# Sign Regulations in Hope Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Hope Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/hope-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35681514#35681514)

## At a glance

Hope Township, New Jersey regulates 26 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Institutional Building Identification Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 7 ft above ground tall and 10 sq ft per side, with a Not less than 25 ft from the side lot line setback (Sec. § 20-24.5a4). Most commercial signs in Hope Township 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 | 10 | 18 in | 24 in width x 18 in height per side | — |
| Residential Zone | 5 | 18 in | 24 in width x 18 in height per side | — |
| POP Districts | 5 | 7 ft (including supports) | 25 sq ft per side | — |
| HMH Districts | 9 | 36 in | 18 sq ft | — |
| Neighborhood Commercial | 12 | 36 in | 25 sq ft per side | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | No more than 2 | On the lot being sold/lease/rented only; max 2 per lot | — | § 20-24.5a1 |
| Open House Sign | 18 in | 24 in width x 18 in height per side | 24 in | — | No more than 3 | 1 at subject property; up to 2 as remote directionals | — | § 20-24.5a2 |
| Occupant/Name Identification Sign | — | 3 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit (+1 mailbox ID); for farms, see additional info | 1 per dwelling unit, in addition to one mailbox identification sign. | — | § 20-24.5a3 |
| Institutional Building Identification Sign | 7 ft above ground | 10 sq ft per side | — | Not less than 25 ft from the side lot line | 1 per institutional building | 1 per institutional building | — | § 20-24.5a4 |
| Construction Site Identification Sign | 8 ft above ground | 8 sq ft per side | — | — | — | Upon construction sites | — | § 20-24.5a5 |
| Temporary Event/Organization Sign | — | 8 sq ft per side | — | Not less than 25 ft from side lot line | — | Upon lot of owner of record, not <25 ft from side lot line. May be on other lots with written consent. | — | § 20-24.5a6 |
| Traffic, Municipal Event, Legal Notice, Danger etc. Sign | — | — | — | — | — | When approved by the governing body | — | § 20-24.5a7 |
| Political Sign (>6 sq ft per side) | — | >6 sq ft per side | — | Not less than 25 ft from side lot line and 10 ft from curbline | — | — | — | § 20-24.5a9 |

### HMH Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flat, Nonprojecting Wall Sign | 36 in | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business building | On business buildings; not for listing individual tenants; for site identification only | — | § 20-24.5d2(a) |
| Overhanging Perpendicular Sign (≥20 ft façade) | — | 10 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 (if building qualifies) | Attached to and perpendicular to the building | — | § 20-24.5d2(b) |
| Overhanging Perpendicular Sign (<20 ft façade) | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 (if building qualifies) | Attached to and perpendicular to the building | — | § 20-24.5d2(b) |
| Wall Sign (Individual Entrance Tenant) | — | Varies by façade length | — | — | 1 per tenant | Must be attached to building; no signs for units without direct external entrance or those <500 sq ft unless approved with site plan. | — | § 20-24.5d2(c) |
| Corner Building Wall/Overhanging Sign | — | See other entries | — | — | 2 (subject to criteria) | Corner buildings | — | § 20-24.5d2(d) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Traditional Option) | 2.5 ft | 2.5 ft x 3.5 ft | 3.5 ft | — | 1 per lot | Displayed on property during regular business hours only | — | § 20-24.5d3 |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Wall-mounted Option) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Mounted to building when free-standing board use is impractical | — | § 20-24.5d3 |
| Window Sign | — | Up to 15% of cumulative window frontage | — | — | — | Affixed to the interior of the window | — | § 20-24.5d6 |

### Neighborhood Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Business Complex Identification Sign | 7 ft (including supports) | 25 sq ft per side | — | 15 ft from curbline or side lot line | 1 per business complex | One per business complex; not closer than 15 ft from curbline or side property line | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |
| On-site Commercial Directory Sign | — | Max 2 sq ft per tenant or 12 sq ft max, whichever is less | — | Must meet building setbacks | — | Within building envelope, inside required bulk setbacks | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |
| Wall Sign (Individual Entrance Tenant) | 3 ft | 24 sq ft per sign max | — | — | 1 per tenant | Attached to building's front façade, not beyond sides or front, nor above first level | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |
| Freestanding Sign (Gasoline Filling Station) | 7 ft (including supports) | 25 sq ft per side | — | 30 ft from curbline | 1 customary per station | At least 30 ft from curbline, stationary | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |
| Flat, Nonprojecting Wall Sign | 36 in | 18 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business building | On business buildings; not for listing individual tenants; for site identification only | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |
| Overhanging Perpendicular Sign (≥20 ft façade) | — | 10 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 (if building qualifies) | Attached to and perpendicular to the building | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |
| Overhanging Perpendicular Sign (<20 ft façade) | — | 6 sq ft per side | — | — | 1 (if building qualifies) | Attached to and perpendicular to the building | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Traditional Option) | 2.5 ft | 2.5 ft x 3.5 ft | 3.5 ft | — | 1 per lot | Displayed on property during regular business hours only | — | § 20-24.5e cross-ref POP/HMH |

## Prohibited signs in Hope Township

- No person shall willfully or maliciously remove, deface or alter any notice posted pursuant to law and forbidding trespassing, with intent to destroy such notice.
- Any sign not specifically permitted shall be specifically prohibited.
- No attention attracting devices, such as, but not limited to, balloons, ribbons, streamers or banners may be affixed to the sign or displayed anywhere in conjunction with sign's location (except as specifically permitted for certain flags or banners by permit).
- Temporary signs may not be affixed to utility poles, trees located in a public right-of-way or any other public property.
- Political signs may not be affixed to any utility poles or trees, located in a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be permitted upon the roof of any building.
- Signs advertising businesses no longer operational must be removed within 60 days of notification from the Zoning Officer.
- Signs shall not block the line of sight for motorists.
- All signs shall be installed free of visual obstruction.
- The use of neon, xenon, or other tube type lighting is specifically prohibited for residential and HMH districts.
- No individual sign shall glitter, blink, revolve, or contain moving parts in HMH districts.
- Units sharing a common entrance are prohibited from affixing signs advertising the individual tenants to the exterior of the building (POP districts).
- No such (POP/HMH) signs shall be illuminated by lighting of intermittent or varying intensity.

## Signs exempt from permit in Hope Township

- Seasonal, temporary signs for farms (no permit required).
- Temporary signs of identification, historical events or advertising functions of religious, charitable, fraternal organizational or other temporary Hope-based organizational events (subject to certain standards, no permit needed if owner consents and standards met).
- Municipalities, event sponsors, schools, churches and the like from outside Hope Township may apply for signage for functions of religious and/or charitable, fraternal or social events.
- Newspaper delivery tubes are allowed.
- Religious, charitable, nonprofit, and fraternal organizations are exempt from the annual renewal fee for sandwich board signs.
- No sign permit shall be required for signage approved during and in connection with an application for site plan approval.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Signs for properties requiring site plan approval must submit a sign plan to the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment for approval. The sign plan must include specifications including, but not limited to, letter styling, lighting, color, construction materials, height and width of sign, location of sign, and zoning standard/requirements/recommendations. No zoning or construction permit shall be issued until the plan has been approved by the appropriate board.
- No sign permit is required for signage approved during and in connection with an application for site plan approval.
- Non-conforming circumstances (such as restrictions on sandwich boards due to location) may require application to the Zoning Officer for permission for alternate signage.
- Municipalities, event sponsors, schools, churches, etc. from outside Hope Township desiring temporary event signage must apply to the Hope Township Committee for recommendation, advice, and requirements.

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

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