# Sign Regulations in Brooklawn Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Brooklawn Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/brooklawn-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9408818#9408818)

## At a glance

Brooklawn Borough, New Jersey regulates 17 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Nameplates in the B Commercial District zoning district are capped at 8 ft. tall and 2 sq. ft., with a 15 ft from curb or 5 ft from street line setback (Sec. §121-4C(1)(a), §121-4C(2)(a), §121-4B). Most commercial signs in Brooklawn Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| A Residential District | 4 | 8 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — |
| B Commercial District | 10 | 25 ft. max, 6 ft. min (above grade) | Subject to sign area and height requirements of applicable sign type (§§121-4C, 121-4D(1)) | — |
| C Light Industrial District, D Shopping Center District, Industrial Park | 12 | 25 ft. max, 8 ft. min (above grade) | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| E Park/Playground District, Park and Recreational District | 1 | — | — | — |
| Brooklawn Redevelopment Area (Block 101, Lots 2, 3, 5, and 6) | 6 | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | — | 12 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### B Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | 8 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft from curb or 5 ft from street line | 1 | At least 15 ft back from curbline or 5 ft back from street line | — | §121-4C(1)(a), §121-4C(2)(a), §121-4B |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | §121-4C(1)(b), §121-4C(6), §121-8D |
| Bulletin Board or Church/Nonprofit Sign | 8 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft from curbline or 5 ft from street line | — | Erected on-premises | — | §121-4C(1)(c), §121-4C(2)(a), §150-31B |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On or attached to principal facade of each street frontage | — | §121-4C(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft. max, 6 ft. min (above grade) | 50 sq. ft. | — | Not closer than required side yard | 1 per street frontage; max 2 | In front yard; not closer than required side yard to side lot lines | — | §121-4C(2)(c) |
| Directional Sign | Bottom of sign max 3 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to number of approved entrances/exits | On lot to which it relates | — | §121-4C(2)(d) |
| Canopy Sign (Gas Station) | — | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per yard | On canopy | — | §121-4C(2)(f) |
| Electronic Message Center / Digital Sign | — | Subject to sign area and height requirements of applicable sign type (§§121-4C, 121-4D(1)) | — | As per sign type used for EMC | — | Permitted except properties on New Broadway north of N.J.S.H. 130 traffic circle | — | §121-4D |

### C Light Industrial District, D Shopping Center District, Industrial Park

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | 8 ft. | 2 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft back from curbline or 5 ft from street line | 1 | At least 15 ft back from curbline or 5 ft from street line | — | §121-4C(1)(a), §121-4C(3)(a) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 5 ft. | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | — | — | §121-4C(6) |
| Bulletin Board or Church/Nonprofit Sign | 8 ft. | 12 sq. ft. | — | 15 ft back from curbline or 5 ft from street line | — | — | — | §121-4C(1)(c), §121-4C(3)(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On/attached to principal facade of each street frontage | — | §121-4C(2)(b), §121-4C(3)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Site Identification) | 25 ft. max, 8 ft. min (above grade) | 100 sq. ft. | — | Not closer than required side yard | 1 per center | In front yard; not closer than required side yard lot lines | — | §121-4C(3)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Individual Parcel) | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | Not closer than required side yard | 1 per parcel | In front yard; not closer than required side yard lot lines | — | §121-4C(3)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 25 ft. max, 6 ft. min above grade | 50 sq. ft. | — | Not closer than required side yard | 1 per street frontage, max 2 | In front yard; not closer than required side yard lot lines | — | §121-4C(2)(c), §121-4C(3)(a) |
| Directional Sign | Bottom of sign max 3 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to number of approved entrances/exits | On lot to which it relates | — | §121-4C(2)(d), §121-4C(3)(a) |

### Brooklawn Redevelopment Area (Block 101, Lots 2, 3, 5, and 6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 80 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On/attached to principal facade of each street frontage; if entrance does not face street, sign may be above entrance (not to exceed total number of street frontages) | — | §121-4C(2)(b)[1], §121-4C(7) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft. | 100 sq. ft. | — | Not closer than required side yard | 1 per street frontage; max 2 | In front yard; not closer than required side yard lot lines | — | §121-4C(2)(c)[1], §121-4C(7) |
| Directional Sign | Bottom of sign max 3 ft. | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to approved entrances/exits | On lot to which it relates | — | §121-4C(2)(d)[1] |
| Canopy Sign (Gas Station) | — | 50 sq. ft. | No wider than width of canopy | — | 2 | On, under, or on side of canopy | — | §121-4C(2)(f)[1], §121-4C(7) |
| Awning Sign | — | Up to wall sign allowance (80 sq. ft.) | — | — | — | On awning | — | §121-4C(2)(e), §121-4C(7) |
| Electronic Message Center / Digital Sign | — | Subject to sign type maximum area/height | — | — | — | Allowed on wall signs, freestanding signs, instructional signs, awning signs, canopy signs | — | §121-4C(7), §121-4D |

