Greece City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Signs
§ 211-55 General regulations applicable for all districts.
A.
Except for those signs which are hereinafter specifically exempted, no sign shall be placed, erected or constructed on a lot without a permit issued therefor by the Building Inspector. No sign for which a permit has been granted hereunder shall be moved, altered, changed, enlarged or reconstructed without a new permit being issued therefor in accordance with the provisions hereof.
B.
For purposes of this section, the setback of any sign shall be measured to the part of said sign which is closest to the lot line.
C.
Exemptions.
(1)
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to safety signs, road signs, historical markers or highway directional signs erected by municipal or public age.
(2)
Exempt from the regulations established in this section are street addresses placed on the face of a building to enable address recognition from a moving vehicle, provided that the height of the identifying symbols does not exceed two feet.
D.
Advertising signs. Upon application to and with the approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals pursuant to § 211-65A, a special permit may be issued for advertising signs, as defined by this chapter. Exempt from this requirement are window signs which advise the public of off-site events or a change in the location of a former occupant of the structure in which said window sign is placed.
E.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs shall not be attached to fences, trees or utility poles, nor shall said signs be placed in public rights-of-way or be placed so as to obstruct or impair the vision of motorists.
(2)
Signs which support the election of an individual or which recommend the manner of voting on a particular matter shall be considered to be temporary signs. Said signs may be placed or erected on a lot not earlier than six weeks before any election, including but not limited to primary, general or special elections. Said signs shall be removed from a lot not later than one week after any such election.
(3)
The regulations for all other permitted temporary signs are contained in Table V.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Table V is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(4)
Contractor signs (siding, roofing, painting, construction) as defined in § 211-5:
(a)
Shall not be permitted in any right-of-way;
(b)
Shall not be any larger than six square feet in area and not be any higher than three feet from grade;
(c)
Shall be located on the property where the work is currently being performed. Said signs shall not be located closer than 15 feet from any property lines and shall not obstruct or impede the vision of motorists;
(d)
Said sign shall be immediately removed upon the completion of work performed;
(e)
There shall be a maximum of one sign per property location for all work being performed;
(f)
Contractor signs shall not include seasonal work such as snow plowing, mowing, landscaping or any other similar type of contractual seasonal work.
F.
Sign movement and illumination.
(1)
Mobile or transportable signs shall not be permitted.
(2)
Building-mounted and freestanding signs shall be stationary and shall not rotate or otherwise move.
(3)
Flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights shall not be permitted.
(4)
No sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights except to show time or temperature.
(5)
Sign illumination shall not cause glare or reflection on adjoining streets or premises.
G.
Electronic message centers/digital displays.
(1)
Electronic message centers shall be of a 10mm minimum resolution and must have automatic dimming capabilities and equipped with a photocell that detects ambient light and shall adjust to brightness levels accordingly. No virtual/optimized/pixel sharing is permitted.
(2)
Any electric message center shall hold a static message for a minimum of 24 hours.
(3)
Electronic message centers shall have no flashing, scrolling or other animation in the message.
(4)
Electronic message center signs shall not be permitted in any residential district.
(5)
The applicant must be willing to participate in emergency alerts, driving bans, school closings, police emergencies, amber alerts, as well as general community service messaging.
(6)
If an electronic message center is installed on any property, such property can no longer use temporary signage of any means.
(7)
Electronic message center signs shall be manufactured with minimum requirements as described in this section and of which, the following documentation will be required when applying for a building permit:
(8)
Electronic message center signs shall be limited to freestanding signs only and shall be subject to the same rules and regulations of this chapter. Electronic message center signs shall not be permitted as a building-mounted sign under this chapter.
(9)
FCC Class A compliance. All equipment must be tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules.
H.
Maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in a safe condition at all times so as not to be detrimental to the public health or safety.
I.
Preexisting signs.
(1)
Legal preexisting signs shall be deemed to comply with the sign regulations of this chapter.
(2)
All other preexisting signs, including but not limited to vehicle-mounted, mobile, transportable or temporary signs, shall comply with the sign regulations of this chapter.
(3)
The message on a legal preexisting sign may be changed when the use or occupancy of a building or lot changes.
J.
Abandoned signs. When a business has ceased occupancy of a lot or structure for a period of more than 60 days, any sign or sign supports associated with the former business shall be removed by the owner of the premises.
K.
No freestanding sign shall be permitted in any yard which adjoins a limited-access highway, including but not limited to New York State Route 390 and the Lake Ontario Parkway.
L.
Other signs forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this Article, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the Building Inspector or his/her representative shall have the right to recover from the homeowner or person placing such a sign, the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.
