Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
City of Utica, NY
Oneida County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (17) Index
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
‘X’ indicates sign type is not allowed.
(b) 
Only one multitenant sign or freestanding sign is allowed per lot regardless of frontage.
Sign Type
Area/Height
R1/RM
NMU
UMU
CBD
I1/I2
LC
Temporary wall
 2-29-29.tiff
Permitted: See temporary sign section.
Area (square feet)
X
40
60
90
X
Height (feet)
X
15
20
25
X
Awning/canopy
 2-29-30.tiff
Area (square feet)
X
15
40
80
X
Height (feet)
X
12
12
15
X
Freestanding
 2-29-31.tiff
Area (square feet)
X
60
60
60
120
X
Height (feet)
X
15
25
20
25
X
Projecting
 2-29-32.tiff
Area (square feet)
X
15
X
Height
X
X
Rooftop
 2-29-33.tiff
Area
X
X
X
See below.
X
Height
X
X
X
See below.
Sidewalk
 2-29-34.tiff
Area (square feet)
X
6
X
Height (feet)
X
5
X
Multitenant
 2-29-35.tiff
Area (square feet)
X
80
90
X
Height (feet)
X
20
25
X
Window
 2-29-36.tiff
Area
X
25% of total glass area of the window on which the sign is displayed
X
Height
X
Total number of signs per lot frontage
X
2
4
6
X
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
The area of a sign shall be measured from the outer dimensions of the frame, trim, or molding by which the sign is enclosed, where such features exist, or from the outer edge of the signboard where none exist.
(b) 
When a sign consists of individual letters, symbols or characters, or where the overall shape of the sign is irregular, the area shall be computed as the area of the smallest rectangle which encloses all of the letters, symbols, characters or sign area. (See Figure.)
(c) 
The maximum area of freestanding, multitenant and projecting signs includes both sides of a two-sided sign.
2-29-37.tiff
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
Billboard signs shall be granted a permit upon compliance with the following provisions:
(a) 
Billboard signs shall be considered a special use and will require a special use permit.
(b) 
Billboard signs shall be allowed only in the I and IMU Zoning Districts.
(c) 
No billboard sign shall be permitted within 300 feet of any use in the residential category as listed in the use table or within 750 feet of any use in the municipal/civic category as listed in the use table.
(d) 
There must be a minimum of 1,000 feet between billboards on primary roads and a minimum of 500 feet between billboards on secondary roads and state-controlled access highways, and this distance shall be measured in all directions.
(e) 
No billboard shall exceed 30 feet in height from ground level or 400 square feet in sign area.
(f) 
No billboard shall be painted upon the surface area of any building.
(g) 
No billboard shall be erected on the top of any building.
(h) 
All billboard signs shall conform to the dimensional requirements of the applicable zoning district.
(i) 
The name of the person(s) erecting and maintaining such sign shall be plainly marked on such sign in a manner prescribed by the Department of Codes Enforcement.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
No window signs shall be permitted to be affixed to any exterior wall, door or window surface.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
Canopy signs shall not project horizontally beyond the supporting canopy.
(b) 
The maximum area of canopy signage shall be six square feet.
(c) 
The bottom edge of a canopy sign shall not be less than eight feet above the sidewalk or ground elevation over which the canopy extends.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
No freestanding sign or part thereof shall project over any property line.
(b) 
A freestanding sign shall be located only in a front yard and shall be no closer to the side lot lines than the required side yard.
(c) 
There shall be no more than one freestanding sign permitted on any lot, regardless of the number of separate or individual businesses located on such lot.
(d) 
No freestanding sign shall be erected on a lot containing a projecting sign.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
The bottom edge of or any appendage to a projecting sign shall be not less than 10 feet above the grade at the sign.
(b) 
No projecting sign or any part thereof shall extend over any property line except where no setback is in place.
(c) 
A projecting sign shall be permitted only on the front face of a structure.
(d) 
A projecting sign shall not be installed on a lot containing a freestanding sign.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
All sources of illumination shall be shielded or directed in such a manner that the direct rays therefrom are not cast upon property other than the lot on which such illumination is situated.
(b) 
Illumination shall be steady in nature, not flashing, moving or changing in brilliance, color or proximity.
(c) 
No illumination shall be located so as to be confused with traffic control signals, either by color or proximity.
(d) 
Illumination and illuminated signs shall not interfere with the normal enjoyment of residential uses in adjacent residential districts.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
All electronic (digital) message centers, excluding billboards, shall conform with the following criteria. Electronic message centers may be incorporated into the copy area of any permitted sign.
(a) 
When a message is changed, it shall be accomplished in less than 1/10 of a second and shall not use fading, swiping, or other animated transition methods.
(b) 
Electronic message centers shall come equipped with dimming technology that automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based on ambient light conditions.
(c) 
The allowable nighttime brightness for digital signs is no greater than 0.3 footcandles above ambient light conditions as measured by a footcandle meter, when measured perpendicular to the electronic message center face at a distance determined by the following formula:
Measure distance (feet) = √[area of EMC sign (in square feet) x 100]
(d) 
The minimum dwell time for an electronic message shall be no less than eight seconds.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
Must be located within 10 feet of primary building entrance.
(b) 
Must not block the pedestrian route/sidewalk.
(c) 
May not be internally or externally illuminated.
(d) 
May not exceed four feet in height or three feet in width.
(e) 
May not exceed one A-frame sign per business.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
All rooftop signs shall be subject to Planning Board site plan review and approval.
(b) 
Shall consist of individual block lettering with no background or other graphics.
(c) 
The length shall not exceed 50% of the building facade on which the sign is located.
(d) 
The individual letters shall not exceed 10 feet in height.
(e) 
In no case shall the sign exceed 800 square feet in area.
(f) 
In no case shall a rooftop sign be located on any building less than three stories.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
(a) 
All signs of a temporary nature, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, shall be permitted for a period not exceeding six weeks prior to any activity or event nor exceeding four days after the activity or event. Such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in business or industrial districts nor eight square feet in residential districts, nor be attached to fences, trees, utility poles, rocks or other parts of a natural landscape, nor be placed in a position that will obstruct or impair traffic or in any manner create a hazard or disturbance to the health, safety and welfare of the general public.
(b) 
A cash deposit shall be given to the Building Inspector to insure removal of such signs upon expiration of the permit period. The Building Inspector, after seven days’ written notice to the permit holder 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 removal. The seven days’ written notice provided herein shall be computed from the date of mailing said notice. Said notice shall be directed to the permit holder at the address provided by the Building Inspector on the permit application.