# Sign Regulations in Montville Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Montville Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/montville-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/16097426#16097426)

## At a glance

Montville Township, New Jersey regulates 36 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Temporary Real Estate Signs in the R-120, R-80, R-43, R-27, R-20, R-15 zoning district are capped at 5 ft tall and 4 sq ft, with a 10 ft from curbline setback (Sec. §230-214B). Most commercial signs in Montville Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 4 ft | 3 sq ft | — |
| R-120, R-80, R-43, R-27, R-20, R-15 | 7 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-27B, R-27C, R-20B | 1 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| AH-1, AH-2, AH-4, PURD | 1 | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — |
| R-27D | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-27E | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-20C | 1 | — | — | — |
| TC1, TC2, B-1, B-2 | 13 | 18 ft (top); bottom at least 8 ft above ground | 70 sq ft | — |
| B-3, B-4, B-5 | 8 | 12 ft non-monument (bottom at least 7 ft above ground), 4 ft monument | 150 sq ft | — |
| OB-1, OB-1A, OB-2A, OB-3, OB-4, OB-5 | 4 | 6 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| I-1A, I-1B, I-2, I-2A | 5 | 6 ft | 80 sq ft | — |
| LR | 1 | 4 ft | 10 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### R-120, R-80, R-43, R-27, R-20, R-15

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Nameplate Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | §230-214A |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 5 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curbline | 1 per lot; 1 per >3 acre tract at entrance | On the lot for sale/rent. For subdivision >3 acres, one sign up to 20 sq ft and 6 ft height; location at entrance. | — | §230-214B |
| Farm or Agricultural Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | 20 ft from property line | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | §230-214C |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 5 ft | 6 sq ft | — | 10 ft from curbline | 1 per lot | On lot being constructed | — | §230-214D |
| Temporary Political Sign | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §230-214E |
| Institutional Sign - Wall | — | 24 sq ft | — | — | 1 per lot per street frontage | On front facade. One per street frontage. | — | §230-214F(1) |
| Institutional Sign - Monument | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curbline | 1 per lot | Per lot | — | §230-214F(2) |

### TC1, TC2, B-1, B-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Single-Tenant Building, ≤ 75 ft setback) | — | 50 sq ft | — | — | 1 per relevant facade | Front facade. One per street frontage. Secondary frontage: ≤ 65% of primary sign area. | — | §230-216A(1) |
| Monument Sign (General) | 4 ft | 20 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curbline, 10 ft from R.O.W. | 1 per street frontage | One per street frontage. Not closer than 15 ft from curbline nor 10 ft from R.O.W. | — | §230-216B |
| Monument Sign (Changebridge Road Option) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curbline, 10 ft from R.O.W. | 1 per Changebridge Rd frontage | Street frontage on Changebridge Road. | — | §230-216B(2,3) |
| Hanging Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | 1 per first floor commercial use | Awning or facade near awning (see Figure 9). | — | §230-216D |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | 6 ft (freestanding), 10 ft (window) | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | 1 per street frontage | On premises; one per street frontage; can be window or freestanding. | — | §230-216E |
| Temporary Construction Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft | — | 10 ft from property line | 1 per lot | On lot | — | §230-216G |
| Directional Sign | 4 ft | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Parking, loading, entrance/exit, etc. | — | §230-211E, §230-216J |
| Gasoline Station Freestanding Sign | 18 ft (top); bottom at least 8 ft above ground | 60 sq ft (36 sq ft ID; 24 sq ft price) | — | — | 1 per lot | On premises; one per lot | — | §230-216K(1) |

### B-3, B-4, B-5

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Tenant <10,000 sq ft) | — | 30 sq ft | 8 ft | — | 1 per qualifying facade | Front facade. 1 per facade per street. Secondary: ≤65% of primary. | — | §230-217A |
| Wall Sign (Tenant 10,000-30,000 sq ft) | — | 75 sq ft | 15 ft | — | — | Front facade; see above. | — | §230-217A |
| Wall Sign (Tenant 30,000-45,000 sq ft) | — | 100 sq ft | 20 ft | — | — | Front facade; see above. | — | §230-217A |
| Wall Sign (Tenant >45,000 sq ft) | — | 150 sq ft | 25 ft | — | — | Front facade; see above. | — | §230-217A |
| Wall Sign (Multitenant Building) | — | — | — | — | 1 per qualifying tenant | First floor tenant spaces with external entrance. | — | §230-217A(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (General) | 12 ft non-monument (bottom at least 7 ft above ground), 4 ft monument | 32 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curbline, 10 ft from R.O.W. | 1 per street frontage | 1 per street frontage | — | §230-217B |
| Monument Sign (Route 46/Bloomfield Option) | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curbline, 10 ft from R.O.W. | — | Route 46/Bloomfield Avenue | — | §230-217B(2,3) |
| Gasoline Station Signage | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §230-217I |

