Arlington County is seeking input on its rules for public signage, including sandwich boards outside businesses and political signs in median strips.
A public feedback form is open through Nov. 30, inquiring about respondents’ comfort levels with existing signage in sidewalks, medians and other public places as part of the county’s Commercial Market Resiliency Initiative.
The form inquires about self-standing signs outside of businesses, “pedestrian-oriented signs” in mixed-use neighborhoods and temporary signs placed around medians, sidewalks and parks. Both in comments on the feedback form and on social media, much of the conversation has revolved around campaign signs.
Do you have thoughts about SIGNS in Arlington? Perhaps you have thoughts about SIGNS in MEDIANS???Provide feedback by Sunday, Nov 30 to help us ensure signs in outdoor public spaces (e.g. sidewalks, medians, rights-of-way, parks, schools) reflect community needs and valuespublicinput.com/e15276
— Maureen Coffey (Arlington, VA) (@maureencoffeyva.bsky.social) 2025-11-06T22:52:42.496Z
Political signs are a perennial source of argument in Arlington. At times, they’re placed improperly, crowding median strips in violation of the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance, which allows for no more than two signs per candidate or political issue in any given median.
Other times, candidates have raised concerns about people stealing signage. This was the case earlier this year, when County Board candidate James DeVita said he was placing “tracking chips” in his signs because he claimed many had been removed.
At least one Arlington County Board member, Maureen Coffey, has advocated for banning yard signs in the public right-of-way.
At the same time, the County Board has been seeking to loosen various regulations to let businesses more easily respond to economic shifts. This summer, Board members signed off on a change creating more flexibility for signage on commercial buildings, increasing options for size, number and placement while removing some existing limitations on signs placed above a height of 40 feet.
