# Sign Regulations in Lima, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lima, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/lima
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37128918#37128918)

## At a glance

Lima, New York regulates 34 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Residential districts zoning district are capped at 5 feet above finished grade tall and 10 square feet per side (double-faced), with a 15 ft front, 5 ft side, 50 ft between other freestanding signs setback (Sec. § 185-63.B(3)). Most commercial signs in Lima require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 9 | Not above the floor of the second floor, max 12 feet | 16 square feet per entrance on a different street/highway | — |
| Business districts, Industrial districts | 13 | Not above floor of second story or 12 feet, whichever is less | As per total sign area formula, max 200 sq ft per center | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 feet above finished grade | 10 square feet per side (double-faced) | — | 15 ft front, 5 ft side, 50 ft between other freestanding signs | — | No less than 15 feet from front property line, 5 feet from side property line, min 50 feet from another freestanding sign | — | § 185-63.B(3) |
| Wall Sign | Not above the floor level of the second floor | — | — | — | — | On the outside wall of a building, parallel to the wall. | — | § 185-63.B(1) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above the floor of the second floor, max 12 feet | — | Exterior edge: not more than 4 feet from building or 1/3 sidewalk width | — | — | Affixed to building wall, extends horizontally or perpendicular | — | § 185-63.B(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Applied/painted/frosted on window or window glass visible from exterior. | — | § 185-63.B(4)(a) |
| Bulletin Board or Institutional Sign | — | 16 square feet per entrance on a different street/highway | — | — | One per entrance on a different street/highway | On premises of schools, places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs, or societies | — | § 185-62.C(2)(a) |
| Apartment/Multiple Dwelling Availability Sign | — | 16 square feet per entrance on a different street/highway | — | — | One per entrance on a different street/highway | At each entrance of multiple dwelling/apartment | — | § 185-62.C(2)(b) |
| Recreational Facility Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One per facility | On premises of recreational area, day camp, golf club, etc. | — | § 185-62.C(2)(c) |
| Public Utility Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | On premises of public utility | — | § 185-62.C(2)(d) |

### Business districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | Calculated as part of total allowed signage; see formula | — | — | One per lot/shopping center | On property; not to interfere with vehicular/pedestrian visibility. | — | § 185-62.D(1)(a), (3)(a), (d) |
| Wall Sign | Not above floor of second story. | Total signage: 1 sq ft per linear ft of building front + 0.25 sq ft per linear ft of setback; max 150 sq ft (regular), 200 sq ft (shopping plaza); min 16 sq ft allowed. | — | — | Max 3 per business/industrial lot (see description); in shopping plaza see plaza rule | On exterior building wall; in shopping plaza, must be coordinated in design. | — | § 185-62.D(1)(b)-(d), (3)(b)-(c) |
| Projecting Sign | Not above floor of second story or 12 feet, whichever is less | — | 4 ft from building or 1/3 sidewalk width | — | — | Affixed to building wall, perpendicular or projecting outward. | — | § 185-63.B(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On or painted/frosted/affixed to exterior window | — | § 185-63.B(4)(a) |
| Portable Sign (Temporary Only) | — | — | — | — | One per business | On premises; must not impede traffic or obstruct visibility | — | § 185-62.D(4) |
| Gasoline Service Station Freestanding Sign | 5 ft | 10 sq ft per side (one or two-sided) | — | — | One per station | On station premises | — | § 185-62.D(2)(a) |
| Gasoline Price/Product Sign | — | 6 sq ft or 3 sq ft per side (if double-sided) | — | — | 2 per pump island | On pump island | — | § 185-62.D(2)(c) |
| Shopping Plaza Common Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 60 sq ft (30 sq ft per side) | — | — | One per shopping center | At entrance or as approved by site plan | — | § 185-62.D(3)(a) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-premises Directional Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 185-62.A(3) |
| Professional Office/Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from highway right-of-way | One per residential building | On-premises, 10 ft from highway right-of-way | — | § 185-62.A(5) |
| Temporary Real Estate/For Sale/For Rent Sign (Residential District) | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | One | On premises of sale/rent | — | § 185-62.A(7), § 185-62.C(1)(a) |
| Temporary Real Estate/For Sale/For Rent Sign (Business/Industrial District) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property lines | One | On premises of sale/rent | — | § 185-62.A(7) |
| Agricultural Produce Stand Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | One | On premises, min 10 ft from public right-of-way | — | § 185-62.A(8) |
| Construction/Contractor/Architect Sign (Residential) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One | On premises where construction is in progress | — | § 185-62.A(10) |
| Sandwich Board Style (Portable) Sign | 3 ft | — | 2 ft | — | One per business | On premises; must not impede traffic or parking | — | § 185-62.A(12) |
| Variance/Public Hearing Notice Sign | — | Not less than 4 sq ft | — | Within 15 ft of property line | One per public road frontage | Placed on property under application, within 15 ft of property line | — | § 185-105.D |

