# Sign Regulations in Rochelle Park Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rochelle Park Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/rochelle-park-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/9436147#9436147)

## At a glance

Rochelle Park Township, New Jersey regulates 18 sign types across 6 zoning districts. Real Estate Signs in the Residential zones zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 12 sq ft, with a 15 ft from property lines setback (Sec. §185-132C(1)). Most commercial signs in Rochelle Park Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (6 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential districts | 5 | 8 ft | 10 sq ft | — |
| Office buildings | 3 | — | Aggregate of both signs not to exceed 90 sq ft if on two walls | — |
| Business Zones | 2 | 1 ft (for permanent inside window signs), only on first floor | Aggregate not to exceed 20% of the window area; inside window sales signs max 10% of sq ft of window; special event (temporary) window signs max 25% of street frontage of window for 15 days | — |
| Industrial Zone | 2 | 2 ft if wall is 40 ft or less in width; 2.5 ft if wall is more than 40 ft but less than 80 ft in width; 3 ft if wall is 80 ft or more in width | See business zones regulations; not to exceed 20% of window area; inside window sales signs max 10% of window sq ft; temp/sale window signs max 25% of street frontage for 15 days | — |
| Residential zones | 7 | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 12 sq ft | — |

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

### Nonresidential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | 6 ft | 1.5 sq ft per linear foot of exterior front occupied | 90% of the width of the building or storefront | — | — | On exterior wall of that portion of the building leased by the tenant; parallel to wall face; no more than 2 inches from the wall; if projecting more than 3 inches, bottom at least 8 ft above ground level | — | §185-134A |
| Freestanding Sign | 7 ft | 10 sq ft | — | 25 ft from all property lines | — | Set back minimum 25 ft from all property lines; on lot occupied | — | §185-134E |
| Window Sign | 1 ft (for interior window signs), Not above first floor | No more than 10% of the square footage of the window; special event sales signs max 25% of total street frontage of each window for 15 days | — | — | — | On or within 12 inches of the window surface, only on first floor except for sales or special event signs (time-limited) | — | §185-134C |
| Temporary Sign (Illuminated Real Estate) | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | 1 temporary illuminated sign per property | On premises advertised for sale or rental | — | §185-134D |
| Entrance/Exit Sign | 8 ft | 3 sq ft | 1 ft high x 3 ft long | — | 1 per driveway entrance/exit | At each driveway, on far side relative to traffic flow | — | §185-134F |

### Office buildings

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Directory Sign) | — | 5% of wall area or 60 sq ft, whichever is less | — | — | 1 directory sign per building entrance | Wall near building entrance | — | §185-134B(1) |
| Wall Sign (Building Identification) | — | Aggregate of both signs not to exceed 90 sq ft if on two walls | — | — | 1 per wall, up to 2 walls | On wall(s) of office building, maximum two walls | — | §185-134B(2) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Prohibited | — | §185-134C(2) |

### Residential zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Nameplate | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | At single-family residence or as street address sign | — | §185-132C(2) |
| Professional Nameplate | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | At premises of lawful occupants | — | §185-132C(3) |
| Real Estate Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property lines | 1 per premises | Premises for sale, rent, or lease | — | §185-132C(1) |
| Bulletin Board/Public Institution Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of public, charitable, religious, or quasi-public institutions | — | §185-132C(4) |
| Contractor/Architect/Engineer Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from curb | — | Worksite under construction | — | §185-132C(5) |
| Political Signs | 4 ft | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from property lines | 1 per candidate or campaign ticket per parcel | Entirely on private property | — | §185-132C(11) |
| Garage Sale Signs | — | 4 sq ft on the residence; 2 sq ft at additional locations if allowed | — | 15 ft from property line | 2 on property, up to 2 at other locations | On property where sale is being conducted and other private property with owner permission (not on major thoroughfare, telephone poles, street signs, light poles, or trees) | — | §185-132C(12) |

