# Sign Regulations in Newburgh, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Newburgh, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/newburgh
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10874171#10874171)

## At a glance

Newburgh, New York regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Band Signs in the Form-Based Districts zoning district are capped at 1 ft min, 3 ft max tall, 16 sq ft, and 90% of facade wide, with a Max projection 1 ft setback (Sec. §300-153G(1), Table in §300-153). Most commercial signs in Newburgh require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2 | 10 | No more than 20 feet above roof level | 500 sq ft per sign | — |
| Residential District | 5 | — | 100 sq ft; no dimension over 4 ft | — |
| Historic District, Architectural Design District | 2 | 4 ft | 25% of window/door area | — |
| Form-Based Districts | 6 | 12 ft | 90% of canopy | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### C-1, C-2, I-1, I-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | No greater than permitted height of structures for the zone | — | — | At least 2 feet from any other sign, building, or structure | — | Supported by uprights/braces on ground; not attached to buildings; not permitted in residential districts | — | §250-25, §250-32 |
| Wall Sign | — | 500 sq ft per sign | — | No wall sign shall extend more than 15 inches beyond the building line; must be at least 10 feet above sidewalk/ground. | — | Placed against building exterior, front/rear/side | — | §250-26 |
| Roof Sign | No more than 20 feet above roof level | 300 sq ft | — | Sign face at least 5 ft from outside wall it faces | — | Wholly on/over the roof of a building with principal support on the roof. Not permitted in residential districts. | — | §250-27, §250-32 |
| Projecting Sign - Horizontal | — | 50 sq ft per side | — | No closer than 2 ft to curb line; 10 ft above sidewalk, 15 ft above driveways/alleys | — | At least 10 ft above public sidewalk, not more than 2 ft from wall. Not over curb line by more than 2 ft. Over alleys/driveways: min 15 ft above surface. | — | §250-28 |
| Projecting Sign - Vertical | — | 100 sq ft per side | — | As above for horizontal type. | — | As above for horizontal type. | — | §250-28 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 100 sq ft (no dimension over 4 ft). Over 60 sq ft must be rigid/framed. | 4 feet (for any dimension) | — | — | No projection over 4 inches from wall; may cross public street by permission of City Manager if civic/charitable/religious. | — | §250-29 |
| Movable Sign | 4 ft | 4 ft high x 4 ft wide | 4 ft | — | — | May be placed in public right-of-way/sidewalk if not obstructing traffic; electrified signs prohibited in right-of-way/sidewalk. | — | §250-29.1 |
| Marquee Sign | Attached no less than 10 ft above sidewalk | No advertising material over 5 ft high, exclusive of business name | Width: Entrances plus 5 ft on each side (or continuous for entrances ≤ 20 ft apart) | Cannot extend beyond 1 ft inside curbline | — | Projecting from wall above entrance, over thoroughfare. Signs attached or hung must be within border of marquee and not lower than 10 ft above sidewalk. | — | §250-30 |

### Form-Based Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Band Sign | 1 ft min, 3 ft max | 16 sq ft | 90% of facade | Max projection 1 ft | 1 per facade | Placed directly on facade (not painted); parallel; no extension above roofline or parapet or above lower eave for pitched roofs; cannot cover windows/architectural details. | — | §300-153G(1), Table in §300-153 |
| Blade Sign | 4 ft | 8 sq ft | 4 ft | Min 8 ft clearance; max projection 4 ft or 1/3 width of sidewalk (lesser) | 1 per facade | Perpendicular to street-facing facade; at least 25 ft from other blade/projecting sign; mounted below 2nd floor; top no higher than 1st floor. | — | §300-153G(2), Table in §300-153 |
| Shingle Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | 2 ft | Min 8 ft clearance; max projection 2 ft | 1 per facade | Hangs from bracket, below window sills of 2nd floor, adjacent to/over building entrance. | — | §300-153G(3), Table in §300-153 |
| Awning Sign | — | 90% of canopy | Full span of facade | Min 10 ft ground clearance; max projection 4 ft; max 2 ft from curb | 1 per ground-floor door/window | On vertical face of awning over ground-floor doors/windows. Max 1 sign per vertical face. | — | §300-153G(4); Table in §300-153 |
| Yard Sign | 3 ft sign; structure may be up to 5 ft high (top to ground) | 9 sq ft | 3 ft | Min ground clearance 1 ft; max projection: not allowed into ROW. | 1 per lot | Freestanding in yard, attached to ground by 1+ supports, sign hangs from bracket/support. | — | §300-153G(6), Table in §300-153 |
| Marquee Sign | 12 ft | 36 sq ft | 3 ft | Max projection 3 ft into ROW. | 1 per facade | Projecting sign attached to marquee, top not exceeding building, min ground clearance 12 ft. | — | §300-153G(5), Table in §300-153 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Wall Sign (Exempt) | — | 8 sq ft (wall); 25 sq ft (ground sign) | — | — | — | On property advertised | — | §250-16(A) |
| Professional Nameplate (Exempt) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §250-16(B) |
| Bulletin Board (Exempt) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | On property of institution | — | §250-16(D) |
| Architect/Contractor Sign (Exempt) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On-site during construction | — | §250-16(E) |
| Occupational Sign (Exempt) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §250-16(F) |
| Memorial Sign/Tablet/Building Name (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | Cut into masonry or constructed of bronze/incombustible material | — | §250-16(G) |
| Traffic/Municipal/Legal/Emergency (Exempt) | — | — | — | — | — | As approved by City Council | — | §250-16(H) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §250-17 |

