# Sign Regulations in Mantua Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mantua Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/mantua-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9575099#9575099)

## At a glance

Mantua Township, New Jersey regulates 35 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Canopy Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Not less than 12 ft, not more than 20 ft above ground tall and Lesser of 50% of canopy face or 40 square feet, with a May not encroach in yard. setback (Sec. §230-30B(15)). Most commercial signs in Mantua Township 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 | 12 | Not less than 12 ft, not more than 20 ft above ground | Total area not to exceed 75% of the window glass area | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 7 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| NC Commercial District, CC Commercial District, HC Commercial District | 11 | 10 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| PC Planned Commercial District | 13 | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| Flex Space District, Light Industrial District, Industrial District | 3 | 10 feet | 50 square feet | — |
| Nonresidential districts | 5 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | No closer to street line than 15 feet or 1/2 the distance between street right-of-way and building line, whichever is less. | — | Permitted only in the front yard. | — | §230-30B(2), (4), (8) |
| Projecting Sign | No part less than 8 feet or more than 12 feet above ground/walkway level | — | May project maximum 6 feet from face of building | — | 1 per establishment per street frontage | One per establishment per street frontage; not within 25 feet of another. | — | §230-30B(9) |
| Window Sign | — | Total area not to exceed 75% of the window glass area | — | — | — | Placed inside window | — | §230-30B(10) |
| Marquee Sign | Not less than 8 ft, not more than 12 ft above ground/sidewalk | Not to exceed area permitted for wall signs in the district | Projects max 4 ft from building face | — | 1 per establishment per street frontage | One per establishment per street frontage; not within 300 ft of another. | — | §230-30B(14) |
| Canopy Sign | Not less than 12 ft, not more than 20 ft above ground | Lesser of 50% of canopy face or 40 square feet | — | May not encroach in yard. | 1 per canopy fascia, max 2 per canopy | Only on gasoline service station/similar commercial use canopies; max 2 per canopy, 1 per fascia | — | §230-30B(15) |
| Directory Sign | Freestanding: max 5 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | 1 per entrance driveway, street intersection or building main entrance | Located for safe reading; 1 per entrance driveway/street intersection/main entrance. | — | §230-30B(17) |
| Digital Display Sign | — | 30% of the total sign area permitted on site | — | — | 1 per use per street frontage | Not permitted in residential zoning districts. Only for institutional uses (permitted), other uses (conditional). Can be freestanding, marquee, or canopy. | — | §230-30B(18) |
| Electronic Message Center Sign | — | 30% of total sign area permitted on site | — | — | 1 per use per street frontage | Not permitted in residential zoning districts. Permitted as freestanding, marquee, or canopy sign. | — | §230-30B(19) |

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Residential Use) | 4 feet | 4 square feet | — | Minimum 15 feet from street or property line. | 1 per premises | Minimum setback 15 feet from street or property line. | — | §230-30D(14), §230-30E(1)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Subdivision/Land Development) | 4 feet | 24 square feet | — | — | 1 per each qualified street frontage | At subdivision/development entrances | — | §230-30E(2)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Home Occupation or Accessory Use) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On the dwelling or on the property | — | §230-30E(2)(a) |
| Wall Sign/Freestanding Sign (Institutional/Nonresidential Use) | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Single-family lots for schools, churches, multi-family, cemeteries, etc. | — | §230-30E(2)(c), (1)(b) |
| Directional Sign (Residential District) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Only in conjunction with permitted uses other than a dwelling or accessory use and only on lot to which it relates. | — | §230-30E(3) |
| Temporary Project Development Sign (Residential District) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage at major subdivisions or site plan developments (after final approval). | — | §230-30E(4) |
| Temporary Off-Premises Directional Sign (Major Subdivision) | — | 16 square feet | — | — | Max 3 | Up to three off-premises signs (after building permit issued), removed after all COs | — | §230-30E(5) |

### PC Planned Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (lots not in developments/shopping centers) | 10 feet | 50 square feet | — | Min 25 ft from street line, 15 ft from side lot line | 1 per qualifying street frontage | — | — | §230-30G(2)(a) |
| Freestanding Sign (Planned commercial/office development) | 10 feet | 75 square feet | — | Min 25 ft from street line, 15 ft from side lot line | 1 per qualifying street | — | — | §230-30G(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center) | 10 feet | 100 square feet | — | Min 25 ft from street, 15 ft from side lot line | 1 per qualifying street | — | — | §230-30G(2)(c) |
| Wall Sign (Non-development/shopping center) | — | 50 square feet or 50% signable facade | — | — | — | On/facing street frontage occupied by establishment | — | §230-30G(2)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Planned commercial/office/shopping center) | — | 40 square feet or 50% signable facade | — | — | 1 per business/unit | On/facing street frontage of business/unit | — | §230-30G(2)(b), (c) |
| Wall Sign (Department/Magnet/Anchor Store) | — | 100 square feet per sign, total not to exceed 20% of signable facade | — | — | — | On/facing department/magnet/anchor store facade | — | §230-30G(2)(c) |
| Marquee Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §230-30G(2)(b), (c) |
| Directional Sign (PC District) | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | No advertising; must be on lot to which it relates | — | §230-30G(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Mantua Township