## Prohibited signs in Rochelle Park Township

- No sign shall be erected, altered, located or relocated within the municipality except upon application and the issuance of a permit as provided, unless specifically exempted.
- No sign shall be placed or located or displayed upon any sidewalk or area between sidewalk and curb, nor shall it project on or over a sidewalk.
- No roof sign shall be permitted.
- No sign shall be erected or painted or composed of fluorescent or phosphorescent or similar material.
- No sign shall be, in whole or part, moving, mobile or revolving. This includes hand-held signs and signs placed on vehicles unless permanently painted or affixed to that vehicle.
- No sign shall have more than three colors, inclusive of its background, frame and decorative parts. Black and white are considered colors.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
- No sign or other advertising structure shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or at any location where its shape, color, or position could interfere with or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which uses words, phrases, symbols, or characters as to mislead or confuse traffic.
- Signs that are not expressly and directly related to the business being conducted on the premises or which do not conform to the applicable requirements and standards set forth in other sections are not permitted.
- Any sign which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted on the premises or a product sold on such premises shall be removed by the owner (upon notification), with penalties for noncompliance.
- Signs in residential zones, other than as specifically permitted in the Code, are prohibited.
- No sign in the interior of any structure is regulated under this article except as specifically set forth.
- No temporary sign (including political signs) shall be erected or installed on any pole or tree located on public property or within the public right-of-way.
- No sign shall be internally illuminated by neon gas-filled tubes or by lighting designed to create a visual effect similar to neon. Exterior neon signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.
- All signs must be properly shielded to minimize impact on surrounding properties and public rights-of-way.
- Flashing signs, highly reflective glass or fluorescent paint (red or green), and illuminated tubing outlining roofs, doors, windows or wall edges are prohibited.
- Floodlights used for sign illumination must not project above the highest elevation of the front wall of the building or more than 18 feet above street level, whichever is less.
- Awnings must not project over public property without a permit and must provide sufficient clearance; cannot display graphics other than business name, logo, and street number; and are prohibited from shiny vinyl fabric.

## Signs exempt from permit in Rochelle Park Township

- Real estate signs not exceeding 12 square feet in area and four feet in height advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises upon which they are located, with specified content and removal timing.
- Residential nameplates identifying a single-family residence and/or street address, not exceeding one square foot in area.
- Professional nameplates not exceeding two square feet in area for lawful occupants.
- Bulletin boards or signs (up to 16 square feet) for public, charitable, religious, or quasi-public institutions on their premises.
- Architect, engineer, or contractor signs (up to 16 square feet) on worksites under construction, set back at least 15 feet from the curb, and removed within 24 hours after certificate of occupancy.
- Memorial signs or tablets, building names, and date of erection when cut into masonry or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials.
- Traffic or municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing/danger signs, and temporary or emergency signs of any governmental agency deemed necessary to public welfare.
- Flags of the United States, State of New Jersey, or other governmental or quasi-public agencies.
- Holiday decorations and lights on residential premises.
- Signs erected to control movement of traffic on a premises, provided they are for traffic directions only, not advertising, do not exceed four square feet, and are approved by the appropriate agency.
- Election or political signs, subject to specific location, size, timing, and identification regulations.
- Garage sale and similar casual sale signs, subject to specified number, size, location, duration, and placement rules.
- Nonprofit organizations are permitted one temporary sign on their property (not exceeding five square feet, up to four feet high) for up to 10 days.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Application for a permit for a sign which does not comply with the provisions of this article shall be submitted to the appropriate approving authority, with public notice and hearing if required, and must include detailed renderings and information.
- Any sign associated with a change in occupancy or ownership necessitates an application for a sign permit.
- Any nonconforming sign associated with a change in occupancy or ownership requires application to the approving authority.
- Applications for non-compliant signs must include multiple copies (15 sketch plats/building elevations, as applicable) drawn to scale with all required details.
- Applications for illuminated signs must include installation of a timer for hours of illumination.
- A permit is required for all signs (unless specifically exempted), and a detailed application must be submitted for residential and nonresidential signs.

## 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 Rochelle Park Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Rochelle+Park+Township+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-rochelle-park-township

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