# Sign Regulations in Southport, New York

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southport, New York (NY)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-york/southport
- **Data last verified:** 2026-02-09
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31279655#31279759)

## At a glance

Southport, New York regulates 79 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Residential Use — Occupation Cottage Industrys in the CN Commercial Neighborhood zoning district are capped at 8 ft above finished grade tall and 4 sq ft per face, with a Per § 525-92(A)(5) setback (Sec. § 525-91B(12); § 525-94(A)). Most commercial signs in Southport require a permit.

## 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 | 32 sq ft per face | — |
| R1 Residential — Low Density, R2 Residential — Moderate Density, R3 Residential — High Density | 13 | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade (general limit) | 40 sq ft per face | — |
| CN Commercial Neighborhood | 36 | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| CR Commercial Regional | 31 | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| AR Agricultural | 22 | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 60 sq ft per face | — |
| I Industrial | 35 | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 300 sq ft per face | — |
| C Conservation | 8 | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 40 sq ft per face | — |

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

### CN Commercial Neighborhood

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Use — Real Estate (Residential Use) | — | 4 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 | On a lot offered for sale or lease | — | § 525-91A(9); § 525-94(A) (applies to residential uses in CN) |
| Residential Use — Occupation Cottage Industry | 8 ft above finished grade | 4 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 | Affixed to dwelling or on a post; located per § 525-92 | — | § 525-91B(12); § 525-94(A) |
| General Use — Freestanding | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 40 sq ft per face | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines/right-of-way; no sign permitted in right-of-way | 1 | On a lot | — | § 525-91A(6); § 525-92(A)(4); § 525-94(B) |
| General Use — Directional | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per drive per direction | Near drive entrance; located per § 525-92 | — | § 525-91B(1); § 525-92(C)(5); § 525-94(B) |
| Business Use — Freestanding | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 40 sq ft per face | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines/right-of-way; no sign in right-of-way | 1 per principal use | On a lot of the principal use | — | § 525-94(C); § 525-92(A)(4) |
| Business Use — Directional | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per drive per direction | Near a drive entrance; in accordance with § 525-92 | — | § 525-94(C); § 525-92(C)(5) |
| Mall — Freestanding | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade (general limit applies) | 100 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per block of floor area | On a lot or building of a mall | — | § 525-94(E); Note 1; § 525-92(A)(4) |
| Mall — Directional | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade (directional sign height limit per § 525-92(C)(5)) | 10 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per drive | Near a mall drive entrance; located per § 525-92 | — | § 525-94(E); § 525-92(C)(5) |

### CR Commercial Regional

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Use — Real Estate | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 | On a lot offered for sale or lease | — | § 525-94(B) |
| General Use — Poster | — | 20 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per event/show/candidate/issue/election | On a lot with owner authorization; located per § 525-92 | — | § 525-94(B); § 525-92(C)(4) |
| General Use — Freestanding | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 40 sq ft per face | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines/right-of-way | 1 | On a lot | — | § 525-91A(6); § 525-92(A)(4); § 525-94(B) |
| General Use — Directional | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per drive per direction | Near drive entrance; per § 525-92 | — | § 525-91B(1); § 525-92(C)(5); § 525-94(B) |
| Business Use — Freestanding (CR/I) | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 100 sq ft per face | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines/right-of-way | 1 per principal use and 1 per accessory use | On a lot of the principal use | — | § 525-94(D); § 525-92(A)(4) |
| Business Use — Directional (CR/I) | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 for each approved drive | Near a drive entrance; located per § 525-92 | — | § 525-94(D); § 525-92(C)(5) |
| Mall — Freestanding | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 100 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per block of floor area | On a lot or building of a mall | — | § 525-94(E); Note 1; § 525-92(A)(4) |
| Mall — Directional | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 10 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per drive | Near a mall drive entrance; per § 525-92 | — | § 525-94(E); § 525-92(C)(5) |

### I Industrial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Use — Real Estate | — | 32 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 | On a lot offered for sale or lease | — | § 525-94(B) |
| General Use — Freestanding | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 40 sq ft per face | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines/right-of-way | 1 | On a lot | — | § 525-91A(6); § 525-94(B); § 525-92(A)(4) |
| General Use — Directional | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per approved drive per direction | Near drive entrance; per § 525-92 | — | § 525-91B(1); § 525-92(C)(5); § 525-94(B) |
| Business Use — Freestanding (CR/I) | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 100 sq ft per face | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines/right-of-way | 1 per principal use and 1 per accessory use | On lot of principal use | — | § 525-94(D); § 525-92(A)(4) |
| Business Use — Directional (CR/I) | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 6 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 for each approved drive | Near drive entrance; per § 525-92 | — | § 525-94(D); § 525-92(C)(5) |
| Industrial/Business Use — Freestanding (AR/I; § 525-94(G)) | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 60 sq ft per face | — | Min 5 ft from lot lines/right-of-way | 1 per principal use | On lot of principal use | — | § 525-94(G); § 525-92(A)(4) |
| Mall — Freestanding | ≤ 20 ft above finished grade | 100 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per block of floor area | On a lot or building of a mall | — | § 525-94(E); Note 1; § 525-92(A)(4) |
| Mall — Directional | ≤ 6 ft above finished grade | 10 sq ft per face | — | Per § 525-92(A)(5) | 1 per drive | Near a mall drive entrance; per § 525-92 | — | § 525-94(E); § 525-92(C)(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Southport

- Only signs listed in § 525-91 are permitted; any other sign type is prohibited.
- It is prohibited to alter, erect, or establish any sign not in conformance with § 525-90 through § 525-96.
- No sign may be located at or near an intersection in violation of § 525-99 clear vision zone requirements or in any manner that causes a traffic hazard.
- No sign may be located where it interferes with or obstructs the view of, or could be confused with, any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign may use words such as “stop,” “look,” “drive-in,” “left,” or “right,” or any other word/phrase/symbol/character in a manner that distracts, misleads, or confuses traffic.
- No sign may be placed on a roof, cupola, or similar roof-mounted structure, or on top of a parapet or similar architectural element.
- No sign may exceed 20 feet in height above finished grade; grading a site to raise a sign's elevation contrary to this limit is prohibited except as shown on an approved site plan.
- No sign may be within a right-of-way; each sign must be set back at least five feet from any lot line or right-of-way.
- Illuminated signs must use lights of constant intensity; flashing, intermittent, or moving lights are prohibited.
- Any off-lot (off-premises) sign is prohibited.
- Signs may not be displayed in a manner that causes the aggregate sign area to exceed the limits in § 525-94.
- Any sign relating to a use no longer conducted on a lot must be removed within 60 days of cessation of the use.
- A nonconforming sign may not be modified to an extent exceeding 50% of the value of the structure unless it is brought into full compliance.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southport

- A building permit is not required for residential, occupation (home occupation/cottage industry), farm, poster, and window signs, and as provided in § 525-93.
- Signs listed in § 525-93 (Memorial, Construction, Mandated, Service, Civic, Roadside stand) are permitted in any district without a building permit when displayed and located as specified.
- Mandated signs are permitted as required by the authority having jurisdiction (location, size, and number as prescribed by that authority) and do not require a building permit under § 525-93.
- Service and civic signs may be installed in a public right-of-way as permitted by the authority having jurisdiction.
- The prohibition on flashing/intermittent/moving lights does not apply to signs that change to show time, temperature, or event/tour schedules.
- Signs listed in § 525-93 are excluded from aggregate sign area calculations under § 525-95.

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

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