# Sign Regulations in Herkimer, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Herkimer, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/herkimer
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-02
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oj9YERtwZDjvcKI0ryW7eqMIqLfo8cpf/view?usp=sharing)

## At a glance

Herkimer, New York regulates 15 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Temporary Sign - Real Estate (On-Site For Sale or Rent)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 34 inches above ground tall and 6 sq ft per sign face, with a Not allowed in public right-of-way or on public property setback (Sec. Article I, Section 7 (Temporary Signs Matrix: Real Estate, On-Site For Sale or Rent)). Most commercial signs in Herkimer 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 | 15 | 34 inches above ground | 200 sq ft | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 7 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Residential Planned District (R1-P, R2-P) | 7 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| Limited Commercial District (C-1), General Commercial District (C-2), Central Commercial District (C-3), Industrial District (I-I), Land Conservation District (L), Planned Development District (P) | 10 | — | 200 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | Shall not project beyond the property line | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance | Subject property; cannot be on or over public right-of-way | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Projecting or Marquee); Article I, Section 10 (Sign Height and Dimensions: Projecting Signs); Article I, Section 6.B (Illumination); Article I, Section 6.C (Location of Signs) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | Shall not project beyond the property line | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance | Subject property; marquee attached to building | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Projecting or Marquee); Definitions (Marquee Sign); Article I, Section 10 (Projection limit) |
| Pedestal Sign | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Subject property (freestanding or attached to structure specifically erected to hold the sign) | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Pedestal Sign); Definitions (Pedestal Sign); Article I, Section 10 (All Monument Signs max height 8 ft); Article I, Section 6.B (Illumination) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate (On-Site For Sale or Rent) | 34 inches above ground | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | Not allowed in public right-of-way or on public property | For each dwelling | Subject property | — | Article I, Section 7 (Temporary Signs Matrix: Real Estate, On-Site For Sale or Rent) |
| Temporary Sign - Development (On-Site For Sale or Rent) | — | 32 sq ft per sign face per property | — | Not allowed in public right-of-way or on public property | For each development | Subject property | — | Article I, Section 7 (Temporary Signs Matrix: Developments, On-Site For Sale or Rent) |
| Temporary Sign - Construction | — | 32 sq ft per sign face | — | Not allowed in public right-of-way or on public property | 1 per property | Subject property | — | Article I, Section 7 (Temporary Signs Matrix: Construction) |
| Temporary Sign - All Other Commercial | 34 inches above ground | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | Not allowed in public right-of-way or on public property | No maximum | Subject property | — | Article I, Section 7 (Temporary Signs Matrix: All Other Commercial) |
| Temporary Sign - Non-Commercial | 34 inches above ground | 6 sq ft per sign face | — | Not allowed in public right-of-way or on public property | No maximum | Subject property with consent of property owner | — | Article I, Section 7 (Temporary Signs Matrix: Non-Commercial Temporary) |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | Shall not project beyond the property line | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance | Subject property; cannot be on or over public right-of-way | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Projecting or Marquee); Article I, Section 10 (Projection limit); Article I, Section 6.B (Illumination) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | Must not project beyond property line | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance | Subject property; marquee attached to building | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Projecting or Marquee); Definitions (Marquee Sign) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per property | Attached to exterior building facade on subject property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Wall Sign); Article I, Section 6.G (No painted signs directly on exterior walls) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted on rooftop or parapet of one-story building on subject property | — | Article I, Section 6.H (Roof sign allowance limited to one-story buildings); Definitions (Roof Sign, Mansard roof) |
| Pedestal Sign | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Subject property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Pedestal Sign – Not permitted in R-1, R-2, R-3, R1-P & R2-P zones) |
| Portable Sign - Sandwich Board | — | — | — | Must be placed entirely on private property; cannot obstruct vision or traffic | 1 per property | Subject property; not on public right-of-way or public property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Portable Sign); Article I, Section 6.I (Portable sign types) |
| Changing Message Center Sign | — | — | — | — | No more than one per street frontage per property | Subject property; not on public right-of-way or public property | — | Article I, Section 6.E (Lighting systems restrictions); Article I, Section E (District prohibitions incl. R3); Article I, Section F (Display change rate and message duration); Article I, Section G (Light levels) |

