# Sign Regulations in Marcellus Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marcellus Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/marcellus-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33859301#33859301)

## At a glance

Marcellus Town, New York regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Multiple Occupant Complex)s in the A-1, B-1, L-1, Highway Overlay Zones, Preexisting commercial business entities zoning district are capped at 16 feet (as measured from top of sign) tall, 48 square feet, and 8 feet wide, with a Minimum 15 feet from street line or 50 feet from center line of street, whichever is less. setback (Sec. § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[1][b]). Most commercial signs in Marcellus Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | — | 432 square inches (24" x 18") | — |
| Residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4) | 4 | — | 16 square feet per side | — |
| A-1, B-1, L-1, Highway Overlay Zones, Preexisting commercial business entities | 7 | 16 feet (as measured from top of sign) | 48 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(a)[1-4], § 235-26.1C(1), (3); § 235-26.1B(1)(a)[2][a-d] |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(a)[1-4], § 235-26.1C(1), (3); § 235-26.1B(1)(a)[2][a-b] |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Same location and design specifications as permanent signs. | — | § 235-26.1D(1) |
| Corrugated Plastic Yard Sign | — | 432 square inches (24" x 18") | — | — | — | Exempt from standard location restrictions; must still not cause visibility problems or traffic hazards. | — | § 235-26.1D(1)(a) |
| Directional Sign (Interior Lot Directional Signage) | — | — | — | — | — | Interior of lots | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(b)[3], § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[4] |

### Residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 16 square feet per side | — | Minimum 15 ft from street line or 50 ft from center of street, whichever is less. | Only one sign permitted per lot without a special permit. | At least 15 feet from street line or 50 feet from center line of street, whichever is less. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(b)[1], [6] |
| Wall Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Only one sign permitted per lot without a special permit. | Affixed to or painted upon the building or windows. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(b)[2], [6] |
| Directional Sign (Interior Lot Directional Signage) | — | — | — | — | Only one sign permitted per lot without a special permit. | Interior of lots. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(b)[3], [6] |
| Freestanding Sign (Farming Operations Special Permit) | — | — | — | — | May exceed through special permit | — | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(b)[5] |

### A-1, B-1, L-1, Highway Overlay Zones, Preexisting commercial business entities

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Occupant Lot) | — | 32 square feet | — | Minimum 15 feet from street line or 50 feet from center line of street, whichever is less. | — | On premises to which related; at least 15 feet from street line or 50 feet from center line of street, whichever is less. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[1][a] |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Occupant Complex) | 16 feet (as measured from top of sign) | 48 square feet | 8 feet | Minimum 15 feet from street line or 50 feet from center line of street, whichever is less. | — | On premises to which related; at least 15 feet from street line or 50 feet from center line of street, whichever is less. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[1][b] |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to or painted upon the building or windows. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[2] |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[3] |
| Marquee or Canopy Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to marquee or canopy. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[3] |
| Directional Sign (Interior Lot Directional Signage) | — | — | — | — | — | Interior of lots. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[4] |
| Residential Sign (A-1 Not Farming) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One sign per residence (A-1, non-farming). | One per residence. | — | § 235-26.1B(1)(c)[5] |

## Prohibited signs in Marcellus Town

- All signs are specifically prohibited except as expressly permitted by this section.
- Animated signs, including those with rotating or moving parts or messages, are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Mobile signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Any sign which could be mistaken for or confused with a traffic control sign, signal or device is prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Signs permanently painted, posted or otherwise attached to any rock, fence, or utility pole are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- Billboards are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- All signs not expressly permitted by this section are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- No sign shall be designed, lit and/or located in such a manner as to create a hazard or visibility problem or interfere with or impair vehicular traffic.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marcellus Town

- Temporary signs do not require a permit if not placed for more than three consecutive months and comply with location and design specifications; permits are required if such signs remain longer than three months within a twelve-month period (except for real estate signs).
- Corrugated plastic yard signs with wire stands, or signs similar in nature, 24 inches by 18 inches or smaller, are exempt from location restrictions in § 235-26.1B(1)(b) and (d), but must not create hazards or interfere with traffic.
- Signs required by county, state or federal law are allowed without a permit.
- Posted signs necessary to comply with New York State Environmental Conservation Law, Article 11, Title 21, § 11-2111, are exempt from time and location restrictions in § 235-26.1B(1)(b) and (d), but must not create hazards or interfere with traffic.
- Replacing copy (changing the advertising or message on an approved sign designed for replaceable copy) shall not require a sign permit.
- Maintenance activities (painting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure, unless a structural change is made) shall not require a sign permit.
- Any sign in existence at the date of adoption of this section which does not conform to the provisions is grandfathered and may remain in its present condition, but any major change, modification, structural repair or replacement must bring the sign into conformity.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any person to erect, structurally alter, or relocate a sign within the Town unless otherwise specified as exempt.
- Applications for sign permits must be made on a form provided by the Code Enforcement Officer and include detailed information such as site, design, and construction specifics.
- An appeal process exists for permit denial via the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- No specific mention is made of a 'master sign plan' requirement or required sign variance meeting for all signs; variances may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals under specific conditions and subdivision identification signs may be subject to standards established by the Town Planning Board.
- Enforcement of the section, including review of submitted plans and details, is by the Code Enforcement Officer.

## Full detail

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/marcellus-town