## Prohibited signs in Newburgh

- It is unlawful to erect, repair, alter, relocate or maintain any sign or other advertising structure without obtaining an erection permit from the Code Compliance Supervisor (§ 250-4).
- No sign or structure shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape (§ 250-18).
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape (§ 250-18).
- No ground sign, pole sign or temporary sign shall be erected or placed on the public street, sidewalk or within any public right-of-way, except as specifically permitted (§ 250-19).
- No sign shall be erected at street intersections so as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of words or symbols that could mislead or confuse traffic (§ 250-20).
- All signs within five feet of street lines must have a smooth surface with no protruding nails, tacks or wires, except approved electrical devices (§ 250-21).
- It is unlawful to maintain any sign or advertising structure extending over public property which is wholly or partially illuminated by floodlights or spotlights, or which has lights that do not remain constant in intensity and color or cast illumination onto any public area (§ 250-23).
- It is unlawful to display obscene, indecent or immoral matter upon any sign (§ 250-24).
- No sign may be attached to, or placed upon any telegraph pole, telephone pole, poles used for the support of electric wires, or gas lamps in the streets and parks (§ 234-2).
- No signs, posters, slogans, advertising declarations, names, symbols or words of any kind may be maintained upon any fence without first obtaining a sign permit (§ 166-7).
- Signs using blinking or flashing lights, neon signs, and electronic reader board signs are prohibited (§ 300-153E(5), § 300-153E(6)).
- Signs that use internally illuminated cabinets with translucent panels ("box signs") are not permitted (§ 300-153E(4)).
- No V-shaped signs, consisting of two single-faced signs erected without a roof or ceiling, shall be permitted (§ 250-28E).

## Signs exempt from permit in Newburgh

- Real estate wall signs not exceeding eight square feet and ground signs not exceeding 25 square feet advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises on which they are located (§ 250-16A).
- Professional nameplates not exceeding one square foot in area (§ 250-16B).
- Signs painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure in designated districts, provided the signs do not have raised borders, letters, decorations, or lighting appliances (§ 250-16C).
- Bulletin boards up to eight square feet for public, charitable, or religious institutions located on their premises (§ 250-16D).
- Architect, engineer, or contractor signs up to 16 square feet on worksites (§ 250-16E).
- Occupational signs stating only the name and profession of a building occupant, up to two square feet (§ 250-16F).
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials (§ 250-16G).
- Official traffic, municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger and temporary, emergency, or nonadvertising signs as approved by the City Council (§ 250-16H).
- Nonobscene political signs, except for specified safety rules and Electrical Code compliance (§ 250-17A).
- Historical markers and tablets, memorial signs and plaques, dates of building erection, and emblems installed by government agencies, up to 12 square feet, are exempt from requirements in § 300-153 (§ 300-153B(1)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign installation must include blueprints or drawings showing plans, specifications, methods of construction and attachment, stress calculations, and other required information to demonstrate compliance (§ 250-5D, § 250-5E, § 250-5J).
- A permit is required before any sign may be erected, altered, relocated, or maintained (§ 250-4).
- For ground signs and roof signs, special permission/approval of the Planning Board is required for any roof sign or any ground sign over six feet tall (except for certain pole/pylon signs under specific area and height limitations) (§ 250-25A, § 250-27A, § 250-32A-C).
- Movable signs in Historic or Architectural Design Districts require a certificate of approval from the Architectural Review Commission before a permit may be issued (§ 250-29.1D).
- Permits for canopies are required as provided in § 250-4 (§ 250-31F).
- For illuminated signs, Electrical Inspector approval is required prior to final permit approval (§ 250-6).
- No erection or placement of political signs that use electricity is allowed without submittal of an application and plans to Electrical Inspector for electrical compliance (§ 250-17A(5)).

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

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