# Sign Regulations in Farmingdale, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Farmingdale, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/farmingdale
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14383661#14383661)

## At a glance

Farmingdale, New York regulates 33 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding/Monument Signs in the Commercial or business district, Business districts, Nonresidential districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet tall and 20 sq ft, with a Min 10 ft setback (Sec. §462-3G(7)). Most commercial signs in Farmingdale require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial or business district, Business districts, Nonresidential districts | 13 | 36 inches | 750 sq in. | — |
| Residential districts | 8 | — | 25% of window surface | — |
| Residential subdivisions | 1 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Apartment developments | 1 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Industrial districts | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Routes 24 and 109 Corridor (Hempstead Turnpike/Conklin Street and Fulton Street) | 7 | 36 inches letters | 75% of width of building front facade | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 16 sq ft per entrance | — |

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

### Commercial or business district, Business districts, Nonresidential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Sign | 6 feet | — | 75% of width of main tenant's storefront or facade bay | — | One per storefront/facade bay | On façade facing public street or primary window bay. | — | §462-3G(1) |
| Secondary Sign | 12 inches | — | 80% of ground floor doorway entrance | — | One per public entrance | On public entranceway; front and side of premises; not on side within 100 ft of single-family residential. | — | §462-3G(2) |
| Rear Facade Sign | 2 feet (unless ARB approved) | — | 8 feet (unless ARB approved) | — | One | Rear façade facing municipal parking fields 1-4. | — | §462-3G(4) |
| Permanent Window Sign | 2.5 feet | 25% of window surface | — | — | — | Affixed to window | — | §462-3G(5)(b)-(c) |
| Awning Sign (Drop Awning) | — | — | Not more than two storefronts; must not project over building's signage band | — | One per storefront/facade bay | Front, side, or rear (side/rear only if >100 ft from residence or with special permit) | — | §462-3G(6) |
| Freestanding/Monument Sign | 6 feet | 20 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft | One | On premises, not in right-of-way | — | §462-3G(7) |
| A-frame Sign | 36 inches | — | 34 inches | — | One per property | Public strip in front of business | — | §462-3G(8) |
| Hanging Sign (Blade Sign) | — | 720 square inches | — | — | One per main tenant | On building wall/facade/soffit; exterior only | — | §462-3G(9) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Office Sign (On-premises) | — | 1 sq ft | — | Min 10 ft | One per building | On premises | — | §462-5K(2) |
| Number and Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | House or mailbox | — | §462-5K(3) |
| Lawn Sign Identifying Resident | — | 1 sq ft (2 sq ft if double-faced) | — | — | — | On lawn | — | §462-5K(4) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One | On property being sold/rented | — | §462-5K(6) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 25% of window surface | — | — | — | On or within 4 feet of window | — | §462-5K(7) |
| Religious Holiday Decorations | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §462-5K(8) |
| Private-owner Merchandise Sale Sign (Garage sale) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §462-5K(5) |
| Architect/Builder's Sign (Construction) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | One | On property under construction/repair | — | §462-5K(9) |

### Routes 24 and 109 Corridor (Hempstead Turnpike/Conklin Street and Fulton Street)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Within 15 ft of street/driveway) | 4 feet | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel (two if corner parcel) | Within 15 ft of street or driveway | — | §462-3I(1) |
| Monument Sign (More than 15 ft from street/driveway) | 6 feet | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per parcel (two if corner parcel) | More than 15 ft from street or driveway | — | §462-3I(1) |
| Wall-mounted Sign (Corridor) | 36 inches letters | 75% of width of building front facade | 75% of building width | — | — | Front façade | — | §462-3I(2) |
| Awning Sign (Corridor) | 12 inches | — | 50% of horizontal width of awning | — | — | Valance of awning | — | §462-3I(3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Corridor) | — | — | — | — | One (two if corner parcel) | On premises, per ARB design | — | §462-3I(4) |
| Window Sign (Corridor) | 12 inches | 15% of total window area (on facade) | — | — | — | On facade | — | §462-3I(5) |
| A-frame Sign (Corridor) | 36 inches | — | 34 inches | — | One per property | Public strip in front of business | — | §462-3I(6), §462-3G(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Farmingdale

