# Sign Regulations in Town of Erwin, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Town of Erwin, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/town-of-erwin
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-16
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.erwinny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/513/Town-of-Erwin-Zoning-Law#page=181)

## At a glance

Town of Erwin, New York regulates 39 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Directional Sign (On-site)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft above grade tall and 4 sq ft per sign face, with a ≥5 ft from lot line setback (Sec. §130-81(D)(3)(a)-(c)). Most commercial signs in Town of Erwin require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 26 | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Town Center (TC), Business 1 – Community Service (B1), Business 2 – Office/Commercial District (B2), Business 3 – Neighborhood Services District (B3), Multi-Use District (MU) | 9 | Not higher than 15 ft on a multi-story building; not higher than the face of a single-story building | ≤50 sq ft per wall sign | — |
| Regional Service (RS), Industrial 1 (I-1), Industrial 2 (I-2) | 5 | Not higher than, or exceeding 15 ft; and any wall sign that projects above the first floor whichever is lower | Per sign: ≤155 sq ft (text shows “one hundred fifty five (150) SF”); Total site wall signage: ≤1.0 sq ft/lf or 300 sq ft (lesser) | — |
| Rural District (RD) | 6 | Not higher than, or exceeding 10 ft; or projecting above first floor whichever lower | 35 sq ft | — |
| Low Density Residence (R-12.5), Medium Density Residence (R-10), High Density Residence (R-7.2) | 6 | Top of sign or bracket ≤14 ft above lowest manmade or natural grade | 20 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| On-site Real Estate Sign (Residential Use) | 4 ft | 8 sq ft per sign face | — | General minimum 10 ft from any lot line applies to all signs unless otherwise specified (§130-81(B)(10)) | — | — | — | §130-81(C)(1); §130-81(B)(4)-(5), (11) |
| On-site Real Estate Sign (Business/Industrial Use) | 5 ft | 30 sq ft per sign face | — | General minimum 10 ft from any lot line applies unless otherwise specified (§130-81(B)(10)) | — | — | — | §130-81(C)(1); §130-81(B)(4)-(5), (11) |
| Contractor/Construction Sign | 5 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Placed upon the premises where construction is proposed or underway | — | §130-81(C)(2) |
| Permanent Subdivision Identification Sign | 5 ft | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per subdivision | One on-site identification sign per subdivision | — | §130-81(C)(11) |
| Civic/Religious/Educational/Institutional/Social/Membership Club Identification Sign | 5 ft | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One per facility | One on-site sign for qualifying facilities | — | §130-81(C)(12) |
| Apartment/Mobile Home Park Identification Sign (Principal) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | One principal identification sign permitted | On-site for apartment complexes or manufactured/mobile home parks | — | §130-81(D)(1)(a) |
| Apartment/Mobile Home Park Identification Sign (Second - Special Use Permit) | 5 ft | 20 sq ft per sign face | — | — | Second principal identification sign requires special use permit | On-site for apartment complexes or manufactured/mobile home parks | — | §130-81(D)(1)(b) |
| Directional Sign (On-site) | 4 ft above grade | 4 sq ft per sign face | — | ≥5 ft from lot line | Two on-site directional signs permitted | Indicating or calling attention to traffic entrances/exits; permanently affixed to the ground | — | §130-81(D)(3)(a)-(c) |

