# Sign Regulations in Hamburg Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hamburg Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/hamburg-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8307141#8307141)

## At a glance

Hamburg Town, New York regulates 17 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Sign (Standard)s in the Commercial and Industrial Districts (NC, C-1, C-2, C-3, HC, WC, M-1, M-2, M-3, commercial signs in PUD) zoning district are capped at 8 ft (measured from top of sign to highest grade around sign) tall and 40 sq ft, with a 10 ft from front property line, 20 ft from other property lines setback (Sec. §280-246E, §280-246F). Most commercial signs in Hamburg Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts (R-A, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, PRD, residential portions of PUD) | 8 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Commercial and Industrial Districts (NC, C-1, C-2, C-3, HC, WC, M-1, M-2, M-3, commercial signs in PUD) | 7 | 18 ft above ground level (top) | 120 sq ft | — |
| C-2 (General Commercial) | 1 | — | — | — |
| M-1 (Industrial), M-2 (Industrial), M-3 (Industrial) | 1 | — | — | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Digital Sign (Non-institutional) | — | — | — | — | — | Only permitted in C-2 (General Commercial) and M-1, M-2, and M-3 (Industrial) Districts | — | §280-241H |
| Static Numeric Display | — | — | — | — | 2 per parcel | — | — | §280-241I |

### Residential Districts (R-A, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, PRD, residential portions of PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Noncommercial Sign | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | Front yard on occupied property | — | §280-243A, §280-245A |
| Temporary Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §280-245B, §280-244G |
| Nameplate Sign (Professional Occupation) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §280-245C |
| House Number Sign | 5 ft (if on post) | — | — | — | — | Dwelling, sign post, or mailbox | — | §280-245D |
| Residential Subdivision Identification Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision entrance | Entrance to subdivision | — | §280-245E |
| Residential Subdivision Identification Sign (Permanent) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision entrance | Entrance to subdivision | — | §280-245F |
| Institutional Monument Sign | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Lot with a minimum of 200 feet of frontage on a public right-of-way | — | §280-245G |
| Institutional Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | — | On or attached to principal building wall | — | §280-245H |

### Commercial and Industrial Districts (NC, C-1, C-2, C-3, HC, WC, M-1, M-2, M-3, commercial signs in PUD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 120 sq ft | 75% of building wall's horizontal measurement (90% if wall <= 20 ft) | — | One per establishment per side fronting street or public entrance | On each establishment side facing a public street or with entrance (except if facing contiguous R District) | — | §280-246A, §280-246B |
| Projecting Sign | 18 ft above ground level (top) | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to building wall (does not project into public right-of-way) | — | §280-246C |
| Nameplate Sign (Above First Floor Establishment) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Entrance to business above first floor | — | §280-246D |
| Monument Sign (Standard) | 8 ft (measured from top of sign to highest grade around sign) | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from front property line, 20 ft from other property lines | — | Lot where principal building is set back more than 40 ft from street line | — | §280-246E, §280-246F |
| Monument Sign (Shopping Center Entrance) | 12 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | Unspecified; at entrance(s) | Entrance(s) to shopping center | — | §280-246H |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 3 ft | 9 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 per business | On premises or public right-of-way (if indemnification/hold-harmless agreement filed with Town). | — | §280-246I |
| Institutional Monument Sign | 8 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | — | Lot with minimum of 200 ft of frontage on public right-of-way | — | §280-246J |

