# Sign Regulations in Auburn, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Auburn, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/auburn
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8972539#8972539)

## At a glance

Auburn, New York regulates 16 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Canopy Signs in the CC District, C District, NC District, HC District, I District, I-1 District, I-2 District, D District zoning district are capped at 1.5 feet or vertical thickness of canopy (whichever is greater). Signs below canopy: clearance minimum 10 feet. tall and See formula; cannot exceed district maximum sign area. (Sec. §305-73D, §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-79). Most commercial signs in Auburn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 District | 3 | — | 10 square feet | — |
| R-2 District | 3 | — | 15 square feet | — |
| CC District, C District, NC District, HC District, I District, I-1 District, I-2 District, D District | 10 | Post max 6 ft. | CC: 100 sf; C: 60 sf; NC: 40 sf; HC: 200 sf; I, I-1, I-2: 200 sf; D: 100 sf | — |
| SC District | 3 | Post max 6 ft. | — | — |
| Downtown District (Downtown Mixed-Use Core) | 7 | Max 50% of story height | — | — |
| Downtown District (Gateways) | 8 | 42 inches | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 35 feet or district max height (flagpole); unlimited for wall | No max area for wall-mounted; freestanding flag pole max height: 35 feet or district max height, whichever is less; banners: 6 sf | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### CC District, C District, NC District, HC District, I District, I-1 District, I-2 District, D District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | CC: 100 sf; C: 60 sf; NC: 40 sf; HC: 200 sf; I, I-1, I-2: 200 sf; D: 100 sf | — | — | 1 per facade | Building wall; one per facade. | — | §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-72, §305-79 |
| Awning Sign | — | See formula; cannot exceed district maximum sign area. | — | — | 1 per facade | Awnings, ground-floor. | — | §305-73C, §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-79 |
| Canopy Sign | 1.5 feet or vertical thickness of canopy (whichever is greater). Signs below canopy: clearance minimum 10 feet. | See formula; cannot exceed district maximum sign area. | — | — | 1 per facade | Canopy surfaces, ground-floor only. | — | §305-73D, §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-79 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | Window; one per property. | — | §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-72, §305-79 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | Building—one per building. | — | §305-73F, §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-79 |
| Freestanding Bracket Sign | Post max 6 ft. | — | — | — | 1 per lot | Adjoining street frontage; one per lot. | — | §305-73G, §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-79 |
| Monument Sign | — | — | — | 12.5 ft min from front property line; 80 ft min from other monument signs. | 1 per lot | Adjoining primary/secondary street; one per lot. | — | §305-73H, §305-74B, §305-74D, §305-79 |
| Sidewalk/A-frame Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | Within ADA accessible portion of sidewalk; 1 per building. | — | §305-73I, §305-74B, §305-74D |

### Downtown District (Downtown Mixed-Use Core)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 2 feet | — | — | — | — | Building facade | — | §305-75 |
| Awning Sign | 18 inches | — | — | — | — | Ground-floor awnings only | — | §305-75 |
| Projecting Sign | 4 feet | — | 4 feet | — | — | 2nd story or lower | — | §305-75 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §305-75 |
| Marquee Sign | Max 50% of story height | — | — | — | — | Building entrance | — | §305-75 |
| Sidewalk/A-frame Sign | 42 inches | — | 24 inches | — | — | Within ADA-accessible sidewalk | — | §305-75 |
| Outdoor Display Case | 3.5 feet | — | 3.5 feet | — | — | — | — | §305-75 |

### Downtown District (Gateways)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 2 feet | — | — | — | — | Building facade | — | §305-75 |
| Awning Sign | 18 inches | — | — | — | — | — | — | §305-75 |
| Projecting Sign | 4 feet | — | 4 feet | — | — | 2nd story or lower | — | §305-75 |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §305-75 |
| Freestanding Bracket Sign | 2 feet max, post 6 feet max | — | 3 feet (excluding post) | — | — | — | — | §305-75 |
| Monument Sign | 5 feet | — | — | — | — | — | — | §305-75 |
| Sidewalk/A-frame Sign | 42 inches | — | 24 inches | — | — | Within ADA-accessible sidewalk | — | §305-75 |
| Outdoor Display Case | 3.5 feet | — | 3.5 feet | — | — | — | — | §305-75 |

