# Sign Regulations in White Plains, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** White Plains, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/white-plains
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-09
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NY/White_Plains/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TITIXZOPLBUST_CH9-10OUSIAW)

## At a glance

White Plains, New York regulates 9 sign types across 1 zoning district. Ground Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 feet above average grade at the base of the uprights tall, 40 square feet on any one side, and 10 feet in any dimension wide, with a 6 feet from all property lines setback (Sec. Sec. 9-10-42). Most commercial signs in White Plains require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (1 zone)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 25 feet above average grade at the base of the uprights | 40 square feet on any one side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 25 feet above average grade at the base of the uprights | 40 square feet on any one side | 10 feet in any dimension | 6 feet from all property lines | One Ground Sign per building location or premise, per public street frontage | Must be at least 6 feet back from all property lines | — | Sec. 9-10-42 |
| Pole Sign | — | 40 square feet on any one side | — | — | — | Areas, walkways, or driveways open to public; bottom of sign must be at least 10 feet above average ground grade at base of pole | — | Sec. 9-10-43 |
| Wall Sign | Not higher than parapet/eave/roof line; vertical dimension within 10 feet of street/right-of-way not more than 3 feet | — | — | — | One per building per street frontage (exception: multi-tenant, one per ground floor tenant with direct street access) | On exterior wall above store front/main entrance; must be as low as possible; must not project above structure/eave/etc. | — | Sec. 9-10-44 |
| Wall Mounted Sale or Lease Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | — | Only at the premises for which sale, lease, or rent is advertised; affixed only to exterior wall | — | Sec. 9-10-45 |
| Projecting Sign | — | — | — | — | One per building per public street frontage, or one per ground floor tenant with direct access in multi-tenant | Over street property line or street building line; must be as low as possible, above storefront/main entrance; shall not be above eave/parapet/roof line or above structure; may project over street property line/street building line up to 18 inches, or up to 5 feet from face of supporting structure | — | Sec. 9-10-46 |
| Canopy Sign | Bottom edge of sign at least 10 feet above sidewalk or ground elevation | — | — | — | — | Attached to supporting canopy; must not project beyond canopy | — | Sec. 9-10-47 |
| Temporary Sign | 3 feet | 12 square feet | 4 feet | — | Generally one per premises/storefront/event except as above | Not permitted on public property/right-of-way or attached to any city infrastructure; must be on premises for real estate/lease/rent; construction signs at construction site; can be window signs if compliant | — | Sec. 9-10-48 |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of area of all windows/doors fronting a public street per premises, unless Design Review Board approval | — | — | — | On, affixed, or within two feet of inside window or glass surface, visible from exterior | — | Sec. 9-10-51 |

## Prohibited signs in White Plains

- No sign shall be erected or maintained except in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter.
- No sign shall be erected, maintained or constructed so as to obstruct any fire escape, window, door or other required opening.
- No sign shall be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape or placed as to interfere with an opening required for ventilation.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to confuse or obstruct the view or interpretation of any official traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign shall display 'offensive sexual material' as defined by New York State Penal Law so as to be visible from any public right of way, thoroughfare or sidewalk.
- Billboards and roof signs are prohibited.
- Flashing, scrolling, rotating signs and lights visible from any public street or sidewalk area are prohibited.
- Signs or devices inflated by any gas are prohibited.
- Any sign not permanently affixed to the ground, a building, or structure (i.e. that may be moved) is prohibited.
- Box signs are prohibited.
- Signs, including illuminated, animated, and changeable signs, placed on/affixed to vehicles or trailers parked so as to be visible from a right-of-way for advertising or directional purposes are prohibited.
- Signs attached or affixed to trees or living vegetation are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on the surface of a fence or the exterior wall, fascia, parapet or chimney of a building are prohibited.
- Signs which imitate, interfere with, obstruct the view of, or can be confused with any authorized traffic control sign, signal or device are prohibited.
- Window signs covering more than 25% of a window are prohibited, except by permit and Design Review Board approval.

## Signs exempt from permit in White Plains

- Professional name plates not exceeding one (1) square foot in area located on the occupied premises.
- Identification signs not over 20 square feet and bulletin boards not over 8 square feet for public, charitable, or religious not-for-profit institutions when located on said premises.
- Occupational signs denoting names and professions of occupants, not exceeding 2 square feet in area.
- Memorial signs or tablets, historical markers, names of buildings and dates of erection, cut into masonry or of noncombustible material.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs and temporary emergency or non-advertising signs as may be approved by the Commissioner.
- Directional, phone, public conveniences, credit card signs, and similar public facility signs not exceeding 8 square feet for ground signs or 2.5 square feet for any other type.
- Awnings attached to one- or two-family dwellings.
- Signs installed on bus passenger shelters provided by the county, the City, or another government entity approved by the City.
- One temporary sign at the premises where a garage sale is taking place (with permission if not the property owner).
- Temporary signs that conform to the requirements and standards set forth in Section 9-10-48.
- Window signs that conform to the standards in Section 9-10-48 and Section 9-10-51(A)(1).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, awnings, and canopies (except direct replacement/repair of already-approved ones) must be approved by the Design Review Board prior to permit issuance.
- Application for a permit must include drawings, plans, construction details, attachment method, illustration of the sign, and colored photographs of the area and building facade.
- For window signs (including temporary signs) seeking greater than 25% window coverage, an application to the Design Review Board and a comprehensive design plan for affected windows and displays is required.
- Permanent perimeter or decorative window lighting requires Design Review Board approval.
- When a new project/building requires site plan approval by the Common Council, the Common Council shall have jurisdiction over approval of all signs for the project/building.
- The Design Review Board may establish guidelines and must review materials and colors of all signs.
- Departures from strict requirements (e.g., window coverage, placement, lighting) may be granted by the Design Review Board subject to guidelines and application.
- Denials or requirements may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which can vary or modify requirements to observe the spirit of the ordinance.
- Direct replacement or repair of a sign, awning, or canopy previously approved and erected does not require Design Review Board approval.

## Full detail

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

---

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