# Sign Regulations in East Orange, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Orange, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/east-orange
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/26969561#26969561)

## At a glance

East Orange, New Jersey regulates 18 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 feet (unless otherwise specified for residential zones) tall, 80 square feet (unless otherwise specified for residential zones), and 10 feet (unless otherwise specified for residential zones) wide, with a At least 5 feet from building; not within right-of-way setback (Sec. §51-170A, Table 51-170.A; §51-58). Most commercial signs in East Orange require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 50% of building height | 80 square feet (unless otherwise specified for residential zones) | — |
| Residential Zone (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-O, CCC) | 9 | 42 inches | 32 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet (unless otherwise specified for residential zones) | 80 square feet (unless otherwise specified for residential zones) | 10 feet (unless otherwise specified for residential zones) | At least 5 feet from building; not within right-of-way | 1 per street frontage; 2 maximum | Placed in the front yard at least 5 feet from principal building, no part in public right-of-way | — | §51-170A, Table 51-170.A; §51-58 |
| Wall-Mounted Sign | 24 inches | — | 90% of the width of building front | — | 1 per business; 2 for corner properties | Fully on building face below roofline, ground floor only, aligned to architectural features | — | §51-170B, Table 51-170.B; §51-58 |
| Projecting Sign | 4 feet | 8 square feet | 4 feet | Must meet frontage/setback criteria; projects up to 4 ft into right-of-way | 1 per facade, 2 maximum | Not above roofline or second floor windows unless over marquee; 1 per facade, 2 max; at building entrance, projects 90 angle | — | §51-170E, Table 51-170.E; §51-58 |
| Nameplate | 2 feet | 3 square feet | 18 inches | Clearance minimum 4 feet; apex max 7 feet | 1 | Attached to wall within 10 feet of an entrance | — | §51-170H, Table 51-170.H; §51-58 |
| Address Sign | 12 inches | 1 square foot | 12 inches | — | 1 | On building front, preferably at/above entrance | — | §51-170I, Table 51-170.I |
| Temporary Sign, Banner | 5 feet | 32 square feet | 16 feet | — | 1 | On building for commercial/industrial; on building or premises for public/institutional use | — | §51-170J, Table 51-170.J; §51-58 |
| Temporary Sign, Freestanding | 42 inches | 8 square feet | 26 inches | Within 5 feet of building wall | 1 | Within 5 feet of building wall | — | §51-170K, Table 51-170.K; §51-58 |
| Outdoor Display Case | 3.5 feet | 6 square feet | 3.5 feet | Clearance min 4 feet | 1 per 20 feet frontage | On building wall near main entrance; not on windows | — | §51-170O, Table 51-170.O; §51-58 |

### Residential Zone (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-O, CCC)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monument Sign (Nonresidential Use in Residential Zone) | 6 feet | — | 8 feet | At least 5 feet from principal building; not in public right-of-way | 1 per street frontage | Front yard, at least 5 feet from main building, subject to monument sign placement rules | — | §51-170A(6); §51-58 |
| Nameplate | 2 feet | 3 square feet | 18 inches | Minimum 4 feet clearance; apex max 7 feet | 1 | Attached to wall within 10 feet of an entrance | — | §51-170H, Table 51-170.H; §51-58 |
| Address Sign | 12 inches | 1 square foot | 12 inches | Min clearance 4.5 feet | 1 | On building front, preferably at/above primary entrance | — | §51-170I, Table 51-170.I |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | 1 | Construction site | — | §51-166H; §51-58 |
| Temporary Sign, Banner | 5 feet | 32 square feet | 16 feet | — | 1 | On building or premises | — | §51-170J, Table 51-170.J; §51-58 |
| Temporary Sign, Freestanding | 42 inches | 8 square feet | 26 inches | — | 1 | Within 5 feet of building wall | — | §51-170K, Table 51-170.K; §51-58 |
| Temporary Sign, Window | — | — | — | — | — | Affixed to interior of window | — | §51-170L, Table 51-170.L |
| Garage Sale/Yard Sale Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 | On subject property | — | §51-167H |

