# Sign Regulations in Chatham Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Chatham Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/chatham-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6793799#6793799)

## At a glance

Chatham Borough, New Jersey regulates 21 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Nonilluminated or Externally Illuminated, wood/masonry)s in the Nonresidential districts, M-1, M-2, M-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6 zoning district are capped at 7 ft tall and 8 sq ft, with a 5 ft min from property line, 3 ft min from sidewalk/property line (if less than 12' between building and property line, centered) setback (Sec. §165-105B(2)(a), (3)-(6)). Most commercial signs in Chatham 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 | 2 | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential districts, M-1, M-2, M-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6 | 15 | Max 17 ft above grade, or below top of first story/parapet, or lesser of those values | 30 sq ft per sign, 10% of ground floor facade area total | — |
| Residential districts | 4 | 5 ft (if on post) | 72 sq in (0.5 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Incidental Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Any zone, not included in max sign area or number | — | §165-105F |
| Traffic or Directional Sign | 3 ft | 4 sq ft | — | — | As required to safely and effectively convey persons | On private property or public property as specified | — | §165-105K |

### Nonresidential districts, M-1, M-2, M-3, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (M-1, M-2, M-3, B-4, Mall Block 29 Lot 9) (Nonilluminated or Externally Illuminated) | Max 17 ft above grade, or below top of first story/parapet, or lesser of those values | 30 sq ft per sign, 10% of ground floor facade area total | — | — | 1 per facade | Facades facing public street, public right-of-way or municipal parking lot | — | §165-105A(1)(b), §165-105A(2)-(4) |
| Wall Sign (M-1, M-2, M-3, B-4, Mall Block 29 Lot 9) (Internally Illuminated) | Max 17 ft above grade, or below top of first story/parapet, or lesser of those values | 20 sq ft per sign, 10% of ground floor facade area total | — | — | 1 per facade | Facades facing public street, public right-of-way or municipal parking lot | — | §165-105A(1)(b), §165-105A(2)-(4), §165-102A(3) |
| Wall Sign (B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6) | Max 17 ft above grade, or below top of first story/parapet, or lesser of those values | 20 sq ft per sign, 10% of ground floor facade area total | — | — | 1 per facade (can be 2 with Board authorization for municipal lot facing wall) | Facades facing public street, public right-of-way or municipal parking lot | — | §165-105A(1)(c), §165-105A(2)-(4), §165-102A(3) |
| Wall Sign (Front Entrance - Multi-tenant Buildings) | — | As above, per unit with separate entrance | — | — | See above | On each separate front facade for units with separate entrance | — | §165-105A(1)(d) |
| Side or Rear Entrance Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per side/rear entrance | At side or rear public entrance; only if no other side or rear wall sign | — | §165-105C |
| Freestanding Sign (Nonilluminated or Externally Illuminated, wood/masonry) | 7 ft | 8 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from property line, 3 ft min from sidewalk/property line (if less than 12' between building and property line, centered) | 1 per lot (max 2 if two street frontages); 1 per principal building | Min 5 ft from any property line; between building and property line if less than 12 ft between; min 3 ft from sidewalk/property line; not in corner sight easement | — | §165-105B(2)(a), (3)-(6) |
| Freestanding Sign (Any other—including internally illuminated) | 7 ft | 5 sq ft | — | 5 ft min from property line, 3 ft min from sidewalk/property line (if less than 12' between building and property line, centered) | 1 per lot (max 2 if two street frontages); 1 per principal building | Min 5 ft from property line; between building and property line if less than 12 ft, min 3 ft from sidewalk/property line; not in sight triangle | — | §165-105B(2)(b), (3)-(6), §165-102A(3) |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | 5 ft | Not more than 5 ft in height, 3 ft wide | 3 ft | — | 1 per tax lot (2 on corner lot, 1 per frontage) | Not on public sidewalk/street; not in sight triangle or in hazardous locations | — | §165-98G, §165-101H |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (family) | — | 72 sq in (0.5 sq ft) | — | — | 1 per family unit | Flush with building wall near entrance | — | §165-106A |
| Nameplate (Home Occupation) | 5 ft (if on post) | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to building or on post | — | §165-106B |
| Real Estate / Work-In-Progress / Garage Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | 3 ft from sidewalk/property line | 1 per property lot | No nearer to street than 3 ft from sidewalk, or from property line if no sidewalk | — | §165-106C |
| Holiday Lights/Decorative Displays | — | — | — | — | — | Residential district | — | §165-106D |

