# Sign Regulations in Carteret Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Carteret Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/carteret-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10003616#10003616)

## At a glance

Carteret Borough, New Jersey regulates 29 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (<5000 sq ft GFA)s in the Business Zone, Commercial Zone zoning district are capped at 25 ft tall and 40 sq ft, with a 10 ft from all property boundaries and street right-of-way setback (Sec. §160-113E(1)). Most commercial signs in Carteret Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single-family residential district, Multifamily residential district, Residential Zone | 10 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Business Zone, Commercial Zone | 10 | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — |
| Industrial Zone | 4 | 25 ft | See commercial zone schedule | — |
| Industrial or Commercial Zoning District | 1 | Max height of principal structure in zone; max 60 ft above adjacent Turnpike travel lanes if adjacent to Turnpike | 1000 sq ft per face; 2 faces per structure | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 4 ft (real estate/rent sign not attached to building) | 20% of window area | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Single-family residential district, Multifamily residential district, Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Premises used for residential purposes | — | §160-113C(3)(b) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises advertised | — | §160-113C(3)(a) |
| Professional Office Identification Sign | 4 ft (for ground sign) | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per building | On building (wall), or ground | — | §160-113C(3)(c) |
| Name Announcement Sign (Places of Worship, Public/Quasi-Public Buildings, Institutional Uses) | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot | — | §160-113C(3)(d) |
| Contractor/Architect/Engineer Sign (Construction Site) | — | 16 sq ft | — | At least 15 ft from curb | — | Work site under construction | — | §160-113C(3)(e) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 6 sq ft (3 ft x 2 ft) | — | — | — | Residential premises | — | §160-113C(3)(m) |
| Traffic or Directional Sign (Non-advertising) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §160-113C(3)(j) |
| School Signs (Wall and Freestanding) (Public and Private Schools) | — | Per commercial zone standards | — | — | — | On school property | — | §160-113C(3)(l) |

### Business Zone, Commercial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (<5000 sq ft GFA) | 25 ft | 40 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all property boundaries and street right-of-way | 1 per building | On property; set back at least 10 ft from street right-of-way and 10 ft from side lot lines. | — | §160-113E(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (5,001–15,000 sq ft GFA) | 25 ft | 60 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all property boundaries and street right-of-way | 1 per building | On property (see setback) | — | §160-113E(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (15,001–30,000 sq ft GFA) | 25 ft | 80 sq ft | — | 10 ft from boundaries and street right-of-way | 1 per building | On property (see setback) | — | §160-113E(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (30,001–50,000 sq ft GFA) | 25 ft | 100 sq ft | — | 10 ft from boundaries and street right-of-way | 1 per building | On property (see setback) | — | §160-113E(1) |
| Freestanding Sign (50,001+ sq ft GFA) | 25 ft | 150 sq ft | — | 10 ft from boundaries and street right-of-way | 1 per building, or 2 if over 100,000 sq ft GFA (aggregate area limits still apply) | On property (see setback) | — | §160-113E(1) |
| Wall Sign (Business Zone) | — | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business (plus 1 if multiple street frontages) | Attached to exterior front, rear, or sidewall, parallel to wall. | — | §160-113E(2) |
| Permanent Window Sign | — | 10% of window area | — | — | — | On window | — | §160-113G(7)(a) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | On window | — | §160-113G(7)(b) |

### Industrial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Industrial Zone—Wall width ≤40 ft) | 2 ft | — | 30% of building wall width | — | — | On building wall | — | §160-113E(2)(a)[6][b] |
| Wall Sign (Industrial Zone—Wall width 40–80 ft) | 2.5 ft | — | 30% of building wall width | — | — | On building wall | — | §160-113E(2)(a)[6][b] |
| Wall Sign (Industrial Zone—Wall width ≥80 ft) | 3 ft | — | 30% of building wall width | — | — | On building wall | — | §160-113E(2)(a)[6][b] |
| Freestanding Sign (Industrial Zone, Aggregate standards per Commercial) | 25 ft | See commercial zone schedule | — | 10 ft from any boundary and street right-of-way | 1 per building; if over 100,000 sq ft GFA, may have 2, not exceeding aggregate size | On property (see setback) | — | §160-113E(1) |

