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// CODE SNIPPET

32-60 Sign Regulations

NYC Zoning Resolution > III Commercial District Regulations > 2 - Use Regulations > 32-60 Sign Regulations
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32-61 Definitions

Words in italics are defined in Section 12-10 or, if applicable exclusively to this Chapter, in this Section.

32-62 Permitted Signs

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, signs other than advertising signs are permitted subject to the provisions of the following Sections:
Section 32-64        (Surface Area and Illumination Provisions)
Section 32-65        (Permitted Projection or Height of Signs)
Section 32-66        (Additional Regulations for Signs Near Certain Parks and Designated Arterial Highways)
Section 32-67        (Special Provisions Applying along District Boundaries)
Section 32-68        (Permitted Signs on Residential or Mixed Buildings)
Section 32-69        (Additional Sign Regulations for Adult Establishments)
However, notwithstanding any provision of this Section, flags, banners or pennants other than those that are advertising signs, located on any zoning lot used primarily for community facility uses of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious nature, are permitted in all districts, as indicated, without limitation.

32-63 Permitted Advertising Signs

C6-5 C6-7 C7 C8
In the districts indicated, advertising signs are permitted subject to the applicable provisions of the following Sections:
Section 32-64        (Surface Area and Illumination Provisions)
Section 32-65        (Permitted Projection or Height of Signs)
Section 32-66        (Additional Regulations for Signs Near Certain Parks and Designated Arterial Highways)
Section 32-67        (Special Provisions Applying along District Boundaries)
Section 32-68        (Permitted Signs on Residential or Mixed Buildings).

32-64 Surface Area and Illumination Provisions

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C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, all permitted signs shall be subject to the restrictions on surface area and illumination as set forth in this Section, provided that the following signs shall be exempted from such restrictions on surface area:
Illuminated non-flashing signs other than advertising signs located in a window within a building, with a total surface area not exceeding eight square feet on any zoning lot and limited to not more than three such signs in any window.
For the purpose of determining permitted surface area of signs for zoning lots occupied by more than one establishment, any portion of such zoning lot occupied by a building or part of a building accommodating one or more establishments on the ground floor may be considered as a separate zoning lot.
No illuminated sign shall have a degree or method of illumination which exceeds standards established by the Department of Buildings by rule pursuant to the City Administrative Procedure Act. Such standards shall ensure that illumination on any illuminated sign does not project or reflect on residences, loft dwellings or joint living-work quarters for artists so as to interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment thereof. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize a sign with indirect illumination to arrange an external artificial source of illumination so that direct rays of light are projected from such artificial source into residences, loft dwellings or joint living-work quarters for artists.

32-641 Total Surface Area of Signs

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, the total surface area of all permitted signs, including non-illuminated or illuminated signs, shall not exceed the limitation established for non-illuminated signs, as set forth in Section 32-642.

32-642 Non-Illuminated Signs

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, non-illuminated signs with total surface areas not exceeding those shown in the following table are permitted:
District
Maximum Surface Area
C3
50 square feet
C1 C2
Three times the street frontage of the zoning lot (in feet), but in no event more than 150 sq. ft. for interior or through lots or 150 sq. ft. on each frontage for corner lots.
C5-1 C5-2 C5-3 C5-5
Three times the street frontage of the zoning lot (in feet), but in no event more than 200 sq. ft. for interior or through lots or 200 sq. ft. on each frontage for corner lots.
C4 C5-4 C6-1 C6-2 C6-3
C6-4 C6-6 C6-8 C6-9
Five times the street frontage of the zoning lot (in feet), but in no event more than 500 sq. ft. for interior or through lots or 500 sq. ft. on each frontage for corner lots.
C8
Six times the street frontage of the zoning lot (in feet), but in no event more than 750 sq. ft. for each sign.
C6-5 C6-7 C7
No restrictions as to size

32-643 Illuminated Non-Flashing Signs

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Linked Resources Available

This section has been clarified by a tppn issued by the Department of Buildings.

