# Sign Regulations in Riga, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Riga, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/riga
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9622204)

## At a glance

Riga, New York regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Temporary Sign (Event)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft (measured from grade level) tall and 16 sq ft per face; 32 sq ft cumulative for all faces, with a Minimum 10 ft from any lot line; not in public right-of-way (§ 95-74 D(4)) setback (Sec. § 95-74 E(9)(a)-(g)). Most commercial signs in Riga require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 6 ft (measured from grade level) | 40 sq ft per sign | — |
| Highway Commercial (HC), Light Industrial Park (LI), General Industrial (GI) | 6 | ≤ 24 ft | Derived from formula; overall cumulative cap 100 sq ft per lot for § 95-74 F(1) signs | — |
| Rural Residential/Agricultural (RRA) | 6 | ≤ 24 ft | Derived from formula; overall cumulative cap 100 sq ft per lot for § 95-74 F(1) signs | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Occupant Identification Sign (Address/Name) | — | 1.5 sq ft cumulative | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line | Not specified; limited by cumulative area | On-premises | — | § 95-74 E(1); D(5)-(6); D(8) |
| Property Use Regulation Sign (No Trespassing/No Hunting/etc.) | — | 2 sq ft per sign | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line | 1 per 100 linear feet of lot line | On-premises along property boundaries | — | § 95-74 E(2); D(5)-(6) |
| Real Estate Sign (Sale/Rent/Lease) | — | 16 sq ft per face; 32 sq ft cumulative for all faces | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line | Only one sign permitted for each lot, building or occupancy | On-premises only (advertises availability of the lot/building/part of building) | — | § 95-74 E(3); E(10); G(2); D(5)-(6) |
| Agricultural Product Sale Sign (On-premises) | — | 16 sq ft per face; 32 sq ft cumulative for all faces | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line | More than one sign permitted per lot so long as cumulative area of all faces does not exceed 32 sq ft | On-premises where customary agricultural products are grown or produced by the owner/occupant | — | § 95-74 E(4); E(10); G(2); D(5)-(6) |
| Subdivision/Development/Construction Site Sign | — | 32 sq ft per sign | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line | One per site; two allowed if site >5 acres in single ownership fronting on two or more streets | On the subdivision, development or construction site | — | § 95-74 E(5) |
| Traffic Directional Sign (Ingress/Egress/Internal Circulation/Parking/Loading) | — | 1 sq ft per sign | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line | Not specified | On-premises only | — | § 95-74 E(6) |
| Temporary Sign (Event) | 6 ft (measured from grade level) | 16 sq ft per face; 32 sq ft cumulative for all faces | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line; not in public right-of-way (§ 95-74 D(4)) | Max 1 temporary message or event sign per lot by owner/occupant; town-wide maximum 20 event signs for any one event | On- or off-premises (not within public right-of-way) | — | § 95-74 E(9)(a)-(g) |
| Temporary Sign (Message) | 6 ft (measured from grade level) | 16 sq ft per face; 32 sq ft cumulative for all faces | — | Minimum 10 ft from any lot line; not in public right-of-way (§ 95-74 D(4)) | Max 1 temporary message or event sign per lot by owner/occupant | On- or off-premises (not within public right-of-way) | — | § 95-74 E(9)(a)-(g) |

### Highway Commercial (HC), Light Industrial Park (LI), General Industrial (GI)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not specified for wall signs; may not extend above the uppermost roof line; may not project beyond wall extremities | Derived from formula; overall cumulative cap 100 sq ft per lot for § 95-74 F(1) signs | — | General minimum 10 ft from any lot line (D(14)) | One sign per building or occupancy; if frontage on more than one street, one sign per building or occupancy is permitted for each street, subject to cumulative area limits | Placed flat against the building | — | § 95-74 F(1); D(5)-(6); D(8); G(1) |
| Freestanding Sign | ≤ 24 ft | Derived from formula; overall cumulative cap 100 sq ft per lot for § 95-74 F(1) signs | — | ≥ 25 ft from any lot line (this specific standard supersedes the general 10 ft minimum) | One sign per building or occupancy; if frontage on more than one street, one sign per building or occupancy is permitted for each street, subject to cumulative area limits | On-premises, attached to structurally sound standards | — | § 95-74 F(1); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Group Identification: Shopping Center/Office Complex/Industrial Park) | ≤ 24 ft | ≤ 100 sq ft | — | ≥ 25 ft from any lot line | One freestanding group identification sign per unified development | On-premises for a development/unit (shopping center, office complex, industrial park) | — | § 95-74 F(2); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Wall Sign (Pump Island Canopy - Motor Vehicle Service Station) | Top of sign ≤ 4 ft above top of canopy; bottom of sign ≤ 1 ft from top of canopy | — | — | — | As allowed under § 95-74 F(1) for the building/occupancy | Mounted above pump island canopy at a motor vehicle service station | — | § 95-74 F(3)(a); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Motor Vehicle Service Station) | ≤ 24 ft | ≤ 32 sq ft | — | ≥ 25 ft from any lot line | One freestanding sign per motor vehicle service station (in addition to § 95-74 F(1) sign[s]) | On-premises at a motor vehicle service station | — | § 95-74 F(3)(b); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Accessory Pump Island Signs (Services/Prices/Trade Information) | — | ≤ 8 sq ft cumulative per pump island | — | — | Not specifically limited; total area per pump island limited to 8 sq ft | On or adjacent to pump islands at motor vehicle service stations | — | § 95-74 F(3)(c); D(5)-(6); G(1) |

