# Sign Regulations in Central Square, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Central Square, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/central-square
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37417734#37417734)

## At a glance

Central Square, New York regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Village Business Sign District zoning district are capped at 15 feet tall and 9 square feet per face, with a At least 6 feet from property line setback (Sec. § 250-19G(1); § 250-19D(12)). Most commercial signs in Central Square require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Village Business Sign District | 5 | 15 feet | 50% of wall/window signage allowance | — |
| East Avenue Commercial Sign District | 5 | 25 feet | 32 square feet per face | — |
| Village Business District | 1 | — | 9 square feet | — |
| East Avenue Commercial District | 1 | — | 9 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 25 feet | 32 square feet per face | — |

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

### Village Business Sign District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 9 square feet per face | — | At least 6 feet from property line | 1 per parcel | On property within property boundary lines, at least six feet from the property line | — | § 250-19G(1); § 250-19D(12) |
| Wall Sign - Option 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | Attached to building wall | — | § 250-19G(2) |
| Window Sign - Option 2 | — | 4 square feet max | — | — | 1 per window | Permanently affixed to window | — | § 250-19G(2) |
| Wall Sign - Corner Lot (Secondary Street) | — | — | — | — | 1 additional attached sign facing secondary street | Secondary street wall | — | § 250-19G(3) |
| Roof Sign (In Lieu of Wall or Window Sign) | 6 feet; must not extend above roofline | 50% of wall/window signage allowance | — | — | 1 in lieu of wall/window signs | On roof | — | § 250-19G(4) |

### East Avenue Commercial Sign District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 32 square feet per face | — | At least 6 feet from property line | 1 per parcel | On property within property boundary lines, at least six feet from the property line | — | § 250-19H(1); § 250-19D(12) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | On building wall | — | § 250-19H(2) |
| Wall Sign - Corner Lot (Secondary Street) | — | — | — | — | 1 additional attached sign facing secondary street | Secondary street wall | — | § 250-19H(4) |
| Window Sign | — | 4 square feet max | — | — | 2 per ground floor business establishment; one per window | Permanently affixed to window | — | § 250-19H(3) |
| Electronic Message Sign (Component of Freestanding Sign) | — | 30 square feet max | — | — | 1 per lot (as part of 1 freestanding sign) | Integral and subordinate portion of conforming freestanding sign | — | § 250-19H(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (General Restriction) | 25 feet | — | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel | — | § 250-19D(12) |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 square feet per face | — | — | — | Driveway entrances or to direct cars to parking areas | — | § 250-19E(5) |
| Temporary Sign (Up to 60 Days, 4-20 sq ft) | — | 20 square feet | — | At least 6 feet from property line | 2 per property | — | — | § 250-19E(4)(b)-(e) |
| Temporary Sign (Over 20 sq ft or Over 60 Days) | — | — | — | At least 6 feet from property line | 2 per property | — | — | § 250-19E(4)(c)-(e) |
| Shopping Plaza Sign Directory - Ground Sign | 15 feet (Village Business Sign District); 25 feet (East Avenue Commercial Sign District) | 20 square feet max | — | 6 feet from any lot line | 1 per plaza | Front yard, 6 feet from any lot line | — | § 250-19I(2)(b) |
| Shopping Center Directory Sign | As determined by Planning Board (front yard, 6 ft from lot line) | 20 square feet max | — | 6 feet from lot line | 1 per center | Front yard, 6 feet from lot line | — | § 250-19I(3)(a) |
| Gasoline Station Freestanding Sign (Village Business District) | 15 feet | 16 square feet per face | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 250-19J(1) |
| Gasoline Station Freestanding Sign (East Avenue Commercial District) | 25 feet | 32 square feet per face | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 250-19J(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Central Square

- Any signs not specifically permitted by this chapter shall be prohibited.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color, lighting or placement.
- No sign shall impair visibility for the motorist at a street corner or intersection by placement and location within 25 feet of the intersection of the street or highway right-of-way boundary.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights except to show time and temperature.
- No sign shall produce illumination in excess of five footcandles at a distance of seven feet, unless otherwise specified in this section.
- No signs shall be affixed to or painted upon public utility poles, lampposts, water or fire hydrants, bridges, trees, rocks or other such structures, whether situated on public or private land.
- No sign shall obstruct any fire escape, window, door or opening that may be used as a means of ingress or egress, ventilation or for firefighting purposes.
- No sign shall project into a vehicular driveway at an elevation less than 14 feet above grade.
- No sign shall project into an area designed as a pedestrian way at an elevation less than 10 feet above grade.
- All new billboards are prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed on public property or street right-of-way without approval of the Village Board of Trustees.
- All signs shall be contained within the property boundary lines of the subject property, at least six feet from the property line.
- No freestanding sign shall be more than 25 feet in height above finished grade.
- Only one freestanding sign as permitted by this chapter shall be permitted on any parcel, whether a single parcel with more than one building, more than one business or a shopping plaza type of business.
- All signs, except governmental signs and those normally affixed by utilities on poles, are prohibited upon any public street or street right-of-way unless permission is obtained by resolution of the Board of Trustees.

## Signs exempt from permit in Central Square

- Any New York State inspection station identification sign or authorized repair shop identification which does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle service station.
- One self-service identification sign which does not exceed two square feet per self-service fuel pump island.
- One full-service identification sign which does not exceed two square feet per full-service fuel pump island.
- Fuel price signs required by federal, state or local legislation.
- Street number identification plates.
- Historical site markers.
- No-trespassing signs.
- Posted (no hunting, fishing and trapping) signs.
- Governmental signs.
- Utility line identification and location signs.
- Phone identification signs.
- Restroom identification signs.
- Handicapped parking and access signs.
- Vacancy/no-vacancy signs which do not exceed three square feet.
- Accessory signs identifying such use as parking, no parking or office, which do not exceed two square feet each.
- Open/closed business signs that do not exceed two square feet.
- Street identification, traffic and governmental signs and control devices required by law, ordinance or regulation.
- Official public information signs, memorial signs, building names, erection dates or similar information cut into masonry or other permanent surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material, not to exceed 16 square feet.
- Signs and markers in cemeteries designating graves and memorials.
- Temporary signs not exceeding four square feet in area and not more than two per property and not be maintained for more than 60 days.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- If a new sign is to be erected, installed or painted on a structure, application must include elevation and plan drawings to scale, including placement and appearance details.
- In cases where approval of the Planning Board is necessary, the Code Enforcement Officer shall submit all pertinent plans, drawings and applications to the Planning Board for approval.
- All directional signs must be approved by the Planning Board as part of site plan approval or revision.
- Shopping center total sign area and maximum sign height shall be established by the Planning Board as part of the sign plan established as part of site plan approval.

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

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