# Sign Regulations in Brewster, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brewster, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/brewster
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12695624#12695624)

## At a glance

Brewster, New York regulates 19 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Home Occupation Signs in the R District, R20 District zoning district are capped at 4 ft including supports tall and 2 sq ft, with a Minimum 10 ft from property line. setback (Sec. §199-8[F]). Most commercial signs in Brewster require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R District, R20 District | 2 | 4 ft including supports | 6 sq ft (each side for double-sided) | — |
| B1 District, B2 District, B3 District, C District, MU District, LMW District, OP District, PB District | 6 | 10 ft including base or pedestal | 75% of linear footage of building frontage (sq ft), max length 16 ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 15 ft incl. supports | 75% of wall area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### R District, R20 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | 4 ft including supports | 2 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from property line. | — | Must be set back a minimum of 10 ft from the property line. | — | §199-8[F] |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 sq ft (each side for double-sided) | — | Minimum 3 ft from property line. | 5 per property | Set back at least 3 ft from property line. Private property only. | — | §199-10 |

### B1 District, B2 District, B3 District, C District, MU District, LMW District, OP District, PB District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 75% of linear footage of building frontage (sq ft), max length 16 ft | 16 ft | — | 1 per business or occupant per building elevation | Permanently mounted on or attached to exterior wall, parallel to wall, placed below windows of the floor above retail location, or below the roof of a one-story building. | — | §199-8[A] |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | — | 8 sq ft or 25% of awning/canopy area (whichever is less) | 85% of building frontage or storefront width | — | — | Above door/window/storefront, at least 8 ft between sidewalk and lowest section, fully supported by building (no poles). | — | §199-8[B] |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of window area per window | — | — | — | Posted on interior of window. | — | §199-8[C] |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft including base or pedestal | 30 sq ft max | — | Minimum 10 ft from property line | — | Fully within building lot, min 10 ft setback from property line. | — | §199-8[D] |
| Bracket or Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Shall not protrude more than 18 inches from the exterior wall. | — | §199-8[E] |
| Temporary Sign | — | 6 sq ft (each side for double-sided) | — | Min 3 ft from property line | 5 per property | Set back at least 3 ft from property line. Private property only. Window: area limit is 10% of each window's area. | — | §199-10 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mural or Painted Wall Sign (Special Exception Use Permit) | — | 75% of wall area | — | — | 1 per building | Building facade; 1 per building, only one side. | — | §199-11[A][1] |
| Roof Sign (Special Exception Use Permit) | 3 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On roof | — | §199-11[A][2] |
| Pole Sign (Special Exception Use Permit) | 10 ft incl. base/pedestal | 30 sq ft (excludes poles/posts) | — | — | — | — | — | §199-11[A][3] |
| Marquee Sign (Special Exception Use Permit) | 15 ft incl. supports | 12 sq ft (excl. supports) | — | — | — | — | — | §199-11[A][5] |
| Memorial Tablet/Emblem/Building Name/Date | — | Min(1% of wall area, 4 sq ft) | — | — | — | Masonry surface or bronze or similar integral to building. | — | §199-12[A] |
| Nameplate | 12 in | 12 in x 24 in | 24 in | — | — | Within property lines | — | §199-12[J] |
| Driveway Entrance/Exit Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | At driveway entrances/exits | — | §199-12[K] |
| Traffic Directional Sign (on premises) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §199-12[L] |

## Prohibited signs in Brewster

- No sign shall be erected, constructed or displayed except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter throughout the Village of Brewster (§199-3).
- Any sign not expressly permitted by this chapter, or permitted by special exception use permit, is expressly prohibited (§199-13).
- Flashing signs and neon signs are prohibited (§199-16C(5)).
- Moving, revolving or animated signs, or signs embellished by balloons, streamers or other distractive adornments are prohibited (§199-16E).
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where position, shape, or color could interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or which uses words/phrases to mislead or confuse traffic (§199-16A).
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape (§199-16B, §199-17D).
- Noticeable raceways and transformers for individual letters are prohibited. Installation details must indicate transformer/mechanical equipment location (§199-16C(3)).
- All lighting in connection with signs must be extinguished by 11:00 p.m. or at the close of business/activity, whichever is earlier, unless additional hours are authorized (§199-16D).
- Flashing, rotating, and intermittent lighting are prohibited (§199-17E).
- Signs and supporting structures must not be within six feet of any electrical conductor, electrical light pole, electric street lamp, traffic light, or other public utility pole (§199-17F).
- Billboards are not permitted signs pursuant to this chapter (§199-15).
- No temporary sign may be posted on public property (§199-10E).
- No fluorescent colors or reflective materials shall be used on temporary signs (§199-10H).
- No temporary sign shall be illuminated (§199-10I).

## Signs exempt from permit in Brewster

- Memorial tablets, emblems, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or similar material, within size limits (§199-12A).
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, and temporary emergency signs by government/public utility employees in their official work (§199-12B).
- Historic site and building plaques and markers subject to historic preservation ordinances (§199-12C).
- Names on mailboxes (§199-12D).
- Signs warning the public against trespassing, parking, or soliciting (§199-12E).
- Temporary safety, traffic, directional, and warning signs approved by a governmental agency (§199-12F).
- Window and door signs and temporary signs to indicate a suite number or apartment number for address purposes only (§199-12G).
- Signs required by law or deemed necessary to the public welfare by the governing body (§199-12H).
- For residential premises for sale or rent: one temporary nonilluminated 'for rent' or 'for sale' sign (up to 6 sq ft), and one 'open house' sign (up to 4 sq ft); for nonresidential premises: one temporary nonilluminated sign (up to 16 sq ft), with conditions (§199-12I).
- A nameplate sign within property lines, bearing only the name and address of the principal occupant, within size limits (§199-12J).
- Signs not exceeding one square foot calling attention to driveway entrances and exits (§199-12K).
- Signs erected to control the movement of traffic on a premises (not for advertising), within size limits and with Planning Board approval (§199-12L).
- Governmental flags, including the American flag, displayed in a respectful and safe manner (§199-12M).
- Temporary signs as set forth in §199-10, subject to those provisions (§199-12N).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive signage program (master sign plan) is required for two or more businesses that share a zoning lot or for commercial developments with multiple entrances (§199-18A).
- The comprehensive signage program must include specifications for all signs within the program area and be presented to the Building Department, receiving Planning Board approval prior to any individual sign applications (§199-18A-B).
- All approved comprehensive signage programs must remain on file with the Building Department (§199-18B).
- Individual sign applications for buildings subject to a comprehensive program are reviewed for compliance with the approved program and other applicable rules/regulations (§199-18C).
- Graphics on permanent signs may be permitted pending Planning Board approval (§199-7A(2)).
- Signs requiring a special exception use permit or a variance must be approved by the Board of Trustees (special exception) or the Zoning Board of Appeals (variance) before the permit is issued (§199-6, §199-11).
- A full and complete rendering must be submitted for any sign, mural, or message painted directly onto a building façade seeking a special exception use permit (§199-11A(1)(g)).

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Brewster, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Brewster+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-brewster

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