# Sign Regulations in Medford Lakes Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Medford Lakes Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/medford-lakes-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8277758#8277758)

## At a glance

Medford Lakes Borough, New Jersey regulates 14 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the Lakes Commercial Zone, Lakes Commercial District, Commercial zones zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 50 sq ft or 2 sq ft per running foot, whichever is less, with a 10 ft from public right-of-way, 10 ft from side yard setback (Sec. §145-60B(8)(a)-(e), §145-60B(2)-(3), §145-60C(2)). Most commercial signs in Medford Lakes Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lakes Residential District | 4 | — | 12 sq ft | — |
| Lakes Commercial Zone, Lakes Commercial District, Commercial zones | 3 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft or 5% of wall area, whichever is smaller | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | 4 ft | 50 sq ft (4-lane highway) / 32 sq ft (other roads) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Lakes Residential District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name/Identification Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On the property | — | §145-60A(4) |
| Accessory Use Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Attached to the building where accessory use exists | — | §145-60A(5) |
| Institutional Sign (School, Church, Camp, Club, etc.) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | One sign per street frontage, on premises with single and separate ownership. One on each street, if corner lot. | — | §145-60A(2) |
| Trespassing/Private Road Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | Premises | — | §145-60A(3) |

### Lakes Commercial Zone, Lakes Commercial District, Commercial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not higher than the roofline | 50 sq ft or 5% of wall area, whichever is smaller | — | — | — | On the wall of the building, facing one street frontage of any one premises | — | §145-60A(6), §145-60B(2)-(3), §145-60C(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 50 sq ft or 2 sq ft per running foot, whichever is less | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way, 10 ft from side yard | 1 per use | Minimum setback of 10 ft from public right-of-way and 10 ft from side yard line | — | §145-60B(8)(a)-(e), §145-60B(2)-(3), §145-60C(2) |
| Directional Sign (Freestanding, non-advertising) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §145-60B(8)(f) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Government Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On public roads and highways | — | §145-60A(1) |
| Temporary Sign (General) | 4 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway, 15 ft from side, 50 ft from water | 1 per lot | Set back at least 10 ft from roadway, 15 ft from side property line, 50 ft from lake/pond/stream; may not encroach right-of-way | — | §145-60A(7)(b) |
| Temporary Sign (Election) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 15 ft from roadway and adjoining property | — | At least 15 ft from roadway and 15 ft from adjoining property | — | §145-60A(7)(c)[2] |
| Temporary Sign (Garage/Yard Sale & Directional) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 3 directional + 1 on site per event | On property of persons who authorize; up to 3 directionals plus 1 at sale location | — | §145-60A(7)(c)[3] |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate For Sale/Rent) | — | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from roadway, 15 ft from side yard, 50 ft from water | — | No closer than 10 ft to roadway, 15 ft from side yard, 50 ft from water; not illuminated | — | §145-60A(7)(c)[4] |
| Temporary Sign (Vehicle For Sale/Rent) | — | — | — | — | Not more than 2 events per year per property | Affixed in vehicle window; vehicle must be on or at front portion of owner's property | — | §145-60A(7)(c)[5] |
| Off-site Commercial Advertising Sign (Existing as of Jan 14, 1981) | — | 50 sq ft (4-lane highway) / 32 sq ft (other roads) | — | — | Max 2 per direction per road | No more than two signs in any one direction along each road directly approaching establishment | — | §145-60A(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Medford Lakes Borough

- All other signs not specifically permitted by ordinance are prohibited.
- Animated, flashing and illusionary signs are prohibited (signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash, or display movement or the illusion of movement).
- No portable signs are permitted (signs fixed on a movable stand; self-supporting without being firmly embedded in the ground; supported by other objects; mounted on wheels or movable vehicles; or easily movable in some other manner).
- Mobile signs of any kind are expressly prohibited.
- Sandwich board or small freestanding signs of any type are expressly prohibited in all zones.
- Signs shall not be affixed to any tree or utility pole.
- Signs shall not encroach upon the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be erected in such a manner as to confuse or obstruct the view or interpretation of any traffic sign, signal, or device.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained at such a location or in such manner as to obstruct free vision at any intersection.
- No freestanding sign shall exceed 20 feet in height, and no attached sign shall be higher at any point than the roofline of the building.
- No attached sign shall project into or hang over a street right-of-way.
- No sign shall project beyond a building in a manner placing it above an area traversed by motor vehicles.
- Signs shall not be located in a sight triangle.
- Signs shall not interfere with safe passage for pedestrian traffic or with safe vehicular traffic.
- Where signs are permitted to be illuminated, they may not be of the flashing variety or animated in any way.

## Signs exempt from permit in Medford Lakes Borough

- No permit shall be required for official highway, route number or street name signs, direction signs, and other official traffic signs (permitted under Subsection A(1)).
- No permit shall be required for signs prohibiting or otherwise controlling trespassing or indicating the private nature of a road, driveway, or premises (permitted under Subsection A(3)).
- No permit shall be required for signs exhibiting the name given to the property by the owner or occupant (permitted under Subsection A(4)).
- Temporary election signs (political or community) do not require a permit or fee for installation, provided they comply with location, size, and duration requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No sign shall be erected, re-erected, constructed, or altered except as provided in this chapter and after a permit has been issued by the Planning Board.
- Plans and detailed information must be submitted with each application for a sign permit, including dimensions, materials, support methods, illumination, and exact location, along with a scale drawing.
- Permit applications must be accompanied by written consent of the owner or lessor of the property.
- A sign permit is not required for signs listed as exempt in Subsection A(1), (3), and (4).
- Special exceptions for sign height not exceeding 20 feet may be granted by the Planning Board upon a showing of extreme practical difficulty, extraordinary circumstances, and/or undue hardship.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Medford Lakes Borough, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Medford+Lakes+Borough+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-medford-lakes-borough

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