### Rural Residential/Agricultural (RRA)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Commercial Uses Only) | Not specified for wall signs; may not extend above the uppermost roof line; may not project beyond wall extremities | Derived from formula; overall cumulative cap 100 sq ft per lot for § 95-74 F(1) signs | — | General minimum 10 ft from any lot line (D(14)) | One sign per building or occupancy; if frontage on more than one street, one sign per building or occupancy is permitted for each street, subject to cumulative area limits | Placed flat against the building | — | § 95-74 F(1) (as applied to RRA commercial uses); D(5)-(6); D(8); G(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial Uses Only) | ≤ 24 ft | Derived from formula; overall cumulative cap 100 sq ft per lot for § 95-74 F(1) signs | — | ≥ 25 ft from any lot line (this specific standard supersedes the general 10 ft minimum) | One sign per building or occupancy; if frontage on more than one street, one sign per building or occupancy is permitted for each street, subject to cumulative area limits | On-premises, attached to structurally sound standards | — | § 95-74 F(1) (as applied to RRA commercial uses); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Group Identification: Shopping Center/Office/Industrial Park) (Commercial Uses Only) | ≤ 24 ft | ≤ 100 sq ft | — | ≥ 25 ft from any lot line | One freestanding group identification sign per unified development | On-premises for a unified commercial development | — | § 95-74 F(2) (as applied to RRA commercial uses); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Wall Sign (Pump Island Canopy - Motor Vehicle Service Station) (Commercial Uses Only) | Top of sign ≤ 4 ft above top of canopy; bottom of sign ≤ 1 ft from top of canopy | — | — | — | As allowed under § 95-74 F(1) for the building/occupancy | Mounted above pump island canopy at a motor vehicle service station | — | § 95-74 F(3)(a) (as applied to RRA commercial uses); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (Motor Vehicle Service Station) (Commercial Uses Only) | ≤ 24 ft | ≤ 32 sq ft | — | ≥ 25 ft from any lot line | One freestanding sign per motor vehicle service station (in addition to § 95-74 F(1) sign[s]) | On-premises at a motor vehicle service station | — | § 95-74 F(3)(b) (as applied to RRA commercial uses); D(5)-(6); G(1) |
| Accessory Pump Island Signs (Services/Prices/Trade Information) (Commercial Uses Only) | — | ≤ 8 sq ft cumulative per pump island | — | — | Not specifically limited; total area per pump island limited to 8 sq ft | On or adjacent to pump islands at motor vehicle service stations | — | § 95-74 F(3)(c) (as applied to RRA commercial uses); D(5)-(6); G(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Riga

