# Sign Regulations in Pelham, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pelham, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/pelham
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8780516#8780516)

## At a glance

Pelham, New York regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Directory Sign (Directory to Multiple Businesses)s in the Business and Office Districts zoning district are capped at 30 inches tall, 30 inches high x 24 inches wide (5 sq. ft max)., and 24 inches wide (Sec. § 77-9A(3)(c)). Most commercial signs in Pelham require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business and Office Districts | 10 | 30 inches | 30 inches high x 24 inches wide (5 sq. ft max). | — |
| Residential Districts, Residence A-1 District, Residence A-2 District, Residence A-3 District, Residence B-1 District, Residence B-2 District, Residence M District, Residence M-1 District | 4 | — | 10 sq ft per sign (max dimension 5 ft). | — |
| Institutional Properties | 1 | — | 10 sq ft per sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 6" x 12" | — |

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

### Business and Office Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Primary | — | — | — | — | 1 per business; 2 for corner lots (one per street). | On building facade in designated sign area; on or in a window, on the valance of an awning/canopy or on the face of a marquee (one per street frontage unless a corner property). | — | § 77-9A(2)(b)-(d), § 77-9A(3)(a), § 77-9A(4)(a), § 77-9A(5)(a), § 77-9E |
| Wall Sign - Secondary | — | — | — | — | 1 per business; more allowed for storefronts with multiple window sections (must be identical). | Window or on the valance of an awning/canopy. Businesses with multiple architecturally defined window sections may have one identical secondary sign per section. | — | § 77-9A(2)(c)-(d), § 77-9A(4)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | No higher than the highest point of the roof or 15 feet above the top of the curb, whichever is lower. | — | — | Building must be set back >10 ft from property line; sign must not be within 10 ft of side lot or within 30 ft of corner lot corner. | — | Permitted only if the building is set back more than 10 feet from the property line; face must be parallel or perpendicular to the street. | — | § 77-9A(2)(e) |
| Swinging Post Sign | No higher than the highest point of the roof or 15 feet above the top of the curb. | — | — | See above. | — | Permitted if the storefront/building is set back more than 10 feet from the property line. | — | § 77-9A(2)(e) |
| Perpendicular Sign | — | — | — | Storefront must be set back 10 ft from property line. | — | Permitted where the storefront is set back 10 or more feet from the property line. | — | § 77-9A(2)(f) |
| A-frame (Sidewalk) Sign | Maximum height 4 ft (3 ft on corner lots); minimum height 2 ft. | — | Maximum width 3 ft. | — | One per business (if business is displaying a legal primary sign). | On the sidewalk directly in front of the business it advertises. | — | § 77-9A(2)(j), § 77-9A(3)(f), § 77-5.1 |
| Directory Sign (Directory to Multiple Businesses) | 30 inches | 30 inches high x 24 inches wide (5 sq. ft max). | 24 inches | — | 1 per building entrance. | Mounted next to the entrance of the building. | — | § 77-9A(3)(c) |
| Nameplate (Upper Floor Businesses) | 9 inches | 9 in. high x 18 in. wide | 18 inches | — | One per upper floor business establishment. | Mounted next to the building entrance. | — | § 77-9A(3)(b) |

### Residential Districts, Residence A-1 District, Residence A-2 District, Residence A-3 District, Residence B-1 District, Residence B-2 District, Residence M District, Residence M-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Property Identification Sign (One- and Two-family Dwellings) | — | 2 sq ft per sign; total of all signs: 5 sq ft per detached residence. | — | At least 6 ft from street/property line. | Multiple allowed if total does not exceed 5 sq ft. | Attached to building or displayed on rod/post at least 6 ft from any street/property line. | — | § 77-10A(4)(a), § 77-10A(1), § 77-10A(2)(a) |
| Residential Property Identification Sign (Multifamily Residence - Residence M, M-1) | — | 2 sq ft per sign at each exterior entrance. | — | At least 6 ft from street/property line. | One per exterior entrance. | At each exterior entrance to a building, attached to building or displayed on rod/post at least 6 ft from any street/property line. | — | § 77-10A(4)(b)[1], § 77-10A(1), § 77-10A(2)(a) |
| Professional Office/Home Occupation Sign (Residence M, M-1) | — | 1 sq ft | — | 6 ft from street/property line. | One per office or occupation. | Attached to building at principal entrance, at least 6 ft from street/property line. | — | § 77-10A(4)(b)[3] |
| Business Sign (Legally Nonconforming Use) | — | 10 sq ft per sign (max dimension 5 ft). | 5 ft | 6 ft from street/property line; top of sign no more than 6 ft above top of curb. | One per legally nonconforming use. | Attached to building or post/rod at least 6 ft from street/property line. | — | § 77-10A(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Sale, Rental, Contractor) | — | 2 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line. | One per building. | One per building; must not be within 10 feet of any property line. | — | § 77-4G |
| Holiday Decoration/Lighting (Dec 1 - Jan 15) | — | — | — | — | — | Exterior. | — | § 77-4E |
| Public Safety Notice | — | Push-pull: 3" x 5"; No-smoking/etc.: 1' x 1' | — | — | See details | Push-pull at door handle. No-smoking/etc. at one location per business (on door glass or lower corner of nearest window). | — | § 77-4I |
| Open/Closed Sign | — | 6" x 12" | — | — | One per business. | Attached to glass of door. | — | § 77-4J |
| Decal Sign | — | As per 1 ft x 1 ft area (see § 77-4I(2)) | — | — | — | Window/door as per § 77-4I(2) | — | § 77-4K |
| Business Hours Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business. | Painted/affixed to window or glass of door. | — | § 77-4L |
| Telephone Number Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business. | Painted/affixed to one window. | — | § 77-4M |
| Private Property, Road, Driveway Notice | — | Residential: 1 sq ft; Business/Office: 3 sq ft. | — | — | — | — | — | § 77-4H |

