# Sign Regulations in Perth Amboy, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Perth Amboy, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/perth-amboy
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-21
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35015486#35015486)

## At a glance

Perth Amboy, New Jersey regulates 22 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign / Ground Signs in the C-1 Neighborhood Business Zone, C-2 Central Business Zone, C-3 Highway Commercial Zone, M-1 Light Industrial Zone, M-2 Heavy Industrial Zone, M-3 Heavy Industrial Zone zoning district are capped at Per Table of Basic Design Elements; C-3 shopping center not to exceed height of principal building tall and Per Table of Basic Design Elements; up to signable wall area for industrial; C-3 shopping center sign: max aggregate 100 sq ft per sign, with a 50 ft, 200 ft from residential) setback (Sec. §430-62J, §430-62H(6)(c), (7)(a), (8)(a), (8)(d), (9)(c), (9)(d), Table of Basic Design Elements). Most commercial signs in Perth Amboy require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R-60 Residential Zone, R-50 Residential Zone, R-25 Residential Zone, R-M Residential Zone | 7 | — | 10 square feet per side | — |
| H Hospital Zone | 3 | — | 25 square feet per side | — |
| C-1 Neighborhood Business Zone, C-2 Central Business Zone, C-3 Highway Commercial Zone, M-1 Light Industrial Zone, M-2 Heavy Industrial Zone, M-3 Heavy Industrial Zone | 8 | Not to exceed sign band; Letters max 19 in. (special illumination/attachment restriction), 7 in. for internally illuminated on sidewalk-front buildings | Per Table of Basic Design Elements (max 100 sq ft for illuminated wall signs in M zones) | — |
| Business Improvement District | 6 | Min height 6 ft 9 in.; letters max 7 in. (script uppercase 12 in. if lowercase under 7 in.); logos/symbols up to 10% of awning area. May not extend above store window or transom. | 15% of window area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | Public function/charitable: 8 ft | Directional: 3 sq ft; historical: 6 sq ft; warning: 3 sq ft; name + number plates: 50 sq in.; lawn: 1 sq ft; real estate: 5 sq ft/side (double: 10 sq ft); artisan sign: 16 sq ft; private drive: 2 sq ft; temporary political: 12 sq ft; public function/charitable: 16 sq ft | — |

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

### R-60 Residential Zone, R-50 Residential Zone, R-25 Residential Zone, R-M Residential Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 1 square foot per side | — | — | 1 per lot | Situated within the property line | — | §430-62H(1)(a), §430-62H(2)(a), §430-62H(3)(a), §430-62H(4)(a) |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign | — | 4 square feet per side (R-60, R-50, R-25, R-M except as indicated); 5 square feet per side for real estate sign (all zones, Section F(11)) | — | — | 1 per lot | Situated within property lines and on premises to which it relates | — | §430-62H(1)(b), §430-62H(2)(a), §430-62H(3)(a), §430-62H(4)(a), §430-62F(11) |
| Wall or Freestanding Sign (School, Church, Public Park or Other Permitted Uses) | — | 10 square feet per side | — | 10 feet from any street or property line | 1 per use | No less than 10 feet from any street or property line | — | §430-62H(1)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign | — | — | — | 10 feet from front or side lot line | — | — | — | §430-62H(1)(d) |
| Home Occupation Sign (R-25 Zone) | — | 1 square foot per side | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | §430-62H(3)(b) |
| Multifamily Residential Entrance Sign (R-M Zone) | — | 6 square feet per side | — | 10 feet from property line | 1 per entrance | Per entrance; not closer than 10 feet to any property line | — | §430-62H(4)(b) |
| Other Signs for Non-residential Use (R-M Zone) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §430-62H(4)(c) |

