# Sign Regulations in Atlantic, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Atlantic, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/atlantic
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-20

## At a glance

Atlantic, New Jersey regulates 40 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Bulletin Board Sign (Accessory to Institutional Use)s in the Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, RM-4) zoning district are capped at 15 ft or no higher than second floor window sill (wall); 3 ft (ground) tall and 10 sq ft per face, with a 5 ft from all lot lines (ground sign) setback (Sec. §163-71H(1)(b), §163-71H(4)(b)-(c), §163-71H(5)). Most commercial signs in Atlantic require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial District, NC-1, NC-2, MC, AC, CBD, HWC, L-1, TRS | 16 | 30 feet | 60 sq ft | — |
| Overlay District | 1 | — | — | — |
| University District Overlay | 2 | — | — | — |
| Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, RM-4) | 12 | 15 ft or no higher than second floor window sill (wall); 3 ft (ground) | 60 sq ft | — |
| RMC-4, RS-C, RS | 8 | Wall sign: no higher than roofline; Awning/canopy/marquee/projecting: 20 ft or second floor window sill, whichever is less | 1 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 12 ft above grade (if ground sign) | 10 sq ft in commercial/resort/industrial, 4 sq ft in other districts | — |
| HWC, L-1 | 1 | Wall: 20 ft or top of wall/roof eave if no windows; Pole: 30 ft | 700 sq ft per sign face (exception to general 60 sq ft limit for these districts) | — |
| Parking Facilities (All Districts) | 7 | Not higher than 8 ft; visible from entrance | 16 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Commercial District, NC-1, NC-2, MC, AC, CBD, HWC, L-1, TRS

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | — | — | §163-71F(2) |
| Warning Sign | — | 4 sq ft each | — | — | 2 per occupancy | — | — | §163-71F(3) |
| Memorial Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | — | — | §163-71F(4) |
| Wall Sign (Other Signs) | No higher than the roofline of the wall supporting said sign. | — | — | None | No limit | Building wall | — | §163-71I(4)(c), §163-71I(5)(d), §163-71I(7), §163-71I(7)(d) |
| Ground Sign (Other Signs) | 5 feet | — | — | 5 feet from all lot lines | No limit | Ground | — | §163-71I(5)(c), §163-71I(7) |
| Projecting Sign | 20 feet or no higher than second floor window sill, whichever is less | — | — | — | No limit | Building wall | — | §163-71D(13), §163-71I(5)(b), §163-71I(7) |
| Advertising Sign (Wall Sign) | 20 feet or no higher than second floor windowsill, whichever is less; if wall area has no windows/openings, may be as high as roof eave | 60 sq ft per sign face, except HW-C and L-1 where up to 700 sq ft; for signs over 300 sq ft, see special distance separation | — | None | — | Building wall | — | §163-71I(8)(d) |
| Advertising Sign (Pole Sign) | 30 feet | 60 sq ft per sign face (HW-C, L-1: 700 sq ft max) | — | — | — | Freestanding pole, more than 10 feet above grade | — | §163-71I(8)(d) |

### Residential District (R-1, R-2, R-3, RM-1, RM-2, RM-3, RM-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | — | — | §163-71F(2), §163-71H(1)(a), §163-71H(2)(a), §163-71H(3) |
| Warning Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 2 per occupancy | — | — | §163-71F(3), §163-71H(1)(a) |
| Memorial Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | — | — | §163-71F(4), §163-71H(1)(a) |
| Historical/Architectural Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy | — | — | §163-71F(5), §163-71H(1)(a) |
| Construction Sign | — | 60 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | §163-71F(7) |
| Bulletin Board Sign (Accessory to Institutional Use) | 15 ft or no higher than second floor window sill (wall); 3 ft (ground) | 10 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from all lot lines (ground sign) | 1 wall or ground sign per street frontage | — | — | §163-71H(1)(b), §163-71H(4)(b)-(c), §163-71H(5) |
| Identification Sign (Accessory to Institutional Use) | 15 ft or no higher than second floor window sill (wall); 3 ft (ground) | 10 sq ft per face | — | 5 ft from all lot lines (ground sign) | 1 wall or ground sign per street frontage | — | — | §163-71H(1)(c), §163-71H(4)(b)-(c), §163-71H(5) |
| Business Sign (Accessory to Commercial Use with Conditional Use Permit) | 15 ft/wall or 3 ft/ground sign | 10 sq ft per face (wall/ground); window signs per regulations below | — | 5 ft from all lot lines (ground sign) | 1 window sign per use | — | — | §163-71H(1)(d), §163-71H(2)(d), §163-71H(3)(c), §163-71H(4)(b)-(c), §163-71H(5)-(7) |

