# Sign Regulations in Liberty, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Liberty, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/liberty
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10833386#10833386)

## At a glance

Liberty, New York regulates 25 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Pole Sign)s in the Downtown Commercial Core (C) zoning district are capped at 12 feet (pole sign) tall and 12 square feet, with a Minimum 20 feet from right-of-way setback (Sec. § 70-9F). Most commercial signs in Liberty require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Downtown Commercial Core (C) | 9 | 42 inches | 40% of glass surface | — |
| Gateway District (C, M) | 9 | 18 feet from top of sign to ground or above eave/parapet, whichever is less | 50% of glass surface | — |
| Highway Commercial Corridor | 7 | 40 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2) | 4 | 4 feet | 8 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | As approved by Code Enforcement Officer | — |

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

### Downtown Commercial Core (C)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not project above eave line or parapet of any roof | — | — | — | 1 per building facade or per storefront. Directory sign allowed at each entrance for multitenant buildings/properties (max 6 sq ft). | Within signable area; one per building facade or per storefront | — | § 70-9B |
| Directory Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One at each entrance | At each entrance of multitenant buildings or properties | — | § 70-9B(1), (2) |
| Window Sign (Permanent Painted) | — | 40% of glass surface | — | — | — | On glass of windows | — | § 70-9C(1)-(4) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | 15% of entire window surface | — | — | — | On glass of windows | — | § 70-9C(3), § 70-8J(2) |
| Projecting Sign | 25 feet from top of sign to ground or above eave/parapet, whichever is less | — | May not extend more than 4 feet from building facade | — | 1 per facade or per entrance | Per building facade or per entrance (single-tenant); multitenant buildings may have signs in coordinated framework | — | § 70-9D |
| Ground Sign (Pole Sign) | 12 feet (pole sign) | 12 square feet | — | Minimum 20 feet from right-of-way | 1 per premises or entrance/exit | Only where buildings/structures set back 20 ft from right-of-way and not within 50 ft minimum lot frontage | — | § 70-9F |
| Sandwich Board | 42 inches | 24 in wide, 42 in high max (per § 70-5 'Sandwich Board') | 24 inches | — | 1 per business | On sidewalk, directly in front of business | — | § 70-9G; § 70-5 definition |
| Project Sign (>6 sq ft, ≤18 sq ft) | — | 18 square feet | — | — | — | In accordance with general provisions; at construction/renovation sites | — | § 70-9I |

### Gateway District (C, M)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | May not project above eave line or parapet | — | — | — | 1 per building facade; multitenant: 1 per storefront | Within signable area; one per building facade (except shopping center/multitenant: one per storefront) | — | § 70-10C |
| Directory Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | At or near each entrance of multi-tenant premises | — | § 70-10C(3) |
| Window Sign (Permanent painted) | — | 50% of glass surface | — | — | — | On glass of windows | — | § 70-10D(1)-(4) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | 30% of entire window surface | — | — | — | On glass of windows | — | § 70-10D(3), § 70-8J(2) |
| Projecting Sign | 18 feet from top of sign to ground or above eave/parapet, whichever is less | — | May not extend more than 6 feet from building facade | — | 1 per building facade | Per building facade fronting on public street/highway | — | § 70-10E |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Awnings for separate storefronts/multitenant bldgs in shopping centers must be complementary to one another as part of a design scheme | — | § 70-10F |
| Ground Sign (Pole Sign/Monument Sign) | 16 feet (pole sign); 6 feet (all other ground signs) | 16 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from property line/right-of-way | 1 per premises or entrance/exit | Where all buildings/structures set back 10 ft from property line/right-of-way and where lot frontage is minimum 100 ft | — | § 70-10G |
| Project Sign (>6 sq ft, ≤30 sq ft) | — | 30 square feet | — | — | — | In accordance with general provisions; at construction/renovation sites | — | § 70-10J(2) |

