# Sign Regulations in Pittsford, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Pittsford, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/pittsford
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/5126523#5126523)

## At a glance

Pittsford, New York regulates 39 sign types across 15 zoning districts. Temporary For Sale/Lease Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 feet above grade tall and 4 sq ft (1-sided), 4 sq ft each side (2-sided), with a 3 ft from any lot line, 18 inches from property line abutting right-of-way. setback (Sec. §168-6A(1)). Most commercial signs in Pittsford require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (15 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 5 feet above grade | 4 sq ft (1-sided), 4 sq ft each side (2-sided) | — |
| B-2 District | 1 | — | 1 sq ft (fuel price), remainder not specified | — |
| Nonresidential District, Commercial District | 14 | 5 ft from grade | Principal elevation: 30 sq ft; Other elevations: 8 sq ft each | — |
| Commercial Complex | 4 | 5 ft from grade | 30 sq ft | — |
| Single Commercial Building | 1 | — | Principal elevation: 30 sq ft; Other elevations: 8 sq ft each | — |
| Multiple Commercial Building | 2 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Hotel, Gasoline Service Station | 1 | 5 ft | 16 sq ft per side, up to 2 sides | — |
| Office District | 3 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Office Complex | 3 | 5 ft from grade | 16 sq ft per side, up to 2 sides | — |
| Single-office Building | 1 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Multiple-office Building | 2 | — | 30 sq ft | — |
| Office in a Single or Multiple Commercial Building | 1 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Office in a Commercial Complex | 1 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| R-4 District | 1 | — | 1 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 15 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On the fringe of roll-type awning, attached to a building elevation. | — | §168-5A |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited from erection on any building elevation. | — | §168-5D |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited except aviation directional signs painted on roof as permitted by federal/state regulation. | — | §168-5E |
| Portable Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited except as specifically provided for temporary signs or in special sections. | — | §168-5F |
| Temporary For Sale/Lease Sign | 5 feet above grade | 4 sq ft (1-sided), 4 sq ft each side (2-sided) | — | 3 ft from any lot line, 18 inches from property line abutting right-of-way. | 1 per street frontage | On premises offered for sale/lease | — | §168-6A(1) |
| Resident Name/Address Plate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On the premises | — | §168-6A(2) |
| Architect/Contractor Sign (During Construction) | — | 4 sq ft (1-sided), 4 sq ft per side (2-sided) | — | 18 inches from property line abutting right-of-way | — | On premises under construction, repair, or renovation | — | §168-6A(3) |
| Historic Date/Erection Tablet | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On relevant building/home | — | §168-6A(4) |

### Nonresidential District, Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign - Single Commercial Building | — | Principal elevation: 30 sq ft; Other elevations: 8 sq ft each | — | — | 1 per elevation facing public street/waterway | Each elevation facing a public street/waterway | — | §168-7A(1) |
| Wall Sign - Multiple Commercial Building - Single Entrance | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | On elevation of entrance serving a single commercial establishment | — | §168-7B(1) |
| Wall Sign - Multiple Commercial Building - Multiple Entrances | — | Group: 30 sq ft; Each sign: per linear front but cannot exceed 30 total | — | — | 1 per establishment per entrance | On elevation of entrance serving multiple commercial establishments | — | §168-7B(2), (2)(a), (2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign - Commercial Complex | 5 ft from grade | 16 sq ft (1 side), up to 2 sides | — | — | 1 per entrance | At commercial complex entrance(s); must not obstruct vehicular/pedestrian visibility | — | §168-7C(1) |
| Directory Sign - Commercial Complex | 5 ft (if freestanding) | Sum of 1 sq ft per establishment/office listed | — | — | 1 per complex | Approved by Planning Board; must not obstruct visibility if freestanding | — | §168-7C(2) |
| Wall Sign - Commercial Complex - Single Entrance | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment per entrance | On elevation of entrance serving single commercial establishment | — | §168-7C(3)(a) |
| Wall Sign - Commercial Complex - Multiple Entrances | — | Each sign cannot exceed allotted area in group (max 30 sq ft for group) | — | — | 1 per establishment per entrance | On elevation of entrance serving more than one commercial establishment | — | §168-7C(3)(b), [1], [2] |
| Freestanding Sign (Hotel or Gasoline Service Station) | 5 ft | 16 sq ft per side, up to 2 sides | — | — | 1 per location | On premises of hotel or gasoline service station | — | §168-7E(1) |

