# Sign Regulations in North Caldwell Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** North Caldwell Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/north-caldwell-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35672548#35672548)

## At a glance

North Caldwell Borough, New Jersey regulates 21 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Real Estate Signs in the Residential zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 9 sq ft, with a No closer than 10 ft to any property line or within a street right-of-way setback (Sec. § 107-31A(2), § 107-31C(7), § 107-31D(1-9)). Most commercial signs in North Caldwell Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fire zones in proximity to residential attached or cluster structures | 1 | — | — | — |
| Residential zones | 6 | 4 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential zones | 6 | 15 ft (bottom at least 10 ft above ground) | 30 sq ft per side | — |
| Office and Planned Industrial Park Districts | 3 | Not exceeding 2 ft in vertical dimension | 5% of face of wall; 0.5 sq ft per linear ft of street frontage for single sign | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 7 | Placed at height between 4 and 5 ft (to center) | — | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 ft | 9 sq ft | — | No closer than 10 ft to any property line or within a street right-of-way | 1 | On lot being sold, not within street right-of-way or closer than 10 ft to property line | — | § 107-31A(2), § 107-31C(7), § 107-31D(1-9) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | Accessory to new construction or alteration on premises | — | § 107-31C(5) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Displayed from a window | — | § 107-31D(5), (6) |
| Ground Sign | 4 ft | 9 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line, 50 ft from any other ground sign on the same premises | 2 | Must not be within 10 ft of the property line or in a street right-of-way | — | § 107-31D(1), (2), (3), (7) |
| No Trespassing / Directional / Traffic Signs (Public Welfare) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 107-31C(8) |
| Church Signs | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On church premises | — | § 107-31C(9) |

### Nonresidential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 107-31A(1), § 107-31C(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Gas Station) | 15 ft (bottom at least 10 ft above ground) | 30 sq ft per side | — | At least 10 ft within the property line | 1 | Not less than 10 ft within the property line. | — | § 107-31F(1) |
| Directional Sign (Gas Station Entrance/Bay) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | Above entrance/bay | — | § 107-31F(2) |
| Pump Sign (Gas Pump) | — | 2 sq ft per pump | — | — | — | On gasoline pump | — | § 107-31F(3) |
| Temporary Sign (Gas Station) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 | Inside property line | — | § 107-31F(4) |
| No Trespassing / Directional / Traffic Signs (Public Welfare) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 107-31C(8) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Required Signs (Municipality or Required by Law) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 107-31G |
| Street Sign | — | — | — | — | — | At all street intersections. | — | § 88-44 |
| No Parking Fire Zone Sign (except as below) | Placed at height between 4 and 5 ft (to center) | — | 18 in | — | — | Mounted wall or post, placed 50 ft center to center, starting 25 ft from starting point or corner. Additional signs if vision obstructed. | — | § 44-12A(1) |
| No Posting on Public Land/Highways | — | — | — | — | — | Public land, park or adjacent roadways (prohibited unless authorized) | — | § 71-12 |
| Sign Painted Directly on Building Wall | — | — | — | — | — | On building wall | — | § 107-31C(10) |
| License Sign (Milk Distribution) | — | — | — | — | 1 per vehicle or fixed licensee | On right side of vehicle used for sale/distribution, conspicuously in any store, depot, or station | — | § 125-2 |
| Sign with Moving/Revolving Parts or Flashing/Revolving/Intermittent Lighting | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 107-31C(6) |

## Prohibited signs in North Caldwell Borough

- No sign shall be placed so as to interfere with or be mistaken for a traffic light, emergency vehicle signal or similar safety device.
- No sign shall be lighted by means of flashing, revolving or intermittent illumination.
- All lights used for the illumination of any use or building or the areas surrounding them or for the illumination of display merchandise or products shall be completely shielded from the view of vehicular traffic using any public thoroughfare.
- No sign, as permitted, shall extend or project above the highest elevation of the wall to which it is attached.
- No sign shall have any moving or revolving parts or be illuminated with flashing, revolving, or intermittent lighting.
- Signs with more than two display faces are prohibited.
- A double faced sign having an included angle of over 45° is prohibited.
- Signs painted directly on any part of any building wall are prohibited.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, plaque or advertisement or inscription whatsoever, nor shall any person erect, or cause to be erected, any sign whatsoever on any public land or highway or roads adjacent to said park or public land or playground, or highway or roads adjacent to said park or playground area, unless otherwise authorized by the Borough of North Caldwell.
- No streamers, signs or any other article shall be attached to any permitted sign or sign structure.
- No sign may be displayed by a resident for a fee.

## Signs exempt from permit in North Caldwell Borough

- Standard 'for sale' or 'for lease' real estate signs measuring no more than nine square feet are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Signs deemed necessary to the public welfare by the Borough, including but not limited to customary 'no trespassing' and traffic or circulation direction signs, are permitted in all zones. Such signs shall not pertain to any company, individual or business establishment or organization, fraternal or otherwise.
- All signs required by law or placed by the municipality shall be permitted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- In all nonresidential zones, it is unlawful to erect, paint, or locate any sign without first obtaining a sign permit from the Construction Official. The Construction Official shall issue permits only for such signs as are specifically allowed for the particular premises and zone district in which the premises are located or as have been approved by the Planning Board during site plan or subdivision review.
- Signage and/or striping in residential zones (fire zones) shall be subject to approval by resolution adopted by the Mayor and Council in accordance with § 44-10.

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

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