Sign Regulations in Oakland Borough, New Jersey
Oakland Borough, New Jersey has specific sign regulations covering 26 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Regulated sign types include Announcement Sign (Second-Floor Professional/Office), Nameplate Sign, Real Estate Sign (Residential). Height restrictions apply. Permits are required for most commercial signs. Use PermitPal to get instant access to the complete regulations.
Data last verified: April 28, 2025
Sign Regulation Overview for Oakland Borough, New Jersey
Sample Sign Requirements in Oakland Borough
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Setback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nameplate Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | 36 inches | 4 sq ft per side | — |
| Wall Sign (Entrance Wall) | 2 ft | 2 sq ft per 1 ft of wall width (see formula) | — |
* Sample data shown. Actual requirements may vary by zone. Use PermitPal for complete, location-specific regulations.
Sign Types Covered
26
- Announcement Sign (Second-Floor Professional/Office)
- Nameplate Sign
- Real Estate Sign (Residential)
- Wall Sign (Entrance Wall)
- +2 more types
Zoning Districts
11
Different zoning districts with specific sign regulations
Data Includes
- Permit requirements
- Height restrictions
- Illumination rules
Official Resources for Oakland Borough
Other Cities in New Jersey
Frequently Asked Questions
In Oakland Borough, wall signs can be up to 2 ft. Height limits vary by zoning district and sign type. Use PermitPal to get exact requirements for your specific location.
To get a sign permit in Oakland Borough, submit an application to the local building or planning department with sign dimensions, location, and design specifications. Our data confirms permits are required for most commercial signs. Processing typically takes 1-4 weeks. PermitPal helps you identify specific requirements and prepare complete applications.
In Oakland Borough, regulated sign types include Announcement Sign (Second-Floor Professional/Office), Nameplate Sign, Real Estate Sign (Residential), Wall Sign (Entrance Wall), and 2 more types. Most commercial signs require permits. Temporary signs and certain small signs may be exempt. Use PermitPal for specific exemptions.
Sign setback requirements in Oakland Borough vary by zone and sign type, typically ranging from 5-15 feet from property lines. Use PermitPal for specific setback requirements at your location.
Digital and LED signs in Oakland Borough are regulated with specific requirements for brightness, animation, and message duration. Oakland Borough has documented illumination rules in our database. Use PermitPal to see the exact requirements for electronic message centers.
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Oakland Borough, New Jersey Sign Rules at a Glance
Oakland Borough, New Jersey regulates 26 sign types across 11 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center, Arterial Roadway)s in the Downtown-I Zone zoning district are capped at 15 ft tall and 30 sq ft per face (2 faces max), with a No closer than 12 ft to arterial roadway setback (Sec. §59-63S(12)). Most commercial signs in Oakland Borough require a permit.
Detailed Sign Ordinance Requirements for Oakland Borough, New Jersey
Sign Rules by Zoning District in Oakland Borough (11 zones)
| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Zone | 2 | 36 inches | 4 sq ft per side | — |
| Business Zone | 4 | 15 ft | 30 sq ft per side, 60 sq ft total (if both sides have signs) | — |
| Industrial Zone, Industrial Office Zone, Professional Office Zone, Industrial Parks Zone, Corporate Office Zone | 1 | 5 ft | 30 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — |
| Shopping Center | 1 | — | — | — |
| Nursing Home | 1 | — | 6 sq ft | — |
| Service Station | 2 | Letters not to exceed 10 inches in height for over-entrance signs | 30 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) | — |
| Nonresidential Zones | 1 | — | 16 sq ft (total of all signs) | — |
| Industrial-1 Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Downtown-I Zone | 7 | 15 ft | 30 sq ft (aggregate) | — |
| Downtown-II Zone | 4 | — | 8% of wall area (max 30 sq ft) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | Varies by purpose; see below | — |
Zone-by-Zone Sign Requirements in Oakland Borough(sample of 3 of 11 zones)
Business Zone
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign (Entrance Wall) | 2 ft | 2 sq ft per 1 ft of wall width (see formula) | 90% of store front or wall width | — | 1 per entrance wall | On entrance wall | — | Unlock | §59-63H(1), §59-63D(2), §59-63P |
| Freestanding Sign (90 ft setback, No Structure or Structure Setback ≥90 ft) | 15 ft | 30 sq ft per side, 60 sq ft total (if both sides have signs) | — | 15 ft from property line | — | At least 15 ft behind property line | — | Unlock | §59-63H(2), §59-63D(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 30% of window area (aggregate for all window signs) | — | — | — | Exterior or interior of ground floor structure/window | — | Unlock | §59-63H(3), §59-63N(6), §59-63D(2) |
| Directory Sign (Second Floor – Common Directory) | — | 8 sq ft per side (max 2 sides, max 2 sq ft per tenant) | — | — | 1 common directory sign | Attached or freestanding (not to impede vision) | — | Unlock | §59-63H(4), §59-63H(5), §59-63D(2) |
Downtown-I Zone
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign (Downtown-I) | — | 8% of wall area (max 30 sq ft) | — | — | — | Street level wall | — | Unlock | §59-63S(1),(4)-(7) |
| Wall Sign (With Hanging Sign, Downtown-I) | — | 5% of wall area (when a hanging sign is present) | — | — | — | Street level wall | — | Unlock | §59-63S(9) |
| Hanging Sign (Downtown-I) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building face | — | Unlock | §59-63S(8) |
| Announcement Sign (Second-Floor Professional/Office) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy (main entrance); 1 per secondary entrance | At main entrance and flat on door of secondary entrance | — | Unlock | §59-63S(10) |
| Freestanding Common Sign (Parking Lot, ≥40 Cars) | — | 30 sq ft (aggregate) | — | No closer than 10 ft to property line | 1 | Within parking lot, at least 10 ft from property line | — | Unlock | §59-63S(11) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Center, Arterial Roadway) | 15 ft | 30 sq ft per face (2 faces max) | — | No closer than 12 ft to arterial roadway | 1 per arterial frontage | No closer than 12 ft to arterial roadway | — | Unlock | §59-63S(12) |