## Prohibited signs in Montville Township

- No person shall erect, alter, relocate, maintain, reconstruct, or cause to be erected, altered, relocated, or reconstructed any sign unless a sign permit has been secured, unless otherwise exempted.
- Any signs not specifically permitted are prohibited.
- No person shall construct, erect, locate, use or maintain any of the following: signs in violation of any section of the chapter; signs not specifically permitted; signs emitting a sound, odor or visible matter such as smoke or vapor or containing audio equipment; notices, handbills, posters, papers or painted signs applied directly or affixed onto any curbstone, flagstone or any other portion of any street or sidewalk or upon any tree, lamppost, telegraph, electric light, telephone pole or fire hydrant within any street or sidewalk area; signs simulating official, directional or warning signs; signs placed so as to cause a danger to traffic by obstructing visibility; signs in such a state of disrepair as to constitute a threat to public health, welfare and safety; billboards or outdoor advertising signs; portable or movable signs, except restaurants’ valet service and permitted A-frames; series of two or more signs carrying a single advertisement message; animated, rotating, moving or revolving signs, including searchlights; balloons, spinners, flags, pennants, inflatable figures, or other such attention-gathering devices, except clocks and weather information and as otherwise specifically permitted; signs with flashing lights or exposed high-intensity illumination or reflective material; signs erected or maintained upon the roof of any building; signs obstructing any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening intended to provide light or ingress or egress (except 1/3 of any window may be occupied by signage); changeable copy or electronic message board signs, except as specifically permitted.
- No signage may be erected or maintained thereby obstructing ingress/egress to buildings, driveways, sidewalks, streets, or rights-of-way.
- Signs must be maintained in good repair and no sign shall become a danger to public health, safety, or general welfare.
- No sign shall project more than 12 inches from the building facade, and the bottom edge must be at least 10 feet from the ground (for wall signs).
- No sign shall obscure architectural features or details of a building or require removal of such features for installation.
- No freestanding sign shall contain lettering, logo, or advertising on the base.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained upon the roof of a building, including mansard or parapet roof, nor project above the roof (with limited exceptions for parapet walls as described).
- All types of temporary signs and awning signs shall not be illuminated.
- No sign with flashing lights, exposed high-intensity illumination, or reflective material is permitted.
- Signs shall not be allowed to become nonoperative or broken; such signs must be repaired or removed.

## Signs exempt from permit in Montville Township

- Signs inside windows or storefronts of commercial establishments indicating 'Help Wanted,' 'Open/Closed,' or business hours (permit and fee exempt, but still subject to other ordinance provisions and possible Zoning Officer review).
- Signs on premises to control movement of traffic (traffic-only, no advertising or business name/logo, not over 2 square feet, must be approved by the appropriate authority).
- Name and number plates identifying residents on a house, apartment, or mailbox not exceeding one square foot.
- Holiday decorations and lights on residential premises.
- Trespassing, hunting, fishing, or trapping prohibitory signs not exceeding two square feet.
- Directional information signs about public places (federal, state, local government facilities, natural, historic, cultural, educational, religious, recreational sites) not exceeding 10 square feet.
- Signs for official governmental or quasi-governmental business, special public or quasi-public event banners posted with permission of governing body or designee.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, temporary/emergency/nonadvertising government agency signs necessary to public welfare.
- Flags of United States, State of New Jersey, or other governmental/quasi-public agencies.
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names, dates of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze/incombustible material and not exceeding six square feet.
- Temporary signs indicating political preference or event not exceeding 32 square feet, but not permitted on poles, trees, or in public right-of-way.
- Public notices required by law or by municipal governing body may be posted on telephone, telegraph, or light or power poles or public buildings (other advertisements/handbills/displays on these structures are prohibited).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All applications for a sign permit must be accompanied by plans showing sign location, area, dimensions, height, construction, illumination, colors, materials, and other details.
- Plan information may be waived by the Zoning Officer if there is no change other than sign content; in such cases, only the proposed changes are required.
- If the proposed sign does not comply with the provisions of the ordinance, the application and plans must be submitted to the appropriate approving authority (may require a public hearing and filing fee). Permit is only issued upon favorable action.
- No permanent freestanding sign, including monument signs, is permitted without site plan approval.
- For all multitenant buildings or shopping centers, all signage must conform to a sign program authorized by the property owner of the entire building and submitted with the application for approval.
- Unified design theme integrating architecture, facade signs, freestanding signs, awnings, landscaping, and lighting is required for multitenant buildings or centers as part of the sign program.

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

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