# Sign Regulations in Hempstead, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hempstead, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/hempstead
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7217886#7217886)

## At a glance

Hempstead, New York regulates 37 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Directional Sign (Wall Sign or Detached Sign)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 2 sq ft per face, with a No part beyond property line setback (Sec. §113-3A(8)). Most commercial signs in Hempstead require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 19 | Lettering: 8 inches | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residence AAA District, Residence AA District, Residence A District | 8 | — | 24 sq ft (wall sign), 24 sq ft per detached sign | — |
| Business A District, Business B District, Business C District, Light Manufacturing District, Industrial District | 11 | 30 ft | 300 sq ft total across all walls (and per equation) | — |
| Business BG Zone | 10 | Not more than height from street centerline to base, but not over 30 ft high; bottom not less than 12 ft above ground | 300 sq ft or as calculated | — |
| Arcade or Covered Mall | 1 | 6 inches (vertical dimension) | 6 inches vertical x 18 inches horizontal | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Occupational Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per practitioner | On wall of premises | — | §113-3A(1) |
| Identification Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entity | On wall of premises | — | §113-3A(2) |
| Identification Sign (Detached Sign) | — | 24 sq ft per sign | — | — | 2 | On premises | — | §113-3A(2) |
| Directional Sign (Wall Sign or Detached Sign) | 7 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | No part beyond property line | 2 per curb cut | One per curb cut; detached or wall; on property | — | §113-3A(8) |
| Occupational Sign (Detached Sign - Option 1, Single Practitioner) | 6 ft | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §113-3B(1)(a) |
| Occupational Sign (Detached Sign - Option 2, Multiple Practitioner) | 6 ft | 1 sq ft per practitioner, maximum 10 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | §113-3B(1)(b) |
| Sale or Rent Sign (Wall or Detached - One or Two Family Dwellings) | — | 3 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft except as stated | 1 | On premises being sold or rented | — | §113-3B(3) |
| Sale or Rent Sign (Wall or Detached - Other Dwellings) | — | 8 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft except as stated | 1 | On premises being sold or rented | — | §113-3B(3) |

### Business A District, Business B District, Business C District, Light Manufacturing District, Industrial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Inside or outside window | — | §113-4A(1); §113-1 (definition) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Lettering max 8 inches | — | — | — | Up to 3 per premises (one per allowable side) | On each of 3 sides of the awning or canopy, only one row per side | — | §113-4A(2) |
| Detached Sign | 30 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft from street line in Business A and Light Manufacturing; 5 ft otherwise §113-7A | 1, or 2 if lot >10,000 sq ft or dual frontage | On premises; single- or double-faced; not projecting over vehicle/pedestrian traffic | — | §113-4B(1); §113-1 (Detached Sign) |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft total across all walls (and per equation) | — | — | Up to 3 per occupant | Occupant's space exterior wall; not painted directly on building exterior | — | §113-4B(2), §113-1 (Wall Sign) |
| Mobile Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from street line (if temporary/mobile) §113-7B | 1 | On premises only | — | §113-4B(6) |
| Facade Sign | — | Not more than 1/3 area of facade; max 90% horizontal wall; Not project >12 in from face | — | — | 1 per occupant per face | On facade, one per occupant per building face; in place of wall sign only | — | §113-4B(8); §113-1 (Facade Sign) |
| Identification Sign (Wall or Detached) | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | One per building | — | §113-4B(9) |
| Directional Sign (Complex) | — | 8 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | Centrally located in a complex of 3+ buildings | — | §113-4B(10) |

### Business BG Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Price Sign (Pump) | — | Min 7" x 8", Max 12" x 12" per face | — | — | 1 per pump | On pump dispensing gasoline | — | §113-6A(1) |
| Name and Address Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 24 sq in per occupant | — | — | 1 | On wall of premises | — | §113-6A(2) |
| Directional Sign | 7 ft | 2 sq ft per face | — | No part beyond property line | 2 per curb cut | See §113-3A(8): per curb cut, on premises. | — | §113-6A(4), §113-3A(8) |
| Wall Sign | — | 300 sq ft or as calculated | — | — | 1 per tenant space | One per tenant space on wall abutting public street or parking field | — | §113-6B(1) |
| Revolving Sign | Not more than height from street centerline to base, but not over 30 ft high; bottom not less than 12 ft above ground | 32 sq ft per face | — | Appropriate yard requirements must be maintained | 1 per qualifying frontage | Premises with at least 100 ft street frontage | — | §113-6B(2) |
| Detached Sign | 30 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | 10 ft in Business A, 5 ft otherwise (from §113-7A) | 1 or 2 per premises (see above) | On premises, single- or double-faced; not over pavement | — | §113-6B(3) |
| Mobile Sign | 10 ft | 32 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from street line | 1 | On premises only; advertises gasoline/oil/services, hours | — | §113-6B(5); §113-4B(6) |
| Price Sign (Detached) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per face | 4 ft | — | 1 | On premises; cannot project over vehicular/pedestrian traffic areas | — | §113-6B(6) |

