# Sign Regulations in Orchard Park, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Orchard Park, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/orchard-park
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11455877#11455877)

## At a glance

Orchard Park, New York regulates 29 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Resident Identification Sign (One- and Two-Family)s in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 2 sq ft, with a At least 1/2 required setback from street, 7 ft from public walkway/side road ROW setback (Sec. §225-18E(1)(a)). Most commercial signs in Orchard Park require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B-1, B-2, Industrial District, Business Districts, Business and Industrial Districts | 15 | 9 in | 40 sq ft (one surface), 80 sq ft (total) | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 | 5 | 7 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 7 ft | 25 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### B-1, B-2, Industrial District, Business Districts, Business and Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Building Face Sign) | — | Front: 25 sq ft or 15% of the building face (whichever is greater); Each other face: up to 50% of front (max 10% of face) | — | — | Not explicitly limited per building face | Any side of building; attached or applied but not painted | — | §225-18F(1), §225-18C(6), §225-18B(4), §225-18C(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 20 sq ft each display surface | — | 5 ft from ROW/walkway, 15 ft if abutting residential | One per lot | Set back at least 5 ft from street ROW or public walkway; 15 ft setback from abutting residential district; must not interfere with visibility from driveways/highways | — | §225-18F(2), §225-18B(4) |
| Pedestal Sign | — | 40 sq ft (one surface), 80 sq ft (total) | — | 5 ft from ROW/walkway, 15 ft if abutting residential | One per business center | Set back at least 5 ft from right-of-way or walkway; 15 ft from abutting residential; must not interfere with driveway/highway visibility | — | §225-18F(3), §225-18B(4) |
| Covered Walkway Sign - Roof | 3 ft | Wall Sign limits apply | — | — | One per business | Mounted on roof of covered walkway at front of building | — | §225-18F(4)(a), §225-18B(4) |
| Covered Walkway Sign - Hanging | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | Not specified per business | Hung from under/ceiling of covered walkway, related to entrance | — | §225-18F(4)(b), §225-18B(4) |
| Service or Loading Dock Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One | Service/loading dock | — | §225-18F(5), §225-18B(4) |
| Automobile Service Station Sign | 1 ft above the pump | — | — | — | Not specified | Pump areas | — | §225-18F(6), §225-18B(4) |
| Name Plate (Entrance for Upper Floors) | 9 in | 18 in x 9 in | 18 in | — | — | At sides of building entrance serving upper floor businesses | — | §225-18F(7), §225-18B(4) |

### R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Resident Identification Sign (One- and Two-Family) | 7 ft | 2 sq ft | — | At least 1/2 required setback from street, 7 ft from public walkway/side road ROW | One per residence | On principal building or separate post | — | §225-18E(1)(a) |
| Dwelling Group Identification Sign (Multiple Dwellings/Complexes) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | One | At the site (parallel to the street if freestanding) | — | §225-18E(2)(a) |
| Resident Identification Sign (Multiple Dwellings) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | One | Parallel to dwelling it serves | — | §225-18E(2)(b) |
| Permanent Subdivision Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Subdivision entrance or as allowed by Planning Board | — | §225-18E(3) |
| Nonconforming and Special Use Signs (R-3, R-4 only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §225-18E(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bulletin Board (Institutional/Church/School) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | One | Exterior of institution/church/school | — | §225-18C(5) |
| Temporary Election Sign | 4 ft | 4 sq ft per candidate/issue | — | 5 ft from any lot line | One per candidate/issue | Each parcel (5 ft setback from any lot line) | — | §225-18D(2)(b) |
| Lawn Sign | 3 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all lot lines | One (three for nonresidential lot >100ft) | Any lot (not permitted on vacant lots) | — | §225-18H(8) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One | On premises holding sale | — | §225-18H(5) |
| For Sale/For Rent/Sold Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One | On premises/property; open house signs not on right-of-way or >1/2 mile from listed property | — | §225-18H(6) |
| Construction Sign (Multi-Listing) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | One | At construction site | — | §225-18H(4)(a) |
| Construction Sign (Individual Principal) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per principal | At construction project site | — | §225-18H(4)(b) |
| Special Purpose Building Announcement Sign | 7 ft | 25 sq ft | — | — | One | At building or structure site | — | §225-18H(4)(c), (4)(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Orchard Park

