# Sign Regulations in Southampton, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southampton, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/southampton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/5129176#5129176)

## At a glance

Southampton, New York regulates 17 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Identification Sign (Home Professional Office or Home Occupation)s in the Residence Districts zoning district are capped at 6 feet above natural ground level tall and 2 square feet, with a At least 5 feet from all property lines setback (Sec. §116-13B(1), §116-13G). Most commercial signs in Southampton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence Districts | 7 | 6 feet above natural ground level | 12 square feet | — |
| Village Business Districts, Highway Business Districts | 7 | 6 feet | 60 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Districts (other than Village Business and Highway Business Districts) | 7 | 6 feet | 40 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | 4 feet | 200 square inches | — |

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

### Residence Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Home Professional Office or Home Occupation) | 6 feet above natural ground level | 2 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from all property lines | One per street frontage | On building wall or in front yard (at least 5 ft from property lines) | — | §116-13B(1), §116-13G |
| Announcement Sign (Church or Place of Worship) | — | 12 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from front property line and at least 25 feet from all other property lines | One per street frontage | Fixed on main building wall or in required front yard | — | §116-13B(2), §116-13G |
| Announcement Sign (Parish House, Club, School, Public or Semipublic Building) | — | 6 square feet | — | At least 5 feet from front property line and at least 25 feet from all other property lines | One per street frontage | Fixed on main building wall or in required front yard | — | §116-13B(3), §116-13G |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential District) | 4 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | One per lot | Parallel to street, off the Village right-of-way, may be at property line | — | §116-13G(1)(a), §116-13I(1) |
| Construction Sign (Residential District) | — | 3 square feet (5 square feet for special construction sign) | — | — | One per lot | Facing street, off the Village right-of-way, may be at property line | — | §116-13I(2), §116-13G(1) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per property | On property where sale is being conducted (not on Village right-of-way) | — | §116-13I(3) |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Off Village right-of-way | — | §116-13I(4) |

### Village Business Districts, Highway Business Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Identification Sign | — | 60 square feet | 75% of the horizontal measurement of the wall | — | One per public street frontage | Attached to or incorporated in a building wall | — | §116-13C(1)(a)(b)(c)(d), §116-13G |
| Detached/Ground Identification Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from all property lines (or average setback within block if less than 10 ft) | One per public street frontage | Required front yard, only where building is set back 40 ft or more from street line | — | §116-13C(2)(a)(b)(c)(d), §116-13G |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Awning attached to building wall | — | §116-13C(3) |
| Window Sign | — | 10% of door glass area per business; 20% of window area; aggregate w/ posters max 25%-30% | — | — | — | Affixed to/within 1 ft of glass of door or window | — | §116-13E(1), §116-13G(1)(d) |
| Menu Box Sign | — | As small as practicable | — | — | One per business | Attached to building wall | — | §116-13E(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential District) | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | One per lot | Parallel to street, off the Village right-of-way, may be at property line | — | §116-13I(1), §116-13G(1) |
| Construction Sign (Nonresidential District) | — | 3 square feet (5 square feet for special construction sign) | — | — | One per lot | Facing street, off the Village right-of-way, may be at property line | — | §116-13I(2), §116-13G(1) |

### Nonresidential Districts (other than Village Business and Highway Business Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Identification Sign | — | 40 square feet | 75% of the horizontal measurement of the wall | — | One per public street frontage | Attached to or incorporated in a building wall | — | §116-13D(1) |
| Detached/Ground Identification Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | At least 20 feet from all property lines (or average setback within block if less than 10 ft) | One per public street frontage | Required front yard, only where building is set back 40 ft or more from street line | — | §116-13D(2) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Awning attached to building wall | — | §116-13D(3) |
| Window Sign | — | 10% of door glass area per business; 20% of window area; aggregate w/ posters max 25%-30% | — | — | — | Affixed to/within 1 ft of glass of door or window | — | §116-13E(1), §116-13G(1)(d) |
| Menu Box Sign | — | As small as practicable | — | — | One per business | Attached to building wall | — | §116-13E(2) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential District) | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | — | One per lot | Parallel to street, off the Village right-of-way, may be at property line | — | §116-13I(1), §116-13G(1) |
| Construction Sign (Nonresidential District) | — | 3 square feet (5 square feet for special construction sign) | — | — | One per lot | Facing street, off the Village right-of-way, may be at property line | — | §116-13I(2), §116-13G(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Southampton

- No rooftop signs shall be permitted in any district.
- The outlining by direct illumination of all or part of a building, such as a gable, roof, wall, side or corner, is prohibited except during the Christmas season.
- Portable signs are prohibited in all districts.
- No sign shall distract from or obstruct historical buildings and sites and unique natural or scenic features from public view.
- Billboard signs are prohibited in all districts, except that the municipality may establish special public information centers with approved directional signs for businesses.
- No flashing or moving signs shall be permitted in any district, except if approved by the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation as contributing to a building's architectural or historic significance.
- Neon and neon-type signs visible from the street are prohibited in all districts, except if approved by the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation as contributing to a building's architectural or historic significance.
- Interior-lit translucent signs visible from the street are prohibited in all districts, unless necessary to direct public attention to an emergency service facility.
- A detached or ground sign shall not be supported by a pylon or metal pole.
- No sign shall be erected within the Village of Southampton without first obtaining a permit from the Building Inspector and paying the required fee for such permit, except as specifically exempted.
- No existing sign shall be structurally altered, rebuilt, enlarged, extended, relocated or modified in any way except in conformity with the provisions of this section.
- Any sign requiring a permit which does not have such a permit or which has had its permit revoked shall be deemed to be illegal.
- No permit for a sign shall be issued by the Building Inspector until the design has been approved by the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation or an authorized committee.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southampton

- Residence nameplates, street number signs, and 'beware' or 'caution' signs, all not exceeding two square feet and accessory to one-family and two-family dwellings, do not require a permit.
- A real estate sign (other than a real estate agency/brokerage sign) advertising a one-family or two-family dwelling for sale or rent does not require a permit.
- 'Exit' and 'entrance' signs that do not exceed four feet in height and 200 square inches in area and say only 'exit' or 'entrance' do not require a permit.
- A sign indicating the property has an alarm system, not exceeding one square foot, does not require a permit.
- Window signs that consist of posters for special events or special sales/promotion, per § 116-13E(1)(d) and (e), do not require a permit.
- A garage sale sign, pursuant to ordinance, does not require a permit.
- A political sign, pursuant to ordinance, does not require a permit.
- Nothing in the chapter prohibits the municipality or governmental agency from erecting and maintaining public signs deemed necessary in the public interest.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applications for sign permits must include plans, specifications, and information as required by the Building Inspector.
- All sign designs must be approved by the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation or its authorized committee prior to permit issuance.
- A sign permit is required for the sign area incorporated into an awning; the Board may consider the design of the awning (including color and material) along with the sign area.
- No permit shall be issued unless proposed signs comply with all chapter requirements and other applicable regulations.
- If a sign requires a variance, approval from the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation is needed.

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

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