- No sign, other than exempt signs, shall be erected without first obtaining a sign permit from the Administrative Officer.
- All signs shall be kept in a proper state of repair; signs that become unsightly or pose a threat to public safety may be removed by the Township after notice.
- No sign other than traffic or similar official signs shall be erected within or project over the right-of-way of any public street or sidewalk, except as provided.
- No sign shall imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device or have characteristics likely to confuse or dangerously distract motorists.
- No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets that impedes vision or endangers safety.
- No sign shall be placed on any tree, telegraph, electric light or public utility pole, or upon rocks or other natural features.
- No sign shall project above the main cornice line of the building to which it is affixed.
- No roof signs shall be permitted.
- Awning signs may not be used in conjunction with wall signs.
- Canopy signs may not encroach in the respective district's minimum required yard area.
- Any sign that is not permitted by the provisions of this chapter is hereby prohibited.
- Mobile signs, vehicle signs, permanent sidewalk, sandwich or A-frame signs, flashing signs, animated signs, or signs that emit smoke, vapor or noise are prohibited.
- Signs which flash, move, rotate, oscillate, or outline building features with illuminated tubing or strings of lights for advertising are prohibited unless compliant with digital display or message center requirements.
- Whirling or similar lighting devices or searchlights for drawing attention outside are prohibited, except with temporary authorization from the Zoning Officer.
- Any sign that obstructs a fire escape, window, door or other means of ingress/egress is prohibited.
- Off-premises or billboard signs are prohibited, excluding sponsorship signs.
- No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises a sign which has been abandoned.
- No sign shall be pasted, glued, tacked or otherwise posted on public lands, highways, or roads adjacent to a park, unless approved by the Park Director.
- No signs advertising yard sales are to be posted anywhere other than the premises of the applicant.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mantua Township

- Decorations for a recognized officially designated holiday, provided they do not create a traffic or fire hazard and are removed within 30 days after the holiday.
- Official municipal, county, state or federal governmental signs.
- Memorial or historic markers approved by the Planning Board or Historical Preservation Commission and not more than six square feet in area.
- Change in the copy of a changeable-copy sign or marquee sign, once a permit for that sign has been issued.
- Political signs on private property behind the curb line, not more than 16 square feet, not blocking sight views, placed within 30 days prior to election/referendum and removed within 10 days after.
- Political signs are not permitted in commercial shopping centers unless written permission is obtained and provided to the Code Enforcement Officer.
- Street number designations, names on mailboxes or residences, postal boxes, 'private property,' 'no hunting,' 'no trespassing,' on-site directional and parking signs and warning signs (max 2 sq ft).
- Temporary yard or garage sale signs (max four square feet, not erected more than seven days prior, removed within 48 hours, maximum two times per year).
- Temporary real estate and contractor signs on the relevant lot (max six square feet, four feet high, removed within 14 days of sale or completion).
- Temporary signs announcing events by Mantua Township-based nonprofit organizations (min 15 ft setback, max 24 sq ft and 5 ft high, erected within 14 days prior, removed within 3 days after the event).
- Emergency warning signs erected by a public utility, pipeline company, or contractor authorized by such utility or company; these signs may be illuminated.
- Flags of the United States, the state, county, municipality, foreign nations with diplomatic relations, or other officially adopted flags (max 60 sq ft in area, not flown from pole exceeding 35 ft; other flags governed as freestanding signs). Flags may be illuminated.
- Banners or similar devices constructed of cloth, light fabric, plastic, cardboard or like material, on lots in a nonresidential district or at a legal business in a residential district not exceeding 50 sq ft total and no more than five banners.
- Residential freestanding signs (max 4 sq ft area and 4 ft high, set back at least 15 ft from street/property line).
- Sponsorship signs installed/placed on structures at sports/recreational facilities, facing the field/facility, not exceeding 30 sq ft per face.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Permit applications for signs larger than six square feet in area shall be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing details of the sign, its size and location on the building and/or lot.
- A variance may be applied for if the planned sign is different from the standards set forth; such requests require proper application.
- Permits for digital display signs and electronic message center signs will not be issued without an approved electrical permit, if required; applications for electrical permits shall be filed at the same time as the sign permit application.
- For conditional uses (e.g., manual changeable-copy signs, marquee signs, digital display signs, and electronic message center signs), compliance with detailed standards appears to be required as part of the approval process.

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

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