# Sign Regulations in Crawford Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Crawford Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/crawford-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10561183#10561183)

## At a glance

Crawford Town, New York regulates 20 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding or Ground-mounted Business Sign (CH excluding State Route 302, 1 unit)s in the Center Hamlet District (CH), Business Park District zoning district are capped at 14 ft tall and 32 sq ft (Sec. §137-17L(1), Table). Most commercial signs in Crawford Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 30 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residence and Residence/Agriculture Districts (R, RA) | 4 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Office-Residence District (O-R) | 5 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| Center Hamlet District (CH), Business Park District | 7 | 14 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Industrial District | 5 | 14 ft | 50 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or in a window or door, visible from a public area | — | §137-17B(2) |
| Off-premises Directional/Directory Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Internal to a business or industrial park, subject to Planning Board approval | — | §137-17B(5)(a) |
| Off-premises Business Park Name Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One sign plus up to 3 tenant listing signs (total 10 sq ft max for listings) | At intersection(s) of shared accessway with public road | — | §137-17B(5)(b) |
| Electronic Message-Change Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Anywhere | — | §137-17C(9) |
| Copy-Change Sign (permanent, for medical, public, charitable, civil, or religious institutions) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises of institution | — | §137-17E(9) |
| Flag/Emblem/Insignia-type Sign | 30 ft | — | — | — | No more than 3 unless approved | — | — | §137-17E(4) |
| Directional or Instructional Signs (on-premises) | — | — | — | — | — | On the property to which they pertain | — | §137-17E(3) |
| Temporary Sign (New Business or New Location, Outside Center Hamlet) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Placed as approved by Building Inspector or per permanent location if approved | — | §137-17I(4) |

### Center Hamlet District (CH), Business Park District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding or Ground-mounted Business Sign (CH excluding State Route 302, 1 unit) | 14 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On-premises; see also directory requirements | — | §137-17L(1), Table |
| Freestanding or Ground-mounted Business Sign (CH State Route 302 frontage, 1 unit) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On-premises; directory-style | — | §137-17L(1), Table |
| Freestanding or Ground-mounted Business Sign (Business Park, 1 unit) | 14 ft | 32 sq ft (1 unit), 36 sq ft (2 units), 40 sq ft (3 units), 44 sq ft (4 units), 48 sq ft (5 or 6 units) | — | — | 1 per premises | On-premises; directory-style | — | §137-17L(1), Table |
| Wall Sign (per business, 1 frontage) | — | Up to 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Affixed parallel to wall of business | — | §137-17L(2) |
| Wall Sign (per business, 2 frontages) | — | Up to 32 sq ft (second sign) | — | — | 2 per business (if both frontages) | Affixed parallel to wall facing second street (if approved by Planning Board) | — | §137-17L(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or in a window or door, visible from a public area | — | §137-17L(3), crossref 17B(2) |
| Roadside Farm Stand Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | On the lot with seasonal farm stand | — | §137-17L(4) |

### Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding or Ground-mounted Business Sign | 14 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | On-premises; frame included in max area | — | §137-17M(1) |
| Wall Sign (per business, 1 frontage) | — | Up to 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business | Affixed parallel to wall of business | — | §137-17M(2) |
| Wall Sign (per business, 2 frontages) | — | Up to 32 sq ft (second sign) | — | — | 2 per business (if both frontages) | Affixed parallel to wall facing second street (if approved by Planning Board) | — | §137-17M(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On or in a window or door, visible from a public area | — | §137-17M(3), crossref 17B(2) |
| Roadside Farm Stand Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | On the lot with seasonal farm stand | — | §137-17M(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Crawford Town

