# Sign Regulations in Phillipsburg Town, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Phillipsburg Town, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/phillipsburg-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11315006#11315006)

## At a glance

Phillipsburg Town, New Jersey regulates 30 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Programmable Electronic Signs in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 15 ft (applies unless zone/plan more restrictive) tall, with a Setback at least 100 ft from residential district boundary setback (Sec. § 625-35L). Most commercial signs in Phillipsburg Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | 15 ft (no sign may exceed 15 ft in height in any zone) | 32 sq ft (all such signs per event) | — |
| Residential district, Residential zones | 9 | — | 32 sq ft (all such signs per event) | — |
| Union Square Redevelopment Area (RDA #4/5), B-3 Zone | 17 | Min 10 ft above grade | 16 sq ft | — |
| Redevelopment zones | 1 | — | — | — |
| R-50 Zone | 1 | — | 15 sq ft max | — |

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

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign - New Development / Tracts of Acreage | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | Max 2 | On premises advertised | — | § 625-38A |
| Real Estate Sign - Sale of Existing Structure | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 2 | On premises advertised | — | § 625-38A |
| Announcement Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant/owner | For each tenant or owner per structure | — | § 625-38B |
| Contractor / Builder / Tradesmen Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On site under construction | — | § 625-38C |
| Public and Quasi-Public Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Identifying schools, churches, hospitals, utilities, clinics, etc. | — | § 625-38D |
| Temporary/Portable Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft (all such signs per event) | — | — | — | On premises of event | — | § 625-38E |
| Political Sign | — | 9 sq ft per property (no individual political sign larger than 9 sq ft, and aggregate per property also 9 sq ft) | — | — | Aggregate not to exceed 9 sq ft | On private property, outside public right-of-way and sight triangles/easements | — | § 625-39 |
| Programmable Electronic Sign | 15 ft (applies unless zone/plan more restrictive) | — | — | Setback at least 100 ft from residential district boundary | Max one per property/structure | See zone-specific rules; 100ft min setback from residential district boundary | — | § 625-35L |

### Residential district, Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Announcement Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | 1 per tenant/owner | For each tenant or owner per structure | — | § 625-38B |
| Real Estate Sign - Residential | — | 6 sq ft per sign | — | — | Max 2 | On premises advertised | — | § 625-38A |
| Contractor / Builder / Tradesmen Sign (Temporary) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | On site under construction | — | § 625-38C |
| Public and Quasi-Public Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | Identifying schools, churches, hospitals, utilities, clinics, etc. | — | § 625-38D |
| Temporary/Portable Event Sign | — | 32 sq ft (all such signs per event) | — | — | — | On premises of event | — | § 625-38E |
| Event Directional Sign (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Public right-of-way | — | § 625-38F |
| Political Sign | — | 9 sq ft per property (no individual political sign larger than 9 sq ft, and aggregate per property also 9 sq ft) | — | — | Aggregate not to exceed 9 sq ft | On private property, outside public right-of-way and sight triangles/easements | — | § 625-39 |
| Yard Sale Sign | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of yard sale; not elsewhere | — | § 470-4 |

### Union Square Redevelopment Area (RDA #4/5), B-3 Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (For Motoring Public) | Not to exceed maximum height of first floor | — | — | — | One per use per side | Per side facing right-of-way or public parking | — | § 625-41C(1) |
| Projecting Sign (For Motoring Public) | Min 8 ft above grade | 10 sq ft per side | — | — | One per use per side; max two per building side | Per side facing right-of-way or public parking; max two per building side | — | § 625-41C(1) |
| Awning/Canopy Sign | Min 8 ft above grade | — | — | — | Two per awning | On awning, canopy, or marquee | — | § 625-41C(1) |
| Marquee Sign | Min 10 ft above grade | — | — | — | One per building | On marquee | — | § 625-41C(1) |
| Wall Sign (For Pedestrians) | Not to exceed max height of first floor | 4 sq ft | — | — | One per use per side | Per side facing right-of-way | — | § 625-41C(2) |
| Door Sign | — | 2 sq ft max or 40% of glass area (whichever less) | — | — | One per use | On door | — | § 625-41C(2) |
| Ground Sign | 5 ft max | 16 sq ft | — | — | One per building | Only for buildings fronting a sidewalk >12 ft wide, or fronting an interior courtyard, plaza or parking area, per building. | — | § 625-41C(3) |
| Portable Sign | — | 4 sq ft per side | — | — | One per building or 25 ft frontage | Sidewalk, min 3.5 ft clear on South Main, min 5 ft clear in Areas 1 and 4; outside sight triangles/easements | — | § 625-41C(3) |

