# Sign Regulations in Ossining, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ossining, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/ossining
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/45762027#45762027)

## At a glance

Ossining, New York regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Mains in the NC-2 District, VC District zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 25 sq ft, with a Sign set back at least 10 ft from street setback (Sec. § 270-29D(6)(a)). Most commercial signs in Ossining require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 5 | — | 14 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential districts | 2 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| NC-2 District, VC District | 13 | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — |
| PC District | 13 | 30 ft | 400 sq ft per side | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate/Professional Sign (Home-based business or live-work unit) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home-based business or live-work unit | Fixed flat to main wall of the building | — | § 270-29B(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per adjacent lots (single ownership) | Freestanding or attached to a building, on lot(s) being advertised | — | § 270-29B(2) |
| Building Identification Sign (Multifamily Residence) | — | 14 sq ft | — | — | 1 per multifamily residence | Front or side yard or on the building facade | — | § 270-29B(3) |
| Bulletin Board/Announcement Sign (Civic/Institutional Use) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per civic/institutional use | — | — | § 270-29C(1) |
| Building Identification Sign (Civic/Institutional Use) | — | 14 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Front or side yard or on the building facade | — | § 270-29C(3) |

### NC-2 District, VC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | — | 30 sq ft (each side) | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed to brackets projecting from first or second story; at least 10 ft above ground | — | § 270-29D(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per building | At least 10 ft above ground; affixed to building; subject to Building Inspector approval | — | § 270-29D(3) |
| Freestanding Sign - Main | 25 ft | 25 sq ft | — | Sign set back at least 10 ft from street | 1 per building | Front or side yard; set back at least 15 ft from street; sign set back at least 10 ft | — | § 270-29D(6)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Second Frontage | 20 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per additional frontage, conditions apply | For buildings with more than one frontage, each set back at least 15 ft from street | — | § 270-29D(6)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center - Main) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | At least 10 ft | 1 per shopping center | Set back more than 15 ft from street; set back at least 10 ft | — | § 270-29D(6)(c)[1] |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center - Second Frontage) | 20 ft | 25 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per second frontage, max 2 total | With more than one frontage, each set back at least 15 ft from street | — | § 270-29D(6)(c)[2] |
| Directional Sign (Vehicles) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | As needed | Within parking lot and driveway areas | — | § 270-29D(8) |
| Directional Sign (Pedestrians) | 5 ft | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per 100 ft of frontage | For building with 10 ft or greater front setback; one freestanding sign per 100 ft of frontage | — | § 270-29D(9) |

### PC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | — | 30 sq ft (each side) | — | — | 1 per building | Affixed to brackets projecting from upper part of first/second story; at least 10 ft above ground | — | § 270-29D(2) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per building | At least 10 ft above ground; affixed to building; subject to Building Inspector approval | — | § 270-29D(3) |
| Freestanding Sign - Main | 25 ft | 40 sq ft | — | Sign set back at least 10 ft from street | 1 per building | Front or side yard; set back at least 15 ft from street; sign set back at least 10 ft | — | § 270-29D(6)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Second Frontage | 20 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per additional frontage, conditions apply | For buildings with more than one frontage, each set back at least 15 ft from street | — | § 270-29D(6)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center - Main) | 30 ft | 400 sq ft per side | — | At least 10 ft | 1 per shopping center | Set back more than 15 ft from street; set back at least 10 ft | — | § 270-29D(6)(c)[1] |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center - Second Frontage) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per second frontage, max 2 total | With more than one frontage, each set back at least 15 ft from street | — | § 270-29D(6)(c)[2] |
| Directional Sign (Vehicles) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | As needed | Within parking lot and driveway areas | — | § 270-29D(8) |
| Directional Sign (Pedestrians) | 5 ft | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per 100 ft of frontage | For building with 10 ft or greater front setback; one freestanding sign per 100 ft of frontage | — | § 270-29D(9) |

## Prohibited signs in Ossining

- No person shall erect, move, enlarge or reconstruct any sign, billboard, advertising display or structure, poster or device except as expressly permitted in the ordinance.
- No person shall fasten or tie any animal to or attach any sign, bill, card, notice or any advertisement to any tree in any public place or allow any animal under his/her control to injure any such tree.
- Except for municipal signs and as otherwise provided by law, no person shall erect or post any signs, flyers, posters or placards in Village parks or parkland property.
- No sign that is part of or supported by a building shall be erected upon the roof of such building, nor shall such sign extend above the height of the building.
- The following types of signs or artificial lighting are prohibited: billboards; neon signs as the primary freestanding, wall-mounted, projected or hanging sign on a facade (except as a hanging window sign meeting certain requirements); moving, rotating or flashing signs, including signs with artificial lights not stationary and constant in intensity and color; signs which compete for attention with or may be mistaken for traffic signals; outlining by direct illumination any part of a building; exterior signs made of cardboard, paper, canvas or similar impermanent material, used for commercial promotional purposes for more than 30 days.
- No person shall erect, maintain or cause the erection of any awning, shed, roof or other overhead obstruction over/across any sidewalk without Board of Trustees permission and with less than seven feet of clearance from the sidewalk surface.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ossining

- Municipal signs and signs erected by the Recreation and Parks Department in Village Parks for safety, scheduling, or other appropriate reasons are exempt from the prohibition on posting signs in Village parks.
- Professional signs, announcement signs, and real estate signs do not require a sign permit (all other new, altered, enlarged or reconstructed signs require a permit), unless otherwise noted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For most signs, a sign permit must be obtained from the Building Inspector prior to erection, movement, enlargement, alteration, or reconstruction, except for professional, announcement, or real estate signs.
- Applicants for preliminary and final plat approval, or for land use activities requiring public hearings before Village boards, are required to post notification signs on the subject property as directed in §§ 233-24 and 270-60.
- The location and size of notification signs must be approved by the Director of Planning or designee.
- At least 24 hours prior to public hearings/meetings related to certain land use approvals, applicants must submit an affidavit and photographic evidence to the Planning Department verifying proper sign posting and maintenance.
- Approval from the Planning Board is required for certain types of illuminated or building identification signs, and may also grant exceptions for illumination hours in the public interest or for safety.

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

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