 1959 only | 24VAC30-120-60 |
| Maximum face | 1,200 sq ft, 25 ft high, 60 ft long | 24VAC30-120-30 |
| Ads per facing | One or two, within the area cap | 24VAC30-120-30 |
| Spacing, Interstates and freeways | 500 ft | 24VAC30-120-40 |
| Interchanges, intersections, rest areas | No sign within 500 ft | 24VAC30-120-40 |
| Spacing, other primary roads, outside towns | 300 ft | 24VAC30-120-40 |
| Spacing, other primary roads, inside towns | 100 ft | 24VAC30-120-40 |
| Setback | 15 ft from the pavement edge; VDOT may waive | Va. Code 33.2-1216 |
| Parkways, parks, forests, cemeteries | 660 ft, outside towns | Va. Code 33.2-1216 |
| Lighting | Shielded; no flashing or intermittent lights | 24VAC30-120-50 |
| Digital hold time | Messages change no more than once every 4 seconds | Va. Code 33.2-1216 |
| Digital spacing and brightness | No numbers published | 24VAC30-120-50 |

A standard 14 x 48 foot bulletin is 672 square feet. It fits the cap.

## What are the digital billboard rules?

Virginia has no separate digital section. The Code bars moving parts, spinning disks, running animation and intermittent lights. It makes one exception. A sign may change its message no more than once every four seconds. That must fit VDOT's agreements with the U.S. Department of Transportation. So four seconds is the shortest hold.

The rules set no brightness number and no digital spacing number. They only bar glare and light that blocks an official sign. Form OA-105A has a box to mark for an electronic message sign. [FHWA's 2007 guidance](https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/policy_guidance/offprmsgsnguid.cfm) suggested each message stay up 4 to 10 seconds, with 8 recommended. Virginia's rule limits how often a message changes.

## What does a permit cost?

Fees as of October 12, 2026:

| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Application, per face, up to 74 sq ft | $15 | Va. Code 33.2-1209 |
| Application, per face, 75 to 1,824 sq ft | $30 | Va. Code 33.2-1209 |
| Application, per face, 1,825 sq ft and up | $165 | Va. Code 33.2-1209 |
| Inspection, Interstate, primary and NHS roads | $50 | Va. Code 33.2-1209 |
| Inspection, other highways | $25 | Va. Code 33.2-1209 |
| Annual renewal | Same as the application fee | Va. Code 33.2-1210 |
| Online filing or renewal | $5 off | Va. Code 33.2-1209, 33.2-1210 |
| Temporary permit (60 days) | $2 | Va. Code 33.2-1212 |

VDOT keeps the fee if it issues the permit. A standard 672 square foot face costs $30.

Permits run by calendar year and expire December 31. Permits issued after December 15 cover the next year. VDOT will not renew a permit if you did not use it that year. Changing the ad needs no new permit. Putting a sign on state right-of-way brings a $100 civil penalty.

## Do you need a license or bond?

Not for the sign permit. The Code and Form OA-105A ask for neither. See "What changed from 2024 to 2026?" above for the repealed sections.

## Can you cut trees in front of a sign?

Yes, with a land use permit for vegetation control, [Form LUP-OAVC](https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/media/vdotvirginiagov/doing-business/technical-guidance-and-support/land-use-and-development/land-use-permits/lup-oavc_acc.pdf).

- The fee is $400 a year for each route in a VDOT construction district.
- You need a $2,500 surety per permit, in cash, a bond or a letter of credit.
- You need liability insurance of $1 million per event and $5 million in all.
- A certified arborist must plan the work and be on site.
- Only plants with a trunk base under 6 inches may go. No cut may exceed 4 inches. No clear-cutting.
- Pruning may not create a new sign site.

Cutting without a permit can lead to prosecution.

## What about nonconforming signs?

A [nonconforming sign](https://gabie.ai/glossary/nonconforming-sign) was legal when built but fails today's rules. You may repair it, up to 50% of its replacement cost. Ask in writing. You also need a local building permit and VDOT's approval letter.

Replacing, enlarging or moving it, or changing its height, ends its status. Changing the ad does not. A sign blank for 18 months gets 120 days' notice. It can be sold or leased without losing status.

A town or county may not remove a billboard without just compensation, with narrow exceptions. Amortization is not allowed.

## Do you need a local permit too?

Yes. Section III of Form OA-105A must be signed by the local zoning administrator. VDOT does not accept applications without it. In unzoned counties, call the Outdoor Advertising Office at (804) 786-0654.

