# Sign Regulations in Manchester, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Manchester, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/manchester
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31582457#31582457)

## At a glance

Manchester, New York regulates 17 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 ft, measured from ground level immediately beneath sign to highest point tall and 24 sq ft, with a Not within right-of-way or within 25 ft of pavement or within 10 ft of property line, unless attached to building (§290-73L). setback (Sec. §290-74A–E, §290-73L). Most commercial signs in Manchester require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 25 ft, measured from ground level immediately beneath sign to highest point | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential District | 6 | 4 ft above ground | 16 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 24 sq ft; also see formula for wall area limit | — | — | 1 per business/activity | Attached to the exterior of a building on street side providing principal access. | — | §290-74A–F, §290-73A–K |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | 25 ft, measured from ground level immediately beneath sign to highest point | 24 sq ft | — | Not within right-of-way or within 25 ft of pavement or within 10 ft of property line, unless attached to building (§290-73L). | 1 per business/activity | On parcel with business/activity; not within public right-of-way or within 25 ft of street pavement or 10 ft of property line unless attached to building | — | §290-74A–E, §290-73L |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | May not project/overhang onto public right-of-way. | 1 per business/activity | Attached to building; cannot overhang/project into public right-of-way | — | §290-74A–F, §290-73F–H |
| Directional Sign (On-premises) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Not specified (exempt from main count) | On premises of activity | — | §290-74D |
| Shopping Center Directory Sign (Main Identification) | 20 ft, measured from natural ground level | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per facility | Shopping center/facility property | — | §290-75A |
| Shopping Center Directory Sign (Entrance/Exit) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | At points of entrance/exit in commercial/industrial park | — | §290-75D |
| Shopping Center Directory Sign (General) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per facility | Any location within multiple commercial use facility or industrial park | — | §290-75D |
| Off-premises Directional Sign | 12 ft above ground | 12 sq ft per side (x2 sides) | — | No closer than 10 ft nor more than 30 ft from ROW; cannot be on state highway | 1 per eligible business | No closer than 10 ft and no more than 30 ft from the right-of-way line on property not fronting on a state highway. | — | §290-78 |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Occupant/Home Occupation Sign (Residential) | 4 ft above ground | 4 sq ft | — | Freestanding: no closer to lot line than 1/2 of required setback. | — | On premises. If freestanding, no closer to any lot line than half of required setback. | — | §290-76A |
| Identification Sign (Multi-family/church/library/public/social club) | 4 ft above grade | 16 sq ft | — | No closer to lot line than 1/2 of required setback. | 1 per property | On premises; no closer to lot line than 1/2 required setback. | — | §290-76B |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential, Temporary) | 4 ft above ground | 6 sq ft | — | Not less than 10 ft inside property line. | 2 per premises | On premises; not less than 10 ft inside property line. | — | §290-76C, §290-77C |
| Subdivision Sign (Permanent) | 4 ft above ground | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision | On premises of subdivision | — | §290-76D |
| Subdivision Sign (Temporary, Post-Approval) | 4 ft above ground | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per subdivision | On premises of subdivision | — | §290-76E |
| Business Sign (Other than Home Occupation) | 4 ft above grade if freestanding | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §290-76F |

## Prohibited signs in Manchester

- No sign shall be erected in the Village without a permit issued by the Code Enforcement Officer or designee, except for signs listed as exempt (§290-77).
- No sign permit shall be issued without Planning Board approval, except for temporary signs.
- All signs must be securely attached to a building or structurally sound support and kept neatly painted and in good repair.
- No illuminated signs or outdoor illumination may direct light in a way that creates a traffic hazard, nuisance, or is unreasonably detrimental to neighboring properties.
- No sign may be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving lights; lighting must be of constant intensity.
- No projecting sign may extend more than 18 inches from the front or face of a building, or overhang/project onto any public right-of-way except as provided.
- No sign or part thereof may contain or consist of banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners, or similar fluttering devices.
- No sign may consist of animated or moving parts; no movable or portable signs except real estate signs on the premises being advertised.
- No sign may be attached to fences, utility poles, or trees.
- No sign may be erected or maintained upon the roof of any building or structure.
- No motor vehicle, mobile home, or trailer with a sign may be parked/placed primarily to display the sign.
- No sign may be erected or maintained within the right-of-way or within 25 feet of public street pavement or within 10 feet of any property line, unless attached to a building.
- No sign may advertise a business, use, or service not located on the premises, except for permitted off-premises directional signs.
- No sign may be erected so as to confuse or obstruct the view of any traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sound amplifiers, public address systems, or other sound devices may be used for advertising or to attract attention.

## Signs exempt from permit in Manchester

- Regulations do not apply to any sign or directional device erected by a governmental agency.
- Regulations do not apply to nonadvertising signs identifying underground utility lines or posted/preserve signs erected under New York State Environmental Conservation Law.
- Signs bearing the name of the principal occupant and/or street address of a private dwelling not exceeding one square foot in area are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Professional nameplates not exceeding one square foot in area are permitted without a permit in all districts.
- Signs advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located, not exceeding six square feet in area, are permitted without a permit in all districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An overall sign design plan is required for centers or facilities (e.g., shopping centers, plazas, malls, multiple commercial use facilities or industrial parks) with more than one principal activity; the plan must be submitted with the site development permit application and show plans for each principal activity, maintaining reasonable uniformity of design, lettering, lighting, and material.
- All applications for a sign permit (except for temporary signs) must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board.
- A permit must be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer or designee before erecting any sign, except those specifically exempted.
- If a project with zoning review is proposed on a property with a legally preexisting nonconforming sign, the reviewing agency shall require that the nonconforming sign be brought into compliance as a condition of approval.

## Full detail

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

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