# Sign Regulations in Sleepy Hollow, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Sleepy Hollow, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/sleepy-hollow
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15070779#15070779)

## At a glance

Sleepy Hollow, New York regulates 23 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Gasoline Station Sign (Auxiliary and Product Signs)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Freestanding sign: max top 20 ft; min bottom 10 ft above grade tall and Auxiliary: 4 sq ft each (2 allowed); Price/promotional: 12 sq ft each or 6 sq ft/side, with a set no closer than 10 ft to edge of pavement, bottom not below 10 ft from grade setback (Sec. §338-5J). Most commercial signs in Sleepy Hollow require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial District | 10 | 24 in | 75 sq ft (total sign directory) | — |
| Residential District (R Districts) | 5 | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | Freestanding sign: max top 20 ft; min bottom 10 ft above grade | R Districts: 20 sq ft; Commercial: subject to zone max | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Principal) | 24 in | — | 20 ft | — | 1 per facade (maximum 2 on corner lots) | Affixed to building facade, parallel to facade, principal sign per facade | — | §338-6C, §338-6E, §338-6F |
| Wall Sign (Secondary) | 24 in | — | 75% of street frontage, max 20 ft | — | 1 per business | On front flap of awning, front door, or in window of second-floor business | — | §338-6C(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 secondary sign per business | On front valance/flap of awning | — | §338-6C(2), §338-23 |
| Window Sign (Illuminated or Nonilluminated) | — | — | — | — | 1 per business | In window (interior, visible from outside, within 5 feet of glass) | — | §338-6L, §338-3, §338-6J |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft per display window | — | — | Up to 4 per facade | Inside window | — | §338-5H, §338-6G |
| Freestanding Sign (Temporary) | Under 10 ft, over 3 ft above ground | 1.5 sq ft per display window | — | — | — | Commercial properties excluding Beekman Avenue, Cortlandt Street, Valley Street | — | §338-6G(5) |
| Sign Directory | — | 75 sq ft (total sign directory) | — | — | 1 directory sign per plaza/building | Off-street shopping plazas or multi-tenant buildings | — | §338-6I |
| Parking Area Condition/Identity Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 (2 if property is on a corner) | At parking area | — | §338-6N(2) |

### Residential District (R Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Name Plate/Identification) | — | 1 sq ft (single-family); 6 sq ft (multi-dwelling structure) | — | — | 1 per dwelling (2 if corner lot) | Flat against front of building, projecting not more than 6 inches | — | §338-7A(1), §338-7B, §338-7C(1)(a)-(b) |
| Wall Sign (Sale, Rental, or Development) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | Flat against building or as unrelated freestanding sign as per setback req. | — | §338-7C(2)(a)-(b), §338-7B |
| Freestanding Sign (Name Plate/Identification) | 5 ft | 1 sq ft (for residents, see exemption) | — | 15 ft from front lot line | — | Directly in front of, but not attached to, building. Minimum 15 ft from front lot line | — | §338-7A(2), §338-7B |
| Freestanding Sign (Private Driveway) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | — | At private driveway | — | §338-7C(3)(a) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Residential district, location as per permit application | — | §338-9D, §338-9A, §338-9E |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Number/Name Plate (Resident) | — | 1 sq ft (house/apartment/mailbox); 1 sq ft or 2 sq ft double-faced (lawn sign) | — | — | — | On house, apartment, mailbox, or as lawn sign | — | §338-5E, §338-5F |
| Temporary Sign (Private Sale/Garage Sale/Auction) | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | — | On-premises only | — | §338-5G |
| Holiday Decorations | — | — | — | — | — | Any district | — | §338-5I |
| Construction Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises where construction in progress | — | §338-5M |
| Gasoline Station Sign (Auxiliary and Product Signs) | Freestanding sign: max top 20 ft; min bottom 10 ft above grade | Auxiliary: 4 sq ft each (2 allowed); Price/promotional: 12 sq ft each or 6 sq ft/side | — | Price/promotional signs: set no closer than 10 ft to edge of pavement, bottom not below 10 ft from grade | Auxiliary: 2; Price/promotional: 2 | On gasoline pump, pump island, or as freestanding | — | §338-5J |
| Trademark Sign | Top max 20 ft, bottom max 10 ft above ground | 3 ft x 3 ft (8 in deep) | 3 ft | — | 1 per lot | Front yard, not closer to side lot lines than required side yard | — | §338-5K |
| Event Sign | — | R Districts: 20 sq ft; Commercial: subject to zone max | — | — | — | Immediate site of event | — | §338-5O |
| Official Government and Warning Signs | — | — | — | — | — | Where required for public notification or direction | — | §338-5N, §338-5P |

