# Sign Regulations in Red Bank Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Red Bank Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/red-bank-borough
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/14215025#14215025)

## At a glance

Red Bank Borough, New Jersey regulates 16 sign types across 2 zoning districts. Real Estate Sign (Residential Lot)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 feet (if ground sign) tall and 6 square feet, with a Not less than 8 ft from curbline (see additional requirements) setback (Sec. § 490-104D(1)(g)). Most commercial signs in Red Bank Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (2 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NB, BR-1, BR-2, CCD-1, CCD-2, HB | 1 | 42 inches | — | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 15 | 10 inches (drop-leaf only) | 75 square inches | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### NB, BR-1, BR-2, CCD-1, CCD-2, HB

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sidewalk Sign (Sandwich Board Sign) | 42 inches | — | 30 inches | No closer than 10 ft to side yard property boundary unless frontage is less than 20 ft; within 4 ft of curb or front of building with 60-inch required clear sidewalk. | One per business | On public sidewalk in front of the business having its own separate entrance at street level, within 4 feet of either the curb face or the front of the building; no closer than 10 feet to side yard property boundary (unless frontage < 20 ft, then as near to center of frontage as practicable); must maintain at least 60-inch-wide unobstructed sidewalk path. | — | § 490-104F(2)-(3) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate Sign | 3 feet (if ground sign) | 75 square inches | — | — | One per occupancy | Wall or ground sign, one per occupancy | — | § 490-104D(1)(b) |
| Warning Sign | 3 feet (if ground sign) | 3 square feet | — | — | Two per occupancy | Wall or ground sign | — | § 490-104D(1)(c) |
| Construction Sign | — | 32 square feet | — | — | One per parcel | Wall or ground sign, one per parcel | — | § 490-104D(1)(d) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential Lot) | 6 feet (if ground sign) | 6 square feet | — | Not less than 8 ft from curbline (see additional requirements) | One per residential lot | Nonilluminated temporary wall or ground sign on lot/building for sale/lease | — | § 490-104D(1)(g) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential Lot) | 6 feet (if ground sign) | 10 square feet | — | Not less than 8 ft from curbline (see additional requirements) | One per nonresidential lot | Nonilluminated temporary wall or ground sign on lot/building for sale/lease | — | § 490-104D(1)(g) |
| On-site Informational Sign | 7 feet | 2 square feet | — | — | One per business or as per above | Wall, window, or ground sign on site | — | § 490-104D(1)(h) |
| Private Sale and Event Sign | — | 6 square feet | — | — | 4 per business property, 1 per residential property | Entirely on premises of sale/event or on other private property with owner consent | — | § 490-104D(1)(j) |
| Portable Sign (Motor Vehicle Service Station) | — | 48 inches by 60 inches | — | — | Max 2 per station | On site for motor vehicle service stations | — | § 490-104D(1)(k) |

## Prohibited signs in Red Bank Borough

- All signs not specifically permitted are prohibited.
- All signs, unless specifically stated otherwise, shall relate to the use or occupancy of the property upon which the sign is located.
- An illuminated sign adjacent to or across from a residential district and visible from such district shall not be illuminated between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless the business is open during those hours.
- No sign shall contain blinking, flashing, flickering, tracer or sequential lighting and must remain stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times.
- All wiring for permanent illuminated signs shall not be within public view, and exterior conduit is prohibited unless no practical alternative exists and approved by the Construction Official.
- Lit signs (both internally and externally illuminated) facing and visible from the Navesink River or Swimming River are specifically prohibited.
- No sign or sign structure shall obstruct a fire escape, door, window, or other required accessway. No sign shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape except those required by the Municipal Authority.
- No sign shall project over, occupy, or obstruct any window surface required for light or ventilation by law, ordinance, or regulation.
- No sign shall be maintained where, in the opinion of the Chief of Police, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, or be confused with traffic control devices or interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.
- No sign using the words 'stop,' 'look,' 'caution,' 'danger,' or similar words which may mislead the public, shall be permitted.
- No sign or any part of a sign shall obstruct the sight triangle required by applicable code.
- No sign or any part of a sign, except approved projecting signs and/or sidewalk signs or publicly owned or authorized signs, shall be placed in or extend into or over any public right-of-way.
- All signs shall be securely affixed in a permanent manner to either the ground or building unless specifically stated otherwise.
- No sign shall be affixed to any roof, tree, fence, utility pole, or similar structure, nor placed upon motor vehicles continually or repeatedly parked to serve as a sign. Exception: signs not exceeding three feet in any dimension that direct traffic or identify parking locations may be placed on light poles and utility poles.
- Advertising flags, banners, pinwheels, portable signs, or similar advertising devices are prohibited except as specifically authorized.
- Animated or moving signs are not permitted except for required movement of time and temperature displays.
- No sign may be painted directly on the surface of any building, wall, fence, or similar structure.
- No sign may have reflection-enhanced or fluorescent colors or contain any material which sparkles, reflects, or glitters. Exception: reflective paint on traffic or location signs is allowed.
- No sign may contain more than one sign face, except two back-to-back and parallel sign faces (double-faced signs), and such double-faced signs shall not exceed 18 inches in thickness.
- Billboards are not permitted within the Borough. Existing billboards may not be enlarged or moved, and no replacement is allowed upon removal or demolition.
- Except for signs affixed to a building or permitted structure, all other signs must be at least eight feet from any curbline, and no sign may be located in the public right-of-way.
- All signs must have a minimum two-inch letter height.
- No paste, glue, tack, or adhesive posting of any sign in park areas is allowed without a permit.
- No sign shall utilize paper, fiberboard, foamcore board, corrugated paper, or unfinished wood materials for sidewalk signs.

