# Sign Regulations in Amherst Town, New York

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Amherst Town, New York, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Amherst Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/amherst-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13278805#13278805)

## At a glance

Amherst Town, New York regulates 29 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Construction Signs in the Business and Mixed Use Districts zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 25 ft from lot line; 75 ft from dwelling not within project setback (Sec. §7-8-3.B, Permit Table). Most commercial signs in Amherst Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 9 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business and Mixed Use Districts | 18 | 25 ft | 160 sq ft total; single face ≤50% total area | — |
| Industrial Districts | 15 | 15 ft | 160 sq ft (face ≤50%) | — |
| All Other Districts | 16 | 25 ft | 160 sq ft (face ≤50%) | — |
| General Business (GB), Shopping Center (SC), Shopping Center (SC-3), Downtown Commercial (DC-3, DC-5), Center (CTR-2.5, CTR-5, CTR-8) | 9 | 25 ft | 160 sq ft (face ≤50%) | — |
| Commercial Service (CS), Motor Service (MS) | 3 | 25 ft | 160 sq ft (face ≤50%) | — |
| Neighborhood Business (NB), Office Business (OB), Traditional Infill (TI), Traditional Neighborhood Business (TNB) | 2 | 8 ft | 160 sq ft | — |
| General Industrial (GI), Residential District (RD), Specialty District (ST) | 1 | — | Formula-based | — |
| Community Facility (CF), Recreation Commercial (RC) | 1 | — | 0.50 sq ft per linear ft | — |
| Lakefront Waterfront (LW-1) | 3 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Agricultural (AG), Rural Residential (R-R), Suburban Agricultural (S-A) | 2 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Planned Residential Development (PRD), Planned Development District (PDD), Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 32 sq ft per face (except merchandise price 24 sq ft) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### Business and Mixed Use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At building | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Construction Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft from lot line; 75 ft from dwelling not within project | 1 | On property under construction | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Fuel Pump Sign | — | 1 sq ft per pump | — | — | 1 per pump | Attached to fuel pumps | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Hanging Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 8 ft min above finished grade | 1 per customer entrance | Per customer entrance, under canopy/awning/marquee | — | §7-8-4.A, Permit Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft per side | — | 8 ft min above walkway | 1 per bldg frontage | Perpendicular to building, per frontage | — | §7-8-4.A, Permit Table |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 160 sq ft total; single face ≤50% total area | — | 15 ft from street ROW, 25 ft from nonresidential lot, 50 ft from residential lot | 1 per building | On ground, 15 ft from street r-o-w; at least 25 ft from nonresidential lot, 50 ft from residential lot | — | §7-8-4.B, Permit Table |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft | 64-192 sq ft depending on frontage; single face ≤50% total area | — | 50 ft from residential lot, 15 ft from ROW | 1 per building or per multiple development | Min 50 ft from residential lot, not project over right-of-way or lot line | — | §7-8-4.B, §7-8-7, §7-8-8.B, Permit Table |
| Directory Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance; one additional directional elsewhere; more as part of coordinated sign plan | — | §7-8-4.C, Permit Table |

### Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At business | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Construction Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft from lot line, 75 ft from dwelling | 1 | On property under construction | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Fuel Pump Sign | — | 1 sq ft per pump | — | — | 1 per pump | On fuel pump | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Real Estate Sign (Industrial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 or 2 | On-premises | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Hanging Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 8 ft min above grade | 1 per entrance | At customer entrance, under canopy/awning/marquee | — | §7-8-4.A, Permit Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft per side | — | 8 ft min above walkway | 1 per bldg frontage | Perpendicular to bldg at public entrance | — | §7-8-4.A |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 160 sq ft (face ≤50%) | — | 15 ft from ROW, 25 ft from nonresi, 50 ft from resi | 1 per bldg | ≥15 ft from ROW, ≥25 ft from nonresidential, ≥50 ft from residential lot | — | §7-8-4.B |
| Directory Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | At entrance; one additional directional | — | §7-8-4.C |

### All Other Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At business or building | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Construction Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft from lot line, 75 ft from dwelling | 1 | On property under construction | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Fuel Pump Sign | — | 1 sq ft per pump | — | — | 1 per pump | On fuel pump | — | §7-8-3.B, Permit Table |
| Hanging Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 8 ft above grade | 1 per entrance | At customer entrance under canopy/awning/marquee | — | §7-8-4.A, Permit Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft per side | — | 8 ft above walkway | 1 per bldg frontage | Perpendicular to building | — | §7-8-4.A |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 160 sq ft (face ≤50%) | — | 15 ft from ROW, 25 ft from nonresi, 50 ft from resi | — | ≥15 ft from ROW, ≥25 ft from nonresi, ≥50 ft from resi lot | — | §7-8-4.B |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft | 64-192 sq ft (see §7-8-8.B) | — | 50 ft from residential; 15 ft from street ROW | — | Min 50 ft from residential; no projection over ROW/lot line | — | §7-8-4.B/Permit Table |
| Directory Sign | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Entrance, with add'l directional sign; more per coordinated sign plan | — | §7-8-4.C, Permit Table |