### Town Center (TC), Business 1 – Community Service (B1), Business 2 – Office/Commercial District (B2), Business 3 – Neighborhood Services District (B3), Multi-Use District (MU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not higher than 15 ft on a multi-story building; not higher than the face of a single-story building | ≤50 sq ft per wall sign | — | General minimum 10 ft from any lot line (§130-81(B)(10)) | Two per business (one per wall) | Mounted on building façade(s) owned or rented by the business | — | Table 130-81-1 (Wall, columns TC through MU); §130-81(B)(3)(a); §130-81(B)(1)(h), (11) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft | — | 4 ft | General minimum 10 ft from lot lines (§130-81(B)(10)) | Typically one per principal site (see §130-81(B)(3)(a)) | On-site; not in the right-of-way; oriented towards and visible from the public road | — | Table 130-81-1 (Freestanding, columns TC through MU); §130-81(B)(3)(a), (7), (11), (14) |
| Window Sign | — | Per window sign ≤30% of contiguous window area; aggregate ≤0.5 sq ft per linear foot of building frontage | — | — | Up to 4 per business | On windows of the business | — | Table 130-81-1 (Window, columns TC through MU) |
| Permanent Changeable Message/Marquee (Wall) | Per wall sign limits of this zone (≤15 ft or ≤face of single-story) | ≤50 sq ft per wall sign; building-level cap per formula | — | — | — | On building façade | — | Table 130-81-1 (Permanent Changeable Message/Marquee, columns TC through MU); §130-81(B)(1)(g), (11) |
| Permanent Changeable Message/Marquee (Freestanding) | 5 ft | — | 6 ft | General minimum 10 ft from lot lines (§130-81(B)(10)) | — | On-site freestanding | — | Table 130-81-1 (Permanent Changeable Message/Marquee, columns TC through MU); §130-81(B)(1)(g), (11) |
| Projecting Sign | Top of sign or bracket ≤14 ft above lowest manmade or natural grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | One per business | Projecting from building façade | — | Table 130-81-1 (Projecting, columns TC through MU) |
| A-Frame/Sandwich Board (TC/MU) | — | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | One per business | On-site; not in right-of-way | — | Table 130-81-1 (A-Frame/Sandwich Board, TC and MU columns) |
| A-Frame/Sandwich Board (B3) | — | 16 sq ft (per face, inferred) | — | Distance from road: 30 ft (inferred from fragment) | One per business | On-site; not in right-of-way | — | Table 130-81-1 (A-Frame/Sandwich Board, B3 column); text fragments following table: “Max Area: Sixteen (16) SF; Distance from road: Thirty (30) Ft.” |

### Regional Service (RS), Industrial 1 (I-1), Industrial 2 (I-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not higher than, or exceeding 15 ft; and any wall sign that projects above the first floor whichever is lower | Per sign: ≤155 sq ft (text shows “one hundred fifty five (150) SF”); Total site wall signage: ≤1.0 sq ft/lf or 300 sq ft (lesser) | — | General minimum 10 ft from lot lines (§130-81(B)(10)) | Subject to overall principal sign limit: one freestanding + two wall (§130-81(B)(3)(a)) | On building façade | — | Table 130-81-1 (Wall, columns RS and I-1/I-2); §130-81(B)(1)(h); §130-81(B)(3)(a); §130-81(B)(6) |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | — | 10 ft | General minimum 10 ft from lot lines (§130-81(B)(10)) | Typically one per principal site (§130-81(B)(3)(a)) | On-site; oriented towards and visible from public road | — | Table 130-81-1 (Freestanding, columns RS and I-1/I-2); §130-81(E)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign - Shopping Mall (Two Curb Cuts) | 12 ft | — | 10 ft | General 10 ft from lot lines (§130-81(B)(10)) | Two (when qualifying condition is met) | On-site at shopping mall frontages | — | §130-81(B)(3)(b)(i) (Shopping Mall Signs); Table 130-81-1 (Freestanding, RS/I columns for size) |
| Freestanding Sign - Shopping Mall (Multi-tenant) | 12 ft | — | 10 ft | General 10 ft from lot lines (§130-81(B)(10)) | One | On-site at shopping mall | — | §130-81(B)(3)(b)(ii); Table 130-81-1 (Freestanding, RS/I columns for size) |
| Wall Sign - Shopping Mall Tenant | Not higher than, or exceeding 15 ft; or projecting above first floor whichever lower | — | — | — | One wall sign per tenant | On tenant façade within shopping mall | — | §130-81(B)(3)(b)(iii) |

