# Sign Regulations in Matawan Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Matawan Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/matawan-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35427134#35427134)

## At a glance

Matawan Borough, New Jersey regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Business Districts)s in the Business Districts (General Business, Special Business, Highway Improvement Districts) zoning district are capped at 25 ft max, but may be less if limited by setback (see additional requirements) tall and 50 sq ft (per side), with a At least 5 feet from street line. Minimum setback for signs at least 10 ft high is sign height + 5 ft. setback (Sec. §34-44r4). Most commercial signs in Matawan Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 5 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Business Districts (General Business, Special Business, Highway Improvement Districts) | 9 | 30 ft | 200 sq ft (per side) | — |
| Industrial Districts | 4 | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| General Business Zone, Downtown Preservation Zone | 1 | 4 ft | 12 sq ft (double-faced allowed) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | 12 sq ft | — |

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

### Business Districts (General Business, Special Business, Highway Improvement Districts)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small Sign (General) | — | 3 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 feet from road right-of-way if not attached. | 1 per use or dwelling | Shall be set back at least five feet from the nearest road right-of-way line if not attached to a building. | — | §34-44n1 |
| Signs Advertising Sale/Development of Premises | — | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 25 feet from street/property line | 1 per property, 1 per frontage if on multiple streets | Minimum 25 feet from a street or property line | — | §34-44r2 |
| Wall Sign (Business Use) | 5 ft (vertical dimension max) | 200 sq ft (per side) | — | — | — | Attached to main building | — | §34-44r3 |
| Freestanding Sign (Business Districts) | 25 ft max, but may be less if limited by setback (see additional requirements) | 50 sq ft (per side) | — | At least 5 feet from street line. Minimum setback for signs at least 10 ft high is sign height + 5 ft. | 1 per business premises per street frontage | At least 5 feet from street line | — | §34-44r4 |
| Freestanding/Pylon Sign (Shopping Center) | 30 ft | 100 sq ft (per side) | — | 25 ft from side line of street line, 50 ft from other property lines | 1 per shopping center per street frontage | At least 25 ft from side line of street line, 50 ft from all other property lines, within property line of premises to which it relates | — | §34-44r6b |
| Wall Sign (Shopping Center Use) | — | 10% of front wall area or 50 sq ft (whichever is smaller) | — | — | 1 per permitted use | Located on/attached to principal facade of each use | — | §34-44r6a |
| Freestanding/Pylon Sign (Gas Station) | 20 ft | 35 sq ft (per side) | — | — | 1 per station | Hung within property line | — | §34-44r5a |
| Temporary Sign (Gas Station, Seasonal Service) | 3 ft | 2.5 ft wide x 3 ft high | 2.5 ft | — | 2 per street frontage | Inside property line along street frontend | — | §34-44r5b |

### Industrial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Small Sign (General) | — | 3 sq ft | — | Minimum 5 feet from road right-of-way if not attached. | 1 per permitted use or dwelling unit | Shall be set back at least five feet from the nearest road right-of-way line if not attached to a building. | — | §34-44n1 |
| Signs Advertising Sale/Development of Premises (Industrial) | — | 32 sq ft | — | Minimum 25 feet from street/property line | 1 per property, 1 per street frontage if on multiple streets | Minimum 25 feet from a street or property line | — | §34-44s2 |
| Freestanding Sign (Industrial) | 15 ft | 100 sq ft | — | Not within 50 feet of street, highway or residential district line | 1 per street frontage | Not within 50 feet of a street, highway or residential district boundary line. | — | §34-44s3 |
| Wall Sign (Industrial) | — | 15% of wall area or 100 sq ft (whichever is smaller) | — | — | — | Attached to main building | — | §34-44s4 |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional/Informational Sign (Public/Semipublic) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property, more if multiple street frontages | — | — | §34-44n8 |
| Incidental Sign (Farm Product Sale) | — | 12 sq ft | — | 100 ft from intersection, 5 ft from property line | — | At least 100 ft from nearest intersection and at least 5 ft from nearest property line | — | §34-44n3 |
| Customary Warning/Trespassing/Private Driveway Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §34-44n7 |
| Signs, Street Name/Wayfinding (Public Space) | — | — | — | — | — | At beginning/terminus of each street and intersecting corner with another street. At discretion of Mayor and Council. | — | §2-65.3, §2-65.4 |
| Handicapped Parking Sign | — | — | — | — | As required for handicapped parking | At each required handicapped parking space and with related pavement markings | — | §7-39.8, §7-40.6 |
| Fire Zone/Fir Lane Sign | — | — | — | — | As required by Fire Official | At locations required by Fire Official for fire lanes/zones in driveways, shopping centers, commercial, industrial, schools, etc. | — | §17-11.1 |