### Limited Commercial District (C-1), General Commercial District (C-2), Central Commercial District (C-3), Industrial District (I-I), Land Conservation District (L), Planned Development District (P)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | Shall not project beyond the property line | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance | Subject property; cannot be on or over public right-of-way | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Projecting or Marquee); Article I, Section 10 (Projection limit); Article I, Section 6.B (Illumination) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | Must not project beyond property line | 1 per pedestrian or vehicular entrance | Subject property; marquee attached to building | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Projecting or Marquee); Definitions (Marquee Sign) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per property | Attached to exterior building facade on subject property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Wall Sign); Article I, Section 6.G |
| Pedestal Sign | — | 200 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Subject property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Pedestal Sign); Article I, Section 10 (All Monument Signs max height 8 ft) |
| Portable Sign - Sandwich Board | — | — | — | Must be placed entirely on private property; cannot obstruct vision or traffic | 1 per property | Subject property; not on public right-of-way or public property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Portable Sign); Article I, Section 6.I (Portable sign types) |
| Portable Sign - A-Frame | — | — | — | Must be placed entirely on private property; cannot obstruct vision or traffic | 1 per property | Subject property; not on public right-of-way or public property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Portable Sign); Article I, Section 6.I (Portable sign types) |
| Portable Sign - Signs on Wheels | — | — | — | Must be placed entirely on private property; cannot obstruct vision or traffic | 1 per property | Subject property; not on public right-of-way or public property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Portable Sign); Article I, Section 6.I (Portable sign types) |
| Portable Sign - Leaning Signs | — | — | — | Must be placed entirely on private property; cannot obstruct vision or traffic | 1 per property | Subject property; not on public right-of-way or public property | — | Article I, Section 8 (Permanent Signs Matrix: Portable Sign); Article I, Section 6.I (Portable sign types) |

## Prohibited signs in Herkimer

- Erecting, altering, relocating, reconstructing, or maintaining any sign without a sign permit is prohibited unless exempted by the sign matrices in Sections 7 and 8.
- Signs may not obstruct any fire escape or window, and no sign may be attached to a fire escape.
- No sign may be erected or placed on the public right-of-way or on public property, including poles installed by government agencies, utility poles, traffic signs, trees, rocks, or other natural features.
- Signs may not be located so as to obstruct or impair vision or traffic or create a hazard or disturbance to public health and welfare.
- Illumination that intrudes onto a public street or adjacent property is prohibited; sources of illumination must be shielded or screened.
- No sign shall be audible.
- No sign shall be painted directly upon the exterior walls of any structure.
- Rooftop sign mounting is prohibited except on one-story buildings (12 feet in height).
- Billboards (off-site signs) are not allowed.
- Freestanding portable signs are prohibited unless allowed by permit or as indicated in the sign matrices.

## Signs exempt from permit in Herkimer

- Traffic signs, directional signs, and signs displaying a public service message installed by a governmental agency are excluded from this ordinance.
- Point-of-purchase advertising displays such as product dispensers are excluded.
- National flags are excluded.
- Gravestones are excluded.
- Historical site plaques and signs integral to an historic building are excluded.
- Structures or improvements intended for a separate use (such as phone booths, Goodwill containers, and newspaper recycling boxes) are excluded.
- Building addresses with numbers and letters not more than 10 inches in height are excluded.
- Replacing copy on an approved sign designed for replaceable copy does not require a sign permit.
- Painting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure do not require a sign permit unless a structural change is made or the message is changed.
- Temporary signs listed in Section 7 are generally exempt from the permit requirement unless specifically stated otherwise in the matrix.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master sign plan or comprehensive sign plan requirement is specified in the ordinance.
- Sign permit applications for permanent signs must include a scaled drawing showing construction details, lettering or pictorial matter, and the position of lighting and other devices.
- Decisions of the Codes Enforcer may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals; no specific variance meeting requirement for sign plans is stated.

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

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