The purpose of the sign standards stated is to regulate the
potentially objectionable aspects of sign uses by stating specific
standards consistent with the promotion of public health, safety,
morals and the general welfare of the Town.
Any sign permitted in any residential district shall conform
to the following specifications:
A. No sign shall be located closer than eight feet to any lot line.
B. No ground sign shall be constructed to a height greater than eight
feet.
C. Roof signs shall not be permitted in any residential district.
[Amended 8-10-1998 by L.L. No. 5-1998]
Any sign permitted in C Commercial Districts shall conform to
the following:
A. Business signs. On lots with street frontage of 50 feet or less,
each use conducted within any building or upon any lot may have a
business sign or signs, provided that the area of such sign and/or
signs shall not exceed a total of 150 square feet. Lots with street
frontage greater than 50 feet may increase the permitted sign area
2 1/2 square feet for each linear foot by which said street frontage
exceeds 50 feet. In no case shall the area of any sign exceed a total
of 200 square feet.
B. Directional or informational signs shall be permitted in C Commercial
Districts. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area and
shall not be illuminated. Said signs may be used for the purpose of
stating the name or location of a Town, hospital, community center,
church, school or the name or place of meeting of an official or civic
body (i.e., Rotary or Kiwanis Club). No advertising matter shall be
contained on signs of this type.
The following regulations shall be applicable to all signs in
all districts, except as otherwise provided by law:
A. General.
(1) All signs shall be constructed, erected and maintained so as not
to present a hazard to persons or property.
(2) No sign shall be erected near a street or highway in such a manner
as to obstruct free and clear vision along such highway or street.
(3) No sign shall be erected which for any reason may obstruct the view
of, be confused with or mistaken for any authorized traffic sign,
signal or device.
(4) The illumination of any sign shall be nonflashing and indirect or
diffused. Illuminated signs shall be constructed so that they do not
shine or reflect light directly into adjacent residential districts.
B. Ground signs.
(1) All ground signs shall maintain the following setback lines. No business
sign shall be located closer than five feet to any lot line.
(2) No ground sign shall be erected to exceed a height of 30 feet above
the level of the ground upon which its support rests.
(3) The minimum clearance between the bottom of the sign and the ground
shall be eight feet.
[Added 8-10-1998 by L.L. No. 5-1998]
No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent
free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape. No
sign shall be attached to a fire escape.
No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any street or
road in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or at any
location where, by reason of its position, shape or color, it may
interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized
traffic sign, signal or device by making use of the words "stop,"
"look," "danger" or any other word, phrase, symbol or character, or
red, green or amber illumination or reflection, in such manner as
to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
All signs and other advertising structures shall be designed
and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds
per square foot.
All signs may be single-faced or double-faced. On double-faced
and/or V-type signs the angle at the vertex of the sign shall not
exceed 5°.
Signs consisting of freestanding letters, numerals or other
representation shall be considered wall or roof signs, whichever being
applicable. The sign area shall include the area of the freestanding
letters, numerals or other representation and any intervening spaces.
The illumination of any sign shall be nonflashing, indirect
or diffused and shall be arranged so that direct rays of light do
not shine or reflect into adjacent residential districts. All signs
shall be located so as not to be in the line of vision of traffic
control signals.
If the Enforcement Officer or other designated official shall
find that any sign is unsafe or insecure or constitutes a menace to
the public or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained
in violation of this chapter or other applicable ordinances of the
Town of Dickinson, he shall have the owner of said sign cited in violation
by written notice. From the date of such written notice or from such
date as may be designated, said person in violation shall have 30
days to comply with this chapter or any other ordinance of the Town
of Dickinson.
Every sign existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter
may continue although not in conformity with the provisions herein.
However, when a nonconforming sign is removed or destroyed, it shall
be replaced only in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
A special permit to exceed the maximum requirements as set forth
for permitted signs may be granted by the Town Zoning Board of Appeals
if in its judgment it finds that the use for which such permit is
sought will not, in the circumstances of the particular case and under
any condition that the Board considers to be necessary to desirable,
be injurious to the area or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare.
The Board shall impose any conditions which it deems necessary to
protect the area. The Board shall deny applications for a special
permit which in its judgment would prove detrimental to adjacent property.
The Board, on application and after notice and hearing, may issue
a permit which complies with the general standards set forth as follows:
A. Each special permit use must comply generally with regulations of
this chapter for the district within which it is to be located.
B. Each special permit use shall be of such character, intensity, size
and location that it will be in harmony with orderly development of
the district in which it is to be located.
[Amended 10-4-1976; 11-12-2018 by L.L.
No. 4-2018]
A. Exempt
signs. The following signs are exempt from the provisions or requirements
of this article.
(1) New
York State Inspection station identification sign. Any New York State
inspection station identification sign which is at a height which
does not exceed 10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior
wall of the motor vehicle service station.
(2) New
York State authorized repair shop identification sign for passenger
vehicles. Any New York State authorized repair shop identification
sign for passenger vehicles which is at a height which does not exceed
10 feet and is located on an exterior or interior wall of the motor
vehicle service station.
