Empire Sign & Design is a Nassau County sign company based in Uniondale that designs, permits, fabricates and installs commercial signs for Port Washington storefronts, offices, medical practices, schools, houses of worship, shopping centers and waterfront businesses. Port Washington is a patchwork: most of the hamlet is governed by the Town of North Hempstead, while incorporated villages such as Baxter Estates, Port Washington North and Manorhaven hold parts of Main Street, Shore Road and Manorhaven Boulevard, each with its own sign rules. Knowing which one controls your address is where every good sign plan starts.
Key takeaways
- Unincorporated Port Washington, including much of downtown Main Street, follows Town of North Hempstead sign rules, plus voluntary design guidelines for the downtown business district.
- Port Washington North and Manorhaven require village board or Architectural Review Board approval for commercial signs.
- Pole, ground and tower signs are prohibited in Port Washington North except where its code specifically allows them.
- LED message centers are limited: the Town allows message boards only if the message changes no more than once per day.
Signs we build for Port Washington
Port Washington combines a walkable Main Street running down to the harbor, shopping centers along Shore Road, marine and waterfront businesses, medical and professional offices, and strong school and community institutions. Here is where each type of sign fits.
Storefront and dimensional letter signs for Main Street
The Town’s Port Washington Business Overlay District recommends, but does not require, signs with dark backgrounds and light-colored letters, and encourages natural materials such as wood. Those guidelines reward craftsmanship. Our dimensional letters, storefront signs and halo-lit channel letters on dark panels suit downtown’s character while staying highly legible. Under Town rules, wall signs facing a street are limited to 4.5 feet in vertical measurement or two square feet per linear foot of wall width.
Monument signs for schools, churches and offices
Where ground signs are allowed, a monument sign gives schools, houses of worship and office buildings a permanent identity. In unincorporated Town areas, a freestanding sign may be up to 24 square feet and 15 feet high, one per property. Our guide to monument signs on Long Island explains materials and lighting.
Building signs and wayfinding for shopping centers and marinas
Multi-tenant retail along Shore Road and marine businesses on the waterfront need consistent building signage, directory signs and wayfinding that hold up to weather and salt air. In Port Washington North, the Board of Trustees considers whether a new sign fits with nearby signs to keep a uniform design across a building or shopping center, so tenant signs are designed to match the property’s existing sign program.
Lobby and ADA signage
Medical and professional offices along Main Street and beyond need clear interior signage: lobby signs, suite identification and ADA-compliant signs.
Electronic message centers (EMC)
We build EMC signs for schools, churches and commercial properties across Long Island, but in Port Washington they come with limits. In unincorporated Town of North Hempstead areas, message boards are allowed only if the message changes no more than once per day, and flashing or animated lighting is not permitted. Village rules can be stricter. We will tell you what is realistic at your address before you invest; see our EMC planning guide.
Sign permits in Port Washington: who approves your sign
- Unincorporated Port Washington (Town of North Hempstead). Applications are filed with the Town Building Official. Sign contractors must hold a Town license. Downtown properties fall within the Port Washington Business Overlay District, whose design guidelines are recommended rather than mandatory.
- Village of Baxter Estates (part of Main Street). Signs require a permit from the village Superintendent of Buildings.
- Village of Port Washington North (Shore Road and the Soundview Marketplace area). Commercial signs need approval from the village Board of Trustees, which can consider consistency with nearby signs and impacts on neighbors and motorists. Pole, ground and tower signs are prohibited except as the village code specifically allows.
- Village of Manorhaven (Manorhaven Boulevard and the waterfront). All signs, with limited exceptions, require Architectural Review Board approval before a permit is issued, and sign materials should complement the building’s original materials and architectural style.
Whichever office applies, landlord approval does not replace the municipal permit. Read our guide to commercial sign permits in Nassau County, or let our permit service manage the filing and any board review.
These summaries are based on the published Town and village codes as of October 2026. Codes change, and Empire confirms the requirements for your exact address with the right building department before design begins.
How a Port Washington sign project works with Empire
- Site survey. We confirm whether the Town or a village governs your property and measure the site. Book a site survey.
- Design for the right reviewer. Drawings are prepared for the Town, the village board or the Architectural Review Board, then proofed with you through design and proofing.
- Permits and board review. We file the application and support any board presentation.
- Fabrication. Built after approval, with materials suited to the waterfront climate. See our fabrication process.
- Installation. Installation follows permit issuance.
- Aftercare. Maintenance and repair to keep signs looking sharp.
A Nassau County sign partner for the Port Washington peninsula
Empire Sign & Design is based in Uniondale and works across Nassau County, including the Port Washington peninsula. One team handles design, permits, fabrication and installation, and we offer a free site survey anywhere in Port Washington to scope your sign and the approvals it needs.
Frequently asked questions about signs in Port Washington
Who issues sign permits in Port Washington?
It depends on where the property is. Unincorporated Port Washington is handled by the Town of North Hempstead Building Official, while the villages of Baxter Estates, Port Washington North and Manorhaven each have their own approval process.
Are there design rules for signs on Main Street?
For the Town’s Port Washington Business Overlay District, the design guidelines are recommended, not mandatory. They suggest dark backgrounds with light-colored letters and encourage natural materials such as wood. The Town’s standard size limits still apply.
Can I put up a pole or monument sign in Port Washington North?
Pole, ground and tower signs are prohibited in the Village of Port Washington North except where the village code specifically allows them, and commercial signs need Board of Trustees approval. Empire reviews the options for your property before design.
Can a school or church in Port Washington use an LED message sign?
Possibly, with limits. In unincorporated Town of North Hempstead areas, message boards are allowed only if the message changes no more than once per day, and flashing or animated lighting is not allowed. Village rules may be stricter.
Does Empire serve Manorhaven and Port Washington North?
Yes. Empire works across the Port Washington peninsula, including the unincorporated hamlet, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North and Manorhaven, and offers a free site survey anywhere in Port Washington.
Nearby areas we serve
Empire also serves businesses in Great Neck, NY and Mineola, NY. Each area has its own sign rules, so we confirm the requirements for your exact address.
Request a free site survey in Port Washington
Tell us about your property and the sign you need. We will confirm which rules apply and recommend the right approach. Call 516-434-9229 or request a consultation.
