# Sign Regulations in Marlboro Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Marlboro Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/marlboro-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12873815#12873815)

## At a glance

Marlboro Township, New Jersey regulates 20 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Home Occupation Sign (Freestanding)s in the Residential zone zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 3 sq ft (Sec. § 220-99D(7)). Most commercial signs in Marlboro Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-3, C-4, C-5 | 1 | 45 ft from grade | 675 sq ft per face, 2 faces maximum | — |
| Residential zone | 10 | 6 ft for main entrance sign, 5 ft for others | 50 sq in (0.347 sq ft) | — |
| Commercial zone, Industrial zone | 11 | Not above roofline (per §220-180B) | Not more than one square foot per ft over 400; total for both signs ≤ 280 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 3 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 220-99D(1) |
| Name and Number Plate | — | 50 sq in (0.347 sq ft) | — | — | — | Affixed to house, apartment, or mailbox | — | § 220-99D(2) |
| Lawn Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 220-99D(3) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street curbline if freestanding | — | On premises. If freestanding, at least 10 ft setback from street curbline. | — | § 220-99D(4), § 220-180E |
| Religious/Institutional/Service Organization Sign (Freestanding or Wall) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per institution | On premises | — | § 220-99D(6) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Freestanding) | 5 ft | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On premises | — | § 220-99D(7) |
| Home Occupation Sign (Wall) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per use | On premises, attached flat to building | — | § 220-99D(7) |
| Housing Development Entrance Sign | 6 ft for main entrance sign, 5 ft for others | 20 sq ft for one sign at each entrance and at sales/rental office during development; other signs max 15 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance and rental/sales office | At entrance to development and rental/sales office | — | § 220-99D(8) |

### Commercial zone, Industrial zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | § 220-99D(1) |
| Wall Sign | Not above roofline (per §220-180B) | — | — | — | One or more per street-facing side | Each side of building fronting on public street | — | § 220-99D(9), § 220-180B, § 220-180C |
| Freestanding Sign (200-299 ft frontage) | 15 ft | 60 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot with street frontage ≥ 200 ft and minimum lot size 1 acre | — | § 220-99D(10) |
| Freestanding Sign (300-399 ft frontage) | 20 ft | 100 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot with street frontage ≥ 300 ft and minimum lot size 1 acre | — | § 220-99D(10) |
| Freestanding Sign (400+ ft frontage) | 25 ft | 140 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per lot | On lot with street frontage ≥ 400 ft and minimum lot size 1 acre | — | § 220-99D(10) |
| Additional Freestanding Sign (Frontage over 400 ft) | — | Not more than one square foot per ft over 400; total for both signs ≤ 280 sq ft | — | — | 1 additional if frontage >400 ft | — | — | § 220-99D(11) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 20 sq ft (Commercial), 50 sq ft (Industrial) | — | 10 ft from street curbline if freestanding | — | On premises | — | § 220-99D(4), § 220-180E |
| Religious/Institutional/Service Organization Sign (Freestanding or Wall) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per institution | On premises | — | § 220-99D(6) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (General) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises, as needed | — | § 220-99D(1) |
| Temporary and Permanent Traffic and Regulatory Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As installed by government agencies | — | § 220-99D(5), § 138-23, § 138-27, § 138-67, § 258-15 |
| Dangerous Dog Warning Sign | — | — | — | — | At least 1 per dog enclosure | At property, visible from 50 ft of enclosure | — | § 94-15 |

## Prohibited signs in Marlboro Township

- Moving or revolving signs and signs using waving, blinking, flashing, vibrating, flickering, tracer or sequential lights are prohibited in all zones.
- Signs using red, green or yellow lights placed within 100 feet of any traffic signal are prohibited.
- Signs using words such as 'stop', 'look', 'danger' or any other sign which, in the judgment of the Police Chief or designee, constitutes a traffic hazard or otherwise interferes with the free flow of traffic are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Signs advertising a product or service not sold on the premises, signs advertising or directing attention to another premises, and any other sign not related to the premises upon which the sign is erected are prohibited.
- Signs causing interference with radio or television reception and telecommunications signals are prohibited.
- Signs obstructing doors, fire escapes or stairways or keeping light or air from windows used for living quarters are prohibited.
- Signs placed on awnings, trees, fences, utility poles, light poles or signs attached to other signs are prohibited.
- Signs shall not be painted on or affixed to water towers, storage tanks, smokestacks or similar structures.
- No sign of any type shall obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, or places of business.
- No signs of any type shall be permitted to be flashing or designed to utilize wind, mechanical and/or other means to produce motion or the illusion of motion, except for signs suspended from their top which may move in the wind provided the basic design intent was not to utilize such motion.
- Signs shall be directly related to the business being conducted on the premises.
- Animated, flashing and illusionary signs using mechanical, electrical, or other means or devices to display flashing, movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited.
- Neon lighted signs are prohibited.
- No billboard shall contain pornographic or obscene material nor advertise tobacco products or any other advertisements deemed illegal by state and/or federal law.
- No billboard or advertising structure shall be erected except as specifically allowed in the chapter.

## Signs exempt from permit in Marlboro Township

- Temporary and permanent traffic signs and signals or other signs installed by a government agency are permitted.
- Name and number plates identifying residences and affixed to a house, apartment or mailbox not exceeding 50 square inches in area are permitted.
- Nonilluminated directional signs identifying parking areas, entrances, loading zones, exits, and similar locations, not exceeding three square feet in area, are permitted.
- Lawn signs identifying residences and not exceeding 1.5 square feet in area are permitted.
- Religious institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, private schools and service organizations may have one freestanding or wall sign not exceeding 20 square feet in area.
- Home occupations or home professional offices may have one freestanding sign not exceeding three square feet in area or five feet in height or one wall sign not exceeding three square feet in area.
- Housing developments may place one temporary sign at each entrance to the project and at the rental or sales office during the course of development (with specified size limits).
- Nonflashing signs identifying farms, public and private parks and recreation areas not exceeding 30 square feet in area on any one side are permitted.
- Temporary signs and political signs, pursuant to regulations set forth in § 220-99E and F, are permitted.
- Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises, meeting specified area and height limits, do not need a building permit or site plan approval.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A permit must be secured from the Construction Official for the erection, alteration or reconstruction of any signs other than nameplate, identification, temporary, sales or rental signs.
- No signs shall exceed the maximum height provided in the district; compliance with district regulations is required.
- Street sign locations must be approved by the Planning Board.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/marlboro-township