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C1 C2
In the districts indicated, illuminated non-flashing signs are permitted with a total surface area (in square feet) not exceeding three times the street frontage of the zoning lot in feet, but in no event shall the total surface area exceed 50 square feet for interior or through lots or 50 square feet on each frontage for corner lots.

32-644 Illuminated or Flashing Signs in C4, C5-4, C6 or C7 Districts

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Linked Resources Available

This section has been clarified by a tppn issued by the Department of Buildings.

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C4 C5-4 C6 C7
In the districts indicated, illuminated or flashing signs with total surface areas not exceeding those shown in the following table are permitted:
District
Maximum Surface Area
(in square feet)
C4 C5-4
C6-1 C6-2 C6-3 C6-4
C6-6 C6-8 C6-9
Five times the street frontage of the zoning lot (in feet), but in no event more than 500 square feet for interior or through lots or 500 square feet on each frontage for corner lots.
C6-5 C6-7 C7
No restrictions as to size
However, in a C6-1A District, flashing signs are not permitted.

32-645 Illuminated or Flashing Signs in C8 Districts

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Linked Resources Available

This section has been clarified by a tppn issued by the Department of Buildings.

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C8
In the district indicated, illuminated or flashing signs, other than advertising signs, and advertising signs with indirect illumination, are permitted, provided that the total surface area of all such signs (in square feet) shall not exceed five times the street frontage of the zoning lot (in feet) and that the surface area of each sign shall not exceed 500 square feet.

32-65 Permitted Projection or Height of Signs

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, all permitted signs are subject to the applicable regulations of this Section.

32-651 Permitted Projection in C6-5, C6-7 or C7 Districts

C6-5 C6-7 C7
In the districts indicated, except as otherwise provided in Section 32-653 (Additional regulations for projecting signs), no permitted sign shall project across a street line more than eight feet.

32-652 Permitted Projection in All Other Commercial Districts

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6-1 C6-2 C6-3 C6-4 C6-6 C6-8 C6-9 C8
In the districts indicated, except as otherwise provided in Section 32-653 (Additional regulations for projecting signs), no permitted sign shall project across a street line more than 18 inches for double- or multi-faceted signs or 12 inches for all other signs.

32-653 Additional Regulations for Projecting Signs

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, permitted signs other than advertising signs may be displayed as follows:
(a)        Non-illuminated signs may be displayed on awnings or canopies permitted by the Administrative Code, with a surface area not exceeding 12 square feet and with the height of letters not exceeding 12 inches. Any commercial copy on such signs shall be limited to identification of the name or address of the building or an establishment contained therein.
(b)        Signs may be displayed on marquees permitted by the Administrative Code, provided that no such sign in a district other than a C6-5, C6-7 or C7 District shall project more than 48 inches above nor more than 12 inches below such marquee.

32-654 Height of Signs in C8 Districts

C8
In the district indicated, permitted signs shall not extend to a height greater than 40 feet above curb level, provided that non-illuminated signs or signs with indirect illumination may extend to a maximum height of 58 feet.

32-655 Height of Signs in All Other Commercial Districts

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7
In the districts indicated, no permitted sign shall extend above curb level at a height greater than the following:
Districts
Maximum Height
(in feet)
C1 C2 C3
C5-1 C5-2 C5-3 C5-5
25
C4 C5-4 C6-1 C6-2 C6-3 C6-4 C6-6 C6-8 C6-9
40
C6-5 C6-7 C7
No restriction as to height

32-656 Height of Signs Above Roof

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6-1 C6-2 C6-3 C6-4 C6-6 C6-8 C6-9
In the districts indicated, no sign displayed from the wall of a building or other structure shall extend above the parapet wall or roof of such building or other structure, except that a vertical sign, the horizontal width of which, parallel to the wall, does not exceed 28 inches, may extend no higher than 15 feet above the roof level.

