# Sign Regulations in Ogdensburg, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ogdensburg, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/ogdensburg
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8441033#8441033)

## At a glance

Ogdensburg, New York regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Gateway Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall and 128 sq ft (aggregate at each entrance); individual sign 9 sq ft (Sec. §221-52E(1)(e); Definitions: Gateway Signs). Most commercial signs in Ogdensburg require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | 20 ft above adjoining ground level (40 ft for shopping centers) | 128 sq ft (aggregate at each entrance); individual sign 9 sq ft | — |
| SFR Districts, MH Districts | 1 | — | 4 sq ft (wall-mounted per lot) | — |
| MDR Districts | 1 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| R/B Districts | 2 | — | 64 sq ft | — |
| B Districts | 3 | — | 300 sq ft sign budget; no one sign more than 200 sq ft | — |
| I/I Districts, I/I Industrial/Institutional District | 2 | — | 128 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign | — | 2 sq ft per street frontage | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street that the lot has frontage on | — | §221-52E(1)(a) |
| Regulatory Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §221-52E(1)(b) |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per premises | Premises of a public, charitable or religious use | — | §221-52E(1)(c) |
| Gateway Sign | 12 ft | 128 sq ft (aggregate at each entrance); individual sign 9 sq ft | — | — | — | At entranceways to the City | — | §221-52E(1)(e); Definitions: Gateway Signs |
| Construction Site Identification Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One per site | Per site | — | §221-52E(1)(f) |
| Non-visible Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not visible to public | — | §221-52E(1)(i) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | One additional per lot for non-campaign | — | — | §221-52E(1)(l); Temporary Sign definition |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft above adjoining ground level (40 ft for shopping centers) | — | — | 5 ft minimum from any lot line | — | Not within 5 ft of any lot line | — | §221-52D(3)(e) |

### R/B Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Requiring Building Permits | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | — | Per lot, except shopping centers | — | §221-52E(2)(c) |
| Shopping Center Signs (R/B District) | — | Varies; 1 freestanding sign up to 100 sq ft | — | — | One freestanding sign per shopping center | Shopping centers in R/B | — | §221-52E(3)(a)-(c) |

### B Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Requiring Building Permits | — | 128 sq ft (standard); 256 sq ft (qualified single tenants); 500 sq ft (absolute maximum for large single tenant) | — | — | — | Per lot, on the premises | — | §221-52E(2)(d) |
| Shopping Center Signs (B District) | — | Varies; 1 freestanding sign up to 100 sq ft | — | — | One freestanding sign per shopping center | Shopping centers in B | — | §221-52E(3)(a)-(c) |
| Waterfront Marinas and Hotels Sign (All Districts) | — | 300 sq ft sign budget; no one sign more than 200 sq ft | — | — | — | Waterfront Marinas and Hotels directly accessible by boat | — | §221-52E(3)(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Ogdensburg

- No sign shall be erected, moved, enlarged, reconstructed or substantially altered except in accordance with the provisions of this section and without a building permit unless specifically exempted.
- No sign, showcase or other thing projecting into or hanging over the street or sidewalk or between the sidewalk and the street curbing may be erected or remain without a written permit from the Director of Planning and Development and evidence of insurance.
- All signs shall comply with the Uniform Code regarding construction, materials, erection and electrical fixtures.
- All signs shall be maintained in a safe and neat condition. Structural damage, missing letters, deterioration obscuring the sign content or outdated/inaccurate sign contents must be remedied or the sign removed within 60 days at owner's expense.
- No additional building permits shall be issued to properties currently violating sign maintenance standards.
- No attached wall sign shall extend beyond the roofline or the end of the wall to which it is attached or project more than 12 inches from the building wall.
- Hanging signs projecting outward from a building must have a minimum clearance of 10 feet from the surface of any public street, sidewalk or alley, and must not project more than four feet from the wall.
- Signs shall not be located in road rights-of-way or on sidewalks, nor extend beyond the lot lines of the parcel on which they are located.
- Signs shall not be attached to motor vehicles, trailers or other wheeled structures or vehicles (except permanently attached signs on licensed, self-propelled vehicles not primarily used as signs).
- Freestanding signs shall not be within five feet of any lot line or extend 20 feet above ground level (shopping centers: up to 40 feet); further placement/clearance conditions apply.
- Sign placement shall not obstruct safe sight lines from roads or driveways nor obstruct the view of official traffic signs.
- No sign shall flash or include artificial light that is not stationary and constant in intensity and color.
- Strings of light bulbs are not permitted, except for temporary holiday celebrations.
- Illumination of signs must not create a safety hazard or nuisance by intensity or direction onto adjacent residential premises or public roads.
- Lighting for signs must be shielded to illuminate only the sign face, not public rights-of-way or residences.
- Signs shall not be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless premises are open for business.
- No sign may be erected so as to be confused with official traffic signs or governmental signs by location, color, size, shape, nature, or message.
- Billboards and off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Bulletin board signs are prohibited except as specifically allowed.
- No copy-change signs except in specific permitted instances.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs that revolve, are animated, or utilize movement/apparent movement to attract attention are prohibited (except time/date/weather signs and barber poles). Streamers, animated display boards, and propellers are also prohibited.
- Full conformity with sign regulations is required for all billboards, off-premise signs, and nonconforming illuminated signs by the established compliance date; nonconforming signs must be removed.
- All adult entertainment use signs: only one sign visible from exterior, no larger than six square feet, must be plain lettering with no photographs or artistic representations.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ogdensburg

- One unilluminated identification sign per street frontage, no larger than 2 square feet, bearing only address/name or other noncommercial identification, is permitted without a building permit.
- One regulatory sign per property (e.g., 'No hunting', 'No parking') no larger than 2 square feet, is permitted without a building permit.
- One bulletin board or announcement sign not exceeding 16 square feet on premises of a public, charitable, or religious use, is permitted without a building permit.
- All signs erected, posted, and maintained by governmental agencies are permitted and exempt from sign regulations except as otherwise provided by law.
- All gateway signs at city entranceways are permitted.
- One construction site identification sign per site, not exceeding 32 square feet, is permitted.
- Decorations commemorating nationally or locally recognized holidays or religious events (including lights) are permitted to the extent that no safety hazard is created.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings or works of art (including historical markers, plaques/tablets) are permitted as long as they do not contain trademarks, moving parts, or lights.
- Signs not visible to the public are exempt.
- Flags, pennants, or insignia of any government or nonprofit organization, when not used for commercial promotion/advertising, are permitted.
- 'For sale' or 'For rent' signs that are nonilluminated and no larger than nine square feet are permitted.
- Political campaign signs and one additional nonilluminated temporary sign per lot are permitted if not exceeding nine square feet, not attached to or mounted on motor vehicles/trailers/wheeled structures, and not displayed for more than 60 days in any six-month period.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A building permit application for a sign must be accompanied by a site plan sketch showing lot lines, roads, driveways, setbacks, location of existing and proposed signs, and sign area of all existing signs (including number of linear feet of street frontage).
- A scale drawing showing the proposed sign(s), including supportive structure, content, size, and illumination method is required with the application.
- In lots with more than two business enterprises (e.g., shopping centers), sign permits are issued in the name of the lot owner or agent rather than individual businesses.
- All signs, except those specifically exempted (as listed), require a building permit, which in turn requires submission of a plan as described above.
- No explicit reference to a master sign plan or required variance meeting is stated in this section—individual building/site plans are required for permit applications.

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

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