## Prohibited signs in East Orange

- Reflective, neon or iridescent paint is prohibited for signs.
- Any sign with display elements (area or panel) that are visibly cracked, broken or discolored, with corroded, bent, broken, torn or dented support structures, or with unreadable messages under normal viewing conditions, must be repaired or removed immediately.
- Signs with statements, words or pictures of obscene, indecent or immoral character that offend public morals or standards of decency.
- Signs simulating or including official traffic signs or signals or containing words such as 'stop,' 'go slow,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'warning' or like words/designations.
- Illuminated signs in red, green or amber within 100 feet of a traffic signal.
- Signs internally/externally illuminated by rotating, flashing or intermittent lights and signs that move or rotate, except those denoting time and temperature under 10 sq ft.
- Any sign which obscures a public body’s sign or a motorist’s view of oncoming traffic.
- Signs and decorations in the form of banners, pennants, printed sails, series of posters, ribbons, streamers, strings of bulbs, spinners, balloons, or other stationary or moving devices, except as temporary signs.
- Signs painted directly on the outside of buildings.
- Advertising signs for garage sales, yard sales, rummage sales, flea markets, or similar activities, except one sign on the subject property for up to 14 days.
- Temporary signs mounted, stapled, nailed, pinned, taped, glued, or otherwise affixed to exterior building walls and private fixtures.
- A-frame signs, except those approved as temporary signs.
- Signs on or attached to the roof of buildings or structures.
- Private signs within the street right-of-way or attached to public utility poles, lampposts, public signs, or similar structures.
- Signs affixed to other signs.
- Portable business signs held by hand, including banners, pennants, placards, posters, and spinners.
- All sign types, uses, and purposes not explicitly permitted.
- Roof signs (signs mounted above the roofline of any structure) – any component above a building's roofline is prohibited.
- Box or cabinet signs are prohibited as wall-mounted or projecting signs.
- Translucent awnings that glow from internal lighting, waterfall and box awnings are prohibited.
- Window neon outlining windows is prohibited.
- Audio speakers or any form of sound from video display window signs is prohibited.
- Temporary window signs may not be illuminated.
- Vinyl, glossy, acrylic, masonite, wood or wood products and certain other materials are prohibited in entrance canopies and awning signs, as specified.
- Signs, posters, devices, or other fixtures are prohibited on telephone poles, traffic controller cabinets, signal boxes, lampposts, trees in street/public place, or municipal right-of-way.
- Signs must not be attached to storefront windows as outdoor display cases.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Orange

- Traffic regulatory or safety signs on private property deemed necessary for public safety.
- Signs on the interior of a structure not visible to outside view.
- Political lawn signs up to 4 square feet per side placed within 120 days of the affected election are exempt from the general sign permit requirement.
- "For sale" or "for lease" banners and window/temporary signs are exempt from the 30-day temporary display time limit but must be removed before or upon sale or lease.
- Bulletin boards are not considered prohibited message boards.
- Street address signs and nameplates meeting specified criteria are generally permitted and sometimes required.
- Signs used to announce events of limited duration, such as banners for sales or public events, are permitted if complying with temporary sign regulations.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs must be a component of site plans subject to approval by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment.
- Shopping centers, or any new commercial structure, or structures subdivided for more than one commercial tenant, or seeking permits for exterior remodeling or upgrades, are required to submit a sign guideline package and elevation drawings. The package must show: location and placement of signs for each tenant (including sign area or sign band), approved colors, materials and construction types, and identification of any preestablished and preexisting trademarks.
- Business establishments in districts with a unified theme or specific design standards may be permitted to vary from standard sign requirements, subject to review by the Site Plan Review Committee and approval by the Planning Board.

## Full detail

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

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