# Sign Regulations in Menands, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Menands, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/menands
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8399770#8399770)

## At a glance

Menands, New York regulates 17 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Project Sign (Temporary)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft unless affixed to building tall and 16 sq ft each (up to 3 signs), with a 15 ft from all property lines unless affixed to building setback (Sec. §138-9E). Most commercial signs in Menands require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 5 | — | Up to 24 sq ft | — |
| Heavy Industrial (HI) Zone | 2 | 30 ft above average grade | Up to 700 sq ft | — |
| Business Residential (BR) Zone | 5 | — | Up to 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 36 inches | 25% of window area or 50 sq ft, whichever is less | — |

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

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Temporary Real Estate) | — | Up to 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Affixed to wall, on property for sale or lease | — | §138-9H(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary Real Estate) | — | Up to 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel for sale/lease | — | §138-9H(2) |
| Window Sign (Temporary Real Estate) | — | Up to 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel for sale/lease | — | §138-9H(2) |
| Wall Sign (New Construction Residential Real Estate) | — | Up to 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On land where a new housing project is under construction or site plan approved | — | §138-9H(3) |
| Garage/Yard Sale Temporary Sign | — | Up to 4 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per parcel | On property where sale is conducted | — | §138-9F |

### Business Residential (BR) Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Temporary Real Estate) | — | Up to 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | Affixed to wall, on property for sale or lease | — | §138-9H(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary Real Estate) | — | Up to 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel for sale/lease | — | §138-9H(2) |
| Window Sign (Temporary Real Estate) | — | Up to 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | On parcel for sale/lease | — | §138-9H(2) |
| Wall Sign (New Construction Residential Real Estate) | — | Up to 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On land where a new housing project is under construction or site plan approved | — | §138-9H(3) |
| Garage/Yard Sale Temporary Sign | — | Up to 4 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per parcel | On property where sale is conducted | — | §138-9F |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per awning face | Only on awnings over ground floor doors/windows; valance only. | — | §138-13F(2) |
| Freestanding Ground Sign | 8 ft | — | — | Front: min 5 ft; Side: min 10 ft. | 1 per lot unless permitted | Must meet min front/side yard setbacks for accessory buildings (not less than 5 ft front, 10 ft side). See below for BR/HI/Residential: not generally permitted. | — | §138-13F(3) |
| Freestanding Pole Sign | 10 ft | — | — | Front: min 5 ft; Side: min 10 ft. | 1 per lot unless permitted | Same as ground sign setbacks: not less than 5 ft front, 10 ft side. | — | §138-13F(4) |
| Projecting Sign | No higher than roofline; bottom 10–15 ft above sidewalk | — | — | — | — | 10 ft clearance from other projecting signs. Securely attached, no movement. | — | §138-13F(5) |
| Temporary Activity/Event Sign | 6 ft unless affixed to building | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | On private property | — | §138-9D |
| Project Sign (Temporary) | 6 ft unless affixed to building | 16 sq ft each (up to 3 signs) | — | 15 ft from all property lines unless affixed to building | 3 per project | On construction or renovation project site | — | §138-9E |
| Garage/Yard Sale Temporary Sign | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per parcel | On property where sale occurs | — | §138-9F |
| Sidewalk Sign (Sandwich Board Sign, Business and Industrial Zones) | 36 inches | 24" x 36" per face | 24 inches | — | — | Outside establishment during business hours; minimum 30 in high; located to not interfere with pedestrian safety | — | §138-9G |

## Prohibited signs in Menands

- Any sign not permitted in or by this article, as well as any sign specifically designated in this section, is prohibited.
- Roof signs.
- Rotating signs.
- Animated signs, except public service information not combined with commercial messages.
- Portable signs.
- Banners and pennants, except as a part of a grand opening when affixed exclusively to the face of a building (30 days maximum).
- Signs that contain or consist of ribbons, balloons, streamers, spinners or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices.
- Any sign or part thereof on a vehicle parked on a public right-of-way, on public property or private property so as to be intended to be viewed from a motorized vehicular public right-of-way, which has for its basic purpose the providing of advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property or any other premises (with exceptions for vehicular signage not primarily for advertising).
- Any sign other than an exempt sign placed on any curb, sidewalk, hydrant, utility pole, rock, building or tree.
- Any sign erected or maintained which might be confused with any traffic control device or which might interfere with the vision or discernment of any traffic sign or which might cause danger to public travel.
- Feather signs, except as a part of a grand opening (30 days maximum).

## Signs exempt from permit in Menands

- Any New York State inspection station identification sign which is at a height which does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle service station.
- Any New York State authorized repair shop identification sign for passenger vehicles which is at a height which does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle service station.
- Any New York State authorized repair shop identification sign for trucks which is at a height which does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle service station.
- A sign that is incorporated into or on a coin-operated machine, vending machine, gasoline pump, or telephone booth.
- Street number identification plates.
- Historical site markers.
- Posted ("no hunting, fishing and trapping" and "no trespassing") signs which do not exceed two square feet.
- A sign that is posted by a governmental unit, including a public school district.
- Utility line identification and location signs.
- Rest room identification signs which do not exceed two square feet.
- Any sign required by federal or New York State law.
- Vacancy/no vacancy signs which do not exceed three square feet.
- Accessory signs identifying such uses as parking, no parking or office, which do not exceed two square feet each.
- Holiday decorations erected for and during the particular holiday they relate to or symbolize.
- Open/closed business signs which do not exceed two square feet.
- Official public information signs, memorial signs, building names, erection dates or similar information cut into masonry or other permanent surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material, not to exceed 16 square feet.
- Signs and markers in cemeteries designating graves and memorials.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for any person to erect, construct, enlarge, move or convert any sign in the Village, except as otherwise provided.
- Application for a sign permit must include two sets of plans of the sign drawn to scale, showing dimensions, proposed design, colors, materials, illumination, wiring, structural details, a plot plan of the property, and designation of the primary frontage if applicable.
- Sign plans must include a statement of structural soundness and wind load compliance with the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, signed by the owner, applicant, or designer.
- For all electrified signs, a New York Board of Fire Underwriters' certificate of approval must be submitted within 10 days after installation.
- For billboards, a building permit from the Building Inspector must be obtained prior to erection, reconstruction, or structural alteration, including submission of detailed structural plans sealed by a NYS licensed engineer or architect.
- A sign permit is not required for the change of copy, repainting, cleaning, or normal maintenance of a permitted sign, provided that the sign or sign structure is not modified.

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

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