## Prohibited signs in Auburn

- No person shall erect, substantially modify, relocate or substantially reconstruct any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the Code Enforcement Office, except as otherwise provided.
- No sign permit shall be required for the repainting or repair of a sign in conformance with this chapter.
- All signs shall be sited so as not to interfere with a clear view of intersecting streets and shall be located at least 12.5 feet from any property line.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color or placement.
- Any signage not expressly permitted in this section (or chapter) is prohibited in the City of Auburn.
- All signs shall advertise the business on the property; no off-premises advertising is permitted.
- All signs must be constructed in accordance with New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, maintained in good condition, kept free of defects or hazards, and not allowed to become dilapidated or deteriorated.
- All signs and their supports shall be kept in good repair. The Code Enforcement Officer may order the removal of any sign not maintained in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
- Banners, ribbons, streamers, spinners, balloons, or other similar moving, fluttering, revolving, flashing, smoke-generating or visual signal generating or animated devices that contain a message or content used for the purpose of advertising are prohibited.
- Any sign that advertises an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted or available on the premises is prohibited.
- Digital or electronic signs which display constantly moving or flashing content are prohibited.
- Roof signs which are designed and erected on and supported by the roof of the building or structure are prohibited.
- Portable signs on wheels are prohibited, except as permitted for temporary signs.
- Signs that constitute a traffic hazard, including those that interfere with, obstruct the view of, or may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device because of position, shape, or color, or make use of the words STOP, LOOK, DETOUR, DANGER, CAUTION, WARNING, or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in a manner that misleads, interferes with, or confuses traffic, are prohibited.
- Posting or affixing any notices, placards, bills, posters, cards, stickers, banners, signs, advertisings, or other devices designed to attract public attention upon any street, street furniture, right-of-way, public sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, lamppost, hydrant, tree, alley, telephone pole, public telephone, or lighting system, or other public alarm or communication system is prohibited.
- Nonconforming signs may not be relocated, enlarged, replaced, redesigned, or altered in any way that increases their nonconformity.
- Nonconforming signs may not be structurally or electrically expanded or altered unless such alteration brings the sign into conformance.
- Nonconforming signs may not be relocated to another site on the same property.
- Nonconforming signs may not be reestablished after discontinuance for 30 consecutive days.
- Any sign located on property unoccupied for a period of 60 days or more shall be deemed abandoned.
- Failure to remove an abandoned sign will result in removal by the City with the cost assessed to the property owner.
- Except for the permitted cap-and-replace digital billboard provision, billboards are prohibited.
- Posting signs in the public right-of-way or on City property is prohibited except as otherwise authorized.

## Signs exempt from permit in Auburn

- Flags of any nation, state, municipality, or political subdivision, flags officially designated as a national, state, or local symbol, or flags of fraternal, religious, and civic organizations (with certain requirements).
- Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar material; and emblems installed by governmental agencies, religious or nonprofit organizations.
- Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or no trespassing signs, not exceeding two square feet per face.
- Number and name plates identifying residences, mounted on house, apartment or mailbox, not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Lawn signs identifying residences, not exceeding one square foot per face, nonilluminated except as part of a lamppost, with no advertising message.
- Integral graphics or attached price signs on gasoline pumps at automotive service stations.
- Seasonal and holiday decorations, including lighting, are exempt from the provisions of this chapter and may be displayed in any district without a permit.
- Decals, logos, emblems, or price signs that identify the name of a business, under 64 square inches.
- Signs incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums, schools, private clubs or societies, and other public or semipublic uses, not exceeding 16 square feet in area, one per lot, located not closer than 10 feet to any property line.
- One home occupation sign for an approved home occupation, no larger than two square feet, not closer than 10 feet from any property line, and height restrictions if freestanding.
- Murals or similar designs, images, or expressions on the exterior of a building, generally for the purpose of decoration or artistic expression, with the exclusion of advertisements.
- Light pole banners on private property are allowed with listed conditions.
- Directional signs to identify circulation paths and provide operational information for parking lots, with limitations on number, size, and location.
- Temporary signs (subject to size, duration, and placement restrictions as provided in §305-76B).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- When signs are required as part of the site plan review, the Planning Board and the Design Review Committee shall consider compatibility of sign character as part of site plan review.
- Whenever an activity requires site plan review under Article VI, and the activity will include signage, the review of signage shall be part of the site plan review process.
- In cases where a single property or structure requires more than one sign permit, a sign site plan will be required, to be submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer for approval.
- The Code Enforcement Officer may defer the authority to approve or deny a sign permit or sign site plan to the Planning Board at his/her discretion.
- A master or overall sign plan requirement is not specifically named, but a 'sign site plan' is required for properties needing more than one sign permit, and as part of site plan reviews.
- Variance requests (e.g., to exceed maximum sign area/square footage) are reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals per Article VIII.
- Billboard installation in the HC District requires a special use permit from the Planning Board.
- Mural installations require a permit application, with site plan setting forth mural location, dimensions, and other details; the application is reviewed by the Design Review Committee and Code Enforcement Officer.

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

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