# Sign Regulations in Arcade, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Arcade, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/arcade
- **Data last verified:** 2025-12-19
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://villageofarcadeny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Chapter-64-Zoning-Rev.-22.pdf#page=50)

## At a glance

Arcade, New York regulates 17 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Wall Sign - Business Identification (Option 1: Standard Lot)s in the Highway Commercial (HC) zoning district are capped at 40 ft overall sign height cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline tall and Total area per commercial use: 100 sq ft (individual sign ≤100 sq ft), with a 20 ft. setback (Sec. Section 805(3)(C); 805(2)(Q); 805(2)(I); 805(2)(J)). Most commercial signs in Arcade require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | No sign over 40 ft overall; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | 12 sq ft (if projecting >12 in) | — |
| Agricultural District (AG); Low Density Residential (No Public Sewers) (R-1); Medium Density Residential (R-3) | 2 | 6 ft (zone sign height cap) | 4 sq ft | — |
| Low Density Residential (With Public Sewers) (R-2); Conservation - Residential (CR) | 2 | 6 ft (zone sign height cap) | 8 sq ft | — |
| Mobile Home Parks (R-4) | 2 | 6 ft (zone sign height cap) | 6 sq ft | — |
| Residence-Restricted Business District (R-3B) | 2 | 6 ft (zone sign height cap) | 24 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District (NC) | 3 | 40 ft overall sign height cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Up to 200 sq ft total per use on a corner lot (individual signs ≤100 sq ft each) | — |
| Highway Commercial (HC) | 5 | 40 ft overall sign height cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Up to 200 sq ft total per use on a corner lot (individual signs ≤100 sq ft each) | — |
| Light Industrial (LI) | 3 | 40 ft overall sign height cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Up to 200 sq ft total per use on a corner lot (individual signs ≤100 sq ft each) | — |
| Highway Commercial/Light Industrial (HC/LI) | 4 | 40 ft overall sign height cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Up to 200 sq ft total per use on a corner lot (individual signs ≤100 sq ft each) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Projection ≤ 12 inches) | No sign over 40 ft overall; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | — | — | General: Free-standing signs (any zone) must be ≥20 ft from edge of paving of any street/road/alley and ≥5 ft from inside (building side) of any sidewalk. Building-mounted signs follow building setbacks. | — | Attached to building wall or parapet; may extend over sidewalks if attachment requirements are met | — | Section 805(2)(Q); 805(2)(H); 805(2)(B); 805(2)(D)-(G); 805(4) (permit/maintenance) |
| Projecting Wall Sign (Projection > 12 inches) | Bottom of sign ≥8 ft above ground; may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline; overall sign height cap 40 ft | 12 sq ft (if projecting >12 in) | — | General free-standing sign setback rules do not apply; sign must meet building attachment and height constraints. | — | Attached to building; may extend over sidewalk if steel attachment requirements met | — | Section 805(2)(Q); 805(2)(H); 805(2)(B) |
| Freestanding Sign (General Setbacks) | No sign over 40 ft (subject to zone-specific maxima) | — | — | ≥20 ft from edge of paving of any street/road/alley and ≥5 ft from the inside of any sidewalk; plus zone-specific front yard/side yard setbacks (see zone entries). | — | On-site, outside the public right-of-way (except NC zone allowance; see zone-specific rules) | — | Section 805(2)(N)-(O); 805(2)(G); 805(2)(J); 805(4) |
| Temporary Sign (Permit Required) | — | 9 sq ft | 30 inches | Follow general and zone-specific setbacks | — | Any district, subject to general placement rules | — | Section 805(3)(A) |
| Temporary Sign (Political/Real Estate/Contractor/Charitable/Not-for-Profit/Special Events) | — | 9 sq ft | 30 inches | Follow general and zone-specific setbacks | — | Any district, subject to general placement rules | — | Section 805(3)(A) |
| Instructional Sign | — | 4 sq ft (each) | — | Follow general and zone-specific setbacks | — | May be freestanding or building-mounted | — | Section 805(3)(B) |
| Public Service Sign | — | — | — | Follow general and zone-specific setbacks | — | Any district | — | Section 805(3)(E) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | — | 9 sq ft | 30 inches | General: ≥5 ft from inside of any sidewalk if freestanding; NC zone may allow within ROW with 5 ft from paved portion. | 1 per business | On-site, typically on sidewalk/near storefront (must observe general sidewalk/paving setback rules and NC-specific rule if in ROW) | — | Section 805(3)(G) |

### Highway Commercial (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Business Identification (Option 1: Standard Lot) | 40 ft overall sign height cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Total area per commercial use: 100 sq ft (individual sign ≤100 sq ft) | — | Minimum side yard setback from residential property lines: 30 ft; Minimum front yard setback: 20 ft. | Multiple signs allowed provided total area per use ≤100 sq ft | Attached to building on site | — | Section 805(3)(C); 805(2)(Q); 805(2)(I); 805(2)(J) |
| Wall Sign - Business Identification (Option 2: Corner Lot) | 40 ft overall cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Up to 200 sq ft total per use on a corner lot (individual signs ≤100 sq ft each) | — | Minimum side yard setback from residential property lines: 30 ft; Minimum front yard setback: 20 ft. | Multiple signs allowed provided total area per use ≤200 sq ft | Attached to building | — | Section 805(3)(C) |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Minimum side yard setback from residential property lines: 30 ft; Minimum front yard setback: 20 ft; General freestanding sign setbacks: ≥20 ft from edge of paving; ≥5 ft from inside of sidewalk. | — | On-site, outside public ROW | — | Section 805(5) Table (HC); Section 805(2)(N)-(O); 805(2)(J) |
| Advertising Sign (Billboard) - Option 1 (Base Allowance) | — | 100 sq ft | — | Follow HC zone setbacks (side yard 30 ft from residential property lines; front yard 20 ft) and general freestanding sign setbacks. | 1 per parcel/lot | On-site; must be within 2,500 ft of a Business located within the confines of the Village | — | Section 805(3)(D) (HC allowance) |
| Advertising Sign (Billboard) - Option 2 (Special Use Permit for Second Sign) | — | Up to 200 sq ft total for two signs (with special use permit) | — | Follow HC zone setbacks (side yard 30 ft from residential property lines; front yard 20 ft) and general freestanding sign setbacks. | 2 total (with special use permit) | On-site; within 2,500 ft of a Village Business | — | Section 805(3)(D) (HC special use provision) |