## Prohibited signs in Matawan Borough

- No sign shall be installed, erected, constructed, or maintained in such manner as to obstruct any fire escape or any window or door.
- No sign shall be attached in any manner to a fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected in a manner that obstructs the sight distance at an intersection along a public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be located, colored, or shaped so as to be confused with or obstruct the view of traffic signs or signals by motorists or pedestrians.
- No red, green, or yellow illuminated sign shall be permitted within 300 feet of any traffic signal.
- No sign may use admonitions such as 'Stop,' 'Go,' 'Slow,' 'Danger,' etc. which might be confused with traffic directional signs.
- No sign, other than official traffic control devices or street signs, shall be erected within, or encroach upon, the right-of-way lines of any street unless specifically authorized.
- No sign shall be erected or constructed in violation of Borough regulations as to health, required light, safety, or air, as defined in the State Uniform Construction Code.
- Any sign in a nonresidential district within 100 feet of any residential district shall not contain flashers, animators, or mechanical movement or contrivances of any kind (clocks excepted).
- Illumination devices such as flood- or spotlights must be shielded so as to prevent rays from being cast into neighboring dwellings and approaching vehicles.
- No portion of any sign shall be suspended over a pedestrian walk within a ten-foot clearance.
- No sign shall be permitted within 100 feet of the property line of any historical site or monument.
- Signs shall be set back not less than 10 feet from the district boundary line of any residential district and screened from the adjoining residential district.
- No sign or device in the nature of an advertisement or announcement so constructed as to be movable, or placed on a standard sitting upon the ground, shall be placed or permitted to remain on any part of any street, sidewalk, parkway, curb, or other public place.
- No sign shall be structurally unsafe or endanger public safety; unsafe signs must be removed or made safe within 10 days upon order.
- No sign, except those exempted, shall be erected, placed, maintained, or structurally altered without a permit from the Zoning Official.
- Freestanding signs in the General Business and Downtown Preservation Zones may not have lights or illumination attached.
- No lights of intermittent or flashing type shall be permitted on signs unless stated.

## Signs exempt from permit in Matawan Borough

- Any sign not exceeding three square feet in area (with illumination restrictions as specified) and not attached to a building must be set back at least five feet from the right-of-way.
- Any temporary real estate sign not illuminated and not exceeding 12 square feet.
- Any incidental sign advertising the sale of farm produce grown or produced on the premises, not exceeding 12 square feet, at least 100 feet from the nearest intersection and five feet from the nearest property line, not illuminated.
- Any temporary construction site sign erected during construction to announce owner or developer, contractor, architect, landscape architect, or engineer, not illuminated.
- Any temporary sign of mechanics, painters, and other artisans, erected only on property where work is being performed, not exceeding 12 square feet, and removed promptly upon completion.
- Signs incident to the legal process of law and necessary to public welfare.
- Customary warning, trespassing and posted signs or signs indicating private nature of driveway or property, not exceeding three square feet.
- Directional or informational signs of a public or semipublic nature, not exceeding eight square feet, for the limited purposes of naming hospitals, community centers, schools, places of worship, civic organizations, public events, or similar community activities.
- Signs or displays on or within store windows relating to the business conducted within.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for permits to erect, stand or place a sign must be submitted to the Zoning Official with plans showing size, area, character, illumination, exact location, and for projecting signs, method of fastening, vertical and horizontal distance from grade, curb, and right-of-way.
- The Zoning Official may require additional information deemed necessary.
- A permit is required for any sign not listed in the exempted (paragraph n) section and must be issued before erection, alteration, or maintenance.
- Any property owner or business in the General Business and Downtown Preservation Zones wanting to place a freestanding sign that does not meet the specified criteria must seek approval from the Unified Planning Board under procedures set forth for sign applications.
- Any aggrieved person may appeal the decision of the Zoning Official by filing an appeal with the Board of Adjustment.
- Any nonconforming sign must be brought into conformity with the ordinance upon replacement or rebuilding, and this will require a permit.

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

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