# Sign Regulations in Cooperstown, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cooperstown, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/cooperstown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11848007#11848007)

## At a glance

Cooperstown, New York regulates 33 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Post-Type)s in the Business District, Commercial District zoning district are capped at 14 ft above ground tall and 24 sq. ft, with a 4 ft from curb, or 1 ft from sidewalk. setback (Sec. §227-3A(4)(a)-(c), (b)[1], (6)(c), §227-5D). Most commercial signs in Cooperstown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business District, Commercial District | 14 | 42 in | Up to 80 sq. ft | — |
| Residential District | 5 | 5 ft | 24 sq. ft | — |
| Commercial planned development park | 1 | 14 ft (post-type); 5 ft (monument) | 24 sq. ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 48 in | 35 sq. ft (national/not-for-profit), 15 sq. ft (decorative), U.S. flag <1 sq. ft no limit | — |

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

### Business District, Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front Facade) | — | Up to 80 sq. ft | — | — | No limit, but total sign area regulations apply. | Front facade. Parallel to face of wall. Shall not project more than 12 inches. | — | §227-3A(2)(a), §227-5C |
| Business Identity Sign (Non-Customer Exits) | — | 2 sq. ft | — | — | No explicit limit | Rear or side exit/entrances not customer-used. | — | §227-3A(2)(d) |
| Projecting Sign (by Functional Entrance) | 4 ft | 12 sq. ft | 3 ft | — | One per entrance, subject to substitution with freestanding sign. | Perpendicular to building face, one per entrance. | — | §227-3A(3), §227-5E |
| Freestanding Sign (Post-Type) | 14 ft above ground | 24 sq. ft | — | 4 ft from curb, or 1 ft from sidewalk. | One per parcel. | Min 4 ft back from curb where no sidewalk, or 1 ft from existing sidewalk. | — | §227-3A(4)(a)-(c), (b)[1], (6)(c), §227-5D |
| Freestanding Sign (Monument) | 5 ft including cornice | 24 sq. ft | — | — | — | See general freestanding sign location. | — | §227-3A(4)(b)[3] |
| Business Placard Holder | — | 6 in × 24 in (per two-sided placard) | 24 in | — | One per eligible business on specified streets. | Only at Village-owned business placard holders on certain streets/locations. | — | §227-3A(5), §227-6E(2) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Private Property) | 42 in | 2 ft wide × 42 in high | 2 ft | — | One per establishment | On private property, same parcel as the fixed-location establishment. | — | §227-6C(1)-(10) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Public Property) | 42 in | 2 ft wide × 42 in high | 2 ft | — | One per establishment | On public property immediately adjacent to establishment. | — | §227-6C(11) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Office/Studio with Special Permit) | — | 4 sq. ft (for building) | — | — | 1 per office/studio, up to combined limit. | Mounted on building. | — | §227-3B(1)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 3 sq. ft | — | — | 1 | On main building or accessory structure. | — | §227-3B(1)(b) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (Other Use: Transient Rental, Accessory Apartment) | — | 6 sq. ft | — | — | 1 | On property. | — | §227-3B(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Special Permit: Use Not Residential in Character) | — | 24 sq. ft | — | — | 1 | On property as per use permit. | — | §227-3B(1)(d), §227-3A |
| Subdivision Identification Sign (Freestanding) | 5 ft | 24 sq. ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | On each entrance (not on public property). | — | §227-3B(2) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 48 in | 6 sq. ft per face | — | — | No explicit numeric limit | On private property, not on public property or median or attached to trees, etc. | — | §227-6B(1)-(2) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 48 in | 6 sq. ft (per face) | — | — | One per site | On construction property. | — | §227-6B(3)(a) |
| Building Identifier Sign (Name/Date of Erection) | 2 ft | 4 sq. ft | — | — | One per building | Only on one facade with street frontage. | — | §227-6A(4) |
| House or Building Number Sign | — | Residential: 1 sq. ft; Nonresidential: 2 sq. ft (building) or 1 sq. ft (sign/mailbox) | — | — | — | Mounted on house, mailbox, or building. | — | §227-6A(5) |
| On-Premises Directional Sign | 6 ft | 1.5 sq. ft per sign face | — | — | 3 | On private property for parking/exit/entrance, etc. | — | §227-6A(7) |
| OPEN/CLOSED Sign (Nonilluminated) | — | 2 sq. ft (Business/Commercial), 1 sq. ft (Residential) | — | — | 1 per entrance | Window, beneath freestanding sign, projecting, wall, or as permitted. | — | §227-6A(9) |
| OPEN Sign (Internally illuminated, within 5 ft of window glass) | — | 2 sq. ft per sign; total of two signs, 8 sq. ft max for all internally illuminated signs | — | — | Up to two per business | Within 5 ft of window glass in business/commercial. | — | §227-6A(9)-(19) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (See above) | 42 in | 2 ft × 42 in | 2 ft | — | One per establishment | Private property or, with permit, on adjacent public property. | — | §227-6C |