32-657 Roof Signs

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6-1 C6-2 C6-3 C6-4 C6-6 C6-8 C6-9
In the districts indicated, no signs shall be permitted on the roof of any building.

32-66 Additional Regulations for Signs Near Certain Parks and Designated Arterial Highways

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, all permitted signs are subject to the applicable regulations of this Section.
For the purposes of this Section, arterial highways shall include all highways that are shown on the Master Plan of Arterial Highways and Major Streets as "principal routes," "parkways" or "toll crossings," and that have been designated by the City Planning Commission as arterial highways to which the provisions of this Section shall apply.

32-661 Additional Regulations for Signs Other Than Advertising Signs

C6-5 C6-7 C7 C8
In the districts indicated, and within 200 feet of an arterial highway or a public park with an area of one-half acre or more, no permitted sign that is within view of such arterial highway or public park shall exceed 500 square feet of surface area.
Beyond 200 feet from such arterial highway or public park, the surface area of such signs may be increased one square foot for each linear foot such sign is located from the arterial highway or public park.
Upon application, these requirements shall be waived, provided that the Chairperson of the City Planning Commission certifies that:
(a)        such waiver is limited to a single, non-flashing sign that is located on a zoning lot not less than one and one-half acres; and
(b)        all other permitted signs located on such zoning lot that are subject to the provisions of this Section conform with all the sign regulations applicable in C1 Districts.

32-662 Additional Regulations for Advertising Signs

C6-5 C6-7 C7 C8
In all districts, as indicated, no advertising sign shall be located, nor shall an existing advertising sign be structurally altered, relocated or reconstructed within 200 feet of an arterial highway or of a public park with an area of one half acre or more, if such advertising sign is within view of such arterial highway or public park. For the purposes of this Section, arterial highways shall include all highways which are shown on the Master Plan of Arterial Highways and Major Streets, as "principal routes," "parkways" or "toll crossings," and that have been designated by the City Planning Commission as arterial highways to which the provisions of this Section shall apply. Beyond 200 feet from such arterial highway or public park, an advertising sign shall be located at a distance of at least as many linear feet therefrom as there are square feet of surface area on the face of such sign. However, in all districts as indicated, the more restrictive of the following shall apply:
(1)        Any advertising sign erected, structurally altered, relocated or reconstructed prior to June 1, 1968, within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an arterial highway, whose message is visible from such arterial highway, shall have legal non-conforming use status pursuant to Section 52-83, to the extent of its size existing on May 31, 1968.
(2)        Any advertising sign erected, structurally altered, relocated or reconstructed between June 1, 1968 and November 1, 1979, within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of an arterial highway, whose message is visible from such arterial highway, and whose size does not exceed 1,200 square feet in surface area on its face, 30 feet in height, and 60 feet in length, shall have legal non-conforming use status pursuant to Section 52-83, to the extent of its size existing on November 1, 1979. All advertising signs not in conformance with the standards set forth herein shall terminate.

32-663 Advertising Signs on Waterways

No moving or stationary advertising sign shall be displayed on a vessel plying waterways adjacent to Commercial Districts and within view from an arterial highway. For the purposes of this Section, arterial highways shall include all highways that are shown on the Master Plan of Arterial Highways and Major Streets as "principal routes," "parkways" or "toll crossings" and that have been designated by the City Planning Commission as arterial highways to which the provisions of this Section shall apply.
For the purposes of this Section, advertising sign is a sign that directs attention to a profession, business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than upon the premises of the vessel and is not accessory to a use on such vessel.

32-67 Special Provisions Applying Along District Boundaries

C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8
In the districts indicated, and within 100 feet of the street line of any street or portion thereof in which the boundary of an adjoining Residence District is located, or which adjoins a public park of one-half acre or more, no advertising sign that faces at an angle of less than 165 degrees away from such Residence District or park boundary shall be permitted and all other signs facing at less than such an angle shall conform with all the sign regulations applicable in C1 Districts as set forth in Sections 32-62 through 32-68, inclusive, relating to Sign Regulations.
SEE MORE

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