# Sign Regulations in Fairport, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fairport, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/fairport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-10-16
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10644641)

## At a glance

Fairport, New York regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the LC-R Residential District zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 8 sq ft per side, with a 10 ft from street; 10 ft side property lines setback (Sec. 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Ground Signs: LC-R); § 408-4(B)(3); § 408-15(B)). Most commercial signs in Fairport 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 | 5 | — | — | — |
| R-A Residential District; R-B Residential District; R-B 50/35 Residential District; R-C Residential District; R-D Residential District; R-E Residential District | 7 | 8 ft | 4 sq ft per side | — |
| LC-R Residential District | 8 | 8 ft | 8 sq ft per side | — |
| NB Neighborhood Business District | 8 | 5 ft | 8 sq ft per side | — |
| B-1 Commercial District; CD Canal District; L-D; M-1 Industrial District | 8 | 10 ft | Up to 36 sq ft (and not exceeding frontage length) | — |

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

### LC-R Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft | 8 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from street; 10 ft side property lines | Max 1 | On private property outside the public right-of-way. | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Ground Signs: LC-R); § 408-4(B)(3); § 408-15(B) |
| Building Sign (Wall/Building-Mounted) | 8 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | Max 1 | Flat/parallel to exterior wall or painted on wall. | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Building Signs: LC-R); § 408-15(B) |
| Directory Sign | N/A | N/A | — | — | 0 (not permitted) | — | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Directory Signs: LC-R show 0 permitted) |
| Window Sign | — | 1 sq ft OR 25% of window (lesser applies) | — | — | Max 1 per window facing street | On or behind windowpane and intended to be viewed from outside. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Window Signs table (LC-R row) |
| Portable (A-frame) Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | Max 1 | Within 10 ft of primary entrance; must be brought inside after business closes each day. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Portable (A-frame) table (LC-R row); § 408-5(B)(5)(a)-(e) |
| Temporary Banner (Commercial) | — | Appropriate to location; determined by CEO | — | — | Max 1 | On site of the commercial enterprise promoted. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Temporary Signs (Banners) table (LC-R column) |
| Temporary Banner (Noncommercial) | — | Appropriate to location; determined by CEO | — | — | Max 1 | — | — | SIGNS table (Noncommercial: durational limits); § 408-6(B) |
| Noncommercial Speech Signs - Political Campaign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property; not in public right-of-way. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Noncommercial Speech Signs table (Political campaign signs - all districts); § 408-6(B); § 408-8(H) |

### NB Neighborhood Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft | 8 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from street; 10 ft side property lines | Max 1 | On private property outside the public right-of-way. | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Ground Signs: N-B); § 408-4(B)(3); § 408-15(A),(C)-(F) |
| Building Sign (Wall/Building-Mounted) | N/A | N/A (building signs not permitted in N-B per schedule) | — | — | 0 (not permitted) | — | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Building Signs: N-B shows 0 permitted) |
| Directory Sign | N/A | N/A | — | — | 0 (not permitted) | — | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Directory Signs: N-B shows 0 permitted) |
| Window Sign | — | 1 sq ft OR 25% of window (lesser applies) | — | — | Max 1 per window facing street | On or behind windowpane and intended to be viewed from outside. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Window Signs table (N-B row) |
| Portable (A-frame) Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | Max 1 | Within 10 ft of primary entrance; must be brought inside after business closes each day. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Portable (A-frame) table (N-B row); § 408-5(B)(5)(a)-(e) |
| Temporary Banner (Commercial) | — | Appropriate to location; determined by CEO | — | — | Max 1 | On site of the commercial enterprise promoted. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Temporary Signs (Banners) table (N-B column) |
| Temporary Banner (Noncommercial) | — | Appropriate to location; determined by CEO | — | — | Max 1 | — | — | SIGNS table (Noncommercial: durational limits) |
| Noncommercial Speech Signs - Political Campaign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property; not in public right-of-way. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Noncommercial Speech Signs table (Political campaign signs - all districts); § 408-6(B); § 408-8(H) |

