# Sign Regulations in Mount Ephraim Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Mount Ephraim Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/mount-ephraim-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/30406526#30406526)

## At a glance

Mount Ephraim Borough, New Jersey regulates 13 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Real Estate Signs in the Residence District zoning district are capped at Bottom of sign not more than 5 ft above ground level tall, 2 ft x 3 ft, and 2 ft x 3 ft (6 sq ft) wide, with a Building line (developed); 25 feet (undeveloped) setback (Sec. § 525-28H(1)(b), § 525-28F(7)). Most commercial signs in Mount Ephraim Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residence District | 3 | Bottom of sign not more than 5 ft above ground level | 4 sq. ft. | — |
| Business District | 4 | May not project above parapet/eaves; bottom edge at least 10 ft above grade | 6 ft x 6 ft (36 sq ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | Bottom edge at least 8 ft above sidewalk/ground; cannot project above supporting canopy; can’t project horizontally beyond canopy | 2 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### Residence District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name Sign | Bottom of sign not more than 5 ft above ground level | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot | 1 per lot; on lot of single-family residential structure | — | § 525-28H(1)(a) |
| Real Estate Sign | Bottom of sign not more than 5 ft above ground level | 2 ft x 3 ft | 2 ft x 3 ft (6 sq ft) | Building line (developed); 25 feet (undeveloped) | 1 per lot | Not nearer to an adjacent street/road/highway than building line of premises (developed lots); not nearer than 25 ft to adjacent street/road/highway (undeveloped) | — | § 525-28H(1)(b), § 525-28F(7) |
| Temporary Election Sign | 4 ft above natural grade | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot per campaign | Only on residential property (with owner's consent) | — | § 525-28G(1) |

### Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | Bottom of sign not more than 5 ft above ground level | 6 ft x 6 ft (36 sq ft) | 6 ft | Front yard only, complies with side yard requirements | 1 per lot | Front yard; no closer to side lot lines than the required side yard | — | § 525-28H(2)(a), § 525-28G(10) |
| Wall Sign | May not project above parapet/eaves; bottom edge at least 10 ft above grade | 2 sq. ft. per foot of frontage | — | — | 1 per lot, with possible second wall sign on corner business lot | Front face of structure; for corner lots, a second sign on side street if adjacent property is business district and other qualifications met | — | § 525-28H(2)(b), § 525-28G(9), § 525-28E(2) |
| Real Estate Sign | Bottom of sign not more than 5 ft above ground level | 4 ft x 4 ft (16 sq ft) | 4 ft | — | 1 per lot | On lot being sold/leased/rented | — | § 525-28H(2)(c), § 525-28F(7) |
| Temporary Election Sign | 4 ft above natural grade | 4 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per lot per campaign | Residential or commercial property (with owner's consent) | — | § 525-28G(1) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Canopy Sign | Bottom edge at least 8 ft above sidewalk/ground; cannot project above supporting canopy; can’t project horizontally beyond canopy | — | — | — | — | Attached to or part of a canopy | — | § 525-28E(1) |
| Window or Inside Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Interior of a building, visible from any public or private street or highway | — | § 525-28E(4) |
| Temporary Signs (General) | — | — | — | — | — | On private property, not on fences, trees, utility poles, or in positions creating traffic hazard | — | § 525-28E(5) |
| Construction Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On lot containing building under construction/alteration; must be removed before CO | — | § 525-28F(2) |
| Directional Sign | — | 2 sq. ft. | — | — | Up to number of approved ingresses/egresses on lot; offsite limited to one | On lot with approved ingress/egress; or offsite for municipal, religious, noncommercial public facility; public safety/traffic control | — | § 525-28F(3), § 525-28G(13) |
| Professional Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On lot with professional occupant | — | § 525-28F(5) |
| Public Convenience Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On lot of charitable, hospital, institutional, municipal, nonprofit, religious or school use | — | § 525-28F(6) |
| Traffic Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected by town, county or state; all districts and on public streets/rights-of-way | — | § 525-28F(8), § 525-28G(14), § 525-28G(11) |

## Prohibited signs in Mount Ephraim Borough

- No sign shall shed illumination on nearby buildings beyond the minimum necessary for readability.
- For internally lit signs, the average illumination shall not exceed 1/2 footcandle.
- For externally lit signs, the average illumination on the surface of the signs shall not exceed one footcandle.
- All sources of illumination must be shielded or directed so direct rays are not cast upon any property other than the lot on which the sign is situated.
- Illumination must be steady in nature and not flashing, moving, or changing in brilliance, color, or intensity.
- No types of signs shall be erected or maintained except as provided in the ordinance.
- All signs must be installed free of visual obstruction.
- No sign or any part thereof shall project over any property line.
- No sign shall be so constructed, erected, or located that it obstructs visibility with respect to the safety of motorists or pedestrians proceeding along the public way or entering or leaving a lot.
- No sign may be constructed, erected, maintained, altered, or moved on a lot on which a nonconforming sign exists.
- No signs except directional or traffic signs shall be permitted on public streets or rights-of-way.
- A projecting sign shall not be installed on a lot containing a freestanding sign and vice versa.
- All signs and awnings shall be maintained by the owner, including repainting, repairing, and cleaning as necessary. Failure to do so after notice may result in enforcement actions.
- Abandoned signs (signs for businesses or proprietors no longer present) must be removed within 60 days after cessation of the activity on the premises.
- Any sign in violation must be brought into conformity, removed, or an application must be made for a permit to allow the sign within 10 days of notice from the Zoning Officer. Continued violation may result in fines and other enforcement actions.
- Illuminated signs on licensed premises must be turned off at 2:00 a.m. each day and not turned on before opening hours.
- No signs may be erected, constructed, painted, altered, relocated, reconstructed, displayed, or maintained without a written permit, except for name, real estate, or traffic signs, and signs with an area of less than one square foot.

## Signs exempt from permit in Mount Ephraim Borough

- Name signs, real estate signs, traffic signs, and signs with an area of less than one square foot are exempt from permitting requirements.
- Temporary election signs (subject to specific requirements: size, duration, location, and materials) are permitted with conditions and do not require substantial permitting.
- Temporary signs of a similar nature (e.g., political posters, banners) may be granted a temporary permit, at no cost, provided they are not attached to fences, trees, utility poles, or similar, and do not obstruct or impair vision or traffic or create hazards.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A written permit from the Construction Official is required for most signage, except as otherwise exempted.
- Application for a sign permit must include a detailed drawing/blueprint and location plan.
- A variance from sign regulations may be sought from the Borough Joint Land Use Board.
- Any sign found to be in violation must either be brought into compliance, removed, or receive a waiver (sign permit) within 10 days of written notice; otherwise enforcement (including fines) may occur.
- There is no mention of a master sign plan or sign plan requirement for developments as a whole in the provided text.

## Full detail

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

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