diff --git a/src/edit.c b/src/edit.c
index 2281232..08aed47 100644
--- a/src/edit.c
+++ b/src/edit.c
@@ -6761,11 +6761,7 @@
 	textwidth -= curwin->w_p_fdc;
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
-	if (curwin->w_buffer->b_signlist != NULL
-# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-			  || curwin->w_buffer->b_has_sign_column
-# endif
-		    )
+	if (signcolumn_on(curwin))
 	    textwidth -= 1;
 #endif
 	if (curwin->w_p_nu || curwin->w_p_rnu)
diff --git a/src/move.c b/src/move.c
index 136263f..a083c1c 100644
--- a/src/move.c
+++ b/src/move.c
@@ -890,12 +890,7 @@
 	    + wp->w_p_fdc
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
-	    + (
-# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-		/* show glyph gutter in netbeans */
-		wp->w_buffer->b_has_sign_column ||
-# endif
-		wp->w_buffer->b_signlist != NULL ? 2 : 0)
+	    + (signcolumn_on(wp) ? 2 : 0)
 #endif
 	   );
 }
diff --git a/src/option.c b/src/option.c
index ff7973f..7146503 100644
--- a/src/option.c
+++ b/src/option.c
@@ -253,6 +253,9 @@
 # define PV_COCU	OPT_WIN(WV_COCU)
 # define PV_COLE	OPT_WIN(WV_COLE)
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+# define PV_SCL		OPT_WIN(WV_SCL)
+#endif
 
 /* WV_ and BV_ values get typecasted to this for the "indir" field */
 typedef enum
@@ -2410,6 +2413,14 @@
     {"sidescrolloff", "siso", P_NUM|P_VI_DEF|P_VIM|P_RBUF,
 			    (char_u *)&p_siso, PV_NONE,
 			    {(char_u *)0L, (char_u *)0L} SCRIPTID_INIT},
+    {"signcolumn",   "scl",  P_STRING|P_ALLOCED|P_VI_DEF|P_RWIN,
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+			    (char_u *)VAR_WIN, PV_SCL,
+			    {(char_u *)"auto", (char_u *)0L} SCRIPTID_INIT},
+#else
+			    (char_u *)NULL, PV_NONE,
+			    {(char_u *)NULL, (char_u *)0L}
+#endif
     {"slowopen",    "slow", P_BOOL|P_VI_DEF,
 			    (char_u *)NULL, PV_NONE,
 			    {(char_u *)FALSE, (char_u *)0L} SCRIPTID_INIT},
@@ -3076,6 +3087,9 @@
 #ifdef FEAT_INS_EXPAND
 static char *(p_cot_values[]) = {"menu", "menuone", "longest", "preview", "noinsert", "noselect", NULL};
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+static char *(p_scl_values[]) = {"yes", "no", "auto", NULL};
+#endif
 
 static void set_option_default(int, int opt_flags, int compatible);
 static void set_options_default(int opt_flags);
@@ -6978,6 +6992,15 @@
     }
 #endif /* FEAT_INS_EXPAND */
 
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+    /* 'signcolumn' */
+    else if (varp == &curwin->w_p_scl)
+    {
+	if (check_opt_strings(*varp, p_scl_values, FALSE) != OK)
+	    errmsg = e_invarg;
+    }
+#endif
+
 
 #if defined(FEAT_TOOLBAR) && !defined(FEAT_GUI_W32)
     else if (varp == &p_toolbar)
@@ -10433,6 +10456,9 @@
 #ifdef FEAT_KEYMAP
 	case PV_KMAP:	return (char_u *)&(curbuf->b_p_keymap);
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+	case PV_SCL:	return (char_u *)&(curwin->w_p_scl);
+#endif
 	default:	EMSG(_("E356: get_varp ERROR"));
     }
     /* always return a valid pointer to avoid a crash! */
@@ -10549,6 +10575,9 @@
 # endif
     to->wo_fmr = vim_strsave(from->wo_fmr);
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+    to->wo_scl = vim_strsave(from->wo_scl);
+#endif
     check_winopt(to);		/* don't want NULL pointers */
 }
 
