# Sign Regulations in Old Tappan Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Old Tappan Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/old-tappan-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11281784#11281784)

## At a glance

Old Tappan Borough, New Jersey regulates 25 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Wall Signs in the Business Zones, Limited Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones zoning district are capped at 3 ft tall and 10% of building face (including window area); max height 3 ft (Sec. §255-81C(1); §255-85A, B(2)). Most commercial signs in Old Tappan Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Zones, Residential Districts | 6 | — | 12 sq. ft. (3 ft x 4 ft) | — |
| Planned Residential Developments | 1 | 8 ft | 25 sq. ft. | — |
| Business Zones, Limited Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones | 8 | 10 ft | 30 sq. ft. | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 10 | — | 32 sq. ft. | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Residential Zones, Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign (Home Occupation) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per premises | On premises where home occupation occurs. | — | §255-81A(1) |
| Governmental Sign | — | — | — | — | — | As necessary for governmental functions. | — | §255-81A(2) |
| Wall or Ground Sign (Church, Library, Public Building) | — | 12 sq. ft. (3 ft x 4 ft) | 4 ft | — | 1 per premises | On-premises of institution. | — | §255-81A(3) |
| Wall or Ground Sign (Driveway/Warning - Church, Library, School) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On grounds of libraries, schools, churches, public buildings. | — | §255-81A(3) |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Directional) | — | 1 sq. ft. | — | — | — | On premises. | — | §255-81A(5) |
| Temporary Ground Sign (Construction Site) | — | 12 sq. ft. (3 ft x 4 ft) | 4 ft | — | — | On construction site. | — | §255-81A(6), §255-85D |

### Business Zones, Limited Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 3 ft | 10% of building face (including window area); max height 3 ft | — | — | 1 per business frontage | Building face/frontage | — | §255-81C(1); §255-85A, B(2) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of individual window area or 10% of exit door glass area | — | — | — | Window area visible from business or industrial frontage | — | §255-81C(2) |
| Ground Sign | 10 ft | 30 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per business frontage (in addition to wall sign) | Near, but wholly inside, the front property line and at right angles thereto. | — | §255-81C(3); §255-82A; §255-85B(2) |
| Roof Sign | 3 ft above building | — | — | — | — | Above building roof | — | §255-81C(4); §255-85B(2) |
| Marquee Sign | — | 4 sq. ft. | 12 in wide (1 ft) x 48 in (4 ft) long | — | — | Attached to or hung from a marquee/canopy/covered structure extending from and supported by building. | — | §255-81C(5); §255-85B(2) |
| Ground Sign (Directional/Entrance/Exit) | — | 8 sq. ft. | — | — | — | Directing flow of traffic (entrance, exit, other directional); on premises | — | §255-81C(6); §255-85B(2) |
| Temporary Banner/Streamers/Pennants/Bunting | 3 ft (banner) | — | Max 30 ft, or width of storefront/business front, whichever is less | — | — | On building/business property (not in residential zone or property) | — | §255-81C(8) |
| Temporary Sign/Banner (House of Worship/Charity Option) | — | — | — | — | — | On property of house of worship or charity (principal office in Old Tappan) | — | §255-81C(9) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Public Information Sign (Roadside) | — | 3 sq. ft. | — | — | — | At roadside in any zone | — | §255-81D(1) |
| Developer's Directional Sign (Roadside) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | — | — | At intersection during sale of development. | — | §255-81D(2); §255-85D |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential District) | — | 6 sq. ft. | — | Min 10 ft from street curbline (if freestanding). | 1 per property (2 if corner) | On property for sale or rent. | — | §255-81G(1-4) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential District) | — | 32 sq. ft. | — | Min 10 ft from street curbline (if freestanding). | 1 per property (2 if corner) | On property for sale/rent. | — | §255-81G(4) |
| Temporary Directional Sign (Open House/Similar Event) | — | — | — | — | — | Erected for open house/event. | — | §255-81G(6) |
| Garage Sale Sign (Directional) | — | — | — | — | — | Freestanding; private property with owner permission; not in street right-of-way. | — | §255-81H |
| Political Sign (Lawn Sign) | — | 3 sq. ft. (18 in x 24 in) | — | — | — | Private property in any zone. | — | §255-81.1A, B, C |
| Political Signboard/Billboard/Banner | — | 18 sq. ft. | — | — | 1 per property | Private property in any zone. | — | §255-81.1D |

## Prohibited signs in Old Tappan Borough

- Billboards and outdoor display structures are prohibited in all zones.
- Projecting signs or signs attached at, or nearly at, right angles to a building wall are prohibited in all zones.
- Pylon signs or special ground signs supported by tall mast-like members or pyramidal tower supports are prohibited in all zones.
- Roof signs or display signs placed above or supported on the top of a building or structure are prohibited in all zones, except as permitted for certain roof signs in business and industrial zones (§255-81C(4)).
- Awning signs are prohibited in all zones.
- Banners, streamers, and advertising flags are prohibited in all zones, except as specifically permitted for certain business openings or Borough events.
- Fence signs are prohibited in all zones, except those necessary for safety such as 'high voltage.'
- Advertising signs tacked, pasted, painted or otherwise attached on poles, posts, trees, fences, sidewalks, or curbs are prohibited.
- Illuminated signs of the flashing or animated type are prohibited.
- Silhouette cutout three-dimensional caricature signs or signs of a bizarre nature are prohibited.
- Signs producing glare are prohibited.
- Except as otherwise permitted, advertising signs placed on Borough property or within the public right-of-way for more than 24 hours are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Old Tappan Borough

- Political lawn signs may be erected and maintained on private property in any zone within the Borough without a sign permit or payment of fees.
- Signs erected by municipal, county, or federal government, as deemed necessary for their respective functions, are exempt.
- Temporary ground signs not exceeding one square foot in area erected for directional purposes for a period not exceeding two days in residential zones are exempt from permit requirements.
- Temporary banners for Borough events may be authorized by the Mayor and Council, including banners across public streets.
- Signs defined in §255-81A(1): one double-faced ground sign (home occupation or address), (2): government signs, (3): wall or ground sign for public buildings, and (5): temporary small directional sign, are exempt from sign permit requirements.
- Garage sale signs, political signs, and certain real estate signs are permitted in accordance with specific provisions and exemptions outlined in the ordinance.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No general or master sign plan requirement is specified in the ordinance for all signs or all zones.
- An appeal to the Planning Board is available for those aggrieved by actions of the Uniform Construction Code agency related to signs, but there is no explicit mention of a sign plan or master sign plan submission requirement.
- Permits are required for most permanent and some temporary signs, with notable exemptions for certain sign types, as listed.

## 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 4 zoning districts in Old Tappan Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Old+Tappan+Borough+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-old-tappan-borough

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/old-tappan-borough