### B-1 Commercial District; CD Canal District; L-D; M-1 Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft | 12 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from street; 10 ft side property lines | Max 1 | On private property outside the public right-of-way. | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Ground Signs: B-1, C-D, L-D, M-1); § 408-4(B)(3); § 408-15(A),(C)-(F) |
| Building Sign (Wall/Building-Mounted) | Top of roof line (no projection above roof) | Up to 36 sq ft (and not exceeding frontage length) | — | — | Max 2 per tenant | Flat/parallel to exterior wall or painted on wall; roof mounting/projection above rooftop prohibited. | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Building Signs: B-1, C-D, L-D, M-1); § 408-8(I); § 408-15(A),(C)-(F); footnote iv |
| Directory Sign (Projecting/On-Building) | 10 ft | 9 sq ft per side (support structure excluded) | — | — | Max 1 | On building; projecting from facade. | — | 408 Attachment 1, Sign Code Schedule (Directory Signs: B-1, C-D, L-D, M-1); § 408-4(B)(4); footnote v |
| Window Sign | — | 18 sq ft OR 50% of window (lesser applies) | — | — | Max 1 per window facing street | On or behind windowpane and intended to be viewed from outside. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Window Signs table (B-1, C-D, L-D, M-1 rows) |
| Portable (A-frame) Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | Max 1 | Within 10 ft of primary entrance; must be brought inside after business closes each day. | — | § 408-5(B)(5)(a)-(e); FAIRPORT CODE Portable (A-frame) table (B-1, C-D, L-D, M-1 rows) |
| Temporary Banner (Commercial) | — | Appropriate to location; determined by CEO | — | — | Max 1 | On site of the commercial enterprise promoted. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Temporary Signs (Banners) table (B-1, C-D, L-D, M-1 columns) |
| Temporary Banner (Noncommercial) | — | Appropriate to location; determined by CEO | — | — | Max 1 | — | — | SIGNS table (Noncommercial: durational limits); § 408-6(B) |
| Noncommercial Speech Signs - Political Campaign | — | — | — | — | — | On private property; not in public right-of-way. | — | FAIRPORT CODE Noncommercial Speech Signs table (Political campaign signs - all districts); § 408-6(B); § 408-8(H) |

## Prohibited signs in Fairport

- Only those signs listed in Chapter 408 are allowed; any sign type not listed is prohibited
- Attention-getting devices such as balloons, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, sails, or similar fluttering or flashing devices are prohibited
- Signs may not have animated or moving parts, nor appear to be animated or moving; moving signs (flashing, blinking, animated, kinetic, rotating, or signs whose illumination or projected surface changes with time) are prohibited, except time and temperature signs
- Signs may not interfere with any communication or energized power lines
- Signs may not be attached to a fire escape or to any door or window so as to block vision of or confuse access to any fire escape or fire escape route
- Signs that incorporate neon, fluorescent, or similar colors are prohibited
- Commercial speech signs are prohibited unless the sign advertises a bona fide business conducted on the premises
- Signs (other than window signs) specifying price, cost, or value are prohibited, except gas price signs at gasoline stations as required by county law
- Product names, trade names, or logos are prohibited unless integral to the business or tenant name; no more than 10% of sign area may display product/trade names or commodities
- Reflective surface signs are prohibited
- Signs are prohibited in any public right-of-way unless otherwise specified
- Roof signs and any sign, banner, flag, or attention-getting device on the roof or projecting above the rooftop are prohibited
- Temporary signs other than those specified in Chapter 408 and the sign schedule are prohibited
- No permanent or temporary sign may be erected or placed so as to cause a traffic hazard or be confused with authorized traffic signs, signals, or devices
- Signs may not include anything vulgar or obscene
- Only external lighting of signs is allowed; internally lit, self-illuminated, backlit, or halo-style lighting is prohibited
- Neon, fluorescent, or similar type lighting is prohibited
- Flashing lights are prohibited

## Signs exempt from permit in Fairport

- Municipal signs (do not require a permit)
- Noncommercial speech signs (do not require a permit)
- Repainting, maintenance, or refurbishing of a conforming commercial speech sign, provided that the copy or logo does not change (no permit required)
- Credit card signs not exceeding one square foot total area (no permit required)
- "Sale," "Lease," "For Rent," or "Open-For-Inspection" signs, provided such signs are removed in a timely manner (no permit required)
- One informational sign per business, not exceeding two square feet, bearing a legend such as "Open" (no permit required)
- Garage and estate sale signs: up to two sales per residence per year; signs may be placed within one day before the sale and must be removed within one day after; may be located in front of the house and at the closest intersection to a major street; maximum of two signs (no permit required)
- Alarm or security company signs not exceeding one square foot total area (no permit required)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Planning Board sign site plan approval is required for signs proposed on new construction
- Planning Board sign site plan approval is required for applications involving any structure or site proposing more than two signs
- Planning Board sign site plan approval is required for ground signs
- Planning Board sign site plan approval is required for directory signs
- The Planning Board may waive provisions or requirements of the sign code if not necessary for public health, welfare, or safety and if the waiver will not cause inappropriate or unsightly signs or an excess of signs
- The Code Enforcement Officer may approve modifications to an approved sign site plan if there is no change to the number, location, or total area of signs and the modification complies with §408-5 sign standards
- Attachment 1 footnote: Site plan review may be required by Village Code Chapter 408
- Variance requests from sign code provisions must be taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals when strict application would cause practical difficulty; variances are limited to a term of no more than 10 years and may be renewed; a variance is deemed abandoned if the sign is not erected within one year or if the sign is removed for a continuous period of one year

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

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