# Sign Regulations in Monroe, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Monroe, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/monroe
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7235649#7235649)

## At a glance

Monroe, New York regulates 14 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Signage District 1 (SD-1) zoning district are capped at 8 feet maximum vertical dimension; 12 feet max above highway level tall and 30 sq ft (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces), with a No closer than 10 feet to property line or designated street line or existing street line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft in excess of 36 sq ft. setback (Sec. § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(2)). Most commercial signs in Monroe require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | No wall sign shall be higher than the building to which it is attached. | Varies: Construction sign—4 sq ft; temporary political/civic—15 sq ft; business activity—15 sq ft (total, up to twice per year); special event—up to 30 sq ft (in business districts); Garage/Yard Sale—4 sq ft (residential, per § 200-39I) | — |
| Signage District 1 (SD-1) | 7 | 8 feet maximum vertical dimension; 12 feet max above highway level | 30 sq ft (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — |
| Signage District 2 (SD-2) | 7 | 8 feet maximum vertical dimension; 12 feet max above highway level | 30 sq ft (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — |
| Signage District 3 (SD-3) | 7 | Not to exceed 25% of the total height of the building | 36 sq ft plus 1 sq ft per 10 parking spaces (up to 1,000), max 50 sq ft (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — |
| Nonresidence zoning districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| CB Zone (Central Business Zone) | 3 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Residence zoning districts | 3 | 2 feet in any dimension | 8 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Signage District 1 (SD-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (parallel to building) | 2 feet vertical dimension | See formula | — | — | One per building-facing wall, plus one perpendicular (see: Wall Sign - perpendicular). | Affixed parallel to building wall facing principal street. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(1)(a)-(d) |
| Wall Sign (perpendicular to building) | 3 feet vertical dimension | 9 sq ft per sign (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — | — | One per building-facing wall, plus one parallel sign. | Affixed perpendicular to outer wall facing principal street. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(1)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet maximum vertical dimension; 12 feet max above highway level | 30 sq ft (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — | No closer than 10 feet to property line or designated street line or existing street line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft in excess of 36 sq ft. | One per lot | On business lot, no sign to face residential if within 50 ft. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(2) |
| Directory Sign | — | 3 ft x 6 ft per sign | 6 ft | — | — | Directory in vestibule/doorway of building or as freestanding sign. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(6), (7) |
| Chalkboard Sign (Wall-mounted or A-frame) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Wall-mounted or A-frame-style | — | § 200-42D(8) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | As necessary | Access roads, parking areas. | — | § 200-42D(4) |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per relevant wall/entrance | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing street or parking lot not already signed. | — | § 200-42D(3) |

### Signage District 2 (SD-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (parallel to building) | 2 feet vertical dimension | See formula | — | — | One per building-facing wall, plus one perpendicular. | Affixed parallel to building wall facing principal street. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(1)(a)-(d) |
| Wall Sign (perpendicular to building) | 3 feet vertical dimension | 9 sq ft per sign (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — | — | One per building-facing wall, plus one parallel sign. | Affixed perpendicular to outer wall facing principal street. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(1)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet maximum vertical dimension; 12 feet max above highway level | 30 sq ft (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — | No closer than 10 feet to property line or designated street line or existing street line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft in excess of 36 sq ft. | One per lot | On business lot, no sign to face residential if within 50 ft. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(2) |
| Directory Sign | — | 3 ft x 6 ft per sign | 6 ft | — | — | Directory in vestibule/doorway of building or as freestanding sign. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(6), (7) |
| Chalkboard Sign (Wall-mounted or A-frame) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Wall-mounted or A-frame-style | — | § 200-42D(8) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | As necessary | Access roads, parking areas. | — | § 200-42D(4) |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per relevant wall/entrance | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing street or parking lot not already signed. | — | § 200-42D(3) |

### Signage District 3 (SD-3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (parallel to building) | Not to exceed 25% of the total height of the building | See formula | — | — | One per building-facing wall, plus one perpendicular. | Affixed parallel to building wall facing principal street. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(1)(a)-(d) |
| Wall Sign (perpendicular to building) | 3 feet vertical dimension | 9 sq ft per sign (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — | — | One per building-facing wall, plus one parallel sign. | Affixed perpendicular to outer wall facing principal street. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(1)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Sign | No vertical limit stated (but 15 ft max above highway level) | 36 sq ft plus 1 sq ft per 10 parking spaces (up to 1,000), max 50 sq ft (each face if two-dimensional, parallel faces) | — | No closer than 10 feet to property line or designated street line or existing street line, plus 1 ft for each 2 sq ft in excess of 36 sq ft. | One per lot | On business lot, no sign to face residential if within 50 ft. | — | § 200-42C table, § 200-42D(2) |
| Directory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Directory in vestibule/doorway of building or as freestanding sign. | — | § 200-42D(6), (7) |
| Chalkboard Sign (Wall-mounted or A-frame) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Wall-mounted or A-frame-style | — | § 200-42D(8) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | As necessary | Access roads, parking areas. | — | § 200-42D(4) |
| Address Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One per relevant wall/entrance | Affixed and parallel to outer wall facing street or parking lot not already signed. | — | § 200-42D(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Monroe

