# Sign Regulations in Mansfield, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mansfield, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/mansfield
- **Data last verified:** 2026-04-27
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10318251)

## At a glance

Mansfield, New Jersey regulates 65 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Group of Stores)s in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District zoning district are capped at 15 feet (if visibility/safety warrants) tall and 36 square feet (each side), with a 10 feet from ROW/property line setback (Sec. § 65-113B). Most commercial signs in Mansfield require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | — | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential Zones (R-1, R-4, R-5) | 7 | 5 feet | 64 square feet (each side) | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District | 8 | 15 feet (if visibility/safety warrants) | 40 square feet | — |
| C-2 Highway Commercial District | 22 | 20 feet | As per §65-112: typically 32 sq ft building-mounted institutional, 24 sq ft per side freestanding, etc. | — |
| C-3 Office-Residential District | 6 | 5 feet | 64 square feet | — |
| ODL Office Distribution Laboratory, LI Light Industrial, GI General Industrial and HI Heavy Industrial Districts | 15 | 30 inches (letters) | 40 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign (Strip Stores) | 3 feet (sign boxes or letters) | — | Varies with storefront; 6 feet open space between signs | — | 1 per tenant | On facade sign board/area | — | § 65-113A(1) |
| Facade Sign (Individual Building) | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 per tenant | On building facade | — | § 65-113A(2) and (3) |
| Freestanding Sign (Group of Stores) | 15 feet (if visibility/safety warrants) | 36 square feet (each side) | — | 10 feet from ROW/property line | 1 per group | Not closer than 10 feet to street ROW or property line; no visibility hazard | — | § 65-113B |
| Facade Sign (Bank) | — | — | — | — | 1 + 1 for ATM | On building face | — | § 65-113E |
| Temporary Construction Sign (C-1) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On site | — | § 65-113C and § 65-112F |
| Roadside Stand Sign (C-1) | — | 10 square feet (each side) | — | — | 2 | Not in ROW | — | § 65-113C and § 65-112G |
| Lobby Directory Sign (Professional Offices) | — | — | — | — | — | Lobby | — | § 65-113D |
| Banner Sign (C-1) | — | 30 square feet | — | — | — | Permanent basis | — | § 65-113G |

### C-2 Highway Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign (Retail/Bank C-2) | 3 feet (letters/boxes) | 40 square feet (individual); varies for strip | Varies; 6 ft spacing | — | 1 per tenant | Building facade | — | § 65-113.1C and § 65-113A |
| Freestanding Sign (Group/Retail C-2) | 15 feet if needed | 36 square feet (each side) | — | 10 feet | 1 per group | 10 ft from ROW/property | — | § 65-113.1C and § 65-113B |
| Freestanding Identification and Price Sign (Gas Station) | 20 feet | 50 square feet total | 8 feet | — | 1 | On premises | — | § 65-113.1H(1) |
| Facade Sign (Gas Station) | 3 feet (letters) | — | 10 feet | — | 1 | Building face | — | § 65-113.1H(2) |
| Canopy Sign (Gas Station) | 2 feet (letters) | — | 8 feet | — | 2 sides | Two sides of canopy | — | § 65-113.1H(3) |
| Gasoline Service Station Freestanding Identification and Price Sign | 20 ft maximum height. | 50 sq ft total sign square footage (combination identification and price). | 8 ft maximum width of sign. | — | 1 freestanding ID/price sign per gasoline service station | On gasoline service station premises within C-2. | — | §65-113.1H(1) |
| Gasoline Service Station Facade Sign | Letters: ≤3 ft in height; length of message: ≤10 ft. | — | 10 ft maximum length of letters/wording. | — | 1 facade sign per gasoline service station building | On face of gasoline service station building in C-2. | — | §65-113.1H(2) |
| Gasoline Service Station Canopy Identification Signs and Logos | Sign letters: ≤2 ft in height; length: ≤8 ft. | — | 8 ft maximum length for each canopy sign line of text. | — | Up to 2 canopy ID text signs + 2 logos | On two sides of gasoline station canopy in C-2. | — | §65-113.1H(3) |