### Highway Commercial Corridor

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Must not project above eave line or parapet | — | — | — | 2 per facade (single-tenant); 1 per storefront (multi-tenant) | On building facades viewable from public street or highway; within signable areas | — | § 70-11A |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet from ground or above eave/parapet, whichever is lower | — | May not extend more than 6 feet from building facade | — | 2 per facade (single-tenant) | Per building facade facing public street, highway, or parking lot (single-tenant); multi-tenant buildings: 1 wall sign per storefront | — | § 70-11C |
| Awning | — | — | — | — | — | Awnings must maintain 14 ft clearance from grade over vehicular drive, 8 ft over sidewalk area | — | § 70-11D |
| Pole Sign | 40 feet | — | — | 10 ft back from edge of street paving within right-of-way or edge of internal driving aisle | 1 per premise | Ground mounted; setback required | — | § 70-11E(1),(4) |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | — | — | 10 ft back from edge of street paving within right-of-way or edge of internal driving aisle | 1 per frontage | 1 per frontage on public street or highway | — | § 70-11E(2),(5) |
| Temporary Banner | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 70-11G(1) |
| Project Sign (>6 sq ft, ≤64 sq ft) | — | 64 square feet | — | — | — | At construction/renovation sites | — | § 70-11G(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Liberty

- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to mimic or obstruct the view of any traffic sign or signal.
- No permanent private sign of any size or description may be erected, placed, maintained, or extended into or over the right-of-way of any street or highway.
- The lighting intensity of any sign, whether internally lit or externally lit, shall not exceed 25 footcandles as measured with a standard light meter directly below the light source or four footcandles measured at a height of five feet six inches above grade below the light source.
- All illuminated signs or sign lighting devices shall maintain a constant light intensity.
- The source of light illuminating a sign shall not be visible except in the case of neon signs.
- No lighting trespass is allowed.
- No sign may be erected or displayed without a permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer, except as specifically exempted.
- Temporary signs may not be illuminated.
- Billboards placed, erected, or constructed after the effective date of this chapter are prohibited.
- Portable signs, not including sandwich boards, are prohibited.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, or those with flashing illumination, are prohibited.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Roof and roof-top signs are prohibited.
- Illuminated temporary signs are prohibited.
- Any sign not expressly permitted or exempt shall be deemed prohibited, subject to exemptions for programs for signs.
- Any sign containing obscene or pornographic words, pictures, or graphic depictions is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Liberty

- Signs designated as landmarks by the Code Enforcement Officer.
- Temporary window signs, subject to limitations on window blockage in each sign district.
- A building name that is an architectural detail of a building.
- Project signs not exceeding six square feet in area during the time the activity is in progress.
- Notification and identification signs not exceeding two square feet in area or two in number on any premises.
- Private directional signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Public directional signs.
- Commemorative and historic signs (including plaques) not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Flags of any government or governmental organization, or decorative flags in residential districts (decorative flags limited to one per store front or residence).
- Real estate sale or rental signs, provided that: the sign area is not in excess of four square feet when located on property within the Residential district, eight square feet in the Downtown Commercial Core or Gateway Districts, or 12 square feet in the Highway Corridor District.
- Temporary signs, provided that: the sign area is not in excess of four square feet; the sign is displayed with the permission of the property owner; and the sign is not displayed for more than two calendar months before an event, and is removed within seven days after the event has been held.
- Yard sale signs, on or off the premises, that are displayed only with the permission of the property owner and for the duration of the event.
- Political signs and religious signs, provided that: the number, size, and height are no more than the maximum number, size, and height of any other sign permitted in such district; for political signs advancing a candidate or cause in an official election, the signs shall be removed no later than four weeks after such election; and the sign is displayed with the permission of the property owner.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Owners of different businesses located on a single development site, occupants of a shopping center, or occupants of a multi-tenant building may submit a program for signs to the Code Enforcement Officer that need not comply with some or all of the requirements of this chapter.
- The proposed program for signs (also described as a master sign plan or program for signs) shall contain graphic representations in accordance with submittal requirements and any other visual aids required by the Code Enforcement Officer.
- If the submitted program for signs is found to meet the overall purposes and intent of this law, the Code Enforcement Officer may approve the application with conditions and time limits, if warranted, and the program for signs becomes legally enforceable for the affected properties.
- Variances to the provisions in this chapter shall be heard by the Village of Liberty Zoning Board of Appeals as permitted by the Village Law of the State of New York. Requests for variances shall be made in accordance with the applicable procedures.

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

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