# Sign Regulations in Berlin Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Berlin Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/berlin-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/26820551#26820551)

## At a glance

Berlin Township, New Jersey regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 25 feet tall and 64 sq ft (outside Central Business District), 32 sq ft (within Central Business District), with a Not closer than 10 ft to any property line along Route 73; Within Central Business District, must be set 15 ft from curbline or 5 ft from right-of-way line (Haddon/Walker Avenues) setback (Sec. §340-83J, §340-82F, §340-82O). Most commercial signs in Berlin Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 25 feet | 100 sq ft | — |
| Residential zone | 6 | — | 50 sq ft | — |
| C-1 Zone, C-2 Zone, C2-I Zone, I-1 Zone, Commercial Zoning District | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| Central Business District | 2 | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Pinelands Area | 1 | — | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Functional Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Business, office, commercial/industrial and institutional uses | — | §340-83H |
| Wall Sign | — | 64 sq ft (outside Central Business District), 20 sq ft (within Central Business District), whichever is less | — | — | One wall sign per qualifying facade | Each side of a building which faces an approved public street | — | §340-83I, §340-82G |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet | 64 sq ft (outside Central Business District), 32 sq ft (within Central Business District) | — | Not closer than 10 ft to any property line along Route 73; Within Central Business District, must be set 15 ft from curbline or 5 ft from right-of-way line (Haddon/Walker Avenues) | One per lot | Front yard (outside Central Business District); not permitted inside Central Business District except as Monument sign | — | §340-83J, §340-82F, §340-82O |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 32 sq ft (sign message area, base not included unless integral) | — | At least 15 feet from curbline or 5 feet from right-of-way line; outside of clear sight triangles | One per lot | Placed along fronting street, outside of site triangles for intersections and drives; at least 15 ft from curbline or 5 ft from right-of-way, whichever is more | — | §340-82Q, §340-83J |
| Under-canopy Sign | — | — | 1 ft width x 4 ft length | — | One per business use | For each business use in shopping centers or strip stores, under canopy | — | §340-83K |
| Changeable Copy Sign | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | One per qualifying facility | Movie theaters, theaters, sports arenas | — | §340-83L |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Windows | — | §340-82N, §340-83Q, §340-83R |
| Name/Occupation Sign | — | 9 in x 18 in | — | — | One per lot | Any | — | §340-83B |

### Residential zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name/Occupation Sign | — | 9 in x 18 in | — | — | One per lot | — | — | §340-83B |
| Sign for Institutional Uses | — | 12 sq ft (one side) | — | — | One per street frontage | Schools, churches, hospitals, clubs, lodges, or other similar uses | — | §340-83C |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per street frontage | — | — | §340-83D |
| Sold/Rented Real Estate Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §340-83F |
| Sign for Construction/Repair Work | — | — | — | — | One per person or firm performing work | Premises undergoing construction/repair | — | §340-83G |
| Residential Area/Apartment Complex Identification Sign | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | Up to three per project (one per entrance, three max) | Principal entrances to project | — | §340-83N |

### Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Central Business District) | — | 20 sq ft (whichever is less) | — | — | One per qualifying facade | Each side of a building facing a public street | — | §340-83I, §340-82G |
| Freestanding Monument Sign (Central Business District) | 8 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curbline or 5 ft from right-of-way line (whichever is more); outside clear site triangles | One per lot | Along fronting street; must be outside of site triangles, at least 15 ft from curbline or 5 ft from right-of-way line | — | §340-83J, §340-82Q |

## Prohibited signs in Berlin Township

- Any sign not complying with the provisions of this article is prohibited.
- Flashing, moving, or apparent moving signs are prohibited, except the changeable copy signs permitted by § 340-83 and time and temperature signs.
- Signs with any lighting or control mechanism which may cause radio or television interference are prohibited.
- Any series of two or more signs or sign units placed in a line along a roadway or in similar fashion, all carrying a single message, part of which is contained on each sign, are prohibited.
- Any sign which simulates official, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by a governmental agency or utility, or that could be confused as such, is prohibited.
- Any sign located on a lot other than the lot occupied by the use, event, or product which the sign advertises is prohibited; all signs are limited to on-premises signs only, except for certain agricultural commercial establishments in the Pinelands Area.
- Any sign attached to or painted on trees, fences, utility poles, rocks, curbs, lamps, hydrants, benches or bridges is prohibited.
- Electric mobile signs are prohibited.
- All persons are prohibited from making, causing to be made or erecting any sign of any size or type advertising a garage sale on any property.
- No sign except functional signs shall be located within one foot of the existing or proposed right-of-way of any public road or street.
- No wall sign shall extend beyond three feet of the building facade on which it is mounted.
- No sign shall be erected or placed in a position which will cause danger to traffic on a street or within a parking lot by limiting drivers' vision or obstructing traffic.
- Signs advertising or identifying a business or use no longer in existence or a product no longer available shall be promptly removed.
- No sign shall be erected containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the zoning provisions.
- No sign shall imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device, or have any characteristics which are likely to dangerously distract motorists.
- No sign shall be erected except in conformance with Title 27 of the New Jersey Statutes and applicable building, construction, maintenance and fire codes.
- No sign (other than price signs not more than 24 inches by 28 inches) is permitted for certain sales unless otherwise authorized by the chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Berlin Township

- The provisions of this article do not apply to works of art, statues, sculptures, fountains, holiday decorations and similar objects which do not fall within the definition of a 'sign' as defined in § 340-81.
- Signs erected by governmental agencies; court or public notices; traffic control devices approved or installed by governmental agencies; and flags, emblems, and insignias of governmental and religious institutions.
- Functional signs as defined in § 340-81, for business, office, commercial/industrial and institutional uses, provided that no functional sign exceeds 12 square feet and contains no advertising.
- Window neon as an architectural detail, provided it is installed flush with the outer perimeter of the window, consists only of straight line, single band tubing with a maximum width of one inch, is of a single color, and is not flashing, is exempt from inclusion in the calculation of allowable signage under all other signage provisions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The signs permitted under the provisions of § 340-83H, I, J, K, L, and N shall be subject to the review and approval of the Planning Board, which may require submission and approval as part of a sign plan.
- A permit is required for all banner signs, although the permit shall be at no cost to the applicant.
- For certain types of signs (business, commercial, industrial, and institutional wall, freestanding, under-canopy, movie theater, and residential/apartment complex identification signs), Planning Board review and approval is required and may include design and site location review.

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

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