# Sign Regulations in Marlborough Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marlborough Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/marlborough-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8664908#8664908)

## At a glance

Marlborough Town, New York regulates 13 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Highway Development District (HD), Industrial District (I), Business Corridor District (BC) zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a Minimum 10 ft from public right-of-way and 50 ft from another freestanding sign. setback (Sec. §155-28E(2)(b), Table 3; §155-28D(3)(a)[2]). Most commercial signs in Marlborough Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District (R, R-1), Rural Agricultural District (R-Ag-1) | 6 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Highway Development District (HD), Industrial District (I), Business Corridor District (BC) | 5 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Commercial District (C-1), Commercial 2 District (C-2) | 5 | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 8 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential District (R, R-1), Rural Agricultural District (R-Ag-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On-premises, attached to building or freestanding. | — | §155-28E(1), Table 1 (Permanent signs allowed in all districts without a permit); §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Premises Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Affixed to main building only. | — | §155-28E(1), Table 1; §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Private Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On property of sale. | — | §155-28E(1), Table 1; §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft (single-family); 12 sq ft (multiple dwellings) | — | — | 1 | On property for sale/rent/lease. | — | §155-28E(1), Table 1; §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Agricultural Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On agricultural premises. | — | §155-28E(1), Table 1; §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Subdivision Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per principal entrance | At entrance to subdivision. | — | §155-28E(2)(a), Table 2; §155-28B(Definitions) |

### Highway Development District (HD), Industrial District (I), Business Corridor District (BC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from public right-of-way and 50 ft from another freestanding sign. | 1 per lot | Front yard | — | §155-28E(2)(b), Table 3; §155-28D(3)(a)[2] |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft or 1.0 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business façade | Affixed to wall of principal building. | — | §155-28E(2)(b), Table 3; §155-28D(3)(b)[1] |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area, max 8 sq ft if not permanent | — | — | — | Inside window visible from exterior. | — | §155-28E(2)(b), Table 3; §155-28D(2); §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Awning Sign | — | 8 sq ft or 25% of awning, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per entrance | Affixed to awning | — | §155-28E(2)(b), Table 3; §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Directory Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business center entrance | At building entrance or lobby | — | §155-28E(2)(b), Table 3; §155-28F(1)-(4) |

### Commercial District (C-1), Commercial 2 District (C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 48 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from public right-of-way and 50 ft from another freestanding sign. | 1 per lot | Front yard | — | §155-28E(2)(c), Table 4; §155-28D(3)(a)[2] |
| Wall Sign | — | 48 sq ft or 1.25 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per business façade | Affixed to wall of principal building. | — | §155-28E(2)(c), Table 4; §155-28D(3)(b)[1] |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area, max 8 sq ft if not permanent | — | — | — | Inside window visible from exterior. | — | §155-28E(2)(c), Table 4; §155-28D(2); §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Awning Sign | — | 12 sq ft or 25% of awning, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per entrance | Affixed to awning | — | §155-28E(2)(c), Table 4; §155-28B(Definitions) |
| Directory Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business center entrance | At building entrance or lobby | — | §155-28E(2)(c), Table 4; §155-28F(1)-(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Marlborough Town

- Any sign type not listed in Tables 1, 2, 3, or 4 is not permitted in the Town.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Freestanding exterior directory signs listing business occupants are prohibited unless part of a master sign plan approved by the Planning Board.
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs, including billboards, are prohibited except for agricultural signs and signs erected by the Town of Marlborough.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Posters are prohibited.
- Projection signs are prohibited.
- Signs with any visible moving parts, including those that move by wind currents, are prohibited.
- Signs that, by reason of size, location, coloring, or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of drivers or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device are prohibited.
- Signs that use words such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'one-way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' or similar that could interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic are prohibited.
- Signs on public property or a public right-of-way, other than those erected by a governmental agency, are prohibited.
- Signs obstructing any fire escape, means of ingress and/or egress, or other required exit way or window are prohibited.
- Signs obstructing any opening required for ventilation, venting or other access, that may constitute a hazard to public health and safety, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to utility poles, other than utility company informational signs, are prohibited.
- Neon signs, except for reverse channel signs, are prohibited except as window signs.
- Exposed lighting sources such as bulbs, tubes, and the like are prohibited; all ground-level, external sources of illumination must be hidden from view by landscaping or improvements.
- The use of cardboard, paper, canvas or similar impermanent material is prohibited for any sign type.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marlborough Town

- No sign shall include any display of official court or public office notices nor any official traffic control device.
- Flags, emblems, or insignia of a nation, state, county, municipality, school, or religious group are not considered signs.
- Flags containing a noncommercial message are not considered signs.
- The fee for a sign permit is waived for not-for-profit, charitable, civic and religious organizations, fire districts, and libraries.
- The owner of any sign otherwise allowed may substitute noncommercial copy in lieu of any other commercial or noncommercial copy without additional approval or permitting, except as provided in Subdivision C(4)(a)(1).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applicants for site plan, special use permit or subdivision approval who intend to erect signs as part of a proposed project shall submit a separate application for a sign permit to obtain approval for any proposed signs. Such signs are subject to approval by the Planning Board.
- A master sign plan is required for shopping centers, business centers, and office buildings where four or more business establishments share a zoning lot, parcel, or are part of an integrated shopping or business center.
- The master sign plan must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board and Building Inspector before any individual sign permits in the plan area are approved.
- Freestanding exterior directory signs listing business occupants require a master sign plan approved by the Planning Board in order to be permitted.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Marlborough Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Marlborough+Town+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-marlborough-town

---

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