# Sign Regulations in Rochester, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rochester, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/rochester
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8684035#8684035)

## At a glance

Rochester, New York regulates 17 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Detached Signs in the R-1, R-2, O-O, O-B zoning district are capped at 4 ft above finished grade tall and 15 sq ft, with a Not closer than 10 feet to a residential lot line setback (Sec. §120-177D).

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, O-O, O-B | 2 | 4 ft above finished grade | 15 sq ft | — |
| R-3, C-1, C-2, H-V, PMV, C-V, PD | 2 | 4 ft above finished grade | 25 sq ft per side of sign | — |
| C-3 | 2 | 15 ft above finished grade | 50 sq ft per side of sign | — |
| M-1 | 2 | 6 ft above finished lot grade | 32 sq ft per side of sign | — |
| O-S | 1 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 23 ft | 236 sq ft per side | — |

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

### R-1, R-2, O-O, O-B

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign | — | 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Attached to building; 1 per lot | — | §120-177D |
| Detached Sign | 4 ft above finished grade | 15 sq ft | — | Detached signs: Not closer than 10 feet to a residential lot line | 1 per lot | Posted in yard | — | §120-177D |

### R-3, C-1, C-2, H-V, PMV, C-V, PD

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage | Attached to building (per street frontage) | — | §120-177D |
| Detached Sign | 4 ft above finished grade | 25 sq ft per side of sign | — | Detached signs: Not closer than 10 feet to a residential lot line | 1 per parcel | Located in front yard; 1 per parcel | — | §120-177D |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Building Address Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per building | Prominently displayed, pedestrian- and automobile-oriented | — | §120-177B(2) |
| Directional and Parking Sign | 3 ft | 2 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per business | — | — | §120-177B(7) |
| Gasoline Price Sign | — | 1 sq ft per face | — | — | — | Attached to gasoline dispenser | — | §120-177B(12) |
| Permanent Bulletin Board/Event Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Places of worship and public/semi-public uses | — | §120-177B(13) |
| Political Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | §120-177C(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 2 per lot | — | — | §120-177C(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 2 per lot | Attached to dwelling | — | §120-177C(3) |
| Advertising Sign (M-1, C-3, Commercial Districts/Highway) | 23 ft | 236 sq ft per side | — | No closer than 5 ft to street line; other distance restrictions apply by use and location | 2 sign faces per site | Subject to specified separation and locational requirements | — | §120-177M |

## Prohibited signs in Rochester

- No sign shall be at any location where it interferes with or obstructs the view or free passage of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- No sign shall be painted, placed or constructed directly on or project from a roof.
- No sign shall be attached to any tree, utility pole or street appurtenances or be painted upon or otherwise affixed to any rock, ledge or other natural feature.
- No detached sign shall be closer than 10 feet to a residential lot line.
- Signs parallel to and attached to a building shall not be set out more than 10 inches, except if electrical components require, 15 inches maximum.
- Any sign that projects from a building over the public right-of-way shall be located at least nine feet above grade and must comply with construction regulations.
- Signs and awnings shall not materially obscure architectural features or details of buildings.
- No more than 50% of the sign face may be covered with text or graphics.
- No pennants, ribbons, streamers, sheets, spinners or other moving devices shall be allowed.
- No sign shall consist of strings of lights or contain blinking, flashing, intermittent, rotating, glaring, or moving lights or other attention-attracting devices.
- Any illuminated sign must use lights of constant intensity only.
- No sign shall be movable or portable unless defined as a temporary sign.
- Abandoned signs and structures are prohibited and must be removed by the owner.
- No person shall paint, mark, write on, post or otherwise affix any sign to or upon any public place or object such as sidewalk, crosswalk, curb, lamppost, hydrant, tree, street appurtenance, etc.
- No sign shall be located where it does not meet the requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
- No sign shall be erected on a roof unless it is designed by a registered architect or professional engineer.
- Internally lit signs are prohibited in all residential, C-1, PMV and H-V Districts.
- Advertising signs not permitted except in M-1 and C-3 Districts or within 660 feet of a qualifying Federal highway in a commercial or M-1 District.
- No sign shall be placed within specified distances of preservation district boundaries, designated landmarks, other advertising signs, schools, churches, public parks, the Genesee River, Civic Center boundaries, or street lines, as specified.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rochester

- Customary holiday decorations.
- One prominently displayed building address sign, pedestrian- and automobile-oriented, according to provisions.
- Family name signs.
- Decorative flags.
- No trespassing and similar signs.
- Traffic control signs.
- No more than two directional and parking signs not exceeding two square feet per business and no taller than three feet high.
- Signs, flags, or emblems erected and maintained pursuant to any government function.
- Decorative or architectural features of a building, except letters or trademarks.
- Memorial or historic plaques, markers, monuments or tablets.
- Safety signs.
- Gasoline price signs attached to a gasoline dispenser and not exceeding one square foot per face.
- Permanent bulletin board event signs related to places of worship and public and semipublic uses not exceeding six square feet.
- Political signs not exceeding six square feet per side (limited to two per lot, with removal time), real estate signs (size and number limitations), non-illuminated home occupation signs attached to dwelling and less than one square foot (unless otherwise restricted), and construction or renovation signs under six square feet, all not requiring certificate of zoning compliance.
- Placement of advertisements by the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority on bus shelters within the right-of-way.
- Placement of advertisements on or within a public bikeshare station or public scooter-sharing station authorized by an agreement or ordinance.
- Advertising signs within 660 feet of a Federal Interstate and Primary Highway System highway in specified districts.
- Advertising signs and outdoor advertising devices in C-3 and M-1 Districts existing at the time of enactment, except rooftop installations, are exempt from amortization.
- Any allowed or permitted permanent sign or advertising sign may contain a noncommercial message constituting a form of expression in lieu of other copy.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A 'certificate of zoning compliance' is required for signs that exceed the specified thresholds in §120-177B.
- An 'alternative sign program' (sometimes called a Master Sign Plan) may be submitted for creative site-specific sign solutions differing from Subsections D through F; approval requires a special permit (and Preservation Board approval in preservation districts). Graphic and written information must address noncompliance and unique conditions.
- In commercial or industrial buildings/plazas with three or more occupants, a shared sign is required, and kiosk sign structures are encouraged.
- A certificate of zoning compliance or certificate of nonconformity is required for restoration of nonconforming structures or signs after partial damage/destruction, and restoration must begin within one year.
- Appeal procedures exist for abandonment/discontinuance issues via the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- For signs projecting over the public right-of-way, compliance with insurance, security requirements, and construction standards is required.

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

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