(3) New
York State authorized repair shop identification sign for trucks.
Any New York State authorized repair shop identification sign for
trucks which is at a height which does not exceed 10 feet and is located
on an exterior or interior wall of the motor vehicle station.
(4) Self-service
identification sign. One self-service identification sign which does
not exceed two square feet per self-service fuel pump island.
(5) Full-service
identification sign. One full-service identification sign which does
not exceed two square feet per full-service fuel pump island.
(6) Fuel
price signs. Fuel price signs required by federal, state or local
legislation.
(7) Street
number identification plates.
(10) Posted (no hunting, fishing and trapping) signs.
(12) Utility line identification and location signs.
(13) Phone identification signs.
(14) Restroom identification signs.
(15) Handicapped parking and access signs.
(16) Vacancy/no-vacancy signs. Vacancy/no-vacancy signs which do not exceed
three square feet.
(17) Accessory signs. Accessory signs, identifying such uses as parking,
no parking or office, which do not exceed two square feet each.
(18) Holiday decorations. Holiday decorations erected for and during the
particular holiday they relate to or symbolize.
(19) Open/closed business signs. Open/closed business signs which do not
exceed two square feet.
(20) Street identification, traffic and governmental signs and control
devices. Street identification, traffic and governmental signs and
control devices required by law, ordinance or regulation.
(21) Official public information signs, memorial signs, building names,
erection dates. Official public information signs, memorial signs,
building names, erection dates or similar information cut into masonry
or other permanent surface or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible
material, not to exceed 16 square feet.
(22) Signs and markers in cemeteries. Signs and markers in cemeteries
designating graves and memorials.
(23) Residential use "for sale" or "for rent" signs. Residential use,
one- and two-family use "for sale" or "for rent" signs that do not
exceed 16 square feet in size.
B. Political
campaign signs. "Political campaign signs" refer to signs expressing
a noncommercial message which bears the name and/or political party
of a candidate/candidates for public office or announces and/or supports
issues in connection with any national, state or local election. Such
signs are permitted, upon application to the Town Clerk for a permit,
in any district subject to the following regulations:
(1) The
sign(s) shall be a temporary nature and be constructed of materials
that can withstand the elements.
(2) Said
signs may be displayed for a maximum of 90 days and shall be removed
promptly within 15 days following the election.
(3) Upon
the issuance of a permit for such signs, check or cash, in an amount
as set forth from time to time by resolution of the Town Board, shall
be deposited with the Town Clerk to ensure the removal of such signs
at the expiration of the permit. The Enforcement Office, after twenty-days
written notice to the permit holder addressed to the address shown
on the application for said signs to remove such signs, and after
the failure of the permit holder to do so, shall cause said signs
to be removed and the cash deposit shall be forfeited to help defray
the cost of the removal by the Town.
(4) In
the event that the said sign or signs are removed to the satisfaction
of the Enforcement Office of the Town of Dickinson without the necessity
of any action being taken by the appropriate office of the Town of
Dickinson for such removal, any money deposited shall be returned
after proper application for the return thereof is made.
C. Special
events and/or on-sale signs. "Special events and/or on-sale signs"
refers to signs of a temporary nature, such as banners, special events
notifications, and/or similar short duration installations, require
a temporary sign permit, subject to the following regulations:
(1) The
number of signs per business allowed on any single property is not
restricted, but the total combined size of the allowable signs shall
not exceed 24 square feet and shall not exceed five feet in height
from the surrounding grade.
(2) Such
temporary signs may be displayed for a maximum of two consecutive
weeks at any one time, renewable upon reapplication such that the
combined length of display shall not exceed six weeks total in any
twelve-month period. Intermittent display on a defined schedule is
also allowed (e.g. only on weekends), but such displays are limited
to six such singular occurrences in any twelve-month period.
(3) Sign(s) shall be placed in a location not overly distracting to the public, nor endanger the health, safety and general well-being of the community. No signs shall be located within or over a public right-of-way. All signs shall comply with provision regarding visibility at intersections (§
600-12D).
(4) Sign(s)
can be lit (either internally or externally) but cannot rotate, flash,
blink or be induced to move by artificial means such as a forced-air
blower. Inflatable signs, even if deflated during nonbusiness hours,
are not allowed.
(5) A
"banner" is any lightweight fabric or similar, nonrigid material used
to construct a nonpermanent (temporary) sign. National, state or municipal
flags shall not be considered a banner.
(6) A
temporary sign permit is required to be issued prior to installation.
D. Building
construction-related signage. "Building construction-related signage"
refers to signs typically erected on construction sites listings,
e.g., prospective occupants; contractors; owners; design teams; projected
completion/opening date(s); other pertinent information. Such signs
are permitted on properties where a valid building permit has been
issued, subject to the following limits:
(1) No
more than two such signs are allowed, neither of which shall exceed
50 square feet in area. Internal and/or external lighting of these
sign(s) is prohibited.
(2) The
sign(s) shall be removed immediately upon project completion or the
issuance of a building compliance certificate, whichever comes first.
(3) A
temporary sign permit is required.
(4) Signs
shall maintain a fifteen feet setback from all property lines.