# Sign Regulations in Spencerport, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Spencerport, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/spencerport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14663302#14663302)

## At a glance

Spencerport, New York regulates 15 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Portable Sign (Sandwich Board, etc.)s in the B Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), C Zoning Districts zoning district are capped at 36 in (sign panel), 42 in (stand) tall, 30 in width x 36 in height (sign panel), stand up to 42 in height, and 30 in wide (Sec. §259-5J). Most commercial signs in Spencerport require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| B Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), C Zoning Districts | 13 | 36 in (sign panel), 42 in (stand) | 30 in width x 36 in height (sign panel), stand up to 42 in height | — |
| ARD (Architectural Review District) | 1 | 5 ft | 16 sf | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | Varies: e.g. real estate sign ≤7 ft (residential); church/school sign ≤6 ft | Varies: e.g. property name/number sign ≤1 sf; temporary nonilluminated sign ≤32 sf for construction; real estate ≤9 sf (residential) or ≤6 ft high (all); garage sale ≤4 sf | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### B Zoning Districts (B-1, B-2, B-3), C Zoning Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Horizontal Format, First Floor) | 2 ft | 20 sf | — | — | One per public entrance; up to two signs for corner lots | Located at or near a public entrance on primary facade. | — | §259-5A(2)(a), §259-5A(3), §259-5A(4), §259-6M, §259-3 |
| Wall Sign (Vertical Format) | — | 6 sf | — | — | One per public entrance; up to two for corner lots | At or near a public entrance | — | §259-5A(2)(b), §259-6M |
| Wall Sign (Second Story Business) | — | 10 sf (single business); 15 sf (aggregate two or more businesses on upper floors) | — | — | Aggregate for building face | Above first-story window trim, cornice, or lintel (upper story facade) | — | §259-5A(5) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 16 sf per sign face | Projects max 4 ft from building face or 2/3 the width of sidewalk, whichever is less. | — | One per entrance | At or near public entrance | — | §259-5B |
| Directory Sign (for two businesses) | — | 4 sf | — | — | One per common entrance | At common entrance; may be wall or projecting sign. | — | §259-5G(2)(b), (3) |
| Directory Sign (for three+ businesses) | — | 6 sf | — | — | One per common entrance | At common entrance | — | §259-5G(2)(b), (3) |
| Directory Sign (Symmetrical Building, two tenants) | — | 4 sf per sign | — | — | Max two per entrance | At entrance, symmetrically placed on building | — | §259-5G(2)(c), (3) |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board, etc.) | 36 in (sign panel), 42 in (stand) | 30 in width x 36 in height (sign panel), stand up to 42 in height | 30 in | — | One per business | Sidewalk adjacent to business; must maintain minimum 5 ft unimpeded pedestrian path | — | §259-5J |

### ARD (Architectural Review District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 5 ft | 16 sf | — | — | See approval; typically one per property. | On-premises; may not block vehicular/pedestrian sight lines. | — | §259-5K |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Exempt) | Varies: e.g. real estate sign ≤7 ft (residential); church/school sign ≤6 ft | Varies: e.g. property name/number sign ≤1 sf; temporary nonilluminated sign ≤32 sf for construction; real estate ≤9 sf (residential) or ≤6 ft high (all); garage sale ≤4 sf | — | — | Varies: e.g. one per frontage (real estate), two max on church/school, etc. | On-premises | — | §259-6J, §259-6K |

## Prohibited signs in Spencerport

- No sign may be positioned on a structure so that it obscures any architectural feature, including, but not limited to, the cornice, window trim, door trim, or porch railings.
- A sign shall not interfere with or obstruct any official traffic sign, signal or marking for any reason, such as its location, shape, size, color, or design.
- Signs with flashing, moving, or intermittent lighting of any kind are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as otherwise permitted in the B Districts.
- Signs that are erected in such a way as to obstruct a door, window, or fire escape of the building to which the sign is affixed are prohibited.
- Signs that are backlighted are prohibited.
- Signs that are electric or neon to the extent that such signs are visible from a traveled way are prohibited. (Neon window signs are permitted in the B and C Districts.)
- Signs that are temporarily tacked, posted, or painted to poles, benches, barrels, buildings, posts, trees, sidewalks, curbs, rocks, or any structure are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited.
- Vending machine signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited.
- Flag signs are prohibited.
- Signs affixed to the exterior of a window or door glass are prohibited.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Any sign on wheels is prohibited.
- Portable signs which are illuminated are prohibited.
- Signs shall be made of wood except as required by state or federal law or permitted by § 340-88A(6). No plywood, particle board, plastic, or baked enamel on metal shall be used, except medium-density overlay plywood or marine plywood, which must be edge-banded.
- Sign brackets and standards shall be made of wrought iron or wood. The sign bracket shall extend the full length of the sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Spencerport

- Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing property numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises are exempt from the requirement of a sign permit (except as elsewhere provided in the ordinance).
- Signs required under the Americans With Disabilities Act are exempt from the requirement of a sign permit.
- A single flag or insignia of any government is exempt from the requirement of a sign permit.
- Legal notices, identification, informational or directional signs erected or required by governmental agencies are exempt from the requirement of a sign permit.
- Private-owner merchandise sale signs for garage sales and auctions, not exceeding four square feet, are exempt from the requirement of a sign permit. Such signs may be erected no sooner than 72 hours prior to the sale and must be removed within 24 hours after such sale. The total sale period shall not exceed 10 consecutive days.
- A nonilluminated temporary sign, not exceeding 32 square feet in area, announcing the erection of a building, the architect and the builder, may be erected for a period of 60 days plus the time of the construction period without a sign permit.
- Real estate signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of improved premises or unimproved land upon which the sign is located, one per frontage, not exceeding nine square feet, are exempt (with limitations on residential property height—no more than seven feet; otherwise, no more than six feet above grade).
- One freestanding 'open house' type sign is permitted only during those hours when such property is actually open for inspection and while on such property, without a sign permit.
- One nonilluminated sign not exceeding 16 square feet in area for each church or educational institution on a tax parcel (but not more than two such signs on a tax parcel) is exempt from the requirement of a sign permit. Such signs may be freestanding and may not be more than six feet above grade. Larger signs require a variance and special use permit.
- One nonilluminated political campaign or ballot measure sign, not to exceed nine square feet in area for each face, may be erected up to 30 days in advance of the election date and must be removed within seven days after the election date, without a sign permit.
- Noncommercial message signs expressing the opinion or philosophy of the owner or occupant of the property regarding religious, social or economic causes, not to exceed nine square feet in area for each face, are exempt from the requirement of a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs require a sign permit to be issued prior to erection and maintenance, except as otherwise provided (i.e., except exempt signs).
- A sign package (master sign plan) is required for any parcel of land containing two or more commercial speech signs, including shopping centers and multitenant buildings.
- Monument signs in the Architectural Review District (ARD) require a sign permit pursuant to § 259-3B.
- Temporary signs as allowed in § 259-6K require a sign permit from the Building Inspector without further review.
- Variance and special use permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals is required for certain large signs for churches or educational institutions.
- If any sign is enlarged, reworded, redesigned, or altered in any way, including repainting in a different color, it requires a new sign permit.
- Any sign moved to another location is considered a new sign and requires a permit.
- Signs located in the ARD require sign package approval from the Code Enforcement Officer.

## Full detail

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

---

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