# Sign Regulations in Onondaga Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Onondaga Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/onondaga-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14713311#14713311)

## At a glance

Onondaga Town, New York regulates 19 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Professional Signs in the Residential and Country (R-C), Residential R-1, Residential R-2, Residential R-3, Planned Residential District, Planned Residential Community District zoning district are capped at 6 ft (from grade to top of sign) tall and 2 sq ft, with a 15 ft from all property lines setback (Sec. § 285-34B(2)(a)[1][a]; § 285-34D(1)). Most commercial signs in Onondaga Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential and Country (R-C), Residential R-1, Residential R-2, Residential R-3, Planned Residential District, Planned Residential Community District | 4 | 8 ft (from grade to top of sign) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Shopping District, Neighborhood Shopping Nedrow, Commercial District, Planned Economic District | 7 | 25 ft | 120 sq ft | — |
| Light Industrial District | 5 | 35 ft above street/highway elevation | 450 sq ft per side | — |
| Professional and Commercial Office District | 2 | 18 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Onondaga Hill Business District (OHBD) | 6 | 18 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 18 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential and Country (R-C), Residential R-1, Residential R-2, Residential R-3, Planned Residential District, Planned Residential Community District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Sign | 6 ft (from grade to top of sign) | 2 sq ft | — | 15 ft from all property lines | 1 per permitted nonresidential use | Affixed to building wall or freestanding in front yard with minimum 15 ft setback from all property lines | — | § 285-34B(2)(a)[1][a]; § 285-34D(1) |
| Announcement Sign | 8 ft (from grade to top of sign) | 12 sq ft | — | 15 ft from front, 25 ft from other property line | 1 | Affixed to building wall or freestanding in front yard with 15 ft minimum setback from front property line and 25 ft from other property line | — | § 285-34B(2)(a)[1][a]; § 285-34D(2) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft (32 sq ft on sites >5 acres) | — | — | 1 | Ground mounted | — | § 285-34B(2)(a)[1][b]; § 285-34D(6) |
| Tract Name Designation Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft from street line | 1 | Minimum 20 ft from street line | — | § 285-34B(2)(a)[1][c]; § 285-34D(3) |

### Neighborhood Shopping District, Neighborhood Shopping Nedrow, Commercial District, Planned Economic District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional or Announcement Sign | 6 ft (Professional); 8 ft (Announcement) | 2 sq ft (Professional); 12 sq ft (Announcement) | — | See above; Professional: 15 ft all property lines; Announcement: 15 ft front, 25 ft other | 1 | Affixed to building wall or freestanding in front yard with setback (Professional: 15 ft from all property lines; Announcement: 15 ft from front, 25 ft from other property lines) | — | § 285-34B(2)(b)[1][a]; § 285-34D(1), (2) |
| Wall-Mounted Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | Affixed to building wall | — | § 285-34B(2)(b)[1][b]; § 285-34D(4)(b)[1] |
| Ground Identification Sign | 18 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft from front property line; side setbacks per district | 1 | Front yard: minimum 20 ft from front property line; side yard: must meet general setback of underlying district | — | § 285-34B(2)(b)[1][b]; § 285-34D(4)(b)[2] |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft (32 sq ft on sites >5 acres) | — | — | 1 | Ground mounted | — | § 285-34B(2)(b)[1][c]; § 285-34D(6) |
| Shopping Center Designation Sign (Center < 50,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 285-34B(2)(b)[1][d]; § 285-34D(5)(a)-(d) |
| Shopping Center Designation Sign (Center 50,000-500,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 285-34B(2)(b)[1][d]; § 285-34D(5)(a)-(d) |
| Shopping Center Designation Sign (Center > 500,000 sq ft) | 25 ft | 120 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 285-34B(2)(b)[1][d]; § 285-34D(5)(a)-(d) |

