# Sign Regulations in Plainsboro Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Plainsboro Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/plainsboro-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9430710#9430710)

## At a glance

Plainsboro Township, New Jersey regulates 22 sign types across 2 zoning districts. For Sale/Lease Sign (Nonresidential)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 8 ft (Route One); 6 ft (elsewhere) tall, 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft), max total height 8 ft (Route One) or 6 ft (elsewhere), and 4 ft wide, with a Outside public right-of-way; not in open space or sight triangle. setback (Sec. §101-157B(2)(g)). Most commercial signs in Plainsboro Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 16 | Building height if attached, 10 ft if freestanding | 20 sq ft (general), 3 sq ft if in right-of-way | — |
| All districts other than residence | 6 | Below top of first story, below top of parapet, or 12 ft above grade, whichever is lower | 28 sq ft per sign; aggregate max 35 sq ft or 40% of linear footage, max 56 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Memorial or Historical Marker | Building height if attached, 10 ft if freestanding | 12 sq ft | — | 10 ft if freestanding | 2 | — | — | §101-157B(1)(b); §101-158E Table, P-2 |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Residential) | 6 ft | 6 sq ft for property, 1 sq ft for room/apartment, 25 sq ft for subdivision | — | 25 ft or building face from public right-of-way | 2 | — | — | §101-157B(2)(a); §101-158F Table, T-1 (Note 1) |
| Construction/Contractor Sign | 6 ft | 4 sq ft | — | 25 ft or building face from public right-of-way | See additional requirements | On lot during construction | — | §101-157B(2)(b); §101-158F Table, T-2 (Note 2) |
| Nonprofit Campaign/Event Sign | 6 ft | 20 sq ft (general), 3 sq ft if in right-of-way | — | 25 ft or building face (private property); 10 ft from roadway (right-of-way) | 1 (general); up to 7 (nonprofit, right-of-way) | Private property. In street right-of-way for T-3 only if conditions met. | — | §101-157B(2)(c); §101-158F Table, T-3; §101-158G |
| Farm Products Sale Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft (general), 3 sq ft if in right-of-way | — | 10 ft from public right-of-way | 2 | On site where product is for sale. Right-of-way for approved farm stands only. | — | §101-157B(2)(d); §101-158F T-4; §101-158G |
| For Sale/Lease Sign (Nonresidential) | 8 ft (Route One); 6 ft (elsewhere) | 16 sq ft (4 ft x 4 ft), max total height 8 ft (Route One) or 6 ft (elsewhere) | 4 ft | Outside public right-of-way; not in open space or sight triangle. | 1 per building or 2 for qualifying complexes | On land associated with referred building, outside ROW, not in open space conservation area, not in sight triangle/blocking driver sight. | — | §101-157B(2)(g) |
| Directory Sign (General Regulations) | 6 ft | 8 sq ft (per sign), 72 sq in per tenant | — | — | 1 per main entrance; 1 per side/rear entrance per business | Principal entrance to rented area; or side/rear entrance. | — | §101-158D(1) |
| Directory Sign - Freestanding for Building with Setback | — | 8 sq ft (per sign), 72 sq in per tenant | — | >20 ft | 1 additional | Within front yard of building with setback >20 ft | — | §101-158D(2) |

### All districts other than residence

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | Below top of first story, below top of parapet, or 12 ft above grade, whichever is lower | 28 sq ft per sign; aggregate max 35 sq ft or 40% of linear footage, max 56 sq ft | — | — | — | Parallel to building wall, projecting no more than 12 in, not above/beyond wall or roof, not into yard/ROW | — | §101-158A, §101-158B |
| Freestanding Sign | 12 ft | 28 sq ft (per sign); see aggregate limit | — | — | — | On lot to which they refer. | — | §101-158A(2), §101-158B |
| Window Sign (Business Information) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per establishment | Interior of the door or window | — | §101-158L |
| Temporary Signs (General Aggregate) | — | See formula | — | — | — | — | — | §101-158C |
| Directory Sign | — | 8 sq ft per sign, 72 sq in per tenant | — | Additional sign: premises with 20+ ft setback | 1 per entrance; 1 additional for setback | At entrances | — | §101-158D(1)-(2) |
| Directory Sign - Freestanding for Setback | — | 8 sq ft, 72 sq in per tenant | — | Setback >20 ft | 1 additional | On premises in front yard | — | §101-158D(2) |

## Prohibited signs in Plainsboro Township

- Advertising signs commonly known as 'billboards' or those promoting the sale of goods or services not available on the premises.
- Signs painted or constructed on the exterior walls of buildings and having the physical characteristics of billboards, whether or not they relate to the business transacted on the premises.
- Silhouetted or three-dimensional signs, i.e., signs lacking a background and having letters, figures or devices silhouetted against the sky or open space, and/or having objects present in the round or other than in a vertical plane.
- Signs in which the colors red and green are used in such a manner as to resemble traffic signs.
- Flashing, intermittent, moving or fluttering flag or pennant signs.
- Signs producing glare or using bare bulbs or tubing such as fluorescent or neon.
- Any sign visible from the public right-of-way using an arrow or the word 'stop.'
- Any freestanding sign or any sign projecting from a building within a triangular area bounded by the intersection of two right-of-way lines and a line connecting points 30 feet from such intersection along the right-of-way lines (or in regulated sight clearance triangles).
- Roof signs extending above or attached to the parapet or eaves of a building or within 10 feet of the building.
- Any sign on a vehicle not on the surface of the standard body, except standard taxi signs.
- Any sign advertising property, goods or services that are no longer available.
- The replacement of any nonconforming sign.
- Signs on vehicles parked on or adjacent to premises, which exceed any of the provisions set forth elsewhere.
- Any sign (including handheld or human body mounted) intended to benefit a commercial business, including an internet business, when such sign is placed on Township property, including within a street right-of-way, park, or other Township properties. Such ground-mounted signs may be removed and discarded by the Township without notice.

## Signs exempt from permit in Plainsboro Township

- All signs owned by the Township, county, State of New Jersey or United States.
- Memorial or historical markers.
- Nonilluminated signs with the name of the principal occupant, street address and/or name of private residence.
- Identification signs for public or quasi-public facilities such as schools, libraries, churches, hospitals or clubs.
- Signs indicating the private nature of the road, driveway or other premises, and signs controlling the use of private property such as prohibitions on hunting or fishing.
- Directional signs.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign costing more than $200 will require a building permit. The application for permit must contain a plot plan to scale, showing all roads and intersections within 1,000 feet of the proposed location, complete property layout, location of existing and proposed sign and buildings, plans and elevations in detail of the sign supports, method of mounting and/or footings and signed by a registered architect or engineer, a completed permit application form, and applicable fees.
- Zoning compliance approval is required to initially erect and thereafter maintain a temporary nonresidential sales/lease sign pursuant to the relevant provisions; continued compliance documentation may be required by the Township Planner/Zoning Officer.
- For political or temporary nonprofit/farm stand signs in the public right-of-way, approvals and written conditions may be required, subject to Township review and discretion.

## Full detail

Complete sign requirements for Plainsboro Township, including every field PermitPal tracks for each sign type, are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Plainsboro+Township+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-plainsboro-township

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