# Sign Regulations in Freeport, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Freeport, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/freeport
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9280750#9280750)

## At a glance

Freeport, New York regulates 9 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Manufacturing and industrial, Business, Business zoning district, Industrial zoning district zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 70 sq ft, with a Minimum 5 ft from property line; cannot overhang property line (§210-212) setback (Sec. §210-212; §210-205; §210-209D). Most commercial signs in Freeport require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Manufacturing and industrial, Business, Business zoning district, Industrial zoning district | 8 | 15 ft | 70 sq ft | — |
| Mall | 1 | 12 ft | 15 sq ft | — |
| Residence district, Residence, Residence A, Residence AA | 1 | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — |
| Apartment district, Apartment | 2 | Not higher than 15 ft from adjoining ground level | 12 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 10 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Manufacturing and industrial, Business, Business zoning district, Industrial zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 15 ft | 70 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line; cannot overhang property line (§210-212) | One per street frontage | One per street frontage; directory signs may be allowed as determined by Architectural Review Board | — | §210-212; §210-205; §210-209D |
| Wall Sign | 3 ft (cannot extend above parapet on one-story buildings; not above bottom of sill of second story window or 15 ft above outside grade on taller buildings) | — | — | — | One per frontage, but permitted on each frontage (multiple frontages) | Building wall, parallel, not projecting >12 in; not less than 7 ft above public walkway; not covering any wall opening; not beyond ends of wall | — | §210-215A-B, §210-209D, §210-205 |
| Interior Sign | — | 10% of window/door/glass area to which sign is affixed | — | — | No explicit limit; area limit applies | Affixed or painted on interior of window/glass/door, within 6 inches, visible from exterior | — | §210-204 (definition); §210-213 |
| Marquee Sign | 3 ft | 24 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On or built into the marquee/canopy/awning; not to extend beyond the edge | — | §210-214 |
| Hanging Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage | Must not be less than 7.5 ft nor more than 13 ft above the sidewalk; not to extend into area accessible to emergency/service vehicles | — | §210-216 |
| Temporary Sign - Anticipated Occupancy/Construction | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One | Onsite | — | §210-217B |
| Temporary Sign - Special Events | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | One | Onsite | — | §210-217A |
| Temporary Interior Sign (Business District only) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Affixed to window | — | §210-217C |

### Mall

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Parking Lot Frontage Only) | 12 ft | 15 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line | One per street frontage | Only on parking lot frontage; one per frontage | — | §210-212; §210-205; §210-209D |

### Apartment district, Apartment

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 ft from property line | One per street frontage | One per street frontage | — | §210-212; §210-205; §210-209D |
| Wall Sign | Not higher than 15 ft from adjoining ground level | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per frontage with access to the lot | Wall; one per frontage with access | — | §210-215D; §210-209D; §210-205 |

## Prohibited signs in Freeport

- Only accessory signs are permitted; nonaccessory signs are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Illumination on ground, wall, and hanging signs must concentrate light on the sign area and must prevent direct glare on the street or adjacent property.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Except for clocks and customary time and temperature devices, no sign shall contain intermittent or moving illumination; signs with visible moving, revolving or rotating parts are prohibited.
- Except for holiday seasons, grand openings or designated special events as approved by the Building Department (no longer than 60 days with at least a 60-day interval between), no sign or part thereof shall consist of pennants, ribbons, streamers, spinners or other similar moving, fluttering or revolving devices.
- No sign shall project above the parapet of a building.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision for drivers, nor at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or make use of certain words, phrases, symbols, or lighting so as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No portable or temporary sign shall be placed on the front face of any building or otherwise upon any property (improved or unimproved) or public ways adjacent thereto, except as provided for temporary signs under specific provisions.
- Signs painted directly upon the surface material of a building or other structure are prohibited.
- It is unlawful to attach any sign, advertisement or notice to any tree or shrub in any public place.
- Sign content is limited to the name, address, and nature of the business and products available or activity for which the building or premises is used.
- Signs must not cover or block any wall opening, including doors, fire escapes, and windows, nor project beyond the ends of the wall to which attached.

## Signs exempt from permit in Freeport

- Signs of duly constituted governmental bodies, including traffic or similar regulatory devices and legal notices.
- Flags or emblems of political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organizations.
- Bulletin boards or signs not over 16 square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions located on the premises.
- Memorial plaques, cornerstones, historical tablets and similar items.
- Signs not visible off the lot upon which they are situated.
- Up to two professional nameplates not individually exceeding one square foot in area.
- Identification signs posted in conjunction with doorbells or mailboxes, not exceeding a total of 30 square inches in surface area.
- Signs required to be maintained or posted by law or governmental order, rule or regulation.
- Address signs: one permitted per street frontage, not exceeding two square feet, showing numerical address only (residential address signs may include family name).
- One sign advertising sale, lease, or rental of nonresidential premises, up to 16 square feet, located no closer than 10 feet to any street or lot line.
- Cautionary signs less than one square foot in size (e.g., 'danger,' 'no trespassing').
- Private traffic signs of a noncommercial nature in the public interest, not exceeding two square feet per sign (e.g., 'exit,' 'entrance,' 'parking,' 'one-way').

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Except as otherwise provided, no sign shall be erected, structurally altered, enlarged or relocated without a permit from the Building Department, following approval and payment of fee. Permits must be renewed every three years with inspection for compliance and maintenance.
- Applications for sign permits must include sketches and supporting information (location, size, colors, type of lettering/graphics, materials), and will be reviewed for compliance with quantitative factors and general design principles.
- The Building Department may approve signs that differ from Article standards if they conform to general design principles and do not violate any listed sign prohibitions/general restrictions.
- Appeals of permit denials may only be made to the Planning Board, which may affirm, reverse, or modify the Building Department's decision (Zoning Board of Appeals does not hear sign appeals).
- The Board of Trustees may issue additional design regulations or examples to be followed during sign review.
- Existing nonconforming signs are subject to mandatory permit application upon renewal and must either be brought to conformity or removed within three years of code adoption or at present renewal date, whichever is later.

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

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