# Sign Regulations in Norwood Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Norwood Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/norwood-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/6931302#6931302)

## At a glance

Norwood Borough, New Jersey regulates 22 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Business B Zone, B Zone)s in the Business B Zone, B Zone zoning district are capped at 12 ft above finished base (bottom of sign minimum 4 ft above finished base) tall and 15 sq ft per side (30 sq ft aggregate for two sides), with a 30 ft from property boundary adjacent to street and from off-street parking/interior driveway; 50 ft from boundary of a residential district setback (Sec. § 233-33D(1)-(2), § 233-39, § 233-45). Most commercial signs in Norwood Borough 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 | 7 | — | 16 sq ft in residential and business zones (see zone-specific regulations) | — |
| Residential zoning districts | 9 | — | 20 sq ft nonilluminated, 10 sq ft illuminated | — |
| Business B Zone, B Zone | 11 | 12 ft above finished base (bottom of sign minimum 4 ft above finished base) | 20 sq ft per sign | — |

## 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 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sign (Noncommercial Message Option) | — | — | — | — | — | Premises where the sign is erected. | — | § 233-23.3A, B |
| Sign (Roman/English Letters for Non-English Signs) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-23.3E |
| Sign (Political) | — | 16 sq ft in residential and business zones (see zone-specific regulations) | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-23.3F; § 233-28A(6); § 233-33H(3) |
| Sign (Private Sale or Event) | — | 16 sq ft in residential and business zones (see zone-specific regulations) | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-23.3G; § 233-28A(7); § 233-33H(4) |
| Sign (Real Estate) | — | 16 sq ft in residential and business zones (see zone-specific regulations) | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-23.3H; § 233-28A(4); § 233-33H(1) |
| Sign (Public Issue) | — | 16 sq ft in residential and business zones (see zone-specific regulations) | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-28A(5); § 233-33H(2) |
| Sign (Governmental) | — | 6 sq ft in residential and business zones (see zone-specific regulations) | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-28A(8); § 233-33H(5) |

### Residential zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Name/Address Sign (Residential Dwelling) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On the property of the dwelling. | — | § 233-28A(1), § 233-28B(1) |
| Professional Office Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises with permitted professional office. | — | § 233-28A(2), § 233-28B(1) |
| Legally Permitted Use Sign (other than residential/professional) | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-28A(3), § 233-28B(1) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-28A(4), § 233-28B(1) |
| Public Issue Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-28A(5), § 233-28B(1) |
| Political Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-28A(6), § 233-23.3F, § 233-28B(1) |
| Private Sale or Event Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-28A(7), § 233-23.3G, § 233-28B(1) |
| Business Sign (Permitted Business Use) | — | 20 sq ft nonilluminated, 10 sq ft illuminated | — | — | 1 per facade | On premises, on facade facing the public street | — | § 233-28A(9); § 233-33 |

### Business B Zone, B Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Business Sign (Nonilluminated) | — | 20 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per facade | On or in front of the building, facade facing a public street | — | § 233-33A, § 233-33C(1), § 233-39, § 233-45 |
| Business Sign (Illuminated) | — | 10 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 per facade | On or in front of building, facade facing public street | — | § 233-33B, § 233-33C(1)-(2), § 233-39, § 233-45 |
| Freestanding Sign (Business B Zone, B Zone) | 12 ft above finished base (bottom of sign minimum 4 ft above finished base) | 15 sq ft per side (30 sq ft aggregate for two sides) | — | 30 ft from property boundary adjacent to street and from off-street parking/interior driveway; 50 ft from boundary of a residential district | 1 per 150 ft of front public street | On property, not within 30 ft of street/property boundary, 30 ft from parking/driveway, 50 ft from residential boundary | — | § 233-33D(1)-(2), § 233-39, § 233-45 |
| Traffic Control Sign (Freestanding) | 6 ft above finished grade at base of sign | — | — | — | — | On property as needed for traffic control | — | § 233-33G(1) |
| Noncommercial Exterior Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Exterior of building or property | — | § 233-33G(2) |
| School/Religious/Public Use Sign | — | — | 4 ft (max length on any one side) | Minimum 10 ft from street or property line | 1 | Affixed to a suitable post or upon the facade of the building, not less than 10 ft from any street or property line | — | § 233-33G(4) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-33H(1) |
| Public Issue Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | § 233-33H(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Norwood Borough

- No person may place any sign other than a governmental sign in the public rights-of-way or on public property in the Borough.
- Billboard signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- All signs must comply with the provisions of all state laws and regulations regarding the towing of motor vehicles, if applicable.
- No sign or sign structure is subject to any limitation based upon the content (viewpoint) of the message contained on the sign or displayed on the sign structure.
- Lighting for signs shall not be permitted which requires flashing or intermittent illumination. Lighting which requires change in color, intensity or hue shall likewise be prohibited.
- No part of any sign shall extend above the top or beyond the ends of the wall surface on which it is placed.
- No sign, except such directional devices as may be required by federal aeronautical authorities, shall be placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon any building, which sign extends above the roof of any adjacent building.
- No sign shall be placed as to interfere with the opening of any exit door or to obstruct the view from any window opening to a room to be used for dwelling purposes.
- Tampering with or damaging signs posted pursuant to applicable chapters (such as towing signs) is a violation.

## Signs exempt from permit in Norwood Borough

- Governmental signs are permitted in all residential zoning districts, not exceeding six square feet in area.
- Noncommercial exterior signs are permitted, not exceeding two square feet, including but not limited to designation of rest rooms, telephone location, restrictions on smoking, and exitways.
- Freestanding traffic control signs are permitted in addition to signs affixed to the building facade or freestanding business signs, provided they only provide traffic directions and otherwise conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each site plan application shall include a sign plan showing the specific design, location, size, construction, and illumination. If the applicant is unable to provide said details for signs, the approving authority shall condition its approval upon receipt of same prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
- With every site plan, the applicant shall submit plans for all proposed exterior lighting, which includes signage lighting. Lighting shall conform to Article 233 (Zoning) and Site Plan Review chapter.
- Applications for freestanding or pole signs in the B Zone shall be made to the Planning Board and will be considered a site plan application, subject to all site plan conditions and requirements.

## Full detail

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

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