# Sign Regulations in Hackensack, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hackensack, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/hackensack
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10194387#10194387)

## At a glance

Hackensack, New Jersey regulates 10 sign types across 3 zoning districts. A-frame-Type Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall, Approximately 9 sq ft (3 ft x 3 ft), and 3 ft wide, with a Must not project into or over public right-of-way. setback (Sec. §166-8A(6)).

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | No such sign shall exceed the height of the parapet or building upon which erected, except on one-story structures where the maximum is 15 feet. | Approximately 9 sq ft (3 ft x 3 ft) | — |
| Business zoning districts, Manufacturing zoning districts | 1 | 7 ft on all property lines | — | — |
| Commercial districts | 1 | 14 ft | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | — | — | — | No ground sign set nearer to the street lot line than the established building line. On corner property, not within 15 feet behind both street lines. | — | No nearer to the street lot line than the established building line. On corner lots, must be at least 15 feet behind both street lines. | — | §166-8A(1) |
| Roof Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not permitted on any building or structure. | — | §166-8A(2) |
| Projecting Sign | No such sign shall exceed the height of the parapet or building upon which erected, except on one-story structures where the maximum is 15 feet. | — | — | May not project forward of the established setback except as specified. | — | May not project over any street, public place, or beyond the established setback except a flat sign may project a max of 1 foot. | — | §166-8A(2)(b-d), §166-8A(4) |
| Freestanding Pole Sign or Pylon | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §166-8A(2)(d), §166-8A(4) |
| Temporary Signs, Construction Signs, Special Displays | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §166-8A(3) |
| A-frame-Type Sign | 3 ft | Approximately 9 sq ft (3 ft x 3 ft) | 3 ft | Must not project into or over public right-of-way. | 1 per 100 ft of frontage, maximum 2 per over 100 ft | All signs and supports must be within the owner's property line, never projecting into or over the public right-of-way. | — | §166-8A(6) |
| Beacon, Rotating, or Animated Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Not allowed anywhere in the City. | — | §166-8A(5) |
| Flat Sign | — | — | — | Max 1 ft projection forward of setback | — | May project maximum 1 foot forward of established setback line over public street/public place. | — | §166-8A(2)(b) |

### Business zoning districts, Manufacturing zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cyclone Fence with Privacy Inserts | 7 ft on all property lines | — | — | — | — | Nonresidential property lines | — | §166-8B(14) |

### Commercial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fence Enclosing Governmental, Park, Playground, or School Land | 14 ft | — | — | — | — | Surrounding or on lands of governmental facilities, public parks and playgrounds, and public or parochial schools and their accessory uses. | — | §166-8B(15) |

## Prohibited signs in Hackensack

- No ground sign shall be set nearer to the street lot line than the established building line, except on corner property where no ground sign can be placed within 15 feet behind both street lines.
- No roof sign of any type shall be permitted on any building or structure.
- No projecting sign shall project over any street or public place or forward of any established setback line, except that a flat sign may project a maximum of one foot.
- Freestanding pole signs or pylons shall conform to the requirements set forth for projecting signs, including projection limitations.
- All beacon or rotating or animated signs are prohibited in any location in the City.
- All signs or parts thereof and structures supporting the same must be within the owner’s property line and at no time project into or over the public right-of-way.
- Private signs, placards, banners, advertising material, and similar items are prohibited within the dedicated right-of-way of any public road or on any City-owned or -controlled property except as expressly authorized by law or license.
- It is unlawful to nail, staple, tie, paste, or attach any placard, sign, banner, advertising material, or similar item to City utility poles, light standards, trees, or public grounds.
- No sign shall be erected so as to become both a projecting sign and a roof sign.
- No person shall place, maintain, or display upon or in view of any street any sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be or resembles an official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to limit or direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic-control device or railroad sign or signal, unless specifically authorized by the City Manager or designee.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hackensack

- Governmental authorities are exempt from prohibitions of placing signs in the right-of-way or on city property if acting in the discharge of a governmental function or pursuant to a license issued by the City.
- The prohibitions regarding private signs in the right-of-way do not limit or restrict signs on private property (regulated elsewhere).
- The prohibition on traffic-control-like signs does not apply to signs on private property adjacent to City streets that give useful directional information and cannot be mistaken for official signs, if not otherwise prohibited elsewhere.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention of when a master sign plan, sign plan, or variance meeting is required is present in the provided ordinance text. Permits and contractor registration are mentioned, but not a sign plan requirement.

## Full detail

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

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