# Sign Regulations in Fulton, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Fulton, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/fulton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14876908#14876908)

## At a glance

Fulton, New York regulates 19 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Billboard/Off-premises Sign (General)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 24 ft above average grade within 6 ft of the base tall and Varies by height (see table), with a Ends/face at least height of sign in feet from adjacent property line setback (Sec. § 640-25G(1)-(7)). Most commercial signs in Fulton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 3 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District | 4 | Top not to exceed height of principal building; maximum 15 ft above average grade | 175 sq ft | — |
| Manufacturing District | 7 | Top not to exceed height of principal building, and no more than 24 ft above average grade | 250 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 24 ft above average grade within 6 ft of the base | 25 sq ft | — |

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

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (0-125 ft from centerline of street) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Building side or roof facing street or front entrance side | — | § 640-25D(1) |
| Wall Sign (over 125 ft from centerline of street) | — | 175 sq ft | — | — | — | Building side or roof facing street or front entrance side | — | § 640-25D(1) |
| Ground or Post Sign | Top not to exceed height of principal building; maximum 15 ft above average grade | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Any yard adjacent to a street | — | § 640-25D(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | § 640-25D(3) |

### Manufacturing District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Outdoor Advertising Sign or Structure | — | — | — | Set back at least as far as required front yard | — | Set back at least required front yard depth from right-of-way line | — | § 640-25E(1) |
| Billboard/Advertising Structure - Near Residential or Sensitive Uses | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 640-25E(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonilluminated) | — | 12 sq ft | — | Set back at least a distance in feet equal to the number of square feet of area, minimum required front yard depth, maximum 100 ft | — | On premises being advertised | — | § 640-25E(3) |
| Wall/High & Low Roof/Marquee/Projecting/Representational Signs (0-125 ft from centerline of street) | — | 150 sq ft | — | — | — | Building side or roof facing street, or front entrance side | — | § 640-25E(4) |
| Wall/High & Low Roof/Marquee/Projecting/Representational Signs (over 125 ft from centerline of street) | — | 175 sq ft | — | — | — | Building side or roof facing street, or front entrance side | — | § 640-25E(4) |
| High Roof Sign (Option for Manufacturing District) | — | 250 sq ft | — | — | — | Building roof facing street, or front entrance side | — | § 640-25E(4) |
| Ground or Post Sign | Top not to exceed height of principal building, and no more than 24 ft above average grade | — | — | — | — | Any yard adjacent to a street | — | § 640-25E(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Incidental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 640-25A (Definition) |
| Secondhand Property Sale Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | No closer than 10 ft to street pavement, or must be permanently affixed | One | For advertising/calling attention to secondhand property sales | — | § 506-6(A)-(B) |
| Public Right-of-Way Sign (Governmental, Bus Stop, Informational) | — | — | — | — | — | Public right-of-way | — | § 640-25F(1)-(3) |
| Portable Sign (Nonprofit Event Only) | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | Max 2 per eligible location | Allowed only on two named City-owned corners | — | § 640-25F(6) |
| Banner or Sign Across Public Streets/Sidewalks/Rights-of-Way | — | — | — | — | — | Across streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way (from poles designated and approved by City) | — | § 640-25H |
| Billboard/Off-premises Sign (General) | 24 ft above average grade within 6 ft of the base | Varies by height (see table) | — | Ends/face at least height of sign in feet from adjacent property line | — | Not on residential property; allowed only on vacant lots in commercial/manufacturing districts | — | § 640-25G(1)-(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Fulton

- It is unlawful to erect, construct, paint, alter, display or maintain any sign within the City of Fulton without first obtaining written sign approval from the City Planning Commission, a written sign permit from the City Codes Enforcement Officer, and a certificate of sign compliance, except where specifically exempted.
- No signs shall be allowed in the public right-of-way except as expressly permitted (such as public/governmental, approved bus or transit company, certain portable signs under specific conditions, and as approved by the Common Council).
- Any person who erects, constructs, paints, alters, displays, maintains or causes to be erected, constructed, displayed, or maintained any sign(s) within the City of Fulton without the proper approvals is subject to a penalty not to exceed $250 for every day that the application has not been filed.
- Portable signs are not allowed in any public right-of-way except at specifically designated City-owned locations, by permit, and only for events sponsored by not-for-profits, subject to size and duration limits.
- Off-premises signs and billboards are not allowed on any residential zoned property.
- Existing signs which do not comply with current code must come into compliance when property ownership changes or the building is vacant for one year or more.
- Window signs advertising a product are not permitted in any residential district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Fulton

- Permits are not required for incidental signs (generally informational such as 'No Parking', 'Entrance', 'Exit', 'Loading Only', 'Handicapped Parking', 'Telephone' or other similar directives), provided no commercial message is displayed.
- Public signs erected by or on behalf of a governmental body to post legal notices, identify public property, convey public information and direct or regulate pedestrian or vehicular traffic in the right-of-way.
- Bus stop signs and informational signs erected by a public transit company in the right-of-way.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require written approval from the City Planning Commission and a sign permit from the City Codes Enforcement Officer, except where specifically exempted.
- All applications for sign approval and/or sign permit must include information such as location, zoning, drawings/blueprints, construction details, consent from property owner, and a location plan.
- The Planning Board may grant lesser signage than the maximums if necessary to meet code standards.
- Plans for ground signs or billboards exceeding 12 feet in height must be stamped by a New York State registered professional engineer and comply with the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
- For variances or relief when compliance creates practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship, application may be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 30 days of denial.

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

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