# Sign Regulations in Ho-Ho-Kus Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ho-Ho-Kus Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/ho-ho-kus-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28

## At a glance

Ho-Ho-Kus Borough, New Jersey regulates 16 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Historic Marker/Public Interest Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 2 ft tall, 4 sq ft (2' x 2' max), and 2 ft wide, with a 5 ft from curbline (right-of-way), base footing at least 1'x1'x3' setback (Sec. §85-37H(3)). Most commercial signs in Ho-Ho-Kus Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 2 ft | 20% of window area | — |
| Residential Districts | 2 | 6 ft (freestanding) | 16 sq ft (freestanding); 1 sq ft (address) | — |
| Business-Related Uses (Single Business Tenanted Buildings) | 4 | 20 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| Business-Related Uses (Multitenanted Buildings or Industrial Parks) | 2 | 20 ft | 25 sq ft | — |
| Service Station Uses | 4 | 20 ft | 36 sq ft (identification); 24 sq ft (price); totals per sign | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to exterior wall; cannot be above roofline or parapet nor project above highest elevation of the wall. | — | §85-37C(3), §85-37D(3), §85-37D(10), §85-37G, §85-37E(4) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Supported by one or more uprights/braces upon ground; see specific setback requirements. | — | §85-37C, §85-37D(8), §85-37E(3) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | 2 ft off front property line; 5 ft off side property | — | At least 2 ft from front property line and 5 ft from side property line. On site only; no off-site directional or advertising signs. | — | §85-37E(2), §79-22 |
| Historic Marker/Public Interest Sign | 2 ft | 4 sq ft (2' x 2' max) | 2 ft | 5 ft from curbline (right-of-way), base footing at least 1'x1'x3' | 1 per location | Five feet from curbline and in Borough right-of-way; base footing must be 1'x1'x3'. | — | §85-37H(3) |
| Temporary Window Display Sign | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Attached to inside of display window. No signs may be attached to exterior of display windows. | — | §85-37J(1) |
| Announcement/Event Sign | — | 9 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Not in public right-of-way. | — | §85-37J(2) |

### Business-Related Uses (Single Business Tenanted Buildings)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 20 ft | 2 sq ft per foot of frontage or 60 sq ft max | 2 ft (lesser dimension) | — | As determined by permitted area and street frontage; additional side sign as above. | Attached to main building; may not project over property line or public sidewalk. | — | §85-37N(2), (a)-(j) |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property (2 if at corner) | On site. Must not project over property line or public sidewalk. | — | §85-37N(2)(a), (b) |
| Window Sign | — | Per limit for wall/outside signs; lesser dimension not to exceed 4 ft | 4 ft | — | — | On or affixed to internal or external window. | — | §85-37N(2)(f) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On front of awning, valance, canopy, or marquee—both sides. | — | §85-37N(3), (a)-(b) |

### Service Station Uses

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Identification/Price Sign | 20 ft | 36 sq ft (identification); 24 sq ft (price); totals per sign | — | — | 1 per property | On site (not to project over property line or public sidewalk). | — | §85-37P(1)-(2), (4) |
| Fuel Pump Price Sign | — | 1 sq ft per pump | — | — | Per fuel pump. | Attached to fuel pump. | — | §85-37P(3) |
| Credit Card Sign (Pump Island) | — | 1 sq ft per island | — | — | Per pump island. | On or near gasoline pump islands. | — | §85-37P(6) |
| Pump Structural Insignia | — | — | — | — | — | On fuel pump as designed by manufacturer. | — | §85-37P(5) |

