# Sign Regulations in Fishkill, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fishkill, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/fishkill
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8301385#8301385)

## At a glance

Fishkill, New York regulates 19 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the SD-1 (Historic Main Street business area) zoning district are capped at 12 ft above highway level tall, 30 sq ft per lot (aggregate); each face may be 30 sq ft if two-dimensional with parallel faces., and 8 ft vertical dimension wide, with a No sign closer than 10 ft to any property line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft of sign area over 36 sq ft setback (Sec. §171-49C, §171-49D, §171-49E). Most commercial signs in Fishkill require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 15 sq ft total per business/residence | — |
| Nonresidence zoning districts (SD-1, SD-2, SD-3) | 1 | — | 6 sq ft per face | — |
| SD-1 (Historic Main Street business area) | 8 | 12 ft above highway level | 30 sq ft per lot (aggregate); each face may be 30 sq ft if two-dimensional with parallel faces. | — |
| SD-2 (intermediate areas) | 8 | 12 ft above highway level | 30 sq ft per lot (aggregate); each face may be 30 sq ft if two-dimensional with parallel faces. | — |
| SD-3 (Routes 9 and 84 corridors) | 8 | 15 ft above highway level | 50 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidence zoning districts (outside the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone) | 3 | — | 2 sq ft each | — |
| Nonresidence zoning districts (within the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone) | 3 | — | 2 sq ft each | — |
| Residence zoning districts | 3 | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — |

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

### SD-1 (Historic Main Street business area)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Parallel to Building) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing principal street | — | §171-49C, §171-49D |
| Wall Sign (Perpendicular to Building) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed and perpendicular to outer wall facing principal street | — | §171-49C, §171-49D, §171-49E |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft above highway level | 30 sq ft per lot (aggregate); each face may be 30 sq ft if two-dimensional with parallel faces. | 8 ft vertical dimension | No sign closer than 10 ft to any property line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft of sign area over 36 sq ft | 1 per street on which lot abuts | 1 per street facing which the lot abuts | — | §171-49C, §171-49D, §171-49E |
| Directory Sign (Multi-Tenant Building) | — | Each sign on directory: 3 ft x 6 ft | 3 ft x 6 ft per sign panel | — | — | Vestibule/doorway or outside as allowed for building-mounted or freestanding signs | — | §171-49C, §171-49D(7) |
| Supplementary Sign (Small Directional) | — | 2 sq ft each | — | — | — | Access roads/parking areas | — | §171-49D(4) |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use as specified | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing street/parking lot not otherwise signed. | — | §171-49D(3) |
| Indoor Sign (Window/Indoor, Facing Out) | — | Counted in building-mounted sign area limits | — | — | — | Within 24 inches of window/door, visible to passerby | — | §171-49D(6) |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required by government | — | §171-49D(5) |

### SD-2 (intermediate areas)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Parallel to Building) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing principal street | — | §171-49C, §171-49D |
| Wall Sign (Perpendicular to Building) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed and perpendicular to outer wall facing principal street | — | §171-49C, §171-49D, §171-49E |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft above highway level | 30 sq ft per lot (aggregate); each face may be 30 sq ft if two-dimensional with parallel faces. | 8 ft vertical dimension | No sign closer than 10 ft to any property line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft of sign area over 36 sq ft | 1 per street on which lot abuts | 1 per street facing which the lot abuts | — | §171-49C, §171-49D, §171-49E |
| Directory Sign (Multi-Tenant Building) | — | Each sign on directory: 3 ft x 6 ft | 3 ft x 6 ft per sign panel | — | — | Vestibule/doorway or outside as allowed for building-mounted or freestanding signs | — | §171-49C, §171-49D(7) |
| Supplementary Sign (Small Directional) | — | 2 sq ft each | — | — | — | Access roads/parking areas | — | §171-49D(4) |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use as specified | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing street/parking lot not otherwise signed. | — | §171-49D(3) |
| Indoor Sign (Window/Indoor, Facing Out) | — | Counted in building-mounted sign area limits | — | — | — | Within 24 inches of window/door, visible to passerby | — | §171-49D(6) |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required by government | — | §171-49D(5) |

### SD-3 (Routes 9 and 84 corridors)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Parallel to Building) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing principal street | — | §171-49C, §171-49D |
| Wall Sign (Perpendicular to Building) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed and perpendicular to outer wall facing principal street | — | §171-49C, §171-49D, §171-49E |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft above highway level | 36 sq ft plus 1 sq ft for every 10 parking spaces up to 1,000 spaces in project; not to exceed 50 sq ft (aggregate); each face may be 50 sq ft if parallel faces. | — | No sign closer than 10 ft to any property line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft of sign area over 36 sq ft | 1 per street on which lot abuts | 1 per street facing which the lot abuts | — | §171-49C, §171-49D, §171-49E |
| Directory Sign (Multi-Tenant Building) | — | — | — | — | — | Vestibule/doorway or outside as allowed for building-mounted or freestanding signs | — | §171-49C, §171-49D(7) |
| Supplementary Sign (Small Directional) | — | 2 sq ft each | — | — | — | Access roads/parking areas | — | §171-49D(4) |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use as specified | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing street/parking lot not otherwise signed. | — | §171-49D(3) |
| Indoor Sign (Window/Indoor, Facing Out) | — | Counted in building-mounted sign area limits | — | — | — | Within 24 inches of window/door, visible to passerby | — | §171-49D(6) |
| Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required by government | — | §171-49D(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Fishkill