## Prohibited signs in Carteret Borough

- No signs shall be erected or installed on any pole or tree located on public property or within the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be placed, located, or displayed upon any sidewalk or area between sidewalk and curb, nor shall they project on or over a sidewalk.
- No roof signs (also called 'sky signs') shall be permitted.
- No signs shall be erected or painted or composed of fluorescent or phosphorescent or similar material.
- No sign shall be, in whole or part, moving, mobile, or revolving.
- No sign shall have more than four colors inclusive of background, frame, and decorative parts. Black and white are considered colors unless used as either of such in excess of four colors.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated, or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign or advertising structure shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in a manner obstructing clear vision, or at any location where, by position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device, or which makes use of words, phrases, symbols, or characters in a manner that misleads or confuses traffic.
- No commercial outdoor advertising signs, billboards, or other signs not expressly and directly related to the business being conducted on the premises and which do not conform to ordinance requirements are permitted; all such nonconforming signs are specifically prohibited.
- It is unlawful to display any obscene, indecent, or immoral matter upon any sign or advertising structure.
- No sign shall be artificially illuminated after 11:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. unless the premises are occupied and attended.
- No sign shall be illuminated externally by more than one floodlight per surface; such lighting must be at grade and shielded to prevent glare/offensive light off the property.
- Flashing signs, highly reflective glass or fluorescent red or green paint, and illuminated tubing outlining roofs, doors, windows, or wall edges are prohibited.
- No sign shall be an illuminated sign except as otherwise permitted by the ordinance.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, located, or relocated without a sign permit except as otherwise specifically exempted.
- Canopies and awnings shall not be erected or maintained so as to obstruct access to fire escapes, windows, doors, exits, or standpipes, or obstruct vehicle/pedestrian passage on public or quasi-public right-of-way.
- All signs must be constructed per BOCA Code requirements.
- No part of any billboard sign shall be located within specified distances from residential districts, other billboards, or highway right-of-ways as per section 160-113M.

## Signs exempt from permit in Carteret Borough

- The following types of signs are exempt from permit and fee requirements: real estate signs not exceeding 12 sq ft advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises upon which they are located.
- Residential nameplate signs showing the name and/or address, not larger than one square foot, one per dwelling unit.
- Identification signs for permitted home professional offices, limited to one wall or ground sign per building, not more than two sq ft in area and (for ground sign) not more than four ft in height.
- A name announcement sign for a church, place of worship, public or quasi-public building, or institutional/similar use not exceeding 16 sq ft in area and 6 ft in height; only one such sign per lot.
- Architect/engineer/contractor identification signs at active construction sites, not more than 16 sq ft, set back at least 15 ft from curb and removed within 24 hours of certificate of occupancy.
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names, dates cut into masonry or made of bronze/other noncombustible materials.
- Traffic/municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossings, danger signs, temporary/emergency/nonadvertising governmental agency signs deemed necessary to public welfare.
- Flags of the United States, State of New Jersey, or other governmental/quasi-public agencies.
- Holiday decorations and lights on residential premises.
- Signs erected to control movement of traffic on premises, provided they provide traffic directions only (not advertising), not exceeding 4 sq ft in area and approved by appropriate agency.
- Election or political signs placed entirely on private property, provided they are removed within 10 days after the election.
- Schools (public and private) in residential zones are allowed wall and freestanding signs as per commercial zone standards.
- Signs for garage sales, not erected more than 5 days prior to sale, not exceeding 6 sq ft, removed within 24 hours of sale completion.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign may be erected, altered, located, or relocated without an application and issuance of a permit, except for signs specifically exempted in Section 160-113C(3).
- Permit applications for residential and nonresidential signs must be made in writing to the Zoning Officer, with required documentation and fees.
- A permit for a sign that does not comply with the ordinance must be submitted to the 'appropriate approving authority.'
- Permits for replacement of existing signs may be issued by the Zoning Officer without Board approval only if no physical alteration or expansion is made and the sign conforms to all ordinance provisions and no new signage is added.
- A change of business name or any other item of information on an existing sign constitutes a new sign and requires a permit.
- A change of business name or information on an existing billboard constitutes a new sign and requires a permit.
- For billboards adjacent to state, federal, or interstate highways, permits and licenses must be obtained from all applicable state and federal agencies as a condition of final approval.
- All signs are subject to construction and safety inspections per BOCA Code; unsafe or immediate-peril signs may be removed by the Zoning Officer at the owner's expense.

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

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