# Sign Regulations in Williamsville, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Williamsville, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/williamsville
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10129118#10129118)

## At a glance

Williamsville, New York regulates 24 sign types across 9 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the R-3M zoning district are capped at 3 feet tall and 16 square feet, with a 10 feet setback (Sec. §84-18C). Most commercial signs in Williamsville require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (9 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1, R-2, R-3 | 3 | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — |
| R-3M | 7 | 4 feet | 16 square feet | — |
| NMU, MU | 11 | 12 feet | Maximum 64 square feet at 4 feet, minus 2 sq ft per extra foot above 4 ft | — |
| M-1 | 9 | 12 feet | Maximum 64 square feet at 4 feet, minus 2 sq ft per extra foot above 4 ft | — |
| Residential Districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) | 1 | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 1 | 10 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| NMU, MU Districts | 3 | — | — | — |
| M-1 District | 3 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | 3 feet | 6 square feet in residential zones, 16 square feet in nonresidential zones | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 9 zones)

### R-3M

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | May be placed within public right-of-way if it does not impede traffic or block snow storage | — | §84-18A |
| Ground Sign | 3 feet | 16 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per lot | 10 foot minimum setback | — | §84-18C |
| Projecting Sign | 2 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Sign board area unless otherwise approved | — | §84-18E |
| Suspended Sign | 2 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Sign board area unless otherwise approved | — | §84-18F |
| Temporary Sign | 3 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | §84-18G |
| Wall Sign | 2 feet | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per structure | Sign board area unless otherwise approved | — | §84-18H |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §84-18I |

### NMU, MU

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | May be placed within public right-of-way if not impeding pedestrian traffic or blocking snow storage | — | §84-18A, Table 84-17A |
| Awning Sign | 2 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per awning | First-floor awning | — | §84-18B |
| Ground Sign | 4 feet | 20 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per lot | 10 foot minimum setback | — | §84-18C |
| Pole Sign | 12 feet | Maximum 64 square feet at 4 feet, minus 2 sq ft per extra foot above 4 ft | — | 10 feet | 1 per lot | 10 foot minimum setback | — | §84-18D |
| Projecting Sign | 2 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Sign board area or as approved | — | §84-18E |
| Suspended Sign | 2 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Sign board area or as approved | — | §84-18F |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | §84-18G |
| Wall Sign | 4 feet | 20% of facade or 50 square feet, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per facade | Sign board area unless otherwise approved | — | §84-18H |

### M-1

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A-Frame Sign | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | May be in public right-of-way if not impeding traffic or snow storage | — | §84-18A |
| Awning Sign | 2 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | 1 per awning | First-floor awning | — | §84-18B |
| Ground Sign | 6 feet | 30 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per lot | 10 foot minimum setback | — | §84-18C |
| Pole Sign | 12 feet | Maximum 64 square feet at 4 feet, minus 2 sq ft per extra foot above 4 ft | — | 10 feet | 1 per lot | 10 foot minimum setback | — | §84-18D |
| Projecting Sign | 3 feet | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | Sign board area or as approved | — | §84-18E |
| Temporary Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per use | — | — | §84-18G |
| Wall Sign | 6 feet | 20% of facade or 50 square feet, whichever is less | — | — | 1 per facade | Sign board area unless otherwise approved | — | §84-18H |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window area | — | — | None specified | — | — | §84-18I |

