# Sign Regulations in Ellicott Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ellicott Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/ellicott-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12020711#12020711)

## At a glance

Ellicott Town, New York regulates 26 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Temporary Commercial Sign (Non-Residential Districts, Nonexempt)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 28 sq ft per face, with a 10 ft min from property lines setback (Sec. §146-67.2B(2)). Most commercial signs in Ellicott Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 3 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft (parallel to street, one side); 40 sq ft (perpendicular, both sides) | — |
| Agricultural-Residential District | 2 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Professional Office District | 2 | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Business District | 2 | 10 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Shopping Center Districts, Mercantile Districts | 4 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — |
| Industrial Districts, Industrial Park Districts | 3 | 30 ft | 240 sq ft total (multi-tenant) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historical Marker, Tablet, Statue, Memorial Sign, Plaque, Building Name/Date Plaque, Emblem of Agency or Nonprofit | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | At location of commemoration or on the building for name/date/emblem plaques | — | §146-67A |
| Number and Name Plate (Building or Mailbox) | 4 ft (lawn sign) | 2 sq ft (on building or mailbox); 4 sq ft (lawn sign) | — | 10 ft from property lines (lawn sign) | — | Mounted on building or mailbox; lawn sign must be 10 ft from property lines | — | §146-67E |
| Planned Development or Subdivision Sign | — | 20 sq ft (parallel to street, one side); 40 sq ft (perpendicular, both sides) | — | — | 1 | Within boundaries of the development/subdivision; on its own platted lot | — | §146-67H |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per job site | On premises of the project | — | §146-67.1B(1) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential and Agricultural-Residential Districts) | 6 ft (ground sign) | 9 sq ft per face | — | 4 ft min from property lines | — | On the premises of the subject property | — | §146-67.1B(3) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Other Districts) | 6 ft (ground sign) | 25 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft min from property lines | — | On the premises of the subject property | — | §146-67.1B(3) |
| Temporary Roadside Stand Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises where produce is grown | — | §146-67.1B(4) |
| Temporary Commercial Sign (Non-Residential Districts, Nonexempt) | 6 ft | 28 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft min from property lines | 1 per establishment | — | — | §146-67.2B(2) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above 1st story | 6 sq ft (resident office use) | — | — | 1 per use | On building wall to which attached | — | §146-67.4A(1)(a), §146-67.4A(2), §146-67.4A(3), §146-67.4A(4) |
| Ground Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft (resident office use) | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | §146-67.4A(1)(a), §146-67.4A(2), §146-67.4A(3), §146-67.4A(4) |
| Planned Development or Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 20 sq ft (parallel to street, one side); 40 sq ft (perpendicular, both sides) | — | — | 1 | Within development boundary/on own platted lot | — | §146-67.4A(1)(b), §146-67H |

### Shopping Center Districts, Mercantile Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single Tenant) | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant | On wall of the associated use | — | §146-67.4E(1), §146-67.4E(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per tenant | Projecting from tenant's wall | — | §146-67.4E(1), §146-67.4E(3) |
| Ground Sign (Single Tenant) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | §146-67.4E(1), §146-67.4E(2), §146-67.4E(3) |
| Ground Sign (Multiple Tenant Complex) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per complex | At building/complex | — | §146-67.4E(1), §146-67.4E(2), §146-67.4E(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Ellicott Town

- All signs not expressly permitted in this code are prohibited.
- No roof signs, billboards, off-premise advertising signs or animated signs are permitted in any district.
- No time, temperature or media displaying devices shall be allowed in residential or agricultural-residential districts.
- No sign shall be located nearer than 10 feet to any property or roadway boundary line, whichever dictates the greater setback.
- No sign shall project into the elevation between a height of two and ten feet above the average grade at the corner of intersecting streets, except for official signs or wall/marquee signs attached to structures in that area.
- No sign shall be placed upon or attached to any public or private utility pole, lamppost, water or fire hydrant, sidewalk, bridge, tree or similar installation or improvement, on public or private property.
- No sign shall obstruct by physical or visual means any fire escape, window, door, or opening providing ingress, egress, or for fire or safety equipment, or passageways or required ventilation.
- Signs which, by their use or simulation of colors, design, or placement, tend to confuse, detract from, or obstruct the utilization of traffic regulatory devices are prohibited.
- No sign shall be illuminated by strobe lights or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, moving, or traveling messages or displays.
- No multiple banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices are permitted.
- No sign shall produce illumination in excess of one footcandle at a distance of four feet (except as otherwise regulated for off-premise advertising signs).
- No illumination shall cause direct light rays to cross any property line.
- No trailer or vehicle with an advertising message shall be parked on a premises in a manner to serve as a sign.
- Historical/commemorative/identification/required/parking/informational signs or others exempted must not cause a visual hazard or obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- No sign shall be placed so as to cause a visual or safety hazard or obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- No sign shall be placed on the public right-of-way.
- No lighted signs may be used for garage sale signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ellicott Town

- Historical markers, tablets, statues, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and erection dates; emblems of governmental agencies, religious or nonprofit organizations (subject to area restrictions and other noted standards) may be erected and maintained without permits or fees.
- On-premise informational signs identifying public parking areas, fire zones, public accommodations, traffic directions and control signs (subject to area and content restrictions) are exempt from permits.
- Public safety signs containing information for the protection and safety of the general public (such as warning, danger, trespassing, utility warnings, etc.) are exempt from permits.
- Nonilluminated 'warning', 'private drive', 'posted' or 'no trespassing' signs, not exceeding two square feet per face, are exempt from permits.
- Number and name plates identifying residents or structures, mounted per standards and not exceeding noted size, are exempt from permits.
- Required price signs on fuel pumps are exempt from permits.
- Signs situated within open-air theaters, arenas, stadiums or similar enclosures, not visible to the general public outside the enclosure, are exempt from permits.
- Planned development or subdivision signs, meeting specific content and location restrictions, are exempt from permits.
- Temporary construction signs (subject to criteria) are exempt from permit process.
- Temporary private owner merchandise sale signs for garage/household sales and auctions (subject to criteria) are exempt from the permit process.
- Temporary nonilluminated 'For Sale', 'For Lease' or 'Rent' real estate signs (criteria by district) are exempt from permit process.
- Temporary nonilluminated on-premise roadside stand sign (criteria) is exempt from permit process.
- Temporary nonilluminated interior window signs (may not be used for permanent advertising) are exempt from permit process.
- Political campaign signs (criteria) are exempt from permit process.
- No sign permit is required for change of copy on a sign routinely changed.
- No sign permit is required for routine maintenance, including minor repairs, repainting, bulb replacement, and repair of parts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs not specifically described as 'exempt signs' require a sign permit; permit applications must include elevation and plan drawings and a full description of sign placement and appearance.
- Permit applications must comply with all applicable governmental regulations as a prerequisite.
- All applications for signs in a district on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a preservation district, or eligible for such listing require a hearing.
- Permits are required prior to any sign work except for defined exemptions.
- Variance for signs may be sought through the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- If a nonconforming sign is associated with a previous conditional use, variance, exception, or permit, the most restrictive regulation applies and the sign is considered nonconforming.
- No express reference to a 'master sign plan' requirement is made in text; however, detailed plan drawings and site information are required for permit review.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/ellicott-town