# Sign Regulations in Port Jefferson, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Port Jefferson, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/port-jefferson
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9309117#9309117)

## At a glance

Port Jefferson, New York regulates 26 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2) zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 20 sq. ft., with a 5 ft. from property lines, 6 ft. from building, cannot encroach on required side yard setback (Sec. §250-31G(4)(b), §250-31F(1)(b)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts (R-A, R-A1, R-B1, R-B2, R-B3, R-M) | 8 | — | 10 sq. ft. | — |
| Residence-Office District (R-O) | 5 | — | — | — |
| Professional Office District (P-O) | 6 | — | — | — |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2) | 11 | 40 in. | Front face: 60 sq. ft.; sides: 40 sq. ft. each | — |
| Waterfront-Public Utility District (W-P) | 5 | — | — | — |
| Light Industrial District (I-2) | 10 | 40 in. | 20 sq. ft. | — |
| Marina-Waterfront District (MW-1) | 11 | 40 in. | Front face: 60 sq. ft.; sides: 40 sq. ft. each | — |
| Marina-Waterfront District (MW-2) | 11 | 40 in. | Front face: 60 sq. ft.; sides: 40 sq. ft. each | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 4 ft. | 20 sq. ft. per sign | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign | — | — | Max width: 75% of frontage | — | 1 per occupancy frontage (see rules for buildings adjacent to parking/alley) | Affixed to wall adjacent to a public street frontage, parking lot, alley, or right-of-way | — | §250-31G(4)(a), §250-31F(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from property lines, 6 ft. from building, cannot encroach on required side yard | 1 | Building must be set back at least 25 ft. from front property line | — | §250-31G(4)(b), §250-31F(1)(b) |
| Pole Sign | 6 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft. from property lines | 1 | In front yard, adjacent to main entrance; building must be set back at least 5 ft. | — | §250-31G(4)(c), §250-31F(1)(c) |
| Marquee Sign | — | Front face: 60 sq. ft.; sides: 40 sq. ft. each | — | — | 1 per theater | At theater main entrance | — | §250-31G(4)(e), §250-31F(1)(e) |
| Window Sign | — | Opaque: 15% of window or 10% of door; Non-opaque: 35% of window or 10% of door; Max 10 sq. ft. | — | — | See requirements | In windows directly adjacent to main entrance | — | §250-31G(4)(f), §250-31F(1)(f) |
| Secondary Wall Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Adjacent to primary pedestrian entrance | — | §250-31G(4)(g), §250-31F(1)(g) |
| Directory Wall Sign | — | 6 sq. ft.; 10 sq. ft. if building has 5+ units | — | — | 1 | Wall adjacent to shared pedestrian entrance (multiple units) | — | §250-31G(4)(h), §250-31F(1)(h) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 40 in. | — | 30 in. | — | 1 | Private property, adjacent to storefront; not on public sidewalk | — | §250-31G(4)(i), §250-31F(1)(i) |

### Marina-Waterfront District (MW-1)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign | — | — | Max width: 75% of frontage | — | 1 per occupancy frontage (see rules for buildings adjacent to parking/alley) | Affixed to wall adjacent to a public street frontage, parking lot, alley, or right-of-way | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[1], §250-31F(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from property lines, 6 ft. from building, cannot encroach on required side yard | 1 | Building must be set back at least 25 ft. from front property line | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[2], §250-31F(1)(b) |
| Pole Sign | 6 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft. from property lines | 1 | In front yard, adjacent to main entrance; building must be set back at least 5 ft. | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[3], §250-31F(1)(c) |
| Marquee Sign | — | Front face: 60 sq. ft.; sides: 40 sq. ft. each | — | — | 1 per theater | At theater main entrance | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[5], §250-31F(1)(e) |
| Window Sign | — | Opaque: 15% of window or 10% of door; Non-opaque: 35% of window or 10% of door; Max 10 sq. ft. | — | — | See requirements | In windows directly adjacent to main entrance | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[6], §250-31F(1)(f) |
| Secondary Wall Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Adjacent to primary pedestrian entrance | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[7], §250-31F(1)(g) |
| Directory Wall Sign | — | 6 sq. ft.; 10 sq. ft. if building has 5+ units | — | — | 1 | Wall adjacent to shared pedestrian entrance (multiple units) | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[8], §250-31F(1)(h) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 40 in. | — | 30 in. | — | 1 | Private property, adjacent to storefront; not on public sidewalk | — | §250-31G(7)(a)[9], §250-31F(1)(i) |

