# Sign Regulations in North Bergen, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Bergen, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/north-bergen
- **Data last verified:** 2025-11-20
- **Source:** [other municipal code](https://www.northbergen.org/_Content/pdf/NB_ZoningOrdinance_FORWEB.pdf#page=50)

## At a glance

North Bergen, New Jersey regulates 7 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 12 feet above mean ground level tall (Sec. Article V 5.4 a.4(f) and a.5). Most commercial signs in North Bergen require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 30 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Residential District (R1, R2, R3) | 5 | 30 feet | 32 square feet | — |
| Commercial District (C1 (C1A, C1B, C1C), C2) | 7 | 30 feet | 50 square feet | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per side fronting a public street | Attached flat against the front or sides of the building fronting public streets; not more than one per side except for directory, occupancy, or vacancy signs | — | Article V 5.4 a.4 |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 feet above mean ground level | — | — | — | One per property unless fronting more than one street (then two, one per frontage); additional allowed if 800 feet of frontage on one road or multiple entrances/exits, authorized by Construction Code Official | Not within street right-of-way; not obstructing vision or traffic safety | — | Article V 5.4 a.4(f) and a.5 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On property, not obstructing vision or public way | — | Article V 5.4 b |
| Institutional Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | — | On property of public or semi-public use | — | Article V 5.4 d |
| Flag or Banner | 30 feet | — | — | — | — | On property, supports designed for safety | — | Article V 5.4 g |
| Time and/or Temperature Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building or freestanding where permitted | — | Article V 5.4 c.3 |

### Residential District (R1, R2, R3)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per side fronting a public street | Attached flat against the front or sides of the building fronting public streets; not more than one per side except for directory, occupancy, or vacancy signs | — | Article V 5.4 a.4 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On property, not obstructing vision or public way | — | Article V 5.4 b |
| Institutional Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | — | On property of public or semi-public use | — | Article V 5.4 d |
| Flag or Banner | 30 feet | — | — | — | — | On property, supports designed for safety | — | Article V 5.4 g |
| Time and/or Temperature Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | Article V 5.4 c.3 |

### Commercial District (C1 (C1A, C1B, C1C), C2)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | One per side fronting a public street | Attached flat against the front or sides of the building fronting public streets; not more than one per side except for directory, occupancy, or vacancy signs | — | Article V 5.4 a.4 |
| Primary Wall Sign | — | 50 square feet | — | — | One | Attached flat against a wall of office buildings, hotels, or other permitted commercial activities | — | Article V 5.4 e |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 feet above mean ground level | — | — | — | One per property unless fronting more than one street (then two, one per frontage); additional allowed if 800 feet of frontage on one road or multiple entrances/exits, authorized by Construction Code Official | Not within street right-of-way; not obstructing vision or traffic safety | — | Article V 5.4 a.4(f) and a.5 |
| Temporary Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | — | On property, not obstructing vision or public way | — | Article V 5.4 b |
| Institutional Sign | — | 25 square feet | — | — | — | On property of public or semi-public use | — | Article V 5.4 d |
| Flag or Banner | 30 feet | — | — | — | — | On property, supports designed for safety | — | Article V 5.4 g |
| Time and/or Temperature Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Attached to building or freestanding | — | Article V 5.4 c.3 |

## Prohibited signs in North Bergen

- No signs, other than municipal, county or state traffic direction signs, shall be erected within the right-of-way of any street nor shall any sign be located so as to be a traffic hazard.
- No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic direction and identification signs, adjacent properties, businesses or signs, or windows or buildings on which they are located.
- No sign shall project into a public way traversed by vehicles or pedestrians.
- No sign of any size, whether temporary or permanent, shall be painted directly on the walls or roof of a structure in the Township.
- No inflatable or floating signs shall be permitted anywhere in the Township.
- No sign with a flashing beam or beacon form shall be erected except as required by FAA regulations Part 77.
- Signs using mechanical and/or electrical devices to display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited in all districts except that signs displaying the time and/or temperature shall be permitted.
- Advertising signs and billboards shall not be permitted in the Township.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Bergen

- Nameplates, identifications, sales or rental signs (no permit required).
- Municipal, county or state traffic direction signs (exempt from right-of-way prohibition).
- Temporary signs for special events such as an election or a sale (no permit required if not exceeding thirty-two square feet and removed after the event; other than election signs, not to remain more than four weeks).
- Signs displaying the time and/or temperature (animated signs permitted).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All new signs are subject to design review by the Construction Code Official; scaled drawings of the proposed sign shall be submitted before a permit may be issued, including dimensions, material, color, lettering, illumination (if applicable), means of attachment and a location sketch.
- For multi-tenant commercial buildings, a directory-type sign in a uniform style shall be used; for each additional listing up to five, the sign may increase in size by 10% of the original maximum, not exceeding 50% larger than original.
- In the event the property has eight hundred feet of frontage on one road or has a number of entrances or exits, the Construction Code Official may authorize placement of additional signs.
- The overall design of flags/banners, their location, materials and supports shall be subject to review by the Township; scaled drawings shall be submitted.

## Full detail

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

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