# Sign Regulations in Caldwell Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Caldwell Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/caldwell-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/37263241#37263241)

## At a glance

Caldwell Borough, New Jersey regulates 23 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Church, School, Public/Quasi-public institution)s in the Residential District zoning district are capped at 5 ft (from ground to top of sign) tall and 20 sq ft, with a 10 feet from all lot lines; 50 feet front yard setback setback (Sec. §250-21E(1)(b), (c), (e)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | — | 216 sq in | — |
| Residential District | 7 | 5 ft (from ground to top of sign) | 32 sq ft | — |
| Office Professional District | 4 | 7 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Business District | 6 | 15 ft or height of principal building, whichever is less | 50 sq ft (main); 15 sq ft (secondary entrance) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As required by federal, state, county, or local law. | — | §193-3(A); §250-21D(1)(a) |
| Holiday Decoration Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On property during holiday periods. | — | §193-3(C); §250-21D(1)(b) |
| Historic Tablet, Cornerstone, Plaque, Memorial | — | 4 sq ft (§193-3(D)), 6 sq ft (§250-21D(1)(d)) | — | — | — | Cut into masonry, permanent material, or affixed to historic property | — | §193-3(D), (E), (J); §250-21D(1)(d) |
| Name Plate/Professional Name Plate Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft per side | — | 5 feet from any property line | — | On property; not closer than 5 feet to any property line. | — | §250-21D(1)(c) |
| Directional/Warning/Private Property/No Trespassing Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises as needed | — | §250-21D(1)(g) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises only. | — | §250-21D(1)(i) |
| Relocation Information Sign | — | As for type of sign used | — | — | 1 at each location | Inside window of present or new business location. | — | §250-21D(1)(l) |
| Fuel Price Informational Sign | — | 216 sq in | — | — | 1 per pump | Affixed directly to fuel pump. | — | §193-3(I); §250-21D(1)(n) |

### Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Residential Sign (noncommercial) | — | As per specific type | — | — | 1 | On residential property | — | §250-21E(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Church, School, Public/Quasi-public institution) | 5 ft (from ground to top of sign) | 20 sq ft | — | 10 feet from all lot lines; 50 feet front yard setback | 1 per frontage | On premises of institution. | — | §250-21E(1)(b), (c), (e) |
| Wall Sign (Church, School, Public/Quasi-public institution) | — | 10% of wall area, max 32 sq ft | — | 10 feet from all lot lines | 1 per property max (with other sign type possible for institutions) | Attached to wall of the building. | — | §250-21E(1)(b), (e) |
| Area Identification Sign (Garden Apartments) | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 feet from all lot lines | 1 | At entrance to garden apartments. | — | §250-21E(1)(d), (e) |
| Name Plate/Professional Name Plate Sign (Residential Use) | — | 1.5 sq ft per side | — | 5 feet from any property line | — | On premises | — | §250-21D(1)(c) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonprofit or Charitable Organization) | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §250-21D(1)(e) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | 10 feet from curbline | — | On premises | — | §250-21D(1)(p) |

### General Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft or height of principal building, whichever is less | 32 sq ft | — | 10 feet from lot line; 50 ft min. front yard setback for eligibility | 1 per street frontage | On premises, min. 10 ft from lot line; must have minimum 50 ft front yard setback | — | §250-21E(3)(g) |
| Wall Sign | — | 50 sq ft (main); 15 sq ft (secondary entrance) | — | — | 1 main sign + 1 at secondary entrance (if exists) | Attached to primary facade. Secondary sign allowed for secondary public entrance (e.g. municipal parking lot entrance). | — | §250-21E(3)(d) |
| Wall Sign (above first floor) | — | — | — | — | — | On wall/facade above first floor for uses above first floor | — | §250-21E(3)(e) |
| Shopping Center Freestanding Sign | — | 50 sq ft total for all shopping center signage | — | — | 1 freestanding per abutting road; 1 facade sign per user | Along each road shopping center abuts. | — | §250-21E(3)(h) |
| Name Plate/Professional Name Plate Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft per side | — | — | — | As per general | — | §250-21D(1)(c), §250-21E(3)(a) |
| Freestanding or Wall Sign (same as Residential District) | — | As in Residential District | — | — | — | As in Residential District | — | §250-21E(3)(a) |

