# Sign Regulations in Elmer Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Elmer Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/elmer-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35938414#35938414)

## At a glance

Elmer Borough, New Jersey regulates 23 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Nameplate for residences in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 3 feet for ground sign tall and 1.5 square feet, with a 10 feet from all property lines setback (Sec. 25-18.1b2). Most commercial signs in Elmer Borough 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 | 5 | — | — | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | 8 feet for ground sign | 24 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential Districts | 6 | 15 feet | 80 square feet | — |
| GB, HB | 4 | 16 feet for freestanding | 80 square feet | — |
| C/LI | 1 | Minimum clearance for vehicles, at least 10 feet high | 21 square feet | — |
| C-2 | 1 | — | 24 square feet | — |

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

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate for residence | 3 feet for ground sign | 1.5 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per lot | Ground, hanging, or wall sign | — | 25-18.1b2 |
| No Solicitation Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | Wall; within 2 feet of front door | — | 25-18.1b2 |
| Permanent Subdivision Identification | 6 feet | 20 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per entrance | Ground sign at each entrance | — | 25-18.1b2 |
| Institutional Uses, Public Parks, Playgrounds, Religious Uses, Child-Care Centers | 8 feet for ground sign | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per street frontage | Ground or facade; 1 per street frontage | — | 25-18.1b2 |
| Farm Stand Permanent Signs | 6 feet for ground sign; not above roof for facade signs | 24 square feet each | — | 10 feet | 2 per farm stand | Ground or facade | — | 25-18.1b2 |
| Farm Stand Temporary Signs | 6 feet for ground signs | 16 square feet each | — | N/A | As required for farm marketing | Ground or facade | — | 25-18.1b2 |

### Nonresidential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade or Wall Sign | May not extend above roof | 80 square feet | — | Same as building | 1 per street frontage on principal structure | 1 per street frontage on principal structure | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Ground or Monument Sign | 6 feet | 24 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Ground or Monument Sign (Shopping Centers) | 8 feet | 50 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Window Sign | — | No more than 25% of window area | — | Same as building | 1 per street frontage | On windows of principal structure | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Awning Sign | 15 feet | No more than 25% of awning area, letters no more than 5 inches | — | Same as building | 2 per street frontage | Only on the vertical hang; only if a wall sign is not proposed. | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Directory Sign (Office, Industrial Parks or Shopping Areas; more than 4 tenants) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | 25 ft from right-of-way | 1 | — | — | 25-18.1b3 |

### GB, HB

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding (Pole) Sign | 16 feet for freestanding | 50 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage (not part of shopping center or planned development) | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Ground (Monument) Sign | 8 feet for ground | 50 square feet | — | 15 feet | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage (not part of shopping center or planned development) | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Freestanding (Pole) Sign (Shopping Centers) | 16 feet for freestanding | 80 square feet | — | 20 feet | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage (shopping centers) | — | 25-18.1b3 |
| Ground (Monument) Sign (Shopping Centers) | 8 feet for ground | 80 square feet | — | 20 feet | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage (shopping centers) | — | 25-18.1b3 |

## Prohibited signs in Elmer Borough

- Signs which contain or imitate an official traffic signal or hide from view any traffic street signal or sign or have characteristics likely to confuse or dangerously distract motorists.
- Signs which are designed to move, either by mechanical or other means.
- Signs which contain or consist of banners, posters, pennant ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similarly moving devices (excluding permitted flags).
- Signs which flash or scroll, except for time and temperature indicators.
- Electronic message boards are generally prohibited except in the C-2 Zoning District under specified limitations and approval as part of a site plan.
- Signs which emit odors or smoke or produce noise or sounds capable of being heard.
- Silhouetted or three-dimensional signs, such as those lacking a background or with objects present in the round or not in a vertical plane.
- Any freestanding sign or sign projecting from a building within a sight triangle at intersections, specifically a triangular area bounded by the intersection of two right-of-way lines and a line connecting points 30 feet from such intersection.
- Signs located or placed on any tree, telephone or utility pole, light standard, rocks, or other natural features.
- Tubes of lighting or strings of lights outlining rooflines, doors, windows or wall edges for advertising purposes (except from Thanksgiving Day through January 25).
- Portable signs, such as those on wheels.
- Signs projecting above the roof or the main cornice line of the building to which it is affixed.
- Off-site signs (billboards) are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Elmer Borough

- Signs required by law.
- Any sign or graphic integrated into or on a coin-operated machine, vending machine, gas pump, or telephone booth.
- Any sign carried by a person.
- Decorations for any officially recognized holiday, provided they do not create a fire or traffic hazard and are removed within 30 days after the holiday.
- Political signs associated with an election or referendum, provided the signs are on private property, are not placed more than 30 days before and are removed within seven days after the day of voting, and do not exceed four square feet in size.
- Temporary yard or garage sale signs, provided such signs are on private property, do not exceed four square feet in area, are erected no more than seven days before the sale, and are removed within 24 hours after the sale.
- Temporary real estate signs on the lot for sale or rent, limited to one per lot frontage, subject to size and height limits, and removed within 14 days of the sale or rental (with specific rules for open house signs).
- Temporary 'grand opening' signs for occupants of shopping centers or commercial buildings, not exceeding 20 square feet and displayed for no more than two weeks per calendar year, provided public health and safety requirements are met.
- Temporary (30 days or less) banners advertising special events sponsored or held by the Borough, County, school district, Fire Department, or similar organizations.
- American, State, County, and Borough flags.
- No trespassing signs.
- Temporary farm stand signs during growing season.
- Temporary signs of architects, engineers, contractors, mechanics, tradesmen, or others engaged in construction work, not exceeding six square feet, set back appropriately, and removed within seven days of completion of the work.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign other than exempt signs shall be erected without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Officer. Permit applications for signs must be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing details of the sign, its size, and location on the building or lot. A color photograph of each existing sign on the property must be submitted with the permit application.
- Architectural features more expansive than the allowed dimensions for sign bases or walls require site plan approval.
- Electronic message boards in the C-2 Zoning District must be approved as part of a site plan.
- Shopping centers or developments with more than one use on a site are permitted one ground or freestanding sign per street frontage for the entire site (with individual tenant signs only permitted as wall, facade, or attached signs in accordance with the section).

## 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 Elmer Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Elmer+Borough+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-elmer-borough

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