| Service Station Signs (Downtown-I) | 15 ft (freestanding), 8 ft height bottom clearance | 30 sq ft per face (max 2 faces) for freestanding sign; 1 sq ft for pump price signs; 2 sq ft credit card signs | — | — | 1 freestanding per station, various as per pump/island | Freestanding and attached to pumps/islands as allowed | — | Unlock | §59-63S(13) |
Downtown-II Zone
| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Premium Details(Illumination, Size Formula, Permit Requirements, Additional Requirements — available with a free PermitPal account) | Ordinance Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Sign (Downtown-II) | — | 8% of wall area (max 30 sq ft) | — | — | — | Street level wall | — | Unlock | §59-63T(1),(4)-(7) |
| Wall Sign (With Hanging Sign, Downtown-II) | — | 5% of wall area (when a hanging sign is present) | — | — | — | Street level wall | — | Unlock | §59-63T(9) |
| Hanging Sign (Downtown-II) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | Projecting from building face | — | Unlock | §59-63T(8) |
| Announcement Sign (Second-Floor Professional/Office) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per occupancy (main entrance); 1 per secondary entrance | At main entrance and flat on door of secondary entrance | — | Unlock | §59-63T(10) |
PermitPal covers all 11 zoning districts in Oakland Borough — full sign requirements for every zone, plus illumination rules, size formulas, and permit requirements for every sign type — with a free account.
See all 11 zones for Oakland Borough — start freeProhibited Signs in Oakland Borough
- No signs or advertising devices shall be used, placed, located, or erected except as specifically permitted by this section.
- No pennants or buntings shall be used, placed, located, or erected unless permission is given under the temporary signs provisions.
- No signs shall be erected or painted or composed of fluorescent or phosphorescent or similar material.
- No sign shall be in whole or part moving, mobile, or revolving, except barber poles customarily used in connection with barber shops.
- No signs causing radio or television interference shall be permitted.
- No paste-up signs are permitted on the exterior of buildings; paste-up signs on the interior of windows are limited to 30% of the window space, aggregate window signage is also limited to 30%.
- No billboard or sign shall be erected upon any roof of any building or structure, excepting an advertising structure as specified.
- No sign of the suspension type shall hang over any sidewalk area.
- No sign shall be erected except on the premises of use or activity to which such sign refers or which it identifies or advertises (off-premises signs are not permitted except specific industrial zones).
- No sign advertising products or anything other than the actual business of the person using the premises shall be permitted on the exterior of any building (with specific exceptions for off-premises signs in industrial zone).
- No vehicle or mobile sign shall be used to circumvent the provisions of this Article.
- Except for specific off-premises signs permitted in the Industrial-1 Zone, no permitted sign shall have a height of more than 15 feet and must be set back at least 15 feet from the property line.
- Except for specified off-premises signs in the Industrial-1 Zone, no billboard or billboard signs, freestanding or attached to buildings, shall be permitted.
- No person may erect a sign with exposed electrical wires.
- Strings of bulbs are not permitted on signs, except as part of a holiday celebration. Flashing, blinking, revolving, or rotating lights are not permitted.
- No person may erect a sign which flashes, rotates, or has motorized moving parts or features reflective strips of material that flutter with the wind and create the illusion of movement, excepting barber poles with barber shops and beauty parlors.
- No sign shall include neon lighting in its design.
- Except for off-premises signs conforming to Industrial-1 requirements, internally illuminated signs must be visible only through lettering or graphic symbols; background must remain opaque and constitute at least 60% of the area.
- Spectacular signs are prohibited except for off-premises signs in the Industrial-1 Zone, with exceptions for date, time, and temperature displays on freeway frontage.
- No exterior business sign in residential zones may be directly illuminated between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. except for doctors of medicine, dentistry, and chiropractors.
Exempt Signs in Oakland Borough
- Professional name plates affixed to the door or adjacent wall of premises so used, not to exceed eight inches by 20 inches per professional occupant.
- Memorial signs or tablets, or signs indicating the name of a building or date of its erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
- Signs for public convenience and welfare erected by, or on behalf of, the United States, state, county, or borough, including traffic controls in private ways and parking lots, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, or other signs as required by law.
- Temporary signs advertising specific events for public and charitable purposes by a local non-profit entity at the specified location and size, as approved and for a period not exceeding 30 days.
Sign Plan & Submission Notes for Oakland Borough
- It is unlawful to use, erect, alter or relocate any sign or advertising structure without first obtaining an erection permit from the Zoning Enforcement Official.
- Application for erection permits for signs must be made on forms provided by the Zoning Enforcement Official.
- The Zoning Enforcement Official must examine plans and specifications for proposed signs for compliance before issuing a permit.
- If a permit is denied, an applicant may apply for a sign variance to the Board of Adjustment.
- Permits and licenses for signs are revocable for cause, and unsafe or noncompliant signs may be ordered removed or repaired by the Zoning Enforcement Official.
- All signs and the premises surrounding them must be maintained in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition; noncompliance may result in removal by the Official at owner's expense.
- Persons seeking to install internally illuminated signs must provide certification and a signed, sealed lighting plan with specific light output standards.
- Strings of bulbs, where permitted as part of decorating trees, may be permitted only through site plan review by the Planning Board.
Source: ecode360 municipal code