# Sign Regulations in Olean, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Olean, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/olean
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15430360#15430360)

## At a glance

Olean, New York regulates 20 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Professional or Home Occupation)s in the R-9 residential, R-4 residential, R-1 Single-family Residential, R-2 Single-family/General Residential, R-3 General Residential, RT Residential Transition zoning district are capped at 4 ft if on post tall and 2 sq ft, with a 5 ft from property line or 20 ft from street pavement, whichever is greater (for signs on posts) setback (Sec. Sec. 3-61; Sec. 11.1.1). Most commercial signs in Olean require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 12 sq ft per sign | — |
| R-9 residential, R-4 residential, R-1 Single-family Residential, R-2 Single-family/General Residential, R-3 General Residential, RT Residential Transition | 4 | 4 ft if on post | 20 sq ft | — |
| B-1 business, B-2 business, R-C commercial, CR commercial recreational | 3 | Maximum: 50% above roofline behind sign, not to exceed 5 ft above roofline. | 65 sq ft (total for up to 2 signs) | — |
| CC City Center, GC General Commercial | 4 | Maximum: 50% above roofline behind sign, not to exceed 5 ft above roofline. | 65 sq ft (for up to 2 signs, total area) | — |
| WC Waterfront Conservation Use District | 2 | 10 ft | 24 sq ft per side (either of two sides) | — |
| I industrial, I Industrial Use Districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial/business parks | 4 | 25 ft above ground or curb (as in 11.2.4) | 100 sq ft | — |
| Shopping centers | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### R-9 residential, R-4 residential, R-1 Single-family Residential, R-2 Single-family/General Residential, R-3 General Residential, RT Residential Transition

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Professional or Home Occupation) | 4 ft if on post | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line or 20 ft from street pavement, whichever is greater (for signs on posts) | One per person, per street frontage. | Affixed to building face or on post in the yard (post must be at least 5 ft from property line or 20 ft from street pavement, whichever is greater). | — | Sec. 3-61; Sec. 11.1.1 |
| Bulletin Board or Announcement Sign (Churches/Nonprofits) | — | 20 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from property line. | One per street frontage | On face of building or on post(s) at least 5 ft from property line. | — | Sec. 3-62; Sec. 11.1.2 |
| Temporary 'For Sale' or 'To Let' Sign | — | 6 sq ft (aggregate) | — | — | One per street frontage. | On premises for sale/let. | — | Sec. 3-63; Sec. 11.1.3 |
| Flag, Civic Insignia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sec. 3-64; Sec. 11.1.4 |

### CC City Center, GC General Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Maximum: 50% above roofline behind sign, not to exceed 5 ft above roofline. | — | — | — | — | Attached to, erected against, or painted on wall. | — | Sec. 11.2.0.1-.7; Sec. 11.2.1.1, .2.2, .3.1-.4 |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft | 65 sq ft (for up to 2 signs, total area) | — | — | Up to 2 | Ground sign, detached; must not impact vehicle visibility. | — | Sec. 11.2.1.2; 11.2.4 |
| Pole or Pylon Sign | 25 ft above ground or curb | 65 sq ft (one sign) | — | — | One per lot | Freestanding sign on column. | — | Sec. 11.2.1.3; 11.2.5 |
| Projection (Hanging) Sign | — | 20 sq ft per face | 24 inches from sign face to sign face | — | One per frontage on public ROW | Hanging from building; one per frontage on public right-of-way. | — | Sec. 11.2.1.4 |

### Industrial/business parks

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pole or Pylon Sign (Identifying Park Only) | 25 ft above ground or curb (as in 11.2.4) | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per park | At industrial/business park entrance. | — | Sec. 11.3.2(1); 11.2.4 |
| Directional Sign (Business Locations) | — | 12 in x 72 in per business | — | — | One overall sign with multi-business panels | At entrance/appropriate location within park. | — | Sec. 11.3.2(2) |
| Directional and Safety Signs | — | As used for NYS signs | — | — | — | Entrance, exit, safety, as required. | — | Sec. 11.3.2(3) |
| Corporation Identification Sign (External View) | Not more than 5 ft above roofline | — | — | — | — | Seen from outside the park/area | — | Sec. 11.3.2(4) |

## Prohibited signs in Olean

- The construction, erection, alteration, reconstruction, display, ownership, maintenance, or operation of any sign within the city, except as provided by this article, is prohibited.
- Signposts are specifically prohibited from the public right-of-way except those necessary or recommended by the state manual of uniform traffic control devices.
- Signs overhanging the public right-of-way are specifically prohibited except as provided by this article.
- No electric sign, electrically illuminated sign, signboard, signpost, portion of any advertising nature, or otherwise shall be permitted or remain on the sidewalk or on any portion of the city streets.
- Any nonconforming sign of any type in existence on August 14, 1984, shall, after 12 months, become prohibited and unlawful unless a special permit is granted.
- Signs and billboards shall not in any way obstruct the required door or window area of any building or structure.
- Signs shall not be attached to or placed upon any portion of a fire escape.
- Signs shall not be erected that will in any way interfere with the activities of the fire department.
- Signs constructed or erected after August 14, 1984, shall not be rotating or contain any moving parts.
- No sign or lighting device shall be of the flashing, intermittent, or reciprocating type.
- It shall be unlawful to paint, post, place, or fix any business or commercial advertisement, paper, handbills or circulars, or cause the same to be done, on or to any curbstone, flagstone, sidewalk or street, or upon any tree, lamppost, hitching post, telegraph post, telegraph pole, telephone pole, hydrant, bridge, or any other structure within the city limits.

## Signs exempt from permit in Olean

- Traffic signs erected by governmental bodies are exempt.
- Railroad warning signs are exempt.
- Municipal signs are exempt.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut in any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other combustible or noncombustible materials are exempt.
- Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in commercial buildings and the name and nature of occupancy in public and institutional buildings (not exceeding two square feet in area) are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit (sometimes called a sign permit or license) is required before any sign or billboard may be erected, altered, reconstructed, or displayed within the city.
- Applications for permits must be accompanied by complete plans and specifications showing construction, method of support, and materials to be used.
- The code enforcement officer/building inspector may require plans and specifications to be signed by a professional engineer or architect registered in the state.
- Additional signs on a corner lot must be approved by the zoning board.
- Requests to vary strict application of requirements must be heard by the zoning board of appeals (variance process).

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

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