# Sign Regulations in North Hempstead, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Hempstead, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/north-hempstead
- **Data last verified:** 2025-09-15
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9301411#9301411)

## At a glance

North Hempstead, New York regulates 26 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Wall Sign (Public Street Facing)s in the Business AA District (B-AA); Business A District (B-A); Business B District (B-B); Service Commercial District (SC) zoning district are capped at Top of sign not higher than 18 ft above mean ground; not higher than roofline; vertical dimension ≤ 4.5 ft tall, 2 sq ft per linear ft of wall width, and Not wider than the building upon which it is placed wide, with a May not extend into any right-of-way setback (Sec. §70-196J(1)(a)-(i); §70-197A, I, J, O). Most commercial signs in North Hempstead require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 18 ft | Per §70-196J(1)(b) depending on wall type | — |
| Residence Open Space District (R-O-S); Planned Waterfront Residential Community (PWRC); Residence AAA District (R-AAA); Residence AA District (R-AA); Residence A District (R-A); Residence B District (R-B); Residence C District (R-C); Residence D District (R-D); Residence District, Multiple (RM); Residence District, Public Housing (RPH); Golden Age Residence District (GAR); Senior Residence District (R-S) | 1 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| Hospital District; Community Facility (CFD); Transportation District (T); Parking District (P); Open Space Recreation District (OSR); Planned Unit Development District (PUD) | 2 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| Business AA District (B-AA); Business A District (B-A); Business B District (B-B); Service Commercial District (SC) | 9 | Per §70-196J(1)(b): ≤ 4.5 ft (street-facing) or ≤ 2 ft (parking-facing) and top ≤ 18 ft and below roofline | 100 sq ft | — |
| Planned Industrial Park District (PIP); Industrial A District (I-A); Modified Planned Industrial Park District (MPIP); Industrial B District (I-B) | 10 | Per §70-196J(1)(b): ≤ 4.5 ft (street-facing) or ≤ 2 ft (parking-facing) and top ≤ 18 ft and below roofline | 300 sq ft | — |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Nameplate (Residential) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On the residence of the professional | — | §70-196A |
| Professional Office Building Directory Sign (Nonresidential) | — | — | — | — | 1 | On nonresidential professional office buildings having two or more occupants; may be a wall or ground sign | — | §70-196A |
| Sale or Rent Sign (On-Premises Real Estate) | 5 ft (no part of sign above 5 ft if freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from any property line | 1 | On the property for sale or rent | — | §70-196B |
| Contractor/Architect/Engineer Sign (During Construction) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Maintained on a building while the same is under construction | — | §70-196C |
| Institutional Identification Sign (Church/Hospital/School/Public Agency) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Placed upon a building or lot of a church, hospital, school or public agency | — | §70-196D |
| Subdivision Sign (Approved Subdivision) | — | 50 sq ft | — | At least 25 ft from any lot line | 1 | On the premises of the approved subdivision | — | §70-196G |
| Gasoline Station - Ground Signs | 18 ft | 24 sq ft per sign face | — | Must not project beyond any lot line | Up to 2 | On gasoline station lot | — | §70-196K(4) |
| Gasoline Station - Temporary Seasonal Signs | — | 10 sq ft per sign face | — | — | Up to 2 | On gasoline station lot | — | §70-196K(5) |

### Business AA District (B-AA); Business A District (B-A); Business B District (B-B); Service Commercial District (SC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Public Street Facing) | Top of sign not higher than 18 ft above mean ground; not higher than roofline; vertical dimension ≤ 4.5 ft | 2 sq ft per linear ft of wall width | Not wider than the building upon which it is placed | May not extend into any right-of-way | 1 per eligible wall | Attached to and parallel to a building wall facing a public street | — | §70-196J(1)(a)-(i); §70-197A, I, J, O |
| Wall Sign (Parking Area Facing) | Top of sign not higher than 18 ft above mean ground; not higher than roofline; vertical dimension ≤ 2 ft | 1 sq ft per linear ft of wall width, but not more than 24 sq ft | Not wider than the building upon which it is placed | May not extend into any right-of-way | 1 per eligible wall | Attached to and parallel to a building wall facing a parking area | — | §70-196J(1)(a)-(i) |
| Detached/Ground Sign (Business/Industrial) | 15 ft (from mean ground level) | 24 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any property line | 1 | On the same premises as the business | — | §70-196J(2)(a)-(e) |
| Tower Sign | Top not to exceed 35 ft above mean ground; no dimension over 10 ft | 100 sq ft | No dimension over 10 ft | — | 1 | Integral part of the front of the building | — | §70-196J(3)(a)-(e) |
| Window Signs | — | ≤ 1/3 of window area (per window) | — | — | — | Interior or exterior surface of a display window | — | §70-196J(4) |
| Hanging/Blade Sign | No portion more than 15 ft above grade or above the roof; minimum 8 ft clearance above grade | 6 sq ft per side | — | Projection limit: ≤ 42 in or ≤ 1/2 sidewalk width (whichever is less) | 1 per business | Attached to and perpendicular to a building wall on a public street or parking area; within 15 ft of the entrance of the business it advertises | — | §70-196J(5)(a)-(l) |
| Temporary Grand Opening Display | Shall not exceed building height | Up to 3 ft by 15 ft | — | Must be within property lines | — | On or hung from the building, within the property lines | — | §70-196J(6)(a)-(f) |
| Political Wall Sign (Business/Industrial Only) | Per §70-196J(1)(b): ≤ 4.5 ft (street-facing) or ≤ 2 ft (parking-facing) and top ≤ 18 ft and below roofline | Per §70-196J(1)(b) based on wall orientation | — | — | — | On building walls in business and industrial districts | — | §70-201A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H; §70-196J(1)(b) |

