# Sign Regulations in Middle Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Middle Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/middle-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6686451#6686451)

## At a glance

Middle Township, New Jersey regulates 22 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the B Business, HV Hildrith Village, TB Town Business, VC Village Commercial zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 40 square feet, with a 10 feet setback (Sec. §218-83I(4)). Most commercial signs in Middle 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 | 8 | 25 feet (general design standard) | 32 square feet per sign; maximum aggregate 32 square feet | — |
| Residential zones | 4 | 6 feet | 32 square feet (main); 16 square feet (second entrance) | — |
| TP Town Professional | 6 | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| B Business, HV Hildrith Village, TB Town Business, VC Village Commercial | 7 | 20 feet | 50 square feet (first sign); 25 square feet (second sign if facing two major highways) | — |
| TC Town Center | 5 | 6 feet | 150 square feet | — |
| Cape May Court House Overlay District | 2 | — | — | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Flat against the side of a building. | — | §218-83C(6), (1); §210-5E; §218-83B(1)-(2); §218-83C(1) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of the window area | — | — | — | All commercial zones | — | §218-83C(10) |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet per sign; maximum aggregate 32 square feet | — | Must be out of sight triangle for freestanding | 2 temporary signs per event | On property of business; for shopping centers, see below | — | §210-2 to §210-4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet (general design standard) | — | — | Minimum 10 ft from lot line | — | Must be located out of the sight triangle; on property of the business; no closer than 10 feet to lot line. | — | §210-4B, §210-5C |
| Shopping Cart Identification Sign | 24 inches | 18 x 24 inches | 18 inches | — | One per pedestrian exit | On interior wall within 2 ft of each customer pedestrian exit | — | §208-8 |
| Event Sign (Yard/Garage Sale, Temporary Sale) | — | 9 square feet (3' x 3') | — | — | One per sale event | On premises of sale | — | §154-7 |
| Smoking/No Smoking Sign | — | — | — | — | At least one per entrance | On every area which provides an entry to the public building | — | §211A-4 |
| Emergency No Parking Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Where posted by police for emergencies | — | §236-25 |

### B Business, HV Hildrith Village, TB Town Business, VC Village Commercial

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall/Façade Sign | 5 feet vertical dimension | 50 square feet (first sign); 25 square feet (second sign if facing two major highways) | — | — | One per business; two if two major highways | On building facade | — | §218-83I(3) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 feet | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet | One per lot | On property of business; edge at least 10 feet from right-of-way/property line | — | §218-83I(4) |
| Nonilluminated Directional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §218-83I(2) |
| Temporary Event/Charity Sign (On Site) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per property | On event property | — | §218-83I(5)(a)-(h) |
| Temporary Event/Charity Sign (Off Site) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | One per property | Off event property | — | §218-83I(5)(c), (a)-(h) |
| Sandwich Board Sign (A-Frame) | — | 6 square feet per side | — | — | One per property (if no freestanding sign exists) | TB and VC Zones only, on property of use | — | §218-83F(6) |
| Any sign permitted in §218-83F | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §218-83I(1); §218-83F |

### TC Town Center

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Main) | — | 150 square feet | — | — | One per business | On building wall | — | §218-83J(1)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Second Facade/Highway) | — | Up to 0.5 x main wall sign area (max 75 sq ft if main sign is maxed at 150 sq ft) | — | — | Second permitted if facing two highways | If business faces two major highways | — | §218-83J(1)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center Sign) | — | Varies by retail area: see below | — | Setback by area (see above) | One per property | On property (shopping center, retail) | — | §218-83J(2) |
| Temporary Event/Charity Sign (On Site) | 6 feet | 32 square feet | — | — | One per property | On event property | — | §218-83J(3)(a)-(h) |
| Temporary Event/Charity Sign (Off Site) | 6 feet | 16 square feet | — | — | One per property | Off site from event property | — | §218-83J(3)(c), (a)-(h) |

