# Sign Regulations in Roslyn, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Roslyn, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/roslyn
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/13790732#13790732)

## At a glance

Roslyn, New York regulates 16 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Projecting Sign (Right-Angle over Sidewalk)s in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 28 in tall, 20 in x 28 in = 560 sq in, and 20 in wide, with a Interior edge may not project more than 12 in from building setback (Sec. §470-39[F]). Most commercial signs in Roslyn require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R District | 6 | 6 ft above ground | 36 sq in | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 8 | 28 in | 20 in x 28 in = 560 sq in | — |
| Historic/Scenic Overlay District | 2 | 6.5 in | 10.5 in x 6.5 in ellipse | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 6.5 in | 10.5 in x 6.5 in ellipse | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### R District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign | 6 ft above ground | 3 sq ft (for real estate, construction, or other temp sign) | — | 10 ft from any property line and not nearer to street line than minimum setback prescribed | One per parcel | Not within 10 ft of any property line nor nearer to any street line than minimum setback; attached to premises or on stationary rod/post; not on tree or bush | — | §470-37[A]; §470-38 |
| Garage/Tag Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §470-37[B] |
| Occupant/Professional Sign | 4 ft above ground (for freestanding signs) | 2 sq ft | — | 3 ft from any street or property line | One per premises | Not within 3 ft from any street or property line | — | §470-37[C] |
| Church/Institutional/School Sign | 6 ft above ground | 8 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any street or property line | One per property | Not within 10 ft from any street or property line | — | §470-37[D] |
| Security Company Sign (Yard/Free-standing) | 2 ft above ground | 1 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line and not nearer to street line than minimum setback prescribed | One per premises | Not within 10 ft of any property line nor nearer to any street line than minimum setback | — | §470-37[E] |
| Security Company Sign (Window) | — | 36 sq in | — | — | — | On window | — | §470-37[E] |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 18 in | — | — | — | Multiple, but combined max does not exceed single sign maximum | Front/face of building, interior/exterior surface of any front window, or within 4 ft inside from front window; must be parallel to building wall; extends outward not more than 12 in | — | §470-39[A]-[C], [D], [E] |
| Window Sign (Painted) | 18 in | — | — | — | — | Inner/outer surface of window or inside within 4 ft of window | — | §470-39[C][1], [6] |
| Projecting Sign (Right-Angle over Sidewalk) | 28 in | 20 in x 28 in = 560 sq in | 20 in | Interior edge may not project more than 12 in from building | One per business (if projecting sign installed, see above) | Vertical, overhanging, right angle to sidewalk, only over sidewalk; does not project beyond curb | — | §470-39[F] |
| Temporary Sign (Interior) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per business at a time | Displayed in window or interior portion visible from street | — | §470-40[A], [D], [E], [F], [G], [H] |
| Temporary Sign (Exterior) | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | One per business at a time | Exterior wall, door, or window, front or face of building (place as designated by Building Inspector) | — | §470-40[B], [D], [F], [G] |
| Real Estate or Construction Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 9 sq ft (must comply with temporary sign limits) | — | — | One per business at a time | Window, interior, or exterior wall, door, or window per temporary sign regs | — | §470-41; §470-40 |
| Directional/Informational Sign | 6 in | 6 in x 36 in = 216 sq in | 36 in | — | — | Private property | — | §470-43 |
| Historic Marker | 6.5 in | 10.5 in x 6.5 in ellipse | 10.5 in | — | One per structure | Attached to structure | — | §470-46 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional/Informational Sign | 6 in | 6 in x 36 in = 216 sq in | 36 in | — | — | Private property only | — | §470-43 |
| Historic Marker | 6.5 in | 10.5 in x 6.5 in ellipse | 10.5 in | — | One per structure | Attached to residential, commercial, or industrial structures | — | §470-46 |
| Address Numbers on Awning/Canopy | 6 in | — | 1 ft | — | — | Affixed to awning, canopy, similar structures | — | §470-47 |

## Prohibited signs in Roslyn

- Billboard signs and sandwich board signs are prohibited in the Village.
- No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of a public place any sign, signal or device which purports to be, is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic sign or signal or which attempts to direct traffic.
- No person shall deface, injure, move, obstruct or interfere with any official sign or official traffic sign or signal or any barrier, guard, light or flare placed to protect any obstruction, opening, tunnel, ditch or excavation.
- No sign shall be affixed to any awning, canopy or similar structures, except for permitted address numbers.
- The use of any portion of a tower for signs other than warning or equipment information signs is prohibited.
- Signs erected and maintained by the Village or other governmental authorities are the only signs permitted in the discharge of their official duties or functions.
- No right-angle or projecting sign extending over the public right-of-way shall be permitted except as specifically provided.
- No sign may be erected or maintained that might be confused as a traffic directional or stop sign, or might interfere with the vision or discernment of a traffic directional or stop and go sign, or might otherwise imperil the safety of travel on streets and highways.

## Signs exempt from permit in Roslyn

- Signs placed on any property to provide legal notice to the public where such notice and such sign are required by law, ordinance, governmental regulation, court decree, or administrative order are exempt from these regulations (except that size, color, location, etc., not specified by law may be subject to approval).
- Signs erected and maintained by the Village or other governmental authorities in the discharge of their official duties or functions are exempt from these regulations.
- Temporary signs placed within the windows of retail establishments in the nonresidential districts by charitable, religious, or eleemosynary organizations are exempt from temporary sign provisions (§470-40).
- Historic markers approved by the Historic District Board may be attached to structures without formal sign application or payment of fee (limited to one per structure).
- Window security company signs not exceeding 36 square inches are exempt from certain restrictions in residential districts.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Legal notices: The characteristics (such as maximum size, color, exact location) of legally required business signs, if not specified by law, may be subject to site plan and/or architectural and design approval in the same manner as any other sign on the property.
- Sign permit applications require drawings, construction details, and a location plan to show compliance with sign regulations (§470-39A).
- Permit approval in historic districts requires approval by the Historic District Board.
- Any person may apply for a special permit to the Board of Trustees for additional signage (§470-48).
- For appeals, modification or waiver of sign requirements may be granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals or Historic District Board.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/roslyn