# Sign Regulations in Batavia, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Batavia, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/batavia
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8977290#8977290)

## At a glance

Batavia, New York regulates 18 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the C-2 zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 40 sf, with a 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. §190-43L, M, T, Z(8)). Most commercial signs in Batavia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-1A, R-2 | 7 | 6 ft | 30% of permitted permanent sign area | — |
| R-3 | 7 | 6 ft | 30% of allowed permanent freestanding sign area | — |
| C-1 | 11 | 6 ft | 32 sf | — |
| C-2 | 15 | 25 ft | 100 sf | — |
| C-3, H-O | 15 | 18 ft | 175 sf | — |
| I-1 | 11 | 18 ft | 32 sf | — |
| I-2, I-3, P-1, P-2, P-3 | 11 | 18 ft | 32 sf | — |
| L | 4 | 5 ft structure / 3 ft face | 30% of allowed permanent monument sign area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 18 in | 32 sf | — |

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

### C-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 2 ft (text/graphic on valance) | 25% of ground-story awning area | 75% of awning width/depth | — | 1 per awning face | On awning over ground-story door or window | — | §190-43L, M, O, Z(8) |
| Canopy Sign | 2 ft (text/graphic); clear height 10 ft | 25% of canopy area | 75% canopy width | — | 1 per canopy | Over accessible entrance | — | §190-43L, M, P, Z(8) |
| Projecting Sign | 4 ft (below 2nd fl.), 8 ft (2nd/3rd fl.) | 10 sf | 6 ft projection | — | — | 90° from wall | — | §190-43L, M, Q, Z(8) |
| Shingle Sign | 3 ft | 10 sf | 3.5 ft projection width | — | — | Hangs from a bracket, within 5 ft of entrance | — | §190-43L, M, R |
| Pole Sign | 25 ft | 40 sf | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage; +1 if >200 ft | Freestanding on pole(s) | — | §190-43L, M, T, Z(8) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 40 sf | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >200 ft) | Freestanding, see U | — | §190-43L, M, U, Z(8) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 sf | — | Min 18 in from curb | 1 per building | Over main entrance, not wider than entrance + 5 ft both sides | — | §190-43L, M, V, Z(8) |
| Iconic Sign | — | 40 sf | — | 18 in from curb | 1 per establishment | Building mounted or freestanding | — | §190-43L, M, W, Z(8) |

### C-3, H-O

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | 2 ft text/graphic | 20% of awning | 75% awning width | — | 1 per awning face | On awning over ground-story door/window | — | §190-43L, M, O, Z(8) |
| Canopy Sign | 2 ft graphic height; clear height 10 ft | 20% | 75% canopy width | — | 1 per canopy | Over accessible entrance | — | §190-43L, M, P, Z(8) |
| Projecting Sign | 4 ft (below 2nd fl.), 8 ft (2nd/3rd fl.) | 10 sf | 6 ft projection | — | — | 90° from wall | — | §190-43L, M, Q, Z(8) |
| Shingle Sign | 3 ft | 10 sf | 3.5 ft projection width | — | — | Within 5 ft of entrance, below 2nd story/roof | — | §190-43L, M, R |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 15 sf | — | 5 ft | 1 per street frontage (+1 if >200 ft) | Freestanding | — | §190-43L, M, U, Z(8) |
| Pole Sign | 18 ft | 15 sf | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per frontage (+1 if >200 ft) | — | — | §190-43L, M, T |
| Marquee Sign | — | 175 sf | — | 18 in from curb | 1 per building | Over main entrance | — | §190-43L, M, V, Z(8) |
| Bracket Sign | 5 ft structure / 3 ft face | 10 sf | 3 ft | — | 1 per building | — | — | §190-43L, M, X, Z(8) |

