# Sign Regulations in Clayton Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clayton Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/clayton-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14403696#14403696)

## At a glance

Clayton Borough, New Jersey regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts zoning district are capped at 17 ft. tall and 50 sq. ft. (Sec. §88-40C(1)(b)[5], §88-40C(2)(p)). Most commercial signs in Clayton Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts, Agricultural Districts | 12 | — | 50 sq. ft. (min 6 sq. ft.) | — |
| Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts | 9 | 17 ft. | 100 sq. ft. or 15% of facade area (whichever is less) | — |
| Central Business (CB) District | 2 | 60 inches (5 ft.) | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 1 | — | 16 sq. ft. (4x4 feet) | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 1 | — | 40 sq. ft. | — |

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

### Residential Districts, Agricultural Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Sale or Rental) | — | 50 sq. ft. (min 6 sq. ft.) | — | — | — | On the premises to which they relate. | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[3], §88-40F(4) |
| Development Directional Sign | — | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per 500 feet street frontage | — | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[4] |
| Mechanic/Artisan Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises while work is being performed. | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[5], §88-40F(4) |
| Institutional Sign (School, College, Church, Hospital, Historic Site) | — | 20 sq. ft. | — | — | 2 | — | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[6] |
| No Trespassing/Private Road/Driveway Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[7] |
| Organization/Farm/Estate Name Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[8] |
| Home Occupation/Professional Nameplate (Accessory Use) | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On the lot where the accessory use exists. | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[9] |
| Farm Product Sale Sign | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 3 | — | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[11] |

### Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Traffic Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[1], §88-40F(2) |
| Official Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §88-40C(1)(a)[2], §88-40F(3) |
| Wall Sign (Identification, Principal Facade) | — | 100 sq. ft. or 15% of facade area (whichever is less) | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On/attached to principal facade on each street frontage. | — | §88-40C(1)(b)[2], §88-40E(2) |
| Wall Sign - Optional Façade Signs (CB District Option 1) | — | 25 sq. ft. each | — | — | 2 (Central Business only) | On principal street facade | — | §88-40C(1)(b)[3][a] |
| Wall Sign - Optional Façade Signs (CB District Option 2) | — | 12 sq. ft. per additional sign | — | — | Varies, total area not to exceed main wall sign area (CB District only) | On principal street facade | — | §88-40C(1)(b)[3][b] |
| Freestanding Sign | 17 ft. | 50 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per street frontage | Within property lines on each street frontage. | — | §88-40C(1)(b)[5], §88-40C(2)(p) |
| Ornamental Flag or Banner | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Principal street facade. | — | §88-40C(1)(b)[7] |
| LED/EMC Sign (Changeable Copy Electronic Message) | — | 40 sq. ft. | — | Freestanding signs must be at least 2 feet from ROW, in front yard only. Not within side yard. | 1 per use/lot | — | — | §88-40C(1)(c), §88-40E(2) |

### Central Business (CB) District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board, Easel-Style) | 60 inches (5 ft.) | — | 36 inches (3 ft.) | — | 1 per business | Sidewalk portion of property (not between curb and walk). | — | §88-40G |
| Feather Banner | 12 ft. | — | 3 ft. | — | 1 | Within 3 ft. of the facade of the business. | — | §88-40H |

## Prohibited signs in Clayton Borough

- Billboards or off-premises signs are prohibited throughout the Borough.
- Any sign which is not permanently attached to the ground or a building structure is prohibited, except for sandwich board signs pursuant to specific allowance.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street by obscuring the view.
- No sign, other than official traffic signs, shall be erected within or project over the lines of any street unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or regulations.
- No sign shall project more than two feet over a public sidewalk.
- No sign attached to a structure shall extend above the roofline or parapet.
- No flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, moving or apparently moving sign shall be permitted, except for time and temperature and change-of-copy displays.
- No sign with any lighting or control mechanism which may cause radio or television interference shall be permitted.
- No sign shall be located so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation, fire escape, doors, windows or other opening used as a means of egress or ingress or for firefighting purposes.
- No sign shall utilize the color red or green in its illumination when said sign is placed within 100 feet of a street intersection.
- No sign shall be of a shape to distract the attention of the operator of a motor vehicle.
- No sign shall in any way simulate official, functional, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by any railroad, public utility or governmental agency concerned with the protection of public health and safety.
- Other banners, spinners, flags, pennants or any moving objects shall not be permitted, whether containing a message or not, except for opening day ceremonies, grand openings for a period of 30 days (zoning permit required), religious or civic holidays or locally sponsored events.
- Signs shall not in any way obstruct the right-of-way or traffic vision.
- No signs shall be attached to or painted upon trees, fences, chimneys, utility poles, rocks, curbs, walks, sidewalks, driveways, lamps, hydrants, benches or bridges.
- No sign, except as required by law, shall be erected or supported upon the roof of any building or upon any structure which extends above the roof of any building.
- No sign, except such directional devices as may be required by federal aeronautical authorities, shall be placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or above the roof of any building.
- No sign shall be erected within 50 feet of a street intersection or adjoining residential district (unless increased by the administrative officer for safety or inconvenience).
- All signs shall be located only on the lot on which the business benefiting from the sign is also located.
- Signs must not simulate official or mandatory signage such as traffic or safety signs.
- Signs that do not conform to Borough building, electrical, or other relevant codes are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clayton Borough

- Temporary signs erected for a special event, such as an election, yard sale, charitable event or similar purpose, do not require an application or permit.
- Signs for youth sports organizations of the Borough are exempt if they do not exceed 12 square feet in size and are secured appropriately.
- Signs for nonprofit organizations of the Borough are exempt.
- The police message board trailer is exempt.
- Official traffic signs are exempt.
- Official signs of any governmental agency are exempt.
- Real estate signs and mechanics and artisans signs are exempt.
- Nonprofit [501(c)(3)] organizations, churches, schools and youth sports organizations of the Borough are not required to pay permit fees for their signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Applicants for commercial, industrial, or LED electronic message signs must submit, along with their application, a scaled drawing that includes the message(s) on sign face, method of illumination and intensity, materials, color scheme, structural design, location on the building/property, sign height, square footage, and any other requirements pursuant to the chapter.
- Applicants for commercial or industrial LED/EMC signs specifically must submit a scaled drawing containing content specified in the ordinance (message, illumination, material, color, structure, location, height, area, etc.).
- Scaled drawing submissions may act as a master or site signage plan and are a prerequisite for permit issuance for commercial, industrial and LED/EMC signs.
- Prior to the issuance of a permit for a changeable-copy or LED/EMC sign, the applicant must provide written certification from the sign manufacturer that the light intensity is preset not to exceed specified levels.

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

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