# Sign Regulations in Hornell, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hornell, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/hornell
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8762237#8762237)

## At a glance

Hornell, New York regulates 26 sign types across 3 zoning districts. For Sale/For Lease Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 sq ft, with a 5 ft from property line setback (Sec. § 315-27C(2)(i)). Most commercial signs in Hornell require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residential districts | 4 | 5 ft (structure height) | 16 sq ft | — |
| Business districts (B-1, B-2), Industrial districts (I-1, I-2) | 10 | 48 in | 100 sq ft (front/face); 5% of any given side; all signage not to exceed 10% of total building frontage | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign | — | — | — | — | One per property | On property where merchandise is for sale/lease or where event occurs. | — | § 315-27C(2)(a), [§ 315-27C(2)] |
| Address and Public Safety Sign | — | — | — | — | One per property | On premises. | — | § 315-27C(2)(b) |
| Professional Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On premises. | — | § 315-27C(2)(f) |
| Dwelling Sign | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On premises, denotes name and address of occupant. | — | § 315-27C(2)(g) |
| Contractor Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On premise where construction, repair, or renovation is occurring. | — | § 315-27C(2)(h) |
| For Sale/For Lease Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | Max 2 per premises | On the property being sold/leased. | — | § 315-27C(2)(i) |
| Garage Sale/Lawn Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | Max 4 per sale | Advertise only the nature and premises of sale. | — | § 315-27C(2)(j) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per home occupation | Affixed flat to the building. | — | § 315-27C(6) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-premise Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-27D(1) |
| Building-Mounted or Building-Hung Sign (Residential Business, not Home Occupation) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Mounted or hung on building. | — | § 315-27D(3)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Business, not Home Occupation) | 5 ft (structure height) | 16 sq ft | 6 ft (structure width) | — | — | On property. | — | § 315-27D(3)(b); § 315-27D(3)(c) |
| Prohibited Signs (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 315-27D(3)(d) |

### Business districts (B-1, B-2), Industrial districts (I-1, I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Fascia Sign) - Option 1 (Front/Face of Building) | — | 100 sq ft (front/face); 5% of any given side; all signage not to exceed 10% of total building frontage | — | — | Combined amount not to exceed 100 sq ft for front/face | Exterior wall of building (front or face), adjacent to public entrances. | — | § 315-27E(1)(a)[1],[2],[3]; § 315-27E(2)(a); § 315-27E(4) |
| Wall Sign (Fascia) - Option 2 (Side/Rear Facing Street) | — | 65 sq ft | — | — | 1 per eligible side | Rear and/or side exterior wall of a building facing a street or public way. | — | § 315-27E(2)(b); § 315-27E(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 60 sq ft per side (either of 2 sides) | — | 10 ft from street right-of-way (or as required by NYSDOT); at least 3 ft from building facade; at least 8 ft from sidewalk | — | Freestanding (ground or pole) at least 10 ft from street right-of-way; not nearer to building facade than 3 ft, or to sidewalk than 8 ft. | — | § 315-27E(5)(a),(b); § 315-27E(4) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per establishment | On establishment/property. | — | § 315-27E(1)(a)[6], (2)(c) |
| Identification Sign (Wall-Mounted, Adjacent to Public Entrance) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per firm/corporation | Attached to exterior wall adjacent to public entrance. | — | § 315-27E(1)(a)[4] |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On preexisting awning meeting NYS Building Code criteria for safety. For new awnings, must comply with building code and require building & sign permits. | — | § 315-27E(1)(a)[5] |
| A-frame (Sandwich Board) Sign | 48 in | — | 30 in | — | One per business | On sidewalk in front of business during business hours. | — | § 315-27E(1)(a)[9] |
| Projecting Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | One per establishment | Attached to building. | — | § 315-27E(2)(e) |

