# Sign Regulations in Islip, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Islip, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/islip
- **Data last verified:** 2026-01-16
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7706350)

## At a glance

Islip, New York regulates 25 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Feather Signs in the Business District (BD) zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall, 36 in width, and 36 in wide, with a ≥20 ft from adjacent property setback (Sec. §68-395B(18)). Most commercial signs in Islip require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | Preview board: 7 ft; Menu board: 10 ft | Preview board: 25 sq ft; Menu board: 50 sq ft | — |
| Residence Districts (A, AA, AAA, B, BAA, CA, CAA, C) | 10 | Ground: 8 ft | Ground: 32 sq ft | — |
| General Service Districts (GSF, GST, GSC, GSD, GSE) | 12 | Ground: 10 ft | Ground: 32 sq ft | — |
| Business District (BD) | 11 | Ground: 15 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 64 sq ft | — |
| Downtown Development District (DDD) | 11 | Ground: 15 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 64 sq ft | — |
| Business 1 District (B1 / BUS1) | 10 | Ground: 15 ft (18 ft along Sunrise Hwy/LIE Service Rd); Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 64 sq ft | — |
| Business 2 District (B2 / BUS2) | 7 | Ground: 15 ft (18 ft certain hwy); Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 64 sq ft | — |
| Business 3 District (B3 / BUS3) | 8 | Ground: 15 ft (18 ft certain); Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 64 sq ft | — |
| Industrial 1 District (IND1) | 9 | Ground: 15 ft (18 ft certain); Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 50 sq ft; Facial: 3/WS | — |
| Industrial 2 District (IND2) | 5 | Ground: 15 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 32 sq ft; Facial: 1/WS | — |
| Industrial Corridor District (ICD) | 7 | Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 32 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Business District (IBD) | 5 | Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### General Service Districts (GSF, GST, GSC, GSD, GSE)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | Ground: 5 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 1 sq ft; Facial: 1 sq ft; Window: 1 sq ft | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(1) |
| Public Interest Sign | Ground: 5 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 3 sq ft; Facial: 3 sq ft; Window: 4 sq ft | — | See general | As required | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(2) |
| Home Occupation Sign | Ground: 5 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 2 sq ft; Facial: 2 sq ft; Window: 2 sq ft | — | See general | 1 | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(3) |
| Place Sign | Ground: 10 ft | Ground: 32 sq ft | — | See general | As needed | Freestanding | — | §68-398; §68-395B(4) |
| Institutional Sign | Ground: 10 ft; Facial: 12 ft | Ground: 32 sq ft; Facial: 32 sq ft | — | See general | 1 | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(5) |
| Real Estate Sign | Ground: 10 ft; Facial: 12 ft | Ground: 12 sq ft; Facial: 24 sq ft; Window: 8 sq ft | — | See general | 1 | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(6) |
| Contractor's Sign | Ground: 10 ft | Ground: 24 sq ft; Window: 8 sq ft | — | See general | As needed | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(7) |
| Office Sign | Ground: 10 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 12 sq ft; Facial: 24 sq ft; Window: 4 sq ft | — | See general | 1 | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(8) |

### Business District (BD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | Ground: 5 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 1 sq ft; Facial: 1 sq ft; Window: 1 sq ft | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Public Interest Sign | Ground: 5 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 3 sq ft; Facial: 3 sq ft; Window: 4 sq ft | — | See general | As required | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Office Sign | Ground: 10 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 24 sq ft; Facial: 32 sq ft; Window: 4 sq ft | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Business Sign | Facial: 12 ft | Ground: Not permitted; Facial: 2/WS; Window: 50% of window area | — | See general | See general (secondary visible from parking) | See general (no ground unless building >25 ft setback) | — | §68-398; §68-395B(9) |
| Industrial Sign | Ground: 15 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 12 sq ft; Facial: 1 sq ft per linear ft of storefront width | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(10) |
| Marquee Sign | Ground: 15 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 50 sq ft; Facial: 3/WS | — | See general | 1 per establishment | See general | — | §68-398; §68-395B(11) |
| Directory Sign | Ground: 12 ft | Ground: 64 sq ft | — | See general | 1 | Freestanding | — | §68-398; §68-395B(12) |
| Feather Sign | 12 ft | 36 in width | 36 in | ≥20 ft from adjacent property | 1 per lot or 1 per 75 linear ft road frontage (multi-tenant) | Freestanding, secured; ≥20 ft from property line; not blocking windows/doors/sight triangle | — | §68-395B(18) |

