# Sign Regulations in Clay, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clay, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/clay
- **Data last verified:** 2025-08-25
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7208774#7208846)

## At a glance

Clay, New York regulates 27 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Neighborhood/Apt Project ID)s in the Residential Districts (RA-100, R-40, R-15, R-10, R-7.5, R-2F, R-TH, R-Apt, R-MHC, LuR, R-SR) zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 24 sq ft, with a 25 ft minimum setback setback (Sec. Table A, § 230-22, Signs). Most commercial signs in Clay require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (RA-100, R-40, R-15, R-10, R-7.5, R-2F, R-TH, R-Apt, R-MHC, LuR, R-SR) | 7 | 6 ft | 25% of vertical face | — |
| Recreation Districts (Rec-1) | 5 | 15 ft | 128 sq ft | — |
| Office Districts (O-1, O-2) | 4 | 15 ft | 25% of vertical face | — |
| Commercial Districts (NC-1, HC-1, RC-1, LuC-1, LuC-2) | 8 | 25 ft | 128 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, S-1) | 6 | 25 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| Planned Development District (PDD) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Special Districts (PDD, GOV) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Overlay Districts (HOV, AFH, Gas Trans) | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 16 sq ft (max) for commercial/nonresidential; 4 sq ft (max) for residential real estate; 32 sq ft for some types (e.g. political, grand opening, now hiring) | — |

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

### Residential Districts (RA-100, R-40, R-15, R-10, R-7.5, R-2F, R-TH, R-Apt, R-MHC, LuR, R-SR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Neighborhood/Apt Project ID) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | 1 per entry | Neighborhood entrance or as part of apartment project identification | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (Agricultural and Nonresidential) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | First story | 2 sq ft | — | — | Per lot | Per lot | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Wall Sign (Neighborhood/Apt Project ID) | First story | 4 sq ft | — | — | Per building | Per building | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Wall Sign (Agricultural and Nonresidential) | First story | 16 sq ft | — | — | Per lot | Per lot | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Projecting Sign (Neighborhood/Apt, Agricultural/Nonresidential) | 1st story | 4 sq ft (Neighborhood/Apt), 16 sq ft (Agricultural/Nonresidential) | — | — | Per building or lot | Per building (Neighborhood/Apt), Per lot (Agricultural/Nonresidential) | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Marquee-Awning-Canopy Sign (Neighborhood/Apt, Agricultural/Nonresidential) | — | 25% of vertical face | — | — | 1 per building | Per building | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |

### Commercial Districts (NC-1, HC-1, RC-1, LuC-1, LuC-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (NC-1) | 15 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (HC-1, LuC-1, LuC-2) | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (RC-1 <5 Acres) | 25 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | Per entry | Per entry | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (RC-1, 5 Acres or Greater) | 25 ft | 128 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | Per entry | Per entry | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Wall Sign | N/A | 16 sq ft (NC-1), 8% of vertical face (HC-1, LuC-1, LuC-2, RC-1) | — | — | Per tenant | Per tenant | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Projecting Sign | 2nd story | 16 sq ft (NC-1, HC-1, LuC-1, LuC-2), 24 sq ft (RC-1) | — | — | Per tenant | Per tenant | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Marquee-Awning-Canopy Sign | — | 25% of vertical face | — | — | Per building | Per building | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Roof Sign | 6 ft above roof line | 16 sq ft (HC-1/LuC-1/LuC-2), 32 sq ft (RC-1) | — | — | Per building | Per building | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |

### Industrial Districts (I-1, I-2, S-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (I-1) | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | Per entry | Per entry | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Freestanding Sign (I-2, S-1) | 25 ft | 64 sq ft | — | 25 ft minimum setback | Per entry | Per entry | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Wall Sign | N/A | 8% of vertical face | — | — | 1 | 1 per tenant | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Projecting Sign | 2nd story | 16 sq ft | — | — | Per tenant | Per tenant | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Marquee-Awning-Canopy Sign | — | 25% of vertical face | — | — | Per building | Per building | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |
| Roof Sign (S-1) | 6 ft above roof line | 16 sq ft | — | — | Per building | Per building | — | Table A, § 230-22, Signs |