## Prohibited signs in Hamburg Town

- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained except in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions, and other requirements of this chapter.
- It is unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, move, or convert any sign without first obtaining a sign permit for each such sign unless otherwise deemed an unregulated sign.
- All signs must be set back so that every part of the sign and any supporting structure is no closer than 10 feet to the road or street right-of-way or property lines.
- All signs shall be maintained in good structural condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, in a neat, clean, and attractive condition, and in conformance with this Code, at all times.
- No sign may contain or consist of flags, banners, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners or other similar moving devices (unless specifically permitted by other local law).
- No animated, flashing, rotating, noise-making, reflecting, mirrored or intermittently illuminated signs are permitted, except for required public purpose/safety signs.
- Illuminated signs must be arranged so that any external illumination is effectively shielded; no direct rays of light may be cast into surrounding residential areas or public streets; no exposed, reflective-type bulb or incandescent lamp exceeding 50 watts is permitted to face any public street or adjacent property.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Pole signs are prohibited.
- Animated or rotating signs are prohibited, except required public purpose/safety signs.
- Billboard signs are prohibited.
- Banners, pennant, sail/flag, and/or portable signs are prohibited, except as temporary signs in accordance with this article.
- Balloon/inflatable advertising signs are prohibited.
- Signs or parts thereof on vehicles or trailers parked so as to be intended for advertising to public right-of-way are prohibited (except vehicles whose primary purpose is not advertising).
- Any sign which might be confused with traffic control devices or which might interfere with the vision or discernment of any traffic sign, or which might cause danger to public travel, is prohibited.
- Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background are prohibited, except those exempt under this article.
- Inflatable signs and tethered balloons are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Neon signs used outside of fiberoptic signage or to outline or highlight a structure are prohibited, except within storefront windows.
- Any sign painted on or attached to a fence is prohibited.
- Any sign attached or installed on a utility pole (including light pole) or on existing supporting sign structure is prohibited.
- Any sign attached or suspended from a tree is prohibited.
- Signs placed in parks or upon any building, fence, tree or other structure therein are prohibited.
- No signs are allowed on public right-of-way or property (except specific allowed temporary/directional signs under certain circumstances elsewhere in code).
- No sign permit will be issued for any sign specifically listed as prohibited.
- All digital signs must comply with operational limitations, including stationary display only (no animation, full animation, flashing or video display is prohibited), and minimum display time. Failure to comply may result in revocation of permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hamburg Town

- Any nonilluminated noncommercial sign placed within the front yard on an occupied property and not exceeding eight square feet in area and not exceeding six feet in height.
- Any public notice or warning required by valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.
- Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not visible from any exterior perspective.
- Any New York State inspection station identification sign or NYS authorized repair shop identification sign at a height not exceeding 10 feet on a wall.
- Traffic control signs on private property that meet Department of Transportation standards and contain no commercial message.
- Private sale, rental or lease signs (if posted not more than seven days before sale and removed within seven days after; maximum three sales per residence per year).
- Open/closed business signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Official public information signs, memorial signs, building names, erection dates or similar information cut into masonry/permanent surface or constructed of bronze/other incombustible material, not exceeding 16 square feet.
- Signs and markers in cemeteries designating graves and memorials.
- On-site farm stand signs not exceeding 16 square feet in size (32 square feet total for property).
- Beacons.
- Historical site markers.
- No-trespassing signs and posted (no hunting, fishing, trapping) signs not exceeding two square feet per sign.
- Street number identification plates.
- Vacancy/no vacancy signs not exceeding three square feet.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for a sign permit must include two sets of sign plans drawn to scale with dimensions, design, colors, materials, illumination details, wiring, and structural details, and may require additional engineering depending on circumstances.
- A survey of the parcel showing property lines, buildings, parking areas, and all other signs on the premises must be submitted with the application.
- In commercial/industrial zones, the review, approval, and requirements for monument signs include landscaping subject to Town review and approval.
- Permanent residential subdivision identification signs require approval by the Planning Board, a permit, and evidence of maintenance by a homeowners' association (including a recorded restrictive covenant).
- Institutional (permanent) monument signs in residential districts require a permit.
- All existing and new sandwich board signs require an annual license fee to defray the Town's cost to monitor/regulate their use.
- All digital signs (except static numeric signs) require an annual license; failure to maintain such permit is a violation; permits can be revoked if operational restrictions are not followed.
- If a sign is proposed as part of a site redevelopment under § 280-410, the approved plan set via the rezoning process will set the specific sign requirements, compatible with the area.
- For variances, the Zoning Board of Appeals must hear an application and will not grant any variance regarding signs unless all criteria under Article XLV, § 280-310A(2) and (3) are met.
- Any other sign not specifically exempt or allowed (including exceptions for certain events or locations) requires filing of application and approval by Town, including a sign plan as part of the application.

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

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