# Sign Regulations in Sea Cliff, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sea Cliff, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/sea-cliff
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7242744#7242744)

## At a glance

Sea Cliff, New York regulates 25 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Business Sign (Freestanding)s in the Business districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft (top above average grade); bottom not more than 5 ft above ground tall, 3 ft x 3 ft x 8 in thick, and 3 ft wide, with a No closer to side lot lines than required side yard setback (Sec. §105-9E, §105-10B). Most commercial signs in Sea Cliff require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence districts | 17 | 5 ft (above ground) | 12 sq ft | — |
| Business districts | 24 | 8 ft (top above average grade); bottom not more than 5 ft above ground | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residence districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Construction Sign (Freestanding) | 2 ft (bottom above ground) | 4 sq ft | — | On developed property: behind building line; On undeveloped property: minimum 25 ft from street | 1 per lot | Not nearer to an adjacent street than the building line on developed property; not nearer than 25 ft on undeveloped property | — | §105-9C, §105-10A |
| Construction Sign (Wall) | 5 ft (above ground) | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §105-9C, §105-10A |
| Construction Sign (Window) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | In window | — | §105-9C, §105-10A |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 5 ft (bottom above ground) | 2 sq ft | — | — | Up to number of entrances/exits; else, 1 | Number per use not to exceed number of entrances/exits; one otherwise | — | §105-9D, §105-10A |
| Directional Sign (Window) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Up to number of entrances/exits; else, 1 | In window | — | §105-9D, §105-10A |
| Name Sign (Freestanding) | 5 ft (bottom above ground) | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per family/occupant | — | — | §105-9F, §105-10A |
| Name Sign (Window) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per family/occupant | In window | — | §105-9F, §105-10A |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding) | 2 ft (bottom above ground) | Developed property: 3 sq ft; Undeveloped property: 6 sq ft | — | Developed: behind building line; Undeveloped: 25 ft from street | 1 per lot | On developed property not nearer to street than building line; on undeveloped property min 25 ft from street | — | §105-9J, §105-10A |

### Business districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Canopy) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Included in business sign total limits per business | Front face of structure, not projecting horizontally beyond canopy; bottom edge not less than 8 ft above sidewalk or ground | — | §105-9B, §105-10B |
| Business Sign (Freestanding) | 8 ft (top above average grade); bottom not more than 5 ft above ground | 3 ft x 3 ft x 8 in thick | 3 ft | No closer to side lot lines than required side yard | 1 per lot | Front yard only, no projection over property line | — | §105-9E, §105-10B |
| Business Sign (Projecting) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | Included in business sign total limits per business | Front face of structure only, bottom edge not less than 10 ft above grade, no projection over property line | — | §105-9H, §105-10B |
| Business Sign (Trademark) | 8 ft (top above average grade); bottom not more than 5 ft above ground | 3 ft x 3 ft x 8 in thick | 3 ft | No closer to side lot lines than required side yard | 1 per lot | Front yard only, no projection over property line | — | §105-9K, §105-10B |
| Business Sign (A-frame) | 4 ft (top above ground); bottom not higher than 1 ft above ground | 12 sq ft | 2 ft (width), 3 ft (height of display part) | — | 1 per business | On private property only, not on public streets/rights-of-way/sidewalks/parking areas | — | §105-9N, §105-10B |
| Construction Sign (Freestanding) | 2 ft (bottom above ground) | 6 sq ft | — | On developed property: behind building line; On undeveloped property: minimum 25 ft from street | 1 per lot | Not nearer to an adjacent street than the building line on developed property; not nearer than 25 ft on undeveloped property | — | §105-9C, §105-10B |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding) | 5 ft (bottom above ground) | 2 sq ft | — | — | Up to number of entrances/exits; else, 1 | Number per use not to exceed number of entrances/exits; one otherwise | — | §105-9D, §105-10B |
| Real Estate Sign (Freestanding) | 2 ft (bottom above ground) | Developed: 3 sq ft; Undeveloped: 6 sq ft | — | Developed: behind building line; Undeveloped: 25 ft from street | 1 per lot | On developed property: not nearer to street than building line; undeveloped: min 25 ft from street | — | §105-9J, §105-10B |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General - All Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §105-5, §105-6, §105-7, §105-8 |

## Prohibited signs in Sea Cliff

- No signs shall be erected or maintained in the Village of Sea Cliff except as provided in this chapter.
- It is unlawful to erect, construct, paint, alter, relocate, reconstruct, display or maintain any illumination or sign without first having obtained a sign permit from the Building Inspector, unless exempt.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to be distractive or hazardous or to obstruct visibility with respect to the safety of motorists or pedestrians.
- No signs except directional signs or traffic signs shall be permitted on public streets or rights-of-way.
- No signs shall be erected or maintained on the roof or eave of any building.
- Excessively weathered or faded signs must be removed or repaired.
- All nonoperative or broken interior lighted illuminated signs must be repaired or removed.
- All temporary signs must be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for which they are erected.
- Signs must be hung or erected securely and safely; they must not present danger of falling or collapse.
- Flashing, rotating, revolving, reflecting, intermittent or mobile signs are prohibited.
- Signs painted, erected, affixed or maintained on any tree, stone or other natural object are prohibited.
- No later than 90 days after a tenant has vacated a premises, any exterior signs identifying such tenant or business shall be removed by the property owner and the facade of the building restored.
- Illuminated signs must be turned off and extinguished at or before 12:00 midnight unless the business is open past 12:00 midnight, in which case lighting must be reduced by 50% after midnight and extinguished at closing time.
- Signs shall be illuminated indirectly or internally with white light; exposed neon tubing and signs made directly from neon tubes or similar illuminating devices are not permitted.
- No illumination shall be located so as to be confused with traffic control signals by color or proximity.
- Illumination and illuminated signs shall not interfere with the normal enjoyment of residential uses in adjacent residential districts.
- Signs may be erected or maintained only in connection with permitted uses.
- No sign may be erected, maintained, altered or moved on any lot or structure on which exists a nonconforming sign.
- Existing signs not conforming to these regulations must be altered to conform or removed within five years from the date of enactment.
- No freestanding sign or projecting or trademark sign shall project over any property line.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sea Cliff

- Directional signs do not require a sign permit.
- Name signs do not require a sign permit.
- Professional signs do not require a sign permit.
- Real estate signs do not require a sign permit.
- Traffic signs do not require a sign permit.
- Signs with an area of less than one square foot do not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No central requirement for a master sign plan or sign plan is explicitly mentioned in the general ordinance text provided. Each individual sign (unless exempt as listed) requires an individual permit with application details, but no reference to a master sign plan or similar is found.
- Applications for variances from the ordinance are handled by the Board of Architectural Review and are considered on a case-by-case basis, requiring findings as specified in § 105-12.
- Signs identifying landmarks, landmark sites or properties within historic districts require approval of the Commission with respect to size, style, color, typography, material/construction, and wording before installation.

## Full detail

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

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