## Prohibited signs in Cooperstown

- No sign shall be constructed so as to be confused with any authorized traffic sign or device.
- No sign shall be located so as to restrict the vision of pedestrians or motorists.
- No exterior sign shall be internally illuminated.
- No interior backlighted sign shall be placed within five feet of the window glass.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or consist of any moving, flashing, intermittent or rotating lights, nor be indirectly illuminated by a lighting device that causes glaring or nondiffuse beams of light to be cast upon any public street, sidewalk or adjacent premises.
- No light source shall be a searchlight or be a device producing laser beams.
- No sign shall have a message or any part of its face change automatically.
- No sign shall include elements, such as banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, balloons, spinners or other windblown devices that flutter or revolve, except as provided for vending signs under § 227-6A(18).
- No sign shall in its construction employ any mirror or mirror-like surface, nor be painted with any day-glow or fluorescent pigment.
- No sign shall be placed or located upon public property or the property of public utilities unless so authorized by other provisions in this chapter.
- No sign shall be painted or drawn upon any trees, shrubs or natural landforms.
- No sign shall be allowed upon any roof surface with the exception of mansard roofs.
- No sign shall be portable except for temporary A-frame signs on residential parcels or as permitted by sandwich board sign provisions.
- No sign shall identify or advertise any business, goods or services that are located off the premises.
- No sign shall independently be illuminated for temporary signs allowed without a permit.
- Temporary signs are not permitted on public property, except as specifically provided.
- Temporary signs are not permitted in the median between the sidewalk and the curb, nor attached to trees, bushes, support wires, street/municipal signs or utility poles located within the median.
- Temporary signs are not permitted as wall signs on buildings, except as provided for in the substitution clause.
- Unsafe, unsightly, damaged or deteriorated signs or signs in danger of falling must be repaired or removed upon notice; failing that, they may be removed by the Village at the owner's expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cooperstown

- Historic markers, tablets, statues, memorial signs and plaques, not exceeding six square feet.
- Existing historic wall signs, including those identifying proprietors or advertising commodities or services no longer connected with the premises.
- Reconstructed historic wall signs with Planning Board approval in connection with restoration of historic structures.
- Building identification signs incorporated within the facade of a structure, displaying only building name and/or date of erection, constructed of suitable material and size.
- House and building number signs, within specified size limits.
- National, state, or municipal flags, or flags of not-for-profit institutions, per size and quantity limits, except when displayed in connection with a commercial promotion.
- Other decorative flags with no advertising in residential districts, subject to size and number limits.
- U.S. flag(s) less than one square foot in area.
- Red, white and blue bunting.
- On-premises directional signs for public convenience, subject to size, number, and height limits.
- Nonilluminated warning, caution, private drive, posted or no-trespassing signs, up to 1.5 square feet.
- OPEN and CLOSED signs (one per functional entrance), within set size and illumination parameters; specific provisions for residential districts and types of illumination.
- Municipal directional signs, legal notices and identification/informational signs erected by a government body.
- Analog clocks (not exceeding seven feet in diameter).
- Removable lettering on theater marquees, restaurant menu boards, and not-for-profit freestanding signs.
- Gasoline pump island signage with limits (commercial only).
- Vending machine signs located on private property.
- Public telephone identification signs.
- Barber poles: one traditional revolving sign per shop, illuminated or otherwise.
- Holiday and other seasonal decorations, including temporary lighting devices, flower boxes, lawn and garden decorations.
- Temporary signs associated with vending law uses, as set forth in Local Law No. 5-2015.
- Window signs (exterior or interior) and window display areas in business/commercial districts, subject to suggested area limits (guideline of 25% window coverage).
- Internally illuminated/neon/static LED window signs (up to two per business, within certain area and location limits), not facing residential properties within 50 feet, only during business hours.
- Temporary freestanding signs on private property for noncommercial topics (political, event, point of view, etc.), each up to six square feet, with other placement and design limits.
- Temporary construction/renovation signage per enumerated conditions.
- Temporary signs for nonconforming properties and special uses, following zoning district requirements.
- Banners by not-for-profit organizations, attached to the ground or buildings, subject to area, placement, and duration restrictions.
- Directional and event temporary signs on public property with Board of Trustees permission.
- Use of public property for signage as part of lease or event contract with the Village.
- One temporary banner over Main Street for not-for-profits by permission of the Board of Trustees.
- Sandwich board signs on private property for fixed-location establishment, subject to specific design, placement, material, and display hour requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A total building signage plan (master sign plan) may be optionally submitted by the owner of a tax parcel containing multiple businesses, describing the location, size, and type of all signs for all businesses on the parcel.
- If a sign is not part of a previously approved total building signage plan, the standard sign permit process applies.
- The application for any sign permit must include two copies of a proposed sign plan with scaled drawings of the sign, property photos, details of illumination, and anchoring plan.
- The Planning Board reviews and approves all sign plans before permit issuance.
- For sandwich board signs on public property, a permit is required and a scaled drawing and proof of insurance must be submitted; the Planning Board must make findings regarding placement and safety.
- A variance from sign requirements requires a public hearing and Planning Board approval, with possible conditions imposed.
- Future tenants need only follow an existing approved total building signage plan for their business; sign elements must adhere to the plan.
- Any changes or additions to signs on nonconforming properties may be approved by the Planning Board only if any existing degree of nonconformity is appreciably lessened.

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

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