- No sign shall be illuminated in a way that produces excessive glare or hazardous conditions to pedestrian and automotive traffic; nor shall any sign be illuminated so as to cause glare or light spillover onto adjoining properties.
- No sign shall consist of lights that flash or move or appear to move, nor shall any sign consist of nor include any objects attached to the sign that move or appear to move.
- No sign shall be installed or designed such that it may compete with or be mistaken for a traffic sign, including all signs that incorporate any shape that imitates or resembles a traffic sign, or signs that are not official traffic signs that include or bear specific words such as 'stop,' 'caution,' 'warning,' 'go slow,' 'turn back,' or similar words.
- All signs must be permanently affixed to a permitted building or structure, or permanently mounted on pole(s) and/or to the ground, except as may otherwise be specifically allowed.
- The outlining of a perimeter of a building with lights, except as part of a temporary seasonal display of holiday lighting lasting not longer than 60 days, is prohibited.
- The outlining of a display window with lights, including the outlining of a window with neon or colored light, is prohibited, except for temporary seasonal holiday lighting lasting not longer than 60 days.
- Gas-filled figures or objects, whether tethered to the ground or to any part of a building, are prohibited. Exception for balloons not exceeding 14 inches in diameter tied as part of a temporary use for not more than three consecutive days and not extending above the building soffit.
- Portable signs, except as otherwise specifically permitted, are prohibited. No temporary or permanent signs resting on or attached to trailers, parked vehicles, or other movable objects shall be used as a means to circumvent the ordinance.
- Electronic message-change signs are prohibited in all districts and under all circumstances.
- No signs shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, required exit, window or door opening used as a means of egress.
- No sign shall be attached in any form, shape or manner which will interfere with any opening required for ventilation, except as otherwise allowed by the building code.
- Signs shall not be installed closer than 24 inches horizontally or vertically to any electrical conductor or public utility guy wire.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises any sign which is in a dangerous or defective condition; such signs shall be removed or repaired.
- No person shall erect on any premises any sign which does not comply with the provisions of this chapter.
- Where construction or street widening causes an existing sign to overhang the street or driveway, the sign shall be deemed unlawful and must be removed or relocated at the owner's expense.
- Any sign not removed in the time specified for temporary signs is a violation, and each day the violation continues is a separate offense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Crawford Town

- House numbers and nonilluminated nameplates for residential dwellings, not exceeding two square feet, indicating occupant name or location.
- "No Trespassing," "No Dumping," "No Hunting" or similar signs not exceeding 1.5 square feet per sign, spaced appropriately along property lines.
- Nonilluminated directional or instructional signs as reasonably necessary on the property, including restroom, telephone, walkway, parking directions, or similar, except that these may require Planning Board approval and site plan inclusion where required.
- Flags, emblems or insignia-type signs of any nation, state, political subdivision, or corporation, maximum height 30 feet, up to three in total unless more approved by Planning Board as part of a site plan.
- Governmental and public service company signs for regulatory, safety, or emergency purposes erected by public officers.
- Temporary holiday decoration signs of a decorative nature, associated with recognized holidays.
- Interior signs within buildings, stadiums, enclosed lobbies, or courts.
- Memorial signs, tablets, plaques, building names, and dates directly affixed to or forming part of the building, or constructed of noncombustible material.
- Permanent copy-change signs not over 20 square feet for medical, public, charitable, civil, or religious institutions, on the institution's premises.
- Official public notices posted by public employees/officers in performance of their duties.
- Public signs required or authorized by law, statute, or ordinance.
- Religious symbols, commemorative plaques, or identification emblems of recognized agencies, not exceeding four square feet.
- Warning signs alerting the public to temporary danger, without advertising, to be removed when danger is gone.
- Political campaign signs related to candidates, parties, or referenda, displayed only on private property (display and removal date guidelines, but not required).
- At gasoline stations: Integral graphics/price signs on gasoline pumps and company identification on canopies (must follow permit requirements); up to two price, product, or promotional signs not exceeding six square feet (specific placement and height restrictions apply).
- One temporary unlighted 'For Sale' or 'For Rent' sign up to 12 square feet on properties for sale/rent (larger or additional signs allowed under certain development situations with noted limitations).
- Not more than two temporary unlighted 'For Sale' or 'For Rent' signs up to 16 square feet for properties for sale/rent, with conditions for properties with multiple rights-of-way.
- Temporary banners, pennants, related signs for open houses/model home demonstrations for up to 15 days in residential districts.
- Banners, pennants, and related signs for temporary fairs, carnivals, or other Town Board-approved events (as governed by event approval).
- Signs for agricultural row crops.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permanent sign for a new building or new lot may be constructed, erected, or installed unless a sign permit is first approved and issued by the Building Inspector pursuant to site plan approval by the Planning Board.
- Temporary signs permitted pursuant to subsection I also require a sign permit approved and issued by the Building Inspector prior to installation.
- Where any building, structure, or use requires site plan approval, sign size, design, materials, color and construction, height, location and lighting is subject to review and approval by the Planning Board as part of site plan review.
- If a sign was not approved as part of a required site plan review, the property owner must apply for and obtain site plan approval for the sign(s).
- For sign applications not otherwise requiring site plan approval, the Building Inspector may refer the application to the Planning Board for comment within 30 days.
- Nonilluminated directional or instructional signs may require Planning Board approval and to be shown on approved site plans when site plan approval is required.
- Flags, emblems, or insignia beyond three in number require Planning Board approval as part of a site plan.
- For certain uses (e.g., houses of worship, some businesses), signs are permitted only subject to site plan approval (including illumination conditions).
- In residential, office-residence, center hamlet, business park, and industrial districts, except for roadside stand signs, any proposed nonexempt sign shall require prior approval by the Planning Board.
- Requests to extend the amortization period for nonconforming permanent signs must be submitted to the Town Board for approval within a specified period.

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

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