# Sign Regulations in Ghent Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ghent Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/ghent-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/44701360#44701360)

## At a glance

Ghent Town, New York regulates 10 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Freestanding Sign)s in the Business Zone, Industrial Zone, Commercial Zone zoning district are capped at 12 ft. tall and 32 sq. ft., with a Not within 50 feet of abutting residential district. setback (Sec. § 190-38). Most commercial signs in Ghent Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Zone, Industrial Zone, Commercial Zone | 2 | 12 ft. | 60 sq. ft. or 20% of facade area (whichever is less) | — |
| Village Business (VB) Zone | 2 | 12 ft. | 60 sq. ft. or 20% of facade area (whichever is less) | — |
| Residential District | 3 | 8 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | 10 feet from adjacent property line. Not within legal right-of-way width of roadway. | — | Not to interrupt a roofline or be placed on roof of any structure. | — | § 190-35, § 190-36 (A)-(N) |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding Sign) | — | — | — | 10 feet from any adjacent property line. Not within legal right-of-way. | — | Not to be located within legal right-of-way width of any roadway, not within 10 feet of any other adjacent property line. | — | § 190-36 (A)-(L), § 190-35 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to 2 per lot | Nonresidential property for promotional signs; otherwise, any lot, subject to limits. | — | § 190-46, § 190-46.1 |
| Real Estate/Construction Sign | — | 8 sq. ft.; 32 sq. ft. in subdivisions | — | 10 feet from front property line. | — | Must be set back at least 10 feet from front property line. | — | § 190-42 |
| Agricultural Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | § 190-43 |
| Holiday Lighting | — | — | — | — | — | On all or part of a building (e.g., gable, roof, wall, side, or corner). | — | § 190-46.2(A) |
| Road Sign/Safety Sign/Historic Marker/Municipal Sign/Official Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 190-46.2(B) |
| Flag (American/NYS Flag; Residential Decorative Flag) | — | — | — | — | — | May be used at a residence for decorative purposes. | — | § 190-46.2(C) |

### Business Zone, Industrial Zone, Commercial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 60 sq. ft. or 20% of facade area (whichever is less) | — | — | One wall sign per business or facility | Attached to facade of the building. | — | § 190-38 |
| Ground Sign (Freestanding Sign) | 12 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | Not within 50 feet of abutting residential district. | One ground sign per business or facility | On same lot; may include information on products/services for sale. | — | § 190-38 |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 8 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | One sign per legally permitted use | On the wall of a residence/business structure. | — | § 190-39 |
| Yard Sign | 8 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | 10 feet from front property line, 25 feet from other property lines. | One sign per legally permitted use | In the yard of a residence/business structure. | — | § 190-39 |
| Announcement Sign (Churches/Religious Gathering Places) | 8 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | 10 feet from front property line, 25 feet from other property lines. | One announcement sign per church/religious place | — | — | § 190-40 |

## Prohibited signs in Ghent Town

- No blinking, flashing, animated or rotating signs are allowed on any property in the Town of Ghent.
- No posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar moving or fluttering devices are allowed on any property in the Town of Ghent.
- Billboards are prohibited on all property in the Town of Ghent.
- No signs shall interrupt a roofline or be placed on the roof of a structure.
- Portable signs (including, but not limited to, signs mounted on wheels) are prohibited.
- The lighting of a sign may not result in light shining directly on or resulting in glare directed toward any adjacent property, or onto any public roadway or right-of-way.
- Signs shall not be placed on fences, or vehicles, except for a temporary 'For Sale' sign.
- No red or green lighting for a sign shall be allowed within 75 feet of any intersection involving a public roadway.
- Signs shall be located so as not to constitute a visual hazard to traffic, either by blocking sight lines or causing undue distraction to motorists.
- No sign may be located so as to detract from or obstruct public view of an historic building.
- Signs shall be properly installed to avoid any health and safety hazard that might result from unsafe placement or unsafe or insecure construction or installation.
- No sign may be located within the legal maximum right-of-way width of any roadway.
- No sign may be located within 10 feet of any other adjacent property line.
- No sign is authorized in connection with a use that is in violation of or has not been legally permitted under any of the provisions of the Zoning Law.
- Signs or lettering attached to outside walls may not be extended more than one foot from the face of the wall.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ghent Town

- Holiday lighting in season shall not be subject to these sign regulations, provided that same is temporary.
- The provisions of this article shall not apply to safety signs, road signs, municipal signs, historic markers, or highway directional signs that are erected by municipal or public agencies.
- The provisions of this article shall not apply to the American flag or the New York State flag.
- The provisions of this article also shall not apply to any flags used at a residence for decorative purposes only.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan is stated in the ordinance text provided. All permanent signs require a permit from the Town Building Inspector or Zoning Enforcement Officer.
- Temporary signs do not require a permit but are subject to all of the regulations set forth in the article.
- Real estate 'For Sale' signs shall be considered temporary signs and do not require a sign permit.

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

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