# Sign Regulations in Ontario, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ontario, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/ontario
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-03
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/45310295#45310300)

## At a glance

Ontario, New York regulates 10 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Industrial Park or Office Complex Identification Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 48 square feet, with a At least 10 feet from the road property line setback (Sec. § 150-60C(4)). Most commercial signs in Ontario require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 20 feet | 125 square feet | — |
| Rural Residential (RR) | 2 | 6 feet freestanding or 8 feet attached | 6 square feet per face | — |
| Suburban Residential (SR), Urban Residential (UR) | 2 | 6 feet freestanding or 8 feet attached | 6 square feet per face | — |
| Business (B), Business Transitional (BT), Industrial (I) | 4 | 20 feet above finished grade | 60 square feet per sign | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | — | 125 square feet | — | At least 15 feet from the road property line; general 10 feet from any property line | 1 per shopping center | freestanding, at least 15 feet from the road property line | — | § 150-60C(1) |
| Nonprofit Directional or Identification/Announcement Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from any property line | — | freestanding or attached to the building | — | § 150-60C(2) |
| Subdivision or Multifamily Development Entry Sign | 20 feet | 16 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from the road property line | — | at an entry street | — | § 150-60C(3) |
| Industrial Park or Office Complex Identification Sign | 20 feet | 48 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from the road property line | 1 freestanding plus tenant signs | freestanding | — | § 150-60C(4) |
| Temporary Sign | — | In residential districts: no one sign exceeding 8 square feet, total not exceeding 32 square feet; In nonresidential districts: one sign up to 12 square feet, remaining not exceeding 8 square feet each, total not exceeding 32 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from edge of pavement; not obstruct traffic or hydrants | Maximum 4 per lot | On private property, not within 10 feet of edge of pavement, not in public right-of-way | — | § 150-60G |

### Rural Residential (RR)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Sign | 6 feet freestanding or 8 feet attached | 2 square feet per face | — | At least 10 feet from any property line | 1 | Freestanding or attached to and parallel with a principal building facade | — | § 150-60D(1) |
| Farm Product Sale Sign | 6 feet freestanding or 8 feet attached | 6 square feet per face | — | At least 10 feet from any property line | 1, or 2 on corner lot, one facing each street | Freestanding or attached to the building | — | § 150-60D(2) |

### Business (B), Business Transitional (BT), Industrial (I)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Facade Sign | 16 feet above finished grade | 48 square feet per sign | — | At least 10 feet from any property line | — | Attached to a facade | — | § 150-60E(1), (2), (4) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet above finished grade | 60 square feet per sign | — | At least 10 feet from any property line | — | On the property | — | § 150-60E(2), (3) |
| Overhanging Sign | — | — | — | At least 10 feet from any property line | — | Overhanging from facade | — | § 150-60E(5) |
| Temporary Sign | — | One sign up to 12 square feet, remaining not exceeding 8 square feet each, total not exceeding 32 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from edge of pavement | Maximum 4 per lot | On private property, not within 10 feet of edge of pavement, not in public right-of-way | — | § 150-60G(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Ontario

- No sign shall interfere with a clear view of intersecting streets.
- Except as otherwise required, all signs shall be located at least 10 feet from any property line.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color or placement.
- No sign shall be flashing, revolving or mechanically animated.
- No sign shall obstruct any fire escape, window or other opening used as a means of egress for firefighting purposes or for ventilation. No sign shall be placed on any sidewalk, hydrant, lamppost, tree, utility pole, fence or on other public property except as permitted.
- No structural element of any sign may be changed unless the resulting sign complies with the provisions of this section.
- No sign illumination shall be erected or used so that light will directly reflect toward residences on adjoining lots, toward residential districts within 1,000 feet or toward a highway so as to create a traffic hazard.
- No facade sign shall be erected or maintained a distance of more than 12 inches from the farthest front or face of a building.
- Any sign existing which no longer advertises an existing business shall be removed by the owner after notice, or the Code Enforcement Officer may remove it and assess costs.
- Temporary signs may not be erected in any public right-of-way or on public property, including on trees, fences, utility poles, bridges, fire hydrants or traffic signs.
- Temporary signs shall not be located within 10 feet of the edge of pavement and shall not interfere with or obstruct the view or free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic or obstruct any fire hydrant.
- Temporary signs may not be illuminated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ontario

- Historical markers, tablets and statues; memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar material; and emblems installed by governmental agencies, religious or nonprofit organizations.
- Flags and insignia of any government.
- On-premises directional signs for the convenience of the general public, identifying public parking areas, fire zones, entrances and exits, and similar signs.
- Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or 'no trespassing' signs, not exceeding two square feet per face.
- An on-premises sign, either freestanding or attached, in connection with any residential building in any district, for permitted professional offices or home occupations. Such sign shall state the name and vocation only.
- In nonresidential districts, aerial searchlights, for a period of operation of no more than six hours per twenty-four-hour period and not more than twice annually.
- Numbers and nameplates identifying residences, mounted on the house, apartment or mailbox, not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Lawn signs identifying residences, not exceeding one square foot per face. Such signs are to be nonilluminated except by a light which is an integral part of a lamppost if used as a support, with no advertising message thereon.
- Integral graphics or attached price signs on gasoline pumps at automotive service stations.
- Seasonal and holiday decorations, including lighting.
- Murals or similar designs, images, or expressions on the exterior of a building, generally for the purpose of decoration or artistic expression, including, but not limited to, paintings, markings, and etchings, and does not include any on- or off-site advertisement for a commercial, industrial or other nonmunicipal entity, person or corporation.
- No sign permit shall be required for the repainting or repairing of a sign in conformance with the provisions of this section.
- The provisions of this section shall not apply to street identification numbers.
- Signs that are an original part of the architectural fabric of the structure, such as a date or name of building, may remain without reduction in the number of signs or square footage of signs otherwise allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as otherwise provided, no person shall erect, substantially modify, relocate or substantially reconstruct any sign having an area of 32 square feet or more without first obtaining a sign permit from the Code Enforcement Officer.
- All signs having an area of 32 square feet or more and signs for two or more separate business establishments on the same lot or in the same building shall require approval of the Planning Board, either as part of site plan review or a separate sign plan review.
- Overhanging signs are permitted only upon obtaining a special permit therefor.

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

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