# Sign Regulations in Lake George, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lake George, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/lake-george
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9944905#9944905)

## At a glance

Lake George, New York regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Menu Boards in the Commercial Mixed-Use Zone, Commercial Resort Zone zoning district are capped at 3 feet (any dimension) tall, 6 square feet, and 3 feet (any dimension) wide, with a Exempt from 10-foot setback requirement setback (Sec. §168-4C(2), §220-24A(2)(d)). Most commercial signs in Lake George require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial Mixed-Use Zone, Commercial Resort Zone | 10 | 25 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Commercial zones, Commercial Zone, Commercial Mixed Use Zones | 1 | 5 feet (any dimension) | 9 square feet | — |
| Residential zones | 1 | — | 6 square feet | — |
| RMU District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 5 feet (any dimension) | 35% of window area | — |

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

### Commercial Mixed-Use Zone, Commercial Resort Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 50 square feet | 10 feet | — | One per business. One per street frontage if building fronts more than one street. | On owner's property; only one per business. One allowed per street frontage for buildings fronting more than one street. | — | §220-24B(3), C(1), D(2), G(1)-(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | Lesser of 1.5 sq ft/linear ft, 10% of facade, or 25 sq ft | — | — | One per business; one per street frontage if building fronts more than one street, in substitution. | On building wall(s) of the premises | — | §220-24B(5), C(1), D(1) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | One allowed per street frontage if building fronts more than one street (in leiu of wall/freestanding sign). | Perpendicular and attached to building face of premises advertised. | — | §220-24B(2), C(1) |
| Menu Board | 3 feet (any dimension) | 6 square feet | 3 feet (any dimension) | Exempt from 10-foot setback requirement | One per licensed food establishment | May be attached to railing of cafe (projects max 2 inches); allowed in front of licensed food establishment, exempt from 10-ft setback | — | §168-4C(2), §220-24A(2)(d) |
| A-Frame Sign (Seasonal Permit Only) | 3 feet | 9 square feet per side (3 ft x 3 ft max each side) | 3 feet | — | One per storefront | On sidewalk, in front of business during open hours | — | §220-24A(2)(a)[4], §220-24B(7)(b)[13] |
| Banner Sign (Temporary) | 5 feet (any dimension) | 15 square feet | 5 feet (any dimension) | — | One per building/storefront (except for certain special banners). | On building or storefront. Max one per building/storefront; special banners (welcome, no ads) do not count toward limit. | — | §220-24B(7)(b)[14] |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One per curb cut/driveway. | At each curb cut/driveway associated with business or parcel. | — | §220-24C(1)(c) |
| Lakeshore Identification Sign | — | 15 square feet | — | — | Not specified | On lakeshore, externally lit. | — | §220-24C(1)(d) |

### Commercial zones, Commercial Zone, Commercial Mixed Use Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| For Sale/Lease/Rent Sign (Commercial Zone) | 5 feet (any dimension) | 9 square feet | 5 feet (any dimension) | — | One per premises | On premises for sale/lease/rent | — | §220-24B(7)(a)[9](b,c) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 35% of window area | — | — | — | Inside window | — | §220-24B(7)(a)[1] |
| Interior Signs (Permanent) | — | 35% of window area | — | — | — | Inside window, visible from street | — | §220-24B(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Lettering on front/side panel only | — | §220-24B(6) |
| Umbrella Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §168-4C(3); §220-24B(6)(c) |
| Directional Sign (General) | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One per curb cut/driveway | At curb cut/driveway | — | §220-24C(1)(c) |
| Historical Tablet/Memorial Plaque/Nonprofit Emblem | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Installed by government agency or nonprofit; on premises | — | §220-24B(7)(a)[4] |
| Flag (Noncommercial or Business-related) | 5 feet (any dimension) | 15 square feet | 5 feet (any dimension) | — | No more than three per 50 ft of frontage | On buildings or grounds of occupant/user | — | §220-24B(7)(a)[8], H(1-4) |
| Private Owner Merchandise Sale Sign (e.g., Garage Sale, Auction) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | Maximum six per event | — | — | §220-24B(7)(a)[10] |

