# Sign Regulations in Elmira, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elmira, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/elmira
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NY/Elmira/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_APXBZO_ARTVSI)

## At a glance

Elmira, New York regulates 10 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Projecting Signs in the Business A (Neighborhood Commercial), Business A-I (Neighborhood Commercial-I) zoning district are capped at Not higher than 15 ft above sidewalk tall, 24 sq ft, and 4 ft 6 in projection from building wide (Sec. Sec. 540.2(b)(3), Sec. 510.12, Table 530.1). Most commercial signs in Elmira require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence AA (One-Family, Large Lot), Residence A (One-Family), Residence B (One–Two Family), Residence C (One–Four Family), Residence D (Multifamily) | 4 | 3 ft above grade | 24 sq ft | — |
| Business A (Neighborhood Commercial), Business A-I (Neighborhood Commercial-I) | 5 | Not higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 24 sq ft | — |
| Business C (Specialized Commercial), Business D (Historic Commercial) | 5 | Not higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business E (General Commercial), Business G (Gateway Commercial) | 5 | 20 ft above grade | 40 sq ft | — |
| HA (Hospital), HED (Higher Education) | 3 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Industrial A (Light Industrial), Industrial B (General Industrial), Industrial P (Planned Industrial) | 3 | 35 ft above grade | 75 sq ft | — |
| Residence P (Planned Residential), Residence P-AA (Planned Low-Density Residential) | 2 | 3 ft above grade | 24 sq ft | — |
| Conservation (Floodplains, Hilly Slopes) | 2 | 3 ft above grade | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | Awning affixed at 8 ft, extend no higher than 12 ft, project at least 3 feet | Over 100 sq ft and up to 200 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### Business A (Neighborhood Commercial), Business A-I (Neighborhood Commercial-I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft above grade | Determined by total allowed area (see formula) | — | — | 1 per business establishment | On lot; may not project over public ROW | — | Sec. 540.2(b)(4), Table 530.1 |
| Projecting Sign | Not higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 24 sq ft | 4 ft 6 in projection from building | — | 1 per business establishment | On building, at least 9 ft above sidewalk | — | Sec. 540.2(b)(3), Sec. 510.12, Table 530.1 |
| Wall Sign | No higher than top of parapet or roof line, whichever is higher | Total of all permitted signs per principal use: 1 sq ft per linear ft of building frontage | — | — | — | On building walls | — | Sec. 540.2(b)(1), Sec. 520.13, Table 530.1 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 530.1 |
| Public Service Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 530.1 |

### Business C (Specialized Commercial), Business D (Historic Commercial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business establishment | On lot; may not project over public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 540.4(b)(4), Table 530.1 |
| Projecting Sign | Not higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 24 sq ft | 4 ft 6 in projection from building | — | 1 per business establishment | On building, at least 9 ft above sidewalk | — | Sec. 540.4(b)(3), Sec. 510.12, Table 530.1 |
| Wall Sign | No higher than parapet or roof line | 32 sq ft (total of all signs) | — | — | — | On building walls | — | Sec. 540.4(b)(1),(2), Sec. 520.13, Table 530.1 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 530.1 |
| Public Service Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 530.1 |

### Business E (General Commercial), Business G (Gateway Commercial)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft above grade | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot; may project up to 4 ft 6 in over public ROW. | — | Sec. 540.5(d), Table 530.1 |
| Projecting Sign | Not higher than 15 ft above sidewalk | 24 sq ft | 4 ft 6 in | — | 1 per business establishment | On building, at least 9 ft above sidewalk | — | Sec. 540.5(c), Sec. 510.12 |
| Wall Sign | No higher than top of parapet or roof line | Determined by formula | — | — | — | On building walls | — | Sec. 540.5(a), (b), (c); Sec. 520.13 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 530.1 |
| Public Service Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Table 530.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Elmira

- No sign of any kind may be altered or erected except in conformance with the requirements of Article V (Signs) after the effective date of this ordinance.
- Roof signs are specifically prohibited in the City of Elmira.
- No sign shall project into the line of vision of an official traffic signal or railroad signal viewed by a motorist within 150 feet of such signal.
- No sign visible from the street shall contain the word danger, caution, stop or any symbol or instructions which mimic or could be understood to be signs regulating traffic; or rotating beam, beacon or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light with the intent of simulating traffic or other official signs or affecting the flow of traffic.
- No sign or sign structure shall be placed on public property, tree or utility pole without the written consent of the owner or agent thereof.
- No sign or sign structure shall be placed upon any street or highway right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner so as to obstruct ingress, egress, ventilation or light of any window, stairway, door or other opening intended for ingress or egress.
- Any sign which no longer serves an ongoing business, or is abandoned or no longer functional, shall be removed within three months of abandonment or non-function.
- Temporary signs shall not be used for a period exceeding 30 consecutive days.
- Balloon, banner, and pennant signs are generally not permitted, except as specifically authorized for certain community events by the city clerk.
- No sign shall extend higher than the top of the parapet or past the roof line of a building, whichever is higher.
- No sign shall be erected so that flashing signs are located within 150 feet from any residential property if visible from such property.
- No sign abutting a residential property or district shall fail to meet the side, rear, and front setback requirements of the abutting residential district.
- Garage sale signs shall not be displayed for longer than three days.
- All signs and sign structures shall be erected, placed and maintained in a state of good and safe repair and comply with all building codes, including the electrical code if applicable.
- Signs will not be allowed to continue in an unkempt, blistered or faded condition, and the area immediately surrounding ground signs shall be kept clear of all untended vegetation and debris.
- No sign or sign structure shall be placed upon any street or highway right-of-way.
- Flashing signs are specifically prohibited within 150 feet from any residential property if visible from such property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Elmira

- Signs of a duly constituted governmental body including traffic or similar regulatory devices, legal notices, street signs or warnings at railroads.
- Flags, emblems, symbols or insignias of a nation, governmental body, school or religious group.
- Memorial tablets, signs or historical markers.
- Signs in cemeteries.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Site plan review is required for major projects, and as part of the site plan, the applicant must provide the location, size, design, and type of construction of all proposed signs.
- For projects located within an historic district, site plan review applications will be referred to the historic preservation commission for issuance of a certificate of appropriateness, including for sign design.
- Any application for a special permit that includes signage must include a plan showing the location and design of any signs proposed.
- If a variance is required for a sign (e.g., sign not meeting ordinance requirements), a variance application and hearing process before the zoning board of appeals is required.
- For certain zoning districts or uses, sign size/number/illumination are subject to specific planning commission approval (e.g., REMU district—sign size is determined by the planning commission as part of special permit review).
- Master sign plan requirements or consolidated sign plans are not explicitly stated, but major projects and planned development districts will require the submission and planning commission approval of detailed site and signage plans.
- Planning commission may require additional information on the design and location of signage as part of its review of site or special permit applications.

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

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