## Prohibited signs in Town of Erwin

- Free Standing High Rise Signs are prohibited above the following heights: over 12 feet in any district except RS; over 16 feet in RS, I-1, and I-2
- Translucent canopy signs (made of plastic or similar material), with or without backlighting, are prohibited
- Roof signs are prohibited
- Billboards are prohibited
- Fuel pump advertisement signs are prohibited
- Temporary advertisement signs are prohibited
- Portable changeable message signs are prohibited
- Any wall sign located higher than or exceeding fifteen (15) feet, or any wall sign that projects above the first floor of the structure (whichever is lower), is prohibited
- Flashing signs and signs with moving parts are prohibited, except a public service sign (such as time and temperature) approved by the Code Enforcement Officer
- Any sign not specifically listed as allowed in this Chapter is prohibited
- No sign, except traffic signs placed by public agencies, may be erected, placed, maintained, or extended into the right-of-way of any street or highway
- No sign shall be erected, placed, or maintained at or near street intersections so as to cause a traffic hazard or be confused with an authorized traffic sign, signal, or device; signs may not use words or symbols such as 'stop', 'look', 'drive-in', 'left', etc., in a manner that misleads or confuses traffic
- All signs shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from any lot line unless otherwise specified (or where the right-of-way line is wider, in which case the setback is determined case-by-case)
- Sign illumination shall not be intermittent or flashing, shall not be of varying intensity, and may not produce glare beyond property lines
- No sign shall be permitted over a public driveway or thoroughfare (Traffic Control Devices pursuant to 17 NYCRR Transportation Part 200 are exempt from this prohibition)
- Any permitted sign that does not display a message for more than thirty (30) days must be removed

## Signs exempt from permit in Town of Erwin

- On-site real estate signs are permitted in any district without a building permit: max 8 sq ft and max 4 ft high for residential; max 30 sq ft and max 5 ft high for business and industrial
- Architect, engineer, contractor, etc. signs on premises where construction is proposed or underway are permitted without a building permit; must be removed within 30 days after construction is completed; max 32 sq ft and max 5 ft high
- Signs associated with the sale of seasonal agricultural crops are permitted without a building permit
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, and temporary or non-advertising signs for government purposes are permitted without a building permit
- Political signs are permitted without a building permit: max 6 sq ft; may be displayed starting 90 days prior to the election; must be removed within 1 week after the election; minimum 5 ft from any lot line; must not project more than 4 ft above grade
- Special event signs (banners; A-frames/T-frames; curb or sidewalk signs; sandwich boards) are permitted without a building permit for craft shows, fairs/carnivals, antique car shows, and similar events as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer; may be displayed for up to 3 weeks and must be removed within 1 week after the event; max 20 sq ft and max 5 ft high
- All signs, certificates, and licenses mandated by local, county, state, or federal law or authority are permitted without a building permit
- Fuel pump price signs are permitted without a building permit if no larger than the minimum size required by NYS law
- Nameplate sign for a permitted home occupation is permitted without a building permit: max 2 sq ft; must be mounted at the business entrance of the dwelling
- Temporary subdivision signs are permitted without a building permit: on-site, non-illuminated, max 20 sq ft per face, max 5 ft high; must be removed within 4 years of installation or once 50% of lots are sold, whichever is sooner
- Permanent subdivision identification sign is permitted without a building permit: one on-site sign per subdivision; max 20 sq ft per face; max 5 ft high
- Civic, religious, educational, institutional, social, membership club, and similar facilities may display one on-site sign without a building permit: max 20 sq ft per face; max 5 ft high
- Traffic Control Devices pursuant to 17 NYCRR Transportation Part 200 are exempt from the prohibition on signs over a public driveway or thoroughfare
- Safety signs, road signs, historical markers, and highway directional signs erected by municipal or public agencies are exempt from the sign height and width calculation provisions

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs other than those permitted signs listed in §130-81 B require building permits
- All permitted special sales signs require building permits
- Nonresidential signage (General, Business, Light Industrial, and other nonresidential uses) is permitted through Site Plan Review approval; signage must comply with Table 130-81-1 and related provisions
- The following signs are permitted in any district subject to Site Plan Review: (a) identification signs for apartment complexes or manufactured/mobile home parks (one principal sign allowed; a second principal sign requires a special use permit); (b) V-type signs for those uses subject to angle and area limits; (c) on-site directional signs; (d) special sales signs
- Use variance required to allow construction, placement, or continued use of any sign that is prohibited, illegal, or not specifically permitted; to allow a sign in RS, I-1, or I-2 greater than 16 feet in height; or to allow a sign in non-RS/I districts greater than 12 feet in height
- Area variance required to allow: a sign in RS, I-1, or I-2 that is greater than 12 feet but not greater than 16 feet; a sign in non-RS/I districts that is greater than 8 feet but not greater than 12 feet; or any sign that exceeds dimensional requirements in §130-81 (except where covered by the height-specific variance provisions)

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

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