# Sign Regulations in Cohoes, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cohoes, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/cohoes
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8476268#8476268)

## At a glance

Cohoes, New York regulates 28 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Business Signs in the Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Mixed-Use Districts zoning district are capped at 20 ft above grade tall and 100 sq ft, with a 15 ft from front property line, 5 ft from side line setback (Sec. §285-97A(3)). Most commercial signs in Cohoes require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 6 ft above grade | 80% of window area (see-through lettered) | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | 6 ft above grade | 16 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Mixed-Use Districts | 7 | 20 ft above grade | 100 sq ft | — |
| Historic Overlay District | 5 | No higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 60 sq ft (wall sign, flat/facade); 15 sq ft (any other sign) | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Commercial Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line | 1 per lot (2 permitted corner lots) | At least 5 ft from property line | — | §285-95C |
| Institutional/Bulletin Board Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line | 1 per lot (2 allowed for corner lots) | On premises of institution; at least 10 ft to property line | — | §285-95D |
| Temporary Noncommercial Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line | — | Set back at least 5 ft from property line | — | §285-95J |
| Temporary A-frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | 4 ft above natural grade | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per location | Not in street right-of-way | — | §285-95H |
| Political Sign | 6 ft above grade | 16 sq ft | — | Not within 10 ft of lot line | — | Not on public property or within 10 ft of lot line. Not to block sight at intersections. | — | §285-94C, §285-95F |
| Construction/Renovation Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On premises where work in progress (residential) | — | §285-95I |
| Construction/Renovation Sign (Commercial/Industrial/Mixed-Use) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On premises where work in progress (comm/ind/mixed use) | — | §285-95I |
| Gasoline Station Portable Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per station | — | — | §285-95K(3) |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Mixed-Use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On wall of building, ground floor | — | §285-97A(1) |
| Building Directory Sign | 6 ft above grade | 16 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per multiple-use structure | On property | — | §285-97A(2) |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 20 ft above grade | 100 sq ft | — | 15 ft from front property line, 5 ft from side line | 1 per property | On property | — | §285-97A(3) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business or public entrance | Hangs from wall, at least 8 ft above ground | — | §285-97B |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft above grade | 2 sq ft | — | No closer than 5 ft to property line | — | Entrance/exit to property, location of parking, no closer than 5 ft to any property line | — | §285-97C |
| Temporary Advertising or Promotional Banner | — | Counts toward business sign area allowance | — | — | 1 at a time per business | — | — | §285-97D |
| Awnings/Canopy Sign | — | — | — | Not extend into setbacks | — | Over entrance, attached to structure | — | §285-98A |

### Historic Overlay District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | No higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 60 sq ft (wall sign, flat/facade); 15 sq ft (any other sign) | — | Shall not be nearer than four feet to the curbline and not nearer to adjacent property line than twice sign projection if hanging; flush signs may not project more than 6 in from facade. | 1 per place of business | Flat against facade, first floor; may be higher only if restoring original historic placement | — | §285-98B(8)-(12) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 15 sq ft (unless restricted by frontage formula as above) | — | Hanging sign not nearer to adjacent property line than twice sign's projection; not in right-of-way. | 1 per business | Above primary entrance; hung from wall | — | §285-98B(7)-(12) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 10% of canopy surface area | — | — | — | On canopy | — | §285-98B(14) |
| Painted Window Sign | — | 10% of window surface area | — | — | — | Window | — | §285-98B(15) |
| Directional Sign | — | 5 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per access | At point of ingress/egress to parking | — | §285-98B(13) |

## Prohibited signs in Cohoes

- No sign shall be permitted in any zoning district except in compliance with the provisions of these regulations.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, moved or used without first obtaining a sign permit where required.
- No sign shall project across or over a property line or lease line, or be in a public right-of-way except in areas where hanging signs are permitted.
- Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs containing luminous material, sequin-studded letters or lettering with fluorescent paint are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected or allowed to exist so as to constitute a traffic hazard.
- 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, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or use words, phrases, symbols or characters in a manner that interferes with or misleads traffic.
- No sign shall contain any obscene wording or depiction.
- No sign or sign support shall be placed upon the roof of any building, except those signs of a landmark, historic or other unique nature.
- Signs containing banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, balloons, searchlights and other similar moving, fluttering or revolving, flashing, smoke-generating or animated devices that create an adverse impact on safe traffic movements or strings of lights used for advertising, illumination or attracting attention, may be removed by the Zoning Officer.
- No sign shall be displayed without a permit, except as specifically provided that a permit is not required.
- Obsolete signs (no longer advertising an existing business or product sold on the premises) shall be removed.
- Signs that are not used, abandoned, unsafe, unsecure, or are a menace to the public must be removed or repaired upon notice.
- The Zoning Officer may remove immediately, without notice, any sign causing immediate peril to persons or property.
- Signs placed upon a balcony, porch, canopy, shed, roof, parapet, door or window, or in any manner which disfigures or conceals any architectural feature of any building are prohibited.
- Signs attached to or painted upon a fence, tree, standpipe, fire escape, utility pole or similar appurtenance are prohibited.
- No sign or sign structure, other than official street, traffic or highway markers, shall be placed upon any street or highway right-of-way.
- Signs painted on buildings are prohibited (in the Historic Overlay District).

## Signs exempt from permit in Cohoes

- Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, including state or federal historic markers, or required by any law, ordinance or governmental regulation.
- Repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure, unless a structural change is made or if the repair is in violation of the sign regulations.
- Memorial tablets or signs and locally designated historic markers not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Flags, emblems or insignias of the United States, the United Nations or similar organizations of which this nation is a member.
- Signs for the direction or convenience of the public, including signs which identify rest rooms or locations of public telephones or traffic control devices, provided the total area does not exceed four square feet.
- Specific permitted signs in all districts do not require a permit: nameplates (max 2 sq ft), occupant name/address signs (max 2 sq ft), temporary commercial signs (max 6 sq ft), institutional signs/bulletin boards (max 16 sq ft), no trespassing/private property/fishing/hunting control signs (max 2 sq ft), certain political signs (max 16 sq ft, timing restrictions), window signs within area restrictions, certain temporary A-frame signs, construction/renovation/repair signs within size limits, temporary noncommercial signs within six-foot setback and size limit, gasoline station integral graphics and specific auxiliary/portable signs.
- No sign permit is required for temporary advertising or promotional banners in commercial, industrial, and mixed-use districts (but these count toward overall signage limits).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, altered, moved or used without first obtaining a sign permit where required.
- No application for approval of signs or for a sign permit shall be processed or permitted unless permission is granted from the property owner.
- For building directory signs (multiple-use structures), Planning Board review through the site plan approval process and a sign permit are required; design, location, and illumination are decided by the Board.
- All wall and hanging signs in the Historic Overlay District require prior approval from the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board before a permit is issued.
- For awnings/canopy signs, plans and specifications must be submitted to the Zoning Officer and may be referred to the Planning Board.
- For painted window signs, a sign permit is required.
- In cases where a single property or structure requires more than one sign permit, a sign site plan will be required. Application for sign site plan approval must be submitted to the Zoning Officer, who refers it to the Planning Board for action.
- All applications for sign site plan approval must be accompanied by a completed short-form environmental assessment for unlisted actions under SEQR.
- A sign permit is generally required unless specific exemptions are listed.
- The Planning Board may modify a sign site plan application provided that it does not result in the need for variances.
- Appeals of permit denial go to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- A certificate of sign compliance must be obtained by providing a photograph after sign installation and permit approval.
- Permit expiration, extension, and fees are specified in the procedures.

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

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