# Sign Regulations in Grand Island Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Grand Island Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/grand-island-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11850919#11850919)

## At a glance

Grand Island Town, New York regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Subdivision Identification Signs in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 25 ft from lot line setback (Sec. §295-6D(4)). Most commercial signs in Grand Island Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 6 | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Business District | 9 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential District | 4 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Vehicle Sales Overlay District | 1 | 55 ft | Max 10 ft diameter per balloon sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 15 ft | 36 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to dwelling | — | §295-5D |
| Home Occupation/Professional Home Office Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to exterior wall of dwelling | — | §295-5H |
| Real Estate Sign | 7 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | On premises for sale/lease | — | §295-5L(3)-(5) |
| Ground Sign (Nonconforming Building) | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises for nonconforming building | — | §295-6B(3)(a) |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft from lot line | Max 1 per entry side/island | Each side of subdivision or island at entryway as shown on site plan or map cover | — | §295-6D(4) |
| Public/Civic Use Sign (Permitted Use) | — | 32 sq ft total (20 sq ft max for ground or building or combo) | — | 25 ft from lot line | Not specified | On premises of public/civic use | — | §295-8A(3) |

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft (250 sq ft with applicable setbacks) | — | — | 1 per occupancy plus one for corner tenants | On exterior wall occupied by the business | — | §295-6A(5); §295-8F |
| Fascia Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to soffit/under fascia | — | §295-6A(2) |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per qualifying frontage | On face of marquee | — | §295-6A(3) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying frontage | Perpendicular to building | — | §295-6A(4) |
| Freestanding Sign - Ground Sign | 8 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building unless multiple street frontage | On permanent foundation, up to 3 ft above grade | — | §295-6B(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole Sign | 20 ft | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building unless multiple street frontage | Pole(s); more than 3 ft above grade | — | §295-6B(1)(b) |
| Electronic Message Sign | — | Up to 50% of permitted sign face area | — | — | Within allowed sign(s) | Integrated into qualifying sign; not a separate structure | — | §295-6C |
| Canopy Signage | — | 40 sq ft per street face | — | — | 1 per street face | Edge/gable end of canopy | — | §295-6D(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 25 ft from lot line, 75 ft from nearby dwelling | 1 | On premises under construction | — | §295-5E |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Private property only | — | §295-5K |
| Incidental Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On private property; for traffic/parking guidance | — | §295-5I |
| Menu Board Sign | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lane | Not legible from ROW or adjacent residential district | — | §295-5J |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Interior of window/door | — | §295-5M |
| Sidewalk Sign | — | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Not in residential districts. Cannot block sight triangles | — | §295-5N |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On premises | — | §295-9B |

## Prohibited signs in Grand Island Town

- All signs not expressly permitted or exempt from regulation under this chapter are prohibited in all districts.
- Signage on motor vehicles that are inoperable, do not display a current inspection sticker or license plate, are not principally used as a mode of transportation for business purposes, or are conspicuously parked or located on a lot or public right-of-way for 24 hours.
- Signs advertising goods, products, or services not sold, manufactured or distributed on or from the premises; facilities not located on the premises; or activities not conducted on the premises, except for churches, schools, charitable, nonprofit organizations, or other noncommercial activities.
- Signs advertising or identifying a business which is no longer operating. Such signs must be removed within 30 days after the business ceases to operate.
- Roof signs placed, inscribed, or supported upon or above the highest part of the roofline except directional devices as required by the FAA.
- Signs that create a traffic hazard by obstructing view at intersections or through design resemblance to traffic control devices.
- Signs that encroach into the clear sight triangle as described in § 295-3B.
- Signs in the public right-of-way or on other public property including light poles, utility poles, and street signs.
- Billboards, except for billboards in the cotton district areas along Interstate 190, as allowed by the NYS Thruway Authority.
- Abandoned signs (on property vacant/unoccupied for 3+ months, or that pertain to events/purposes which no longer apply).
- Signs that are not structurally sound or create an electrical hazard.
- Overhead or exposed wires on a sign or its supporting members.
- Signs that create a sight line hazard for traffic.
- No sign may be erected on any premises or used if it does not comply with the provisions of this chapter.
- Illegal or noncompliant signs must be removed at the direction of the Code Enforcement Officer.
- Signs shall not be placed in the right-of-way, except as expressly provided for traffic/incidental/subdivision identification signs approved on a site plan or filed map cover.

## Signs exempt from permit in Grand Island Town

- Signs not visible from the right-of-way do not require a sign permit (but electrical or other permits may be required).
- Signs prohibiting trespassing, provided minimum 50 feet of separation and not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Integral, decorative or architectural features of a building, except letters or trademarks.
- Address signs for residential structures: one sign per dwelling, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- One freestanding construction sign per project site, not exceeding 32 square feet in area and 15 feet in height, meeting setback requirements.
- Fuel pump signs advertising the cost of fuel, provided total area does not exceed state minimum; operational/payment instructions on pump face are exempt from this limitation.
- One hanging sign per customer entrance (under canopies, awnings, etc.), minimum eight feet above grade, not exceeding two square feet in area and 18 inches vertical dimension.
- One nonilluminated home occupation/professional home office sign physically attached to dwelling, not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Incidental signs assisting vehicular traffic flow, not exceeding two square feet, used for directing/guiding traffic and parking on private property (including open houses, estate sales, and garage sales).
- Menu board signs for drive-through/drive-in restaurants: text not legible from right-of-way or adjacent residential district, maximum two per lane, not exceeding 36 square feet each.
- Political signs placed only on private property, not blocking intersection clear sight triangle, permitted 45 days before an election until 7 days after the election.
- Nonilluminated real estate sign for sale/lease: must be removed within 15 days after closing/lease; not exceeding eight square feet in residential districts or 32 in nonresidential; one additional sign allowed for multi-roadway sites.
- Window signs: nonpermanent, nonstructural, interior window/door signs visible from outside.
- Sidewalk signs: commercial, nonpermanent, maximum 12 square feet per face, not illuminated, only during business hours, not permitted in residential districts, must not interfere with pedestrian flow or block intersection clear sight triangle.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all signs unless exempted in § 295-5.
- A sign permit shall not be issued unless plans and information submitted demonstrate that the sign will comply with all applicable requirements of this chapter.
- The Code Enforcement Officer reviews all sign permit applications; permit will not be issued if the application, or its plans/information, does not comply.
- Nothing in this code shall be read as creating an as-of-right permission to place signage for any sign requiring approval as part of a site plan, subdivision, special use permit, or other discretionary review (such as Master Sign Plans, Sign Plan, or other discretionary approvals); Town Board may limit signage as appropriate in these cases.
- Signs not visible from the public right-of-way do not require a sign permit, but electrical or other permits may still be 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 Grand Island Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Grand+Island+Town+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-grand-island-town

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