# Sign Regulations in Passaic, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Passaic, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/passaic
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/8638316#8638316)

## At a glance

Passaic, New Jersey regulates 16 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 16 feet including supporting members or height of tallest building on lot, whichever is less tall and 8 square feet per foot of frontage; for corner lots use average of two street frontages. (Sec. §317-49A(1), (3), (4), (8711226, 8711228, 8711229)). Most commercial signs in Passaic require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | 16 feet including supporting members or height of tallest building on lot, whichever is less | Shall not occupy and/or cover more than 50% of a window | — |
| R-1 Zone | 4 | Not to exceed height of building | 16 square feet | — |
| R-1A Zone, R-2 Zone, R-3 Zone, PD District (Residential Use) | 4 | Not to exceed height of building | 16 square feet | — |
| C District, C-R District | 7 | 16 feet or height of tallest building on lot, whichever is less | Aggregate area not to exceed 4 square feet per foot of building facade width | — |
| O-R District, PD District (Non-Residential Use) | 5 | 6 feet including supporting members | Aggregate area not to exceed 4 square feet per foot of building facade width | — |
| M-1 District, M-2 District | 7 | 16 feet or height of tallest building on lot, whichever is less | Aggregate area not to exceed 4 square feet per foot of building facade width | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 6 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 16 feet including supporting members or height of tallest building on lot, whichever is less | 8 square feet per foot of frontage; for corner lots use average of two street frontages. | — | — | — | Not to project over any portion of any street right-of-way | — | §317-49A(1), (3), (4), (8711226, 8711228, 8711229) |
| Window Sign | — | Shall not occupy and/or cover more than 50% of a window | — | — | — | Window | — | §317-49A(4) (8711229) |
| Political Sign (Temporary) | — | 8 square feet | — | 8 ft from inner sidewalk; if no sidewalk, 30 ft from street line | — | Grounds or yards, front, rear, or side, facing any public street | — | §247-1(A), (D) (8638318, 8638322) |
| Political Sign (On Private Building) | — | 8 square feet (except campaign headquarters) | — | — | One per candidate per campaign headquarters | Private building | — | §247-1(C) (8638321) |
| Temporary Sign (Nonprofit Event) | — | — | — | — | — | Municipal property during a nonprofit event | — | §247-6(A) (8638331-8638335) |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | — | — | — | — | Private property (with owner consent) | — | §247-5, §247-6(B), (C) (8638328, 8638336, 8638337) |

### R-1 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (Professional Office) | — | 1 square foot | — | — | One | Building on which such office is conducted | — | §317-49B(1) (8711231) |
| Institution Identification Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One | For house of worship, school, hospital, club, public or institutional use | — | §317-49B(2) (8711232) |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One | On subject property | — | §317-49B(3) (8711233) |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | Not to exceed height of building | 10% of facade of first story | — | — | — | On facade of structure with nonconforming use permitted in C or M District but not R District | — | §317-49B(4) (8711234) |

### R-1A Zone, R-2 Zone, R-3 Zone, PD District (Residential Use)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign (Professional Office) | — | 1 square foot | — | — | One | Building on which such office is conducted | — | §317-49C(1) (8711236; applies 'Same as R-1') |
| Institution Identification Sign | — | 16 square feet | — | — | One | For house of worship, school, hospital, club, public or institutional use | — | §317-49C(1) (8711236; applies 'Same as R-1') |
| For Sale or For Rent Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | One | On subject property | — | §317-49C(1) (8711236; applies 'Same as R-1') |
| Nonconforming Use Sign | Not to exceed height of building | 10% of facade of first story | — | — | — | On facade of structure with nonconforming use permitted in C or M District but not R District | — | §317-49C(1) (8711236; applies 'Same as R-1') |

## Prohibited signs in Passaic

- No signs shall be permitted to be posted or attached in any way or manner to any trees, poles, posts, trestles, traffic signs, traffic signals, walls, fences or any public buildings.
- No signs other than those placed by agencies or the government shall be erected on any public property, except as allowed for nonprofit organizations during municipal events.
- No temporary sign shall be placed on any private property without the prior consent of the owner.
- No temporary sign shall be placed on any utility pole, street lamp or fire alarm box except for utility identification or similar purposes.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected or displayed at the intersection of any street in such a manner as to obstruct vision.
- No person shall attach to any tree in any street or park or to a guard or device intended for the protection of any tree any rope, wire or sign or other thing.
- No sign shall include intermittent or flashing lights or moving parts.
- No sign, whether self-supported or attached to a structure, shall project over any portion of any street or right-of-way.
- Any sign, advertisement, poster, ornament or other document shall not occupy and/or cover more than 50% of a window in any way that impairs visibility.

## Signs exempt from permit in Passaic

- Signs placed by agencies or the government on public property are exempt from general prohibitions on signs on public property.
- Temporary signs for utility identification or similar necessary purposes may be placed on utility poles, street lamps, or fire alarm boxes.
- Nonprofit organizations may post advertisements on municipal properties during events they hold, with City approval and subject to specific limitations.
- Permanent and legible identification, floor, and street number signs are required and permitted for multiple dwellings.
- Signs required for public safety (such as 'danger', 'warning', 'Keep Out') may be erected as directed by the City.
- Required exit signs in licensed establishments as specified are permitted.
- No-smoking signs as mandated by smoking ordinances are required and permitted.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit mention of a master sign plan, sign plan, or required zoning variance meeting is present within the provided text.

## 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 6 zoning districts in Passaic — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Passaic+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-passaic

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