## How do you apply for a billboard permit in Virginia?

1. Call or email the Outdoor Advertising Office with your questions.
2. Confirm the road and the right-of-way line. It can sit 25 to 150 feet from the road's center line.
3. Get the local zoning administrator to sign off.
4. Get the landowner's written consent, or a lease on file.
5. Set temporary stakes at the exact spot.
6. File online or on Form OA-105A. Pay the size fee and the inspection charge.
7. Do not build until the permit is issued.
8. Attach the ID tag. Add your name if you are an outdoor advertiser.
9. Renew each year. The permit expires December 31 and must be renewed within 30 days.

Read [how to start a billboard business](https://gabie.ai/learn/how-to-start-a-billboard-business) for the steps before a permit.

## Other state billboard permit guides

- [Billboard permits: the national overview](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits)
- [Tennessee](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-tennessee)
- [Texas](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-texas)
- [Florida](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-florida)
- [Georgia](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-georgia)
- [California](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-california)
- [North Carolina](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-north-carolina)
- [Ohio](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-ohio)
- [Pennsylvania](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-pennsylvania)
- [Illinois](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-illinois)
- [New York](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-new-york)
- [Alabama](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-alabama)
- [Kentucky](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-kentucky)
- [South Carolina](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-south-carolina)
- [Missouri](https://gabie.ai/learn/billboard-permits-missouri)

> How Gabie handles this: A booking can't outlive the permit behind it. [Gabie Inventory](https://gabie.ai/platform/inventory) blocks any hold or booking that runs past a [ground lease](https://gabie.ai/glossary/ground-lease) or an expired permit.

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check with the agency before you build or sign.

## Questions people ask
### Who issues billboard permits in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Transportation does, through its Office of Land Use, Outdoor Advertising, in Mechanicsville. You can apply on VDOT's online system.

### How much does a Virginia billboard permit cost?
It depends on face size: $15 up to 74 square feet, $30 from 75 to 1,824, and $165 above that. Add a $50 inspection charge on Interstate, primary and National Highway System roads. Online filing saves $5.

### How far apart must billboards be in Virginia?
500 feet on Interstates and freeways, and no sign within 500 feet of an interchange. On other primary roads it is 300 feet outside towns and 100 feet inside.

### How big can a billboard be in Virginia?
A face can be up to 1,200 square feet, 25 feet high and 60 feet long. A structure can hold one or two ads per facing within that area.

### What are Virginia's digital billboard rules?
State law bars moving parts and running animation. It allows messages that change no more than once every four seconds. The rules set no brightness number.

### Can I cut trees in front of my billboard in Virginia?
Only with a VDOT pruning permit. It costs $400 a year and needs a $2,500 surety, $1 million in liability insurance and a certified arborist. Cuts over 4 inches wide are barred.

## Sources
1. Outdoor Advertising, Virginia Department of Transportation. https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/about/our-system/signs-signals/signs-business/outdoor-advertising/ (accessed 2026-10-12)
2. Code of Virginia, Title 33.2, Chapter 12, Article 1, Outdoor Advertising in Sight of Public Highways (33.2-1200 to 33.2-1224), Virginia Legislative Information System. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title33.2/chapter12/article1/ (accessed 2026-10-12)
3. 24VAC30-120, Rules and Regulations Controlling Outdoor Advertising and Directional and Other Signs and Notices, Virginia Administrative Code. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title24/agency30/chapter120 (accessed 2026-10-12)
4. Form OA-105A, Application for Outdoor Advertising Permit (rev. 10/6/25), Virginia Department of Transportation. https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/media/vdotvirginiagov/about/vdots-transportation-system/signs-and-signals/signs-for-business-and-tourism/outdoor-advertising/oa-permit-app-2025-10-06_acc.pdf (accessed 2026-10-12)
5. Form LUP-OAVC, Land Use Permit Application for Outdoor Advertising Vegetation Control (Oct. 22, 2024), Virginia Department of Transportation. https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/media/vdotvirginiagov/doing-business/technical-guidance-and-support/land-use-and-development/land-use-permits/lup-oavc_acc.pdf (accessed 2026-10-12)
6. Notice of Intended Regulatory Action, 24VAC30-122 (Virginia Register, Vol. 42, Iss. 7, Nov. 17, 2025), Virginia Register of Regulations. https://register.dls.virginia.gov/details.aspx?id=12017 (accessed 2026-10-12)
7. 23 U.S.C. 131, Control of outdoor advertising, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/23/131 (accessed 2026-10-12)
8. Guidance on Off-Premise Changeable Message Signs (Sept. 25, 2007), FHWA. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/real_estate/policy_guidance/offprmsgsnguid.cfm (accessed 2026-10-12)