# Sign Regulations in Southport Town, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southport Town, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/southport-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31279759#31279759)

## At a glance

Southport Town, New York regulates 40 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the R1, R2, R3, CN zoning district are capped at 20 ft max (general height limit for signs in § 525-92A(4)) tall and 40 sq ft per face, with a Minimum 5 ft from any lot line or right-of-way (§ 525-92A(5)) setback (Sec. § 525-94B, Table; § 525-92A(4)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 ft above finished grade | As permitted by authority; see § 525-92C(2) | — |
| R1, R2, R3, CN | 14 | 20 ft max (general height limit for signs in § 525-92A(4)) | 80 sq ft per face | — |
| AR, CN | 10 | 20 ft max (per § 525-92A(4)) | 150 sq ft per face | — |
| CR, I | 10 | 20 ft max (per § 525-92A(4)) | 350 sq ft per face | — |
| Mall in CN, CR, I | 6 | — | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| Mall Tenant Principal/Accessory Use in CN, CR, I | 7 | — | 200 sq ft per face | — |
| Business/Industrial Use except mall in AR, I | 4 | 20 ft max (per § 525-92A(4)) | 350 sq ft per face | — |

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

### R1, R2, R3, CN

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Use) | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On a lot offered for sale or lease | — | § 525-94A, Table |
| Occupation/Cottage Industry Sign (Residential Use) | 8 ft above finished grade | 4 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | Affixed to a dwelling unit or on a post | — | § 525-94A, Table |
| Poster Sign (Residential Use) | — | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per individual event or show, political candidate, issue, and/or election | On a lot with owner authorization | — | § 525-94A, Table; § 525-92C(4) |
| Real Estate Subdivision Sign (Residential Use) | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On a lot in the approved subdivision | — | § 525-94A, Table |
| Monument Sign (Residential Use) | — | 20 sq ft per face | — | — | 2 (each on different lot in subdivision) | On a lot in an approved subdivision, park, or development | — | § 525-94A, Table |
| Real Estate Sign (General Use) | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On a lot offered for sale or lease | — | § 525-94B, Table |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft max (general height limit for signs in § 525-92A(4)) | 40 sq ft per face | — | Minimum 5 ft from any lot line or right-of-way (§ 525-92A(5)) | 1 | On a lot | — | § 525-94B, Table; § 525-92A(4) |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per drive per traffic flow direction | Near a drive entrance; must comply with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94B, Table; § 525-92C(5) |

### AR, CN

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Business Use) | — | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On a lot offered for sale | — | § 525-94C, Table |
| Poster Sign (Business Use) | — | 20 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per individual event/candidate/issue/election | On a lot with owner authorization and as per § 525-92 | — | § 525-94C, Table; § 525-92C(4) |
| Facade Sign (Includes Window Signs) | — | 150 sq ft per face | — | — | 3 for each facade and principal use | On side of principal building facing road | — | § 525-94C, Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 for each principal use | On side of principal building facing road | — | § 525-94C, Table |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft max (per § 525-92A(4)) | 40 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from lot line/right-of-way | 1 for each principal use | On lot of principal use | — | § 525-94C, Table; § 525-92A(4), (5) |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per drive per direction | Near drive entrance; in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94C, Table; § 525-92C(5) |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On lot of principal use, in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94C, Table; § 525-92C(1) |
| Community Promotion Sign | — | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On lot with owner authorization, in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94C, Table |

### CR, I

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On a lot offered for sale or lease | — | § 525-94D, Table |
| Poster Sign | — | 20 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per event/candidate/issue/election | On a lot with owner authorization and in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94D, Table; § 525-92C(4) |
| Facade Sign | — | 350 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 for each principal use and 1 for each accessory use | On side of principal building facing a road | — | § 525-94D, Table |
| Projecting Sign | — | 24 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 for each principal use and 1 for each accessory use | On side of principal building facing road | — | § 525-94D, Table |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft max (per § 525-92A(4)) | 100 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from lot line/right-of-way | 1 for each principal use and 1 for each accessory use | On lot of principal or accessory use | — | § 525-94D, Table; § 525-92A(4), (5) |
| Directional Sign | 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per approved drive | Near drive entrance; in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94D, Table; § 525-92C(5) |
| Portable Sign | — | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On lot of principal use and in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94D, Table; § 525-92C(1) |
| Community Promotion Sign | — | 40 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 | On lot with owner authorization and in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94D, Table |

## Prohibited signs in Southport Town

- No sign of any kind may be altered, erected or established in the Town except in conformance with the requirements in this section.
- The only signs permitted are those listed in § 525-91.
- No sign shall be located at or near an intersection in violation of § 525-99, clear vision zone requirements, or in any manner which may cause a traffic hazard at the intersection.
- A sign shall not be located where, by reason of the position, shape, or color of the sign, it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
- No sign may make use of the word 'stop,' 'look,' 'drive-in,' 'left,' or 'right' or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to distract, mislead or confuse traffic.
- No sign shall be placed on a roof or on a cupola or similar roof-mounted structure or on top of a parapet or similar architectural element of a building.
- No sign shall be more than 20 feet in height above the finished grade or approved grading plan unless shown in an approved site plan.
- Grading of a site for the purpose of raising the elevation of a sign contrary to this subsection is prohibited, except as shown in an approved site plan.
- Each sign on a lot shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any lot line or right-of-way; no sign shall be permitted in a right-of-way.
- Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only lights of constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent or moving light or lights, except for time, temperature, or event/tour schedules.
- Any off-lot sign is prohibited.
- No sign may be displayed that will cause an aggregate sign area to exceed the limits set forth in § 525-94 for the type of use and zoning district.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southport Town

- No building permit shall be required for memorial, construction, mandated, service, civic, or roadside stand signs, provided they are displayed and located in accordance with § 525-93.
- Mandated signs required by federal, New York State, Chemung County, or local law or rule are exempt from permit requirements, as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The installation of a sign, except for a residential, occupation, farm, poster and window sign, and as provided in § 525-93, requires a building permit.
- The maximum heights or grading exceptions for signs may be permitted as shown in an approved site plan.
- No master sign plan or variance meeting requirement is explicitly indicated in the provided text.

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

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