# Sign Regulations in Plattsburgh, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Plattsburgh, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/plattsburgh
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32589202#32589202)

## At a glance

Plattsburgh, New York regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Single Business)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 100 sq ft, with a 5 ft minimum from street boundary setback (Sec. §360-27H(1)(a)-(h); §360-27D(6); §360-27I(3)). Most commercial signs in Plattsburgh require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| RH, R-1 | 7 | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 32 sq ft (6 sq ft if cardboard) | — |
| R-2 | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-2, C, I, RC-1 | 3 | — | 100 sq ft | — |
| RC-2, RC-3, Historic districts and historic sites | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential Zone (R-1, RH, R-2) | 4 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — |

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

### RH, R-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Digital Sign (All Types) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §360-27I(1); Table A |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §360-27J(1); §360-27G(3) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §360-27J(2) |
| Nonconforming/Variance/Special Use Permitted Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §360-27J(3) |
| Election Sign | — | 32 sq ft (6 sq ft if cardboard) | — | — | Varies by candidate/issue | On premises | — | §360-27G(14) |
| For Sale or Rent Sign | — | 6 sq ft aggregate | — | — | 2 | On premises | — | §360-27G(10) |
| Free Expression Sign | 3 ft (if freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises; freestanding or attached | — | §360-27G(13) |

### Residential Zone (R-1, RH, R-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §360-27J(1); §360-27G(3) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §360-27J(2) |
| Nonconforming/Variance/Special Use Permitted Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §360-27J(3) |
| Multiple-family / Nonresidential Use Sign | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises appurtenant to permitted multi-family, condo, townhouse or nonresidential use | — | §360-27J(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Single Business) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum from street boundary | 1 per lot | Setback minimum 5 ft from boundary of adjacent public street | — | §360-27H(1)(a)-(h); §360-27D(6); §360-27I(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multiple Businesses) | 20 ft | 200 sq ft | — | 5 ft minimum from street boundary | 1 per lot | Setback minimum 5 ft from boundary of adjacent public street | — | §360-27H(1)(a)-(h); §360-27D(6); §360-27I(3) |
| Wall Sign | — | 150 sq ft (see formula) | — | — | Unlimited (not to exceed aggregate area) | On wall; max projection 6 inches | — | §360-27H(2); §360-27D(6) |
| Construction/Project Sign | 16 ft | 96 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On project site | — | §360-27G(6) |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft per face | — | — | As reasonably required | On premises as needed for directions | — | §360-27G(7); Definition |
| Memorial Sign or Tablet | — | 6 sq ft total area | — | — | — | On stone, masonry, or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials | — | §360-27G(2) |
| Pawnbroker Business Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Conspicuous in front of place of business | — | §244-6 |

## Prohibited signs in Plattsburgh

- It is unlawful to install, erect or display a sign without a sign permit unless the sign is an 'exempt sign'.
- No sign shall obstruct ingress or egress to or from a door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in a manner that obstructs the view of motorists on public streets of traffic signs and signals, or of vehicles on intersecting streets, or of vehicles entering or exiting driveways that intersect with a public street.
- Signs that identify on-premises businesses, or advertise goods or services sold on premises, shall be changed or removed within 60 days of when the business vacates the premises or the advertised goods or services are no longer sold on premises.
- Bare incandescent light sources and immediately adjacent reflecting surfaces shall be shielded from view.
- String lighting shall not be allowed.
- Billboard signs are prohibited.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs located in City rights-of-way that are not owned by the state, county or City are prohibited.
- Signs located on utility poles, traffic control lights, trees, public structures or public property are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Plattsburgh

- Banners or pennants (except in residential zones) that promote or announce an event held on the premises, but only during the duration of the event and up to 30 days prior thereto.
- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any stone or masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials and not exceeding six square feet in total area.
- One residential nameplate sign.
- Traffic control signs and signs with messages required by law.
- Signs owned by the City of Plattsburgh which may display noncommercial and commercial messages not appurtenant to the signed premises.
- One sign with information about a construction project, not exceeding 96 square feet in area and 16 feet in height, erected not sooner than six months before the commencement of construction and removed upon completion of construction.
- Directional signs.
- Seasonal or holiday decorations which may be displayed for up to six weeks.
- Warning, danger, no-trespassing or similar signs, in size and number as the Building Inspector determines is reasonably required to accomplish their intended purpose.
- Not more than two signs advertising real property for sale or rent that are located on the premises for sale or rent. In residential districts, the total sign area does not exceed six square feet; in all other districts, does not exceed 32 square feet.
- Signs located on premises that advertise the opening of a new retail establishment for a period of not more than 15 days.
- Official flags of a city, state or country, business or other organization not exceeding 100 square feet in area.
- One free expression sign per lot not exceeding four square feet in size (and height restrictions if free-standing), in addition to any other sign permitted and permitted in any zoning district.
- Election signs: For each lot, one election sign for each candidate and each issue may be displayed along each street frontage. Election sign not to exceed 32 square feet in area (or six square feet for cardboard). All such signs to be removed within 10 days after the election.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for all signs unless the sign is an 'exempt sign'.
- The Building Inspector is authorized to prescribe the form and content of sign permit applications and issue sign permits.
- Written certification from the sign manufacturer must be provided at the time of application for a sign permit for digital signs, certifying that the light intensity of the sign does not exceed allowed illumination levels and that this setting is protected from end user manipulation.
- Applicants denied a sign permit may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals for an interpretation or variance as provided in the chapter.

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

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