# Sign Regulations in Geneseo Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Geneseo Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/geneseo-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32793940#32793940)

## At a glance

Geneseo Town, New York regulates 14 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential Districts (R) zoning district are capped at 5 ft (residential use); 6 ft (public/nonprofit/church/school/hospital uses) tall and 6 sq. ft. per sign (residential use); 32 sq. ft. for public/nonprofit/church/school/hospital uses, with a At least 5 ft from property line or ROW setback (Sec. § 106-40.8A(1),(2),(4), Table 40-1). Most commercial signs in Geneseo Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R) | 3 | 5 ft (residential use); 6 ft (public/nonprofit/church/school/hospital uses) | 6 sq. ft. per sign (residential use); 32 sq. ft. for public/nonprofit/church/school/hospital uses | — |
| Highway Residential District (HR) | 1 | 6 ft | 32 sq. ft. per sign | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Mixed-Use I District, Mixed-Use II District, Mixed-Use III District, Mixed Use Districts (MU) | 3 | 6 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | 6 ft | 150 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Residential Districts (R)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. per sign | — | At least 5 ft from property line or ROW | 1 per use | On building wall | — | § 106-40.8A(1), Table 40-1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft (residential use); 6 ft (public/nonprofit/church/school/hospital uses) | 6 sq. ft. per sign (residential use); 32 sq. ft. for public/nonprofit/church/school/hospital uses | — | At least 5 ft from property line or ROW | 1 per use (residential); 2 per lot (public/nonprofit/church/school/hospital uses); 1 per subdivision entrance | On property, set back | — | § 106-40.8A(1),(2),(4), Table 40-1 |
| Window Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. per sign | — | — | 1 per use | On windows; must not cover more than 20% of window area | — | Table 40-1 |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | On first/ground floor; not to extend above building or parapet | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per use | On wall facing frontage | — | § 106-40.8B(1), Table 40-1 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — | At least 5 ft from property line or ROW | 2 per use; 1 additional for multi-use site | On property, set back | — | § 106-40.8B(1),(2),(3), Table 40-1 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area, max 16 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 per use | On windows | — | Table 40-1 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign (A-frame) | 3 ft | 6 sq. ft. | 3 ft | — | 1 per use | On private property of business, not in ROW or public property | — | § 106-40.5S |
| Banner (Temporary) | 6 ft | 150 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per enterprise | On property | — | § 106-40.5A |
| Construction/Home Improvement Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 sq. ft. (residential); 12 sq. ft. (other districts) | — | — | 1 per site | Within construction site limits | — | § 106-40.5B |
| Directional Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | Allowed within setbacks if vision is not obstructed | Not limited | On property, within setbacks if vision not obstructed | — | § 106-40.5D |
| Drive-Through Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per drive-through lane | Oriented solely for use by drive-through lane patrons | — | § 106-40.5E |
| Noncommercial Sign | As for applicable sign type | As for applicable sign type | — | As for applicable sign type | 2 per lot | On property | — | § 106-40.5O |
| Political/Campaign Sign | As for applicable sign type | As for applicable sign type | — | As for applicable sign type | 2 per lot | On property | — | § 106-40.5P |
| Real Estate Sign | As for applicable sign type | As for applicable sign type | — | As for applicable sign type | 2 per lot or parcel | Entirely within property | — | § 106-40.5R |