### C-1 Neighborhood Business Zone, C-2 Central Business Zone, C-3 Highway Commercial Zone, M-1 Light Industrial Zone, M-2 Heavy Industrial Zone, M-3 Heavy Industrial Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Not to exceed sign band; Letters max 19 in. (special illumination/attachment restriction), 7 in. for internally illuminated on sidewalk-front buildings | Per Table of Basic Design Elements (max 100 sq ft for illuminated wall signs in M zones) | — | — | Per elevation | Within sign band above display window/transom; additional for activities above ground floor on windows (max 25% of glass area) | — | §430-62K, §430-62H(6)(a), (7)(a), (8)(a), (8)(b), (9)(a), (9)(b), (9)(e), (10)(a), (11)(a), Table of Basic Design Elements |
| Freestanding Sign / Ground Sign | Per Table of Basic Design Elements; C-3 shopping center not to exceed height of principal building | Per Table of Basic Design Elements; up to signable wall area for industrial; C-3 shopping center sign: max aggregate 100 sq ft per sign | — | 10 ft from property/street (C-3 center: 50 ft, 200 ft from residential) | 1 per parcel or per regulation | Minimum frontage required for signs above 6 sq ft; 10 ft from street/property line (more for C-3 shopping center: 50 ft from street/driveway, 200 ft from residential zone boundary) | — | §430-62J, §430-62H(6)(c), (7)(a), (8)(a), (8)(d), (9)(c), (9)(d), Table of Basic Design Elements |
| Projecting Sign | Not above sign band for >1 story buildings; not above roof line for 1-story; must clear sidewalk by 8 ft | Per Table of Basic Design Elements | May project up to 4 ft from building | — | 1 per street frontage | Must be at least 6 in. from wall; building must be at least 14 ft wide. | — | §430-62L, §430-62H(6)(a), (7)(a), (8)(a), (9)(a), Table of Basic Design Elements |
| Awning Sign | Within 6 ft 9 in. above ground; letters max 7 in. (exception: uppercase script 12 in. if lowercase under 7 in.); may not extend more than 1 ft above display window or transom | — | Not extended beyond 4 ft from building (permanent awning); retractable max 6 ft. Letters/logos: logos/symbols up to 10% awning area | — | — | Frame of first floor display window or door; not above storefront or transom by more than 1 ft. | — | §430-62O(1), §374-12B(1) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 25% of area of window in which displayed; in BID, 15% per §374-12B(2) | — | — | — | Displayed on window | — | §430-62O(2), §374-12B(2), §430-62F(12) |
| Directional Signs (ingress/egress/parking/traffic) | Ingress/Egress: 3 ft above ground; Traffic control: 10 ft max; Parking lot aisle: 11 ft height | Ingress: 3 sq ft per face; Egress: 10 sq ft per face; Traffic control: 4 sq ft (10 ft height max) | — | — | As regulated | At each driveway, within parking areas, at ends of aisles | — | §430-62H(8)(e)-(h) |
| Parking Lot Signs | 10 ft max; aisle id: 11 ft max | 3 sq ft per face; aisle identification: 1 sq ft per face | — | — | 1 per 40,000 sq ft of parking area; 1 at each end of aisle | Within parking areas or at ends of aisles | — | §430-62H(8)(h) |
| Billboards (M-3 Only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §430-62H(11)(b) |