- Signs are permitted only as accessory uses; signs as a primary, nonaccessory use (including billboards) are not allowed in any district (D(1)).
- Commercial signs may only advertise businesses/products/services available on the premises; off-site commercial advertising is prohibited except for permitted directional signs (E(7)) and temporary event signs (E(9)); noncommercial message content is not restricted by this rule (D(2)).
- Signs may not obstruct or confuse traffic control/directional devices or the view of drivers/pedestrians, including due to similarity, shape, color, wording, illumination, or location (D(3)).
- No sign may be located within or overhang into any public right-of-way (D(4)), except for government/utility traffic/directional/public information devices and duly licensed vehicles with advertising that comply with traffic/parking laws and are not stationary in the right-of-way for more than 24 hours.
- Flashing, intermittent, rotating, animated, moving lights, or lighting of varying intensity are prohibited; lighting must be directed to avoid shining on streets/sidewalks/adjacent premises and to avoid glare or traffic hazards (D(5)).
- Illuminated signs may be lit only while the accessory use is open; in HC/LI/GI districts, lighting outside business hours is allowed only if it does not directly shine on properties in other districts or on residences (D(6)).
- No banners, pennants, pinwheels, streamers, or other moving/ fluttering/ revolving devices may be attached to signs (D(7)).
- No sign may project above the roofline or beyond wall edges, and roof-mounted signs are prohibited; exception only for signs above pump island canopies at motor vehicle service stations within specified limits (D(8)).
- No sign may be painted or displayed on fences, rocks, trees, or other natural features, or on parking lot/driveway surfaces, except for traffic direction/control as permitted elsewhere in §95-74 (D(9)).
- Signs may not obstruct or interfere with doors, windows, fire escapes, or other means of egress (D(10)).
- Any sign with electrical wiring must comply with the National Electrical Code and have components labeled by an approved testing agency (D(11)).
- All signs must conform to applicable building and fire codes; a sign permit and/or site plan approval is required before erection, installation, or display unless otherwise provided (D(12); G(1)(a)).
- All signs and supports must be maintained in good repair, neat, safe, and structurally sound; display surfaces must be kept neatly painted; defective parts must be replaced as needed (D(13)).
- No sign may be within 10 feet of any lot line (D(14)).
- These sign regulations supplement any use-specific sign regulations elsewhere in the chapter (D(15)).

## Signs exempt from permit in Riga

- Occupant/property identification signs up to 1.5 square feet cumulative per lot/building/occupancy (E(1)) — no permit required.
- Property regulation signs (e.g., 'No Trespassing,' 'No Hunting,' 'No Solicitors,' security/fire protection provider identification) up to 2 square feet each; limited to one per 100 linear feet of lot line (E(2)) — no permit required.
- Real estate signs advertising sale/rental/lease up to 16 square feet per face/32 square feet cumulative; one per lot/building/occupancy (E(3)) — no permit required.
- Agricultural product sale signs (for items grown/produced on the property) up to 16 square feet per face/32 square feet cumulative; multiple allowed so long as total area does not exceed 32 square feet (E(4)) — no permit required.
- Subdivision/development/construction site identification signs: nonilluminated, up to 32 square feet (two allowed on sites >5 acres fronting on 2+ streets); subject to Planning Board approval during site plan/subdivision review; may be installed only after final approval or building permit issuance; must be removed within 3 months after occupancy or 3 years after installation, whichever first (E(5)).
- Traffic direction/guidance signs (ingress/egress, internal circulation, parking/loading) up to 1 square foot each; for new/expanded commercial/industrial uses, subject to Planning Board approval during site plan review; painted traffic control legends/arrows on pavement are not considered signs (E(6)).
- Official government signs/notices/direction devices (on- or off-site) and off-site identification/directional signs for specified public facilities and civic/service organizations, with individual signs not exceeding 2 square feet (E(7)).
- Institutional signs for churches, libraries, community centers, hospitals/nursing homes, public/private schools (excluding trade/technical), or cemeteries up to 40 square feet (E(8)).
- Temporary signs (nonilluminated): one per lot; up to 16 square feet per face/32 square feet cumulative; max height 6 feet; event signs posted no more than 20 days before and removed within 7 days after the event; maximum 20 event signs Town-wide per event; portable signs limited to 30 days per calendar year per lot (E(9)).
- Certain permitted signs (E(3), E(4), E(5), E(8)) may also display public interest or other noncommercial messages within the allowed area (E(10)).
- No permit is required for repair, maintenance, cleaning, or painting of a sign, or for changing copy/logo/content, provided there is no structural or design change (G(1)(a)).
- The prohibition on signs in public rights-of-way does not apply to government/utility traffic control/directional/public information devices, or to duly licensed vehicles bearing commercial or noncommercial messaging that comply with traffic/parking rules and do not remain stationary in the right-of-way for more than 24 hours (D(4)).
- Noncommercial messages are exempt from the on-premises advertising restriction applicable to commercial signs (D(2)).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit is required for erection, construction, display, enlargement, or alteration of any sign unless the sign is approved by the Planning Board as part of site plan or subdivision plat review, or is otherwise exempt under §95-74 (G(1)(a)).
- Signs approved by the Planning Board during site plan or subdivision review do not require a separate sign permit (F; G(1)(a)).
- Subdivision/development/construction site identification signs must be approved by the Planning Board during site plan or subdivision review and may not be installed until final site plan/subdivision approval is granted or a building permit is issued (E(5)).
- For new or expanded commercial/industrial construction, traffic direction signage is subject to Planning Board approval during site plan review (E(6)).
- No explicit master sign plan requirement or variance meeting requirement is stated in §95-74.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Riga, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Riga+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-riga

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