# Sign Regulations in Tarrytown, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Tarrytown, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/tarrytown
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10674668#10674668)

## At a glance

Tarrytown, New York regulates 20 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Building/Complex Identification)s in the Office Building and Mixed-Use Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet above adjoining street or adjoining ground if above street level tall and 12 square feet per face, with a Not within 10 feet of street right-of-way setback (Sec. §251-7(B)(2); §251-10(B)(2)). Most commercial signs in Tarrytown require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential districts | 2 | 6 feet above adjoining street or adjoining ground if above street level | 12 square feet per face | — |
| Office Building and Mixed-Use Districts | 2 | 6 feet above adjoining street or adjoining ground if above street level | 12 square feet per face | — |
| Retail, commercial and industrial districts | 6 | 19 feet above ground (top) | 32 square feet per face | — |
| Restricted Retail District | 1 | 36 inches | — | — |
| Broadway Sign District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Historic districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Industrial District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Other commercial districts | 1 | — | — | — |
| Waterfront District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 4 feet | 25 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Office Building and Mixed-Use Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Building/Complex Identification) | — | 12 square feet per face | — | — | One sign per building, plus one sign at complex entrance (for complexes with more than one building) | On building wall | — | §251-7(B)(2)-(3); §251-10(B)(2) |
| Ground Sign (Building/Complex Identification) | 6 feet above adjoining street or adjoining ground if above street level | 12 square feet per face | — | Not within 10 feet of street right-of-way | One per building plus one at complex entrance if more than one building | Within property, not within 10 feet of street right-of-way | — | §251-7(B)(2); §251-10(B)(2) |

### Retail, commercial and industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Street Fronting) | 2 feet (vertical) | — | 75% of street frontage, max 15 feet | — | One per street frontage; two for buildings at intersection (second must be <50% area) | On building wall, flat or parallel, not extending more than 12 in from building | — | §251-7(C)(2)-(4), §251-10(B)(5) |
| Perpendicular Sign | — | 9 square feet per side | — | — | One per street frontage (in addition to one wall sign) | Extending from facade (min clearance 8 ft above grade, max at top 12 ft from sidewalk, max projection 4 ft) | — | §251-7(C)(2); §251-11 |
| Wall Directory | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage in lieu of wall sign (if 2+ businesses); two for buildings at intersection | On wall | — | §251-7(C)(5) |
| Wall Sign (Rear) | — | Max 25% of principal sign size | — | — | One | Rear of building facing a public or private off-street parking area | — | §251-7(C)(6) |
| Ground Sign | 18 feet above ground (top) | 24 square feet per face | — | At least 5 feet from structure, other setbacks per Chapter 305 | One in lieu of wall sign | Erected at least 5 feet from any structure; in lieu of wall sign where at least 50% of the property is not covered by structures | — | §251-7(C)(7) |
| Ground Sign (Gasoline Filling Stations) | 19 feet above ground (top) | 32 square feet per face | — | — | One (plus max 2 restroom signs) | On premises | — | §251-7(C)(8) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Window) | — | — | — | — | One window | Interior side of a window | — | §251-4G(4) |
| Temporary Public Information Sign (Window, Special Event) | — | — | — | — | One window | In window | — | §251-4G(5) |
| Directional Sign (On-Premises) | 4 feet | 4 square feet per face | — | — | — | On-premises, for public parking, fire zones, entrances/exits, etc. | — | §251-4G(15) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | One per construction site | Immediately adjacent to construction/improvement site | — | §251-6(E) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Improved) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per improved parcel | Attached to principal building on improved lot | — | §251-6(D) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Unimproved) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per unimproved parcel | On unimproved lot (with Building Inspector approval) | — | §251-6(D) |

