# Sign Regulations in New Paltz Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Paltz Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/new-paltz-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9169782#9169782)

## At a glance

New Paltz Town, New York regulates 20 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the Highway Business Gateway Districts, Planned Resort Overlay Zoning Districts, B-2 Highway Business, Gateway Districts zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 30 sq ft, with a Minimum 10 feet from property line, and at least 3 ft from any sidewalk setback (Sec. § 140-109B(1), § 140-113). Most commercial signs in New Paltz Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 6 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (aggregate per face, double-faced allowed) | — |
| Highway Business Gateway Districts, Planned Resort Overlay Zoning Districts, B-2 Highway Business, Gateway Districts | 8 | 12 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial Zoning District (I-1), Any Industrial | 7 | 12 ft | 64 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — |

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

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Projecting, Freestanding, or Wall Sign (Private Residence) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per private residence | On property of private residence | — | § 140-108A, § 140-108H |
| Wall Nameplate or Professional Sign (Condo/Townhouse/Apartment Unit) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | 1 per unit | On exterior wall or door of unit | — | § 140-108B, § 140-108H |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (Apartment Building) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per apartment building | On property or wall of apartment building | — | § 140-108C, § 140-108H |
| Subdivision Identification Sign | — | 12 sq ft (aggregate per face, double-faced allowed) | — | — | 1 per entrance | At subdivision entrance(s) | — | § 140-108D, § 140-108H |
| Monument Sign (Church, School, Cultural Facility, Lawfully Existing Business) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | On property of church, school, cultural facility, or business | — | § 140-108F, § 140-108H |
| Monument or Post-and-Arm Sign (Preexisting Nonconforming Business) | 6 ft (post-and-arm or monument) | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per preexisting business establishment | On property of business | — | § 140-108G, § 140-108H |

### Highway Business Gateway Districts, Planned Resort Overlay Zoning Districts, B-2 Highway Business, Gateway Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 2 per establishment; see additional requirements | On building | — | § 140-109A, § 140-113 |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft | 30 sq ft | — | Minimum 10 feet from property line, and at least 3 ft from any sidewalk | Max 1 of this freestanding type per establishment | Freestanding, permitted only if establishment is set back from property line at least 25 ft | — | § 140-109B(1), § 140-113 |
| Ladder Sign | 12 ft | 18 sq ft | — | 10 feet from property line, 3 feet from sidewalk | Max 1 of this freestanding type per establishment | Freestanding, only if establishment is set back from property line at least 25 ft | — | § 140-109B(2), § 140-113 |
| Post-and-Arm Sign | 8 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 10 feet from property line, 3 feet from sidewalk | Max 1 of this freestanding type per establishment | Freestanding, only if establishment is set back from property line at least 25 ft | — | § 140-109B(3), § 140-113 |
| Pole Sign | 12 ft | 14 sq ft | — | 10 feet from property line, 3 feet from sidewalk | Max 1 of this freestanding type per establishment | Freestanding, only if establishment is set back from property line at least 25 ft | — | § 140-109B(4), § 140-113 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | Included in 2 sign maximum per establishment | On wall/building | — | § 140-109C, § 140-113 |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | Up to 20% of principal facade window area | — | — | — | On principal facade window | — | § 140-109D, § 140-113 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | Lettering may cover max 8 feet or 50% of valance width, whichever is less | — | — | On awning; projection at least 5 ft and not more than 7 ft | — | § 140-109E, § 140-113 |

### Light Industrial Zoning District (I-1), Any Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | 2 per establishment; see additional requirements | On building | — | § 140-110A, § 140-113 |
| Monument or Ladder Sign | 6 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | Max 1 of this freestanding type per establishment | Freestanding, permitted only if establishment is set back at least 45 ft from property line | — | § 140-110B(1), § 140-113 |
| Post-and-Arm Sign | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | Max 1 of this freestanding type per establishment | Freestanding, set back at least 45 ft from property line | — | § 140-110B(2), § 140-113 |
| Pole or Ladder Sign | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property line | Max 1 of this freestanding type per establishment | Freestanding, set back at least 45 ft from property line | — | § 140-110B(3), § 140-113 |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | Included in 2 sign max per establishment | On wall/building | — | § 140-110C, § 140-113 |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | Up to 20% of principal facade window area | — | — | — | On principal facade window | — | § 140-110D, § 140-113 |
| Awning Sign | — | — | Lettering may extend 8 ft or 50% of valance width, whichever is more | — | — | On awning; must project at least 5 ft and no more than 7 ft | — | § 140-110E, § 140-113 |

