# Sign Regulations in Mount Arlington Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mount Arlington Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/mount-arlington-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35507079#35507079)

## At a glance

Mount Arlington Borough, New Jersey regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the B-1 District zoning district are capped at 20 ft tall and 30 sq ft per side/surface, with a Minimum setback is 1/2 of required setback from any road right-of-way or property line setback (Sec. § 17-24.8(c)(3)). Most commercial signs in Mount Arlington Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Districts | 6 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| RG-5 Zone | 2 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| B-1 District | 3 | 20 ft | 40 sq ft | — |
| Multi-Use Development, Shopping centers, Hotels, or Industrial Parks | 3 | 12 ft | 100 sq ft (up to 150 sq ft with approval) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 9 | — | 32 sq ft | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate and Identification Sign (Single-Family Dwelling) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per dwelling unit | On dwelling unit | — | § 17-24.8(a)(1) |
| Institutional Freestanding Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per property, or 1 per street frontage | On property of institution: schools, colleges, churches, similar | — | § 17-24.8(a)(2)(a) |
| Institutional Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | Up to 2 walls per structure | On structure of institution | — | § 17-24.8(a)(2)(b) |
| Parking Area Entrance/Exit Sign | — | 4 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per entrance/exit | At each exit/entrance to parking area | — | § 17-24.8(a)(3) |
| Parking Area Conditions/Identity Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per parking area | In parking area | — | § 17-24.8(a)(3) |
| Private Driveway Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | At private driveway | — | § 17-24.8(a)(3) |

### B-1 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq ft | — | — | Total of up to 2 signs per establishment | On exterior wall (excluding rear/side walls abutting residential/public/institutional uses) | — | § 17-24.8(c)(1)-(2) |
| Freestanding Sign | 20 ft | 30 sq ft per side/surface | — | Minimum setback is 1/2 of required setback from any road right-of-way or property line | 1 per lot | Setback at least half the setback distance from any abutting road right-of-way or property line | — | § 17-24.8(c)(3) |
| For Sale or Rent Sign (Business Property) | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On developed business property | — | § 17-24.8(c)(4) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign | — | Less than 3 sq ft | No dimension exceeding 3 ft | — | — | As indicated on site plan | — | § 17-24.8(e)(4), (e)(13) |
| Temporary Sign - Garage Sale (Residential) | — | Not specified | — | — | 1 per year | On same residential lot as sale | — | § 17-24.8(f)(1) |
| Temporary Sign - Grand Opening/Special Event | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per business/unit per year | On same lot as special event | — | § 17-24.8(f)(2) |
| Temporary Sign - Tradesman Service | — | — | — | — | — | On lot where service is provided | — | § 17-24.8(f)(3) |
| Temporary Sign - Real Estate (Individual) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | On lot being sold/rented | — | § 17-24.8(f)(4) |
| Temporary Sign - Development Sale/Rental (4+ Dwellings/Lots) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 per frontage | On property being developed | — | § 17-24.8(f)(5) |
| Temporary Sign - Land Sale/Lease (5+ acres, 500+ foot frontage) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On land being sold/leased | — | § 17-24.8(f)(6) |
| Temporary Sign - General | — | — | — | — | — | Private property only | — | § 17-24.8(f)(7)-(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Mount Arlington Borough

- No sign or sign structure shall obstruct a fire escape, door, window, or other required access way.
- No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape, except those signs required by the municipal authority.
- No sign shall project over, occupy or obstruct any window surface required for light or ventilation.
- No sign or any part of a sign, except publicly owned or authorized signs, shall be placed in or extend into or over any public right-of-way if it impedes traffic or obscures visibility for safe travel.
- No sign shall be affixed to any roof, tree, fence, utility pole, or other similar structure.
- No sign shall be placed upon motor vehicles which are continually or repeatedly parked in a conspicuous location to serve as a sign.
- Signs painted on pavement surfaces shall be restricted to traffic control markings only.
- No signs shall use red, yellow, or green lighting within 100 feet of a traffic signal to avoid confusion with vehicular traffic signs.
- No illuminated signs shall be permitted where the lighting constitutes a safety hazard to vehicular traffic.
- No signs shall include wording that is obscene.
- No signs shall simulate official, direction, or warning signs, or otherwise create confusion with those erected by government or public safety agencies.
- No signs shall hide, conceal or obstruct from view any traffic or street sign or signal.
- No sign shall distract the attention of the operator of a motor vehicle.
- No placement of signs that interfere or otherwise obstruct the view of the vehicular and pedestrian traveling public.
- All signs, unless specifically exempted, shall be placed upon private property and with the consent of the property owner.
- Signs advertising the sale of goods, services or real estate that are not located on the same lot with such goods, services or real estate are prohibited.
- Signs erected on trees and utility poles are prohibited.
- Signs located within the right of way of any street are prohibited.
- Signs determined by the Borough Engineer to pose an obstruction to the visibility of vehicles on, or entering onto, a street are prohibited.
- Should a nonconforming sign be destroyed, it cannot be replaced except in a conforming manner.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mount Arlington Borough

- Directional signs having areas less than three square feet are exempt from area and location regulations but must be shown on an approved site plan and not constitute a hazard to the public.
- Signs required by municipal authority may be attached to standpipes or fire escapes.
- Publicly owned or authorized signs may be placed in or over the public right-of-way.
- Nothing is intended to prohibit the placement of signs not exceeding three feet in any dimension, directing traffic or identifying various parking locations within a lot on light poles and utility poles erected therein.
- Political signs do not require a permit fee but must otherwise comply with temporary sign and general requirements.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each shopping center, industrial park, planned development, multi-tenanted structure, or multi-structure use must submit a signing plan to the Planning Board for approval.
- A signing plan must include details such as letter style and height, lighting, color, construction and materials, height of sign, height above grade or below roof line, locations, and standards.
- The signing plan must be designed with an integrated design theme consistent with the architecture, materials, and landscaping of the principal structure.
- The Planning Board, in its discretion, will determine if a proposed signing plan meets the goals and objectives.
- For any sign regulated by this section, a permit must be obtained from the Borough Zoning Officer, including a plan showing details of the sign, dimensions, details of construction, location on a survey, and owner/lessee consent.
- Directional signs (under three square feet) must still be shown on an approved site plan.
- All permanent signs must submit construction details as part of the sign permit application.

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

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