# Sign Regulations in Ulysses Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ulysses Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/ulysses-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35597545#35597545)

## At a glance

Ulysses Town, New York regulates 29 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the HC — Hamlet Center Zone (HC) zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 10 sq ft, with a Min 15 ft building setback required setback (Sec. §212-122G(3)). Most commercial signs in Ulysses Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 6 ft (when freestanding in some zones); otherwise not specified | Total area of all flags per lot: 50 sq ft; individual flag: 24 sq ft max | — |
| A/R-Agricultural/Rural Zone (A/R), R — Residential Zone (R), LS — Lakeshore Zone (LS), CZ — Conservation Zone (CZ), RM — Multiple-Residence Zone (RM), MZ — Marina Zone (MZ), PR — Park/Recreation (PR), HN — Hamlet Neighborhood (HN), WH — Waterburg Hamlet (WH), MHP — Manufactured Home Park (MHP) | 6 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| B1 — Business Zone (B1), OTMU — Office Technology Mixed-Use Zone (OTMU) | 12 | 15 ft | 120 sq ft per side (two-sided allowed) | — |
| HC — Hamlet Center Zone (HC) | 7 | 4 ft | 80% of facade width; projection from wall limited to two feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft (when freestanding in some zones); otherwise not specified | 12 sq ft (on-premises temporary signs); otherwise not specified for all types | — | — | — | Not at or near intersections to cause a traffic hazard, not on public property, not within state highway right-of-way except per NYSDOT regulations | — | §212-122A(2), (4), (6), (10), (11), (12), (13); §212-122D(5) |
| Off-Premises Sign | 6 ft (including support, as measured from ground) | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | No more than two faces per structure | Not on Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, NY Route 89. | — | §212-122A(11); §212-122D(1)-(6) |
| Sign Required by Law | — | Not specified unless exempt sign (<=6 sq ft, see exemptions) | — | — | — | — | — | §212-122E(1), F(1), G(1) |
| Official Sign by Government Agency or Utility | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §212-122E(2), F(2), G(2) |
| Directional/Wayfinding Signs (On-premises, Not Visible from ROW) | — | — | — | — | — | Not visible from right-of-way | — | §212-122L(4) |
| Nameplate Address Plaque (Residential/Business) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §212-122L(6) |
| Lawn Sign (Residential) | — | 1 sq ft (single-faced), 2 sq ft (double-faced) | — | — | — | — | — | §212-122L(7) |
| Flag (Exempt type) | — | Total area of all flags per lot: 50 sq ft; individual flag: 24 sq ft max | — | — | Up to three | Flagpole must be attached to a building. Freestanding flags not allowed. | — | §212-122L(3) |

### B1 — Business Zone (B1), OTMU — Office Technology Mixed-Use Zone (OTMU)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Freestanding/Wall) | — | 24 sq ft (each, no more than two if freestanding); building attached cumulative max 48 sq ft | — | — | Max two (retail, non-shopping center). | On premises | — | §212-122F(3)-(4) |
| Business Sign (Shopping Center Attached) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | Max one | Shopping centers, attached to building | — | §212-122F(5) |
| Shopping Center Identification Sign | 15 ft | 120 sq ft per side (two-sided allowed) | — | — | Max one | Entrance to shopping center/plaza | — | §212-122F(6) |
| Gasoline Station Sign (Option 1) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | One (Option 1) | Freestanding or affixed | — | §212-122F(7) |
| Gasoline Station Sign (Option 2) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | Two (Option 2) | Freestanding or affixed | — | §212-122F(7) |
| Industrial/Hotel/Commercial Recreation Sign (Freestanding) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | Max one | Freestanding | — | §212-122F(8) |
| Industrial/Hotel/Commercial Recreation Sign (Wall/Façade) | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | Max one | Building facade | — | §212-122F(8) |
| Home Occupation/Professional Office/Family Child Care/Bed and Breakfast Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | Max one | On property of use | — | §212-122F(9) |