## Prohibited signs in Phillipsburg Town

- All signs must conform to the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign, other than warning signs, shall be attached to a fire escape or standpipe.
- No sign shall cover or intrude upon any architectural features of a building, such as windows, columns, moldings, railings, or any major decoration or structural feature.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or distract the attention of the driver of any vehicle by reason of the position, shape, color, reflection, illumination, etc.
- Unsafe signs must be made safe or removed after official notice.
- Any sign damaged, destroyed, or deteriorated more than 75% of its replacement value must be removed or reconstructed in compliance with the code.
- Derelict on-premises signs must be removed within 90 days of notification where business goods are no longer sold or produced, or services no longer provided.
- No sign shall exceed 15 feet in height in any zone.
- No sign shall project into a vehicular public way.
- Signs overhanging a pedestrian way/sidewalk must be covered by a public liability insurance policy naming the Town as insured.
- Programmable electronic signs must not display animation, videos, flashing, blinking, fading, rolling, shading, dissolving, or any effect that gives the appearance of movement.
- Audio messages are prohibited on programmable electronic signs.
- Messages on programmable electronic signs must have a minimum duration of eight seconds and must be static.
- Off-premises advertising signs are prohibited.
- Any sign causing confusion with traffic signs or lights, or official street signs/signals due to placement, color, reflective surface, or shape is prohibited.
- Any sign endangering traffic by obscuring or obstructing a clear view is prohibited.
- Flashing, moving, or fluttering signs are prohibited.
- Any sign visible from the public right-of-way using the word 'stop' is prohibited.
- Any ground or projecting signs within the sight triangles and less than eight feet from the ground are prohibited.
- Portable signs are prohibited except as permitted by ordinance.
- All signs must comply with applicable county, state, and federal regulations if those are more restrictive.
- All illumination immediately adjacent to reflecting surfaces must be shielded from the public right-of-way and adjacent dwelling lots.
- Illumination visible from the public right-of-way must not exceed specified intensity levels (50 candles/sq ft at 3 ft; 0.8 candles/sq ft at lot line for adjacent dwellings).
- No temporary signs shall be affixed to utility poles, light standards, trees or the like unless allowed by specific regulations.
- Temporary signs located in the public right-of-way shall not be across, over, or extending onto the paved portion of any public roadway and may not interfere with access or vision.

## Signs exempt from permit in Phillipsburg Town

- Official notices, legal notices, and signs required by law.
- Trespassing signs, private property signs, signs controlling fishing and other like signs, not exceeding two square feet per side.
- Special event signs of a temporary nature and limited duration, not exceeding six square feet.
- Public service and informational signs (such as those indicating rest rooms, telephones, or similar conveniences), not exceeding two square feet per side.
- Residence designation signs and historic plaques, not exceeding one square foot.
- A bulletin board or similar sign (up to 12 square feet) in connection with any place of worship, museum, library, or similar public or semipublic use, provided the top does not exceed five feet above ground.
- Directional signs not to exceed four square feet.
- Political signs pertaining to elections or political events in which the local voters participate, provided they meet specified size, location, and time limits.
- Restoration of historic advertising signs with historical or nostalgic interest will not be counted in the calculation of total allowed signage.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Site plan applications shall provide a signage plan that includes all signs proposed on site. The signage plan must be coordinated with landscaping and building elements and use a uniform theme in terms of materials, colors, style, and architectural detail.
- All proposed signs under a site plan application are subject to review and approval as part of the site plan approval process.
- For signs not approved as part of a site plan application, a permit is required and the applicant must file an application with a scale drawing including dimensions, materials, illumination, letter sizes, colors, support systems, and location, with all relevant measurements.
- Permits for signs will only be issued if the sign complies with all code provisions and the State Uniform Construction Code.
- Signs for multiple uses within a single building must have a similar style, size, location, and color scheme (implying a coordinated review or plan).

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/phillipsburg-town