# Sign Regulations in Califon, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Califon, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/califon
- **Data last verified:** 2025-05-07
- **Source:** [municode municipal code](https://library.municode.com/NJ/Califon/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=TIT10VETR_CH10.04BOTRCO_10.04.210SI)

## At a glance

Califon, New Jersey regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (HB only)s in the Nonresidential Districts zoning district are capped at 12 ft tall, 24 sq ft, and 6 ft wide, with a 10 ft from street or property line; 50 ft from intersection of right-of-way setback (Sec. 16.12.020(D)(2)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 50% of window area | — |
| Residential Districts, R-1, R-2, R-3 | 3 | 8 ft | 72 sq inches | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 8 | 12 ft | GB: 24 sq ft; HB: 40 sq ft | — |
| GB general business zone (GB) | 3 | 3 ft or 20% of wall height, whichever is less | 24 sq ft | — |
| HB highway business zone (HB) | 3 | 12 ft | 40 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Informational and Directional Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | All zones; on-premises | — | 16.12.020(A)(7) |
| Flag of the United States of America | — | — | — | — | — | All zones | — | 16.12.020(A)(17) |
| Memorial Tablet, Historical Plaque, Date Stone | — | — | — | — | — | Any zoning district, on masonry surfaces | — | 16.12.020(A)(21)(a) |
| Official Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Any zoning district | — | 16.12.020(A)(21)(b) |
| Decorative Banner (<25 sq ft) | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | — | Suspended from building | — | 16.12.020(A)(21)(d) |
| Neon Sign (Window) | — | 50% of window area | — | — | — | Window (prohibited in historic district) | — | 16.12.020(A)(6)(c), (A)(16) |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Standard) | 3 ft or 20% of wall height, whichever is less | GB: 24 sq ft; HB: 40 sq ft | — | — | One per wall per public entrance | On each wall facing a street; must face a street and be for business with public entrance from that wall | — | 16.12.020(D)(1)(a)-(e) |
| Cantilevered Sign | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | As permitted for wall signs | In lieu of permitted wall sign | — | 16.12.020(D)(1)(f) |
| Wall Sign (Motor Vehicle Service Station) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On building wall | — | 16.12.020(D)(3)(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (HB only) | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | 6 ft | 10 ft from street or property line; 50 ft from intersection of right-of-way | 1 per lot | At least 10 ft from any street or property line; at least 50 ft from point of intersection of any two street right-of-way lines | — | 16.12.020(D)(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Motor Vehicle Service Station) | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | — | At least 5 ft from street or property line | 1 | On premises, ground or freestanding sign | — | 16.12.020(D)(3)(a) |
| Directional Sign (Motor Vehicle Service Station) | — | — | — | — | 1 per entrance/bay | Displayed on building wall over individual entrance door/bay | — | 16.12.020(D)(3)(b) |
| Pump-Related Sign (Motor Vehicle Service Station) | — | 3 sq ft per pump | — | — | — | On gasoline pump | — | 16.12.020(D)(3)(c) |
| Canopy Lettering (Motor Vehicle Service Station) | — | 12 sq ft per side (2 sides max) | — | — | 2 sides | Canopy over pumps | — | 16.12.020(D)(3)(d) |

### HB highway business zone (HB)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Standard) | 3 ft or 20% of wall height, whichever is less | 40 sq ft | — | — | One per wall per public entrance | Each wall of a commercial building facing a street; one per business per wall with public entrance | — | 16.12.020(D)(1)(a)-(e) |
| Freestanding Sign (HB only) | 12 ft | 24 sq ft | 6 ft | 10 ft from street or property line, 50 ft from intersection | 1 per lot | At least 10 ft from any street or property line; at least 50 ft from point of intersection of any two street right-of-way lines | — | 16.12.020(D)(2) |
| Portable Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | Outside street right-of-way | 1 per business | Outside street right-of-way | — | 16.12.020(A)(11) |

## Prohibited signs in Califon

- No signs shall be placed on or attached to a building or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted business or use conducted on the same premises unless specifically permitted.
- No billboards shall be erected or replaced.
- No signs shall be erected, altered or replaced which are not in accordance with the standards established in this title.
- No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, other places of business, or other signs or windows of the building on which they are located.
- All signs shall comply with the requirements of Section 16.28.020 (Sight triangles) of this title.
- Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited.
- Streamers, pennants, balloons and balloon-type ornaments and signs with moving or rotating parts are prohibited, except as specifically permitted for banners and flag signs.
- Any sign that uses the words 'stop' or 'danger' or otherwise presents or implies the need or requirement of stopping or caution or the existence of danger or which is likely to be confused with any sign displayed by a public authority is prohibited.
- No freestanding sign shall be higher than twelve (12) feet except where a lesser height is specified.
- Exposed guy wires, chains or other connections for freestanding signs are not permitted except flexible links suspending the sign itself.
- No sign with red, green, blue, or amber illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling a traffic or emergency light shall be erected or any sign designed so as to be mistaken for a traffic light or similar safety device.
- Floodlights used for sign illumination shall not project light above the highest elevation of the illuminated wall of the building.
- Illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining rooflines, doors, windows or wall edges of any building, excepting temporary holiday season decorations, are prohibited.
- No sign shall be designed or maintained in such condition that it is dilapidated or unsightly.
- Exemption from a permit does not relieve the owner from responsibility for safe erection and maintenance.
- No portable sign shall be located within the street right-of-way.
- No attachments (such as balloons, pennants or streamers) to open house signs are permitted.
- The display of 'too late' or 'under contract' real estate signs is prohibited.
- No open house or seasonal agricultural sign shall be attached in such a way as to diminish visibility at intersections.
- No more than one seasonal agricultural sign shall be permitted per farm and the sign must be on the premises.
- Decorative banners may display generic words only and shall not advertise any product or event.

## Signs exempt from permit in Califon

- Street number designations, postal boxes, 'private property,' 'no hunting,' on-site directional and parking signs and warning signs are permitted in all zones and are not considered in calculating sign area. No such sign shall exceed one square foot in area, nor shall such signs require a sign permit.
- Temporary signs advertising a specific event sponsored by a bona fide nonprofit organization do not require a sign permit (subject to area, location, time, and marking restrictions).
- Temporary political campaign signs do not require a sign permit (subject to area, location, time, and marking restrictions).
- Memorial tablets or signs, historical plaques, and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other noncombustible materials, or when officially presented by a recognized organization, are exempt and do not require a sign permit.
- Traffic or other official federal, state, county or municipal signs, 'Welcome to Califon' signs authorized by the governing body, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs and such temporary emergency or warning signs as may be erected by governmental or public utility agency employees or designated construction contractors in carrying out official projects are exempt from the sign permit requirement.
- Lettering and numbering on residential mailboxes is exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Decorative banners less than twenty-five (25) square feet in area that are suspended from a building are exempt from permit requirements, but may only display generic words and not advertise any product or event.
- The flag of the United States of America may be displayed in all zones and does not require a sign permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The erection of any sign shall require a sign permit issued by the zoning officer unless specifically exempted.
- Applications for sign permits must be submitted to the zoning officer with an application, plot plan or site plan, and payment of applicable fee.
- Any new or replacement signs on nonresidential properties containing more than one use or business establishment shall be subject to site plan review and shall be part of an approved comprehensive signing plan for the property.
- Sign permit applications may require submission of site plans showing sign location; approval is required before permit issuance.
- If street signs of a type, design or standard other than those installed elsewhere in the borough are proposed as part of a subdivision or site plan, approval as part of a submitted subdivision or site plan application for development is required.
- Permit application forms are available from the zoning officer and must be used.

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

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