## Prohibited signs in Brooklawn Borough

- No sign shall obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway, or opening intended to provide light, air, ingress or egress for any building or structure.
- No sign shall resemble any official marker erected by a governmental unit or display such words as 'stop' or 'danger'.
- No signs shall be externally illuminated and shall not give off intermittent or rotating beams, strobe lights, or shine upon any part of a residence and or commercial building. (Exception only for externally illuminated grade-level signs.)
- If a sign in direct line of vision of any traffic signal, from any point in the traffic lane from a position opposite or near sidewalk line to a position one-hundred-fifty-foot before said sidewalk line, shall not have red, green, or amber illumination.
- No sign other than traffic or official signs shall be erected within or project over the right-of-way of any public street or sidewalk, or encroach upon the clear passage of pedestrians or bicyclists on sidewalks or paths.
- No sign or supporting column shall be located closer than three feet from the edge of any sidewalk or path.
- Where freestanding signs project over pedestrian areas, the minimum height of any sign shall be seven feet above grade.
- No sign shall be erected that is a mobile sign, rotating sign, bench sign, vehicle sign, animated sign, or sign that emits smoke and/or noise.
- No moving signs for attention getting purposes such as banners, pennants, and/or streamers, except where the Zoning Officer grants temporary approval.
- No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, electric light pole, or on any natural elements, such as trees and rocks.
- No off-site advertising signs are permitted.
- No 'A' frame signs, except for those that are stored inside a building each night.
- No changeable copy signs, except for permanent signs for schools, churches, theatres, taverns, bowling centers, gas stations, and fruit stands as specified.
- No political signs, except those attached to buildings or displayed in windows and doors.
- No roof signs shall be permitted and no sign shall project above the main cornice of the building to which the sign is affixed.
- Vehicles displaying the advertisement of a store or stores shall not be visible from the street.
- No sign shall project beyond the street line.

## Signs exempt from permit in Brooklawn Borough

- A permit is not required for temporary signs conforming to the requirements of the particular district as to location, size and type.
- Signs erected or maintained prior to the effective date of this chapter which do not conform but qualify as nonconforming use or structure may continue, without enlargement or extension, as permitted by law.
- Traffic signs, signs necessary to public safety or welfare, signs posted or erected by public authority, and legal advertisements required by law to be posted or displayed are exempt from permit requirements.
- Historical markers, official signs, political signs, temporary yard or garage sale signs, temporary real estate signs, and signs of contractors, mechanics, and painters are exempt from permit requirements.
- Signs prohibiting or otherwise controlling trespassing, swimming, fishing, and/or hunting (limited to one sign per 50 feet of street frontage and one square foot per sign) are exempt from permit requirements.
- Nothing in the ordinance affects the placing of signs required by the state, county or borough in the exercise of respective governmental functions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All sign permit applications must include elevation views and color renderings of the proposed signage, sign area, mounting height, method of illumination, and a scaled drawing based on a current property survey documenting the location relative to property lines, rights-of-way, and structures.
- With regard to EMC or digital signs, the permit application must include information regarding the type of display, including proposed images, symbols or messages, duration of display, and illumination values for day and night.
- No explicit requirement for a 'Master sign plan' or similar, but sign applications must meet detailed submission requirements as specified in § 121-2B and 121-2C.
- For signs attached to poles, fences, or walls (incl. utility poles or trees etc.), written permission of the owner is required, and in addition, Borough Clerk may only issue a permit after approval by the Board of Adjustment, and only to bona fide educational, veteran, religious, political, charitable, or civic organizations not operated for profit or public utilities.
- Regulations are subject to such powers as may be exercised by the Board of Adjustment by law and the Zoning Ordinance in respect to the granting of variances or exceptions.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/brooklawn-borough