# Sign Regulations in Lake Como Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Lake Como Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/lake-como-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34658210#34658210)

## At a glance

Lake Como Borough, New Jersey regulates 18 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Home Occupation Name Plates in the Residential Districts zoning district are capped at 3 ft (if free-standing) tall and 2 sq ft, with a 5 ft from street right-of-way (if free-standing) setback (Sec. 17-10.10b1(a)). Most commercial signs in Lake Como 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 | 4 | — | Graphics may cover not more than 10% of the surface area of the awning | — |
| Commercial and General Business Zones | 5 | — | 40 sq ft | — |
| Residential Districts | 4 | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| Commercial Districts | 3 | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential zones | 2 | — | 30% of window area (with permanent, total not over 50%) | — |

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

### Commercial and General Business Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Mounted Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 2 | Building façade | — | 17-10.10a8(a)(1)-(2) |
| Projection Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On building, projecting. | — | 17-10.10a8(a)(2) |
| Directory Sign (Wall Mounted, Multi-Tenant) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | Multi-tenant building with common entrance | — | 17-10.10a8(a)(3) |
| Permanent Window Graphic | — | 20% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | 17-10.10a8(b); 17-10.10a7(h) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | Not more than 30% of window area, combined with permanent window signs not exceeding 50% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | 17-10.10a7(h)(3) |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Home Occupation Name Plate | 3 ft (if free-standing) | 2 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street right-of-way (if free-standing) | 1 | Flat against building or free-standing | — | 17-10.10b1(a) |
| Boarding/Rooming House Sign | — | 6 sq ft | 3 ft | — | 1 | On the same lot as the use | — | 17-10.10b1(b) |
| Church/School Free-Standing Sign | 10 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 8 ft from all street rights-of-way and lot lines | 1 | Set back 8 ft from all street rights-of-way and lot lines | — | 17-10.10b1(c) |
| Church/School Attached Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Attached to church/school building | — | 17-10.10b1(c) |

### Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Attached Sign - Principal Facade) | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot, plus one per rear/side entrance if applicable | Principal building facade with street frontage | — | 17-10.10b2(a) |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 50 sq ft | — | At least 10 ft from any street or property line | 1 per principal building | On property | — | 17-10.10b2(b) |
| Roof Sign | 5 ft | 25 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 1 per building lot | On roof (see also roof sign prohibition in General Regulations: may not extend above wall to which attached) | — | 17-10.10b2(c) |

## Prohibited signs in Lake Como Borough

- No sign may be placed on or attached to a building or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted business or use conducted on the same premises.
- No billboard shall be erected.
- No signs shall be erected, altered or replaced which are not in accordance with the standards established in this chapter.
- No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, other places of business, other signs or windows of the building on which they are located.
- No sign shall be attached to trees, fence posts, stumps, utility poles or other signs; signs must be free-standing or attached to buildings in an approved manner.
- Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited.
- Exposed guy wires, chains or other connections shall not be made a permanent support of the freestanding sign.
- No sign with red, green or blue illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location.
- No sign shall be exhibited which is portable, i.e. fixed on a movable stand, self-supporting without being permanently embedded in the ground, supported by other objects, mounted on wheels or movable vehicles, or made easily movable in some other manner.
- Any conforming or nonconforming sign, as well as their support structure, shall be presumed to be abandoned when there occurs a cessation of any bona fide use or activity to which the sign is accessory. Said sign shall be removed by the property owner within 30 days of abandonment.
- The lawful use of any nonconforming sign existing at the date of this chapter, which is not a portable, temporary or abandoned sign, may be continued although such sign does not conform to this chapter, provided that no such signs shall be enlarged, extended, or changed in material, character, location, illumination, or message.
- All signs and awnings which are not specifically permitted by this paragraph a5 are prohibited.
- No advertising or sign shall be erected between or maintained upon any part of the lawn or space between the curbline of the street upon which the property is situated and the main body of the house or structure, except in accordance with this subsection.
- No awning shall be erected or maintained on any building where said awning shall extend over the public sidewalk unless said awning shall be erected and maintained so that the lowest portion thereof shall be at least seven (7) feet, six (6) inches above the sidewalk.
- No sign with a flashing, strobe or beam light resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location.
- No sign shall be located so as to impede or restrict the free flow of traffic or pedestrians.
- The following types of signs are specifically prohibited in all zones: Outdoor advertising signs and billboards of any type including free-standing and/or sandwich board type signs; permanent signs which do not pertain to an occupant, service or product actually occupying or provided on the premises where such sign is located; roof signs extending above the wall to which they are attached; signs posted on fences, posts, utility poles, trees, street signs or traffic signs; signs painted on municipal property or rights-of-way without the consent of the Mayor and Council; signs painted directly on buildings, sidewalks or curbs; signs on accessory buildings which are specifically defined by this chapter; signs which flash, make noise, imitate official traffic signs or signals or which otherwise contribute a hazard to the traveling public; banners, streamers or advertising flags, except as specifically set forth elsewhere in the ordinance; and all signs not authorized by this subsection.

## Signs exempt from permit in Lake Como Borough

- Governmental Signs: All signs and awnings which are erected by the Borough or its agencies of the State of New Jersey or County of Monmouth are exempt from permit requirements.
- Political Signs: Exempt from permit requirement provided that said signs are erected not more than 45 days prior to an election and removed no later than 10 days after an election, and provided that the aggregate total of all signs per property shall not exceed forty (40) square feet.
- Religious, Civic Signs: Church, civic, or nonprofit temporary signs not to exceed 4 feet by 8 feet are exempt if special permission is granted by resolution of the Mayor and Council.
- Temporary Special Signs: Any temporary sign or banner may be erected for a period not to exceed 30 days by permission granted by resolution of the Mayor and Council.
- Grand Opening: Any sign or banner which is used to designate a grand opening of a business provided the sign is no more than forty (40) square feet per property and is removed within 30 days of commencement.
- Residential Signs: One (1) non-illuminated temporary sign advertising sale or rental of the lot or building on which the sign is located, not greater than nine (9) square feet in total area, is exempt from permit requirements.
- Commercial Window Signs: Window signs and lettering are permitted in nonresidential zones without a permit, subject to certain restrictions regarding size and duration.
- Permanent window lettering as defined is allowed within the ordinance limits.
- Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises (up to 6 square feet) do not need a construction permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The erection of any sign shall require a construction permit, except where specifically exempted.
- Unless specifically stated otherwise, all signs and awnings require a sign permit application submitted to the Zoning Officer, including detailed drawings/sketches, size, location, and elevation information.
- Blow up advertising signs require approval by application to the Mayor and Council.
- The Zoning Officer must approve any sign or awning before erection, certifying compliance with regulations.
- Temporary banners require individual permits, a limit to four per property per year, with each permit not exceeding 30 days and a photo or rendering attached to the permit application.

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

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