# Sign Regulations in Smithtown Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Smithtown Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/smithtown-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15104197#15104197)

## At a glance

Smithtown Town, New York regulates 5 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Awning Signs in the CB District zoning district are capped at 12 feet above grade (maximum) tall, with a 1 foot from property lines; 2 feet from curb, parking, and driveways. setback (Sec. §322-69C(6)(a)-(h)). Most commercial signs in Smithtown Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CB District | 5 | 12 feet above grade (maximum) | — | — |
| Residence | 4 | — | — | — |
| PB, CF | 5 | 12 feet above grade (maximum) | — | — |
| Nissequogue River Corridor | 3 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 12 feet above grade (maximum) | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### CB District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per establishment facing street; one additional facing parking lot in rear (CB District only) | One wall sign permitted per establishment that fronts a street and is located on the first floor. Must face public streets. Establishments in CB District permitted a second wall sign facing parking lots in the rear of the establishment. The vertical dimension of the second wall sign not more than 1 foot. | — | §322-69C(1), (4), (5) |
| Awning Sign | 12 feet above grade (maximum) | — | — | 1 foot from property lines; 2 feet from curb, parking, and driveways. | In addition to permitted wall sign(s). | Bottom flap of a vinyl or fabric awning. Minimum clearance above grade: 7 feet. Setback from all property lines: 1 foot minimum. Setback from curb, parking and driveways: 2 feet minimum. Projection from wall: 4 feet maximum. | — | §322-69C(6)(a)-(h) |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | If over 12 sq. ft., 75 feet from residential lot. Only permitted if principal building set back more than 20 feet from street. | One per site; two for sites over 5 acres | Permanent ground sign allowed only if principal building is set back more than 20 feet from street. Only one per site except for sites over five acres, which may have two. | — | §322-69B(1),(5) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window and plainly visible from the outside | — | §322-69D |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §322-69E |

### PB, CF

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Must not project more than 12 inches; set back at least one foot from sides of establishment. | One per establishment | One per establishment that fronts a street; must face public streets. | — | §322-69C(1),(5) |
| Awning Sign | 12 feet above grade (maximum) | — | — | 1 ft from property line; 2 ft from curb/parking/driveways | In addition to permitted wall sign(s). | Bottom flap of awning; clearance 7 feet minimum above grade; 1 foot from property lines; 2 feet from curb, parking, and driveways; projection 4 feet maximum. | — | §322-69C(6)(a)-(h) |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | Building set back > 20 ft required. Signs >12 sq. ft. must be 75 ft from residential lot. | One per site; two for sites >5 acres | Permanent ground sign allowed only if principal building is set back over 20 feet from street; only one per site, or two for sites over 5 acres. | — | §322-69B(1),(5) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window and plainly visible from outside. | — | §322-69D |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §322-69E |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | If over 12 sq. ft., 75 feet from residential lot. Only permitted if building is set back more than 20 feet from street. | One per site; two for sites >5 acres. | Permanent ground sign allowed only if principal building is set back more than 20 feet from street. Only one per site except for sites over five acres, which may have two. | — | §322-69B(1),(5) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | Must not project more than 12 inches; set back at least one foot from sides. | One per establishment | One per establishment on first floor that fronts a street; must face public streets. | — | §322-69C(1),(4),(5) |
| Awning Sign | 12 feet above grade (maximum) | — | — | 1 foot from property line; 2 feet from curb/parking/driveways. | In addition to wall sign(s). | Bottom flap of awning; clearance 7 feet minimum above grade; 1 foot from property lines; 2 feet from curb, parking, and driveways; projection 4 feet maximum. | — | §322-69C(6)(a)-(h) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to window and plainly visible from outside. | — | §322-69D |
| Temporary Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §322-69E |

## Prohibited signs in Smithtown Town

- No sign shall be erected, altered or maintained except in conformity with this chapter.
- Any sign not expressly permitted is prohibited.
- Any sign which poses a hazard to public safety.
- Any sign which creates a physical or visual obstruction for motorists, pedestrians, or bicyclists; or which conflicts with or resembles an official traffic control or safety device or sign; or any sign not in compliance with corner clearance requirements.
- Mobile or portable signs, which are freestanding signs designed and constructed primarily not to be attached to a building, a structure or the ground.
- Revolving or moving signs, including signs which have the capability of motion in whole or in part.
- Flashing or intermittently illuminated signs.
- Any sign that produces or is capable of producing any sound or emitting any vapor, gas, or dust.
- Pinwheels, pennants, banners, balloons or other similar devices.
- Any sign placed or posted on, within, or encroaching upon or over any Town property, including the property within any portion of the entire width of the right-of-way boundary lines of any Town street or highway, or on any appurtenance therein, except as otherwise permitted or authorized herein.
- Any sign on any tree, roof, or on another sign.
- Any sign that requires a permit or approval from any federal, state or local governmental authority and which does not have such permit or approval.
- Any sign that promotes a commercial subject matter neither located nor to be provided at or from the site upon which the sign is located; or any temporary sign, not including a window sign, in any district other than Residence, PB or CF that promotes a commercial subject matter located or to be provided at or from the site upon which the sign is located; or any sign that identifies an establishment which has ceased to operate at or from the site upon which the sign is located.
- Any sign that is dilapidated or otherwise not in a good state of repair.
- No red or green lights or illuminated portions of signs shall be within 100 feet from the point of intersection of the nearest street lines.
- Where illumination of signs is permitted, such illumination may only be between sunset and the close of business.
- Illumination shall be of even intensity at all times; such illumination shall measure no greater than 1,000 lumens.
- Spotlights shall be shielded to prevent glare, and finished to blend in with the surrounding environment.
- No sign may be erected or altered unless and until a permit authorizing same is issued by the Building Director, except as otherwise provided herein.
- No sign permit shall be issued for a site not in conformity with any approved site plan.

## Signs exempt from permit in Smithtown Town

- Signs as required by law or by any governmental authority.
- Nothing in this chapter prohibits the use, in any district, of a sign indicating that the premises upon which the sign is located are available for sale or rent.
- Governmental authorities' signs are exempt unless otherwise specified by law or specifically waived by the Town Board.
- Street numbers (in characters three to six inches in height) are required for every site with a building.
- Signs required for public safety purposes or by the FCC or FAA on PWSFs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention of a Master Sign Plan or sign plan requirement found in the provided ordinance text.
- No sign permit shall be issued for a site not in conformity with any approved site plan.
- Signs within the Nissequogue River Corridor require New York State Department of Environmental Conservation approval prior to issuance of a Town permit.
- Signs within 500 feet of a state park or parkway require approval from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation prior to issuance of a Town permit.

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

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