# Sign Regulations in Owego, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Owego, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/owego
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10891615#10891615)

## At a glance

Owego, New York regulates 10 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Advertising Sign or Structure (Billboard/Display Sign)s in the B Districts, I Districts zoning district are capped at 23 ft above ground tall and 300 sq ft, with a 25 ft or more from right-of-way; 10 ft or more from any lot line; at least 300 ft from protected uses setback (Sec. § 195-114D(1)-(6), § 195-114G). Most commercial signs in Owego require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 4 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| RA Districts | 1 | — | 2 sq ft (announcement/professional), 3 sq ft (tourist home), 6 sq ft (real estate), 16 sq ft (church/institutional) | — |
| B Districts, I Districts | 1 | 23 ft above ground | 300 sq ft | — |
| CB Districts | 2 | — | 6 sq ft (3 ft x 2 ft) | — |
| R-4 Districts | 1 | — | 9 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | — | — |

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

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Announcement or Professional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | At least 1/3 distance of any required yard; at least 8 ft from any lot line | One per lot/use | Only in connection with customary home occupation, profession or business permitted in the district | — | § 195-114A(1), § 195-114B(1)-(6) |
| Tourist Home Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | At least 1/3 distance of any required yard; at least 8 ft from any lot line | One per tourist home | Where permitted in the district | — | § 195-114A(2), § 195-114B(1)-(6) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | At least 1/3 distance of any required yard; at least 8 ft from any lot line | One per property | Only on property for sale or rent | — | § 195-114A(3), § 195-114B(1)-(6) |
| Church or Institutional Building Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | At least 1/3 distance of any required yard; at least 8 ft from any lot line | One per building | Where permitted for churches or institutional buildings | — | § 195-114A(4), § 195-114B(1)-(6) |

### B Districts, I Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign or Structure (Billboard/Display Sign) | 23 ft above ground | 300 sq ft | — | 25 ft or more from right-of-way; 10 ft or more from any lot line; at least 300 ft from protected uses | One single-faced or double-faced sign per lot | On lot with required street frontage | — | § 195-114D(1)-(6), § 195-114G |

### CB Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Advertising Sign or Structure | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 195-114E |
| Business Directional Sign (Tourist Oriented) | — | 6 sq ft (3 ft x 2 ft) | 3 ft | — | No more than 2 within 200 ft of each other | Only on private property within 500 ft of intersection of state highways; not on state, village, or county land or their rights-of-way | — | § 195-114H(1)-(11) |

## Prohibited signs in Owego

- It shall be unlawful for any person, without the written consent of the Mayor or Chief of Police, to interfere with or move any traffic control sign, signal or device placed by any department or official for the regulation of traffic or for indicating any point or points along any street.
- No person shall tamper with, deface, destroy or unlawfully remove any such sign or signal.
- No billboard, poster, panel, advertising sign or display sign shall be erected or maintained in any district except as hereinafter provided.
- Signs may be illuminated by external lights only; no internally illuminated, neon and/or flashing lights shall be permitted.
- Lighting for signs shall not be allowed to shine on or reflect off of neighboring property.
- No neon lighting of any kind shall be permitted on signs in the R4 District.
- Illumination of signs must be nonflashing, indirect or diffused and not shine or reflect light into adjacent properties.
- Signs shall not be located in such a manner as to be in the same line of vision as traffic-control signals. If alignment cannot be avoided, the sign shall not use red, green, or amber illumination or reflection.

## Signs exempt from permit in Owego

- The operator of a vehicle is not required to obey the instructions of any official traffic control sign, signal, marking or device if otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer, or if qualified as an authorized emergency vehicle under the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
- No provision for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All plans or proposals for parking and/or signage in an R-4 District shall be submitted to the Village Zoning Board of Appeals for its review, approval, disapproval or modification.
- A permit from the Village must be obtained for each sign (advertising, auxiliary/directory or menu board) governed by the regulations in the R4 District.
- A new permit is required before any change in a previously permitted sign is undertaken.
- Display signs may be permitted in RA Districts only after permission has been granted by the Architectural Review Board.
- Prior to the installation or erection of any business directional sign (in CB Districts), the owner must obtain and provide to the Village Code Enforcement Officer the written consent of the person in control of the property or exterior walls of the building.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/owego