# Sign Regulations in Livingston Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Livingston Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/livingston-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10300461#10300461)

## At a glance

Livingston Township, New Jersey regulates 35 sign types across 13 zoning districts. Portable Sign (Sandwich Board)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 48 in tall, 36 in wide × 48 in high (std); max 6 sq ft per side, 24x36 in display area., and 36 in (P) / 30 in (BID) wide, with a Min 6 ft from curb; 4 ft pedestrian path must be clear. setback (Sec. §170-90P; §170-92J(3)). Most commercial signs in Livingston Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (13 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, R-4 District | 9 | 6 feet above ground level | 30 square feet | — |
| R-6 Senior Citizen Housing District | 2 | — | 30 square feet | — |
| B Zone, B-1 Zone | 4 | Top: 20 feet above ground. Bottom: min 10 feet above ground. | 30 square feet (not including pole/pylon) | — |
| B-2 District | 2 | 7 feet (top above ground); bottom at least 1 foot above ground. | 30 sq ft for text and logo per face; sign and structure max 40 sq ft per face. | — |
| P-B Zone | 2 | 30 inches | 2 sq ft | — |
| P-B1 Zone, P-B2 Zone | 3 | 12 feet | 10 sq ft (2.5 x 4 ft) | — |
| D-S District | 3 | 20 feet | 300 sq ft | — |
| R-L Zone, R-L2 Zone | 4 | 12 feet | 10 sq ft (2.5 x 4 ft) | — |
| I Zone | 4 | 20 ft top, 10 ft bottom above ground. | 150 sq in | — |
| D-S2 Zone | 7 | For signs facing Eisenhower Pkwy: ≤30 in (≤250 ft) / 36 in (250-550 ft) / 60 in (>550 ft); Executive Pkwy ≤36 in; Others ≤30 in. | 300 sq ft display area; structure/decoration may exceed (not specified). | — |
| CI Commercial Industrial District | 2 | See formula (10% of setback or 15 ft, whichever greater) | 100 sq ft or 5% wall face area | — |
| P-B3 Zone | 3 | 60 in | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 5 | 48 in | 36 in wide × 48 in high (std); max 6 sq ft per side, 24x36 in display area. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 13 zones)

### R-1 District, R-2 District, R-3 District, R-4 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional or Nameplate Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 | On property, nameplate sign may be anywhere in front yard. | — | §170-90A(1) |
| Subdivision Sign (Entrance) | — | 30 square feet | — | See below; not closer than 1/2 the principal building setback. | Maximum 2 | At entrance(s) to tract. | — | §170-90A(2) |
| House of Worship Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On premises of house of worship. | — | §170-90A(4) |
| Residential Districts Sign Setback Restriction | — | — | — | 1/2 the setback required for principal building. | — | — | — | §170-90A(5) |
| Transition Lot Signs - Freestanding | 6 feet above ground level | 5 square feet | — | — | 1 | Not in front half of front yard or side street setback. | — | §170-90A(6)(a) |
| Transition Lot Signs - Wall Sign | 5 feet (as dimension) | — | — | — | 1 | Front wall of building | — | §170-90A(6)(b) |
| Transition Lot Signs - Directory Wall Signs (All Entrances) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | — | At all entrances to the building | — | §170-90A(6)(c) |
| Contractor Sign (Temporary) | — | 6 square feet | — | At least 5 ft from any property boundary | 1 at a time; 2 per property per 365-day period | On property, set back at least 5 ft from any boundary line. | — | §170-90A(7) |