## Prohibited signs in Amherst Town

- All signs not expressly permitted or exempt from regulation under this Section are prohibited in all districts.
- Banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices or strings of lights are prohibited.
- Rotating or revolving signs are prohibited.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- Any sign mounted, attached or painted on a trailer, boat, or motor vehicle when parked, stored, or displayed conspicuously on the public right-of-way or private premises in a manner intended to attract attention of the public for advertising purposes is prohibited, except for business signs permanently painted on or magnetically attached to vehicles regularly used for business.
- Signs used to attract attention to an object, product, place, activity, institution, organization or business not available or located on the premises where the sign is located are prohibited, unless part of a unified development and a coordinated sign plan is approved.
- Signs advertising or identifying a business which is no longer operating are prohibited and must be removed within 30 days after the business ceases to operate.
- Roof signs placed, inscribed or supported upon or above the highest part of the roofline are prohibited, except directional devices required by the FAA.
- Signs that create a traffic hazard by obstructing the view at any street intersection or that resemble traffic control devices in color, shape, or other characteristics are prohibited.
- Signs that encroach into the clear sight triangle as described in § 2-5-1 are prohibited.
- Signs in the public right-of-way or on other public property are prohibited.
- A sign attached to any accessory structure, including but not limited to, screen wall, refuse enclosure, fence or cart corrals, is prohibited.
- No person, firm, partnership or association of persons shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, light, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles or is likely to be construed as an official traffic control device, light(s) of an emergency vehicle or which attempts to direct or regulate movement of traffic.
- No sign may be erected, moved, enlarged, or altered except in accordance with and pursuant to a building permit for a sign, unless specifically exempted.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights.
- Any sign which is located on property which becomes vacant and unoccupied for a period of three consecutive months or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed abandoned and shall be removed.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises owned, occupied or controlled by such person any sign which is either not structurally sound or creates an electrical hazard; such sign shall be removed or repaired.
- Overhead electrical wires or exposed electrical wires on a sign or its supporting members are prohibited.
- No person shall erect or use any sign which does not comply with the provisions of this Ordinance.
- Any sign projecting over a public right-of-way that does not comply with the regulations after a street improvement project shall be removed or altered at the owner’s expense.
- Illegal or noncompliant signs shall be removed at the direction of the Commissioner of Building.
- No sign permitted pursuant to a building permit or existing prior to May 23, 2006 shall be altered, rebuilt or modified unless it conforms to the requirements and a new building permit for a sign is issued.
- Nonconforming status for a sign terminates if the sign is altered in structure or size (except normal maintenance), relocated, replaced, or if tenancy/use/occupancy of the premises changes.

## Signs exempt from permit in Amherst Town

- Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function.
- Signs prohibiting trespassing.
- Integral, decorative or architectural features of building, except letters or trademarks.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the lot or parcel on which such sign is located.
- Temporary signs proposed by civic or non-profit groups in conjunction with a Town Board resolution permitting a limited activity.
- Address signs (1 per dwelling, max 2 sq ft, not internally illuminated).
- Construction signs (1 per project, max 32 sq ft, max height 15 ft, minimum setbacks).
- Fuel pump signs (max 1 sq ft per pump; operational/payment instructions exempt from this limitation).
- Hanging signs (1 per entrance, max 2 sq ft area, max vertical dimension 18 inches, min 8 ft clearance).
- Home occupation sign (1 non-illuminated, max 2 sq ft, attached to dwelling, must meet home occupation requirements).
- Incidental signs (max 2 sq ft, used to direct and guide traffic/parking on private property, no advertising).
- Political signs (only on private property, not in intersection clear sight triangle, removed within 7 days after election).
- Real estate sign (1 per building/lot, not illuminated, removed within 15 days after sale/lease; max 8 sq ft in residential, 32 sq ft in nonresidential; one additional sign for sites with more than one roadway).
- Window signs (temporary, non-structural, must not occupy more than 20% of window pane per window).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A Coordinated Sign Plan is required for all existing and newly proposed multiple developments as defined in § 2-4 and in accordance with § 8-11.
- All signs in a multiple development must conform to the approved Coordinated Sign Plan on file with the Town.
- Building permits for signs for individual businesses within multiple developments require prior Coordinated Sign Plan approval.
- No owner, tenant, or user of a multiple development may erect or use any sign deviating from/not included in the approved Coordinated Sign Plan.
- A Coordinated Sign Plan may be required prior to the issuance of a building permit for a sign (per § 8-10).
- A Coordinated Sign Plan is required for all signs requiring a building permit in a multiple development, prior to issuance of the permit, unless sign regulations are superseded by a development agreement.
- Additional internal directory signs not visible from the street may be permitted as part of a master sign plan.
- Location of wall signs in multiple developments is approved as part of a coordinated sign plan.
- Should questions arise regarding sign conformance with an approved Coordinated Sign Plan, the Building Department refers to the Planning Director for determination prior to issuance of a building permit.
- Coordinated Sign Plan content and application must be approved by the Planning Director prior to filing; Planning Director has sole authority in determining compliance.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 13 zoning districts in Amherst Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Amherst+Town+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-amherst-town

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