## Prohibited signs in Geneseo Town

- No person shall erect, place, establish, paint, or retain any sign, or cause a sign to be located or retained within the Town of Geneseo unless all provisions of this Sign Code have been met.
- No sign shall be erected at or near any intersection of any streets, alleys, or railway and any street, in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision.
- No sign shall be of a shape or color that may be confused with any authorized traffic control device.
- No rotating beam, beacon, or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light shall be used in connection with any sign display.
- Signs shall not be erected within nor project into any public right-of-way, unless otherwise specified.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited except for uses in New York State Agriculture and Markets Agricultural Districts.
- No sign shall cover any part of any window unless specifically permitted; nor cover any door, or hinder or prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or other required exit way.
- No sign shall cover or cause the removal of architectural details to a building facade, including but not limited to arches, sills, moldings, cornices, and transom windows.
- Intermittent illumination, or illumination which involves movement or causes the illusion of movement resulting from the arrangement of lighting, is prohibited, except as permitted for electronic displays of time and/or temperature.
- Signs shall not be posted in any manner destructive to public property.
- Signs shall not be attached or otherwise applied to trees, utility poles, transit shelters, benches, trash receptacles, or newsracks.
- Any sign that no longer advertises or identifies the current or permitted use of the property must be removed within 30 days after written notification from the Code Enforcement Officer.
- The following types of signs are prohibited: signs for which no permit was issued or for which a permit has been revoked; obsolete signs or signs that are not properly maintained, considered structurally unsound, hazardous or otherwise unsafe; signs with obscene or pornographic content; signs emitting audible sound, odor, or visible matter; signs that may be confused with traffic control devices or interfere with official traffic lights; flashing, rotating, revolving signs/lights (except specified exceptions); signs with unshielded lighting devices or reflectors outlining the sign; animated signs or signs using full motion or video technology; signs that utilize electronic changeable copy; signs with mirrors; permanent banner, pennant, windblown or inflated signs (except as permitted temporarily); portable signs attached to or placed on an unregistered vehicle parked for the purpose of being viewed by motorists; pennants not affixed to a building; signs placed on a curb, sidewalk, hydrant, utility pole, trees or other objects in or over any street or the public right-of-way (unless otherwise permitted); signs, banners, or pennants mounted on or extending above the roof of any building/structure; signs painted directly on an exterior wall; off-premises signs; freestanding signs supported by a single pole or post with more than 30 inches clearance from the ground below ('pole sign').

## Signs exempt from permit in Geneseo Town

- The repainting, repairing, changing of parts, and preventive maintenance of signs does not require a sign permit.
- A change in the message on a changeable copy sign does not require a sign permit.
- Repainting of supports and sign area (with no change in sign message) does not require a sign permit.
- Banners or pennants meeting specified conditions (one per enterprise, 30 days maximum, size/height limits, no illumination, not impeding pedestrian traffic) do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary construction or home improvement signs (one per site, area restrictions, 30 days max in residential/nonresidential) do not require a sign permit.
- Temporary decorations/displays of patriotic, religious, charitable, or civic character with no commercial message, including customary holiday decorations, do not require a sign permit.
- Directional signs with no commercial message, located entirely on the property, not exceeding four square feet, do not require a sign permit.
- Drive-through signs (one per lane, area/height limits, oriented internally) do not require a sign permit.
- Flags, emblems, or insignia of any nation or political subdivision (subject to height and commercial flag limit) do not require a sign permit.
- Gasoline station price signs not exceeding four square feet and attached to a pump or service island do not require a sign permit.
- Governmental signs, official signs, public notices, or federally/state/locally required signs have no size requirements and do not require a sign permit.
- Historical/cornerstone/commemorative signs less than nine square feet and not illuminated do not require a sign permit.
- Home occupation signs (one per home occupation, up to four square feet) do not require a sign permit.
- House numbers and nameplates (address/name, size limits) do not require a sign permit.
- Incidental signs up to four square feet aggregate area do not require a sign permit.
- Internal signs not legible from right-of-way or adjacent lots (or enclosed outdoor spaces not legible beyond property lines) do not require a sign permit.
- Event/open house/sale signs (on same property, up to 30 days) do not require a sign permit.
- Up to two noncommercial signs per lot, of any type, meeting size/height/setback/illumination standards, do not require a sign permit.
- Political and campaign signs (up to two per lot, subject to size/type/placement/duration restrictions) do not require a sign permit.
- One nonilluminated, two-sided portable sign (up to 32 sq ft, 6 ft in height) for new businesses or after loss of a sign (30 days max) does not require a sign permit.
- Real estate signs (up to two per lot or parcel, meeting all applicable regulations) do not require a sign permit.
- One sandwich board or A-frame sign per use (meeting size/illumination/timing/location restrictions) does not require a sign permit.
- Works of art not including a commercial message, logo, or property identification do not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No reference to a 'master sign plan' or comprehensive sign plan requirement was found in the provided ordinance text. Applications for a sign permit require submission of a site plan and elevations showing the proposed sign's location and size to scale, along with drawings/details about the sign. In multi-tenant or subdivision developments, individual signs should be coordinated for a cohesive look, which may be achieved through the coordinated use of color, lettering, sign structures, or sign types, but a formal master sign plan is not explicitly required.

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

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