- No animated and moving signs are permitted.
- No flashing signs are permitted.
- No glaring signs are permitted.
- No obstructive signs are permitted.
- No inflatable signs and other objects are permitted.
- No posters and handbills are permitted.
- No roof signs are permitted.
- No simulated traffic signs and obstructions are permitted.
- No strings of light are permitted.
- No vehicle signs (except for business logos on actively used registered vehicles for business purposes) are permitted.
- No multiple signs, logos, or insignia on canopies attached to a building or other structure are permitted.
- No signs adversely affecting safety (preventing free ingress/egress from doors, windows, fire escapes, or access from one part of the roof to another, or attached to standpipes or fire escapes; open flames to attract attention are not permitted).
- No signs that emit smoke, visible vapors, particles, sound or odor are permitted.
- No mirrors used as signs are permitted.
- No billboards are permitted.
- No abandoned signs are permitted.
- No sign shall be erected, replaced, constructed, displayed, moved, reconstructed, extended, enlarged or altered except in conformity with and as expressly authorized by the provisions of this chapter.
- No sign shall be located so as to obscure any signs displayed by a public authority, obstruct proper sight distance, be erected upon a right-of-way, interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow, interfere with any door, window, ventilation system, fire escape or emergency exit, or be placed on a public sidewalk or at curb side.
- No sign shall project or hang over a pedestrian or vehicular right-of-way, except as allowed for certain projecting signs, and with required minimum clearances.
- No permanent sign or sign component shall be animated, moving, rotating or revolving; no banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, balloons, streamers, spinners, or other similar moving/flashing devices are allowed as permanent signs.
- All signs must pertain to an ongoing use conducted on the same property on which the sign is located.
- Sign illumination must not be twinkling, flashing, intermittent (except time/temperature signs), or of changing intensity, and must not cause unreasonable glare beyond the property.
- All illuminated signs must bear the UL seal or be inspected/certified by a state-authorized electrical inspection company.
- No wall sign shall be higher than the building to which it is attached.
- Signs shall be securely anchored.
- No sign shall have more than two sides.
- All permanent signs must be maintained in a safe, neat, clean, and attractive condition, constructed of durable materials, and comply with professional quality standards.
- All signs must comply with maintenance and safety requirements; unsafe or poorly maintained signs are prohibited.
- On multistory buildings, projecting signs must be attached above first-story windows and below second-story windowsills; on one-story buildings, above first-story windows and below roofline.
- All wiring to a freestanding sign must be underground and/or concealed within the sign structure.
- No sign may extend into a vehicular traffic area, and projecting signs over pedestrian or vehicular areas must have prescribed vertical clearances.
- No sign shall project above the roof or eave line (as defined), except as allowed for parapets.
- No sign shall emit noise, odor, or particulate matter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Monroe

- Up to two signs indicating address, number and/or name of occupants of the premises that do not exceed two square feet in area per side and do not include any commercial advertising or other identification.
- Decals affixed to windows or door glass panels, such as those indicating membership in a business group or identifying credit cards accepted.
- Flags, emblems and insignia of government agencies, religious, charitable, public or nonprofit organizations, subject to area and height limitations (no single flag over 40 square feet, maximum three flags per parcel, total area limits and flagpole height limits apply).
- Handicapped parking space signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- On-premises private drive signs, limited to one per driveway entrance, maximum two square feet, language limited to 'private drive' and addresses.
- Signs erected by government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, public facility identifications, and any signs erected by the Village under the Board of Trustees.
- On-premises security and warning signs, such as 'no trespassing,' 'no hunting,' and 'no soliciting', limited to one sign two square feet in residential areas and one sign five square feet in commercial/industrial zones (except to the extent state law requires more).
- Temporary real estate signs (limited to one per property and six square feet in area in residential zones, 32 square feet in all other zones; must be removed within 30 days of settlement or lease of property).
- Temporary political signs (no larger than 15 square feet in residential zones; must be removed within two weeks of the election).
- Garage or yard sale signs (not exceeding four square feet; not erected more than four days prior to the event; must be removed one day after the sale).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All freestanding signs require site plan approval by the Planning Board prior to installation. Any freestanding sign over 10 feet in height requires certification by a professional engineer or architect to withstand 100 mph winds.
- Any modification or alteration (except repairs and identical replacement) to a freestanding sign, wall sign, or projecting sign requires approval by the Planning Board prior to permit issuance.
- The Building Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer refers all applications for new and modified signs (except certain temporary signs) to the Planning Board for review and approval prior to issuing a sign permit.
- Temporary signs as regulated in § 200-40.8 are not subject to Planning Board review, but may require a permit from the Building Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer.
- A landscaping plan (including a sketch) is required as part of the sign permit application for any freestanding sign.
- Projecting and hanging signs require proof of liability insurance naming the Village as additional insured and are subject to yearly inspections.
- Any discrepancies between approved sign plans and constructed signs must be corrected within 20 days after written notice or the sign may be ordered removed.
- All signs erected after the effective date must have date of approval, sign permit number, and (for electric signs) voltage conspicuously affixed.
- Application for a sign permit requires the submission of (1) location; (2) type and description; (3) drawings/specifications; (4) additional info if requested; (5) fee; (6) landscaping plan if freestanding.

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

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