### Marina-Waterfront District (MW-2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Primary Wall Sign | — | — | Max width: 75% of frontage | — | 1 per occupancy frontage (see rules for buildings adjacent to parking/alley) | Affixed to wall adjacent to a public street frontage, parking lot, alley, or right-of-way | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[1], §250-31F(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 ft. | 20 sq. ft. | — | 5 ft. from property lines, 6 ft. from building, cannot encroach on required side yard | 1 | Building must be set back at least 25 ft. from front property line | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[2], §250-31F(1)(b) |
| Pole Sign | 6 ft. | 8 sq. ft. | — | 2 ft. from property lines | 1 | In front yard, adjacent to main entrance; building must be set back at least 5 ft. | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[3], §250-31F(1)(c) |
| Marquee Sign | — | Front face: 60 sq. ft.; sides: 40 sq. ft. each | — | — | 1 per theater | At theater main entrance | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[5], §250-31F(1)(e) |
| Window Sign | — | Opaque: 15% of window or 10% of door; Non-opaque: 35% of window or 10% of door; Max 10 sq. ft. | — | — | See requirements | In windows directly adjacent to main entrance | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[6], §250-31F(1)(f) |
| Secondary Wall Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Adjacent to primary pedestrian entrance | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[7], §250-31F(1)(g) |
| Directory Wall Sign | — | 6 sq. ft.; 10 sq. ft. if building has 5+ units | — | — | 1 | Wall adjacent to shared pedestrian entrance (multiple units) | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[8], §250-31F(1)(h) |
| Sandwich Board Sign | 40 in. | — | 30 in. | — | 1 | Private property, adjacent to storefront; not on public sidewalk | — | §250-31G(7)(b)[9], §250-31F(1)(i) |

## Prohibited signs in Port Jefferson

- No sign shall be installed or erected unless it complies with all provisions, including permit requirements, of the sign ordinance.
- Roof signs and pitched roof signs are prohibited except as otherwise permitted for a mansard roof, parapet, railing, or pitched roof over a porch/deck as specified.
- Neon signs or their functional equivalent are prohibited, except for historic neon signs.
- Box signs, whether or not internally lit, are prohibited.
- Internally lit signs are prohibited except for specific exceptions (e.g., emergency department signage at hospitals).
- Billboards or any other off-premises signs, including off-premises real estate or other directional signs, are prohibited.
- Outside banners, pennants, ribbons, flags (except as otherwise permitted), streamers, spinners, inflatables, whirligigs, or devices in the shape of products offered for sale are prohibited, except for items actually for sale and meeting outdoor display requirements.
- Flashing, blinking, or moving signs are prohibited.
- Signs that compete for attention with or may be mistaken for a traffic signal are prohibited.
- Exterior signs made of cardboard, paper, plywood, soft plastic, or similar materials are prohibited except as permitted for temporary signs.
- Signs located on waterfall or barrel roll awnings are prohibited.
- Illumination of signs is limited to direct illumination from a shielded low-intensity light source; no internally lit signs except where specifically allowed.
- No sign shall be erected or placed within the right-of-way lines of a public street or walkway, except those erected by a governmental agency.
- No lettering is permitted on any sign supports.
- Obsolete signs and their supporting structures must be removed within 60 days after the use or activity identified has ceased or the property is vacant.
- All signs must be maintained, and if found noncompliant, inadequately maintained, hazardous, or unsafe, the permit will be revoked.
- Noncommercial signs must comply with all time, place, and manner regulations.
- Portable signs and sandwich board signs may not be placed upon or encroach into public property or on the public sidewalk.
- All signs must be constructed of approved materials: wood, sign foam, aluminum, metal, concrete, stone, or canvas over a frame; all other materials are prohibited.
- All signs requiring a permit must maintain a dimensional appearance; flat or one-dimensional signage is prohibited (except marquee, window and awning signs).

## Signs exempt from permit in Port Jefferson

- Residence nameplate or street number sign.
- Nonilluminated 'open,' 'closed,' 'vacancy,' 'no-vacancy,' 'warning,' 'private drive,' 'posted,' or 'no trespassing' signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Flags of the United States.
- Flags of any other political, civic, philanthropic, educational, religious organization or not-for-profit entity.
- Historical markers, memorial signs and plaques, names of buildings and dates of erection, and emblems installed by governmental agencies.
- On-premises directional signs and parking enforcement signs identifying parking areas, fire zones, entrances and exits, not exceeding five square feet in area and six feet in height.
- Temporary signs in residential districts not exceeding four square feet and displayed for no more than 30 consecutive days in a sixty-day period.
- Gasoline and service station integral graphics or attached price signs on gasoline pumps and auxiliary service signs (e.g., air, water, rest rooms, state inspections) not exceeding two square feet, and any other signs required by law.
- Interior signs, whether illuminated or not, intended solely for internal display and not visible from the exterior of the building.
- Historic exterior neon signs, provided no modifications or alterations are made after the effective date of the ordinance.
- Real estate signs meeting specified requirements (not illuminated, size, location, etc.).
- Window signs meeting specified requirements.
- Secondary wall signs meeting specified requirements.
- Secondary soffit signs meeting specified requirements.
- All signs regulated under specific other Code sections (e.g., tank and vessel operation signs, street signs, traffic signs, wireless communication tower signs).
- Directional signs placed adjacent to public roadways by governmental entities.
- Fire prevention and emergency egress signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Sign permit applications must include plans, specifications, drawings, and other information as required by the Building Department.
- All signs (unless expressly exempt) require a permit, and must comply with design standards including dimensional appearance, scale, material, and harmony with building architecture.
- The Building Inspector may refer any sign application to the Architectural Review Committee for review and comment.
- If the Building Inspector determines a proposed sign does not meet provisions, the applicant may amend the application or apply to the Board of Zoning Appeals for relief, which may involve comments from the Architectural Review Committee.
- Applications for variances or relief may require review by the Board of Zoning 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 10 zoning districts in Port Jefferson — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Port+Jefferson+NY&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-port-jefferson

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