### I-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 15% of wall area | — | — | 1 per wall, per establishment | Exterior wall parallel to wall plane | — | §190-43L, M, N, Z(8) |
| Awning Sign | 2 ft text/graphic | 20% | 75% awning width | — | 1 per awning face | Awning over ground-story door/window | — | §190-43L, M, O, Z(8) |
| Canopy Sign | 2 ft graphic height, clear height 10 ft | 20% of canopy | 75% canopy width | — | 1 per canopy | Over accessible entrance | — | §190-43L, M, P, Z(8) |
| Projecting Sign | 4 ft (below 2nd fl.), 8 ft (2nd/3rd fl.) | 10 sf | 6 ft projection | — | — | 90° from wall | — | §190-43L, M, Q, Z(8) |
| Shingle Sign | 3 ft | 10 sf | 3.5 ft projection width | — | — | Within 5 ft of entrance, below 2nd story/roof | — | §190-43L, M, R |
| Pole Sign | 18 ft | 15 sf | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per frontage (+1 if >200 ft) | Freestanding on pole(s) | — | §190-43L, M, T, Z(8) |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 15 sf | — | 5 ft from property line | 1 per frontage (+1 if >200 ft) | Freestanding | — | §190-43L, M, U, Z(8) |
| Bracket Sign | 5 ft structure, 3 ft face | 10 sf | 3 ft | — | 1 per building | — | — | §190-43L, M, X, Z(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Batavia

- It is unlawful for any person to erect, enlarge, relocate or change the copy of any sign, other than those identified as exempt, without first obtaining a sign permit.
- All signs must be located on the same lot as the permitted use.
- All signs not in compliance with the provisions and conditions of this section and not obtaining a permit are specifically prohibited.
- No off-premises signs shall be allowed other than those permitted by other subsections contained in this article.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, rotating, scrolling, strobing, or moving lights.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, in its design, color, or placement.
- No sign shall be placed upon the roof of any building.
- No sign shall consist of or simulate moving, revolving or fluttering devices such as ribbons and streamers.
- No advertising message shall be extended over more than one sign placed along a street or highway.
- No signs shall be attached to utility poles in all zones of the City of Batavia.
- No permanent, temporary or exempt signs shall be attached, placed, painted or drawn upon fences, trees, or man-made or natural features.
- No signs shall be placed anywhere within the City or state rights-of-way without the permission of the Department of Public Works, excepting awning signs, canopy signs, projecting signs, and shingle signs (in specified districts and size limits) and sidewalk signs (size limits).
- All signs must be a minimum of 18 inches inside the street line.
- Blinking, flashing and chasing light sources are not allowed for sign illumination.
- Bare bulb illumination is not allowed except for marquee signs.
- Visible transformers are not allowed for sign illumination.
- Electronic message boards must not display messages that scroll, move, rotate, or use animation effects.
- Electronic message boards must not be brighter than necessary and must not impair the vision of drivers, interfere with traffic-control devices, or be of such brilliance as to cause hazards.
- Electronic message boards must not be equipped with audio speakers, excluding two-way communication devices.
- All signs shall be constructed and installed in conformance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
- Dilapidated, abandoned, or unsafe signs must be repaired or removed when ordered by the Department of Public Works.

## Signs exempt from permit in Batavia

- Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs or plaques, when cut into a masonry surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar material and not exceeding six square feet do not require a permit.
- Flags do not require a permit.
- Nonilluminated 'warning,' 'private drive,' 'posted' or 'no trespassing' signs, not exceeding two square feet per face, do not require a permit.
- Three or fewer temporary signs (banner, window, posters, lawn, and directional) not exceeding 60 days, and per the overall area allocation, do not require a permit.
- Open and closed signs, hours of operation, and decorations, including lighting, do not require a permit.
- On-premises directional signs not exceeding four square feet in area and no more than four feet in height do not require a permit.
- Sidewalk signs do not require a permit but must be taken inside the business at close of business.
- Routine maintenance of existing signs, not involving erection, enlargement, relocation or change of copy, does not require a permit.
- Exempt signs are not exempt from the general provisions of the sign ordinance.
- Exempt signs of a temporary nature shall not be attached to fences, utility poles or the like and shall not impair traffic visibility.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A common sign plan must be filed with the Department of Public Works for all sites occupied by more than one tenant. All tenant signs must meet the requirements of the common sign plan after filing.
- If a variance is needed for a sign, an appeal can be made by applying to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and for signs in the Central Commercial (C-3) District, the City Planning and Development Committee shall review and issue recommendations.
- For any sign permit application, elevation and plan drawings must be included for new signs, and compliance with all requirements is reviewed by the Department of Public Works before a permit is issued.

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

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