## Prohibited signs in Hempstead

- No sign shall be permitted in any use district except as provided in this chapter or as authorized by the Board of Zoning Appeals. (§113-2)
- Signs shall not be attached to fences, trees, utility poles or similar sign-supporting devices which do not meet the requirements of this chapter. (§113-10)
- Signs shall not be attached to vacant or unoccupied structures, except signs advertising the subject premises for sale or for rent in accordance with other sections of this chapter. (§113-10)
- Signs shall not be located so as to obstruct the vision of pedestrians or vehicle operators or create a hazard or disturbance to the health and welfare of the general public. (§113-10)
- Signs shall not be permitted in any district which directly emit, radiate or reflect any beam, ray or glare away from any lot or premises upon which such sign is erected or used or which have flashing or intermittent illumination or changing degrees of intensity or are animated. (§113-11)
- No sign shall cover any required opening nor hinder or prevent free and accessible ingress and egress to and from any required opening, door, fire escape, or stairway of any building. (§113-20)
- No sign shall be erected or maintained on any corner lot which may interfere with traffic visibility across the corner. (§113-8)
- Signs shall not be painted on the exterior wall surface of any building or structure. (§113-27)
- No object that is not an integral part of a sign shall be attached to or suspended from any sign erected or maintained pursuant to this chapter. (§113-25)
- Any sign which no longer advertises the business, product, or service currently offered, or does not serve the purpose for which the permit was issued, or for which the permit has expired, shall be removed. (§113-26)
- No banners shall be erected or maintained across any public street or sidewalk. (§113-47)
- Marquees are prohibited except when accessory to a theater, hotel or hospital. (§113-45)
- Canopies that extend over any public sidewalk, street or right-of-way shall only be permitted when granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals. (§113-46B)

## Signs exempt from permit in Hempstead

- No permit is required for occupational signs (one wall sign not exceeding one square foot), identification signs (one wall sign and two detached signs up to 24 sq. ft.), sale or rent signs (one wall sign not exceeding one square foot), name and address signs (one wall or one detached sign not exceeding 24 square inches per occupant), interior signs not visible from the exterior, and information signs as detailed in §113-3A.
- Governmental agencies may display information signs for public safety or required public notices without permit. (§113-3A(6)(a))
- Canopy signs, directional signs, certain awning and window signs in business & industrial districts do not require a permit subject to specific requirements. (§113-4A, §113-6A)
- Fees for permits may be waived for signs used for governmental, religious, charitable, eleemosynary or educational purposes when owned and located on the premises occupied by such institution. (§113-38B)
- A new or additional permit is not required for: replacing or altering changeable copy on permitted theater marquees or similar signs; changing advertising copy/message on a painted or printed sign only; painting, cleaning, maintaining, or minor non-structural repairs to existing signs; or removal and replacement of window signs with different copy if all other conditions are met. (§113-19)
- Legal nonconforming signs (i.e., those erected prior to this chapter that were legal then) may continue if they comply with other requirements as to content and repair. (§113-15)

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Upon filing an application for a sign permit, the applicant shall furnish plans, specifications and other pertinent information required by the Superintendent of the Building Department. (§113-17)
- For aesthetic purposes, conditions regarding placement, size, color, and materials of signs shall be reviewed and approved by the Superintendent of the Building Department prior to issuance of a sign permit. (§113-16)
- If a sign cannot be classified, the Superintendent of the Building Department will determine the proper classification for use restrictions, fees, and other requirements. (§113-12)
- Any sign not permitted by this chapter is subject to approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals upon appeal of a denied permit. (§113-13)

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

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