## Prohibited signs in Clay

- Only signs that are accessory structures as defined in this Code shall be permitted; no sign shall be installed or used as a principal structure or principal or secondary use. Unless otherwise permitted, no sign shall be unrelated to the property upon which it is located.
- No sign shall be maintained that poses a risk of littering or public safety due to its condition, location, materials, or method of installation.
- No sign shall obstruct any fire escape, window, door, or opening providing ingress or egress, or any opening required for ventilation.
- 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 pedestrianway at an elevation less than 10 feet above grade.
- No sign shall be placed upon or attached to any public right-of-way, utility pole, lamppost, hydrant, sidewalk, bridge, tree, or similar installation or improvement, whether situated upon public or private property.
- Signs which use or simulate colors, design, or placement that tend to confuse, detract from, or obstruct the utilization of traffic regulatory devices are prohibited, including use of certain words like 'stop', 'go', 'look', 'caution', 'danger', 'warning'; use of colors/lights in the spectrum used by traffic devices; and blinking, intermittent, flashing, or animated forms of illumination or light, or sources that create glare.
- No sign shall produce illumination in excess of one footcandle at a distance of four feet.
- On a corner lot, no sign shall project into the elevation between a height of 2½ feet and a height of 10 feet above the grade of each street at the centerline thereof within the defined corner visibility triangle.
- Vehicles or trailers parked to function as signs are prohibited if parked to be viewed from a vehicular public right-of-way and serve as advertisements for products/services or direct people to a business/activity.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Electronic message board signs are prohibited except where expressly permitted by special permit and zoning district.
- All illuminated signs shall meet Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rating standards.
- All signs must be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with all applicable codes, including maximum illumination, dimensional, and siting standards.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clay

- Official signs established pursuant to governmental authority or used for the identification of public buildings, facilities and activities, and including traffic regulation devices authorized by law, are exempt from all sign regulations.
- No sign permit is required for temporary signs less than 16 square feet.
- Sign maintenance (routine maintenance, minor repairs such as repainting and bulb replacement, and repair of electrical or mechanical parts) is allowed and does not require a permit.
- Temporary signs installed with printed contact info or recorded placement and less than 16 square feet do not require prior approval.
- Signs facing changed on nonconforming signs are permitted when there is no change to the primary use of the site or only a portion of a multiple-tenant sign is changed.
- Vehicular signage that is a functional part of a bus, lettered on a motor vehicle, or is part of a construction trailer whose primary purpose is not advertising to the public is not prohibited.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless exempted or waived, all signs are evaluated during site plan review or special permit review required for the principal use or structure.
- When no other review is required for the principal use or structure, the Planning Board reviews proposed signs pursuant to Table A requirements.
- All major and minor signs are subject to a building permit prior to installation, issued according to conditions of reviewing board approval.
- Special permit uses: The Planning Board shall issue a special permit for the use of an electronic message sign prior to issuance of any building permit.
- Signs for lots with nonconforming use, lot, or structure require a special permit from the Planning Board.
- Minor signs are subject to approval during the review required for the principal use or structure; reviewing boards may direct the Commissioner of Planning and Development to finalize and adjust details of design and location of all minor signs as part of the approved plan.
- Temporary signs greater than 16 square feet require review by the Commissioner of Planning and Development to ensure location does not impede pedestrian/vehicular movement and meets safety standards.
- For special permit or variance applications before the Town Board or Zoning Board of Appeals, freestanding sign requests must be referred to the Planning Board.
- Prerequisite to issuance of approval or permit: the proposed sign must not conflict with the general prohibitions and applicable provisions and not adversely impact the character or integrity of any land use having unique significance.

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

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