# Sign Regulations in Nyack, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nyack, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/nyack
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14874792#14874792)

## At a glance

Nyack, New York regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Poles in the DMU-1 District, DMU-2 District, RMU District, OMU District, WF District zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 20 sq ft per face, with a ≥6 ft to building setback (Sec. §360-4.11E(2)(a)). Most commercial signs in Nyack require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | Minimum essential for legibility and provision of information; size and content to be minimum essential | — |
| SFR District, TFR District, MFR District | 3 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| DMU-1 District, DMU-2 District, RMU District, OMU District, WF District | 12 | 15 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — |
| CC District | 11 | 25 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — |
| M District, H District | 10 | 6 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — |

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

### DMU-1 District, DMU-2 District, RMU District, OMU District, WF District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Flat | — | — | — | — | 1 per establishment | Parallel to face of building; located on fascia bands above store window, vertical fascia of awning, or on window. | — | §360-4.11E(1), (E)(1)(a), (E)(1)(c) |
| Wall Sign - Projecting | — | 15 sq ft per face (2 faces max) | — | — | 1 per establishment | Perpendicular to building/street; can protrude up to 42 inches from building; not closer than 2 ft to curbline; bracket max 4 ft per side. | — | §360-4.11E(1)(b), (1)(c), (2)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole | 15 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — | ≥6 ft to building | 1 per qualifying building | Allowed where building is set back 25 ft or more from front lot line. | — | §360-4.11E(2)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 4 ft | 20 sq ft per face | — | ≥6 ft to building | 1 per qualifying building | Allowed where building is set back 25 ft or more from front lot line. | — | §360-4.11E(2)(a) |
| Flag Sign | Pole: 6 ft max; sign no higher than 12 ft; at least 6 ft above ground if pole at ≥45°, 10 ft if less than 45° | 15 sq ft, 2 faces max | — | — | Max one per public entrance, one per business | One sign per public entrance; max one per business; only when open. | — | §360-4.11E(6) |
| Awning Sign | — | Part of the total sign area calculation except for valance-only signs | Valance-only signs: 6 inch letter height max | — | — | On awning | — | §360-4.11E(7) |
| Permanent Interior Sign (Upper Floor Window) | 3 inches (telephone/web address letter height) | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Painted or placed/hung within 24 inches of inside window glass. | — | §360-4.11E(9) |
| Temporary Sign (Interior/Window) | — | 4 sq ft (for open/closed/sale/menus/etc not needing a permit). Otherwise max 15% of ground floor window area or 36 sq ft combined with permanent signs; 20% of upper floor window area. | — | — | See formula | Within 24 inches of ground floor window/door glass. | — | §360-4.11E(10) |

### CC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Flat | — | Lesser of 10% of facade area or 80 sq ft | — | — | See total area limit | Parallel to face of building | — | §360-4.11E(1), (1)(d) |
| Wall Sign - Projecting | — | 15 sq ft per face (2 faces max) | — | — | 1 per establishment | Perpendicular to building/street. May protrude up to 42 in from the building, but not closer than 2 ft to the curb. Bracket max 4 ft on a side. | — | §360-4.11E(1)(b), (1)(d), (2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign - Pole | 25 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — | Pole: ≥15 ft from property line, ≥50 ft from residential use or zone boundary. Monument: ≥5 ft from property line. | 1 per property | 1 per property | — | §360-4.11E(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 6 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — | Monument: ≥5 ft from property line | 1 per property | 1 per property | — | §360-4.11E(2)(b) |
| Flag Sign | Pole: 6 ft max; sign no higher than 12 ft; at least 6 ft above ground (if pole ≥45º); 10 ft (if pole <45º) | 15 sq ft, 2 faces max | — | — | Max 1 per public entrance, 1 per business | One sign per public entrance; max one per business; only when open. | — | §360-4.11E(6) |
| Awning Sign | — | Counted in total sign area except awning valance-only signs | Valance-only signs: 6 inch letter height max | — | — | On awning | — | §360-4.11E(7) |
| Permanent Interior Sign (Upper Floor Window) | 3 inches (telephone/web address letter height) | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Painted or placed/hung within 24 inches of inside window glass. | — | §360-4.11E(9) |
| Temporary Sign (Interior/Window) | — | 4 sq ft (for allowed open/closed/sale/menus/etc NOT needing a permit). Otherwise max 15% of ground floor window area or 36 sq ft (combined with permanent signs); 20% of upper floor window area. | — | — | See formula | Within 24 inches of ground floor window/door glass. | — | §360-4.11E(10) |