## Prohibited signs in Middle Township

- No sign is to be located so as to, by reason of its position, size, shape, content or color, be confused for, obstruct, impair, obscure or interfere with any traffic control sign, signal or device.
- No signs, unless publicly owned, shall be placed within or extend into or over any public right-of-way or easement.
- No sign or any part thereof shall be located closer than 10 feet to any lot line.
- No sign shall be greater in height than 20-25 feet (depending on applicable section).
- No sign shall contain more than two sides visible from any street, unless otherwise prohibited.
- Signs erected flat against the side of a building shall not extend above the height of the vertical wall or cornice to which they are attached, nor may they obstruct, project over or occupy any window surface required for light and/or ventilation.
- All signs must be of a character and composition harmonious with the area of the township in which the sign is located, and shall have a professional appearance.
- All signs are to conform to the structural requirements of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.
- No guy wires or bracing is permitted for freestanding signs.
- Signs must be maintained in a safe, secure and proper painted condition.
- Animated or moving signs or signs using blinking, flashing, vibrating, revolving, flickering, tracer and/or sequential lighting are prohibited.
- Signs using red, yellow or green lights which would be mistaken for or interfere with the operation of any traffic control signals are prohibited.
- Signs using neon lights or any other material which sparkles or glitters are prohibited.
- Roof signs: No sign may be constructed which attaches to or projects above the roofline.
- Signs on a motor vehicle or trailer that are designated/used to be parked for advertising purposes are prohibited.
- Signs advertising real estate as having been sold are prohibited (except as specifically permitted for a 30-day period).
- Signs on a tree or utility pole or painted on or otherwise directly affixed to any rock, ledge or other natural feature (whether on public or private property) are prohibited.
- Signs which contain statements, words or pictures of any obscene character or nature are prohibited.
- Signs which advertise, identify or pertain to any business no longer conducted or product no longer sold on the premises where the sign is located are prohibited.
- Signs containing advertising which is untruthful are prohibited.
- Strings of banners, pinwheels, inflated signs and other similar attention-getting devices are prohibited.
- Manufactured plastic or metal portable/rollout signs with interchangeable letters are prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Off-premises signs on stationary boats located within the Township's jurisdiction in any Township waterways or in any waterways adjacent to the Township are prohibited.
- Internally lit or electronic message signs in residential zones or in the Cape May Court House Overlay Zone are prohibited.
- Any sign not maintained in a safe, secure and proper painted condition will be removed at the expense of the permittee if not repaired after 10 days of written notice.
- Temporary signs are prohibited unless permitted under Code §§ 210-1 et seq. and 218-83.

## Signs exempt from permit in Middle Township

- The American Flag may be flown or displayed without limitation, and is not considered a sign under this section.
- Official traffic, parking and street signs are permitted without a permit.
- Signs authorized by the Chief of Police are permitted without a permit.
- Warning and no-trespassing signs indicating private ownership of roadways or other private property that do not exceed two square feet in area, limited to one sign per 200 feet of lot frontage, are permitted without a permit.
- Name and number plates identifying residents and affixed to a house, apartment or mailbox that do not exceed four square feet in area are permitted without a permit.
- Signs posted by governmental agencies that are pursuant to governmental statute, order or regulation are permitted without a permit.
- One sign not greater than six square feet, including attachments, is permitted on any property (or two signs for properties with two frontages) advertising the property, lot or building for sale, rent or lease, without a permit (subject to stated limitations).
- One additional off-premises directional sign per property for sale is permitted, subject to several specific size, location, and time limitations.
- Signs advertising that a property, lot or building has been sold/rented/leased are permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days.
- One sign not greater than 32 square feet is permitted to advertise developments containing four or more lots for sale, with conditions.
- Identification signs calling attention to the entrance to a community within the Township, provided size and content restrictions are met and the Planning Board deems them necessary.
- One temporary construction sign not greater than 32 square feet is permitted to announce the erection of a building and identify participants in construction for the period of construction plus 60 days.
- Temporary political signs are permitted with clear restrictions on removal, placement, and size (specifics: removed within 5 days after election, not on public property, not within site triangle, max 3 sq ft residential/32 sq ft commercial).
- Yard sale/garage sale signs are permitted but must be removed within 24 hours after the event.
- Each business may display one 'open' flag according to the regulations provided (max 3×5 ft, must say only 'open', displayed during business hours, etc.), and landlords must approve for multitenant buildings, with one per tenant.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign proposed to be placed in the Township of Middle is subject to review and approval by the Zoning Officer, who will determine whether or not such sign is in compliance with the regulations.
- All regulations described in the article govern and control the installation, enlargement, expansion, alteration, operation, maintenance, relocation and removal of all signs visible from streets or public/private property.
- Any deviation from size and number of signs shall require a variance, notwithstanding that the regulations are contained in Chapter 218, the Middle Township Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review Ordinance.
- Signs for developments (or where additional/exceptional signage is proposed) may require review/approval by the Planning/Zoning Board (e.g., additional signage for developments bordered by more than one street can be permitted per the Board).
- Temporary signs for the promotion of a public function or charitable fund-raising event in certain zones require a zoning permit application including a sketch of the sign, dimensions, location, and dates for display.
- All temporary signs must be constructed and located in conformance with standards set forth in Chapter 218, Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review.
- Each individual business is permitted a limited number of temporary sign permits per year for special events; a permit fee is required per sign permit; zoning/permitting processes may apply.

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

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