# Sign Regulations in Gloversville, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Gloversville, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/gloversville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11497049#11497049)

## At a glance

Gloversville, New York regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Blade Sign - Multiple Business Entrys in the Downtown Historic District, Downtown Historic District Buffer Zone, Kingsboro Historic District zoning district are capped at 12 square feet for integrated sign; each blade sign maximum size 9" x 24" (1.5 sq ft) and 9 inches (height) x 24 inches (width) for individual blade signs wide (Sec. § 166-19(D)). Most commercial signs in Gloversville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Downtown Historic District, Downtown Historic District Buffer Zone, Kingsboro Historic District | 8 | — | 32 square feet total (all visible sides) | — |
| R-1 District, R-1A District | 3 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| R-C District, C District | 4 | — | 10 square feet | — |
| M-1 District | 4 | — | 300 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 20 square feet | — |

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

### Downtown Historic District, Downtown Historic District Buffer Zone, Kingsboro Historic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 1.5 square feet per linear foot of façade; maximum 32 square feet if not affixed to façade | — | — | — | Affixed to façade; may not be placed above lower window ledges of second floor except window signs. Window signs on upper facade surfaces allowed only as banners for civic & community events, may be placed up to 50 days prior and must be removed within 10 days. | — | § 166-18, § 166-19(A), § 166-19(B), § 166-19(C), § 166-18, § 166-19(E) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 32 square feet total (all visible sides) | — | — | — | Affixed to façade; may not be placed above lower window ledges of second floor except banners for civic/community events. | — | § 166-19(A) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | Included within 1.5 sq ft per linear foot formula; see Wall Sign. | — | — | — | Window. Upper facade only if banner advertising civic/community event (timing restrictions apply). | — | § 166-19(A), § 166-19(E) |
| Awning or Canopy Sign | — | Total signage area may not exceed 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of facade, subject to overall formula. | — | — | — | Any floor; mounted on awning or canopy over window or door. | — | § 166-19(F) |
| Blade Sign - Multiple Business Entry | — | 12 square feet for integrated sign; each blade sign maximum size 9" x 24" (1.5 sq ft) | 9 inches (height) x 24 inches (width) for individual blade signs | — | Single integrated sign or small grouped blade signs | Grouped near entrance for buildings with multiple business establishments accessed via common entrance. | — | § 166-19(D) |
| Temporary Sign - Special Event/Banner | — | — | — | — | No max specified | Varies. Banners allowed on upper facades only for events. | — | § 166-18(D), § 166-19(E) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per parcel | Affixed to property for sale. | — | § 166-18(D) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not permitted, except as temporary sign for real estate or special event. | — | § 166-18(E) |

### R-C District, C District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Identification Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | Residence or home occupation, as per R-1 District rules. | — | § 300-43(A), § 300-42(A) |
| Business Sign - Permitted Use | — | 3 square feet per foot of frontage, not exceeding 200 square feet aggregate; may exceed if Planning Board feels circumstances are warranted. | — | — | — | On premises of permitted use, product, or service. | — | § 300-43(B) |
| Temporary Sign - Sale/Rental/Construction/Improvement | — | 10 square feet | — | — | — | On premises being advertised. | — | § 300-43(C) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 square feet per face; total area no more than 8 square feet per establishment | — | — | — | On premises of establishment. | — | § 300-43(E) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Representational Sign | — | 15 square feet | — | — | One per establishment | Attached to the principal structure; can project maximum 4 feet. | — | § 300-44.1(J) |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 300-44.1(N) |
| Temporary Sign - General | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 300-44.2(A), (B), (C) |
| Multioccupancy/Directory Sign | — | 20 square feet (directory sign) | — | — | Two per street frontage | On building; per street it fronts. | — | § 300-44.1(P) |
| Historic Plaque/Marker | — | Six square feet (if within street right-of-way, City approval required) | — | — | — | On premises or within right-of-way, with approval. | — | § 300-44.1(S) |
| Directional Sign - Right-of-Way | — | 1 square foot if within street right-of-way | — | — | — | Within street right-of-way (City approval required). | — | § 300-44.1(S) |

## Prohibited signs in Gloversville

- No sign attached to a building shall project more than four feet beyond building lines over sidewalk areas.
- No sign shall be located higher than the building to which it is attached.
- No sign shall be erected which may cause hazardous or unsafe conditions, as determined by the City Building Inspector.
- No sign shall have a source of illumination directed toward a public street or adjacent property.
- No billboard or outdoor advertising sign shall be permitted which faces the front or side lot line of any residential district within 100 feet of such lot line, or which visibly faces any public parkway, public square or entrance to any public park, church or similar institution within 300 feet thereof.
- No sign or other structure over the sidewalk except movable awnings shall be erected or maintained at a height of less than seven feet six inches in the clear above the sidewalk and the outer extremity of such structure, except that a marquee or a sign over a marquee shall not extend beyond a point nearer than 12 inches to a line perpendicular to the outside curb line.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights except to show time and temperature, or barber poles.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color or placement. No sign shall impair visibility for a motorist at a street corner or intersection.
- Only temporary signs shall consist of banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices.
- No streamers, banners, flags, spinners, balloons or strings of lights are permitted on permanent signs for purposes of advertising, except that one 'open' flag will be permitted for businesses and decorative flags will be permitted on residences.
- 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 other than an official traffic sign or a City-approved historic or directional sign shall be erected within the right-of-way line of any public street.
- No freestanding signs (signs not attached to buildings) are permitted, except as otherwise exempted for temporary or real estate signs.
- No signs, except window signs approved as set forth in the ordinance, shall be attached to the upper facade surfaces of a building (above the lower window ledges of the second floor) except for banners advertising civic and community events under specific time restrictions.
- No sign shall be placed on any building or property for the purpose of advertising a business not located on the premises.

## Signs exempt from permit in Gloversville

- Temporary signs advertising a special event of a duration of seven days or less, and placed not more than 50 days prior to the event advertised, are exempt from the permit process but must be removed within ten days following the event.
- Signs advertising that the real estate to which the sign is affixed is 'for sale' are exempt from the permit process, but are limited to no more than one per parcel and no greater than six square feet.
- One 'open' flag is permitted for businesses.
- Decorative flags are permitted on residences.
- Official traffic signs and City-approved historic or directional signs are exempt from prohibition on placement within right-of-way, subject to size limitations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required before construction, modification, or placement of any sign not advertising a special event, and must be approved by the Historic Preservation Review Board prior to issuance by the Building Inspector.
- Permit applications must be accompanied by a drawing showing the proposed sign and its placement; for building-mounted signs, the facade and sign placement must be illustrated.
- Denial of a permit can be appealed through a hearing before the Historic Preservation Review Board.
- All signs in a historic district must comply with both the general sign code and the Historic District Sign Law.
- Portable (temporary) signs for new businesses or those awaiting permanent signage require a separate permit and may only be used for up to 60 days or until permanent sign installation.

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

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