### Downtown Development District (DDD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Address Sign | Ground: 5 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 1 sq ft; Facial: 1 sq ft; Window: 1 sq ft | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Public Interest Sign | Ground: 5 ft; Facial: 10 ft | Ground: 3 sq ft; Facial: 3 sq ft; Window: 4 sq ft | — | See general | As required | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Office Sign | Ground: 10 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 24 sq ft; Facial: 32 sq ft; Window: 4 sq ft | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Business Sign | Facial: 12 ft | Ground: Not permitted; Facial: 2/WS; Window: 50% of window area | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Industrial Sign | Ground: 15 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 12 sq ft; Facial: 1 sq ft per linear ft of storefront width | — | See general | See general | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Marquee Sign | Ground: 15 ft; Facial: 18 ft | Ground: 50 sq ft; Facial: 3/WS | — | See general | 1 | See general | — | §68-398 |
| Directory Sign | Ground: 12 ft | Ground: 64 sq ft | — | See general | 1 | Freestanding | — | §68-398 |
| Feather Sign | 12 ft | 36 in width | 36 in | See general | See general | See general for feather | — | §68-395B(18) |

## Prohibited signs in Islip

- Any sign which is dangerous or hazardous to public safety by virtue of its maintenance, structure, projection or any other reason as determined by the Building Inspector.
- Any sign which obstructs the visibility of drivers or which conflicts with or obstructs a traffic control device for any reason.
- Any sign which obstructs a required window or door in such a manner as to prevent free egress or ingress.
- Mobile or portable signs.
- Flashing, revolving, moving, sound-producing or animated signs, including signs which have the capability of motion in whole or in part, except signs which display time and/or temperature exclusively.
- Roof sign painted or supported upon or above any portion of a roof and which is visible anywhere from the ground, except when approved by the Board of Appeals.
- Commercial billboard which is rented or used to advertise a product, service or establishment which is not the principal product, service or establishment found on the property containing the billboard.
- Any sign attached to a tree, telephone pole, portable object or to the face of another sign.
- Any sign which uses breakable glass in its construction, except glass used in illumination.
- Any sign in any street right-of-way, except historic markers erected pursuant to § 68-400E.
- Immoral or obscene sign, as determined by the Town Board.
- Any sign which requires a permit but does not have one.
- Any sign attached to a fence, except by written permission of the Commissioner of Planning and Development.
- Any signs attached to or painted on a permanent canopy (exception for canopy signs in Business III or Industrial Corridor Districts as accessory to gasoline service stations, subject to specific criteria and approvals).
- Box and cabinet facial signs (any sign with a plastic acrylic or similar material face attached to a metal or similar material frame, including push-through and embossed types; aluminum pan signs excluded).

## Signs exempt from permit in Islip

- Any permitted sign is allowed to contain noncommercial copy in lieu of other copy.
- Historic markers do not require a sign permit but must comply with design and construction standards in NYS Code, obtain written approval from the Town Historian for content, limited to one per historical location/facility/building, and refer to ground signs as described in NYS Code (other signage follows article provisions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Marquee signs require Planning Board approval for design and location.
- Directories identifying five or more establishments require approval by the Town of Islip Planning Director before installation.
- Directional signs require Planning Director approval for location and quantity.
- Blade signs are only permitted in Business District (BD) and Downtown Development District (DDD), with specific placement, height, clearance, and illumination restrictions; may be in addition to primary facial sign.
- All wall or facial signs on a site, center, complex, or same building must be contextually compatible in design, size, shape, location, material, and illumination; modifications to uniform design require approval of the Planning Commissioner or designee.
- Corporate lawn signs must be architecturally compatible with building(s) and site, located in a landscaped lawn area of at least 1,500 square feet, with pylons not exceeding two feet in height.
- Bonus sign area increases require approvals, such as from Planning Director for wood construction and colors, or Building Inspector for landscaped planters.
- Canopy signs in Business III or Industrial Corridor Districts (accessory to gasoline service stations) require Sign Inspector and building permit review and approval, with specific size, quantity, design, and illumination criteria.
- Roof signs require approval by the Board of Appeals.
- Signage at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) not visible from public right-of-way or residential property is exempt from § 68-397 requirements, but prohibited sign types require variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

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

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