# Sign Regulations in Middlesex Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Middlesex Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/middlesex-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/10338518#10338518)

## At a glance

Middlesex Borough, New Jersey regulates 24 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Institutional Sign (Freestanding)s in the Residential districts zoning district are capped at 10 feet tall and 20 square feet, with a Set back minimum 10 feet from all property lines setback (Sec. §420-61D(1)(a), (e), (B)). Most commercial signs in Middlesex 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 | 10 feet | 35 square feet | — |
| R-T District | 2 | 10 feet | 20 square feet | — |
| Commercial districts, Industrial districts | 7 | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — |
| M Municipal Zone District | 1 | — | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 40 square feet | — |

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

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Institutional Sign (Wall) | — | 5% of building facade | — | — | — | Attached to structure/facade of institution | — | §420-61D(1)(a), (e), (B) |
| Institutional Sign (Freestanding) | 10 feet | 20 square feet | — | Set back minimum 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per road frontage | One per road frontage | — | §420-61D(1)(a), (e), (B) |
| Identification Sign for Attached Housing Development | — | 35 square feet | — | Minimum 5 feet from public right-of-way and 20 feet from all adjacent properties | One per access road | At each access road into the development | — | §420-61D(1)(b), (B) |
| Nameplate Sign (Residential) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On dwelling lot | — | §420-61D(1)(c), (B) |
| Nameplate Sign (Professional) | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On dwelling lot | — | §420-61D(1)(c), (B) |

### Commercial districts, Industrial districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Business Sign | No greater vertical dimension than 5 feet; may not exceed roofline | 10% of wall area | — | — | — | Attached to main building wall | — | §420-61D(2)(a), (e), (B) |
| Freestanding Business Sign | 15 feet | 100 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per property | One per property, not less than 10 feet from all property lines | — | §420-61D(2)(b), (e), (B) |
| Window Sign | — | 50% of window area; limited by allowable wall sign area | — | — | — | Window of business | — | §420-61D(2)(c), (B) |
| Directory Sign (Freestanding) | 15 feet | Per requirements of Freestanding Business Sign (0.25 sq ft/ft frontage, max 100 sq ft) | — | Minimum 10 feet from all property lines | 1 per property with multiple nonresidential uses | One per property consisting of multiple nonresidential uses, minimum 10 feet from property lines | — | §420-61D(2)(d), (e), (B) |
| Temporary Banner (Grand Opening) | — | 36 square feet | — | — | One per business, per street frontage | On commercial premises subject of celebration; one per business per street frontage | — | §420-61D(2)(g)[1], (3) |
| Temporary Banner (Special Event) | — | 36 square feet | — | — | One per business, per street frontage | On commercial premises conducting event; one per business per street frontage | — | §420-61D(2)(g)[2], (3) |
| Sandwich Board or A-frame Sign | — | 10 square feet | — | — | One per business, per street frontage | In front of entranceway of business; one per business per street frontage | — | §420-61D(2)(h) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Sign (Inside Window, Commercial) | — | 25% of any given window area | — | — | — | Inside window of commercial establishments | — | §420-61F(1) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonprofit/Charitable) | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §420-61F(2) |
| Bulletin Board (Institutional) | — | 24 square feet | — | — | — | Premises of public, charitable, or religious institution | — | §420-61F(3) |
| On-site Directional and Parking Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §420-61F(4) |
| Temporary Contractor Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | — | Placed on premises under construction | — | §420-61F(5) |
| Garage Sale Sign | — | 2 square feet | — | — | — | On premises only | — | §420-61F(6) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 9 square feet | — | — | — | Advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises or portion thereof | — | §420-61F(7) |
| Subdivision/Attached Housing Development Sign (Temporary) | — | 40 square feet | — | — | One per abutting road | One along each road abutted by the tract | — | §420-61F(8) |

## Prohibited signs in Middlesex Borough

- It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, structurally alter, enlarge, rebuild or relocate any sign without first obtaining a permit from the Construction Official.
- Mobile signs are specifically prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected within or encroach upon the right-of-way of any street.
- Animated or flashing signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement, except for clocks or weather information, are prohibited.
- All signs shall comply with the requirements of § 420-20, entitled 'Obstruction of vision on corner lots.'
- No off-site advertising sign shall be erected, used or maintained within the Borough; except for temporary signs permitted for nonprofit events.
- No sign shall be placed on utility poles, trees, railway or road bridges, bridge supports or abutments, retaining walls or water towers unless approved by the Borough Council and otherwise permitted by law.
- The use and display of temporary portable signs or flags, windsocks, banners, strings, streamers, pennants, spinners or similar objects and devices across, upon, over or along any premises or building, whether as part of any sign or for advertising or public attraction, is prohibited in any nonresidential zone except as otherwise provided.
- No inflatable signs or balloons shall be allowed except for a grand opening as provided in § 420-61D(2)(g).
- No business or commercial establishments or structures used for business or commercial activities shall be permitted to outline windows, doors, signs or any other framework with string lighting, flashing lighting or continuous lighting of any type.
- No sign shall be lighted by means of a flashing light, nor shall any sign be in whole or in part moving, mobile or revolving or electrically or mechanically activated.
- No electric message centers shall be permitted and no other sign shall be allowed with optical illusion of movement by means of a design which presents a pattern capable of reverse perspective, giving the illusion of motion or changing of copy.

## Signs exempt from permit in Middlesex Borough

- Temporary signs inside windows of commercial establishments not covering more than 25% of any given window area.
- Temporary signs of nonprofit or charitable organizations, provided such signs do not exceed 32 square feet in area and are removed within seven days after the event or function.
- Bulletin boards not over 24 square feet in area for public, charitable or religious institutions when located on the premises of those institutions.
- On-site directional and parking signs, warning signs, and signs posting property as 'private property,' 'no trespassing,' or similar, not exceeding two square feet in area.
- Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor, when placed upon work under construction and not exceeding 16 square feet in area, to be removed within seven days of issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
- Garage sale signs located on the premises only, not exceeding two square feet and containing the date of sale, removed within 24 hours after the sale.
- Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises, not exceeding nine square feet in area and removed within seven days after fulfillment.
- Subdivisions of more than two contiguous lots and attached housing developments may have one sign along each abutting road, not exceeding 40 square feet in area and removed within seven days after fulfillment.
- Temporary signs indicating a political preference or event, not exceeding 32 square feet on any side, to be removed within 30 days after the event.
- The animated informational electronic sign erected by the Borough in front of Borough Hall and the one at Middlesex High School are exempt. No animated informational electronic signs in other zones unless governing body approves by resolution.
- Signs on municipally owned property are exempt from the sign illumination requirements in §420-61D(2)(e).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- There is no express requirement or reference to a master sign plan, sign plan, or a variance meeting for signs in the provided ordinance text.
- Permits are required for the erection, structural alteration, enlargement, rebuilding or relocation of any sign.
- Certain temporary banners and temporary 'sandwich board' or 'A-frame' signs on commercial premises require a permit from the Zoning Officer (per §420-61D(2)(g) and §420-61D(2)(h)).

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

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