# Sign Regulations in New Milford Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** New Milford Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/new-milford-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35551901#35551901)

## At a glance

New Milford Borough, New Jersey regulates 19 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Ground Sign (Office, Laboratory, Nonretail Commercial, Retail Use)s in the Commercial zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet above average grade tall, 18 square feet per side, and 9 feet in length wide, with a At least 10 feet back from street property line setback (Sec. § 30-29.3.k). Most commercial signs in New Milford Borough 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 | 13 | 36 inches (3 feet) above ground | Not less than 18 inches by 24 inches | — |
| Commercial zones | 6 | 6 feet above average grade | 24 square feet (single use); 1.5 sq ft per linear front foot for multiple uses, max 24 sf | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No Parking Sign | — | Not less than 18 inches by 24 inches | — | — | — | Conspicuously displayed on lands where this section is effective | — | § 3-3.3.a, § 3-3.3.c |
| General Regulatory Sign | — | — | — | — | At least one | Signs designating regulatory notices (such as 'No persons under 16...') must be posted in licensed premises | — | § 4-6.15.c |
| Nameplate | — | 1 square foot | — | — | — | At private dwellings | — | § 30-29.3.a |
| Sign/Bulletin Board (Public/Quasi-public) | — | 18 square feet | 6 feet length max | — | One | For church, school, library, club, or other public or quasi-public building | — | § 30-29.3.b |
| Job Site Sign (Construction) | — | 6 square feet | — | At least 10 feet from street property line | One per lot | At principal entrance of lot during construction | — | § 30-29.3.c |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Temporary) | — | 4 square feet | — | Minimum 10 feet from street property line | — | Upon the premises being advertised | — | § 30-29.3.e |
| Real Estate and Wayfinding Directional Sign (Temporary, Open House) | 36 inches (3 feet) above ground | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Within public right-of-way, not in travel portions of street/sidewalk, nor on poles/trees/fire hydrant/signs/other public structures; or other property with owner's written consent | — | § 30-29.3.f (1)-(6) |
| Entrance/Exit Sign | 4 feet above mean ground level | 2 square feet (1 ft x 2 ft) | — | No setback required | One per entrance/exit | Far side of the entrance driveway on owner's property; no required setback | — | § 30-29.3.m |

### Commercial zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sandwich Board Sign (Portable Sign - Commercial) | — | — | 30 inches x 48 inches (each face, when folded) | — | One per establishment | On private property at commercial establishments; not in public right-of-way | — | § 30-29.3.g |
| Wall Sign (Retail Use - Principal Front Facade) | — | 24 square feet (single use); 1.5 sq ft per linear front foot for multiple uses, max 24 sf | — | — | One per retail use (front facade) | Principal front facade of retail building | — | § 30-29.3.h, § 30-29.3.i |
| Wall Sign (Retail Use - Corner Lot, Side Street) | — | Up to 12 square feet (if max on main facade is 24 sf) | — | — | One per retail use (side street, corner lot) | Wall facing side street (retail use on corner lot) | — | § 30-29.3.h, § 30-29.3.i |
| Wall Sign (Multiple Uses/Retail) | — | 24 square feet or 1.5 sq ft per linear front foot, whichever is less | — | — | One per first floor use | First floor, front facade of retail building (multiple uses) | — | § 30-29.3.i |
| Wall Sign (Office/Laboratory/Nonretail Commercial) | — | 24 square feet or 1.5 sq ft/linear front foot for buildings under 10,000 sf; 5% of facade area or 100 sq ft (whichever is less) for buildings over 10,000 sf | — | — | One per building | Principal front facade of building | — | § 30-29.3.j |
| Ground Sign (Office, Laboratory, Nonretail Commercial, Retail Use) | 6 feet above average grade | 18 square feet per side | 9 feet in length | At least 10 feet back from street property line | One per building | At least 10 feet back from street property line | — | § 30-29.3.k |

## Prohibited signs in New Milford Borough

- No sign shall be affixed to curbside trees, telephone poles, or street signs.
- No sign shall be posted, located or displayed on a right-of-way, street or alley without obtaining the consent of the abutting private property owner, if any, prior to the posting, locating or displaying of the sign.
- No sign shall be located, posted or displayed on Borough or private property without the consent of the private property owner.
- Damaging, defacing, or tampering with posted signs constitutes a violation.
- The damaging or defacing of a sign or marking designating handicapped parking spaces is prohibited.
- The damaging or defacing of signs is prohibited.
- Such signs (e.g., open house or wayfinding signs) shall not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
- Such signs (e.g., open house or wayfinding signs) may not be placed upon or within the travel portion of any street or sidewalk, within a required sight triangle, or on any pole, tree, fire hydrant, traffic or parking sign, public waste receptacle, bus shelter or other structure located within the public right-of-way.
- Portable signs shall not be illuminated.
- Portable signs shall not be located in the public right-of-way nor be placed so as to pose a danger to vehicles or pedestrians, and must be properly secured.

## Signs exempt from permit in New Milford Borough

- Four temporary signs are permitted for the period of a sale, 48 hours prior to the sale and 24 hours after; Planning or Zoning Board of Appeal approval will not be needed.
- A nonilluminated nameplate (not more than one square foot) for private dwellings is permitted in all zones.
- A single-faced sign or bulletin board for a church, school, library, club, or other public or quasi-public building or use (area not more than 18 square feet) is permitted in all zones.
- A nonilluminated job site sign during actual construction (area not to exceed six square feet and period not to exceed 180 days) is permitted in all zones.
- One temporary sign (no more than 16 square feet) is permitted for businesses for up to 30 days, no more than four times per year.
- A nonilluminated temporary sign for advertising the premises for sale or lease (not more than four square feet) is permitted (duration and setback requirements apply).
- All temporary real estate signs and wayfinding directional signs for which a permit is required (area not more than four square feet) are permitted under defined conditions.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Prior to the installation of certain signs (e.g., parking restriction signs), the signs shall be submitted to the Borough Police Department for approval.
- A sign applicant or agent for a building occupied by a multiple-tenanted building must apply to the Planning Board for a comprehensive sign design review (master sign plan) if seeking a variance to maximum sign regulations.
- An application for comprehensive sign design review (master sign plan) must be filed with the Construction Official and include scaled drawings, photographs, and authorization from all tenants for multi-tenant buildings.
- Portable signs at establishments without an existing front yard are permitted only after application and approval from the Construction Code Official.

## Full detail

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

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