## Prohibited signs in Tarrytown

- No sign may be erected or displayed without first obtaining a sign permit from the Building Inspector, except as provided in the exemptions.
- No flashing, moving or fluttering signs and signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor.
- No signs affixed to exterior glass, except specified informational signs.
- No signs of such a design and location that they interfere with, compete for attention with or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
- No freestanding or projecting signs within 30 feet of the intersection of rights-of-way of two or more streets, except informational signs erected by a governmental body.
- No signs located in or projecting over a street or sidewalk, except for awnings and those erected by a governmental body and as permitted for perpendicular signs.
- No exterior signs containing product or service advertising or trade names.
- No signs on any exterior wall of a building above the ground floor, except permitted window signs or as specifically exempted.
- No banners or flags (other than as specifically exempted or permitted in certain cases).
- No billboards.
- No signs displayed in a hazardous manner to traffic or disturb occupants of other buildings.
- No neon signs.
- No bills or notices posted within the Village except on bulletin boards maintained by the Village or other governmental authority.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign shall be illuminated so as to be hazardous to traffic or disturb the occupants of any other building, or to permit beams of light to be directed into an adjacent residential district so as to cause illumination of residences and property therein.
- No person shall attach any sign, bill, card, notice or advertisement to any tree or shrub in any street, park or other public place.
- No visual or graphic displays or graphic advertising of services performed by tattoo parlors; only business name on a sign is permitted.

## Signs exempt from permit in Tarrytown

- Traffic signs erected by a governmental body.
- Temporary emergency signs erected for public safety where repair or installation work is in progress.
- One sign on residential premises, limited to one square foot; and one sign identifying an office or business as permitted by zoning, limited to two square feet.
- Temporary paper signs in windows, readily removable and not permanently attached, occupying up to 25% of the window, for up to 30 days.
- Temporary signs informing the public of a special event, allowed in a window for up to four weeks.
- Signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway or other premises and signs limiting use of private property by the public, limited to one square foot.
- Nonilluminated signs used by places of worship, up to 3 feet by 4 feet.
- Informational signs as required by law, up to one square foot on a window or door.
- Name of each business at main entrance or in a window of second floor or higher business, in letters of prescribed maximum height (two inches at entrance, four inches in window).
- Signs designating security systems in residential neighborhoods—one sign per residence, maximum ten by ten inches.
- Fire safety signs.
- Menu of customary size.
- Historical markers and similar signs, building names and dates when cut or constructed of durable material, emblems by government, religious, or nonprofit organizations, not exceeding six square feet.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion, up to 150 square feet per face.
- On-premises directional signs for public convenience (parking, fire zones, entrances/exits), up to four square feet per face and four feet in height (internally or nonilluminated).
- Private-owner merchandise sale signs for garage sales and auctions, up to four square feet, for up to four days.
- Holiday decorations, including lighting, may be displayed for up to eight weeks without a permit (excluding promotional material containing emblems, logos, or product/company names).
- At gasoline stations, sign on gasoline pump, up to two square feet.
- Temporary on-premises directional signs for meetings, conventions, and assemblies, not exceeding four square feet.
- Analog clocks not exceeding 24 square feet; digital time and temperature signs are prohibited.
- Informational signs in or on a window, up to four square feet, for generic services or products without brand names.
- Menu of customary size (restaurants, etc.), as an additional exemption.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign may be erected or displayed without a sign permit, except for exemptions; application forms and required documentation must be provided to the Building Inspector.
- The Building Inspector shall not issue a sign permit for a noncompliant sign unless a variance is requested and approved by the Architectural Review Board.
- Variances from sign requirements are reviewed by the Architectural Review Board; applicants must prove hardship and demonstrate special circumstances. Minimum variance granted; conditions/safeguards may apply and be recorded on the sign permit or certificate of appropriateness.
- In the Broadway Sign District, no sign may be erected without approval from the Architectural Review Board (except for signs allowed as general exemptions).
- In historic districts, no sign may be erected without a certificate of appropriateness from the Architectural Review Board.
- Floodlighting or illumination of certain uses is only permitted under special permit from the Architectural Review Board, with possible additional conditions.
- Identification and directional signs may be permitted upon written application to and approval by the Architectural Review Board.
- Permits for banners over the street require authorization from the Board of Trustees, written request, and liability insurance.
- For a sign permit application, detailed plans and information about construction, ownership, and location must be submitted, and permit is void if sign is not erected within 120 days.
- Sign permits are valid as long as the business is conducted and the sign is unchanged. Permit may be revoked at any time for violations.
- Nonconforming signs may be continued if previously compliant/permitted, but replacement must conform to new requirements.
- Awnings with writing, pictures, or logotypes are subject to all sign requirements and permit processes.

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

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