# Sign Regulations in Clifton, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Clifton, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/clifton
- **Data last verified:** 2025-01-07
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8522918)

## At a glance

Clifton, New Jersey regulates 19 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Portable Sidewalk Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 feet tall, 3 feet height, 2 feet width, and 2 feet wide (Sec. ¤ 461-53N(1)(a)). Most commercial signs in Clifton require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 4 | 11 feet (pole) | 72 inches by 24 inches | Yes |
| R Districts | 7 | — | 12 square feet | No |
| B and M Districts | 4 | 20 feet | — | No |
| B-A and B-A1 Districts | 1 | — | — | No |
| B-B Districts | 1 | — | — | No |
| B-C Districts | 2 | — | — | No |
| B-D Districts | 3 | — | 199 to 500 square feet | Yes |
| M-1, M-2, M-3 Districts | 2 | — | — | Yes |

_2 additional zoning districts are covered in PermitPal (free account)._

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Portable Sidewalk Sign | 3 feet | 3 feet height, 2 feet width | 2 feet | — | One per business | Sidewalk or entrance alcoves, adjacent to the business | Yes | ¤ 461-53N(1)(a) |
| Banner | — | 72 inches by 24 inches | — | — | One per business | Outside of the business premises | Yes | ¤ 461-53N(1)(b) |
| Sail Pole Sign | 11 feet (pole) | 10 square feet | — | — | One per business | Sidewalk or entrance alcoves, adjacent to the business | Yes | ¤ 461-53N(1)(c) |
| Real Estate Open House Sign | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | Up to four per event | Comply with ¤ 461-53N(3) | No | ¤ 461-53N(5) |

### R Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate | — | 1 square foot | — | — | One per professional office | On the building | No | ¤ 461-54A |
| Bulletin Board Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per house of worship | Attached to the facade or no closer than 10 feet to a street line | No | ¤ 461-54B |
| Nameplate Sign for Private Schools, Clubs, and Institutional Uses | — | 9 square feet | — | — | One per institution | Attached to the facade or set back 18 feet from the street line | No | ¤ 461-54C |
| Bulletin Board Directory Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | Set back 18 feet from the street line | No | ¤ 461-54D |
| Flat Business Sign for Nonconforming Use | — | — | — | — | Not specified | On the wall of the structure | No | ¤ 461-54E |
| Agricultural or Horticultural Product Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On the premises | No | ¤ 461-54F |
| For-Sale or For-Rent Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One per property | On the property | No | ¤ 461-54G |

### B and M Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat Sign | — | — | — | — | Not specified | On the building facade or sidewall | No | ¤ 461-55A |
| Nonflashing Illuminated Flat Sign | — | — | — | — | Not specified | On the building facade or sidewall | No | ¤ 461-55B |
| Ground Sign | 20 feet | — | — | — | Not specified | Directed to the roadway | No | ¤ 461-55C |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | Not specified | Attached to the roof of a building | No | ¤ 461-55D |

## Prohibited signs in Clifton

- It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect or relocate any sign within the City of Clifton without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Officer.
- No sign shall have sound-generation equipment, rotating or moving parts, or illumination involving intermittent, rotating or flashing lights.
- Banners, posters, pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners or other similarly moving devices are prohibited, except within 30 days of the grand opening or re-opening of a retail, service or restaurant business.
- No sign shall be attached to any public utility pole, lamppost, public sign or like structure.
- No signs shall be permitted containing words or pictures of any obscene, indecent or immoral character such as would offend public morals or general standards of decency.
- No signs shall be permitted which simulate or include official traffic signs or signals or which contain words such as 'Stop,' 'Go Slow,' 'Caution,' 'Danger,' 'Warning' or like words or designations.
- No private signs shall be located within or project over any part of any street right-of-way except as provided in Subsection N.
- No sign shall be attached to or placed upon another sign.

## Signs exempt from permit in Clifton

- Political signs shall be permitted, subject to the provisions of Chapter 185 of the Code of the City of Clifton.
- Ballfield signs shall be permitted to be displayed on the fences of any public or nonprofit ballfield, subject to specific restrictions.

## 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 10 zoning districts in Clifton — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Clifton+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-clifton

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