# Sign Regulations in Nassau, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Nassau, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/nassau
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11968995#11968995)

## At a glance

Nassau, New York regulates 28 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Wall Sign (General Business District)s in the General Business District zoning district are capped at 10 feet (see general) tall and 40 square feet (if flat against facade) (Sec. § 120-66D(4)(b); (3)(a)). Most commercial signs in Nassau require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 10 feet | 8 square feet or less are not subject to building setbacks; larger than 8 square feet are treated as buildings for setback purposes. | — |
| Land Conservation District | 4 | — | 20 square feet | — |
| Single-Family and Single- and Multifamily Residential District | 7 | — | 32 square feet (combined area) | — |
| Very-Low-Density Residential District | 9 | — | 32 square feet (combined area) | — |
| General Business District | 5 | 10 feet (see general) | 40 square feet (if flat against facade) | — |
| Planned Development District | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### Single-Family and Single- and Multifamily Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Land Conservation) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | For identification of any building or use permitted. | — | § 120-66D(2)(a), (1)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | On property for sale or rent. | — | § 120-66D(2)(a), (1)(b) |
| Public Utility Sign (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | Installation for identification, operation, or protection. | — | § 120-66D(2)(a), (1)(c) |
| Legal/Public Welfare Sign (Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | Signs incident to legal process or necessary to public welfare. | — | § 120-66D(2)(a), (1)(d) |
| Bulletin Board (Religious/Institutional Use) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 | For church or other institutional use. | — | § 120-66D(2)(b) |
| Home Occupation Sign | — | 2 square feet per dwelling | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Per dwelling. | — | § 120-66D(2)(c) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | 32 square feet (combined area) | — | — | — | On premises of a church, municipality, or nonprofit institution hosting a special event. | — | § 120-66D(2)(d) |

### Very-Low-Density Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Land Conservation) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | For identification of any building or use permitted. | — | § 120-66D(3)(a), (2)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign (Very-Low-Density Residential) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | — | On property for sale or rent. | — | § 120-66D(3)(a), (2)(a) |
| Public Utility Sign (Very-Low-Density Residential) | — | — | — | — | — | Installation for identification, operation, or protection. | — | § 120-66D(3)(a), (2)(a) |
| Bulletin Board (Religious/Institutional Use - Very-Low-Density Residential) | — | 8 square feet | — | — | 1 | For church or other institutional use. | — | § 120-66D(3)(a), (2)(b) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Very-Low-Density Residential) | — | 2 square feet per dwelling | — | — | 1 per dwelling | Per dwelling. | — | § 120-66D(3)(a), (2)(c) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign (Very-Low-Density Residential) | — | 32 square feet (combined area) | — | — | — | On premises of a church, municipality, or nonprofit institution hosting a special event. | — | § 120-66D(3)(a), (2)(d) |
| Farm Product Sign (Approach) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 per direction of approach | One per direction of approach from a stand or farmhouse selling farm products. | — | § 120-66D(3)(b) |
| Farm Product Sign (At Stand) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 1 at stand | At the stand selling farm products. | — | § 120-66D(3)(b) |

### General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Very-Low-Density Residential allowed signs) | — | 20 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | § 120-66D(4)(a) |
| Wall Sign (General Business District) | 10 feet (see general) | 40 square feet (if flat against facade) | — | — | One or two signs per premises (see below) | Flat against the facade of a building. | — | § 120-66D(4)(b); (3)(a) |
| Other Sign (General Business District) | 10 feet (see general) | 24 square feet | — | — | Allowed up to two signs per premises | Any sign not parallel to and flat against the building. | — | § 120-66D(4)(b) |
| Window Sign (General Business District) | — | 12 square feet or 20% of the facade area (length), whichever is less. | — | — | — | Inside windows. | — | § 120-66D(4)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (General Business District) | 10 feet (see general) | — | — | Must not be in front if <15 ft setback. | — | Prohibited in front of buildings with less than a fifteen-foot front setback. | — | § 120-66D(4)(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Nassau

- Signs are not permitted as a principal use (signs are accessory use only).
- No attached sign shall extend within a street or road property line unless the line is the building line; in that case, may only extend up to four feet and must not interfere with vehicle visibility.
- No sign shall exceed 10 feet in height or extend above the facade of the building to which it is attached.
- The use of exterior moving signs or self-illuminated signs (other than with bulbs concealed behind translucent glass, plates or similar material) or the use of flashing or intermittent lighting, including LED signs in connection with signs, is not permitted.
- No sign lighting shall cause glare onto any street or onto any neighboring property.
- Any sign along a state highway must conform to the regulations of the New York State Department of Transportation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Nassau

- Signs one square foot or less in area and bearing only property numbers, post box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
- Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
- Legal notices, identification, informational, or directional signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
- Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
- Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property but bearing no advertising matter.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs that are included in a project undergoing site plan, special use, or subdivision review with the Planning Board shall also be reviewed and decided upon by the Planning Board at the same time.
- New signs not part of a Planning Board application shall be reviewed by the Code Enforcement Officer to ensure the proposed sign meets all requirements of this section.

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

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