# Sign Regulations in Colonie, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Colonie, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/colonie
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7210405#7210405)

## At a glance

Colonie, New York regulates 12 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Setback: 50-75 ft from street line)s in the Commercial A District, Commercial B District zoning district are capped at 6 ft above ground tall and 32 sq ft, with a Min 15 ft from side property line, min 25 ft from street curbline. setback (Sec. §181-8A(1)(b), §181-11B,C; §181-4). Most commercial signs in Colonie require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial A District, Commercial B District | 7 | 6 ft above ground | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial D District | 3 | 6 ft including posts | 12 sq ft | — |
| Residential A District, Residential B District | 2 | — | 3 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center | 1 | Max 6 ft for freestanding per general regulation | Per Chart A; typically 32 sq ft for wall/freestanding signs, 6 ft max height for freestanding. Special allowances for complex directory/identification signs. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | As determined by Code Enforcement Officer | — |

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

### Commercial A District, Commercial B District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Setback: 1-50 ft from street line) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel | On the building, 1-50 ft from the street line. | — | §181-8A(1)(a), §181-4, §181-12, §181-9, §181-10 |
| Wall Sign (Setback: 50-75 ft from street line) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel (pick wall or freestanding—option 1/option 2) | On the building, 50-75 ft from street line OR freestanding in front yard. | — | §181-8A(1)(b), §181-4 |
| Freestanding Sign (Setback: 50-75 ft from street line) | 6 ft above ground | 32 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft from side property line, min 25 ft from street curbline. | One per parcel (option with wall sign above—option 2) | Front yard, at least 15 ft from side property line; 25 ft from street curbline. | — | §181-8A(1)(b), §181-11B,C; §181-4 |
| Wall Sign (Setback: 75+ ft from street line) | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | — | One wall sign and one freestanding sign per parcel | On building (plus freestanding opportunity). | — | §181-8A(1)(c), §181-4 |
| Freestanding Sign (Setback: 75+ ft from street line) | 6 ft above ground | 32 sq ft per sign | — | Min 15 ft from side property line, min 25 ft from street curbline. | One freestanding sign and one wall sign per parcel | Front yard, at least 15 ft from side property line; 25 ft from street curbline. | — | §181-8A(1)(c), §181-11B,C |
| Drive-through/Drive-in/Drive-by Facility Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft (2' x 3') | 3 ft | — | One per drive-through lane (additional permitted by Code Enforcement Officer) | Location as directed by the Code Enforcement Officer. | — | §181-8A(2)(a)-(b) |
| Directional/Safety Signs | — | — | — | — | Determined as needed | As determined by Code Enforcement Officer. | — | §181-8A(4) |

### Commercial D District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directory Sign | 6 ft including posts | 12 sq ft | — | Not within front or side setbacks. See §181-11B. | One per building | Attached to building or freestanding (cannot be within required setbacks) | — | §181-8A(3)(b), §181-11B |
| Street Address Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building | Affixed to building, visible from street. | — | §181-8A(3)(a), §181-4D, §196-60A(10) |
| Directional/Safety Signs | — | — | — | — | As needed | As determined by Code Enforcement Officer. | — | §181-8A(4) |

### Residential A District, Residential B District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | One per home occupation | On the building. | — | §181-8B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Other authorized use) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | One per authorized use | On the building. | — | §181-8B(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Colonie

- No sign shall employ or contain flashing, intermittent, or moving lights; only lights emitting a light of constant intensity are permitted.
- No sign illumination may be directed to cause glare or reflection onto public streets, highways, sidewalks, or adjacent premises if it constitutes a traffic hazard or nuisance, or is greater than 0.3 footcandle at night as measured from the curbline.
- No sign or part thereof shall consist of banners, balloons, pinwheels, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, or similar moving, fluttering, or revolving devices. Strings of lights shall not be used for advertising or attracting attention.
- No signs containing sequin-studded lettering are permitted.
- No revolving or moving signs, or signs that contain visible, moving parts are allowed.
- No sign may project from the front face of a building more than 12 inches, including marquees.
- No outdoor electrical sign unless it complies with the National Electrical Code and is approved by an authorized inspection agency.
- No sign shall be erected upon a roof or parapet of a building or structure.
- No swinging signs shall be permitted.
- No rotating beacons or searchlights are permitted.
- A-frame or sandwich board, sidewalk, or curb signs are prohibited.
- No billboards are permitted (the construction or erection of billboards is prohibited).
- No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on a building or premises except as specifically allowed in the code.
- No sign or any part thereof shall be erected on any public street or highway or extend over any sidewalk area, nor shall any upright portion be closer than five feet to any sidewalk area.
- No sign shall be located closer than 15 feet to the side property line or 25 feet to the street curbline.
- No sign may contain advertising for off-premises businesses.
- No temporary or portable sign may be issued a permit if it duplicates or supplements the message of other signs beyond the permitted area, or if a permit for a temporary sign has been issued for the same premises within the last six months.

## Signs exempt from permit in Colonie

- New York State inspection station identification signs (height not exceeding 10 feet, located on exterior or interior wall of motor vehicle service station).
- New York State authorized repair shop identification signs for passenger vehicles (height not exceeding 10 feet, located on exterior or interior wall of motor vehicle service station).
- New York State authorized repair shop identification signs for trucks (height not exceeding 10 feet, located on exterior or interior wall of motor vehicle service station).
- Self-service identification sign not exceeding two square feet per self-service fuel pump island.
- Full-service identification sign not exceeding 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, trapping) signs.
- Governmental signs.
- Utility line identification and location signs.
- Phone identification signs.
- Rest room identification signs.
- Handicapped parking and access signs.
- Vacancy/no vacancy signs not exceeding three square feet.
- Accessory signs identifying uses such as parking, no parking, or office, not exceeding two square feet each.
- Holiday decorations erected for and during the relevant holiday.
- Open/closed business signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Street identification, traffic, and governmental signs and control devices required by law.
- Official public information signs, memorial signs, building names, erection dates, or similar information cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or noncombustible material, not to exceed 16 square feet.
- Signs and markers in cemeteries designating graves and memorials.
- Farm stand signs not exceeding 16 square feet in size.
- Residential use, one- and two-family 'for sale' or 'for rent' signs not exceeding 16 square feet in size.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, constructed, altered, rebuilt, enlarged, or relocated without a permit issued by the Village Code Enforcement Officer.
- An application for a sign permit must include a design-professional-stamped plan detailing location, dimensions, total height from ground, total square footage with respect to property line, and a to-scale sketch on the site plan.
- Sign design approval must be obtained from the Village Sign Review Board (per Ch. 196-60 re: commercial districts).
- Sign designs must be included with the building permit application to show overall building and sign design.
- Permit stickers must be visibly affixed to all authorized signs.
- Any sign not permitted by right requires a special exemption sign permit, determined by application to the Sign Review Board.
- Any party aggrieved by a decision of the Code Enforcement Officer may appeal to the Sign Review Board for a variance.
- Shopping center signs are subject to additional plan approval including compliance with Chart A.
- The Sign Review Board may develop additional design criteria for special exemption sign permits for adoption by the Village Board.
- Projecting signs overhanging the right-of-way may require a special revocable permit from the Village.
- Roof signs are not allowed and require a special exemption sign permit for exceptional design.
- Sign plan and design documentation is specifically required as part of the permit procedure; see §181-4(D).

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

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