- No person shall erect, alter or relocate any sign without first obtaining approval from the Architectural Review Board (ARB) and a permit from the Superintendent of Buildings, except as otherwise provided in the chapter.
- Signs which impair or cause confusion of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in their design, color or placement, or which impair visibility for motorists at an intersection within 25 feet of the intersection, are prohibited.
- Signs or sign supports placed upon the roof of any building or above the sides of a building at a greater elevation than adjacent properties are prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on building walls (wall signs which are painted on walls) are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except A-frame signs as specifically permitted.
- Projecting signs, other than hanging signs permitted pursuant to § 462-3G(9), are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited unless approved in writing by the ARB.
- Signs illuminated by or containing flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving lights are prohibited.
- Signs containing advertising messages extended over more than one sign placed along a street or highway are prohibited.
- Copy-change wall signs are prohibited.
- All signs identified as prohibited in § 462-3I(9) are prohibited village-wide (including: pulsating, flashing, running or rotating light or neon signs; LED signs; internally illuminated box signs except those showing time, temperature, gasoline prices; animated, flashing, chasing, running or sequential signs; all portable signs including parked vehicles with advertising signs, except A-frame signs; pole signs and streamers; tear-drop or flying banners, blade banners or flex banners; inflatable signs; projecting signs except permitted hanging signs; any sign inconsistent with § 462-1 purpose and intent; signs constructed solely by painting on metal or using photo application or other technological application; all box signs with transparent front panels or cut-through lettering; box signs with internal light sources).
- All internally illuminated box signs are prohibited; all internally illuminated signs shaped as a letter, logo or graphic are prohibited.
- No sign shall be placed so as to impair visibility of, or create hazards for, motorists or pedestrians.
- No sign shall swing or move in any manner.
- Signs containing glare-producing surfaces, blinking, fluorescent, or neon lights are prohibited (except as specifically otherwise permitted).
- Handbills or similar paper attachments shall not be affixed to A-frame signs.
- No sign shall project below an awning.
- Use of visually offensive materials (such as blue tape) to affix paper/poster boards is prohibited.
- Signs shall not obscure important architectural details.
- Empty display windows in vacant storefronts are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Farmingdale

- Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial signs and plaques; names of buildings and dates of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze, stainless steel, or similar material; and emblems installed by government, religious or nonprofit organizations, not exceeding six square feet.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- On-premises directional signs for the general public identifying public parking, fire zones, entrances and exits, not exceeding two square feet per face and four feet in height. Business names and personal names are allowed, excluding advertising messages.
- Nonilluminated warning, private drive, posted or no-trespassing signs, not exceeding two square feet per face.
- Religious holiday decorations, including lighting, are exempt from the provisions of this chapter and may be displayed without a permit during and three weeks after the holiday season.
- At gasoline stations, integral graphics or attached price signs on gasoline pumps.
- Temporary directional signs for meetings, conventions and other assemblies.
- One political poster, banner, promotional device and similar sign, not exceeding four square feet in residential districts nor 32 square feet in nonresidential districts, with no more than three such signs during any election, and only for up to 30 days.
- Window signs meeting specific temporary or permanent limits (§462-3G(5)), provided a permit is not required for temporary window signs, except as otherwise specified.
- A-frame signs, with a no-fee permit, are allowed under specified requirements.
- Signs required for legal compliance, such as tobacco/vape/nicotine products signs as required in §465-4, provided they meet design specifications.
- Religious holiday decorations (as above) for up to three weeks after the holiday season.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for new, altered, or relocated signs require submission to and approval by the ARB and a permit from the Superintendent of Buildings.
- Each application for a sign permit must include elevation and plan drawings to scale, descriptions of placement and appearance, method of illumination, graphic design specifications, and written consent if not the owner.
- ARB approval is required for all signs in nonresidential districts, unless otherwise noted.
- Applicants must provide all information/materials indicated in the ARB's Signage Application Checklist.
- If the Building Inspector determines a full site plan review is required, ARB's review shall not be limited to review of the sign but include the full site plan.
- All signage in nonresidential districts must comply with The Village of Farmingdale Design Guidelines Manual.
- Sign permits and relevant approvals must be visibly displayed on the sign structure.
- The Board of Trustees or ARB may waive, modify, or alter requirements on an individual basis (except for nonconforming signs, which must comply or be removed).
- In cases where there is disagreement or appeal, individuals may appeal in writing to the ARB and subsequently, if needed, to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- A no-fee permit is required for all A-frame signs.
- Vacant storefronts covering windows must file a permit to cover/obscure the window, comply with village display materials, and pay a set permit fee and deposit (deposit is returned upon return of poster boards).
- Signage for professional offices in residential zones specifically requires a permit for installation, alteration, or relocation.

## 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 Farmingdale — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Farmingdale+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-farmingdale

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