# Sign Regulations in Fort Edward, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fort Edward, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/fort-edward
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13520242#13520242)

## At a glance

Fort Edward, New York regulates 17 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (including Pole Sign)s in the Commercial district, Commercial districts, C-1, HC, MC zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 100 sq ft cumulative per lot (shared with other signs), with a 2 ft from front, 5 ft from side setback (Sec. §260-7A, §350-5-9D, §260-10C(3)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 32 square feet (commercial/industrial), 16 square feet (residential) | — |
| Commercial district, Commercial districts, C-1, HC, MC | 9 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft cumulative per lot (shared with other signs) | — |
| Industrial district, Industrial districts, DI, I | 6 | 20 feet | 50 sq ft per side | — |
| Residential district, Residential districts, R-1, R-3 | 4 | 8 feet | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Commercial district, Commercial districts, C-1, HC, MC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 15 feet | — | — | — | One per side of building | On each side of building | — | §350-5-9B(3)(a), §260-10C(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 15 feet | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per building | Perpendicular to building, extends no more than 5 ft from building | — | §350-5-9B(3)(a), §260-10C(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (including Pole Sign) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft cumulative per lot (shared with other signs) | — | 2 ft from front, 5 ft from side | One per lot | — | — | §260-7A, §350-5-9D, §260-10C(3) |
| Representational Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | One per establishment | Attached to establishment | — | §260-7B(2)(b) |
| Illuminated Public Service Sign (time, temp, date) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §260-7B(2)(c) |
| Suspended Sign (Shopping Center) | — | 8 sq ft per business | — | — | One per business | Suspended from the freestanding sign | — | §350-5-9B(3)(d) |
| Off-premises Directional Sign | — | Under 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §350-5-9B(3)(e) |
| Common Freestanding Sign (For Group of 3+ Businesses) | — | 50 sq ft per side | — | — | One per facility | — | — | §260-7B(2)(a) |

### Industrial district, Industrial districts, DI, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 feet | — | — | — | One per side of building | On each side of building | — | §350-5-9B(3)(b), §260-10C(1) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet | 20 sq ft | — | — | One per building | Perpendicular to building, extends no more than 5 ft from building | — | §350-5-9B(3)(b), §260-10C(2) |
| Pole Sign (Freestanding Sign) | 20 feet | 36 sq ft | — | 2 ft from front, 5 ft from side | One per lot | — | — | §350-5-9B(3)(b), §260-7A, §260-10C(3), §350-5-9D |
| Suspended Sign (Shopping Center) | — | 8 sq ft per business | — | — | One per business | Suspended from the freestanding sign | — | §350-5-9B(3)(d) |
| Off-premises Directional Sign | — | Under 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §350-5-9B(3)(e) |
| Common Freestanding Sign (For Group of 3+ Businesses) | — | 50 sq ft per side | — | — | One per facility | — | — | §260-7B(2)(a) |

### Residential district, Residential districts, R-1, R-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 feet | 16 sq ft | — | 5 ft from adjoining property boundaries | One per property | On premises; set back at least 5 ft from adjoining property boundaries | — | §260-7B(1)(a)-(b) |
| Projecting Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 feet | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per property | Attached to principal building; may project up to 40 inches | — | §260-7B(1)(a)-(b) |
| Temporary or Portable Sign (Event or Activity) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §260-7B(1)(c) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation) | 8 feet | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per home occupation | Affixed flat to building | — | §350-5-9B(2), §350-5-9C |

## Prohibited signs in Fort Edward

- No off-premises signs shall be allowed other than as permitted under the exempt signs provisions.
- No sign in any district shall be placed or located within or extend into the right-of-way of any public highway or roadway.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or revolving lights, except to show time and temperature.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color or placement.
- No sign shall impair visibility for the motorist at a street corner or intersection by placement and location within 15 feet of the intersection of the street or highway lines.
- No sign or sign supports shall be placed upon the roof of any building.
- No sign shall consist of banners, pennant, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices.
- No advertising message shall be extended over more than one sign placed along a street or highway.
- No sign shall be attached to fences, utility poles or trees.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to confuse or obstruct the view of any traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign(s) shall be placed along a state highway without first obtaining permission from the New York State Department of Transportation in order to avoid conflict with any New York State law.
- No sign will exceed four feet high from the ground when it is placed between the curb and sidewalk or beside a roadway.
- No billboard-type sign shall be permitted in the limits of the Village of Fort Edward.
- Moving, flashing, blinking or animated signs are prohibited in all land use districts.
- The use of banners, pennants, ribbons or streamers intended to attract attention or for advertising, except for temporary use not exceeding three days within a month.
- Off-premises advertising signs are prohibited, as distinguished from directional signs.
- Any sign not specifically permitted in the ordinance section is prohibited.
- In residential land use districts (R-1 and R-3), backlighted signs (using internal lighting) are not permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fort Edward

- Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs and plaques; names and dates of buildings; and nonadvertising on-premises signs installed by religious or nonprofit organizations, not exceeding six square feet.
- Signs, notices or emblems installed by government bodies.
- Flags or insignias of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- On-premises nonadvertising directional signs for public convenience, such as identifying public parking areas, fire zones, entrances and exits, and similar, not exceeding four square feet; freestanding signs not to exceed six feet in height. Business and personal names allowed, excluding advertising messages.
- Nonilluminated warning, 'private drive,' 'posted,' or 'no trespassing' signs, not to exceed two square feet.
- One on-premises sign, either freestanding or attached, in connection with any residential building in any zoning district, for permitted professional offices or home occupations, not to exceed two square feet, set back at least ten feet from the highway right-of-way.
- Number and name plates identifying residents, mounted on a house, apartment or mailbox, not to exceed one square foot in area.
- Private-owner merchandise sales signs such as for garage sales, yard sales, auctions, not exceeding four square feet and not displayed for more than seven days.
- Temporary, nonilluminated 'for sale,' 'for rent' and real estate signs of a similar nature concerning the premises, meeting size and removal requirements.
- One temporary sign for a roadside stand selling agricultural produce, not exceeding sixteen square feet and set back at least ten feet from the public right-of-way, to be removed within three days after sale ends.
- Holiday decorations, including lighting, in any district.
- Temporary, nonilluminated window signs and posters.
- At gasoline stations: integral graphic or attached price signs on gasoline pumps; and one portable sign per station, not exceeding twelve square feet and four feet in height.
- Temporary directional signs for meetings, conventions, and other assemblies, display limited to five days before and two days after the event.
- One sign, not exceeding six square feet in residential or sixteen square feet in commercial/industrial districts, listing architect, engineer, contractor and/or owner, on premises where construction, renovation or repair is in progress, to be removed within three days of completion.
- Political posters, banners, promotional devices, and similar signs not exceeding four square feet in residential or sixteen square feet in commercial/industrial districts, subject to time, identification, and setback requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application for a new sign must include elevation and plan drawings, full description of placement and appearance of the proposed sign.
- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or variance meeting mentioned in the provided text.
- Groups of three or more contiguous businesses in commercial or industrial districts are required to have one common freestanding sign denoting the name of the facility, and all other signs must be coordinated in material, shape, lettering, color and/or decorative elements.

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

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