# Sign Regulations in Babylon Town, New York

Sign permit rules, size and height limits, setbacks, and ordinance citations for Babylon Town, New York, compiled by PermitPal from the jurisdiction's published municipal code.

- **Jurisdiction:** Babylon Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/babylon-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6812004#6812004)

## At a glance

Babylon Town, New York regulates 39 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Professional Nameplate - Ground Mounteds in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall, 2 sq ft (1'x2'), and 2 ft wide, with a 10 ft from nearest property lines setback (Sec. §213-397B). Most commercial signs in Babylon Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential District | 8 | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — |
| Business District, Manufacturing District, Industrial District | 10 | 15 ft | 60 sq ft | — |
| M-H Planned Motel-Hotel District | 3 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Planned Industrial Park | 4 | 4 ft | 27 sq ft (3'x9') | — |
| Gasoline Service Station | 4 | 15 ft (no less than 8 ft from grade) | 12 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Copiague District (DC Zoning District) | 13 | 43 in | 6 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aviation Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §213-397A |
| Professional Nameplate - Building Mounted | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | Affixed to a building | — | §213-397B |
| Professional Nameplate - Ground Mounted | 4 ft | 2 sq ft (1'x2') | 2 ft | 10 ft from nearest property lines | 1 per premises | Ground mounted, at least 10 feet from nearest property lines | — | §213-397B |
| Temporary Real Estate or Construction Sign | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | If affixed to the ground, must be at least 10 feet from nearest property line | 1 per premises | Premises only | — | §213-397C |
| House Number or Nameplate - Wall Mounted | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 2 per residential building | Affixed to residential building | — | §213-397D |
| House Number or Nameplate - Ground Mounted | 4 ft | 2 sq ft (1'x2') | 2 ft | 10 ft from nearest property lines | — | Ground mounted, at least 10 feet from nearest property lines | — | §213-397D |
| Cautionary Message Sign (e.g. Beware Of Dog, No Trespassing) | — | 1 sq ft (12'' x 12'') | 12 in | — | 4 per parcel | Building or fence | — | §213-397E |
| Fire Department Response Notification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §213-397F |

### Business District, Manufacturing District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 6 ft | 1 sq ft per horizontal foot of wall (may increase, see bonus criteria) | 50% of the width of wall or 50 ft (whichever is less) | — | 1 per wall | Building wall | — | §213-398, §213-400, §213-408 |
| Entrance Sign | — | 2 sq ft per horizontal foot of wall (may increase; see bonus criteria) | 80% of the width of wall | — | 1 per wall (or 1 per unit per wall if building divided) | Exterior building wall with an entrance facing public thoroughfare or parking area | — | §213-398, §213-400, §213-408 |
| Window Sign | 6 ft | 1 sq ft per horizontal foot of wall, not to exceed 50% of the width of wall or glass area | 25 ft | — | 1 per wall (or 1 per unit per wall if building divided) | Interior of window or up to 1 foot from inside face, visible from outside | — | §213-401 |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; 2 ft from curb; not in right-of-way | 1 per parcel (retail). Industrial: 1 per street frontage | On-site, min. 10 ft from property line (not within right-of-way). | — | §213-402, §213-408 |
| Monument Sign | 6 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line; 2 ft from curb; not in right-of-way | 1 per parcel (retail); Industrial: 1 per street frontage | On-site, min. 10 ft from property line (not within right-of-way) | — | §213-402 |
| Directory Sign (Category A-D) | 15 ft (up to 20 ft for 21+ tenants) | 32 sq ft (2-5 tenants); 50 sq ft (6-10); 75 sq ft (11-20); 100 sq ft (21+) | — | 10 ft from property line; 2 ft from curb | 1 per parcel | Freestanding; on-site only; min. 10 ft from property line | — | §213-403 |
| Cautionary Message Sign (e.g., Beware Of Dog, No Trespassing) | — | 1 sq ft (12 in x 12 in) | 12 in | — | 4 per parcel | Building or fence | — | §213-400A |
| Temporary Sign | 15 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | Up to 4 per parcel | On premises only, not public ROW | — | §213-409 |

### Downtown Copiague District (DC Zoning District)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Band Sign | 3 ft | — | Entire width of building | — | — | Attached to building facade | — | §213-541A(1)(a) |
| Window Sign | 1/3 height of glass in sash | — | 90% width of glass in sash | — | — | Behind glass or painted/vinyl/gold leaf directly to glass | — | §213-541A(1)(c) |
| Painted Wall Sign | — | 2 ft x 2 x building width | — | Wall must be 50 ft from pavement | — | Wall at least 50 ft from pavement edge | — | §213-541A(1)(d) |
| Blade Sign | 2 ft | 6 sq ft | 3 ft (projects max 40 in) | — | — | Projecting from wall or hung from architectural element | — | §213-541A(2)(a) |
| Vertical Corner Sign | 12 ft | — | 3 ft | — | — | Corner of building | — | §213-541A(2)(b) |
| Sculptural Sign, A-Frame Sign, Menu Stand (Ground Signs) | 43 in | — | 24 in | — | 1 per business | Directly in front of building, on sidewalk adjacent to entrance or max 3 ft from curb; min 6 ft pedestrian passage required | — | §213-541A(3) |
| Home-Based Business Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | Freestanding post, below porch roof, or building wall | — | §213-541A(5) |
| Security Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per frontage | Affixed to building | — | §213-541A(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Babylon Town

