# Sign Regulations in Wales Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Wales Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/wales-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11921697#11921697)

## At a glance

Wales Town, New York regulates 15 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Identification or Advertisement)s in the B District, Business District zoning district are capped at 7 ft from ground tall and 32 sq ft, with a 5 ft from right-of-way, 20 ft from property line setback (Sec. § 200-55A(11)). Most commercial signs in Wales 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 | 5 | 2 ft | 4 sq ft (2 ft high × 2 ft wide) | — |
| A District, R District | 4 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| B District, Business District | 5 | 7 ft from ground | 32 sq ft | — |
| M District, Manufacturing District | 1 | — | 400 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Street Name Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At intersection of all streets in conformity with Town or DOT specifications, at locations approved by Town Board | — | § 181-21 |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per lot at a time, max 2 permits/year | — | — | § 200-55A(8) |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited over any public way except when hung from underside or ceiling of a covered walkway related to the exterior of an individual business establishment | — | § 200-55A(4) |
| Directional Sign | 2 ft | 4 sq ft (2 ft high × 2 ft wide) | 2 ft | — | 1 per property | At discretion of Building Zoning Officer; permitted on NY Routes 16, 78 and US Route 20A. Strategically located to effect purpose. | — | § 200-55E(2)-(3) |
| Vehicular Sign (Temporary Sign) | — | — | — | — | — | On vehicle; if not compliant, to rear of frontal plane of primary structure | — | § 200-55F |

### A District, R District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Farm Sign (A District only) | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 per farm (1 identification, 1 product advertising) | On farm property | — | § 200-55C(1)(a) |
| Bulletin Board or Identification Sign (School, Hospital, Public/Semipublic Use) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per institution | On property of school, hospital, or public/semipublic institution | — | § 200-55C(1)(b) |
| Multifamily Residence Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per multifamily residence | On property of multifamily residence | — | § 200-55C(1)(c) |
| Personal/Home Occupation Identification Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per home/professional occupation | On home or home professional occupation | — | § 200-55C(1)(d) |

### B District, Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Identification or Advertisement) | 7 ft from ground | 32 sq ft | — | 5 ft from right-of-way, 20 ft from property line | 1 per business | Not less than 5 ft from road right-of-way, not less than 20 ft from any property line | — | § 200-55A(11) |
| Wall Sign (Front Face) | — | Up to 20% of façade area per face | — | — | — | Front of building | — | § 200-55C(2)(a), (c) |
| Wall Sign (Each Additional Face) | — | Up to 10% of front surface per additional face, and no more than 20% of the attaching face | — | — | — | Each additional face of building | — | § 200-55C(2)(a), (c) |
| Shopping Center Tenant Sign | — | 10 sq ft (per use or business, each of two faces) | — | — | 1 per business per face (max 2 faces) | On the suite or premises of each business within the shopping center | — | § 200-55C(2)(b)[1] |
| Shopping Center ID Sign | — | Aggregate area of 2 signs max 1,000 sq ft total, no sign over 500 sq ft (on each of two faces) | — | — | 2 | Shopping center as a unit | — | § 200-55C(2)(b)[2] |

## Prohibited signs in Wales Town

- No outdoor sign or display structure erected prior to the effective date of this section shall be rebuilt or relocated except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter (except repairs or restoring to a safe condition and maintenance, provided nonconforming status is not increased).
- When any outdoor sign or display structure is destroyed or removed for purposes other than maintenance, any replacement must conform with all requirements of this chapter.
- No bills, signs or posters shall be posted, nor any such medium affixed, in any location or of such size as to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.
- Projecting signs are prohibited over any public way except when hung from the underside or ceiling of a covered walkway related to the exterior of an individual business establishment.
- No outdoor sign or display structure shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to create or be a traffic hazard by obstructing the view of traffic at any intersection, curve, or bend of any roadway, or by obstructing or confusing the view to traffic signals, railroad crossing lights, or other permanent traffic controls and warning lights.
- No outdoor sign or display structure shall be of such character or marking as to duplicate or appear to duplicate any traffic control or highway sign.
- No such temporary sign shall be erected as a roof sign.
- No such temporary sign shall be erected or maintained in place without a valid building zoning permit.
- No such temporary sign shall be erected or placed in excess of 10 days prior to the event advertised nor in excess of 24 hours after the conclusion of the event.
- No animated, flashing, scrolling or electronically controlled signs shall be permitted.
- No signs shaped or resembling traffic signs shall be used for advertisement purposes.
- Any vehicular signage not in conformance with the provisions of this chapter shall be placed to the rear of the frontal plane of the primary structure of the property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Wales Town

- Christmas displays and other similar temporary displays erected without advertising are not subject to the rules and regulations of this chapter, but must conform to Town safety standards and be approved by the Building Zoning Officer.
- Building zoning permits are not required for signs painted or affixed to the inside surfaces of windows or doors which pertain to the business conducted therein.
- Building zoning permits are not required for reposting of bills, signs or posters on signs legally erected and maintained for such purpose.
- Building zoning permits are not required for municipal street, traffic emergency control and railroad crossing signs.
- Building zoning permits are not required for legal notices and house numbers.
- Building zoning permits are not required for temporary signs or displays authorized by municipal authorities.
- Building zoning permits are not required for one sign not over three square feet in area for personal identification or home and home professional occupations.
- Building zoning permits are not required for one unlighted real estate sign (not exceeding a total area of 12 square feet) advertising the sale, rental or construction on only the premises on which it is maintained, provided it is removed upon completion or within 90 days.
- The limitations on signs as set forth for the various zones do not apply to any sign or directional device erected by the federal, state, county or local government or agency thereof.
- The limitations on sign area for business and manufacturing zones do not apply to parking lot markers, directional signs, entrance and exit signs, and other such signs on the premises, provided such signs use only one side and do not contain any advertising of the use on the premises.
- The foregoing sign limitations do not apply to directional signs in use for a period of 24 hours or less.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A plan showing the design, layout, dimensions and overall height, along with a description of the proposed location of the sign, shall be submitted in duplicate to the Building Inspector prior to the commencement of the installation of a permanent business sign in the B District.
- A plan showing design, layout, dimensions and heights, along with the description of the proposed location of the sign, shall be submitted in duplicate to the Building Zoning Officer for directional signs.
- All illuminated signs shall require approval of the Town Board, which reserves the right to establish special conditions.
- All signs may be subject to review by the Town Board.
- The Town Board shall have the power to grant variances to the provisions of this section, with hearings and review as needed.

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

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