### Commercial Complex

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign - Commercial Complex | 5 ft from grade | 16 sq ft per side, up to 2 sides | — | — | 1 per entrance | At each entrance from a public way, must not obstruct visibility | — | §168-7C(1) |
| Directory Sign - Commercial Complex | 5 ft from grade (if freestanding) | — | — | — | 1 per complex | Approved by Planning Board; may be freestanding, must not obstruct visibility | — | §168-7C(2) |
| Wall Sign - Single Entrance | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance per establishment | On elevation of entrance to establishment | — | §168-7C(3)(a) |
| Wall Sign - Multiple Entrances | — | Group: 30 sq ft; Each sign up to its allotted proportion | — | — | 1 per entrance per establishment | On elevation of entrance to multiple establishments | — | §168-7C(3)(b), [1], [2] |

## Prohibited signs in Pittsford

- No sign other than those expressly permitted in this chapter shall be erected or maintained.
- No sign shall be internally lighted.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights.
- Illuminated signs or lighting devices must employ only lights emitting a light of constant intensity.
- Illuminated sign or lighting device beams and illumination may not be directed upon a public street, highway, sidewalk, or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.
- No gas-filled tubes (neon) are permitted on any exterior elevation of any building. No other gas-filled tube (neon) signs visible from a public street or waterway are permitted except as otherwise provided.
- No projecting sign shall be erected or maintained from any elevation of a building.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in or upon any public or private street, sidewalk or other right-of-way.
- All signs must be affixed to a building, placed parallel to the building or elevation, may not extend beyond the sides of the building or above any roof ridge or solid parapet wall, and may not be painted or pasted on walls.
- No signs shall be placed on or attached to any roof of any building, except aviation directional signs painted on the roof in compliance with federal and state regulations.
- No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on any elevation of a building or parked or otherwise located on any premises except as specifically provided.
- No pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices, as well as strings of lights with bulbs larger than 2.5 volts, are permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Pittsford

- Signs erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function or required by any law, ordinance, or governmental regulation are not considered 'signs' for the purposes of this chapter.
- Signs denoting property for sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which the sign is located (subject to limitations on size, location, and number).
- Signs denoting the name and address of the residents of the premises (not exceeding one square foot).
- Signs denoting the architect, engineer, or contractor, placed on premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress (not exceeding four square feet per side; subject to placement restrictions).
- Historic signs or tablets denoting only the date of erection and other historic information of homes/buildings made of cast metal and not exceeding four square feet.
- Temporary political signs, as defined, are permitted according to size, location, and timing restrictions, and do not require Board approval or a permit.
- Temporary signs as provided for in §168-12 are permitted without Board approval and without a permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for most signs except as otherwise provided for exempt signs (such as certain temporary or political signs).
- Application for a permit must include scale drawings, location plans, construction details, and owner consent if the applicant is not the owner.
- No sign may be erected without prior approval from the Architectural and Preservation Review Board and a permit from the Village Building Inspector, except for signs permitted without a permit.
- For multiple-office buildings and office complexes, a sign permit shall be issued for the sign plan (including any building name, address sign, directory signs, and nameplates). Copy changes within directory signs or upon nameplates do not require a new permit.
- A sign permit shall be issued for any directory sign(s) in office buildings, commercial buildings, or complexes. Copy changes within the directory sign(s) do not require a new permit.
- Variances from the chapter may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals after public notice and hearing.

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

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