# Sign Regulations in Homer, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Homer, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/homer
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36644411#36644411)

## At a glance

Homer, New York regulates 27 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (Residential Lot)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 sq ft, with a 5 ft from lot line setback (Sec. § 228-21C). Most commercial signs in Homer require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 23 | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 1 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Commercial/industrial lot | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| PDD-R District | 2 | — | 36 sq ft | — |
| PDD-C District | 1 | — | 100 sq ft | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign | — | See Residential/Nonresidential zone specifics | — | Residential: no closer than 5 ft to property line. | — | Set back from roadway, only on private property (residential) | — | § 228-20 A-E, § 228-21, § 228-22D, § 228-23Q, § 228-23M, § 228-23N, § 228-23O, § 228-23P, § 228-23S, § 228-24. |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Lot) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 | Not nearer than 5 ft to lot line; on lot for sale/lease/rent | — | § 228-21C |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial/Industrial Lot) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 | Not nearer than 5 ft to lot line; on lot for sale/lease/rent | — | § 228-21C |
| Development Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On development site, duration only during development | — | § 228-21D |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Upon lot where home occupation is located | — | § 228-21E |
| Institutional Sign (Freestanding) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Entirely within premises of institution | — | § 228-21H |
| Private Historical or Architectural Designation Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On relevant structure, building, or site | — | § 228-21I |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | — | — | 20 ft from any property line (§228-23L), 5 ft from right-of-way & 10 ft from other property lines (§228-23P) | See zone specifics | Not between sidewalk and curb; not to obscure traffic; see general setbacks | — | § 228-23E,F,J,K,N(1),P |

### Commercial/industrial lot

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Commercial/Industrial Lot) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from lot line | 1 | On commercial/industrial lot for sale/lease/rent | — | § 228-21C |

### PDD-R District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign (PDD-R) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of home occupation | — | § 228-23T |
| District Identification Sign (PDD-R) | — | 36 sq ft | — | 20 ft from any lot line | 1 | Announcing residential district | — | § 228-23T |

## Prohibited signs in Homer

- All billboards and permanent off-the-premises signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No sign may have a visible moving part or moving pattern of lights or illumination of varying brightness.
- Portable signs used by an individual, organization or business to promote events or products on a regular and ongoing basis are prohibited unless a permit is obtained from the Village Board of Trustees.
- No sign illumination shall be placed or directed so as to permit the beams or illumination to be directed upon any adjacent public or private premises so as to cause undue glare or reflection.
- No illuminated sign located on a lot adjacent to or across the street from any residential district shall be illuminated after the close of business, unless the use to which the sign pertains is open for business.
- With the exception of public service signs showing time and temperature, no sign shall have blinking, flashing or fluttering lights or other illuminating device which has a changing light intensity, brightness, color or messages.
- No sign or its illuminator shall be maintained at any location where, by reason of its location, size, shape, contents or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with a view to, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No freestanding sign shall be permitted between the sidewalk and the curb.
- No sign shall be placed on a tree, fence or utility pole or painted on or otherwise directly affixed to any natural feature, whether on public or private property.
- No sign shall project from the surface of the mounting wall in such a way as to obscure a neighbor's sign from the view of pedestrians and from approaching vehicles.
- No building-mounted sign shall project above the eaves of the building nor be mounted on the roof.
- All freestanding signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of surface area.
- All signs, including wall-mounted and projecting signs, shall be securely anchored and shall not swing or move in any manner.
- The minimum setback for freestanding signs shall be 20 feet from any property line.
- No portable sign may be used by a new business or a business in a new location for more than 60 days or after installation of a permanent sign (whichever occurs first). A separate permit is required.
- No private sale signs may be on display for more than eight days.
- No renovation signs may remain after seven days following completion of the project.
- No real estate sign may remain on the property more than seven days after sale/lease/rent or, for 'Sold by' signs, more than 30 days after the property is removed from the market.
- No community event signs may be attached to fences, trees, utility poles, or be placed in a position that obstructs vision, traffic, or creates a nuisance, hazard, or disturbance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Homer

- Political signs are permitted in all zones without a permit or fee, subject to placement and size limitations.
- Residential identification signs (non-self-illuminated, up to one square foot per residence) are permitted without permit.
- Community event signs (temporary, nonilluminated, by nonprofit, max 30 days, up to six square feet, with property owner consent and proper placement) are permitted without permit.
- Real estate signs (one per lot, up to six square feet for residential and 32 square feet for commercial/industrial, not illuminated, with distance from lot line) are permitted without permit.
- Development signs (one during the period of development, not exceeding 16 square feet, not illuminated) are permitted without permit.
- Home occupation signs (one per lot, not exceeding two square feet, stationary, not self-illuminated) are permitted without permit.
- Public signs erected by public schools, governmental agencies or public utilities pursuant to an official function or law are allowed without permit.
- Private traffic direction signs (not carrying business names or trademarks, not exceeding three square feet) are permitted without permit; directional signs painted on paved areas are exempt from these standards.
- Institutional signs (up to 16 square feet, flat wall or freestanding no more than eight feet high, entirely within premises) are allowed without permit.
- Private historical or architectural designation signs (one per structure, not more than three square feet) are permitted without permit.
- Village boundary and public affairs signs (not exceeding six square feet for civic organizations, erected as group on common structure) are permitted without permit.
- Renovation signs (one temporary sign per lot, up to six square feet, during construction/repair/renovation) are permitted without permit.
- Private auction or private sale signs (up to six square feet, on display no more than eight days) are permitted without permit.
- Safety, hazard or danger signs are permitted; removal of hazard signs by unauthorized personnel is prohibited.
- National recognition and service signs (such as credit card and public telephone signs) restricted to window or wall mounting are allowed without permit in addition to other permitted signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, altered, or relocated without a permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer, except as otherwise permitted (see exempted sign types).
- Application for a sign permit must include a scale drawing (or photograph for existing signs), dimensions, design, legend, colors, materials, structural details, plot location, lighting specs, and names/addresses of owner and erector.
- The Zoning Board of Appeals will only grant permits for signs which meet harmony, visual quality, hazard, and interference criteria as defined in § 228-19.
- Upon denial of a permit application, an appeal may be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- Master/plaza business identification (shopping center) sign provisions are mentioned in § 228-23R: In commercial or industrial developments/shopping centers with multiple businesses in a single development, a joint identification sign or a business sign may be required to refer to all or any of the businesses within the plaza or development.
- The Code Enforcement Officer may require additional information as needed for compliance with local laws.
- A permit is required for portable signs used by a new business (maximum 60 days or until permanent sign is installed).

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

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