### Parking Facilities (All Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Identification Sign (Parking) | Not lower than 4 ft nor higher than 14 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance | Posted so visible at entrance | — | §201-3B, §163-71I(8)(b)[3], §163-71J(8)(b)[3] |
| Current Rate Sign | Not lower than 4 ft nor higher than 8 ft | 16 sq ft (parking lots: not to exceed 4x4 ft) | 4 ft | — | 1 per entrance | Entrance or prominent at booth | — | §201-3C(1), §163-71I(8)(b)[4], §163-71J(8)(b)[4] |
| Tariff Sign | Not higher than 8 ft; visible from entrance | 6 sq ft (parking lots: not to exceed 2x3 ft) | 3 ft | — | 1 per required location | Entrance/booth | — | §201-3D, §163-71I(8)(b)[5], §163-71J(8)(b)[5] |
| Prohibitory (Towing) Sign (Public) | No higher than 8 ft nor lower than 4 ft | 8 sq ft (2x4 ft) | 4 ft | — | All entrances | Entrances and visible within lot | — | §201-3E, §163-71I(8)(b)[6], §163-71J(8)(b)[6] |
| Prohibitory (Towing) Sign (Private Property) | — | — | — | — | — | Unobstructed, visible locations | — | §201-3F, §163-71I(8)(b)[7], §163-71J(8)(b)[7] |
| Closed Sign (Parking) | — | — | — | — | At all entrances | At entrances, over current rate sign | — | §201-3A(1)(e), §163-71I(8)(b)[8], §163-71J(8)(b)[8] |
| Valet Parking Service Rate Schedule | — | — | — | — | 1 | Within cashier area—easily visible | — | §201-3A(1)(f), §201-3G |

## Prohibited signs in Atlantic

- It is unlawful to use window signs, posters or other advertising media which misrepresent the source or quality of merchandise to be sold.
- Window poster signs with a display surface greater than three square feet are prohibited.
- Any sign not expressly permitted by these regulations is prohibited.
- No sign shall be illuminated by other than a shielded or otherwise indirect, nonflashing light; no illumination causing glare or reflection constituting a nuisance or traffic hazard is allowed.
- No illuminated sign adjacent to or across street from any residential district and visible from such residential district shall be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless the use is open for business.
- Signs shall not obstruct access to fire escapes, doors, windows, or other required accessways; no sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained within the zone of light obstruction for any window opening into a habitable room of any residential unit.
- No sign shall project over or occupy any window surface required for light or ventilation.
- No sign shall be maintained where, by reason of position, size, shape, content or color, it may obstruct or be confused with any traffic control device or interfere with traffic.
- No sign, except publicly-owned signs, shall be placed in or extend into or over any public right-of-way without a conditional use permit.
- No sign shall be painted directly on a building wall except for signs pertaining to a use carried on within the building.
- Except nameplates and identification signs for residential uses, all signs must be marked with the name of the person, firm, or corporation hanging or erecting the sign and the sign permit number.
- Unsafe, damaged, deteriorated, or signs in danger of falling must be repaired or removed upon written notice or will be removed by the City at owner's cost.
- No part of a projecting sign shall extend lower than eight feet above grade, project more than four feet from the wall, or project from any building corner.
- No ground, pole, roof, or projecting sign shall be within 50 feet of a designated landmark or landmark site lot line if visible from that lot line at five feet above ground level.
- All signs must have a surface or facing of incombustible material or Building Code-approved combustible material; any glass must be safety, wired, or plate glass per code.
- Animated or moving signs are prohibited, except as expressly authorized by specific district regulations.
- No person shall operate or park any advertising vehicle sign on any street, public property, or private property so as to be visible from any street, except as provided for public transportation vehicles.
- Portable signs are prohibited, except for advertising vehicle signs as permitted.
- Temporary signs are prohibited, except as specifically authorized.
- No sign may be erected, maintained, or permitted to continue on any tree, utility pole, natural feature, or directly affixed to any rock, ledge, etc., on public or private property.
- Obscene, untruthful or misleading advertising, statements, words or pictures are prohibited on signs.
- A-frame sandwich board, sidewalk and curb signs are prohibited except as specifically authorized by district regulations.
- No sign or advertising matter whatsoever may be set up, posted, or maintained upon or over certain public lands (e.g., beaches, strands, vessels, air above, or pavilions) as described in § 203-9.

