ARTICLE IX, 9-106 (A) THE AREA OF A SIGN, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, HAVING A DISTINCTIVE OR ORNAMENTAL BORDER SHALL INCLUDE BOTH THE AREA ENCLOSED BY THE BORDER, AND THE AREA ENCLOSED WITHIN THE BORDER.

ARTICLE IX, 9-106 (B) THE AREA OF A SIGN, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, HAVING A DISTINCTIVE OR ORNAMENTAL BACKGROUND, WHICH SETS THE BACKGROUND APART FROM A LARGER SURFACE SO THAT IT FORMS AN INTEGRAL PART OR ELEMENT OF THE SIGN, SHALL INCLUDE THE AREA OF THE BACKGROUND.

ARTICLE IX, 9-106 (C) THE AREA OF A FREESTANDING SIGN, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, HAVING A BACKGROUND WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND THE WORDS, SYMBOLS OR PICTORIAL ELEMENTS THEREOF SHALL INCLUDE THE AREA OF THE BACKGROUND.   

ARTICLE IX, 9-106 (D) IF ANY PORTION OF THE WORDS, SYMBOLS OR PICTORIAL ELEMENTS OF A SIGN EXTENDS BEYOND A BORDER OR BACKGROUND, THE AREA OF THAT PORTION OF THE SIGN SHALL BE THE AREA OF A RECTANGLE INSCRIBED AROUND IT.

ARTICLE IX, 9-106 (E) THE AREA OF A MARQUEE OR AWNING, OR ANY PANEL THEREOF, WHICH PROVIDES A BACKGROUND FOR A SIGN SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE AREA OF THE SIGN.

ARTICLE IX, 9-106 (F) THE AREA OF ANY SIGN HUNG, PLACED, PAINTED OR DISPLAYED ON A MARQUEE OR AWNING SHALL BE INCLUDED IN DETERMINING THE TOTAL AREA OF SIGNS ERECTED OR DISPLAYED.

Whether you are a new business or retailer or just looking to give your place a face lift, this post will help you figure out how Zoning and Planning in the City of Alexandria calculates the area of a sign.  Here is a link to the code, and here is a hard copy if you prefer.  Also this is not the same as Allowability which is covered in other sections of the code.  Happy planning and I hope it helps.