Yonkers's Sign Regulations: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sign regulations a little differently. In Yonkers, New York, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Digital Billboards

Digital billboards are barred everywhere else in Yonkers because § 43-33K(1) treats billboards as legally nonconforming uses and § 43-33Q(2)(c) bans moving or animated signs outright. The 2025 Casino Special District is the sole exception: § 43-256D permits digital display boards capped at 6,500 nits by day and 1,000 nits at night, with the Planning Board controlling size, location and refresh rate.

Key details: Only lawful digital billboard zone: Casino Special District. District added: 6-25-2025 by Ord. No. 9-2025. Daytime brightness cap: 6,500 nits maximum. Nighttime brightness cap: 1,000 nits maximum. Flashing illumination: Prohibited even in casino district.

Casino district sign violations are enforced under Chapter 43's general zoning penalty clause, § 43-153: exceeding the 6,500/1,000 nit caps, installing flashing illumination, or building a display without Planning Board site plan approval is a Class II offense. A repeat violation of the same section at the same premises becomes a misdemeanor, and the Corporation Counsel may seek an injunction to force removal of a noncompliant sign.

This is one of the stricter rules in Yonkers's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Window Signs

New nonresidential and mixed-use buildings in Yonkers' downtown districts must keep ground-floor glass at least 50% transparent, and signage can cover no more than 25% of any window or glass door. The rule sits inside the downtown design standards the Design Review Board applies during site plan review, separate from the citywide sign permit process.

Key details: Window/door signage cap: 25% of window or door area. Ground floor transparency: Minimum 50%, clear untinted glass. Applies to: Downtown districts: D-MX, D-IRT, UR-LD, UR-MD, UR-HD. Upper-story glass tinting cap: 20%. Sign permits: Separate Chapter 47 permit still required.

A storefront that covers more than 25% of its window or glass door area with signage fails the § 43-223 design standards and can be denied site plan or Design Review Board approval before a certificate of occupancy issues. Separately, erecting any sign without the permit Chapter 47 requires draws a penalty fee equal to twice the unpaid permit fee under § 47-5C, on top of the standard installation fee.

The Bottom Line

Yonkers's sign regulations rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Yonkers is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Yonkers's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.