## Prohibited signs in Pelham

- No sign, awning, canopy, marquee or barber pole nor any illumination thereof shall be erected, relocated or altered without a permit issued by the Building Inspector unless exempted in § 77-4.
- All items (signs, awnings, canopies, marquees, barber poles, including A-frame signs with permits) must be maintained in a safe and attractive condition so as not to be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.
- Signs shall not be located so as to interfere with the vision of any driver entering or leaving the property or at any intersection or traffic light.
- Illumination of signs must not create glare that disturbs residents or disturbs the vision of passing pedestrians or motorists or constitute a hazard to traffic.
- All sign design, construction, erection, relocation, and maintenance must conform to the State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and all other applicable codes and ordinances.
- When required insurance becomes ineffective or the sign/awning/canopy/marquee/barber pole no longer has a valid permit or license, it must be immediately removed.
- Any neglect, failure, or refusal to comply with any provision of this chapter shall be deemed a violation.
- Signs must be removed when no longer in use.
- No interior sign shall be self-illuminated except as expressly allowed.
- Intermittent or flashing lighting and movable lighting with movable parts are impermissible, including but not limited to changeable-copy signs, animated signs, and searchlights.
- No exposed conduit, electrical boxes, splice boxes or related items shall be allowed on any sign.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected, relocated or maintained in violation of this chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pelham

- Property identification signs containing street address numbers that do not exceed six inches in height and are attached to a building.
- Residential signs, awnings, canopies and marquees on properties of conforming use that conform to §§ 77-10 and 77-12.
- Signs required by New York State law or any governmental entity with jurisdiction.
- Interior signs that conform to §§ 77-9A(2)(h), 77-9A(3)(d), (e) and 77-9E(1) and (3).
- Reasonable exterior holiday decorations and lighting from December 1 through January 15.
- Temporary signs posted on the bulletin boards that the Village owns and maintains for that purpose.
- For each building, one unlit temporary sign that is either an announcement of the prospective sale or rental of the property on which the sign is displayed or the sign of a contractor working on the property, subject to specified size and location restrictions.
- Signs that indicate the private nature of a road, driveway, or premises and signs that limit the use of private property by the public, subject to area restrictions by district.
- Public safety notices (such as push-pull signs, no-smoking signs, no-soliciting signs, security alarm signs) displayed within specified size and location criteria.
- Open/closed signs attached to the glass of a door that are no larger than six inches by twelve inches.
- Decals, including group affiliations and credit cards, displayed in a specified square area of a window or door.
- One business hours sign painted on or affixed to a window or glass of a door (lettering no more than one inch, clear background).
- One telephone number painted on or affixed to one window, with restrictions on background and size depending on window location.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit application for a sign, awning, canopy, marquee or barber pole requires submission of a drawing, elevations/renderings, and information as required to show compliance with the chapter to the Architectural Review Board for approval.
- Permit applications must be approved by the Architectural Review Board and the Building Inspector prior to issuance.
- Signs, awnings, canopies, marquees and barber poles that extend over public property require proof of insurance as part of the permit process.
- Renewal of licenses must be submitted to the Architectural Review Board at least 60 days prior to expiration, with evidence of structural soundness and, when required, proof of insurance.
- Variances may be granted by the Village Board of Trustees upon recommendation by the Architectural Review Board that the architecture of a building is so distinctive that the variance is necessary.
- Applications for signs at gasoline stations and 'similar special conditions' (such as those not otherwise allowed) require recommendation by the Architectural Review Board and approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals as a special exception.
- Any appeal or request for variance follows set procedures involving the Architectural Review Board and/or Village Board of Trustees.

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

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