### M District, H District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Flat | — | Lesser of 10% of facade area or 80 sq ft | — | — | See total area limit | Parallel to face of building | — | §360-4.11E(1), (1)(d) |
| Wall Sign - Projecting | — | 15 sq ft per face (2 faces max) | — | — | 1 per establishment | Perpendicular to building/street. May protrude up to 42 in from the building, but not closer than 2 ft to the curb. Bracket max 4 ft on a side. | — | §360-4.11E(1)(b), (1)(d), (2)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign - Monument | 6 ft | 60 sq ft per face | — | ≥5 ft from property line | 1 per property | 1 per property | — | §360-4.11E(2)(c) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | ARB discretion | — | — | §360-4.11E(3) |
| Flag Sign | Pole: 6 ft max; sign no higher than 12 ft; at least 6 ft above ground (if pole ≥45º); 10 ft (if pole <45º) | 15 sq ft, 2 faces max | — | — | Max 1 per public entrance, 1 per business | One sign per public entrance; max one per business; only when open. | — | §360-4.11E(6) |
| Awning Sign | — | Counted in total sign area except awning valance-only signs | Valance-only signs: 6 inch letter height max | — | — | On awning | — | §360-4.11E(7) |
| Permanent Interior Sign (Upper Floor Window) | 3 inches (telephone/web address letter height) | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Painted or placed/hung within 24 inches of inside window glass. | — | §360-4.11E(9) |
| Temporary Sign (Interior/Window) | — | 4 sq ft (for allowed open/closed/sale/menus/etc NOT needing a permit). Otherwise max 15% of ground floor window area or 36 sq ft (combined with permanent signs); 20% of upper floor window area. | — | — | See formula | Within 24 inches of ground floor window/door glass. | — | §360-4.11E(10) |

## Prohibited signs in Nyack

- No sign, advertising display or structure, poster or device shall be erected, moved to another portion of the building, enlarged, reconstructed, relettered or redesigned without having obtained a permit from the Architectural Review Board.
- No sign other than signs placed by government agencies shall be erected on public property or public right-of-way unless consent is first obtained from the Village Board of Trustees.
- No sign shall be placed on any private property without the consent of the owner.
- No sign shall be placed or painted on any tree or rock.
- No sign shall be placed on any utility pole except for utility identification or similar purposes.
- Signs shall not obliterate, conceal, or destroy architectural and decorative trim.
- All signs must be of good quality materials.
- The size and content of the sign shall be the minimum essential for legibility and necessary provision of information.
- Signs must be integrated with the design elements of the building(s) they are on.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Flashing or animated neon, LED, electronic reader board or electronic graphics or other artificial light sign or device are prohibited.
- Flashing signs, including any sign or device on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times when in use, are prohibited.
- Internally illuminated (including neon) signs located on the exterior of buildings are prohibited except in the CC and M zoning districts.
- Signs that compete for attention with or may be mistaken for a traffic signal are prohibited.
- Outdoor signs made of impermanent materials (such as paper or cardboard) are prohibited.
- Sandwich board signs are prohibited except as permitted in the DMU-1, DMU-2, RMU, OMU, CC, WF, and M Districts with an administrative permit.
- Exterior signs that emit noise, sounds, or smoke are prohibited.
- All signs shall be stationary and contain no visible or moving parts.
- Product advertisement outside of any retail space is prohibited.
- Signs mounted above the eave line of any structure are prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signage is prohibited except where specifically permitted.
- Signs may not be suspended from or attached to an awning (signs may be painted on or form part of an awning).
- Temporary signs shall not overlap, cover, or obscure permanent signs.
- Signs that do not comply with all provisions of the section must be removed within the stated time period.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nyack

- Changing the advertising or message on an approved sign specifically designed for temporary replaceable copy (such as a movie marquee or bulletin board) does not require a sign permit.
- Painting, cleaning, and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or sign structure do not require a sign permit unless a structural change is made or there is a change in the graphic presentation.
- Temporary interior signs are allowed (without a permit) when together they do not exceed four square feet and do not cover more than 15% of the ground floor window area or 36 square feet (or 20% for upper floor window area).
- Temporary signs are allowed for up to 30 days without a sign permit, including when an application for a permanent sign has been submitted.
- A maximum of two temporary interior signs which do not need permits are allowed.
- Special event, holiday, and announcement signs are permitted without the Building Inspector's approval in specified districts, subject to area and time limits.
- Temporary signs pertaining to campaigns, drives or events of civic, philanthropic or educational institutions are permitted without the Building Inspector's approval for up to 15 days in certain districts and must meet area and placement rules.
- Simple or basic design changes to a legally existing sign (same size, shape, dimension, location, or just a change to the business name) do not require ARB review, only administrative review, unless the Building Inspector determines otherwise.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for the erection, moving, enlargement, reconstruction, or redesign of any exterior or window sign, except as exempted.
- Permit applications are to be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board unless specified exemptions apply for simple or basic design changes.
- If the sign application is part of a site plan or special permit application, sign review is incorporated into that application.
- An insurance certificate naming the Village as an additional insured is a permit requirement, and permits are contingent on maintaining such insurance.
- When there are two or more occupants of a premises (such as a shopping center or strip mall), an overall plan (‘master’ or ‘overall’ sign plan) for signage is required prior to the installation or replacement of any individual sign.
- The overall sign plan must satisfy all requirements and guidelines of the ordinance; signs must be the same with regard to materials and color, with possible variation in letter size and style.

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

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