# Sign Regulations in Montclair Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Montclair Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/montclair-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/7187897#7187897)

## At a glance

Montclair Township, New Jersey regulates 27 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Mandatory Signs for Capital Projects in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft above grade tall, 6 ft x 8 ft, and 6 ft wide, with a Minimum 10 ft, maximum 25 ft setback (Sec. §347-109.2). Most commercial signs in Montclair Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 40 ft pole | 24 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Zone Districts | 13 | 24 inches; logos/graphics up to 30 inches | 100 sq ft per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (Governmental/Emergency) | 24 inches | 20 inches x 24 inches | 20 inches | — | Maximum 6 per institution | Within street lines of public streets as approved | — | §277-1.B |
| Fraternal and Civic Organization Sign | 18 inches | 18 inches x 24 inches | 24 inches | — | Not more than five per support | Designated township entrances/locations on single support | — | §277-1.C |
| Mandatory Signs for Capital Projects | 8 ft above grade | 6 ft x 8 ft | 6 ft | Minimum 10 ft, maximum 25 ft | — | Front yard; setback 10 ft to 25 ft from property line | — | §347-109.2 |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft if on ground | One per street frontage | One per street frontage; setback at least 10 ft from property line unless affixed to building | — | §347-109.3.A |
| Temporary Real Estate Development Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft if on ground | One per street frontage | One per street frontage; setback at least 10 ft from property line unless affixed to building | — | §347-109.3.C |
| Identification Sign (Apartments/Institutions/Nursing Homes) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft if on ground | One per street frontage | One per street frontage; setback at least 10 ft from property line unless affixed to building | — | §347-109.4.B |
| Signs for schools/houses of worship (Identification) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft if on ground | One per street frontage | One per street frontage; setback at least 10 ft if not affixed to building | — | §347-107.5.A |
| Signs for schools/houses of worship (Programs/Activities) | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft if on ground | One per entity | Setback at least 10 ft if not affixed to building | — | §347-107.5.B |

### Nonresidential Zone Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall-Mounted Business Sign | 24 inches; logos/graphics up to 30 inches | Varies by frontage width; 1 sq ft per foot width | — | — | One per business per frontage | Flat on building facade facing street or parking lot; not painted directly on building | — | §347-110.1.A |
| Wall-Mounted Plaque Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per business | Solid wall, fronting public street/lot | — | §347-110.1.B |
| Wall-Mounted Business Directory Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per principal building entrance | At each principal building entrance | — | §347-110.1.C |
| Window Glass Sign | — | 20% of the window area | — | — | — | Windows facing street or municipal parking lot | — | §347-110.2 |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 5 ft from property line | One per principal building | Front yard, setback at least 5 ft from property line; principal building must have min 15 ft front yard setback | — | §347-110.3 |
| Sidewalk Sign (A-frame) | 3 ft | — | 2 ft | — | One per business | In front of the retail building on sidewalk | — | §347-110.4 |
| Marquee Sign | — | 100 sq ft per side | — | — | One per principal building | Over principal entrance to theater or theaters | — | §347-110.5.B |
| Projecting Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | One per retail business per facade | Per retail business facade | — | §347-110.5.D |

## Prohibited signs in Montclair Township

- All signs not specifically listed as permitted signs are prohibited.
- Advertising signs (billboards for off-premises businesses) are prohibited.
- Flashing or moving signs, including time-and-temperature signs, are prohibited.
- Internally illuminated signs are prohibited unless specifically permitted.
- Neon framing, paper or fabric framing, tubing and bare-bulb illumination are prohibited (except neon wall-mounted business name/logo).
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Pennants and banners are prohibited except as specifically permitted under designated sections.
- Any sign in the public right-of-way is prohibited except as otherwise authorized in specific sections.
- Any sign using exposed light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is prohibited, except for price signs at gasoline service stations.
- Signs affixed to trees, fences or utility poles are prohibited without approval from the Township Council.
- No signs may be constructed within the street lines of any public street except as specifically permitted.
- Internally illuminated signs of any kind, whether freestanding or wall-mounted, shall be prohibited unless specifically permitted.
- No sign illumination or other illumination shall be used or designed for use as an attraction device (e.g., light bulbs, strobe lights, flashing or moving lights, black lights, string lights).
- No sign shall be erected without prior approval of the Township Engineer as to location, size, and manner of construction.
- Wall signs may not be painted directly on buildings.
- Nonconforming signs may not be enlarged or altered to increase nonconformity.
- No political sign shall be erected or displayed on public property, including public rights-of-way.
- No artificial illumination is allowed for certain types of temporary or real estate signs as specified.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montclair Township

- Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, county or local law, regulation or ordinance is exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message (excluding holiday inflatable decorations) are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Traffic control signs on private property meeting DOT standards and containing no commercial message are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Flags of the United States, New Jersey, the Township of Montclair, foreign nations, and other flags adopted or sanctioned by an elective legislative body of competent jurisdiction, and flags flown in conjunction with the flag of the United States, are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Signs or banners advertising public or quasi-public events posted with permission of the Township Council or its designee according to guidelines are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Pump-mounted fuel price informational signs (with one sign per pump, up to 216 square inches, affixed directly to pump and stationary) are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- United States postal regulation mailboxes are exempt from sign permit requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A master signage plan shall accompany any application for a sign permit.
- A master signage plan shall accompany any application for development filed with the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment which involves installation or modification of any sign.
- The master signage plan shall include information for each existing and proposed sign: size, letter style and size, illumination, colors (including PMS color samples), construction materials, structural integrity, installation details, window size (if applicable), and location details.
- The master signage plan must include a graphical depiction (sketch or photo) showing dimensions and locations of existing and proposed permanent signs on building facades, windows, and canopies.
- Samples of construction materials must be submitted with the master signage plan.
- In the case of a freestanding sign, a minor site plan must be included as part of the master signage plan showing buildings, parking lots, driveways, landscaped areas, and all existing and proposed signs.
- A sign permit is required for all permanent signs except those specifically exempted; exempted signs are still subject to compliance with ordinance provisions.
- No sign except those exempted may be placed, constructed, erected or modified without a sign permit from the Zoning Officer (and other approvals if required by Construction Code or Historic District rules).

## Full detail

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

---

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