# Sign Regulations in East Aurora, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Aurora, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/east-aurora
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36033657#36033657)

## At a glance

East Aurora, New York regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Pedestal Signs in the General Commercial district (GC) zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. Table 44.9B).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 3 ft | 6 sq ft (residential); 12 sq ft (nonresidential) | — |
| Residential districts (R) | 4 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Commercial district (GC) | 8 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial district (NC), Village Center district (VC), Village Manufacturing district (VM) | 8 | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Manufacturing district (GM) | 5 | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Open Space district (OS) | 4 | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Commercial district (GC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pedestal Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot | Sign face parallel to street | — | Table 44.9B |
| Wall Sign | 5 ft | — | — | — | 1 per facade | On facade; projects ≤12 inches | — | Table 44.9C |
| Projecting Sign | 3 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Projects more than 12 in but less than 36 in from facade; minimum clearance 8 ft above ground to bottom of sign | — | Table 44.9D |
| Suspended Sign | 3 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Attached to and supported by underside of horizontal plane; minimum clearance 8 ft | — | Table 44.9E |
| Awning Sign | 6 in | — | — | — | 1 per awning | Bottommost edge of awning/canopy (valence); minimum clearance 8 ft | — | Table 44.9F |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | Any | Applied or attached to interior or exterior window, or within 12 in of window | — | Table 44.9G; § 285-44.7B(3) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 44.9H |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 44.9I |

### Neighborhood Commercial district (NC), Village Center district (VC), Village Manufacturing district (VM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 7 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft | 1 per lot | Sign face parallel to street | — | Table 44.9A |
| Wall Sign | 4 ft | — | — | — | 1 per facade | On facade; projects ≤12 inches | — | Table 44.9C |
| Projecting Sign | 2 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Projects more than 12 in but less than 36 in from facade; min. clearance 8 ft above ground to bottom of sign | — | Table 44.9D |
| Suspended Sign | 2 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | Attached to and supported by underside of horizontal plane; min. clearance 8 ft | — | Table 44.9E |
| Awning Sign | 6 in | — | — | — | 1 per awning | Bottommost edge of awning/canopy (valence); min. clearance 8 ft | — | Table 44.9F |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | Any | Applied or attached to interior or exterior window, or within 12 in of window | — | Table 44.9G; § 285-44.7B(3) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 44.9H |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 44.9I |

### General Manufacturing district (GM)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pedestal Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft | 1 per lot | Sign face parallel to street | — | Table 44.9B |
| Wall Sign | 5 ft | — | — | — | 1 per facade | On facade; projects ≤12 inches | — | Table 44.9C |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | Any | Applied or attached to interior or exterior window, or within 12 in of window | — | Table 44.9G; § 285-44.7B(3) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 44.9H |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | Table 44.9I |

## Prohibited signs in East Aurora

- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free egress from a window, door or fire escape or to become a menace to life, health or property.
- No sign shall be erected at or near any intersection of streets, alleys, or railways in a manner that obstructs free and clear vision for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
- No sign shall be of a shape or color that may be confused with any authorized traffic control device.
- No rotating beam, beacon, or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light shall be used with any sign display.
- Signs shall not be erected within nor project into any public right-of-way, unless otherwise specified within this article.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited. All signs shall be located on the site being promoted, identified, or advertised with the exception of temporary signs.
- No permanent sign may be constructed of untreated or unpainted wood, sandblasted metal, or other unfinished material.
- No sign or any part of a sign exceeding three feet in height, other than a supporting pole or brace no greater than 18 inches in width or diameter, shall be located within the designated clear sight triangle of any intersecting streets.
- Light sources for illuminated signs shall not be of such brightness as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians or motorists and shall be shielded so as not to cast an illumination of more than two footcandles on adjacent nonresidential properties or more than 0.1 footcandle on adjacent residential properties.
- Intermittent illumination or illumination which involves movement or causes the illusion of movement resulting from the arrangement of lighting, is prohibited.
- Any sign that no longer advertises or identifies the current or permitted use of the property must be removed within 30 days after written notification from the CEO.
- Signs for which no sign permit was issued or for which a sign permit has been revoked.
- Signs that are not properly maintained, considered structurally unsound, hazardous, or otherwise unsafe.
- Signs that contain words or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature.
- Signs that emit audible sounds, odor, or visible matter.
- Signs placed on a curb, sidewalk, hydrant, utility pole, trees or other objects located on or over any public street unless otherwise permitted by the Village Board.
- Signs that may be confused with a traffic control sign, signal or device or the light of an emergency or road equipment vehicle or hide from view any traffic or street sign, signal, or device.
- Signs that flash, blink, rotate, or revolve, and/or utilize unshielded lighting devices or reflectors to outline or provide the background of a sign.
- Internally illuminated signs and signs that utilize exposed neon tubing for letters or lighting.
- Signs that are mounted on wheels or mounted on any structure on wheels.
- Signs mounted on or applied to registered or unregistered vehicles unless such vehicle is parked legally or out of public view.
- Signs with mirrors or any other reflective material.
- Signs painted directly on walls or other structural building features except by special use permit from the Village Board.
- Manual changeable copy signs, electronic changeable copy signs, and signs that are animated or utilize full motion or video technology.
- Banners, pennants, windblown or inflated signs (unless specifically permitted as temporary signs).
- Roof signs, obsolete signs, off-premises signs, and billboards.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Aurora

- The repainting, repairing, changing of parts, and maintenance of signs does not require a permit, provided such maintenance, changes, or alterations do not in any way alter the physical size, design, or nature of the sign.
- A change in the message of a sign does not require a permit, provided such maintenance, changes, or alterations do not in any way alter the physical size, design, or nature of the sign.
- Directional signs that meet the specified size, height, illumination, and location requirements do not require a permit.
- Signs attached to a gasoline pump that do not exceed six square feet in area per sign do not require a permit.
- Any official sign, public notice, or warning sign supported by federal, state, or local law is exempt and has no size requirements or time limits.
- Historical signs such as cornerstones, commemorative tablets, and historical markers that are less than six square feet in area and not illuminated do not require a permit.
- Incidental signs containing no commercial message that conform to size and illumination limits do not require a permit.
- Signs within a building not legible from the public right-of-way or adjacent lots, or any sign within an enclosed outdoor space (e.g., athletic field) where such sign is not legible beyond the property lines are exempt.
- Lawn signs that meet specified size, height, duration, and illumination restrictions do not require a permit.
- Noncommercial signs on a residential property (meeting quantity, size, illumination, and attachment restrictions) do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, alter, construct, relocate, or cause to be erected, altered, constructed, or relocated any sign without first having obtained a sign permit from the CEO, unless otherwise stated in this article.
- New development subject to review and approval by the Village Board or Planning Commission, at the request of the applicant, may have proposed signage reviewed and approved as part of the special use permit or site plan review process.
- All required sign permit application materials shall be provided to the reviewing board as part of the complete application.
- Any sign permit application for a marquee sign shall require review and approval by the Village Board.
- Alteration of any sign for which a permit has been issued shall not be modified, relocated, altered, or replaced, unless an amended or new sign permit is obtained from the CEO.

## 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 6 zoning districts in East Aurora — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=East+Aurora+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-east-aurora

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