# Sign Regulations in Kenmore, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Kenmore, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/kenmore
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-08
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NY/Kenmore/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=MUCO_CH25ZO_ARTIXSI)

## At a glance

Kenmore, New York regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Pole Signs in the General Business District, Industrial District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 50 sq ft, with a At least 2 ft from any property line setback (Sec. Sec. 25-231(2)). Most commercial signs in Kenmore 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 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 9 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Restricted Business Use District (RB) | 10 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Business District, Industrial District | 3 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

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

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | — | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(1) |
| Ground Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per residence | — | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(2) |
| Ground Sign (Institutional Use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(3) |
| Wall Sign (Institutional Use) | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(3) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(4) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(5) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(6) |
| Window Sign (Non-commercial) | — | — | — | — | — | Window | — | Sec. 25-229(a)(7) |

### Restricted Business Use District (RB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Front of lot | — | Sec. 25-230(2) |
| Monument Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Front of lot | — | Sec. 25-230(2) |
| Wall Sign (Front of Building) | — | — | — | — | 1 per side of building facing street | Front of building | — | Sec. 25-230(3) |
| Wall Sign (Rear/Other Walls Not Facing Delaware Ave) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall | Part of building not fronting on Delaware Ave | — | Sec. 25-230(11) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | Front of building, attached to awning | — | Sec. 25-230(4) |
| Projecting Sign (Front of Building) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Front of building | — | Sec. 25-230(5) |
| Portable Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Within frontage of building, not in right-of-way | — | Sec. 25-230(5) |
| Temporary Banner or Temporary Illuminated Portable Sign (New Business/Replacement) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Next to building if illuminated | — | Sec. 25-230(6) |

### General Business District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole Sign | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | At least 2 ft from any property line | 1 per tax parcel | — | — | Sec. 25-231(2) |
| Wall Sign (Front of Building, 40 ft setback) | — | — | — | At least 40 ft from street curb | 1 per business | Front of building | — | Sec. 25-231(3) |
| Wall Sign (Rear/Other Walls Not Fronting Elmwood Ave, Kenmore Ave, or Military Rd) | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall | Not fronting on Elmwood Ave, Kenmore Ave, or Military Rd | — | Sec. 25-231(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Kenmore

- No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created or maintained in the village except in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this chapter.
- Except as otherwise provided herein, no person or entity may erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign in the village without first obtaining a permit pursuant to section 25-228 of this article.
- Animated signs are not permitted in any district.
- If a nonconforming sign is removed, other than for temporary repair or maintenance, it shall be replaced only with a sign that conforms to the requirements of this article.
- An abandoned sign shall be removed by the owner or occupier of the property on which it stands within three (3) months after its abandonment.
- No owner or occupier of property shall permit a dangerous or defective sign to remain on such property owned or occupied.
- Every sign shall be designed and placed in such manner as to: not impair public safety; not restrict clear vision between a sidewalk and street; not be confused with any traffic signal or sign; not prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape; and not impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Pole signs are not allowed in the village except as specifically authorized in the general business district and in the industrial district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Kenmore

- A public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, or local law, regulation, rule or ordinance.
- A sign inside a building that is not attached to a door or window and not visible from a distance of more than three (3) feet beyond the lot line of the zone lot or parcel on which the sign is located.
- A state inspection station identification sign or state authorized repair shop identification sign which is located on an exterior or interior wall of a motor vehicle service or repair station.
- Holiday lights or decorations with no commercial message that are erected not more than thirty (30) days before the holiday. Such lights or signs must be removed no more than thirty (30) days after the holiday.
- Traffic control signs on private property which meet state department of transportation standards and which contain no commercial message.
- Real estate signs.
- Signs stating the hours of operation of a business or that it is closed or open that do not exceed two (2) square feet in surface area.
- Information signs, memorial signs, building signs which do not exceed two (2) square feet in surface area.
- Signs identifying the address of a building or residence.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The planning board is authorized to promulgate sign design guidelines, which provide guidance but do not override the chapter's requirements.
- Applications for sign incentives (increased maximum sign area) in restricted use business, general business, or industrial districts are reviewed and approved by the planning board at the time of sign application.
- Applications for most sign permits (other than for temporary signs) require planning board review before approval is recommended.
- Applications for window signs exceeding 25% of the window area require both planning board recommendation and board of trustees approval, considering specific design guidelines and community character factors.
- For mural installation, an application with a detailed site plan is required and is forwarded to the planning board for review and recommendation; the planning board must determine compliance and may recommend modifications before a permit is issued.
- Applicants may appeal planning board determinations to the board of trustees (for murals) or the zoning board of appeals in case of sign permit violations.

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

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