- No sign shall be constructed, erected or maintained if found hazardous or dangerous to public safety by a Building Inspector.
- No sign shall use breakable glass or breakable plastic in its construction, except as used in illumination.
- No sign or any lighting source/reflection connected to a sign shall conflict with or be mistaken for a vehicular or pedestrian traffic signal, railroad crossing, aviation fixture, hydrant, governmental sign, aviation sign, or utility sign.
- No sign shall be erected, placed, or maintained within the right-of-way lines of any public street, sidewalk, or public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected, or maintained on the roof of any building (unless meeting the criteria for aviation signs), on any telephone, telegraph, electrical, lighting pole, traffic device, hydrant, tree, stone or other natural object, balloon, governmental sign, governmental sign structure or the face of any other sign.
- No placards, show bills, handbills, posters, banners, or any printed/written notice/advertisement shall be attached to any tree, pump, hydrant, telegraph, telephone, light pole, lighting pole, or stone on any property or facility owned, held or operated by the Town, except for public utility notices or warnings.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected or maintained which faces a public waterway.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected or maintained within 500 feet of a public park, parking area or public recreational facility when such sign faces the facility, unless a public roadway is between.
- No sign shall cover or obstruct any window, doorway, ventilation system, fire exit, or means of ingress/egress, except for permitted window signs.
- No sign shall be located on a motor vehicle, trailer or other vehicle such that it is considered a vehicular sign (to prevent circumvention of freestanding sign rules).
- No sign shall cover, obstruct, or hide from view any governmental sign, utility sign, traffic signal or device, aviation sign, railroad crossing device, aviation landing fixture, or hydrant.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected, or maintained less than six feet from any overhead electrical, telephone or cable television wires, except those supplying energy or power to the sign.
- Abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Portable signs standing on the ground or attached to vehicles or trailers are prohibited.
- No sign shall advertise, announce, refer to, or call attention to any business, commercial product, or service not performed on or connected with the property or building where the sign is located (off-premises advertising prohibited).
- Obscene or pornographic signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall use artificial or reflected light not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times (except theater marquee and time/temperature exclusive signs).
- No sign shall use or employ any visual projection.
- No sign shall contain any illumination other than direct or indirect illumination.
- No sign shall move, oscillate, or rotate.
- No sign shall produce noise, sound, odor, smoke, flame or any other emission.
- No sign shall be suspended by any rope, chain or other device that allows it to swing or move due to wind.
- No sign shall employ any mirror or other reflective device.
- Illumination of a sign shall not use more than 40 watts per square foot of sign area or exceed NY State Energy Conservation Construction Code; illumination only from sunset to 10:00 p.m. or close of business.
- No sign shall use or include any pinwheel, balloon, or streamer (except as otherwise provided).
- No sign shall have illumination or reflective devices that outline a building or structure.
- No sign shall be structurally altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended, relocated or modified except in conformity with the provisions of the article.
- All nonconforming signs must be removed by the specified deadline or are deemed expired.
- No sign shall be erected or placed on any premises in any use district except as approved by the Board of Appeals as a special exception, unless otherwise provided.

## Signs exempt from permit in Babylon Town

- Governmental signs are not subject to the definition/requirements of 'sign' as used in these regulations.
- Changing only the copy on an existing approved sign does not require a new sign permit, provided the copy has not been changed within one year prior, and conforms with changeable copy sign rules.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, or other normal maintenance and repair of a sign not involving structural alterations/additions does not require a new sign permit.
- Utility signs are limited in size and illumination and are not subject to certain article sections.
- Directional signs used for aviation purposes or affixed to flat roofs (aviation signs) are permitted.
- Permit exceptions apply to changing sign copy (with limitations) and non-structural maintenance.
- Address numbers (as required by law) and associated identifying signs within size limitations are allowed.
- Warning, cautionary, or security signs of specified size and type are allowed.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- For retail sites with construction commencing after July 31, 1997, all signs must be standardized (size, color, material, lettering) for the entire site; a plan/format for standardization must be submitted and approved by the Planning Board.
- An application for conversion to retail use or alteration to an existing retail site with changes to wall/entrance signs shall include all signs onsite or a standardization format, to be approved by the Planning Board.
- Application for a new or expanded bar/restaurant (sole business on site) shall include all signs to be used onsite or a standardization format, to be approved by the Town Board.
- Sign applications for existing retail stores must be submitted to the Planning Board for standardization approval for the site; future sign permits must conform to the approved standards.
- Ground signs erected on sites developed after the date of adoption of the article must be located in a landscaped area and approved by the Planning Board at time of site plan approval.
- Directory signs for sites developed after the date of adoption must be located in a landscaped area and approved by the Planning Board at site plan approval.
- Bonus increases for certain signs (entrance, wall, freestanding, ground, directory) for design features or landscaping require Planning Board approval.
- Any sign lawfully erected prior to the effective date of certain local laws but nonconforming must be modified to comply or be removed within specified time (e.g., 3 years in DC zone).
- In Planned Motel-Hotel districts and planned industrial parks, signs must be approved by the Town Board or Planning Board (as applicable), and sometimes by the Architectural Review Board.
- For Downtown Copiague (DC zoning), sign applications must be forwarded to the Planning Department and Office of Downtown Revitalization for input.
- In general, no sign shall be erected or placed upon any premises in any use district except as approved by the Board of Appeals as a special exception, unless otherwise specified.

## Full detail

This page publishes an overview of every zoning district plus a sample of 3 districts in full. Complete zone-by-zone requirements for all 7 zoning districts in Babylon Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Babylon+Town+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-babylon-town

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