## Signs exempt from permit in Red Bank Borough

- Minor signs as listed in § 490-104D(1) are exempt from the requirement of obtaining a development permit. These include: governmental signs; nameplate signs (not more than one per occupancy, no more than 75 square inches, nonilluminated or externally illuminated); warning signs (up to two per occupancy, no more than three square feet each, nonilluminated); construction signs (one per parcel, max 32 square feet, nonilluminated, maintained for no more than 14 days after construction ends); nonilluminated window signs for business uses meeting specified area limits; special event signs (no more than three per business, nonilluminated, for up to 45 days before and three days after event); real estate signs (one nonilluminated sign per lot/building for sale/lease/rent, meeting size, height, and removal requirements); on-site informational signs (no more than two square feet and seven feet high, no advertising message); flags and emblems of government or certain organizations; private sale and event signs (no more than six square feet, specific display, marking, and removal requirements); portable signs for motor vehicle service stations (limited number, size, and display conditions); traffic signs and signals authorized by Borough, county, or state; public transportation stop signs authorized by Borough or transit authority; vacated property signs (one, up to six square feet, up to 60 days); signs integral to vending machines (up to three square feet per machine); interior signs not within 18 inches of a window visible from the street or public parking; political signs (up to 14 square feet, must be removed within 14 days after election, marked with responsible individual's info); special sales signs displayed for up to three days prior and after any federal holiday (if meeting other restrictions).
- Sidewalk signs (including sandwich board signs) are considered minor signs and are exempt from a development permit, but do require a permit from the Borough Clerk after consultation with Fire Marshal/Chief of Police. Specific fees and standards apply.
- Governmental signs erected or authorized by a governmental unit are exempt (as minor signs).
- Traffic signs and signals installed or authorized by governmental entities are exempt (as minor signs).
- Public transportation stop signs installed or authorized by the relevant authority are exempt (as minor signs).
- Interior signs located within buildings and not within 18 inches of a window visible from a public right of way are exempt.
- Permitted accessory sign types A, B, G1, G2, G3, G4, W1, W2, W3, P1, R1, R2, R3 (See Schedule A), when not part of an application for site plan, subdivision, or conditional use approval before the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, are considered exempt development.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a development permit is required for any person wishing to erect, alter, modify or expand any sign, except minor signs as described in § 490-104D(1).
- All signs when requested as part of an application for site plan, subdivision, or conditional use approval before the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment require review and approval per § 490-104D(3)(d).
- Signs not permitted or failing to conform to sign standards shall require Planning Board or Zoning Board approval as determined by the administrative officer (§ 490-104D(4)).
- Signs which are part of a conditional use application in specified zones require adherence to special objectives, criteria, and Board approval (§ 490-133).
- Signs requested as part of an application for site plan, subdivision, or conditional use approval require further review—suggesting a sign plan submission is necessary in those processes.
- Permitted accessory sign types requested as part of other land development applications (such as site plan or subdivision) are not exempt and thus are subject to development review.

## Full detail

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

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