### Onondaga Hill Business District (OHBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Sign (Nonresidential Use) | 6 ft (from grade to top) | 2 sq ft | — | 15 ft from all property lines | 1 | Affixed to building wall or freestanding in front yard with minimum 15 ft setback from property lines | — | § 285-34B(2)(e)[1][a]; § 285-34D(1); (added 3-18-2019 by L.L. No. 4-2019) |
| Wall-Mounted Identification Sign (Uses subject to site plan/special permit) | — | — | — | — | 1 | Affixed to building wall | — | § 285-34B(2)(e)[1][b]; § 285-34D(4)(b)[1] |
| Ground Identification Sign (Uses subject to site plan/special permit) | 18 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 20 ft from front property line; side setbacks per district | 1 | Front yard: minimum 20 ft from front property line; side yard: must meet general setback of underlying district | — | § 285-34B(2)(e)[1][b]; § 285-34D(4)(b)[2] |
| Professional or Announcement Sign (Churches and Places of Worship) | 6 ft (Professional) or 8 ft (Announcement) | 2 sq ft (Professional) or 12 sq ft (Announcement) | — | 15 ft from all property lines (Professional); 15 ft from front, 25 ft from other property lines (Announcement) | 1 | Affixed to building wall or freestanding in front yard with setback | — | § 285-34B(2)(e)[1][c][i]; § 285-34D(1), (2) |
| Wall-Mounted Identification Sign (Churches and Places of Worship) | — | — | — | — | 1 | Affixed to building wall | — | § 285-34B(2)(e)[1][c][ii]; § 285-34D(4)(b)[1] |
| Temporary Sign | — | 12 sq ft (32 sq ft on sites >5 acres) | — | — | 1 | Ground mounted | — | § 285-34B(2)(e)[1][d]; § 285-34D(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Onondaga Town

- No sign or appurtenance connected with any highway vehicle service station may be moving, rotating, animated in any way, or illuminated by flashing, blinking, fluctuating, or other animated light.
- No sign or other device for advertising purposes shall be erected, established, or altered except in conformity with the provisions of this section.
- Lighted signs shall not be so located that they constitute a hazard to vehicular traffic.
- The outlining by direct illumination of all or part of a building (such as cable, roof, wall, side, or dormer) is prohibited.
- Temporary or permanent signs on or attached to vehicles shall not be used to circumvent sign regulations.
- No sign may be erected, posted, or maintained within the right-of-way of a street or highway, nor may any portion of a sign extend into such right-of-way.
- Flashing, oscillating, or revolving signs are prohibited in all districts.
- Signs that unreasonably illuminate neighboring properties are prohibited. No sign shall produce illumination in excess of one footcandle at a distance of four feet. No illumination shall cause direct light rays to cross any property line.
- All permanent outdoor lights used for area or building floodlighting must be steady, stationary, shielded, and directed to avoid hazard to motorists, pedestrians, and neighboring properties. Marginal increase in light at property lines (other than street lines) may not exceed one footcandle.
- Animated signs are prohibited. Animated signs include those with movement (mechanical or natural means), simulated movement by illumination devices, blinking, flashing, or intermittent light, as opposed to constant intensity. Signs with electronic messages that change, flash, or revolve more than once in a twelve-hour period are considered animated.
- Signs in unkempt, blistered, or faded condition are not allowed. The area around signs must be kept clear of all untended vegetation and debris.
- Unsightly, damaged, or deteriorated signs and signs in danger of falling must be repaired or removed.
- Abandoned, obsolete, or disrepaired signs must be dismantled and removed at the property owner's expense. Signs not used for 12 months, for businesses no longer operational, or in disrepair are deemed abandoned.
- Failure to comply with sign code provisions or permit conditions may be grounds for permit revocation.
- No person shall erect, post, or maintain any sign in violation of this chapter; such signs may be removed by the Codes Enforcement Officer at the owner’s expense.

## Signs exempt from permit in Onondaga Town

- No site plan approval is required for sign copy changes on signs where frequent and periodic changes of copy are customary.
- No site plan approval is required for routine sign maintenance, including minor repairs such as repainting, bulb replacement, or repair of electrical/mechanical parts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit is required for any sign 25 square feet or less (apply with Codes Enforcement Officer).
- Any sign exceeding 25 square feet requires site plan approval by the Town Board (either in conjunction with a general project or by a separate application).
- For Light Industrial Districts, a proposal for all signs on the premises, including traffic directional signs, must be submitted to the Town Board with complete details, drawings, and specifications for approval.
- For new buildings, the proposal for all signs must be submitted concurrently with the building permit application.
- For shopping center designation signs, a proposal for all signs on the premises must be submitted to the Town Board with complete details, scale drawings, and specifications.
- As a prerequisite to any site plan approval for off-premises signs, specific findings regarding compliance with general prohibitions, district character, and other criteria must be made.
- Site plan applications for signs must include detailed information, including property and owner information, sign type/size/location, construction specifications, certified plans, and any required electrical permits.

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

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