- No person shall erect, alter, construct, relocate or cause to be erected, altered, constructed or relocated any sign without first obtaining a building permit, except as otherwise provided.
- Signs not advertising a business conducted, service rendered or the primary goods sold are prohibited.
- No sign shall be illuminated after 12:00 midnight, except where the premises which the sign advertises is open for business. Illuminated signs in residential zones allowed as part of a special use shall not be illuminated after 9:00 p.m., unless otherwise determined by the Village Board.
- No permanent sign may be constructed of untreated or unpainted wood, sandblasted metal, or unfinished material.
- Any sign that no longer advertises or identifies the current or permitted use of the property must be removed within 30 days after written notification from the Code Enforcement Officer.
- Revolving, moving, flashing, blinking signs or signs that appear to be in motion are prohibited.
- Political and temporary election signs are prohibited, except as specified for party headquarters and temporary election signs.
- Fluttering banners or strings of lights not part of a sign are prohibited, except decorations for national or religious holidays.
- Signs attached to light standards or utility poles or placed on public property or public rights-of-way are prohibited.
- Illuminated tubing (not part of a conforming sign) that outlines a building, fence or other structure over certain dimensions and is visible from public/private drives, streets, highways or shopping centers is prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Trailer signs are prohibited.
- Signs attached to poles or buildings on private property are prohibited.
- No notice shall be posted on public property except on official bulletin boards.
- No banner shall be displayed over a sidewalk, street, or highway except upon direction of the Village Board.
- No open house sign shall be placed on public rights-of-way or located more than 1/2 mile from the property for sale.
- Signs shall not be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free egress from a window, door or fire escape or so as to become a menace to life, health or property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Orchard Park

- One church, school or other exterior institutional bulletin board not exceeding 20 square feet in area does not require a permit.
- Signs for identification of multiple dwellings or residents of multiple dwellings: one sign not exceeding 25 square feet (dwelling group identification) and one nonilluminated sign not exceeding two square feet (resident identification) do not require a permit.
- A separate construction sign not exceeding six square feet in area for each principal in a project may be erected and maintained during the principal's active participation in the project, and does not require a permit.
- One nonilluminated for sale, for rent or sold sign not exceeding four square feet does not require a permit.
- Certain political signs and temporary election signs do not require a permit (when meeting the criteria outlined for display and removal times and size/setback requirements).
- A single lawn sign meeting specified requirements (size, duration, height, setback, etc.) is allowed on any lot without a permit.
- Awning valance signs require a permit (thus all other similar awning signs not explicitly mentioned may require one); this is more of a clarification of requirement.
- Temporary signs of charitable and nonprofit organizations may be permitted without a fee for the permit (though permission is still required).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- An application for a building permit for a sign must include renderings, construction details, and a location plan as specified.
- No sign permit shall be issued in the B-1, B-2 and Industrial Districts except upon review and approval by the Planning Board.
- Pedestal signs, specialty signs, public directional signs, and signs used in conjunction with a special use require approval by the Planning Board or Village Board.
- Entrance, exit, identification and other traffic control signs must be approved by the Planning Board as to location and size.
- Where it is not practical for reasons of visibility to place an identification sign on the premises, the Planning Board may grant permission to erect a sign on adjacent property.
- Any sign used in conjunction with a special use must be approved by the Village Board.
- Temporary signs of charitable and nonprofit organizations require direction of the Planning Board for permit approval.
- Any exception or specialty sign (e.g., time/temperature, clock signs) is subject to Planning Board approval.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Orchard Park, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Orchard+Park+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-orchard-park

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