### ODL Office Distribution Laboratory, LI Light Industrial, GI General Industrial and HI Heavy Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Project Identification Sign | 6 feet | — | 10 feet (length) | — | 1 per street | Along each perimeter street/highway | — | § 65-113.2A(2) |
| Facade Sign (Building Name - Industrial) | 30 inches (letters) | — | Varies with name | — | 1 per building | On building face | — | § 65-113.2A(6) |
| Facade Sign (Restaurant - Non-Master Planned) | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 | Building facade | — | § 65-113.2B(1) and § 65-113A(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Restaurant - Non-Master Planned) | 15 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 | 10 ft setback | — | § 65-113.2B(1) and § 65-113B |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center - Non-Master Planned) | 15 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 | 10 ft setback | — | § 65-113.2B(2) and § 65-113 |
| Facade Sign (Hotel/Motel - Non-Master Planned) | — | 40 square feet | — | — | 1 | Facade | — | § 65-113.2B(3) and § 65-113A(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Hotel/Motel - Non-Master Planned) | 15 feet | 36 square feet | — | 10 feet | 1 | 10 ft setback | — | § 65-113.2B(3) and § 65-113B |
| Roadside Stand Sign (Industrial) | — | 10 square feet | — | — | 2 | Not in ROW | — | § 65-113.2B(6) and § 65-112G |

## Prohibited signs in Mansfield

- Signs with excessive lighting intended to attract attention beyond primary illumination, including exposed lighting.
- Any portable sign as defined.
- Any sign violating the Uniform Construction Code.
- Any sign obscuring a governmental sign or traffic signal.
- Any sign (except fire signs) obstructing fire escapes, windows, doors, egress/ingress, or ventilation openings.
- Any sign or illumination causing direct glare onto roads or unrelated buildings.
- Any sign with moving parts, including fluttering or rotating elements (exceptions for clocks, weather vanes, windmills, or ornamental devices).
- Any sign with flashing, intermittent, or rotating lights of changing intensity/color (exceptions for time/temperature signs if not a hazard).
- Any sign that obstructs, confuses, or interferes with traffic control devices; no use of words like 'stop,' 'slow,' etc., that mimic traffic signs.
- Signs advertising businesses or industries not conducted within the Township.
- Signs extending above the roofline.
- Pavement signs, except for handicap parking and fire zones.
- Signs located off the property they advertise.
- Signs immediately adjacent to Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike.
- Neon window signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mansfield

- Changing copy on approved painted signs, billboards, or theater marquees designed for replaceable copy.
- Painting, repainting, cleaning, and normal maintenance/repair of conforming signs (unless structural change).
- Governmental signs, including traffic signs, signals, regulatory devices, and railroad warnings.
- Memorial tablets, historic markers approved by Township Committee.
- Signs required by law or governmental order (max 10 sq ft per lot).
- Signs in public recreation facilities (rules, hours, parking, directional, scoreboards, park names, sponsor signs).
- Flags, emblems, or insignia of governments, religious groups, civic organizations (subject to limitations).
- Address numbers and occupant names signs (max 2 sq ft total).
- Directional/convenience signs for public (rest rooms, phones, entrances; max 2 sq ft, banners up to 32 sq ft).
- Public utility signs for underground facilities (max 2 sq ft each).
- Seasonal displays/decorations not advertising products/services (limited to 45 days).
- Warning signs against hunting, trespassing, etc. (max 4 sq ft, freestanding or on fences at eye level).
- Public agency directional/historical signs, including to commercial districts (no specific business direction).
- Handicap parking signs (max 2 sq ft, except painted logos).
- Parking lot markers, internal traffic control, entrance/exit signs (max 3 sq ft, no advertising).
- Nonresidential building numbers over 2 sq ft.
- Official notices by public/court officers (remove within 10 days after purpose).
- Temporary political signs (max 32 sq ft; cardboard up to 6 sq ft; erect 30 days prior, remove 10 days after).
- Temporary civic/philanthropic/educational/religious event signs (max 32 sq ft; erect 30 days prior, remove 10 days after).
- Temporary nonilluminating real estate signs (residential: max 8 sq ft, 6 months; other: max 64 sq ft; 1 per lot, remove 14 days after sale/lease; permit for extensions).
- Temporary construction signs (max 32 sq ft per side, max 3 per site, during construction up to 1 year, no product ads, remove 14 days after completion).
- Temporary 'Grand Opening,' 'New Management,' etc. signs (max 20 sq ft per side, 15-30 days; prohibited in C-3).
- Temporary real estate open house signs (max sizes as above; on-site 24 hrs before/2 hrs after; max 1 on-site + 3 off-site directional with time/day).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All proposed signs associated with site plan and subdivision applications require review and approval by the Consolidated Land Use Board prior to sign permit issuance.
- In C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District, for series of attached strip stores, submit master sign program for entire project showing colors, locations, sizes; facade sign board required.
- In C-3 Office-Residential District, if more than one facade sign proposed, submit master sign program for entire project showing sizes, colors, locations.
- In ODL, LI, GI, and HI Districts, for all projects, submit master sign program for review and approval showing proposed color combinations, locations, and sizes of all signs.
- For use variances, signs permitted follow regulations of the zoning district where the use is first permitted by right (e.g., residential variance for offices follows C-1 rules).

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

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