## Prohibited signs in New Paltz Town

- All signs not specifically permitted are prohibited unless allowed and approved by local law, variance, special use permit, or other modification to the Zoning Law of the Town of New Paltz, or by a superseding governmental agency.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Bench signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs or lights are prohibited.
- Posters fastened, painted or otherwise attached to utility poles, posts, trees, sidewalks, curbs, retaining walls, rocks, or other public property are prohibited.
- Signs which have any visible moving parts, including signs which achieve movement by action of wind currents, are prohibited.
- Signs which, by reason of size, location, content, coloring, or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of drivers or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads are prohibited.
- Signs which make use of words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters in such manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse vehicular or pedestrian traffic are prohibited (includes words like 'stop,' 'look,' 'one-way,' 'danger,' 'yield,' or similar).
- Signs on public property or a public right-of-way, other than signs erected by a governmental agency, are prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Town of New Paltz.
- Signs displayed on an automobile, truck, or other motorized vehicle when that vehicle is used primarily for the purpose of such advertising display are prohibited.
- Signs obstructing any fire escape, means of ingress/egress, other required exit way, or window are prohibited.
- Signs obstructing any opening required for ventilation, venting or other access which may constitute a hazard to public health and safety are prohibited.
- Exterior directory signs listing business occupants of any building are prohibited (except as part of a master sign plan).
- Inflatable signs are prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs are prohibited, except those with opaque background, semi-transparent letters, average level of illumination measured at three inches from the vertical surface not exceeding three footcandles, utilizing LED fixtures.
- A-frame, easel, or sandwich board signs are prohibited except as allowed for temporary signs within shopping centers.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except for signs of nonprofit associations or organizations that display information regarding community or performance events and highway directional signs as defined in the code.
- Reverse channel signs are prohibited except as permitted by the Planning Board as part of a master sign plan for shopping centers.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Paltz Town

- Nameplates (maximum four per building site, up to one square foot each; additional nameplates limited to aggregate four square feet).
- Street number signs (business, commercial and industrial number sign area not included in aggregate permitted sign area).
- Premises signs in residential zones only.
- Construction signs.
- Real estate signs.
- Traffic or municipal signs, legal notices, and temporary emergency nonadvertising signs as may be authorized by the Town Board.
- Temporary nonilluminated window advertising signs occupying no more than 20% of the total window area of the principal facade and displayed for no longer than two weeks.
- Political campaign signs (temporary by definition), may be displayed on private property in any district without a permit for up to four consecutive weeks.
- Political advocacy or other noncommercial signs expressing opinions (protected by First Amendment), allowed on private property in any district without a permit.
- Historical markers.
- Sale signs (e.g., garage sale, yard sale, barn sale, tag sale) on residential property where sale is conducted.
- Accessory signs.
- Posters.
- Winter holiday decorations, including lighting, displayed in any district without a permit from three days before Thanksgiving until the first week of the following year.
- Decorations, including lighting, for other holidays, displayed in any district without a permit for two weeks prior to and one week after the holiday.
- Not more than two exterior-mounted wall signs (total combined area not exceeding 3.5 square feet) for nonprofit civic, fraternal, benevolent, service, philanthropic or similar membership club/organization at their meeting place.
- Temporary freestanding signs within a shopping center (no sign to exceed 8 sq ft, cannot obstruct walkways/curb cuts/parking, and must be consistent with temporary sign standards on file with the Town Building Department).
- Permanent window signs not exceeding 20% of window area of principal facade.
- Rail Trail kiosks at intersections with any state, county, or Town roadway.
- Temporary seasonal farm stand: up to two off-premises signs (not greater than 24 square feet each) during harvest seasons for farms within or within 1/4 mile of the Town (with written landowner permission filed with the Town Building Department).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master sign plan is required for shopping centers, business centers, or office buildings where seven or more business establishments comprise the development (§140-112).
- The master sign plan must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board and the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer before any individual sign permits for the plan area are approved.
- The master sign plan is a sign system to create visual unity among the signs within the plan area, and includes specifications for sign type, style, height, colors, lettering style, materials, shape, lighting, and location.
- Changes in individual signs, in conformance with the approved master sign plan, may be approved by the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer through application.
- The Planning Board may approve additional business or directional signage as required in the master sign plan to facilitate safe and efficient identification and access.
- Reverse channel signs may only be permitted as part of a master sign plan for shopping centers (Planning Board approval required).
- Exterior directory signs listing business occupants of a building are prohibited, except as may be permitted in a master sign plan.
- A historic use master highway directional sign plan may be approved by the Planning Board for, and applications for such a plan must include detailed information as specified in §140-113.1.
- Master sign plan approval required before the Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer may approve sign permits for affected centers or buildings.

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

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