# Sign Regulations in Bath, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bath, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/bath
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15584276#15584276)

## At a glance

Bath, New York regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Awning Sign (Awning Emblem/Insignia)s in the Historic District zoning district are capped at 18 inches (lettering) tall and 20% of awning area (Sec. § 68-11(E)). Most commercial signs in Bath require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic District | 6 | 40 inches | 20% of awning area | — |
| Commercial District, Industrial District | 4 | 30 ft above average ground level at base | 100 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District | 2 | — | 1 sq ft per linear foot of building width, up to 20 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 4 ft above adjoining grade | 40 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Lettering Sign (Multiple Signs) | — | — | — | — | Max 1 per ground floor window pane or framed window area | Ground floor window panes or framed window areas | — | § 68-11(D)(1)(a), (2), (3) |
| Window Lettering Sign (Single Sign) | — | — | — | — | Max 1 | Ground floor window pane or framed area | — | § 68-11(D)(1)(b), (2), (3) |
| Awning Sign (Valance Lettering) | 6 inches (lettering) | — | — | — | Each separate awning considered a separate sign | Valance of canopy/awning, ground floor only | — | § 68-11(E) |
| Awning Sign (Awning Emblem/Insignia) | 18 inches (lettering) | 20% of awning area | — | — | Each separate awning considered a separate sign | Any portion, including ends, of awning/canopy, ground floor only | — | § 68-11(E) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 40 inches | 10 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Sidewalk (only if sidewalk exceeds 8 ft wide), within 4 ft of curb, first floor only | — | § 68-11(G) |
| Projecting Sign | 15 ft (to top, general), 3 ft (height, perpendicular affixed) | 18 sq ft (perpendicular affixed) | — | — | — | Affixed to building; may not project over road | — | § 68-11(H) |

### Commercial District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 30 ft above average ground level at base | 100 sq ft | — | — | See 'Number of signs' in General Regulations | Must be attached to or associated with premises on which it is located | — | § 119-35(D)(2), (3), (E)(3) |
| Freestanding Sign/Billboard | 30 ft above average ground level at base | 100 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 119-35(D)(2), (E)(3) |
| Time-and-Temperature Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the premises or on approved community pole | — | § 119-35(D)(1)(b) |
| Off-Premises Sign (Community Pole) | — | — | — | — | One per business | On approved community pole; only if off-premises directional sign is deemed only practical means | — | § 119-35(D)(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale/Lease Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises being sold/leased | — | § 119-35(C)(1)(a) |
| Professional Name Plate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 119-35(C)(1)(b) |
| Rooming House Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 119-35(C)(1)(b) |
| Library/Museum/Club/Society Bulletin Board | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of such institution | — | § 119-35(C)(1)(d) |
| Place of Worship Bulletin Board | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of such institution | — | § 119-35(C)(1)(e) |
| Real Estate Development/Subdivision Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 per development | — | — | § 119-35(C)(2)(a) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Unlighted) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site of construction | — | § 119-35(F)(1) |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Illuminated) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On site of construction | — | § 119-35(F)(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Bath

- Signs that imitate or resemble official traffic devices or use words such as 'stop,' 'danger,' or 'slow' that imply the need to stop or the existence of danger to motorists.
- Signs that obstruct the view of motorists of any official traffic control device or reduce the clear view of oncoming vehicles to less than 500 feet.
- Signs that produce glare to an extent or in a direction that may affect highway safety.
- Signs containing flashing, pulsating, intermittent, rotating or moving lights or simulations thereof.
- Signs containing or consisting of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving, fluttering, or revolving devices.
- Signs affixed to or painted upon rocks, trees, utility poles, or other such structures not intended for such use.
- Off-premises signs, except for approved community poles.
- No sign shall overhang the right-of-way of a public highway.
- No sign except on a canopy providing shelter shall overhang more than 1/3 of the sidewalk.
- Illuminated signs shall not produce more than one footcandle of illumination four feet from the sign.
- No sign shall be placed on the roof of any building or extend more than four feet above the building, except as specified for painting on roofs and specific roof signs for four-story buildings.
- It is a violation to maintain for more than 30 days any sign which has become obsolete because of discontinuance of the business, service or activity which it advertises.
- Visible gas-filled tubes or other signs that utilize bare light sources, including neon or fluorescent, are not permitted except with approval from the Historic Preservation Committee.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bath

- Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, not exceeding nine square feet in area.
- Professional name plates and rooming house signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Signs denoting the name and address of occupants, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Signs or bulletin boards customarily incidental to libraries, museums, clubs, or societies, not exceeding 12 square feet in area and located on the premises.
- Signs or bulletin boards customarily incidental to places of worship, not exceeding 24 square feet in area and located on the premises.
- Construction signs for up to one year: one unlighted sign up to 20 square feet identifying persons or firms involved in construction on the site, and one illuminated sign up to 40 square feet identifying the owner and activity for which the building is intended.
- Nonilluminated event signs up to 16 square feet in area per face, for campaigns, drives, or events, permitted in all districts, not exceeding four feet in height, erected up to four weeks prior and removed within one week after the event, and not located within any right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for all signs except where specifically exempted by these regulations.
- For signs in the Historic District, a permit must be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer and a certificate of appropriateness must be issued by the Historic Preservation Commission.
- The applicant for a sign permit must submit detailed drawings, including information on lettering, color, elevation, materials, construction details, lighting, and location plan.
- Event signs proposed for Village-owned property must be reviewed and approved by the Village Board prior to erection.
- Off-premises signs on community poles and community poles themselves must be approved by special permit.
- Nonconforming signs must be removed or altered to conform within three years after enactment.

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

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