## Prohibited signs in Hornell

- Off-premises signs are prohibited except for general directory or directional signs which may be approved subject to a special use permit.
- No sign shall extend over a public right-of-way or public sidewalk, and no sign shall obstruct views from any public right-of-way to any other public right-of-way.
- Flashing signs or signs with moving lights such as scroll signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless the premises are open for general business during such hours.
- Signs are not permitted to be placed upon utility poles and any such placed signs shall be immediately removed.
- Signs shall not project beyond the building line more than 12 inches over the sidewalk when erected flat or against said building.
- When hung at right angles to a building, or on top of a building parallel with the roof, signs shall not extend into or over any street or sidewalk more than six feet from the building line to which the sign is attached, or more than 24 inches from the inside of the curb.
- No sign or supports or hangings shall be erected so as to cover doors or windows of any building, nor to prevent free ingress and egress to or from any window, door or fire escape of any building, nor be attached to any part of a fire escape or stand pipe.
- No sign shall be erected in such position as to completely blanket another sign already placed on either side.
- All wiring, fittings, and materials used in the construction, connection, and operation of electric signs must meet the National Electrical Code and must pass inspection by a recognized electrical inspector.
- Illumination of signs shall not cause glare onto adjoining properties or public right-of-way.
- No light shall be placed in such a manner as to be a hazard to the traveling public or cause objectionable glare, either direct or reflected.
- No signage shall exceed 5% of any given side, and no building may have total signage that exceeds 10% of the total building frontage for all sides (in business/industrial districts, but as a quantity standard).
- Permanent window signage must not extend closer than 12 inches to the sides or top, and 12 inches from the bottom of the window.
- No sign shall be maintained on premises which have been vacated.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.
- It is unlawful to erect, alter, relocate, reconstruct, or maintain any sign without first obtaining a permit from the Code Enforcement Officer unless otherwise exempt.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hornell

- Temporary on-premises, non-illuminated signs advertising the sale or lease of merchandise or a special event are allowed; must be removed within three days after the sale, lease, or event.
- One non-illuminated sign identifying the property name or residents and the official street address is permitted.
- Signs necessary for public safety, such as posted, no-trespassing, private drive, parking, exit/entrance signs, and other required by governmental function, law, or regulation.
- Historic or memorial markers (not associated with commercial activity), as well as flags, insignia or emblems of any government or religious organization and any religious holiday decorations.
- Any older sign of artistic or historic merit or uniqueness recognized by the Common Council or City Historian is exempt from all dimensional, height, and area requirements.
- Legally nonconforming signs existing at the effective date of the ordinance may continue (unless exceeding three times the maximum area), but must come into full compliance within seven years.
- Professional nameplates not exceeding two square feet per side.
- Dwelling signs denoting name and address of occupants, not exceeding two square feet per side.
- Construction, repair, or renovation signs denoting architect, engineer, or contractor, not exceeding six square feet per side; must be removed within seven days after completion.
- Signs advertising sale, lease, or rental of the premises, not exceeding six square feet, placed at least five feet inside the property line; maximum of two per premises; must be removed within seven days after sale or lease.
- Garage sale, lawn sale, porch sale, etc. signs not exceeding four square feet per side, max four per premises, not on utility poles, to be removed within 48 hours after sale.
- Building permits are not required for the exempt signs described in §315-27C(2) (the items above).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Building permits are required for all signs except those specifically described as exempt in §315-27C(2).
- Permit application must be filed with the Code Enforcement Office including an accurate description and location of the sign, character, applicant information, and written consent of the property owner or lessee.
- For illuminated signs, an application must include a plan or design showing weight, dimensions, electrical or gas equipment, details of attachments and hangings, position relative to the building, and other information as required by the Board of Public Safety.
- The City may require a plan or design for non-illuminated signs at its discretion but must require one for illuminated signs.
- All signs requiring the use of electricity must be inspected by an electrical inspector recognized by the City.
- No explicit reference to a master sign plan or planned sign program or variance meetings is present in this ordinance section.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Hornell, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Hornell+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-hornell

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