- No sign shall be erected, replaced, constructed, displayed, moved, reconstructed, extended or altered except in conformity with and as expressly authorized by the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign shall be located so as to obscure any signs displayed by a public authority or public agency.
- No sign shall be placed in such a way as to obstruct proper sight distance.
- No sign shall interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow.
- No sign shall interfere with any door, window, ventilation system, fire escape, or other emergency exit.
- No sign shall be placed on a public sidewalk or at curb side.
- No sign may be placed or installed on property other than the parcel or lot associated with the sign or the notice provided on the sign.
- No permanent sign or sign component shall be animated, moving, rotating, or revolving.
- No permanent sign shall contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, balloons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving, fluttering, or revolving devices.
- Strings of lights and contiguous or noncontiguous light strips, whether neon, fluorescent, or otherwise, shall not be used for advertising or attracting attention when not part of a sign.
- Billboard signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs (signs projecting above the coping, eave or cornice) are prohibited.
- Signs that move, have moving parts, or revolve are prohibited.
- Signs with optical illusions of movement or changing copy are prohibited.
- Signs not located on the premises to which they are associated or refer are prohibited.
- Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles/trailers parked so as to advertise from a public right-of-way or for purposes of advertising primarily are prohibited (except for incidental vehicle signage).
- Signs which obstruct any window or door opening used as a means of egress, prevent free passage on a roof, interfere with an opening for legal ventilation, or are attached to/obstruct any standpipe, fire escape, or fire hydrant are prohibited.
- Televisions used for advertising or information are prohibited as signs.
- Except for canvas awnings, no permanent sign shall be constructed of paper, cardboard, canvas or similar materials.
- No sign shall overhang onto an adjacent property or right-of-way.
- No temporary sign shall be placed on the front or face of a building or on any premises except as provided in the code.
- The use of fluorescent and/or day-glow-type paints is prohibited.
- No sign shall be attached to any tree or utility pole or be painted upon or directly affixed to any rock, ledge or other natural feature.
- No sign, other than an official traffic sign or government sign, shall be erected within the right-of-way of any public street or highway.
- A sign that is illuminated by or contains flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights is prohibited (except for time, date, and/or temperature displays).
- A sign designed or mounted so as to impair or cause confusion to motor vehicle operators is prohibited.
- No advertising message shall be extended over a succession of signs along a street or highway.
- No sign shall project or hang over a pedestrian or vehicular right-of-way, public or private, except as specifically permitted.
- No sign shall project above the eaveline (or designated building roofline) on which it is mounted, painted or attached, with certain parapet exceptions.
- Illumination shall not be twinkling, flashing, or intermittent (except for time, date, and/or temperature); the source of illumination shall not create unreasonable glare beyond the boundaries of the lot.
- All sign lighting must be shielded and not cast glare or direct light onto adjacent public right-of-way, surrounding property, residential property, or motorist's vision.
- Ground-mounted spotlights must be fully shielded.
- A string of more than three bulbs is not permitted as part of a sign or separate from a sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fishkill

- Temporary signs as regulated in § 171-47 are not subject to Planning Board review and approval, but may require a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer where specified.
- One temporary 'for sale or lease' sign per single lot (not exceeding four square feet) or per real estate subdivision (not exceeding 16 square feet), set back at least 15 feet from the street, during period offered for sale or lease, does not require a permit.
- Up to 15 square feet of temporary yard and lawn signs displayed only during election campaigns, drives or special events per business or residence do not require a permit, subject to duration and removal timeline.
- Government signs do not count towards total signage.
- In residence zoning districts, temporary signs under § 171-47 do not require a permit.
- Signs pertaining to an ongoing use are permitted, but must be removed upon termination or relocation of the use.
- Directory listing signs for multitenant buildings located in the vestibule or within the doorway of a building are permitted.
- Indoor signs visible through a window or door whose primary purpose is to communicate information to passersby out-of-doors are permitted, but must be included in total sign area calculations and comply with all provisions.
- Signs on state highways must conform to the state code.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign erections and modifications are subject to the review and approval of the Planning Board, except as otherwise specified for temporary signs.
- The Code Enforcement Officer must refer all applicants for new and modified signs to the Planning Board for review and approval prior to issuing a sign permit, except for certain temporary signs.
- All freestanding signs require site plan approval by the Planning Board prior to installation.
- Any modification or alteration (except repairs and identical replacement) to a freestanding sign, wall sign, or projecting sign requires approval by the Planning Board prior to permit issuance.
- For projecting and hanging signs over public or private right-of-way, the Village must be named as additional insured on the property owner's insurance policy; yearly inspections by the Code Enforcement Officer are required.
- Temporary signs in nonresidence districts (e.g., window signs, banners for activities under 30 days) are not subject to permit but require filing a temporary sign information form with the Village Zoning Office.
- Projecting and hanging signs will require yearly inspections by the Code Enforcement Officer and may be required to be removed upon notification.

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

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