Goochland County’s sign removal program has been established to control litter and enhance the community’s roadways by removing signs prohibited within the road right-of-way (ROW). The General Services department manages this program following these steps:
Determine locations where the County will remove signs prohibited in the road right-of-way, focusing on 2-3 areas at one time.
Provide notice to the community and businesses through news flashes, email, and social media.
Note the location of signs potentially within the ROW.
Determine the ROW width, as stated in the Goochland County Major Thoroughfare Plan, or otherwise known for major roads. Act following factual confirmation and not on assumed ROW width.
Note the location and remove any sign found within the ROW, taking appropriate measures for the safety of the personnel and motorists. Considerations:
Removal work will be performed by General Services personnel experienced working in roadside locations.
Goochland County staff may call the sign owner to remove large signs requiring extraordinary effort for removal if the sign poses no immediate hazard to the public. Staff may also call upon VDOT for additional assistance or to be the agency removing the sign.
No exceptions exist for any type of sign in the ROW in state code. Real Estate Signs, temporary signs for work being done, event signs, and political signs are all objects that are illegal to place in the ROW.
Temporary signs:
Goochland County code requires a minimum setback of 5 feet from the ROW for temporary signs.
These signs are outside the authority of VDOT or Goochland County to remove, except for objects that block safe sight distance or distract drivers with blinding lights.
Display of temporary signs is permitted for one 180-day period during the calendar year except:
There is no time limit for temporary signs on property zoned or being used for agricultural or residential purposes; and
Banners, feather signs, or other signs that flutter, wave, or move are only permitted for one 30-day period during a calendar year.
Take sign removed from the ROW to the Central Convenience Center and store where it can be returned to the owner.
Inform the sign owner that the sign was removed due to an illegal placement in the ROW and is available to be retrieved from the Central Convenience Center for the next week, after which it will be disposed of in the compactor.
Dispose of signs stored after one week.
Contact Scott Foster, Director of General Services, at 804-556-5331 and email sfoster@goochlandva.us with any questions about the Litter Control through pickup of roadside signs program and to report a sign in the road right-of-way.