# Sign Regulations in East Rutherford Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** East Rutherford Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/east-rutherford-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/28176448#28176448)

## At a glance

East Rutherford Borough, New Jersey regulates 32 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - NC)s in the Neighborhood Commercial District, NC District zoning district are capped at 15 ft (min 8 ft) tall and 20 sq ft per side, with a Within 5 feet of property line setback (Sec. § 389-37G(9)(a)). Most commercial signs in East Rutherford Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 8 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts, R District | 7 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial District, NC District | 12 | 15 ft (min 8 ft) | 20 sq ft per side | — |
| Regional Commercial and Light Industrial Districts, RC District, PCD District, RD-1 District, I District | 10 | 15 ft (min 8 ft) | 20 sq ft per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Districts, R District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (Residential) | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On premises | — | § 389-37F(1) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 8 sq ft | — | No closer to street than average setback line | 1 (2 on corner lots) | No closer to street than average setback line. | — | § 389-37F(2) & § 389-37C(1)(a) |
| Temporary Civic or Philanthropic Event Sign (Residential) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 389-37F(2) & § 389-37C(1)(b) |
| Directory or Identification Sign (House of Worship) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 18 ft from street line (only if not attached to building facade) | — | Must be at least 18 feet from street line if not attached to building facade. | — | § 389-37F(3) |
| Nameplate Sign (Institutional, School, Club) | — | 9 sq ft | — | 18 ft from street line if not attached to facade | 1 | Must be set back at least 18 feet from street line if not attached to building. | — | § 389-37F(4) |
| Identification or Directory Sign (Apartments) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 18 ft or more from street line | One per street frontage | Setback 18 feet or more from street line | — | § 389-37F(5) |
| Wall Business Sign (Nonconforming commercial/institutional use; Residential District) | — | — | — | — | — | Face of wall facing street | — | § 389-37F(6) |

### Neighborhood Commercial District, NC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (NC) | — | 8 sq ft | — | No closer than the average setback line | 1 (2 on corner lots) | No closer to the street than the average setback line | — | § 389-37G(1) & § 389-37C(1)(a) |
| Temporary Civic or Philanthropic Event Sign (NC) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 389-37G(1) & § 389-37C(1)(b) |
| Wall Sign (NC) | 5 ft | — | 75% of the storefront width | — | — | On any entrance wall or wall facing a street | — | § 389-37G(2), § 389-37G(7) |
| Freestanding Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - NC) | 15 ft (min 8 ft) | 20 sq ft per side | — | Within 5 feet of property line | 1 | Within 5 feet of property line | — | § 389-37G(9)(a) |
| Temporary Automotive Seasonal Service Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - NC) | — | 7 sq ft | — | Inside property line | 1 | Inside property line | — | § 389-37G(9)(b) |
| Directional Entrance/Bay Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - NC) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/bay | Over each entrance or bay | — | § 389-37G(9)(c) |
| Pump Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - NC) | — | 3 sq ft per pump | — | — | Per pump | On gasoline pump | — | § 389-37G(9)(d) |
| Credit Card Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - NC) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On or near gasoline pump | — | § 389-37G(9)(e) |

### Regional Commercial and Light Industrial Districts, RC District, PCD District, RD-1 District, I District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | — | 8 sq ft | — | No closer than average setback line | 1 (2 on corner lots) | No closer to the street than average setback | — | § 389-37H(1)(a) & § 389-37C(1)(a) |
| Temporary Civic or Philanthropic Event Sign (RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 389-37H(1)(a) & § 389-37C(1)(b) |
| Wall Sign (RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | 10 ft | — | 25% of the width of the building front | — | — | On any entrance wall or wall facing on a street | — | § 389-37H(1)(b), (c) |
| Freestanding Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | 15 ft (min 8 ft) | 20 sq ft per side | — | Within 5 feet of property line | 1 | Within 5 feet of property line | — | § 389-37H(1)(h)[1] |
| Temporary Automotive Seasonal Service Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | — | 7 sq ft | — | Inside property line | 1 | Inside property line | — | § 389-37H(1)(h)[2] |
| Directional Entrance/Bay Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance/bay | Over each entrance or bay | — | § 389-37H(1)(h)[3] |
| Pump Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | — | 3 sq ft per pump | — | — | Per pump | On gasoline pump | — | § 389-37H(1)(h)[4] |
| Credit Card Sign (Gas Stations/Public Garages - RC/PCD/RD-1/I) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | On or near gasoline pump | — | § 389-37H(1)(h)[5] |

## Prohibited signs in East Rutherford Borough

- It is unlawful to erect, paint, alter, reword, locate or relocate, reconstruct or change in any manner a sign without first having a permit from the Construction Official.
- Signs containing statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character, such as will offend public morals or decency, are prohibited.
- Signs containing or in imitation of an official traffic sign or signal or containing the words 'stop,' 'caution,' 'danger,' 'go slow' or similar words are prohibited.
- Signs that are of a size, location, or movement, or use intermittent flashing, coloring or illumination that may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device, or which obstruct from view signs or signals or vehicular traffic on a public street, are prohibited.
- Exposed neon-type signs are prohibited.
- Floodlights used for illumination of signs that create interference with traffic visibility are prohibited.
- Signs with a maximum surface brightness, whether internally or externally illuminated, exceeding 250 footcandles are prohibited.
- Signs having moving parts or giving the illusion of movement (except time and temperature changes) are prohibited.
- Signs consisting of posters, ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, balloons, kites or other similarly moving devices are prohibited.
- Use of the surface of sidewalks, roads, and driveways for signs is prohibited (except municipal traffic control signs).
- Billboards, projecting signs, portable signs, and roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs that are not attached directly to the premises to which the sign’s message refers are prohibited.
- Signs with more than two display faces are prohibited.
- Any sign, now or hereafter erected or maintained, which no longer advertises a bona fide business, product, or current event must be removed within 90 days after business cessation, product is no longer sold, or event occurs.
- Any sign illegally erected must be removed from the premises within 10 days from written order by the Construction Official.
- No new billboard sign structure shall be permitted in any district; existing billboard signs may not be enlarged or relocated.

## Signs exempt from permit in East Rutherford Borough

- Permits are not required for one nonilluminated temporary sign (not exceeding eight square feet) pertaining to the sale or lease of the premises upon which it is placed, provided it is removed within seven days after sale or lease and set no closer to the street than the average setback line of the street.
- Corner properties may have two such temporary signs for sale or lease, each conforming to above requirements.
- Permits are not required for nonilluminated temporary signs (not exceeding eight square feet) pertaining to civic or philanthropic activities or institutions, maintained not more than 90 days.
- Official court or public notices, or any flag, emblem, or insignia of government, school, or religious group displayed for official purposes, are not considered signs under this ordinance.
- Street address numbers not exceeding six inches in height and one business-hours sign affixed to the storefront window or door and no larger than three square feet are exempt from sign area requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each site plan application shall include a sign plan showing the specific design, location, size, construction and illumination.
- If sign details cannot be provided at time of application, approval may be conditioned upon receipt of such details before issuance of certificate of occupancy.
- For any lot on which the owner proposes to erect one or more signs requiring a permit, the owner must submit to the Construction Official a master signage plan including an accurate plot plan, location of buildings/parking/landscaping, computation of maximum sign area and number/size/height of signs, and an indication of proposed locations of all present and future signs (including those not requiring a permit).

## 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 4 zoning districts in East Rutherford Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=East+Rutherford+Borough+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-east-rutherford-borough

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