# Sign Regulations in Berne Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Berne Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/berne-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8990549#8990549)

## At a glance

Berne Town, New York regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Uses)s in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 12 sq ft total; for two-sided, max 8 sq ft/side, with a No nearer than 10 ft to any property line setback (Sec. 190-19A(1)). Most commercial signs in Berne Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 5 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial Districts, Neighborhood Commercial Districts | 1 | 20 ft (pole sign: 35 ft) | 50 sq ft | — |
| TN/MU1 Districts, TN/MU2 Districts | 8 | 15 ft | 24 sq ft or 5% of facade (lesser) | — |
| Industrial Districts | 1 | 20 ft (pole sign: 35 ft) | 80 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 50 sq ft (aggregate) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to principal building | — | 190-19A(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Permitted Nonresidential Uses) | 4 ft | 12 sq ft total; for two-sided, max 8 sq ft/side | — | No nearer than 10 ft to any property line | 1 | Ground; not beyond property line | — | 190-19A(1) |
| Wall Sign (Multifamily Dwellings) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to principal building | — | 190-19A(2) |
| Nameplate/Professional Sign (Single-family, Townhouse, or Attached) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On dwelling unit | — | 190-19A(3) |
| Bed-and-breakfast Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On principal building | — | 190-19A(4) |

### TN/MU1 Districts, TN/MU2 Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 ft | 24 sq ft or 5% of facade (lesser) | — | — | 2 | Wall-mounted, no higher than 15 ft above ground | — | 190-19B(2)(a) |
| Building Directory Sign | — | 3 sq ft (1 sq ft per tenant) | — | — | — | Wall-mounted | — | 190-19B(2)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Freestanding, not in circulation path | — | 190-19B(2)(b) |
| Directional Sign to Parking | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Directing to rear parking, wall-mounted | — | 190-19B(2)(c) |
| Painted Window or Door Sign | — | 4 sq ft or 10% of area | — | — | — | Window or door | — | 190-19B(2)(d) |
| Awning/Valance Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Awning or valance | — | 190-19B(2)(e) |
| Projecting Sign | 15 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building | — | 190-19B(2)(f) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Restaurant) | — | 5 sq ft (single-sided) | — | — | — | Within 4 ft of main entrance | — | 190-19B(2)(g) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Representational Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to principal structure | — | 190-19D |
| Billboard (Directional Only) | — | 4 sq ft per establishment | — | — | — | Grouped on community poles | — | 190-19E |
| Subdivision Sign | — | 50 sq ft (aggregate) | — | — | — | Within subdivision or adjoining property in same ownership | — | 190-19G |

## Prohibited signs in Berne Town

- No sign or other device for advertising purposes of any kind may be erected or established in the Town except as provided in this ordinance.
- No sign shall be erected or altered except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
- All signs shall be kept clean, neatly painted and free from all hazards, including but not limited to faulty wiring, loose fastenings and weakened supports, and shall be maintained at all times in such condition as to present no potential threat to public health or safety.
- No representational sign shall be permitted in any district except such signs as shall be approved by the Planning Board.
- Signs projecting into a public right-of-way shall have a clearance of not less than 10 feet above the sidewalk or surrounding ground and not less than 15 feet above any public driveway or thoroughfare. No sign may project into any public right-of-way without approval of the Planning Board.
- Illumination of signs shall not be of intermittent or varying intensity or produce direct glare beyond the limits of the side property line.
- Colored lights of such shape and hue that they may be confused with official traffic lights and signals are prohibited.
- All bare incandescent light sources and immediately adjacent reflecting surfaces must be shielded from view.
- No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices which shall be displayed for no longer than a two-week period. These devices, as well as strings of lights, shall not be used for the purpose of advertising or attracting attention when not part of a sign.
- No signs erected or maintained in the window of a building, visible from any public or private street or highway, shall occupy more than 10% of the area of said window.
- No signs shall be placed on the roof of any building.
- Temporary, nonpermanent posters covering such things as political events, sporting events, shows and elections shall not be displayed until four weeks prior to the event and must be removed within four days after the event. No such sign shall be attached to a street or utility pole.
- Billboards (off-site advertising) are not permitted in any district, except as provided for directional signs to local businesses or community establishments meeting certain conditions.
- Any sign which no longer advertises an existing business or product must be removed after notice.
- Any sign regulated by this chapter found to be unsafe, insecure, or a menace to the public must be repaired or removed after notice; if not, the Town may remove or repair it and assess costs.
- No sign, including existing signs at the time of enactment, may be in violation of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Berne Town

- Real estate signs advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which they are located, within size limits depending on district (six square feet in residential, 12 in commercial, 20 in industrial).
- One professional or business nameplate not exceeding two square feet in area for any one professional or business establishment where such signs would not otherwise be permitted.
- One sign denoting the architect, engineer, and/or contractor when placed upon work under construction and not exceeding 12 square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and dates of erection when cut into masonry surfaces or made of bronze, stainless steel, or similar material.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, and such temporary, emergency, or nonadvertising signs as may be authorized by the Town Board.
- Notice signs to the public (e.g., fishing or trespassing), provided each such sign does not exceed one square foot in area.
- Signs or bulletin boards customarily incident to places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs or societies, not exceeding 24 square feet in area and located on the premises of such institutions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for approval of signs or for sign permits as required by this chapter shall be in writing and submitted to the Building and Zoning Administrator.
- The Building and Zoning Administrator refers each sign application to the Planning Board for its consideration and recommendation (approval, approval with modifications, or disapproval).
- No permit is issued without either an approval or a deemed approval (if no Planning Board action within 45 days).
- No representational sign is permitted in any district except by approval of the Planning Board.
- Signs projecting into public rights-of-way require approval of the Planning Board.
- Signs for the purpose of directing persons to a local business or community establishment (as an exception to billboard prohibition) must be approved by the Planning Board.
- Subdivision signs require a permit, issued for one year and renewable subject to inspection by the Building and Zoning Administrator.

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

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