## Signs exempt from permit in Atlantic

- Governmental signs, provided that content and size do not exceed requirements of applicable law, ordinance or regulation.
- Nameplate signs, limited to one per occupancy, no more than one square foot in area, illuminated only by indirect light.
- Warning signs, limited to two per occupancy, four square feet each, illuminated only by indirect light.
- Memorial signs, limited to one per occupancy, made of durable materials, no more than four square feet, illuminated only by indirect light.
- Historical or architectural designation signs, limited to one per occupancy, no more than six square feet, illuminated only by indirect light, and containing no commercial advertising.
- Holiday decorations, displayed for no more than 60 consecutive days nor more than 20 days following the holiday.
- Construction signs, limited to one per street frontage, no more than 60 square feet, illuminated only by indirect light, maintained no more than 14 days after construction ends.
- Temporary nonilluminated window signs advertising coming events, special sales, contests, promotional activities, and civic or political activities, maintained for no longer than 45 days before and three days after such event; permanent nonilluminated window signs calling attention to compliance with standards, association with credit groups, or premium stamp promotions—provided aggregate area does not exceed 33% of window or block required window area.
- Real estate signs, residential (structure ≤ 40 feet and vacant land): one per property, no more than eight square feet; residential (structure >40 feet): two signs per property, no more than 24 square feet each; commercial properties: two signs per property, no more than 32 square feet each.
- On-site informational signs, limited to wall, window or ground sign not more than two square feet in area, not more than 12 feet high.
- Flags or emblems of a government or political, civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization.
- Private sale and event signs, no more than four square feet, located on premises of event or on other private property with owner consent, marked with responsible person's information, erected max 12 hours before sale/45 hours before event, removed day after.
- Political signs, not more than 10 square feet in commercial/resort/industrial district or 4 square feet elsewhere, one per lot, on private property with owner’s consent, marked with responsible person's information, erected no sooner than 45 days pre-election, removed within 14 days post-election.
- Home occupation signs, limited to one wall sign per occupancy, one square foot, not lighted.
- Advertising vehicle signs, but only on public transportation vehicles.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, enlarged, expanded, altered, or relocated unless a certificate of land use compliance has been issued, except for those exempted under § 163-71F.
- Every application for a certificate of land use compliance for a sign shall be accompanied by plans/specifications and a sketch to scale showing sign faces, area, message, design, existing signage, and total sign area calculations, as well as other required documentation.
- In the University District Overlay, University District identification signs are to be shown on a master University District identification sign plan, to be approved by the City of Atlantic City Planning Board.
- Advertising signs in commercial/industrial districts require a conditional use permit per Part 5, Article XXVI, and compliance with applicable standards.
- Signs in the public right-of-way (except publicly-owned signs) require a conditional use permit per Part 5, Article XXVI.

## 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 8 zoning districts in Atlantic — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Atlantic+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-atlantic

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