### HC — Hamlet Center Zone (HC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign Required by Law | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §212-122G(1) |
| Official Sign by Governmental Agency or Utility | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §212-122G(2) |
| Monument Sign | 4 ft | 10 sq ft | — | Min 15 ft building setback required | Max one per site per right-of-way frontage | Site must have building setback at least 15 ft from lot line | — | §212-122G(3) |
| Under-Awning Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | Max one per establishment with ground floor entrance | Attached to underside of awning, not projecting beyond awning | — | §212-122G(4) |
| Porch Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | Max one per establishment per right-of-way frontage | — | — | §212-122G(5) |
| Wall Sign | — | 80% of facade width; projection from wall limited to two feet | — | — | Max one per right-of-way frontage | On wall | — | §212-122G(6) |
| Window Sign | — | Less than 10% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | §212-122G(7) |

## Prohibited signs in Ulysses Town

- No sign may be erected or established except in conformance with the standards in this section.
- No new, reconstructed, altered, or relocated sign may fail to comply with the standards of this section.
- No permanent or temporary sign may be erected or placed at or near the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to cause a traffic hazard or interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign other than governmental or agency-authorized signs may be erected or placed on public property.
- No sign shall be placed on the roof of any structure or building.
- No sign may contain mirrors.
- No sign may contain day-glow or fluorescent paint.
- Sign lighting fixtures must only focus lighting downward and with features minimizing glare (Dark Sky Association features).
- No light from sign fixtures shall be cast upward beyond a horizontal plane or onto adjoining property.
- No illuminated sign or lighting device shall be placed or located so as to direct beams/illumination on a public street, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or traffic hazard.
- No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving lights.
- Direct illumination of signs (exposed lamps with no shielding) is not permitted.
- Electronic message centers (EMCs) are not permitted.
- No sign shall be installed in a way that obstructs free and clear vision, or free use, of public right-of-way, intersection, ingress/egress, transit stop, parking, drive aisle, driveway, entrance, standpipe, or accessibility ramp.
- No direct or reflected light from a sign may create hazards for pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists.
- Colored light must not be used such that it would be confused with traffic control devices.
- Blinking, flashing, fluttering, strobe-light effects, and streaming video are prohibited.
- Audio components are prohibited as part of any sign.
- Visible electrical transformers are prohibited on signs.
- Signs in unsafe or non-secure condition must be repaired or removed promptly on notification or may be removed by the Town at the owner's expense.
- The following specific sign types are prohibited: abandoned or illegally erected signs; mechanically activated signs (except barber poles/clocks); neon and tubular gas signs; light pole banners; wind/air-activated or environmentally motivated signs (except flags in conformance with exemptions); vehicle signs as defined; signs affixed to trees, fire escapes, utility poles, trash receptacles, benches or unapproved structures; signs simulating traffic control markings; signs exceeding allowed height or area.
- No sign type not expressly allowed by this chapter is permitted.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited on the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, New York Route 89.
- All temporary signs must be nonilluminated.
- All signs and their supporting structures must be constructed and maintained to prevent inhabitation by birds, rodents, insects, and other wildlife.
- Freestanding flags are not allowed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ulysses Town

- Safety signs, street signs, historical markers, or highway directional signs erected by municipal or public agencies are exempt from this section.
- Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze, stainless steel, or similar material; and emblems installed by governmental, religious, or nonprofit organizations not exceeding six square feet are exempt.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion, are exempt.
- Up to three different flags per lot, subject to a total area of 50 square feet (individual flag not exceeding 24 square feet), provided the flagpole is attached to a building (no freestanding flags), and no flag bearing an explicit commercial message shall constitute an exempt flag.
- On-premises directional signs for public convenience (identifying parking areas and fire zones), when not visible from a right-of-way, are exempt.
- Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or no trespassing signs, not exceeding two square feet, are exempt.
- Number and nameplates identifying residences or businesses mounted on a house, building, apartment, or mailbox, not exceeding one square foot in area, are exempt.
- Lawn signs identifying residences, not exceeding one square foot (or two square feet if double-faced), are exempt, provided they are nonilluminated except by a light integral to a lamppost used as a support.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs with a surface area greater than 24 square feet require a building permit and must comply with applicable regulations.
- All off-premises sign applications are subject to Site Plan Review per § 212-19.
- Approval from the Town Highway Superintendent and/or County and State Highway Departments is required for signs projecting into a public right-of-way.
- All signs must be erected in compliance with building, electrical, and fire codes as applicable.
- No master sign plan or variance meeting requirement is specifically listed in this ordinance section.

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

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