# Sign Regulations in Cape May, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Cape May, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/cape-may
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35890267#35890267)

## At a glance

Cape May, New Jersey regulates 32 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, NC, C-5, C-6) zoning district are capped at 8 feet tall, 20 square feet per face, 40 square feet total, and 5 feet wide, with a Minimum 15 feet between building and sign setback (Sec. § 525-48H(2)(a)). Most commercial signs in Cape May require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, NC, C-5, C-6) | 8 | 8 feet | Maximum 45 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 7 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 17 | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Commercial Districts (C-1, C-2, C-3, NC, C-5, C-6)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 8 feet | 20 square feet per face, 40 square feet total | 5 feet | Minimum 15 feet between building and sign | 1 per business | Within the building setback area; building must be set back at least 15 feet from the sign | — | § 525-48H(2)(a) |
| Wall Sign | — | Maximum 45 square feet | — | — | Multiple as long as within area limit | Attached/mounted on building face | — | § 525-48H(2)(b) |
| Window Sign (Permanent) | — | See wall sign limits; cannot cover more than 25% of window if attached within 3 feet of window | — | — | — | In or within 3 ft of window | — | § 525-48H(2)(c) |
| Window Sign (Temporary) | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | In or within 3 ft of window | — | § 525-48H(2)(c)[3] |
| A-Frame Sign (Sandwich Board) | — | 12 sq ft (total, both sides) | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 525-48H(2)(d) |
| Banner | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | § 525-48H(2)(e) |
| Blackboard Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per qualifying establishment | Attached to building; outdoor use only 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. | — | § 525-48H(2)(f) |
| Shopping Center Sign | — | 35 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per shopping center | — | — | § 525-48H(3) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flag | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 525-48G(1) |
| Professional/Name Sign | — | 2 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per dwelling | On same lot as dwelling | — | § 525-48G(2) |
| Institutional Sign (school, church, hospital, sanatorium, similar) | — | 15 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per street frontage per property | On same lot as institution | — | § 525-48G(3) |
| Trespassing/Private Property Sign | — | 1 sq ft per side | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 525-48G(4) |
| Directional Sign (Places of Worship) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property | On property | — | § 525-48G(5) |
| Public Utility Sign | — | 8 sq ft per street frontage per property | — | — | — | On property of utility | — | § 525-48G(6) |
| Apartment/Guest House/Multifamily Sign | — | 16 sq ft per face, 32 sq ft total | — | — | 1 per facility | — | — | § 525-48G(7) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mailbox Address Sign | 5 inches letter/number height | — | — | — | — | On mailbox | — | § 525-48A(2)(c) |
| City-Installed Public Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On/adjacent to city property/right-of-way | — | § 525-48A(2)(e) |
| Real Estate Sign - Single Property | 3 ft, or 56 in for a sign hung from post | 3 sq ft (sign) + 54 sq in header/footer | — | See above (sidewalk or minimum 7 ft from curb) | 1 per property | On property; if side of sidewalk, must be on side of sidewalk away from street; if no sidewalk, 7 ft from curb, or at property if setback < 7 ft | — | § 525-48E(3)(a)-(e) |
| Real Estate Sign (Multiunit - Same Owner) | 3 ft or 56 in if on post | 3 sq ft (each sign) | — | — | 2 per property (1 'for sale', 1 'for rent') | — | — | § 525-48E(3)(h)[1] |
| Real Estate Sign (Multiunit - Multiple Owners) | 3 ft or 56 in if on post | 3 sq ft (each sign) | — | — | 1 'for sale' and 1 'for rent' per owner | — | — | § 525-48E(3)(h)[2] |
| Contractor's Sign (New Const. <4 units or Other Work Requiring Permit <4 units) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curb unless building closer; then abut structure | 1 per property | Upon property; min. 15 ft from curb, or abutting structure if setback < 15 ft | — | § 525-48E(4)(a) |
| Contractor's Sign (New Const. >3 units, All Other Nonresidential Construction) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curb unless building closer | 1 per property | Upon property; min. 15 ft from curb or abut structure if setback < 15 ft | — | § 525-48E(4)(b) |
| Contractor's Sign (Work Not Requiring Permit/Existing Structures) | 3 ft | 1.5 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curb unless building closer | 1 per property | Upon property; minimum 15 ft from curb, or abut structure if setback < 15 ft | — | § 525-48E(4)(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Cape May

- No signs may be permitted within any street, road, sidewalk or other public right-of-way.
- No sign visible from the street may contain the word 'STOP' or use an arrow.
- No sign may project more than 24 inches over a public walkway, and the lower edge of such sign shall be not less than 10 feet above the walk level.
- No sign may project above the roofline of the building on which it is mounted.
- No automated signs are permitted.
- No vending machine may be either frontlit or backlit. Any existing machines with such lighting installed must have their illumination removed or disabled.
- No signs illuminated by neon or other gaseous elements or materials shall be permitted except for signs which state 'vacancy' or 'no vacancy' in connection with the operation of a hotel, motel or tourist/guest house which is a permitted use. Only one such sign per location, double sided, maximum per side size of eight inches by 24 inches.
- No backlit signs shall be permitted.
- No lettering, logos or other advertising or identifying information shall be permitted on awnings or umbrellas.
- No outside blackboard or whiteboard signs will be permitted except that one blackboard sign for each establishment selling food and beverages shall be permitted, subject to specific requirements.
- A-frame signs are not permitted except as otherwise permitted in the commercial districts and subject to enumerated conditions.

## Signs exempt from permit in Cape May

- Official traffic signs posted in accordance with Chapter 7 of this Code.
- Memorial plaques, cornerstones and historical markers.
- Signs on mailboxes displaying the name of the resident or occupant of the property and/or the street address not exceeding five inches in height.
- Miscellaneous signs authorized by the Chief of Police.
- Signs, including banners, installed, erected or placed by or at the direction of the City upon City streets, roads, sidewalks, rights-of-way or other real property owned or controlled by the City.
- Permanent signs that existed before December 8, 2003, shall be grandfathered and exempt from these regulations and shall be classified as preexisting nonconforming structures.
- Awnings with lettering, logos or other advertising or identifying information, that existed before December 8, 2003, shall be grandfathered and exempt from these regulations until such time as the awning is replaced.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs subject to site plan, planned development or subdivision review which are not temporary signs shall require the approval of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, or Historic Preservation Commission, depending upon which Board has jurisdiction.
- Proposed signage not subject to the jurisdiction of the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be required to obtain a permit from the Zoning Officer.
- If any signs which are not temporary signs are to be placed in the historic district, they shall also require the approval of the Historic Preservation Commission, and be constructed with materials consistent with the historic character of the district.
- All temporary signs are not subject to review and cannot be granted relief by the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment and/or the Historic Preservation Commission.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Cape May, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Cape+May+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-cape-may

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