# Sign Regulations in Denville Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Denville Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/denville-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/32120646#32120646)

## At a glance

Denville Township, New Jersey regulates 28 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Temporary Commercial Contractor/Home Service Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 feet tall and 6 square feet, with a 10 feet from street curbline setback (Sec. §600-188E(3)). Most commercial signs in Denville Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B Business Districts, Business District, Business Zones | 8 | 20 feet (no part of illustration <10 feet above ground) | 35 square feet per side | — |
| Residential Districts | 5 | — | 72 square inches | — |
| O-B Districts | 2 | — | 8 square feet | — |
| Industrial Zones | 3 | 13 feet | — | — |
| Business Improvement District (BID) | 1 | 12 inches | 12 in x 34 in (408 sq in); if product/icon shape, max 408 sq in | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per premises | On premises where construction is occurring | — | §600-188A |
| Temporary Directional Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | — | Any district | — | §600-188B |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential Districts) | — | 9 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage (standard); max four open-house | On lot for sale or lease; open-house signs in public right-of-way with limitations; limits on per lot frontage | — | §600-188C |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Districts) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | On lot for sale or lease | — | §600-188C |
| Temporary Political Sign | — | 16 square feet (total for all such signs) | — | — | — | On private premises, both residential and commercial | — | §600-188D |
| Temporary Noncommercial and Event Sign (Sandwich Board or Freestanding) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | 10 feet from street curbline | — | — | — | §600-188E(2) |
| Temporary Commercial Contractor/Home Service Sign | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | 10 feet from street curbline | One per contractor/home service provider | On site during progress of work | — | §600-188E(3) |
| Fire Zone Regulatory Sign | — | 12 in x 18 in (216 sq in) | — | — | — | Fire zones, 100 feet apart and at changes of angle, beginning/end of zones. | — | §265-13 |

### B Business Districts, Business District, Business Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 5 feet | — | 90% of the width of the wall | — | Maximum 3 per establishment | Parallel with building face; not to extend more than 15 inches from face; on marquees/canopies, must not extend beyond front edge | — | §600-185A, §600-185B, §600-185C |
| Freestanding Sign (Pylon/Tower) | 20 feet (no part of illustration <10 feet above ground) | 30 square feet per side | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way/property line; building must set back minimum 75 feet from street to qualify | One per premises | Must be at least 10 feet from any street right-of-way or property line | — | §600-185D |
| Freestanding Sign - Service Stations/Garages | 20 feet (not less than 10 feet above ground) | 35 square feet per side | — | Not less than 10 ft or more than 20 ft above ground | One per station/garage | Hung within property line | — | §600-185E(1) |
| Temporary Service Station/Garage Sign | — | 7 square feet | — | — | One per station/garage | Inside property line | — | §600-185E(2) |
| Service Station/Garage Directional Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One per entrance/bay | Above each entrance/bay | — | §600-185E(3) |
| Service Station Pump Sign | — | 3 square feet per pump | — | — | Not specified, but limited to content. | On gasoline pump | — | §600-185E(4) |
| Electronic Window Sign | 10 inches | 2.5 square feet | 36 inches | — | One per business | Interior to exterior window; exterior facade prohibited | — | §600-183G |
| Neon Window Sign | — | 4 square feet or 5% of window area, whichever is less | — | — | One per business | In window of business | — | §600-183H |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Sign/Nameplate | — | 2 square feet | — | — | One per premises | — | — | §600-184A |
| Conditional Use Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per conditional use | — | — | §600-184B |
| Church Sign | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per church | On premises of the church | — | §600-184D |
| Public Welfare Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §600-184C |
| Nameplate Sign (Front Yard) | — | 72 square inches | — | — | — | Anywhere within front yard | — | §600-184E |

## Prohibited signs in Denville Township

- Signs, other than municipal, county or state signs, shall not be erected within the right-of-way of any street or approved sight easements.
- No sign shall be located so as to constitute a traffic hazard or to interfere with or be mistaken for a traffic light or similar safety device.
- No sign shall be lighted by means of flashing or intermittent illumination.
- All lights used for the illumination of any sign shall be completely shielded from the view of vehicular traffic using abutting roads.
- Floodlights used for sign illumination shall not project above the highest elevation of the front wall of the building, or more than 18 feet above street level, whichever is less.
- There shall be no illumination of any pylon sign or structure after the business to which the sign is related is closed for the business day.
- No sign shall extend or project above the highest elevation of the wall to which it is attached.
- All signs must be neat, constructed of durable materials, and maintained at all times in safe condition and good repair.
- No sign shall be permitted which rotates upon a fixed base, provides for movement in any manner, or creates the illusion of movement.
- Neon signs are prohibited in all zone districts except the B Business Districts (where limited exceptions apply).
- Neon tubing is prohibited where used as an accent to building facades, roof or window treatment accent.
- Signs with more than two display faces are prohibited.
- Signs painted on a building wall are prohibited.
- Signs attached to trees or utility poles are prohibited except for warnings or language required or installed by the utility.
- Signs located in sight triangle easements are prohibited.
- Banner-type signs are prohibited except in celebration of public events or holidays as provided, and only when erected or authorized by the Township.
- Signs located within a municipal road right-of-way, and county, state and interstate highway rights-of-way, are prohibited except when erected/authorized by the agency having jurisdiction.
- No sign shall be permitted which is not accessory to a use located on the premises (with certain exceptions for temporary noncommercial signs).
- No sign as permitted shall rotate, move, blink, scroll, or create the illusion of movement unless specifically authorized for electronic signs (at the time of message change only).

## Signs exempt from permit in Denville Township

- Municipal, county, or state signs are exempt from right-of-way prohibition.
- Signs or awnings placed or maintained as required or authorized by any governmental agency are exempt from certain placement prohibitions.
- Temporary noncommercial signs for annual activities or events sponsored by charitable, religious or civic organizations or government agencies are exempt from obtaining a temporary sign permit from the building department, provided they comply with area, timing, and setback regulations.
- Any sign as permitted or regulated in § 600-185A, B, C, and D does not require a building permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan, sign plan, or variance meeting is mentioned in the ordinance text provided.
- Building permits are generally required for signs except for those specifically permitted or regulated in § 600-185A, B, C, and D.

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

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