# Sign Regulations in Garwood Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Garwood Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/garwood-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10090826#10090826)

## At a glance

Garwood Borough, New Jersey regulates 23 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding/Projecting Directory Sign (Multiple Tenants, Setback ≥ 10 ft)s in the Central Business Zone, General Business Zone, Community Commercial Zone zoning district are capped at 15 feet (min 10 feet above ground at lowest point) tall and 40 square feet (double-sided), with a Min. 5 feet from all lot lines setback (Sec. §106-141B(4)(a)). Most commercial signs in Garwood Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zones | 3 | 5 feet | 40 square feet (combined with facade sign) | — |
| Central Business Zone, General Business Zone, Community Commercial Zone | 8 | 48 inches | 60 square feet (double-faced) | — |
| Light Industrial Zone, Industrial/Commercial Zone | 4 | 48 inches | 100 square feet | — |
| Industrial Zone | 3 | 48 inches | 100 square feet | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 10 feet | 50 square feet (total for up to 3 signs) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Central Business Zone, General Business Zone, Community Commercial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Allowed in Residential Zones (Residential Use) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §106-141A |
| All Signs Allowed in Residential Zones (Nonresidential Use) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §106-141B(1) |
| Wall/Facade Sign (Setback < 4 ft, One Per Tenant) | — | 40 square feet (per total all signs) | — | < 4 feet | 1 per tenant | On facade of structure; for each tenant. | — | §106-141B(2) |
| Projecting Sign (Setback ≥ 4 ft) | — | 6 square feet (double-sided) | — | ≥ 4 feet | 1 per structure (in addition to wall sign(s)) | Projecting from structure with front yard setback equal to or greater than four feet. | — | §106-141B(3) |
| Freestanding/Projecting Directory Sign (Multiple Tenants, Setback ≥ 10 ft) | 15 feet (min 10 feet above ground at lowest point) | 40 square feet (double-sided) | — | Min. 5 feet from all lot lines | 1 | Min. 5-foot setback from all lot lines. | — | §106-141B(4)(a) |
| Wall/Facade Sign (Multiple Tenants, Setback ≥ 10 ft) | — | 40 square feet per tenant | — | Front yard setback ≥ 10 ft | 1 per tenant | On front facade of tenant space | — | §106-141B(4)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Community Commercial Zone Only, Alternative Option) | 5 feet | 60 square feet (double-faced) | — | — | 1 | — | — | §106-141B(4)(c) |
| Portable Sign (Retail Trade/Service/Eating & Drinking; includes Sandwich Board) | 48 inches | 8 square feet | 48 inches | — | 1 per business | Within side property lines, adjacent to building, entrance alcove, or adjacent to curb. May NOT block pedestrian movement, benches, parking meters, or motor vehicles. Not in public right-of-way without permit. | — | §106-141B(5)(a)-(i) |

### Light Industrial Zone, Industrial/Commercial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Allowed in Central Business, General Business, Community Commercial Zones (Commercial Use) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §106-142A |
| Facade (Wall) Sign (Industrial Use Only) | — | 100 square feet | — | — | 1 | On principal structure parallel to street | — | §106-142B(1) |
| Projecting or Freestanding Sign (Industrial Use Only) | 20 feet (minimum 10 feet above ground at lowest point) | 40 square feet (double-sided) | — | Min 5 feet from all lot lines | 1 | Minimum 5-foot setback from all lot lines. | — | §106-142B(2) |
| Portable Sign (Retail/Trade/Service/Eating and Drinking Establishments) | 48 inches | 8 square feet | 48 inches | — | 1 per business | Within side property lines, adjacent to building, entrance alcove, or curb. Not in public ROW without permit. | — | §106-142C referencing §106-141B(5) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Signs (Grand openings, special sales, special events) | Not exceeding maximum height permitted in zone | 50 square feet (total for up to 3 signs) | — | — | Max 3 | Nonresidential structures or uses; not in public right-of-way. | — | §106-144B |
| Directional Sign (On-site, e.g., entrance/exit/parking) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On-site; location subject to site plan review. | — | §106-144D |
| Loading/Shipping Dock Identification Sign | — | 5 square feet | — | — | 1 per dock | At each loading/shipping dock | — | §106-144C |
| Consolidated Facade/Window Sign (Principal Tenant) | — | 5 square feet | — | — | 1 per structure/use | On facade or window | — | §106-144A |
| Vacant Lot Sign (Nonresidential Zones) | 10 feet | 6 square feet (double-faced) | — | 10 feet from lot lines | 1 per vacant lot | Setback minimum 10 feet from all lot lines | — | §106-144E |
| Window Sign (Sale/Product Promotion) | — | 25% of window area (max 2 signs per window) | — | — | 2 per window | In windows | — | §106-144F |

## Prohibited signs in Garwood Borough

- No sign shall be erected, placed, hung, painted, or otherwise located in any zone district unless a zoning permit is obtained.
- No sign shall be displayed which shall be dilapidated or otherwise in disrepair.
- No sign shall be permitted which does not pertain to an occupant, service or product actually occupying or provided on the premises where such sign is located.
- Signs which are placed on, or extend above, the roofline of any structure are prohibited.
- Signs posted on fences, posts, utility poles or trees, or standing, installed or painted on curbs, retaining walls or sidewalks are prohibited unless permitted under other Borough ordinances.
- Signs of the moving or revolving type are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited.
- Flashing signs are prohibited.
- Intermittent signs, or signs in which the message changes, are prohibited.
- Liquid crystal display signs are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Garwood Borough

- Signs of a political nature or signs advertising a community event are exempt from these regulations except as to sign size and location in applicable zones. All such signage is to be removed within one week of the date of the final decision or event.
- Subject to the landowner’s consent, a noncommercial message of any type may be substituted for any duly permitted or allowed commercial message or any duly permitted or allowed noncommercial message, without any additional approval or permitting, provided that the sign structure or mounting device is otherwise legal.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- On-site directional signs for the public such as entrance, exit, one way, stop, truck entrance, visitor parking, etc., shall be unregulated other than subject to site plan review by the approving authority, provided that they are no larger than two square feet in total sign area.

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

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