### Planned Industrial Park District (PIP); Industrial A District (I-A); Modified Planned Industrial Park District (MPIP); Industrial B District (I-B)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Public Street Facing) | Top of sign not higher than 18 ft above mean ground; not higher than roofline; vertical dimension ≤ 4.5 ft | 2 sq ft per linear ft of wall width | Not wider than the building upon which it is placed | May not extend into any right-of-way | 1 per eligible wall | Attached to and parallel to a building wall facing a public street | — | §70-196J(1)(a)-(i) |
| Wall Sign (Parking Area Facing) | Top of sign not higher than 18 ft above mean ground; not higher than roofline; vertical dimension ≤ 2 ft | 1 sq ft per linear ft of wall width, but not more than 24 sq ft | Not wider than the building upon which it is placed | May not extend into any right-of-way | 1 per eligible wall | Attached to and parallel to a building wall facing a parking area | — | §70-196J(1)(a)-(i) |
| Detached/Ground Sign (Business/Industrial) | 15 ft (from mean ground level) | 24 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any property line | 1 | On the same premises as the business | — | §70-196J(2)(a)-(e) |
| Tower Sign | Top not to exceed 35 ft above mean ground; no dimension over 10 ft | 100 sq ft | No dimension over 10 ft | — | 1 | Integral part of the front of the building | — | §70-196J(3)(a)-(e) |
| Hanging/Blade Sign | No portion more than 15 ft above grade or above the roof; minimum 8 ft clearance above grade | 6 sq ft per side | — | Projection limit: ≤ 42 in or ≤ 1/2 sidewalk width (whichever is less) | 1 per business | Attached to and perpendicular to a building wall on a public street or parking area; within 15 ft of the entrance of the business it advertises | — | §70-196J(5)(a)-(l) |
| Temporary Grand Opening Display | Shall not exceed building height | Up to 3 ft by 15 ft | — | Must be within property lines | — | On or hung from the building, within the property lines | — | §70-196J(6)(a)-(f) |
| Billboard or Poster Panel for Hire | 15 ft (from top to mean level of ground) | 300 sq ft | — | At least 20 ft from any lot line and at least 50 ft from any residence district | 1 | Industrial districts only | — | §70-196M(1)-(5); §70-199 |
| Political Wall Sign (Business/Industrial Only) | Per §70-196J(1)(b): ≤ 4.5 ft (street-facing) or ≤ 2 ft (parking-facing) and top ≤ 18 ft and below roofline | Per §70-196J(1)(b) based on wall orientation | — | — | — | On building walls in industrial districts | — | §70-201A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H; §70-196J(1)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in North Hempstead

- No roof signs; no part of any sign may project above the roof line (§70-197A).
- No signs painted on the surfaces of walls or roofs (§70-197B).
- No exterior signs made of cloth, oil cloth, paper or other destructible material, except those permitted under §70-196F (§70-197C).
- No banners, pennants, balloons or gas-filled figures, advertising/message flags, bunting, ribbons, streamers, spinners or similar moving/fluttering/revolving devices attached to or upon any building or across any street (§70-197D).
- No sign or its lighting/reflectors may frame, outline or hang from any window or door or side of any wall, or inhibit ingress/egress from any door, window, fire escape or required exit (§70-197E).
- No signs designed for vertical lighting (§70-197F).
- No off-premises signs directing attention to a business, service, entertainment or commodity not on the premises (§70-197G).
- No signs attached to any tree or fence (§70-197H).
- No sign may direct, emit, radiate or reflect any beam, ray, gleam or glare of light away from the lot where it is located (§70-197I).
- Signs that direct/emit/reflect light onto an abutting residential district must be extinguished within 30 minutes after close of business and no later than 11:00 p.m.; interior business lights may remain on overnight up to 20 footcandles (§70-197J).
- No sign that could be confused with a traffic sign, interfere with viewing/discernment of a traffic sign, or create a danger to public travel (§70-197K).
- Except as otherwise permitted, no sign may extend or project into any right-of-way (§70-197L).
- No sign, display or advertising device not otherwise classified in Article XXI is permitted (§70-197M).
- No sign within 500 feet of the border of any state park or parkway unless the applicant complies with applicable provisions of the Conservation Law (§70-197N).
- No flashing, blinking, rotating, changing, intermittent, animated or moving lights on any sign; time/temperature displays are allowed and message boards are allowed only if the message is not changed more than once per day (§70-197O).
- No sign (including handbills and stickers) may be affixed to another sign, traffic signal, pole, controller cabinet or support, fire hydrant, bridge, streetlight, lamppost, or utility pole within the right-of-way of any Town, state or county road/highway, except when affixed by or with written permission of the authority with jurisdiction (§70-197P).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No master/comprehensive sign plan requirement is stated in the provided sections.
- Before any sign permitted by this Article is erected or maintained, a written application must be filed with the Building Official and the requisite fee paid; wall signs require an application before erection, alteration, repainting, relettering, relocation, reconstruction, repair, removal and replacement (§70-198A).
- Directional signs on a side wall directing persons to a parking area may be erected only with authorization by the Board of Zoning and Appeals pursuant to Article XXIV (§70-196I).

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

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