# Sign Regulations in Scotia, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Scotia, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/scotia
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9175611#9175611)

## At a glance

Scotia, New York regulates 18 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Low Rise (0 - 5')s in the General Business, Retail Commercial, Waterfront zoning district are capped at 5 feet to top of sign tall, 30 square feet per face, and 20 feet max horizontal dimension wide, with a 2.5 feet from carriage way; 50 feet from any other freestanding sign. setback (Sec. §205-6, Table, §205-7, §205-8). Most commercial signs in Scotia require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Business, Retail Commercial, Waterfront | 9 | 16 feet to top of sign | 60 square feet per sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 6 feet | 30 square feet per face | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Business, Retail Commercial, Waterfront

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 16 feet to top of sign | 60 square feet per sign | — | 2.5 feet minimum from carriage way (if projecting into right-of-way). | Total sign area on property subject to the formula and overall maximum; not specified per sign. | On exterior wall of building, message parallel to wall, not more than 1 foot from face of wall. | — | §205-6, Table, Definitions, §205-2, §205-7, §205-8 |
| Freestanding Sign - Low Rise (0 - 5') | 5 feet to top of sign | 30 square feet per face | 20 feet max horizontal dimension | 2.5 feet from carriage way; 50 feet from any other freestanding sign. | Not specified, but area and spacing rules limit number. | On property; at least 2.5 ft from carriage way; ground clearance NA. | — | §205-6, Table, §205-7, §205-8 |
| Freestanding Sign - Medium Rise (Over 5’ – 8’) | 8 feet to top of sign | 30 square feet per face | 12 feet horizontal dimension max | 2.5 feet from carriage way; 50 feet from any other freestanding sign. | Not specified, but area and spacing rules limit number. | On property; at least 2.5 feet from carriage way; ground clearance NA. | — | §205-6, Table, §205-7, §205-8 |
| Freestanding Sign - High Rise (Over 8’ – 16’) | 16 feet to top of sign | 30 square feet per face | 8 feet horizontal dimension max | 2.5 feet from carriage way; 50 feet from any other freestanding sign. | Not specified, but area and spacing rules limit number. | On property; at least 2.5 ft from carriage way; may project into public right-of-way up to 4 feet. | — | §205-6, Table, §205-7, §205-8 |
| Projecting Sign | 16 feet to top of sign | 20 square feet per sign | 8 feet horizontal dimension max | 2.5 feet from carriage way. | Not specified, but subject to overall square footage limits. | Projecting from building wall; up to 6 feet into right-of-way. | — | §205-6, Table, §205-7, §205-8; Definitions |
| Awning Sign | 9 feet to top of sign | 50% of awning flap area | — | 2.5 feet from carriage way. | One awning sign per awning flap; overall signage subject to property maximum. | On canvas flap of awning | — | §205-6, Table, §205-7, §205-8; Definitions |
| Canopy Sign | 10 feet to top of sign | 12 square feet | — | 2.5 feet from carriage way. | One canopy sign per canopy; overall signage subject to property maximum. | On portion of canopy parallel to building wall | — | §205-6, Table, §205-7, §205-8; Definitions |
| Electronic Message Board (EMB)/LED Sign - Wall/Facade | Per wall sign/table/zone restrictions | 24 square feet per side | — | — | One EMB/LED sign per property. | Mounted as wall/facade sign | — | §205-17, §205-6 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign (For Sale or Lease) | — | 6 square feet per face | — | — | 1 | On property being advertised | — | §205-4[A][1] |
| Temporary On-Premises Sign (Sale/Event/Marketing) | — | 6 square feet per face | — | — | — | On property being advertised | — | §205-4[A][2] |
| Temporary Off-Premises Sign (Not-for-Profit/Residential Event) | — | 6 square feet per face (if not otherwise stated, table applies) | — | — | One per property | — | — | §205-4[B] |
| Election Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not on Village lands or rights-of-way. | — | §205-4[C] |
| Public Safety Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §205-4[D] |
| Construction Sign | 6 feet | 6 square feet per face | — | — | One | On property under construction or renovation | — | §205-4[F] |
| Home Occupation Sign (Building or Freestanding) | 6 feet (freestanding) | 1.5 square feet per face | — | 10 feet (freestanding) from all public rights-of-way | One | On building or as freestanding sign at home occupation | — | §205-4[G] |
| Temporary Banner/Poster | — | 30 square feet per face | — | — | — | Attached to a building | — | §205-4[H] |

