# Sign Regulations in Montour Falls, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Montour Falls, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/montour-falls
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/38822842#38822842)

## At a glance

Montour Falls, New York regulates 20 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Pole Sign)s in the RLB District, RD District, HC District, B-1 District, GD District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 32 sq ft (both sides combined), with a Minimum 25 ft from highway right-of-way, side yard setbacks per district for principal structures. setback (Sec. §160-28I(1)). Most commercial signs in Montour Falls require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 8 ft | 200 sq ft aggregate for businesses on Routes 14 or 224, 100 sq ft in other cases | — |
| RLB District, RD District, HC District, B-1 District, GD District | 4 | 20 ft | 64 sq ft (both sides combined) | — |
| R-1 District, R-2 District, RMH District | 2 | — | 32 sq ft (double sided); 20 sq ft (single sided) | — |
| CB District | 6 | 15 ft per sign | 36 sq ft | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent Sign (16 sq ft or more) | — | No universal max; see zone/district rules | — | — | — | — | — | §160-28A, B, C, Q |
| Temporary Sign (Portable Signs except Sandwich Board) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §160-28M |
| Public Signs | — | — | — | — | — | No restriction; exception to content/wording rules. | — | §160-28F(5) |
| Traffic Directional/Informational Signs (Entrance/Exit/Parking) | — | No greater than necessary for normal vision | — | — | — | Business site | — | §160-28N |
| Special Event/Political/Event Banner | — | 64 sq ft total surface area max | — | — | — | — | — | §160-28O |
| Neon Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §160-28Q |
| Commercial Directory Sign | 8 ft | 20 sq ft per side (complex ID), 10 sq ft per side (each business) | — | — | — | Any nonresidential lot | — | §160-28P |
| Master Signage Plan | — | 200 sq ft aggregate for businesses on Routes 14 or 224, 100 sq ft in other cases | — | — | — | — | — | §160-28G, H |

### RLB District, RD District, HC District, B-1 District, GD District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Pole Sign) | 20 ft | 32 sq ft (both sides combined) | — | Minimum 25 ft from highway right-of-way, side yard setbacks per district for principal structures. | Max 1 per lot or one per 200 ft frontage, up to total of 3. | Minimum 25 feet setback from edge of highway right-of-way. | — | §160-28I(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Ground Sign) | 6 ft | 64 sq ft (both sides combined) | — | See pole sign for 25 ft from highway right-of-way and side yard setbacks. | Max 1 per lot or one per 200 ft frontage, up to total of 3. | — | — | §160-28I(2) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | No part may exceed 1/2 its distance from highway R-O-W in height. No part above roof line or outside wall ends. | No explicit limit; governed by allowed area | Attached to business building and not projecting more than 18 inches. | — | §160-28J |
| Name Plate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §160-28I(3) |

### CB District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board / A-frame Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Within 10 feet of the principal building entrance. | — | §160-28L(1) |
| Awning/Canopy/Marquee Sign | — | 16 sq ft per sign | — | — | — | Awning, canopy or marquee | — | §160-28L(2) |
| Changeable Letter or Fuel Price Sign | — | 36 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §160-28L(3) |
| Flag (Nongovernmental) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §160-28L(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (CB) | 15 ft per sign | 32 sq ft (per sign), 100 sq ft aggregate max, or 1 sq ft per linear foot of lot frontage, whichever is less | — | — | Number as permitted by aggregate area (100 sq ft/1 sq ft per frontage foot), but no individual sign >32 sq ft. | — | — | §160-28L(5),(6) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 (substitute for freestanding sign; see note) | — | — | §160-28L(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Montour Falls

- All signs shall be immediately removed when the reasons for their erection no longer apply.
- Signs shall not be permitted on the roof or above the roof line of the building to which they are attached.
- No part of any sign shall project above the top or beyond the ends of the wall surface upon which it is located or extend more than 18 inches perpendicular from such surface.
- Signs other than official traffic signs shall comply with side yard setbacks as established for principal structures in the district where the sign is located.
- No sign, except a public sign, visible from a public street, shall use the words 'stop,' 'danger,' or any other word, phrase, symbol or character that could be interpreted by a motorist as being a public safety warning or traffic sign.
- No light shall be permitted that by reason of intensity, color, location, movement or directions of its beam may interfere with public safety.
- No sign or other advertising material or merchandise displayed for such purpose shall be attached to any tree, utility pole, public structure or other object not intended for such use.
- No sign shall exceed in height 1/2 its distance from the highway right-of-way, notwithstanding any other height limitation which may also be applicable.
- Portable signs, except for sandwich board signs as permitted, shall not be permitted except as temporary signs for use a maximum of 30 days per calendar year.
- No owner of any sign or lessee or owner of any land upon which the sign is located shall permit such sign to become unsightly or in disrepair so as to endanger the public or to become a public nuisance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montour Falls

- Signs to provide for the normal and safe flow of traffic into and out of the place of business such as entrance, exit and parking signs are permitted in excess of the limitations provided herein, provided such signs are of a size no greater than necessary for persons of normal vision to observe.
- Special advertising signs or banners not exceeding 64 square feet in total surface area, including those announcing commercial sales days, cultural or entertainment attractions, charitable activities, or political signs, are permitted for the length of the activity, but in no case exceeding 30 days after the event.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permanently placed signs of 16 square feet or more in surface area on one side require sign permits issued by the Code Enforcement Officer.
- All freestanding signs and wall signs of 24 square feet or more in total surface area on one side require submission to the Planning Board for review and approval prior to permit issuance.
- Business and property owners are encouraged to submit master signage plans specifying all sign details for the property; such plans must be prepared by a qualified professional.
- Master signage plans shall be submitted for approval to the Planning Board, which may waive standards relating to numbers or sizes of signs if the plan meets Design Guidelines and aggregate sign area limits.
- When a master signage plan is approved, no further permits are required for any sign in compliance with the plan.

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

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