# Sign Regulations in Carlstadt Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Carlstadt Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/carlstadt-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/27117752#27117752)

## At a glance

Carlstadt Borough, New Jersey regulates 18 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Garden Apartment Dwelling Signs in the Residential Zones zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 10 sq ft, with a 30 ft from street right-of-way and lot lines setback (Sec. 21-20.3(b)). Most commercial signs in Carlstadt Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 5 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zones | 6 | 7 ft | 123 sq ft | — |
| Mixed Commercial, Commercial and Business Zones | 5 | 10 ft | 15 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 5 ft | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21-20.1(b), 21-20.7 |
| Attached Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Mounted flush to building, not above roof line or sidewalk areas in business district. | — | 21-20.1(c) |
| Sign Over Street/Sidewalk | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | — | Over any street or sidewalk | — | 6-7.1, 6-7.3, 6-7.4 |
| Sign (Inflammable Material) | 2 ft (if wood) | — | — | — | — | Outside of building | — | 6-7.6 |
| Private Traffic Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises, for directing traffic | — | 21-20.6(d) |
| Construction Sign (West of Route 17 South, except Industrial Road) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 21-20.6(a) |
| Construction Sign (East of Route 17 South) | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 21-20.6(a) |
| Noncommercial/Public Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Public property or private property with authorization | — | 21-20.6(b) |

### Residential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Where doctors' and dentists' offices are located | — | 21-20.3(a) |
| Garden Apartment Dwelling Sign | 7 ft | 10 sq ft | — | 30 ft from street right-of-way and lot lines | 1 per arterial or collector road with sufficient frontage | Along each arterial or collector road abutting the development | — | 21-20.3(b) |
| Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Anywhere in front yard except in Borough right-of-way and not in any side yard setback area. | — | 21-20.3(c) |
| Church Freestanding Sign | 7 ft | 123 sq ft | — | 25 ft from street rights-of-way and lot lines | 2 | On church property | — | 21-20.2 |
| Church Attached Sign | — | 25 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On church property, attached to building | — | 21-20.2 |
| Clubs, Lodges, Community Center or Nonprofit Sign (Freestanding or Attached) | — | 10 sq ft | — | 25 ft from street rights-of-way and lot lines | 1 per use | Freestanding or attached | — | 21-20.5 |

### Mixed Commercial, Commercial and Business Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Front) | 2 ft | — | 90% of width of store front | — | 1 per use | Flat against front of building (attached) | — | 21-20.4(a) |
| Wall Sign (Rear/Side Entrance) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use (rear/side) | Flat against rear or side entrance | — | 21-20.4(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 10 ft | 15 sq ft | — | 25 ft from street rights-of-way and lot lines | 1 per use | Set back at least 25 ft from street rights-of-way and lot lines | — | 21-20.4(a) |
| Window Display Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Inside window | — | 21-20.4(b) |
| Clubs, Lodges, Community Center or Nonprofit Sign (Freestanding or Attached) | — | 10 sq ft | — | 25 ft from street rights-of-way and lot lines | 1 per use | Freestanding or attached | — | 21-20.5 |

## Prohibited signs in Carlstadt Borough

- No sign shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, other places of business, other signs or windows of the building on which they are located.
- Except for authorized public information and direction signs, no sign shall be attached to trees, fence posts, stumps, utility poles, bridges, culverts, or other signs.
- Freestanding sign shall not exceed five feet in height, except as may otherwise be permitted.
- Attached signs shall be mounted flush on the building and shall not project above the roof line or over sidewalk areas in business districts.
- No billboards shall be erected.
- Overhanging signs and flashing signs are prohibited.
- Neon, backlit, and revolving signs on the exterior or in the windows of any premises in all districts are expressly prohibited.
- All signs not specifically permitted are prohibited.
- The use and display of streamers, flags, pennants, spinners, or similar objects is prohibited in all zones, except for American flags or events sponsored by the Borough.
- No person shall paint, post, place, or affix any business or commercial advertisement or sign or other matter to any curbstone, flagstone, or any other portion of any street or sidewalk unless by special permission of the Borough Council.
- No sign made of inflammable material shall be affixed to the outside of any building, except for certain wood signs not exceeding two feet in height and fastened flat against the wall.

## Signs exempt from permit in Carlstadt Borough

- Signs on public property placed by public authority are exempt.
- "For sale" or "for rent" signs not exceeding in the aggregate four square feet in area on any one property are exempt.
- Signboards on private property of any religious organization are exempt.
- American flags and events sponsored by the Borough are exempt from streamer and flag prohibitions.
- Horizontal directional signs on and flush with the pavement are exempt from private traffic sign restrictions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected in the Borough without first obtaining the required permit from the Carlstadt Construction Department as set forth in section 6-7.
- No sign which extends over any street or sidewalk may be erected without first obtaining a special permit from the Building Inspector.
- Every applicant for a permit to erect a sign extending over a street or sidewalk shall file a written application with the Building Inspector.
- No billboard shall be erected or maintained without a permit from the Building Inspector.

## Full detail

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

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