## Prohibited signs in Caldwell Borough

- No off-site advertising signs, except temporary signs for nonprofit events or lawful sandwich boards, are allowed.
- No signs may be placed on fences, utility poles, trees, bridges, bridge supports, abutments, retaining walls, or water towers, unless approved by Borough Council.
- No roof signs ('sky signs') are allowed.
- No signs may be placed on accessory buildings.
- No commercial signs or advertisements are permitted on commuter shelters, except for non-profit organizational logos.
- No billboards, either affixed or painted, are permitted on any building or structure.
- No banners may be used as permanent signs.
- No sign may use flashing or stroboscopic light, nor may any sign move, revolve, or be electronically or mechanically activated.
- No sign may use optical illusions of movement.
- No commercial signs are allowed in windows serving residential uses.
- No signs may be placed on street furniture, except for dedication plaques (not exceeding 60 square inches).
- No televised, video, or moving picture advertising in windows is allowed (with very limited exceptions for small, interactive displays).
- Temporary portable signs, windsocks, banners, strings or streamers of flags, pennants, or spinners are prohibited (with listed exceptions for business zones, holiday decorations, and construction-related signs).
- No signs may be placed on or affixed to vehicles/trailers parked to advertise to the public, unless incidental to the use of the vehicle.
- No sign may obstruct emergency egress, legal ventilation, or access to standpipes, fire escapes, or hydrants.
- No sign may obstruct sight lines for vehicle or pedestrian traffic entering public roadways.
- No trademarks or brand names on signs where the commodity is not available on the premises.
- No sign element may be interpreted as part of the architectural element (except in functioning theater marquees).
- No inflatable signs, figures, characters, or tethered balloons (except small decorative balloons) are allowed.
- No neon or gas-filled decorations outlining facades or windows, except theater marquees.
- No temporary signs are allowed except as detailed in exemption sections.
- No sign shall simulate, obstruct, or confuse official directional or warning signs.
- No sign shall use red, yellow, or green lights within 100 feet of a traffic control signal if likely to cause confusion.
- No sign shall use words like 'stop,' 'look,' or 'danger' in a way that creates a traffic hazard.
- No advertising using a series of signs to carry a single message (i.e., sequential billboard advertising).
- No sign may obstruct windows, doors, fire escapes, or light/ingress openings.
- No animated, moving, revolving, blinking, flashing, vibrating, flickering, or sequential lighting signs, including visible interior signs, except large, freestanding clocks/weather info.
- No sign may project more than 8 inches from the building wall unless it's part of a conforming awning.
- No unofficial signs may be attached to poles, trees, posts, fences, sidewalks, or curbs.
- No permanent canopy may extend across the sidewalk to the curbline, except for up to 24 hours with a permit.
- Roof signs are not permitted.
- No signs advertising products/services not sold on premises, or unrelated premises.
- Prohibited display of flags (except national or state flags), decorative banners, pinwheels, balloons, or wind sock flags with commercial messages.
- Beacons are prohibited.
- A-frame and sandwich-type signs are prohibited (except where permitted as temporary).
- Balloons and inflatable signs are prohibited (except temporary use where allowed).
- No vehicle or trailer may be used as a sign to circumvent the ordinance.
- Signs painted directly on building walls or roofs are prohibited.
- Neon-type signs are prohibited.
- No sign may use materials that sparkle, glitter, or are phosphorescent.
- No sign may be erected on the side of any building.
- Billboard-type signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Caldwell Borough

- Public notices or warnings required by law.
- Signs inside a building, not attached to window/door, not readable from more than 3 feet beyond the nearest lot/parcel line.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message (excluding holiday inflatables, which need permission).
- Signs indicating name or date of a building, historic tablets, cornerstones, memorial plaques, emblems, cut into masonry or made of permanent material, not exceeding designated area.
- Unlighted historic building plaques for designated historic buildings (must comply with historic ordinances).
- Traffic control signs on private property (face meets DOT standards, no commercial message).
- Flags of the United States, NJ, Caldwell, foreign nations, or other legislative-adopted bodies flown in compliance with size/height/number limits (max three flags per pole, up to 60 sq ft, max pole height 40 ft).
- Signs/banners advertising public or quasi-public events posted with the Borough Council's permission.
- Pump-mounted fuel price signs (limited to one per pump, max 216 sq in, affixed directly/firmly, stationary).
- U.S. Postal regulation mailboxes.
- U.S. Postal building numbers (if not part of business name or signage).
- Official signs erected by government or utilities.
- Holiday decorations/illumination celebrating recognized holidays (for up to 25 days before and 15 days after holiday).
- Residential/professional nameplate signs (non-illuminated except via lamppost, certain size/height limits, no advertising).
- Historic tablets, plaques, etc. from public/civic/religious bodies (max 6 sq ft).
- Temporary nonprofit/charitable signs (max 24 sq ft, in place not earlier than 28 days before event, removed in 5 days after).
- Bulletin boards for public/charitable/religious entities (max 15 sq ft, used for temporary notices).
- On-site directional and parking signs, property 'no trespassing', etc. (max 2 sq ft).
- Temporary construction signs (architect/engineer/contractor), max 9 sq ft, present only during work, max three weeks, min 10 ft from curb.
- Garage sale signs on premises (max 2 sq ft), removed within 24 hours of last day of sale.
- Decorations for opening day of new business (string pennants, banners, balloons), displayed up to 8 days.
- Flags/emblems of religious, civic, educational, government organizations flown on building/grounds occupied by that organization, plus US flag wherever flown in accordance with law.
- Relocation information signs for moving business (30 days), only at actual/future premises, to size standards, on inside of windows.
- All signs inside a building not visible outside.
- Temporary political signs (max 32 sq ft in nonresidential zones), removed within five days post-event, with specific restrictions.
- Temporary real estate for-sale/rent/lease signs (max 9 sq ft), removed upon sale/rental, at least 10 ft from curb.
- Fuel price informational signs as detailed above.
- Signs required by county, state, or federal agencies up to the minimum size required by those agencies.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A signage/sign plan is required as part of all sign permit applications (except for exempted signs).
- Applications for development (Planning Board/Zoning Board) involving signs require a signage plan.
- The signage plan must detail size, letter style and size, illumination type/fixtures, colors, materials, installation, applicable window size, and sign location (height above grade, etc.).
- A graphic depiction (sketch or photo) showing dimensions and placement of signs on all relevant facades, windows, and canopies is required.
- Freestanding signs require a plot plan (from a licensed architect, engineer, or surveyor) showing all buildings, parking, drives, landscaping, and all existing/proposed signs, with an official seal.
- Any additional information deemed necessary by officials to verify compliance with sign regulations may be required as part of the sign plan.
- Nonconforming design sign plans are referred to the Signage Committee for review and recommendation.
- Change of occupancy requires signage plan approval as a minor site plan before the Board with legal jurisdiction.
- Modifications to signage must conform to ordinances and may require sign plan review.
- A sign permit is generally required for all signs unless explicitly exempted.

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

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