# Sign Regulations in Middletown, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Middletown, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/middletown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11067638#11067638)

## At a glance

Middletown, New York regulates 10 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Ground/Freestanding Signs in the Business District zoning district are capped at 15 feet (measured from ground) tall and 24 square feet, with a At least 15 feet from property line or ½ distance from curbline to front of building setback (Sec. §394-9.A). Most commercial signs in Middletown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts, R-1 | 3 | 6 feet above ground | 216 square inches (18 inches x 12 inches) | — |
| Business District | 4 | Not above top of parapet (one-story) or above sill of second-story windows; not more than 15 ft above grade | 100% of frontage length in sq ft, or 50 sq ft maximum per frontage | — |
| Industrial District | 2 | 15 feet | 100 square feet per street frontage with access | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 15 feet (may be less in certain zones) | 50% of window area (per window) | — |

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

### Residential Districts, R-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 square feet (aggregate, for temporary signs posted on a building in R-1) | — | — | — | On private property, not obstructing sidewalks/drives/traffic signs | — | §394-14.B(1)-(6), (D)-(F); §394-14.C |
| Real Estate Sign | 6 feet above ground | 6 square feet (temporary, for each residential parcel) | — | — | One per residential parcel | On the premises advertised | — | §394-14.E |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation/Real Estate/For Sale/Rent/Lodging) | — | 216 square inches (18 inches x 12 inches) | 18 inches long, 12 inches wide | May not project more than 24 in beyond building or porch facing street; may not project beyond property line | — | On building or porch facing street (not extending >24 in beyond building/porch) | — | §475-37.A–D |

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not above top of parapet (one-story) or above sill of second-story windows; not more than 15 ft above grade | 100% of frontage length in sq ft, or 50 sq ft maximum per frontage | — | — | No explicit limit; area per frontage applies | Attached parallel to exterior wall, on each frontage (corner/rear/public way allowed) | — | §394-12; §394-2B(3) |
| Overhanging Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | One per establishment | Frontage on public streets or mall areas | — | §394-13; §394-15 |
| Ground/Freestanding Sign | 15 feet (measured from ground) | 24 square feet | — | At least 15 feet from property line or ½ distance from curbline to front of building | One per street frontage | Minimum 15 feet from property line or ½ the distance from curbline to front of building, within property lines | — | §394-9.A |
| Directory Sign (Freestanding for Downtown Business) | 10 feet from ground to top | 24 square feet per face | — | — | One per street corner | Downtown business district, at strategic locations | — | §394-9.C |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Properties in all zones, but not in public right-of-way without permit | — | §394-14.B–F |
| Medical Clinic/Professional Office Building Directory (Freestanding) | 15 feet (may be less in certain zones) | 24 square feet | — | Same as ground sign (min 15 ft from property line or ½ distance curbline to building) | — | Where these uses are permitted (any district) | — | §394-9.B |
| Marquee Sign (Built Into Marquee) | 3 feet | 21 square feet (per side of marquee) | — | — | — | On marquee, only as built-in structural part | — | §394-11 |
| Interior Sign | — | 50% of window area (per window) | — | — | — | Inside or on windows | — | §394-10 |

## Prohibited signs in Middletown

- Projecting signs (except as outlined in the ordinance) and roof signs are prohibited.
- Flashing and revolving signs are prohibited. Signs shall not contain intermittent or moving illumination, except for clocks and customary time and temperature devices.
- No sign or part thereof shall consist of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices, except for holiday seasons or grand openings as approved by the Commissioner of Public Works or his designee.
- A sign shall not be suspended from or attached to an awning.
- Signs shall not block fire-fighting operations.
- No signs shall be illuminated by gas.
- Temporary signs shall not be illuminated or painted with light-reflecting paint.
- No temporary sign shall obstruct or impair access to a public sidewalk, street, driveway, traffic control sign, bus stop, fire hydrant, or any other type of street sign or otherwise create a hazard.

## Signs exempt from permit in Middletown

- Temporary signs may be posted on properties in all zones, without obtaining a permit, except for those signs in public rights-of-way or requiring special authorization.
- Signs not to exceed four square feet in area are excluded from the definition of 'sign,' unless they are overhanging (per §394-3, Definitions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All plans for signs must be submitted to the Commissioner of Public Works (CPW).
- Each sign application must be accompanied by a permit fee of $50.
- Any person feeling aggrieved by a permit decision may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a variance.
- Applications must include detailed drawings or blueprints, including construction details, location plan relative to structures and streets, and the position of lighting and extraneous devices.
- Temporary signs in the public right-of-way require a separate permit from the Department of Public Works.
- Any person seeking adjustments to the application of the temporary sign section must file an application with the Zoning Board of Appeals as if seeking a variance.

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

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