# Sign Regulations in Colts Neck Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Colts Neck Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/colts-neck-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8738614#8738614)

## At a glance

Colts Neck Township, New Jersey regulates 13 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (Temporary)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 4 sq. ft. per side, with a 10 ft setback (Sec. §102-106B(5), §102-123B(5)). Most commercial signs in Colts Neck Township 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 | 35 ft | 32 sq. ft. total per development (combined for up to 2 signs) | — |
| Residential zoning district | 6 | 35 ft | 32 sq. ft. | — |
| Commercial establishment | 11 | 35 ft | 40 sq. ft. cumulative for all signs | — |

## 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 | As provided in the zoning district; in any event, cannot exceed any lesser specified elsewhere | — | — | — | — | — | — | §102-106B(2), (3), §102-123B(2), (3) |
| Wall Sign | As provided in the zoning district; cannot be mounted on a roof. | — | — | — | — | — | — | §102-106B(2),(3), §102-123B(2),(3) |
| Farm Sign | 8 ft | 12 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft from existing curb/pavement or no closer than future street right-of-way | — | Minimum 10 ft from existing curb/pavement (per §102-106); no closer than future street R-O-W line (§102-123B(7)) | — | §102-106B(7), §102-123B(7) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft | 1 per property; 2 for corner lots | At least 10 ft from street curbline or pavement | — | §102-106B(5), §102-123B(5) |
| Major Subdivision Sign (Temporary) | 8 ft | 32 sq. ft. total per development (combined for up to 2 signs) | — | — | 2 max | Onsite, where construction is taking place | — | §102-106B(9), §102-123B(9) |
| Garage Sale/Yard Sale/Estate Sale Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Cannot be placed on utility poles, street signs, trees or fences | — | §102-106B(10) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §102-106B(11) |
| Charitable Event Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb/pavement; only on property owned/leased by sponsor or with owner's written permission | — | §102-106B(12) |

### Residential zoning district

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft | 1 per property; 2 for corner lots | At least 10 ft from street curbline or pavement | — | §102-106B(5), §102-123B(5) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | — | — | — | — | §102-106B(11) |
| Garage Sale/Yard Sale/Estate Sale Sign | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Cannot be placed on utility poles, street signs, trees or fences | — | §102-106B(10) |
| Charitable Event Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb/pavement; only on property owned/leased by sponsor or with owner's written permission | — | §102-106B(12) |
| Farm Sign | 8 ft | 12 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft from curb/pavement or no closer than future street R-O-W | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb/pavement or no closer than future street R-O-W line | — | §102-106B(7), §102-123B(7) |
| Seasonal Decoration (Outdoor) | 35 ft | — | — | — | — | — | — | §102-106C, §102-123C |

### Commercial establishment

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | As provided in the zoning district; cannot be mounted on a roof. | — | — | — | — | On building facade | — | §102-106B(2)-(3); §102-123B(2)-(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | As provided in the zoning district; cannot be mounted on a roof. | — | — | — | — | — | — | §102-106B(2)-(3); §102-123B(2)-(3) |
| Window Sign (Illuminated, Temporary) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 | Within window and visible externally | — | §102-106D, §102-123D |
| Temporary Sale Sign (Special Sale) | — | 32 sq. ft. cumulative per business per occurrence | — | 1 ft minimum from street right-of-way | — | Outdoors, no closer than 1 ft from street right-of-way, not in sight triangle, not interfering with driver sight distance | — | §102-123E |
| Grand Opening Sign | 6 ft above grade (max any part) | 40 sq. ft. cumulative for all signs | — | 1 ft minimum from street right-of-way | — | Attached to ground, in mowed/shielded landscaped area, outside sight triangle, no closer than 1 ft from street right-of-way | — | §102-123F |
| Charitable Event Sign | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | 10 ft | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb/pavement; only on property owned/leased by sponsor or with owner's written permission | — | §102-106B(12) |
| Farm Sign | 8 ft | 12 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft from curb/pavement or no closer than future street R-O-W | — | Minimum 10 ft from curb/pavement or no closer than future street R-O-W line | — | §102-106B(7), §102-123B(7) |
| Real Estate Sign (Temporary) | 4 ft | 4 sq. ft. per side | — | 10 ft | 1 per property; 2 for corner lots | At least 10 ft from street curbline or pavement | — | §102-106B(5), §102-123B(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Colts Neck Township

- Billboards, balloons, air- or gas-filled objects, sign pictures of products or services, or structures for advertising or display purposes shall not be erected or utilized in any zone except as specifically allowed.
- No sign is permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, or traffic direction and identification signs.
- Signs must be directly related to the business conducted on the premises.
- Animated, flashing, or illusionary façade or freestanding signs and balloons or gas- or air-filled objects or signs that display flashing, movement, or the illusion of movement are prohibited.
- No freestanding or attached sign shall exceed the maximum height provided in the zoning district or any lesser height specified elsewhere, and signs shall not be mounted on the roof of the building if attached.
- Illuminated signs must be arranged to reflect light and glare away from adjoining residential premises and streets and not interfere with motorist visibility.
- Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed to become dilapidated.
- No sign shall be constructed of masonry, brick, concrete, stone or similar materials or give the appearance of being a wall, fence, or similar barrier for major subdivision signs.
- No signs indicating or displaying directions to a new subdivision shall be erected, temporarily or otherwise.
- Erecting or displaying signs advertising banks or other financial funding institutions or sources for developing subdivisions is prohibited.
- No garage/yard/estate sale sign shall be placed on any utility pole, street sign, trees, or fences.
- No more than one real estate sign per property, except corner lots which may have two.
- New major subdivision or site may have a maximum of two temporary signs per development, with specific size and height limits.
- Grand opening and special sale signage: banners, flags, balloons, streamers, spotlights, or similar attention-getting devices are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Colts Neck Township

- Temporary real estate signs do not require approval/permit or site plan approval if they meet specific size, height, and location requirements.
- Outdoor seasonal decorations are exempt from sign ordinance requirements if they meet height (35 feet) and duration (31 days) limits and are displayed for customary holiday themes.
- One nonblinking/flashing internally illuminated or neon type sign up to three square feet is allowed in a window of a commercial establishment without further permit; other illuminated signs inside are allowed only if not plainly visible outside beyond 100 feet.
- Garage sale, yard sale, estate sale signs do not require a permit if they meet timing, size, and placement requirements.
- Political signs do not require a permit if they meet size and timing restrictions.
- Charitable event signs up to 32 square feet, meeting location, duration, and placement requirements, do not require permits.
- Nonilluminated window signs within a building, plainly visible outside, must not exceed 30% of total window area (no permit required for this if within limits).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs, except temporary real estate signs, require Planning Board approval unless specifically stated otherwise.
- Modification or relocation of existing signs requires reapproval.
- The Planning Board submits all applications for sign approval to the Architectural Review Committee as per Chapter 2.
- Sign approval for new major subdivision signs must be obtained as part of subdivision or site plan approval or as a freestanding sign not included in a subdivision or site plan approval.
- No subdivision sign shall be erected until preliminary Planning Board approval is obtained.
- Temporary special sale signs and grand opening signs require issuance of a temporary outdoor sign permit by the Zoning Officer and submission of a scale sketch and location.
- Permission to place any temporary sign on Township-owned property is by written request to the Township Committee and granted on an individual basis.

## Full detail

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

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