# Sign Regulations in Bernards Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Bernards Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/bernards-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9069055#9069055)

## At a glance

Bernards Township, New Jersey regulates 34 sign types across 8 zoning districts. House of Worship or School Signs in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 30 sq ft, with a 20 ft from all lot lines setback (Sec. § 21-17.3b). Most commercial signs in Bernards Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | — | 4 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zones | 5 | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| MH-1 Zone | 3 | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| E-1 Zone, E-2 Zone, E-3 Zone, E-4 Zone, E-5 Zone, M-1 Zone | 3 | 10 ft | 30 sq ft | — |
| B-1 Zone, B-3 Zone, B-4 Zone | 4 | 6 ft | No more than 50% of tenant's total window area (permanent and temporary signs; not illuminated) | — |
| B-2 Zone | 3 | 8 ft (standard), 10 ft for neighborhood shopping center | 24 sq ft per tenant | — |
| B-5 Zone | 11 | 14 ft; 12 ft vertical dimension | 60 sq ft | — |
| PUD-Mt. Laurel Option development (The Hills) | 7 | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — |

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

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Office Sign | 6 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 21-17.3a |
| House of Worship or School Sign | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 20 ft from all lot lines | 1 | Not less than 20 ft from all lot lines | — | § 21-17.3b |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign for New Developments | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 20 ft from all lot lines | 1 per frontage | Not less than 20 ft from all lot lines | — | § 21-17.3c |
| Temporary Sale/Lease Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 | — | — | § 21-17.3d |
| Sale of Personal Vehicle Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per vehicle | Vehicle parked in driveway | — | § 21-17.3e; § 7-3.10 |

### B-5 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Main Entrance Sign (Nonresidential Village Center) | 10 ft | 32 sq ft (no multifamily use), 60 sq ft (with multifamily use; can name 4 nonresidential tenants + multifamily use) | — | — | 2 | At village center main entrance | — | § 21-17.4d.1 |
| Tenant Directory Sign (Nonresidential Uses Only) | 14 ft; 12 ft vertical dimension | 60 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street right-of-way | 2 | Not less than 5 ft from any street right-of-way | — | § 21-17.4d.2 |
| Temporary Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant | — | — | § 21-17.4d.4 |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Building A - Option 1) | 2 ft (vertical dimension) | 24 sq ft (primary sign) | 12 ft | — | 1 | On wall; not above wall or 18 ft above ground; not on same building facade with 2nd sign | — | § 21-17.4d.5(a) |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Building A - Option 2 - Second Sign) | 4 ft (vertical dimension) | 48 sq ft | 12 ft | — | 1 | On non-same building facade; not above wall or 18 ft above ground | — | § 21-17.4d.5(a) |
| Wall-Mounted Sign (Buildings B, C, D, E, F, G) | 2 ft (vertical dimension) unless Board approved | 24 sq ft per facade per first floor tenant | 12 ft unless Board approved | — | 1 per facade per 1st floor tenant | Each building facade occupied by tenant; not above wall or 18 ft above ground | — | § 21-17.4d.5(b) |
| Window Sign (Second Floor Tenant) | — | 25% of window area; 1 per facade per tenant | — | — | 1 per facade per tenant | Each building facade occupied by tenant | — | § 21-17.4d.6(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Multifamily Use) | 6 ft | 30 sq ft (1 sign) or 20 sq ft (2 signs) | — | 550 ft from King George Rd ROW | 1 (30 sq ft) or 2 (20 sq ft each) | ≥550 ft from ROW of King George Rd | — | § 21-17.4d.7 |

### PUD-Mt. Laurel Option development (The Hills)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Entry Sign (Residential Neighborhood) | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 2 per neighborhood | Entry areas of each neighborhood; not within right-of-way or sight triangle | — | § 21-17.5a.3(a) |
| Overall Development Identification Sign | 6 ft | 30 sq ft | — | 20 ft from curbline | 1 or 2 at Board discretion | Entry to PUD | — | § 21-17.5a.3(b) |
| Main Entrance Sign (Village Center) | 10 ft | 40 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Village center main entrance | — | § 21-17.5a.4(a) |
| Tenant Directory Sign (Village Center) | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | At each building | — | § 21-17.5a.4(b) |
| Wall Sign (Per Tenant, Village Center) | — | 24 sq ft per facade per tenant | — | — | — | Each building facade occupied by tenant | — | § 21-17.5a.4(c) |
| Window Signs (Per Tenant, Village Center) | — | 24 sq ft per facade | — | — | — | Each building facade occupied by tenant | — | § 21-17.5a.4(d) |
| Roadway Direction Sign | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | As shown on sign plan | — | § 21-17.5a.5 |

## Prohibited signs in Bernards Township

- No sign shall be constructed or displayed prior to obtaining a permit approved by the Zoning Officer and, if applicable, the Construction Code Enforcement Official.
- If and when any sign is moved, altered or replaced, except for purposes of minor and nonstructural maintenance and/or repairs, the sign shall thereafter conform to all requirements of this chapter.
- No sign shall be located so as to interfere with traffic visibility or traffic safety, or obstruct any parking space, parking aisle, driveway or pedestrian walkway.
- No sign shall be designed and placed so as to interfere with or be mistaken for a traffic light or similar safety device.
- No sign shall be erected on any lot or building which does not pertain to the use of the lot or building unless provided for elsewhere in this subsection.
- No commercial sign shall be erected on any public property or public right-of-way unless provided for elsewhere in this chapter or otherwise authorized by the Township Committee.
- All illuminated signs shall be externally illuminated. No sign shall be internally illuminated or lighted by means of flashing or intermittent illumination.
- All lights used for the illumination of any sign, use or building, or the areas surrounding them, or for the illumination or display of merchandise or products of business establishments, shall be completely shielded from view.
- Lights used for illumination of any sign shall not project light above the highest elevation of the front wall of the building or more than 18 feet above the ground level, whichever is less.
- No sign shall incorporate or utilize neon lights.
- Moving or rotating signs or lights as well as streamers, pennants and similar displays are prohibited in all zones, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter.
- No sign shall be attached to or erected on the roof of any building.
- All signs shall be maintained in good repair. Lack of proper maintenance shall be considered abandonment, and the sign shall be removed upon notification by the Zoning Officer.
- With the exception of temporary craftsman/contractor signs and temporary signs for charitable uses, freestanding signs with wire supports and any signs constructed of cardboard or corrugated plastic are prohibited.
- Signs with more than two display faces are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Bernards Township

- Signs required by any provision of law are permitted in any zone.
- Signs deemed necessary to the public welfare by the Township Committee, including parking, traffic control, directional and warning signs on private streets and driveways, are permitted in any zone.
- Customary warning, no hunting or no trespassing signs not exceeding one square foot in area are permitted in any zone.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In the PUD-Mt. Laurel Option development (The Hills), a sign plan shall be submitted to the Planning Board for approval, including details on letter style and size, lighting, color, construction material, height of sign, location of sign, and sign base and standards.
- The sign plan in the PUD-Mt. Laurel Option shall be based on an integrated design theme coordinated with the architecture and construction materials of principal structures and landscaping.
- Village Center development in the PUD-Mt. Laurel Option requires an applicant to provide a complete signage program with a coordinated signage theme for all tenants for Board approval, including main entrance signs, tenant directory signs, and building signs.
- Waivers from standards governing size and location of signs in the PUD-Mt. Laurel Option are available upon satisfactory proof to the Planning Board that overall design and aesthetics will be improved.

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

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