## Prohibited signs in Chatham Borough

- All signs not specifically permitted are prohibited.
- Signs located or designed in such a manner so as to constitute a hazard to pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
- Inflatable signs.
- Tethered balloons (except noncommunicative decorative balloons not greater than 12 inches in diameter are permitted as stated in § 165-101C).
- Flashing, animated, fluttering or rotating signs (with the exception of barber poles) or signs with the optical illusion of movement, including running lights having the primary effect of calling attention to a building or to elements of a building.
- Wind signs, such as flags, pennants, or spinners (except as permitted under §§ 165-98B(2) and 165-105I).
- Signs with more display surfaces than the two faces of a freestanding vertical sign. Examples: triangular or three-dimensional signs.
- Portable signs for commercial purposes (except as permitted under §§ 165-98G and 165-106C).
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon any structure which extends above the roof of any building, except such directional devices as may be required by Federal Aviation Administration.
- Any sign indicating that a property has been leased or sold, such as language including 'sold,' 'leased,' 'too late,' or 'gone.'
- Billboards.
- Signs incorporating projected images.
- Signs that are temporarily or permanently affixed to standpipes, fire escapes, light poles, utility and traffic sign poles, Borough flagpoles, or any poles that are owned or operated by a governmental entity or public utility, except for signs placed by such governmental entity or public utility.
- Signs that are temporarily or permanently erected on Borough-owned property or within the right-of-way, except as provided herein.
- Signs located within a sight triangle, except for traffic regulatory signs posted by governmental agencies.
- Internally illuminated signs using gas, chemical or fluorescent colors, including white, where tubing is visible, including neon, neon-like and/or fluorescent neon type. LED signs are not permitted unless they are inlaid channel lighting.
- Signs that cause glare on adjacent property as set forth in § 165-78.
- Signs for commercial purposes other than the use being made of the premises on which the sign is located.
- Beacons and searchlights.
- Signs not constructed of permanent materials or not permanently attached to the ground or a building by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame, or structure (except window signs, banners, flags, time-limited signs, and permitted small decorative balloons).
- Failure to maintain signs in good structural condition and appearance, and in compliance with all building and electrical codes, at all times.
- It is unlawful to deface, impair, tamper with, open or willfully break, destroy or impair the usefulness of any sign installed under the provisions of the ordinance.
- Signs should not be attached to trees, utility poles, or traffic regulation signs.
- No person shall remove, displace, break or change any sign or light or signal set up or placed in any street or public places as a warning of danger, or indicating an excavation or obstruction, or showing that any street or public place is closed to traffic.
- Failure to remove signage related to events, such as garage sale signs, within 24 hours of the end of the event is a violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Chatham Borough

- Temporary window signs in nonresidential districts, provided they are not illuminated and do not exceed more than one square foot in area.
- Official governmental agency signs, including traffic control signs, traffic or directional signs, street signs, emergency, historical markers, and signs posted by government agencies.
- Light displays in nonresidential districts: permitted with no commercial message from October 15 to January 15, and 10 days before and three days after any federal holiday; must use small clear or white bulbs, not blink or flash, not extend more than 15 feet from ground.
- A contractor's identification sign not exceeding three square feet in sign area and three feet in height, located on the property where work is being performed, and only during the period of work.
- Flags and emblems of a government or of a political, civic, philanthropic, educational or religious organization.
- Noncommercial signs on private property, not exceeding three square feet in sign area and three feet in height, displayed for not more than 35 days and must be removed within five days after the event date.
- Portable signs (with specifications, including not in vehicular sight triangle, not on public sidewalk or street, only one per tax lot except corners, nonilluminated, maximum 5 feet high and 3 feet wide, double-sided allowed, must be anchored/secured/weighted).
- Incidental signs of one square foot or less in area (permit not required, do not count towards total sign area or number of signs).
- Nameplates for residential dwellings, mounted flush near entrances, not exceeding 72 square inches for each family unit.
- Nameplates for home occupations, not exceeding one square foot in area, may be illuminated if determined reasonable after a public hearing.
- Holiday lights, decorations and displays in residential districts, permit not required.
- Real estate, work-in-progress, and garage sale signs in residential districts (one per lot, no permit, not exceeding four square feet).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any application for a sign permit in any nonresidential district must be accompanied by a master signage plan.
- A master signage plan must also be included in any development plan or site plan required by the Borough for a proposed development in which the installation or modification of any sign is proposed.
- Applications for sign permits or master signage plans must be submitted to the Borough Zoning Official with applicable forms and fees.
- Sign permits for commercial uses require review of the master signage plan by the Sign Committee and, in the Historic District, by the Borough's Historic Preservation Commission.
- Before acting on a development application for a nonresidential use where any sign is proposed, the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment must refer the master signage plan to the Borough Zoning Official for review and recommendations.
- If a requested sign or signage plan is rejected as noncompliant, the applicant may appeal the decision to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, or, if part of a development application, may request consideration before the relevant Borough Board.

## Full detail

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

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