### Highway Commercial/Light Industrial (HC/LI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Business Identification (Option 1: Standard Lot) | 40 ft overall sign height cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Total area per use: 100 sq ft (individual sign ≤100 sq ft) | — | Minimum side yard setback from residential property lines: 30 ft; Minimum front yard setback: 20 ft. | Multiple signs allowed provided total area per use ≤100 sq ft | Attached to building on site | — | Section 805(3)(C); 805(2)(Q); 805(2)(I); 805(2)(J) |
| Wall Sign - Business Identification (Option 2: Corner Lot) | 40 ft overall cap; wall sign may not project higher than 4 ft above roofline | Up to 200 sq ft total per use on a corner lot (individual signs ≤100 sq ft each) | — | Minimum side yard setback from residential property lines: 30 ft; Minimum front yard setback: 20 ft. | Multiple signs allowed provided total area per use ≤200 sq ft | Attached to building | — | Section 805(3)(C) |
| Freestanding Sign | 40 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Minimum side yard setback from residential property lines: 30 ft; Minimum front yard setback: 20 ft; General freestanding sign setbacks: ≥20 ft from edge of paving; ≥5 ft from inside of sidewalk. | — | On-site, outside public ROW | — | Section 805(5) Table (HC/LI); Section 805(2)(N)-(O); 805(2)(J) |
| Advertising Sign (Billboard) - Option 1 (Base Allowance) | — | 100 sq ft | — | Follow HC/LI zone setbacks (side yard 30 ft from residential property lines; front yard 20 ft) and general freestanding sign setbacks. | 1 per parcel/lot | On-site; must be within 2,500 ft of a Business located within the confines of the Village | — | Section 805(3)(D) (HC/LI allowance) |

## Prohibited signs in Arcade

- No sign shall be erected which, in the opinion of the Village Board, may cause hazardous or unsafe conditions.
- No sign or the electrical apparatus associated with the sign shall cause any electrical interference with the normal operation of electrical appliances of adjacent property owners or tenants.
- No sign shall be erected or located in such a way that would prevent free ingress or egress from any window, door or fire escape.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will obscure light or air from a building.
- No signs shall be permitted which are pasted, stapled, or otherwise attached to public utility poles or trees within the street right-of-way line.
- No sign shall be so erected, located, or maintained that might interfere with, or be confused with, or obstruct the view of any official traffic sign, traffic signal, traffic marking, or block the view of traffic at ingress or egress points to a property.
- Illumination shall not cast glare upon the street, the sidewalk or adjacent property.
- No sign shall be a flashing sign, including signs that flash by giving off or reflecting light; move or revolve (excluding a barber pole at a hair shop); have flowing or moving lights; or alternate in any way their color, shape or intensity of illumination.
- Electronic digital readout signs must remain stationary for at least one minute and may not use reflective or flashing lights.
- No signs shall be erected containing information which states or implies that the property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this Zoning Law.
- No free-standing sign will be permitted to be located, erected or maintained less than twenty (20) feet from the edge of paving of any street, road or alley; nor less than five (5) feet from the inside of any sidewalk.
- No sign shall be more than forty (40) feet in height.
- Vehicles (including trailers or carts) bearing signs more than four (4) square feet in area shall not be permitted to be parked (other than for loading or unloading) within the front yard in any zoning district.
- Signs attached to a building shall not project more than forty eight (48) inches from the wall.
- Signs projecting more than twelve (12) inches from a wall shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet, shall not weigh more than one hundred fifty (150) pounds, and shall not be less than eight (8) feet above the ground.
- Signs erected on a separate superstructure attached to the roof of a building or to any other part of a building above the roof line shall not be permitted.
- No sign attached to the wall of a building shall project higher than four (4) feet above the roofline.

## Signs exempt from permit in Arcade

- No permit is required for the following temporary signs: political, real estate, contractor, charitable, not-for-profit, and special events.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected or altered until a permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer.
- All applications for a sign permit must include a drawing showing the exact size and dimensions, the location on the property or structure, and the relationship of the sign to adjacent properties, plus any other information the Zoning Officer deems necessary.
- The Zoning Officer cannot issue a permit for a sign that would violate any provision of the local law unless written approval is granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals (variance).
- Temporary signs require permits (except specified categories that are permit-exempt).
- Sandwich board signs require a permit; permits are valid for one year; only one sandwich board permit per business at any given time; use restricted to business hours.
- Public service signs may be erected in any district by a nonprofit community service organization after a permit is granted.
- Signs in commercial or industrial districts placed to face an abutting residential district require a special permit.
- In the Highway Commercial district, a special use permit may allow one additional advertising sign exceeding 100 sq. ft., subject to total area limits and signage standards.
- Historical markers require Village Board approval (with advice of the Village Historian) and are erected by the Village Highway Department.

## 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 9 zoning districts in Arcade — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Arcade+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-arcade

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