§ 211-56 Number, location, height and size of signs.
[Amended 8-21-2025 by L.L. No. 1-2025
A.
Signs permitted in residential districts.
(1)
One freestanding or building-mounted sign which identifies the presence of a legal major home occupation on the same lot. Said sign shall not exceed two square feet in size. If said sign is freestanding, it shall not be located closer than 15 feet to the front lot line, nor shall the highest side of said sign be more than four feet above the nearest street grade.
(2)
One freestanding directory, message board or identification sign for each educational, charitable, civic or religious organization, provided that said directory, board or sign is:
(a)
Located on the same lot as the organization which it identifies.
(b)
Located not closer than 15 feet to the front lot line.
(c)
Not greater than 25 square feet in size.
(d)
Not higher than 20 feet above street grade, when measured from the highest side of said freestanding sign to the nearest street grade. If a freestanding sign is permitted by the Board of Zoning Appeals to be located closer than 15 feet to a right-of-way, the lowest side of said sign shall be not less than seven feet above the nearest street grade. However, said sign may be less than seven feet above the nearest street grade, provided that the highest side of said sign is not more than three feet above the nearest street grade.
(3)
One freestanding entrance identification sign for each subdivision or multiple-family dwelling development, provided that:
(a)
Said sign is located on a lot which is contained in said subdivision or multiple-family dwelling development.
(b)
Said sign is located not closer than 15 feet to the front lot line.
(c)
Said sign is not greater than 20 square feet in size.
(d)
The highest side of said sign does not exceed three feet above the ground.
(4)
One freestanding or building-mounted sign which identifies a model home or the temporary location of a builder's office in a dwelling in a subdivision, provided that said sign is located on a lot which is contained in said subdivision. Said sign shall not exceed two square feet in size.
B.
Signs permitted in nonresidential districts. For purposes of this section, any nonresidential use shall be referred to as a business.
(1)
Freestanding signs.
(a)
Maximum number permitted.
[1]
One for each building or lot which contains only one business; or
[2]
One for each business center.
[3]
Two for each lot or business center which has frontage on more than one New York State or Monroe County highway; has more than 300 feet of frontage on each said highway; and has direct vehicular access to each said highway.
[4]
Restaurants which have a drive-up service window may be permitted one order board in addition to any other permitted freestanding sign, provided that said order board is not visible from a public street. Said order board shall not exceed 20 square feet in area, nor shall the highest side of said order board exceed six feet in height above the driveway from which said order board is viewed by customers.
(b)
Location.
[1]
The minimum setback of a freestanding sign from a public street shall be 15 feet from the existing right-of-way or from any reservation for future highway purposes, whichever is greater.
[2]
The minimum setback of a freestanding sign from a residential district shall be equal to the distance between the highest side of said sign and the ground.
(c)
Height. The highest side of a freestanding sign shall not exceed 20 feet above the nearest street grade. If a freestanding sign is permitted by the Board of Zoning Appeals to be located closer than 15 feet to a right-of-way, the lowest side of said sign shall be not less than seven feet above the nearest street grade. However, said sign may be less than seven feet above the nearest street grade, provided that the highest side of said sign is not more than three feet above the nearest street grade.
(d)
Size. The maximum permitted size of freestanding signs is contained in Table VI.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Table VI is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2)
Building-mounted signs.
(a)
Maximum number permitted.
[1]
One for each business which has direct public access between said business and its parking area.
[2]
Two for each business located on a corner lot, as defined in § 211-5 of this chapter, and which has frontage on more than one New York State or Monroe County highway.
[3]
Upon application to and with the approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals, one sign for each business which does not have direct access between said business and its parking area.
(b)
Location.
[1]
No sign which is mounted on an exterior wall of a building shall extend more than 18 inches from the surface of said wall, nor shall said sign extend beyond the edges of the wall to which it is attached.
[2]
Any sign which is mounted on the roof of a building shall face in the same direction as the front exterior wall of said building.
[3]
No sign which is mounted on the roof of a building shall extend above the highest line of the roof to which said sign is attached.
(c)
Size.
[1]
The maximum permitted size of building-mounted signs is contained in Table VII.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Table VII is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[2]
In the event that the front of a business does not face a street, any building-mounted sign which is erected shall comply with the sign size regulations established in Table VII for buildings which have a front setback of 100 feet or less.
(3)
Directional signs (informational signs).
(4)
Signs or advertising devices on motor vehicles.
(a)
No person shall park any vehicle on a public right-of-way or public property or on private property so as to be viewed from a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon, any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products, a business or directing people to a business, or any commercial activity located on the same or nearby property or any other property.