# Sign Regulations in Dobbs Ferry, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Dobbs Ferry, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/dobbs-ferry
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10563510#10563510)

## At a glance

Dobbs Ferry, New York regulates 11 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Temporary "For Sale"/"For Rent" Signs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 4 square feet, with a 10 feet from property line (if freestanding) setback (Sec. §300-50C(6)(c)). Most commercial signs in Dobbs Ferry require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| OF District | 1 | 24 inches if affixed to building facade; individual letter/graphic lines not to exceed 14 inches, total letters/symbols max 22 inches including spacing | 4 square feet (total for all signage except awnings) | — |
| MDR-1 District | 1 | 24 inches if affixed to building facade; individual letter/graphic lines not to exceed 14 inches, total letters/symbols max 22 inches including spacing | 4 square feet (total for all signage except awnings) | — |
| MDR-2 District, MDR-H District, B District, MF District | 1 | 24 inches if affixed to building facade; individual letter/graphic lines not to exceed 14 inches, total letters/symbols max 22 inches including spacing | 16 square feet (total for all signage except awnings) | — |
| EI District, WF-A District, WF-B District, DT District, DB District | 1 | 24 inches if affixed to building facade; individual letter/graphic lines not to exceed 14 inches, total letters/symbols max 22 inches including spacing | 100 square feet (total); maximum 48 square feet per sign face; wall sign maximum 48 square feet | — |
| DG District, CP District | 2 | — | No single sign to exceed 200 square feet; total per business is 1 sq ft for each lineal foot of building frontage | — |
| Residential District | 3 | — | 5 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential zoning districts | 1 | Max vertical at building: 6 ft; at projecting end: 18 inches; lettering max 14 inches high, length generally not to exceed 12 feet | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 30% of glass area or window in which displayed | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### DG District, CP District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All permanent signs | — | No single sign to exceed 200 square feet; total per business is 1 sq ft for each lineal foot of building frontage | — | — | — | Affixed to building facade, windows, street-level projecting allowed (see below) | — | §300-50F(4), §300-50G, §300-50K, §300-50I |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Permitted (DG and CP Districts only) | — | §300-50D(6) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary "Open House" Sign (on private property for sale or lease) | — | 5 square feet | — | 5 feet from property line | — | On subject property, not closer than 5 feet to any property line | — | §300-50C(6)(a) |
| Temporary "Open House" Sign (on public property or other private property) | — | 5 square feet | — | — | 2 per open house event | On public property or private property NOT for sale or lease | — | §300-50C(6)(b) |
| Temporary "For Sale"/"For Rent" Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | 10 feet from property line (if freestanding) | 1 per premises | On front wall or if freestanding, on subject property not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | §300-50C(6)(c) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 9 square feet per side | — | — | — | On building facade, projecting outward | — | §300-50G(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of glass area or window in which displayed | — | — | — | In or on street-level windows | — | §300-50G(5) |
| Temporary Sign | — | No more than 30% of glass area with permanent signs included | — | — | 1/20 ft frontage, max 4 per facade | As per permit | — | §300-50H |
| Directory Sign (Shopping Plaza) | — | 3 sq ft per business, total directory max 75 sq ft | — | — | — | In directory for off-street shopping plaza | — | §300-50I(1) |
| Directory Sign (Buildings with multiple businesses/professional offices) | — | 1 sq ft per business, total directory max 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached sign for building | — | §300-50I(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Dobbs Ferry

- Corrugated plastic, cintra board and cardboard are prohibited as sign materials.
- Plastic or laminated signs must have a wood substrate or layer no thinner than 1/2 inch and no thicker than two inches and must be framed with wood or metal to protect the edges.
- Signs must not be drilled directly into the wall through the sign surface or frame or glued to buildings.
- No old sign may be repurposed by removing or painting over letters or symbols.
- Uplighting is prohibited. Buildings, externally lit signs, displays and aesthetic installations, must be lit from the top and illuminated downward.
- Freestanding signs are prohibited, except in the DG and CP Districts.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Signs located in windows above the first story of a building are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs on side walls of midblock buildings are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs that cause glare on an adjacent property are prohibited.
- Animated signs are prohibited.
- Illuminated flashing signs are prohibited.
- Inflated signs are prohibited.
- Tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Signs incorporating projected images are prohibited.
- Signs that emit smoke, vapors or particles, sound or colors are prohibited.
- Signs located in or projecting over a roadway are prohibited except those erected by a governmental body.
- Internally illuminated sign boxes are not permitted.
- Awnings made of metal, plastic, or other rigid materials are not allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Dobbs Ferry

- Political signs are exempt from permits or fees, provided that they comply with general and specific requirements.
- Historical markers, tablets, memorial signs and plaques, names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar material, and emblems installed by governmental bodies, religious or nonprofit organizations not exceeding six square feet are exempt.
- Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or 'no trespassing' signs or the like that do not exceed two square feet are exempt.
- Number and nameplates identifying residents by name or residences by number, mounted on a house, apartment or mailbox, that do not exceed two square feet are exempt.
- Temporary signs for garage or tag sales that do not exceed four square feet and are displayed only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on day(s) of the event (removed at end of sale) are exempt.
- 'Open house' and 'for sale' signs in accordance with stated dimensional and time restrictions are exempt.
- Directional signs for the convenience of the general public, identifying public parking areas, fire zones, entrances and exits and similar signs, internally or externally illuminated, are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign may be erected or displayed on a building facade, awning or on or within a window without first obtaining a sign permit from the Land Use Officer pursuant to the results of review by the Architectural and Historic Review Board, along with any other reviews required by this chapter, except as specifically exempted.
- Alteration, enlargement or extension of a lawfully existing nonconforming site, structure or sign may require an application to the Zoning Board of Appeals and can be subject to further reviews, including but not limited to, site plan review and design and historic review.
- A temporary sign may only be displayed after receiving a temporary sign permit.
- Changes of text or lettering on a nonconforming sign require review and approval from the Architectural and Historic Review Board.
- The design and any lettering, signs, lights or other appurtenances for awnings projecting over the property line require approval by the Architectural and Historic Review Board and Land Use Officer.
- Applications to alter, enlarge or extend nonconforming signs must be submitted on forms provided by the Land Use Officer and may be subject to Zoning Board of Appeals approval.
- Directory signs for multiple businesses are subject to specified dimensional and review standards, with permits required.

## 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 8 zoning districts in Dobbs Ferry — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Dobbs+Ferry+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-dobbs-ferry

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