## Prohibited signs in Lima

- No off-premises signs shall be allowed other than as may be permitted under the exempt signs provisions.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights except to show time and temperature.
- No sign shall be internally illuminated except for window signs that advertise 'Open.'
- Representational signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color or placement.
- No sign shall impair visibility for a motorist at a street corner or intersection by placement and location within 25 feet of the intersection of street or highway lines.
- No sign or sign supports shall be placed upon the roof of any building.
- No advertising message shall be extended over more than one sign placed along a street or highway.
- Signs must not be attached to fences, trees, utility poles, rocks or other parts of a natural landscape.
- No prefabricated metal awnings or internally illuminated or back-lit awnings (for sign purposes) are allowed.
- All signs must be securely anchored and shall not swing or move in any manner.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lima

- Historical markers, tablets, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar material; and emblems installed by governmental agencies or religious or nonprofit organizations; not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Flags and insignias of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- On-premises directional signs for the convenience of the general public, identifying public parking areas, fire zones, entrances and exits and similar signs, illuminated or not, and not exceeding four square feet per face and six feet in height. Business names and personal names shall be allowed. Advertising messages or logos are not allowed.
- Nonilluminated warning, 'private drive,' 'posted' or 'no trespassing' signs, not exceeding two square feet per face.
- One on-premise sign, either freestanding or attached in connection with any residential building in any zoning district, for permitted professional offices or home occupations, not exceeding two square feet and set back at least 10 feet from the highway right-of-way. Such sign shall state the name and profession or vocation only. Illumination shall not produce a direct glare beyond the limits of the property line.
- On premises private-owner merchandise sale signs for garage sales, yard sales, auctions and the like, not exceeding four square feet for a period not exceeding seven days.
- Temporary, nonilluminated 'for sale,' 'for rent' and real estate signs and signs of similar nature, concerning the premises upon which the sign is located; in a residential zoning district, one sign not exceeding four square feet per side; in a business or industrial zoning district, one sign not exceeding 12 square feet set back at least 15 feet from all property lines. All such signs shall be removed within three days after closing the sale or the effective date of the lease or rental of the premises.
- One temporary sign for a roadside stand selling agricultural produce grown on the premises in season, provided that such sign shall not exceed 16 square feet and shall be set back at least 10 feet from the public right-of-way; said signs shall be removed within three days after the produce is no longer being offered for sale.
- Seasonal holiday decorations, including lighting. These decorations are exempt from the provisions of this chapter and may be displayed in any district without a permit for a reasonable period of time surrounding the holiday or occasion in question.
- One sign, not exceeding six square feet in the residential districts or 12 square feet in the business districts, listing the architect, engineer, contractor and/or owner, on premises where construction, renovation or repair is in progress. Said signs shall be removed within three days of the completion of such work.
- Political posters, banners, promotional devices and similar signs, not exceeding four square feet in the residential districts or eight square feet in the business districts, provided that placement shall not exceed 30 days, an 11-month gap is required between postings, and the sponsor and responsible party are identified.
- On premise 'sandwich board' style signs that are limited to one per business, are not illuminated, do not exceed three feet in height and two feet in width, are brought in at the close of each business day, and which do not impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic or parking.
- Seasonal holiday decorations, including lighting, are exempt from the provisions of this chapter and may be displayed in any district without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit application must include elevation and plan drawings to scale, a full description of the sign's placement and appearance, and other specified details.
- Applications for sign permits are referred to the Planning Board for decision; additionally, any within the Downtown Business District or Historic Preservation Overlay are also reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission for an advisory opinion.
- Any application for a sign that is submitted in conjunction with a project requiring site plan approval is automatically referred to the Planning Board, which has exclusive authority to approve or reject the sign permit.
- If a variance, change in zoning classification, subdivision of land or special/conditional use permit is sought, an informational sign of at least four square feet must be posted on the subject property at least 10 days prior to the public hearing. This requirement is for public notice and applies to all such applications.
- Any development application requiring public hearings (variance, rezoning, subdivision, special/conditional use permit) requires conspicuous posting of informational signage as outlined in §185-105.
- The Planning Board may grant exceptions to top-mounted lighting fixture requirements for signs during Site Plan Review if proposed lighting does not illuminate beyond the sign area.

## Full detail

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

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