@@ -10578,6 +10607,9 @@
 # endif
     check_string_option(&wop->wo_fmr);
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+    check_string_option(&wop->wo_scl);
+#endif
 #ifdef FEAT_RIGHTLEFT
     check_string_option(&wop->wo_rlc);
 #endif
@@ -10611,6 +10643,9 @@
 # endif
     clear_string_option(&wop->wo_fmr);
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+    clear_string_option(&wop->wo_scl);
+#endif
 #ifdef FEAT_LINEBREAK
     clear_string_option(&wop->wo_briopt);
 #endif
@@ -12274,3 +12309,22 @@
 {
     return buf->b_bkc_flags ? buf->b_bkc_flags : bkc_flags;
 }
+
+#if defined(FEAT_SIGNS) || defined(PROTO)
+/*
+ * Return TRUE when window "wp" has a column to draw signs in.
+ */
+     int
+signcolumn_on(win_T *wp)
+{
+    if (*wp->w_p_scl == 'n')
+	return FALSE;
+    if (*wp->w_p_scl == 'y')
+	return TRUE;
+    return (wp->w_buffer->b_signlist != NULL
+# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
+			|| wp->w_buffer->b_has_sign_column
+# endif
+		    );
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/src/option.h b/src/option.h
index bc8d4e0..bee6442 100644
--- a/src/option.h
+++ b/src/option.h
@@ -633,6 +633,9 @@
 EXTERN char_u	*p_mef;		/* 'makeef' */
 EXTERN char_u	*p_mp;		/* 'makeprg' */
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+EXTERN char_u  *p_scl;		/* signcolumn */
+#endif
 #ifdef FEAT_SYN_HL
 EXTERN char_u   *p_cc;		/* 'colorcolumn' */
 EXTERN int      p_cc_cols[256]; /* array for 'colorcolumn' columns */
@@ -1173,6 +1176,9 @@
     , WV_WFW
 #endif
     , WV_WRAP
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+    , WV_SCL
+#endif
     , WV_COUNT	    /* must be the last one */
 };
 
diff --git a/src/proto/option.pro b/src/proto/option.pro
index d0ba4ec..3da0e94 100644
--- a/src/proto/option.pro
+++ b/src/proto/option.pro
@@ -63,4 +63,5 @@
 long get_sts_value(void);
 void find_mps_values(int *initc, int *findc, int *backwards, int switchit);
 unsigned int get_bkc_value(buf_T *buf);
+int signcolumn_on(win_T *wp);
 /* vim: set ft=c : */
diff --git a/src/screen.c b/src/screen.c
index 0458ed7..cf23a68 100644
--- a/src/screen.c
+++ b/src/screen.c
@@ -2255,23 +2255,6 @@
 #endif
 }
 
-#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
-static int draw_signcolumn(win_T *wp);
-
-/*
- * Return TRUE when window "wp" has a column to draw signs in.
- */
-    static int
-draw_signcolumn(win_T *wp)
-{
-    return (wp->w_buffer->b_signlist != NULL
-# ifdef FEAT_NETBEANS_INTG
-				|| wp->w_buffer->b_has_sign_column
-# endif
-		    );
-}
-#endif
-
 /*
  * Clear the rest of the window and mark the unused lines with "c1".  use "c2"
  * as the filler character.
@@ -2313,7 +2296,7 @@
 	}
 # endif
 # ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
-	if (draw_signcolumn(wp))
+	if (signcolumn_on(wp))
 	{
 	    int nn = n + 2;
 
@@ -2363,7 +2346,7 @@
 	}
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
-	if (draw_signcolumn(wp))
+	if (signcolumn_on(wp))
 	{
 	    int	    nn = n + 2;
 
@@ -2507,7 +2490,7 @@
 
 #ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
     /* If signs are being displayed, add two spaces. */
-    if (draw_signcolumn(wp))
+    if (signcolumn_on(wp))
     {
 	len = W_WIDTH(wp) - col;
 	if (len > 0)
@@ -3677,7 +3660,7 @@
 		draw_state = WL_SIGN;
 		/* Show the sign column when there are any signs in this
 		 * buffer or when using Netbeans. */
-		if (draw_signcolumn(wp))
+		if (signcolumn_on(wp))
 		{
 		    int	text_sign;
 # ifdef FEAT_SIGN_ICONS
diff --git a/src/structs.h b/src/structs.h
index b56282f..2a64471 100644
--- a/src/structs.h
+++ b/src/structs.h
@@ -263,6 +263,10 @@
     int		wo_crb_save;	/* 'cursorbind' state saved for diff mode*/
 # define w_p_crb_save w_onebuf_opt.wo_crb_save
 #endif
+#ifdef FEAT_SIGNS
+    char_u	*wo_scl;
+# define w_p_scl w_onebuf_opt.wo_scl	/* 'signcolumn' */
+#endif
 
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
     int		wo_scriptID[WV_COUNT];	/* SIDs for window-local options */
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_options.vim b/src/testdir/test_options.vim
index cceb180..3ddf5e6 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_options.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_options.vim
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
   set whichwrap&
 endfunction
 
-function! Test_options()
+function Test_options()
   let caught = 'ok'
   try
     options
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
   close
 endfunction
 
-function! Test_path_keep_commas()
+function Test_path_keep_commas()
   " Test that changing 'path' keeps two commas.
   set path=foo,,bar
   set path-=bar
@@ -38,3 +38,11 @@
 
   set path&
 endfunction
+
+func Test_signcolumn()
+  call assert_equal("auto", &signcolumn)
+  set signcolumn=yes
+  set signcolumn=no
+  call assert_fails('set signcolumn=nope')
+endfunc
+
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 66648d2..58893c5 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -764,6 +764,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2201,
+/**/
     2200,
 /**/
     2199,