### Business Improvement District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Located within sign band above storefront display window or transom, not exceeding 2/3 height between windows (if in spandrel area); letters max 19 in. (architectural); otherwise, internally illuminated individual letters max 7 in.; backlighted illuminated letters up to 19 in. | Per Table of Basic Design Elements | — | — | Per signable area/components | Within sign band above ground floor window/transom; glass area for upper floors (max 25% with 10 info items); door signs (max 10% of door area) | — | §374-7, §374-2, §374-5, §374-11 |
| Ground Sign | Per Table; industrial: 5 ft (institutional/residential), 10 ft (otherwise) | Per Table of Basic Design Elements; industrial see above | — | Setback/distances per above | Per Table and provided requirements met | Allowed if: (1) activity accessible by car/off-street parking on premises; or (2) building set back 35+ ft from right-of-way | — | §374-6, §374-5, §374-11 |
| Projecting Sign | Not to extend above 2nd story sill or sign band; must clear sidewalk by 8 ft | Per Table of Basic Design Elements | May project 4 ft max; must be at least 6 in. from wall | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | §374-8, §374-11 |
| Awning Sign | Min height 6 ft 9 in.; letters max 7 in. (script uppercase 12 in. if lowercase under 7 in.); logos/symbols up to 10% of awning area. May not extend above store window or transom. | — | — | — | — | As above | — | §374-12B(1) |
| Temporary Window Sign | — | 15% of window area | — | — | — | Window | — | §374-12B(2) |
| Banner | — | Twice size of projecting sign | — | — | — | On corner buildings (commercial/institutional, 2+ stories); may project 5 ft (with 1 ft gap from wall) | — | §374-12B(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Perth Amboy

- Any signs not specifically permitted are prohibited.
- No signs, except special event signs, shall be placed on property except to identify a use actually conducted on the premises.
- No sign shall materially impede the view of any street or intersection.
- No sign or any part thereof shall be located closer than twenty (20) feet to any lot line, unless otherwise provided.
- Signs shall not be painted on buildings or affixed to water towers, storage tanks, smoke stacks or similar structures.
- No marquees shall be permitted.
- Wall signs painted on walls are prohibited.
- Moving or revolving signs and signs using blinking, flashing, vibrating, flickering, tracer or sequential lighting are prohibited.
- Signs using any material which sparkles or glitters are prohibited (except reflective paint for traffic signs).
- Roof signs are prohibited in all zones.
- Signs or advertising matter of an indecent or obscene nature are prohibited.
- Signs using words, such as 'stop,' 'look,' 'danger,' etc. which constitute a traffic hazard or interfere with the free flow of traffic are prohibited.
- Signs that imitate or cause confusion with government signs are prohibited.
- Billboards and other advertising signs fixed or portable are prohibited in all districts, except where specifically permitted.
- Signs causing interference with radio or television reception are prohibited.
- Signs obstructing doors, fire escapes, stairways, or keeping light or air from windows used for living quarters are prohibited.
- Strings of plastic flags, banners, pinwheels, A-type signs, sandwich-type, sidewalk, curb signs, and similar advertising devices are prohibited.
- Any commercial sign or banner spanning a public street is prohibited, except for city-supported or sponsored events.
- Signs placed or attached or supported on awnings, trees, fences, utility poles, or light poles; signs attached to other signs; and signs placed upon motor vehicles which are parked in a conspicuous location to serve as a sign are prohibited (except for signs for traffic or location identification).
- Any series of two (2) or more signs placed along a street or highway carrying an advertising message, part of which is contained on each sign, is prohibited.
- Signs on motor vehicles/trailers used or parked for advertising purposes are prohibited (with exceptions for vehicles regularly used in business).
- Signs located within sight triangles are prohibited.
- Banners are prohibited except for commercial and institutional activities supported or sponsored by the municipality located in corner buildings two (2) or more stories in height.
- Illuminated surface colors on wall or projecting signs on buildings which are not set back from the sidewalk are prohibited (except for internally illuminated letters of permitted size).
- Internal illumination (a light source contained within the sign and visible through a translucent surface) on wall or projecting signs on buildings which are not set back from the sidewalk is prohibited (with limited exceptions for internally illuminated letters).
- Colored floodlights or indirect colored illumination is prohibited.
- Neon lights are specifically prohibited, except where specifically permitted.
- Flashing graphics/lights are only permitted for motion-picture theaters and are prohibited in residential/institutional areas and on streets with speeds over 25 mph.
- Signs must not cause a safety hazard to motor vehicle traffic, as determined by the Zoning Officer.
- Any sign which, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, unreasonably distracts drivers or constitutes a traffic hazard is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Perth Amboy