## Prohibited signs in Williamsville

- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free egress from a window, door or fire escape or to become a menace to life, health or property.
- No sign shall be erected at or near any intersection of streets, alleys, or railways in a manner that obstructs free and clear vision for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
- No sign shall be of a shape or color that may be confused with any authorized traffic control device.
- No rotating beam, beacon, or flashing illumination resembling an emergency light shall be used with any sign display.
- The erection of any sign and its supports, including any wiring and/or electrical components utilized therein, shall be consistent with generally accepted standards and requirements of the New York State Building Code.
- No sign shall obscure, alter, or cover the architectural features of any building.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited. All signs shall be located on the site of the use being promoted, identified, or advertised.
- No sign shall be constructed of untreated, unfinished, or unpainted wood, or other unfinished materials. All wood components of signs must be sealed and protected from the elements.
- No overhead wires or exposed wires on a sign or its supporting members.
- Any illuminated sign or lighting device may not cause glare or reflection that constitutes a traffic hazard or nuisance.
- All illumination shall be steady and continuous; flashing, blinking, oscillating, rotating, or intermittent lights are prohibited.
- Single bar fluorescent tube fixtures are prohibited.
- Any sign for which no sign permit was issued, for which a sign permit was revoked, or any other sign not explicitly authorized herein is prohibited.
- Any sign that may be confused with a traffic control sign, signal or device, or hides a traffic or street sign, is prohibited.
- Any sign that flashes, blinks, rotates, revolves, or utilizes unshielded lighting devices, mirrors, or reflectors to outline or provide the background of a sign is prohibited.
- Any derivation of digital or electronic signage which displays animated or illuminated content is prohibited.
- Any sign employing vertical louvered blinds, mechanically changing, or movable materials is prohibited.
- Any sign not properly maintained, considered structurally unsound, hazardous, or otherwise unsafe is prohibited.
- Any sign that contains words or pictures of an obscene or pornographic nature is prohibited.
- Any sign that emits audible sounds, odor, or visible matter is prohibited.
- Any sign prohibited within a residential district that is located in an adjacent nonresidential district and is not set back at least 10 feet from the adjacent residential district property line is prohibited.
- Any sign located off-premises from the use and/or structure to which it serves, unless otherwise permitted by this chapter, is prohibited.
- Any sign that is obsolete or abandoned, advertising an activity, business, product or service no longer conducted or available on the premises, is prohibited.
- Any sign placed on a curb, sidewalk, hydrant, utility pole, tree or other object located on or over any public street unless otherwise permitted by this chapter is prohibited.
- Any monopole sign is prohibited.
- Any sign that is mounted on wheels or mounted on any structure on wheels is prohibited.
- Any banner, poster, pennant, ribbon, streamer, spinner, or balloon, unless otherwise authorized by this chapter, is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Williamsville

- The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to safety signs, road signs, historical markers, highway directional signs, or signs erected by governmental agencies.
- The chapter shall not be construed or employed to prohibit the customary decoration of premises in any district during religious, patriotic or holiday seasons.
- A sign for the purposes of this chapter does not include: (1) a flag or emblem of any nation, organization of nations, state or city, or any fraternal, religious, or civic organization; (2) merchandise, pictures or models of products or services incorporated in a window display; (3) official notices issued by any court or public office or officer in the performance of a public or official duty; (4) traffic control signs as defined in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law; (5) works of art, including murals, which do not contain any commercial message, logo, graphic, business name or trademark.
- Permit exceptions: repainting, repairing, changing of parts, or ordinary maintenance of signs, sign area, or sign supports does not require a permit if such changes do not alter the physical size, design, or nature of the sign.
- Changing the message of a sign using previously approved changeable letter sets does not require a permit.
- Without obtaining a sign permit, the following signs may be erected (provided they meet requirements): nonilluminated directional signs, gasoline or vehicle charging station signs up to six square feet, governmental signs, house numbers and nameplates (up to four square feet per dwelling unit), incidental signs (subject to specified size and illumination restrictions), internal signs (not legible from the public right-of-way or adjacent lots), lawn signs (meeting area and illumination limits), neon signs in windows in nonresidential districts subject to number and size restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign permit applications for new construction shall be made in the form of a complete signage package subject to architectural review by the Planning Board as part of a comprehensive development application.
- Applications for signs that are consistent with a sign plan or program previously approved by the Planning Board for a project or building may also be administratively reviewed, regardless of sign type.
- Exception: No sign plans or programs shall be eligible for administrative review on historically designated properties unless a comprehensive signage package was specifically agreed upon as part of the original certificate of appropriateness review by the Historic Preservation Committee.
- Development applications subject to review and approval by the Planning Board may have proposed signage reviewed and approved as part of the site plan or architectural review process. In the event of such review, all required sign permit application materials shall be provided to the Planning Board as part of the site plan or architectural review application.

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

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