## Prohibited signs in Ho-Ho-Kus Borough

- Any signs not specifically permitted are hereby prohibited.
- No sign causing radio, microwave or television interference shall be permitted.
- Only those signs identifying the name, business, occupant, service, address or product offered or sold on the premises shall be permitted to be erected.
- Signs attached to a principal structure shall not be erected on, attached to or extend above the roofline or parapet or project above the highest elevation of the wall to which they are attached.
- There shall be no digital, flashing, moving, rotating or apparent motion signs or lights, as well as streamers, pennants and similar displays.
- No sign shall be painted on or affixed to water towers, storage tanks, smokestacks or similar structures.
- No private sign shall be erected within the right-of-way of any street, nor shall any sign be located so as to constitute a traffic hazard.
- No sign shall be placed so as to interfere with or be mistaken for a traffic light or similar safety device or interfere with traffic visibility.
- Off-premises billboard or billboard signs shall be prohibited in all districts.
- No sign shall be placed, located or displayed upon any sidewalk.
- Projecting signs are prohibited.
- No signs are permitted on trees or utility poles in any district.
- Advertising searchlights will not be permitted at any time outside a building.
- Signs shall be constructed of wood or carved wood material, not of metal, except as specifically permitted herein. Freestanding sign support posts may be constructed of metal or masonry composite designed and detailed to be complementary to the theme of the sign design and building style.
- No sign shall be constructed, erected, displayed, altered, relocated or reconstructed unless a building permit has first been obtained, unless exempted.
- No sign shall be lighted by means of flashing or intermittent illumination.
- No sign shall be back lighted or constructed of any material which permits the passage of light or allows light to be seen through the material so as to illuminate the exterior surface or any portion of the exterior of the sign.
- No internally illuminated or neon signs or similar signs using an inert gaseous element to emit illumination shall be permitted.
- No sign permit application shall be made without first obtaining written consent of the owner of the premises.
- Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold on the premises shall be taken down and removed within 10 days after written notification from the Zoning Official.
- When the owner or lessee of a sign vacates the premises, said sign(s) must be removed unless the new owner or lessee intends on using the existing signs without alteration.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ho-Ho-Kus Borough

- A memorial sign or tablet or sign indicating the name of a building or the date of its erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other noncombustible material, not exceeding three square feet.
- Signs for public convenience and welfare erected by or on behalf of the United States of America, the State of New Jersey, the County of Bergen and the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus, traffic controls in private ways and parking lots, legal notices, railroad crossing signs or other signs as required by law. Signs such as 'public rest room(s)' or words or directions of similar import shall not exceed 72 square inches in total area, and only one sign of each type shall be displayed.
- Public interest signs: signs, markers or plaques of a noncommercial nature in all zone districts which are in the public interest and convey a message that does not propose a commercial transaction or advance an economic interest and are restricted to signs for historical, charitable, and cultural interests of a noncommercial nature only, with appropriate approvals.
- Outdoor umbrellas located in the outdoor cafe are exempt from the Sign Ordinance of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus.
- Directional signs (entrance-exit, one-way, etc.), not exceeding two square feet in area and complying with location requirements, are exempt from total sign area limits (though must comply with other provisions).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No person shall erect, alter, relocate, maintain, reconstruct, or cause to be erected, altered, relocated, or reconstructed any sign of any type or description unless a sign application has been submitted to the Planning Board, the sign has been reviewed and approved by the Planning Board or its designee, and a sign permit has been secured from the Zoning Officer/Construction Code Officer, unless otherwise exempted.
- Each application shall include sign plans showing the specific design, location, and indicating the size, construction, color or colors and material, including an illustration or photo-simulation to be used in relation to the existing building facade where it is to be installed. The sign plan must include letter style, lighting source, colors, construction and materials, height of sign, height above grade or below roofline, dimensions, and text of sign.
- For multitenanted buildings or industrial parks, each such tenant or user shall submit a tenant signing plan to the Planning Board for approval. The signing plan shall be based on an integrated design theme, including all elements required for sign plans, and must be approved by the reviewing board.
- Any wall sign attached to a building or freestanding sign on a property, except for a temporary sign or public banner sign, shall be required to obtain the approval of the Borough Planning Board or its designee.

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

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