## Prohibited signs in Scotia

- No sign shall cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or public nuisance.
- No sign shall be erected at any location where it may interfere with any authorized traffic sign.
- No sign shall produce sound.
- Other than window signs, no sign shall be constructed of glass.
- No sign shall be constructed using mirror or mirror-like surface or any day-glow or other fluorescent paint or pigment.
- No sign shall contain or be illuminated by flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights. All luminous signs, indirectly illuminated signs and lighting devices shall employ only lights emitting light of constant intensity. All light sources and immediately adjacent reflecting surfaces shall be shielded from open view from rights-of-way. All external sign light sources must be within five feet of the sign or sign structure.
- No non-exempt sign or part thereof shall contain any banner, pennant, ribbon, streamer, spinner, balloon or other similar moving or fluttering devices.
- No sign or any structural parts thereof shall have motion other than incidental motion created by wind.
- No signs shall be placed, painted or drawn upon trees, man-made or natural features (excluding buildings on the site), on utility poles, bridges, culverts, towers or similar structures, not intended to hold a sign.
- No sign shall extend beyond the height and width of the building upon which it is mounted.
- No sign shall be attached to or placed upon any portion of a fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected that will in any way interfere with the activities of the Fire Department.
- Roof signs are prohibited (signs mounted on roofs other than mansard roofs).
- Portable signs on wheels, carts, trailers or any other device which allows the sign to be moved are prohibited. (does not include sandwich board signs)
- Fabricated coverings customarily used to cover display of soda cases, stacks of tires, or wood and other similar items for the purposes of advertising are considered a sign and are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Scotia

- Temporary on-premises, nonilluminated signs, including signs advertising property for sale or lease, sale of merchandise or a special event, or general marketing info, are allowed with time and size limits.
- Temporary off-premises, nonilluminated signs by residential property owners or not-for-profit groups to advertise special events or fundraising events are allowed with time and size limits. (Prohibited for for-profit business events.)
- Election signs (for candidates or ballot initiatives) are allowed on private property except on Village lands or rights-of-way.
- Nonilluminated public safety signs (e.g., no trespassing, private drive, parking, exit/entrance, or other signs required by law/gov) are exempt.
- Historical, memorial or directional markers, such as flags, insignia, or emblems of any government or religious organization (not associated with commercial activity) are exempt.
- Construction signs (one per premise) identifying parties in design, finance, labor or materials for construction or renovation are exempt with removal and size/time requirements.
- One nonilluminated home occupation sign (professional office/home occupation use) per property, with specific size and location requirements, is exempt.
- Temporary banners, pennants, posters, etc., attached to buildings (not freestanding), maintained in original condition, are exempt within size and time limits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Site plan approval is required to erect or make alterations to non-exempt signs on a property that has undergone any prior site plan approval.
- A sign permit is required before erecting or making alterations to any sign not exempt under § 205-4 within the Village of Scotia.
- Every application for erecting or altering a sign must include a plot plan to scale with all proposed and existing signage, elevation drawings or photos, and any other information required by the Building Inspector or Planning Board to show compliance.
- During site plan or architectural review (if a property is undergoing such review), all existing and proposed signs must be reviewed by the Planning Board for compliance, and any non-compliant signs must be brought into compliance or removed within a specified time. Plans for bringing signs into compliance must be approved by the Planning Board.

## Full detail

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

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