- Nonilluminated directional signs identifying parking areas, loading zones, entrances, exits, and similar locations, not exceeding three (3) square feet, are permitted in any zone without a permit.
- Temporary and permanent traffic signs and signals installed by the municipality, county, or state for the purpose of directing and regulating traffic, including temporary utility signs in right-of-way, are permitted without a permit.
- Signs indicating public transportation stops installed by the municipality or public transportation utility do not require a permit.
- Historical tablets, cornerstones, memorial plaques, and emblems not exceeding six (6) square feet and installed by government or civil/religious organizations are permitted without a permit.
- Warning and no-trespassing signs not exceeding three (3) square feet are permitted without a permit.
- Flags or emblems of religious, educational, civic, or governmental organizations flown from supports on the buildings or grounds occupied by the organization, and the American flag, are exempt and do not require a permit.
- Name and number plates identifying residents and affixed to a house, apartment, or mailbox, not exceeding fifty (50) square inches, are permitted without a permit.
- Lawn signs identifying residents, no more than one (1) square foot per side, nonilluminated and not containing advertising, are permitted without a permit.
- Signs posted by governmental agencies or pursuant to statute, order, or regulation are exempt.
- Signs that are an integral part of vending machines (e.g., on gasoline pumps, MAC machines) not exceeding the height/width of the machine are exempt.
- Real estate signs (sale, rental, lease) meeting the area and other requirements are exempt from permit.
- Temporary signs attached to windows (event/sale notices) are exempt, provided they comply with size, duration, and removal requirements.
- Temporary public function or fundraising event signs for charitable/religious organizations are permitted without a permit if size, duration, and removal limits are met.
- Temporary political signs not exceeding twelve (12) square feet, nonilluminated, removed ten (10) days after the election, are exempt.
- Path marking signs for garage sales (max two, max two square feet, posted two days before, removed day after, address required) are exempt.
- Artisans’/contractors’ signs during the period of work on the premises (not exceeding sixteen (16) square feet) are exempt if promptly removed after work.
- Private driveway signs (max two (2) square feet) are exempt.
- Street numbers placed on entry doors in commercial/industrial zones (max four (4) inch lettering) are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No signage may be erected, displayed, altered, or reconstructed except in conformance with the Table of Basic Design Elements. A sign plan or appropriate details showing compliance is required for sign permit approval.
- Permit applications to display street signs may require a site plan, drawings, and other illustrations sufficient to indicate the character of the sign and surroundings.
- Application for sign permits must include dimensions, calculations of signable area, colors, materials, methods of installation and illumination, color photographs, and plans at specified scale.
- Permit applications may require submittal of a site plan, owner’s consent, diagrams and elevations, and additional documentation as specified by the Zoning Officer.
- In the Business Improvement District, property owners and tenants must bring all signs not in conformance with the Table of Basic Design Elements into compliance when there is a change in ownership or tenancy; this may require submittal and approval of a new sign plan.
- A master sign plan is not explicitly named, but the required submission for review, describing all signage, constitutes a comprehensive sign plan for the property.
- Permits for signs expire upon the closing, sale, or transfer of the business; new owners/tenants must re-apply and bring signage into compliance.
- Signs and awnings must be approved by the Department of Code Enforcement following submission of design standards and application in the BID.
- If signs are in the Business Improvement District, the application may require review pursuant to Chapter 374 of the City Code.
- Nonconforming/illegal signs must be removed upon change in property ownership/tenancy, further necessitating review and possible resubmission of a sign plan.
- No sign may be displayed in the public right-of-way without a permit; projecting signs above public ways require a permit and compliance with clearance and projection standards.
- Permit procedures and required plan content are defined by the City’s Code Enforcement Dept. and Zoning Officer and typically include documentation of existing and proposed conditions.

## 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 Perth Amboy — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Perth+Amboy+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-perth-amboy

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