# Sign Regulations in Newark, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newark, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/newark
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/5085411#5085411)

## At a glance

Newark, New York regulates 27 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (General)s in the Business districts, Industrial districts zoning district are capped at 25 ft from finish grade (see §130-9C) tall and 32 sq ft per face (double-faced) (Sec. §130-8(B)(10)(a), §130-9(C)). Most commercial signs in Newark require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 3 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Business districts, Industrial districts | 14 | 25 ft from finish grade (see §130-9C) | 260 sq ft | — |
| Planned unit development districts | 3 | — | 200 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional and Home-Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to the wall of the building | — | §130-8(A)(1) |
| Attached Identification Sign (Nonresidential Use) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached | — | §130-8(A)(2) |
| Public-Utility Installation Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §130-8(A)(3) |

### Business districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Directory Sign (Entry Directory) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | Attached, entry | — | §130-8(B)(2) |
| Portable Sign (General) | 5 ft above grade | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Within 25 ft from business entrance; not to conflict with traffic | — | §130-8(B)(6)(a)-(d) |
| Portable Sign (Small, No Permit Required) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | See additional requirements | Within 25 ft from business entrance; not to conflict with traffic | — | §130-8(B)(6)(e)-(f) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | One in lieu of primary wall sign | Projecting from building; bottom of sign at least 10 ft above grade | — | §130-8(B)(9)(a)-(d) |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 25 ft from finish grade (see §130-9C) | 32 sq ft per face (double-faced) | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | §130-8(B)(10)(a), §130-9(C) |
| Freestanding Sign (Mall/Plaza, <10 acres) | 25 ft from finish grade (see §130-9C) | 260 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | §130-8(B)(10)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Mall/Plaza, ≥10 acres) | 25 ft from finish grade (see §130-9C) | 260 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | — | — | §130-8(B)(10)(b) |
| Awning Sign | — | Included in attached sign maximum area calculation | — | — | 1 (in lieu of a wall sign) | On the valance of the awning (preferred) | — | §130-8(B)(11) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonbusiness Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parcel | — | — | §130-9(M) |
| Sale/Lease/Open for Inspection Sign (Residential Parcel) | — | 8 sq ft | — | 6 ft from ROW | 1 (+2 open signs while open) | — | — | §130-3(B)(3) |
| Sale/Lease/Open for Inspection Sign (Commercial Parcel) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 6 ft from ROW | 1 (+2 open signs while open) | — | — | §130-3(B)(3) |
| Not-for-profit/Charitable/Political Event Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | — | — | — | §130-3(B)(4) |
| Notice/Window/Wall Sign (Small) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Window or Wall | — | §130-3(B)(5) |
| Historical Marker/Tablet/Statue/Memorial Plaque | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §130-3(B)(7) |
| Warning/Private Drive/Posted/No Trespassing Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | — | Per perimeter, 100 ft apart | Perimeter of property lines, intervals not less than 100 ft apart | — | §130-3(B)(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Newark

- No sign or attention-getting device shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, rotating, scrolling, strobing, or moving lights.
- No sign or attention-getting device shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, in its design, color or placement.
- No sign or attention-getting device shall be placed upon the roof of any building.
- No sign or attention-getting device shall consist of ribbons, streamers, spinners, or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices.
- No permanent, temporary or exempt sign or attention-getting device shall be placed upon, painted or drawn upon, fastened, or attached to any utility pole, tree, fence, or man-made or natural feature in all districts of the Village of Newark.
- No signs may be placed in Village of Newark medians except by special written permit from the Mayor.
- Business use signs must advertise a bona fide business conducted on the premises where the sign is located. Vehicles with signs may not be parked in another business's location unless the owner is concurrently conducting business on the premises.
- Signs or attention-getting devices that produce vapors, smoke, particles, or noise may be removed by the Code Enforcement Officer without notice.
- Illegible signs and signs or attention-getting devices in disrepair may be removed by the Code Enforcement Officer without notice.
- Electronic changeable-copy signs are prohibited except as noted in §130-8(B)(7).
- All signs and supporting structures must be in harmony with the style and scale of the architectural features of the buildings on which they are placed or to which they relate.
- All signs must be appropriate to the type of activities they represent.
- Layout of all signs and their messages must be orderly and of simple shapes.
- The number of different colors or shades of colors used on one sign or group of signs shall be of a consistent theme.
- All signs that are lit must be so designed as to reflect light and glare away from surrounding properties and the right-of-way and not be greater than necessary to make the sign legible at night from the right-of-way.
- Lighting among signs shall be consistent with surrounding signs.
- All signs shall comply with the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
- No sign shall interfere with utility line clearance.
- No sign shall interfere with the use of any fire exit, door, or window or other access to a building. No sign shall obstruct the vision of any access or be designed in such a way as to confuse access to a fire escape route.
- No sign shall interfere with sight distances or otherwise interfere with the ability of motor vehicle traffic to make safe movements.
- No sign shall project into a public right-of-way.
- No attached sign shall extend above the facade of the building.
- No freestanding sign shall exceed 25 feet in height from finish grade.
- Signs shall be located in such a manner so as not to restrict vision or impair safety.
- A building permit shall be required prior to the installation of any signs except those exempt from such requirement.
- All lighted signs shall be Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) approved and installation shall be certified by the York Board of Fire Underwriters.
- Extension cords are not an approved method for electrical service to any sign.
- All signs and supports shall be properly maintained at all times.
- Any sign existing that no longer advertises an existing business conducted or product sold on the premises shall be removed after written notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Newark

- Nonbusiness signs, as defined and regulated in this chapter, do not require a permit.
- Municipal signs do not require a permit.
- Sale, lease, or open for inspection signs relating to the real property transfer with specific size and location limits do not require a permit.
- Not-for-profit, charitable, and political organizations may advertise an event with a sign (limited to 4 feet in height, 6 square feet per face, used for the event and 14 preceding days) without a permit. Temporary event signs must be removed not more than two days after.
- Window or wall signs no greater than two square feet in area providing notice of hours of operation, payment options, invitee restrictions, or legal warnings or notices do not require a permit (with window coverage restrictions).
- Signs required by law or necessary to the public welfare do not require a permit.
- Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs or plaques, when cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze, stainless steel or similar material and not exceeding six square feet, do not require a permit.
- Nonilluminated 'warning,' 'private drive,' 'posted,' or 'no trespassing' signs, not exceeding two square feet per face (with placement restrictions), do not require a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signage for new site plans and building plans will be approved and granted via the Planning Board approval process or via a building permit.
- Applications for signs proposed for any land use activity that require site plan approval from the Planning Board shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board prior to issuance of a sign permit from the Code Enforcement Officer.
- All sign permit applications for murals must include a sketch or digitized picture drawn to scale showing the proposed location, size, height, artwork, color(s), and building facade, along with a written plan for ongoing maintenance, funding, and probable maintenance costs.
- The maximum allowed size of a mural shall be determined by the Planning Board on a case-by-case basis.

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

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