### D-S2 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Major/Anchor Tenant) | — | — | — | — | Max 2 per major/anchor tenant | Affixed to exterior wall facing street. | — | §170-90K(1) |
| Wall Sign (Other Tenant) | For signs facing Eisenhower Pkwy: ≤30 in (≤250 ft) / 36 in (250-550 ft) / 60 in (>550 ft); Executive Pkwy ≤36 in; Others ≤30 in. | — | — | — | 1 per frontage/face | — | — | §170-90K(1)(d) |
| Wall Sign (Single 5,000+ sq ft tenancy near Route 10 circle) | Eisenhower Parkway face: ≤5 ft 9 in; Southerly wall: ≤4 ft 6 in. Bottom of sign min 12 ft above grade. | — | — | — | — | — | — | §170-90K(1)(f) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet inc. supporting structure and ornament. | 300 sq ft display area; structure/decoration may exceed (not specified). | — | 20 ft min to street ROW | 2 | No closer than 20 ft to street ROW | — | §170-90K(3) |
| Canopy Sign | — | 3 sq ft | 36 inches | — | 1 per tenant | In front of entrance (except for major/anchor tenants). | — | §170-90K(4) |
| Parking Area Entrance/Exit Sign | 6 feet (inc. supports) | 10 sq ft (2.5 x 4 ft) | 2.5 x 4 ft | — | — | Within 5 ft of ROW line | — | §170-90K(5) |
| Directional Sign | 6 feet (inc. supports) | 12 sq ft (4 x 3 ft) | 4 x 3 ft | — | — | Location as determined by Planning Board. | — | §170-90K(6) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate For Sale/For Rent Sign | 5 ft overall for main sign; 6 ft overall for temporary business sign | 6 sq ft; open house rider 2 sq ft (rider) or 3 sq ft (additional sign); directionals 5 sq ft each | — | ≥10 ft from curb/pavement | 1 sign per property; 2 directionals per open house | On property set back ≥10 ft from curb; directional may be on state/county main road within 0.25 mi, and local neighborhood. | — | §170-90M |
| Temporary New Development Sign | 8 ft if freestanding | 32 sq ft (less if street frontage <100 ft, then street frontage/100 × 32 sq ft) | — | ≥10 ft if not affixed to principal building | One per street frontage | Affixed to building, poles/posts, or fence. If not on bldg, ≥10 ft setback. | — | §170-90Q |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | May not be on public property more than 14 days after election (subject to runoff/contested exceptions). | — | §222-3 |
| Portable Sign (Sandwich Board) | 48 in | 36 in wide × 48 in high (std); max 6 sq ft per side, 24x36 in display area. | 36 in (P) / 30 in (BID) | Min 6 ft from curb; 4 ft pedestrian path must be clear. | 1 per building | Front yard of retail business, min 6 ft from curb; may be on sidewalk with ≥4 ft clearance. | — | §170-90P; §170-92J(3) |
| Temporary Window Sign (Commercial/Community Events) | — | 9 sq ft or 25% of window glazing, whichever less | — | — | 1 per window | Front facade window (ground floor), commercial property | — | §170-92J(1)(b),(c),(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Livingston Township

- Billboards are prohibited in all zone districts.
- Beacons are prohibited in all zone districts.
- Flashing signs are prohibited in all zone districts.
- Neon signs are prohibited in all zone districts.
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zone districts.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited in all zone districts.
- Animated or changeable message signs are prohibited in all zone districts, unless part of a comprehensive sign package approved by the Planning Board (LED signs are prohibited unless otherwise specified).
- Any sign utilizing light-emitting diode (LED) technology is prohibited, except as permitted by §170-90C(8) or as part of a comprehensive sign package approved by the Planning Board.
- Any sign of such type, size or character, or placed at a location where it may distract the attention of a motorist so as to create potential threat to public welfare or safety or may endanger or injure public safety or health or pose a physical threat to property in its vicinity is prohibited.
- 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.
- Temporary and portable signs not expressly permitted are prohibited; as are all balloons, streamers, pinwheels or other devices that are capable of movement due to air flow and are not attached to a sign but have the effect of attracting attention to commercial activity.
- Graffiti (any drawing, painting or making of any mark or inscription on real or personal property without prior written permission of the property owner) is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Livingston Township

- The prohibition of billboards and vehicle signs shall not be construed as prohibiting signs announcing, supporting or opposing a candidate for public office or taking a position on any political or public issue.
- Signs which are required by any provision of law may be located in any zone.
- Nothing in §170-92J is intended to prohibit noncommercial copy in the display area of a permitted sign.
- Legally erected signs in place on the date that subsection §170-90N becomes effective, or rebuilt as permitted therein, may continue to exist at their location if they meet property maintenance requirements, except for alteration, rebuild, relocation, enlargement, extension or replacement resulting in increased nonconformity.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A comprehensive sign package approved by the Planning Board is required for any animated or changeable message signs (except LED signs, unless otherwise specified).
- A comprehensive sign package approved by the Planning Board is required for any use of LED technology, except as permitted in §170-90C(8).
- For certain sign types (e.g., in P-B1, P-B2, R-L, R-L2 Zones), the location, size, and arrangement of all signs permitted by the section must be shown on the site plan submitted to the Planning Board for its approval.
- In the Special Improvement District (§170-92), all actions (including changes to or additions of signage) that require Township permits or Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment determinations are first subject to application to, and prior review and action by, the Architectural Review Committee of the BID.
- Any monument sign for properties in the B and B-1 Zones as described in §170-90C(9) requires approval by the Minor Site Plan Committee of the Township Planning Board.
- Approval of the required application and payment of the required fee is required for temporary new development signs (see §170-90Q(1)).
- Portable sign applications must be made to the Zoning Officer and approved prior to display.

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

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