## Prohibited signs in Sleepy Hollow

- No off-premises sign shall be allowed other than as permitted under the exempt sign provision.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent or rotating or moving lights.
- No sign shall emit smoke, vapors, or particles, sound or colors.
- No sign shall impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in its design, color or placement, nor impair visibility for motorists at a street corner or intersection.
- No sign or sign support shall be placed on the roof of any building.
- No sign or exterior display shall consist of banners, pennants, flags, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices.
- No more than one illuminated sign may be located closer than five feet to a display window, and such illuminated sign shall not exceed 18 inches on any side.
- Signs located in or projecting over a street, except those erected by a governmental body, are prohibited.
- Exterior signs containing products or service advertising, trade names or logotypes separate from the name of the business are prohibited.
- The use of vacuum plastic formed faced signs or letters is prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Commercial pan signs are prohibited, except for three-dimensional letters/logos.
- Any illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining roof lines, doors, windows, wall edges or architectural features of any building is prohibited.
- Any sign that obscures a sign displayed by public authority for the purpose of giving traffic instructions, directions or other information is prohibited.
- Any sign that uses the word 'stop' or 'danger' or otherwise presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or caution or the existence of danger, or which is a copy or imitation of, or likely to be confused with any sign displayed by a public authority is prohibited.
- Any sign that causes direct glare into or upon any dwelling is prohibited.
- With the exception of government signs and those pertaining to traffic and parking regulations, no signs may be located within or upon the right-of-way of any public road or on public land.
- No utility pole, light pole, parking meter, structure or tree located in any public right-of-way, publicly owned land, or public easement shall be used for posting of signs.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- Any sign which at any time no longer advertises a bona fide business or activity on the premises or a product/service offered on the premises is prohibited.
- Self-illuminated product and brand name advertising signs are prohibited on the building exterior or window within five feet of the glass or arranged to be seen by passersby.
- The use of metallic, iridescent, and day-glo bright colors is prohibited (except natural metals and genuine gold/silver leaf are permitted).
- No trademark sign or part of a trademark sign shall project over any property line.
- No trademark sign shall be installed on a lot containing a freestanding sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Sleepy Hollow

- Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection cut into masonry or constructed of bronze, stainless steel or similar material; emblems installed by governmental agencies or religious/nonprofit organizations not exceeding six square feet.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- On-premises directional signs for the convenience of the general public, identifying public areas, fire zones, entrances and exits and similar signs, internally or externally illuminated (business names allowed, excluding advertising messages).
- Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or no-trespassing signs, not exceeding 1.5 square feet.
- Number and nameplates identifying residents, mounted on a house, apartment or mailbox, not exceeding one square foot.
- Lawn signs identifying residents, not exceeding one square foot (or two square feet if double-faced); nonilluminated except by an integral lamppost light, with no advertising.
- Private-owner merchandise sale signs for garage sales and auctions, not exceeding 1.5 square feet for up to seven days.
- Temporary, nonilluminated window signs and posters, placement not to exceed 30 days.
- Holiday decorations, including lighting, displayed in any district without permit until 10 days after the holiday.
- At gasoline stations: integral graphics or attached price signs on pumps; two auxiliary signs each not exceeding four square feet; up to two price/product/promotional signs each not exceeding 12 square feet (or 6 sf/side) under certain placement conditions; freestanding product signs with 10-foot vertical clearance and height limits.
- Trademark signs (with size, placement, and number conditions as specified in the ordinance).
- Directional signs for meetings, conventions and other assemblies, provided all signs are removed within 10 days after the event.
- One sign not exceeding six square feet listing the architect, engineer, contractor and/or owner on premises where construction is in progress (to be removed promptly upon project completion).
- Official notices or advertisements posted or displayed by or under the direction of any public officer or court officer in the performance of official duties (to be removed within 10 days after required display period ends).
- Signs advertising only the name, time, and place of any bona fide fair, carnival, festival, bazaar or similar event by public agency or qualified civic/religious/fraternal/charitable groups, subject to district-specific size and location requirements and removal within 10 days after event.
- Any informational or directional sign erected by a public agency or under its authorization.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as specifically exempted by § 338-5, no sign may be erected or displayed on a building facade, awning or on or within a window without first obtaining a permit from the Building Inspector (§ 338-13).
- The permit application requirements include drawings, samples, photographs, owner's consent, and any additional documentation required by the Building Inspector (§ 338-14).
- All complete applications are forwarded to the Architectural Review Board for review (§ 338-14A).
- Awnings must be included in a site plan application with required drawings, photographs and samples (§ 338-23).
- An applicant may appeal a refusal or order regarding a sign permit to the Architectural Review Board within 15 days (§ 338-15), triggering a public hearing.
- Variances from chapter provisions may be granted by the Architectural Review Board per specific findings (§ 338-16).
- Any sign not conforming to the provisions of this chapter must be brought into compliance within 18 months of adoption (nonconforming signs; § 338-11).

## Full detail

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/sleepy-hollow