## Prohibited signs in Lake George

- No sign shall be hung or attached to any portion of a sidewalk cafe or an awning. A-frame signs are not allowed within the cafe area. Umbrellas with advertising are not permitted.
- Except as otherwise provided, a sign permit from the Village is required prior to the erection of any sign.
- Signs are not permitted as principal uses.
- No sign shall be attached to any roof or mansard facade.
- No sign may extend more than four feet over the street, right-of-way or property line.
- No sign or part thereof shall contain or consist of animation, pinwheels, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers or other similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices. These devices, as well as strings of light, shall not be used for advertising or to attract attention when not part of a sign.
- Signs shall not contain reflective material, fluorescent paint or colors that shock the senses or scream for attention, such as bright pinks, greens, yellows and oranges.
- Signs shall not be allowed on a lot unless such signs carry advertising strictly incidental to a lawful use of the premises. No off-premises signs are permitted.
- No A-frame-type signs, portable signs, signs on rocks, trees and other parts of the natural landscape, or signs on a public street shall be allowed, except as provided herein.
- No freestanding sign, projecting building sign, marquee sign, or any other sign or lighting device shall be erected or maintained on any municipal property or right-of-way unless erected by the proper municipal authorities, except as provided herein.
- No signage shall be permitted referring to rates of any accommodations, such as but not limited to low rates, lowest rates, off-season rates, special rates, etc.
- Signs shall not contain misleading or inaccurate information such as but not limited to 'going out of business,' unless such is the case.
- Continuously scrolling signs are prohibited, except as provided herein.
- Electronic signs are limited to reader boards on a freestanding sign or inside window sign only.
- Signs attached to any door leading to the interior of the premises are limited to 25% of the individual door space. Such signage is limited to information that is relevant to the business, and information referring to the sale of a product is not allowed.
- No electronic monitors, such as TVs and computers, may be placed outdoors within view or sound of the public right-of-way with the exception of electronic devices necessary to provide service to the waitstaff or patrons.
- Any new sign which does not comply with the regulations established for the issuance of a permit or which permit is revoked or which is deemed to be an abandoned sign, or which is not maintained in good and complete condition with clean, legible lettering and graphics, is prohibited and shall be brought into compliance or removed.
- Businesses are not entitled to any additional freestanding signs due to the business being situated on two or more lots or parcels, different ownership of lots/parcels, or multiple businesses on contiguous lots, as only one freestanding sign is permitted in these cases.
- Umbrellas shall not contain any signage.
- Except as provided, wall signs, projecting signs, hanging signs and window signs must use a color palette which is complementary to the building, may only have a maximum of four colors, and graphics are limited to two graphics per sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lake George

- Signs or bulletin boards customarily incidental to places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs or societies are exempt from sign fees, if such signs do not exceed 10 square feet and are located on the premises.
- The following temporary signs are permitted without a permit, provided that such signs comply with the general regulations: (1) Temporary window signs not exceeding 35% of the window area and not displayed for more than 14 consecutive days, (2) Signs posted by governmental agencies or required by law, (3) Signs required by legal process, (4) Historical tablets, memorial plaques or emblems installed by government, religious or not-for-profit agencies not to exceed six square feet, (5) Transportation signs (e.g., bus stops) not to exceed two square feet, (6) Signs necessary for identification or operation of a public utility, (7) 'Warning,' 'Private Drive,' 'Posted,' or 'No Trespassing' signs not to exceed two square feet, (8) Noncommercial flags or emblems, up to 15 square feet, not exceeding three flags per 50 feet of frontage, (9) Signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of premises, with specific size and removal limitations, (10) Private-owner merchandise sale signs (e.g. garage sales or auctions), with size and display period limits, (11) Price signs required on gasoline pumps by state or federal law, (12) Commercial signs (e.g. 'Grand Opening', 'End of Season') no more than 15 square feet and for no more than 14 consecutive days.
- Menu board for licensed food establishments is exempt from the ten-foot setback.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications submitted are subject to review by the Code Enforcement Officer and the Lake George Village Planning Board. All plans shall be approved or disapproved or modifications made within two months of submission.
- Except as otherwise provided, a sign permit from the Village is required prior to the erection of any sign.
- Except for a menu board, the additional outdoor sign must be approved by the Planning Board.
- A-frame signs (as seasonal permits) are subject to Planning Board approval.
- Menu boards for licensed food establishments must be approved by the Zoning Office.
- Applications for a permit are available at the Village Hall for the seasonal use of banners and flags.
- The display of all other temporary signs (other than those exempted) requires a permit, issued by the Mayor, and subject to application, criteria, and deposit requirements as described in the ordinance.

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

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