# Sign Regulations in Rockaway Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Rockaway Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/rockaway-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33532550#33532550)

## At a glance

Rockaway Township, New Jersey regulates 28 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Temporary Event Sign (Non-political)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 32 sq ft, with a 1/2 the required front yard setback for district setback (Sec. §54-30.11(C)(10)). Most commercial signs in Rockaway Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 40 ft above ground or 5 ft above principal building height, whichever is less | 100 sq ft | — |
| R-20AC, R-5AC, R-88, R-20, R-13 | 1 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| RMF-15, RMF-8, RMF-5 | 1 | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-2 | 4 | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| R-B | 4 | — | 300 sq ft | — |
| O-1, O-2, OB-RL, PED, I, M | 2 | 6 ft | 50 sq ft | — |
| R-P, OR-3 | 4 | 6 ft | 8 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from any property line | — | On-site; not closer than 10 ft to any property line | — | §54-30.11(C)(6) |
| Real Estate Sign (Residential) | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-property; one per street frontage of lot | — | §54-30.11(C)(7) |
| Real Estate Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | 1 per street frontage | On-property; one per street frontage of lot | — | §54-30.11(C)(7) |
| Church Sign - Permanent | — | 12 sq ft | — | Rear half of required front yard | — | Rear half of front yard or rear half of minimum required front yard setback (whichever is less) | — | §54-30.11(C)(9) |
| Church Sign - Temporary | — | 12 sq ft | — | Rear half of required front yard | — | Rear half of front yard or rear half of minimum required front yard setback | — | §54-30.11(C)(9) |
| Temporary Event Sign (Non-political) | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — | 1/2 the required front yard setback for district | 1 per lot | — | — | §54-30.11(C)(10) |
| Flag (Freestanding) | 40 ft above ground or 5 ft above principal building height, whichever is less | — | — | Distance equal to pole height from property line; additional requirement for front yard | 1 per lot | Must be set back at least distance equal to flagpole height from any property line; in front yard, must be no closer to street than rear half of required front yard setback | — | §54-30.11(C)(11) |
| Directional Sign | 5 ft (except standard highway signs per MUTCD are allowed larger) | 2 sq ft | 2 ft (max dimension) | — | — | On-property, in parking areas | — | §54-30.11(C)(5) |

### B-1, B-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Attached Sign) | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant, or 2 if rear entrance (second sign max 1/3 area of first; faces rear parking) | Parallel to face of building; not above ground floor on multi-story buildings; may be on canopy/marquee if criteria met | — | §54-30.11(F)(2),(3) |
| Wall Sign - Multiple Tenants/Wall | — | — | — | — | — | Ground floor wall | — | §54-30.11(F)(3)(c) |
| Window Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Main front window only | — | §54-30.11(F)(5) |
| Freestanding Pylon Sign (B-2, Shopping Center Only) | 20 ft | 50 sq ft | — | min 25 ft from street ROW or property line | 1 per shopping center lot | Front yard; only for retail building(s) with ≥ 25,000 sq ft and lot with multiple tenants | — | §54-30.11(F)(4) |

### R-B

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Attached Sign, Non-Mall) | — | — | — | — | 1 per tenant, or 2 if rear entrance (see above) | Parallel to face of building, not above ground floor on multi-story buildings | — | §54-30.11(G)(1)(a) |
| Window Sign (Non-Mall) | — | — | — | — | — | Main front windows only | — | §54-30.11(G)(1)(b) |
| Wall Sign (Mall - Tenants ≥ 100,000 sq ft) | — | 300 sq ft | — | — | Up to 3 per building, 1 per elevation | Each exterior building elevation with direct public parking area access | — | §54-30.11(G)(2)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Mall - Tenants < 100,000 sq ft) | — | 250 sq ft | — | — | Up to 2 per building, 1 per elevation | Each exterior building elevation with direct public parking area access | — | §54-30.11(G)(2)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Rockaway Township

- No sign shall be placed so as to interfere with or be mistaken for a traffic light or similar safety device.
- No sign shall be located so as to create a traffic safety problem or reduce visibility at intersections.
- No sign shall be lighted by means of flashing or intermittent illumination.
- All lights used for the illumination of any sign shall be completely shielded from the view of vehicular traffic using the road(s) abutting the properties containing such signs, and shall be directed so as to prevent excessive glare, reflection or illumination on adjacent properties or streets.
- There shall be no illumination of any sign between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. within 200 feet of existing residential properties.
- No sign shall be illuminated from an internal light source unless designed to minimize glare and the light bulb or other light source is not visible from outside the sign and is diffused to eliminate hot spots.
- No sign as permitted shall extend or project above the highest elevation of the wall to which it is attached.
- All signs which are not specifically permitted herein are prohibited.
- Window signs, except where specifically permitted, are prohibited.
- Signs attached to a tree, utility pole, light stanchion, fence or other structure not designed for support of the sign are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Portable or movable signs are prohibited.
- Signs painted or attached to any vehicle advertising a business and intended to be viewed while the vehicle is stationary are prohibited.
- Signs with more than two display faces are prohibited.
- A double-face sign having an included angle of over 45° is prohibited.
- All signs which move, rotate, or use flashing lights or utilize mechanically changing displays are prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, banners and flags are prohibited, except those flags permitted by Section 54-30.1C(11).

## Signs exempt from permit in Rockaway Township

- No permit is required for real estate signs, 'for sale by owner' signs and political signs.
- Freestanding residential nameplates permitted in Section 54-30.11D are exempted from the requirement of site plan approval.
- Freestanding signs necessary for directional or safety purposes on the property are permitted in addition to other permitted signs, provided site plan approval is obtained and all requirements are met.
- Temporary on-site construction/alteration signs identifying the project and/or contractor are permitted in all districts, subject to specific restrictions.
- Real estate signs are permitted in all districts, provided they meet stipulated requirements.
- Signs deemed necessary to the public welfare by the Township Council are permitted in all districts, provided such signs do not pertain to any company, individual, or business establishment.
- Church signs (permanent and temporary) are permitted in all districts, subject to restrictions.
- Temporary signs advertising events such as fairs, bazaars, auctions, and other special activities (excluding political signs) are permitted in any district, subject to restrictions.
- Flags of the United States, State, County, Township, foreign nations with diplomatic relations, and any other flag adopted or sanctioned by an elected legislative body are permitted in all districts, provided requirements are met.
- Street address numbers are permitted on all principal buildings in all districts, subject to area limits.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No permanent freestanding sign and no illuminated sign shall be permitted until a site plan showing the location and size of the proposed sign is approved by the Planning Board, except for certain freestanding residential nameplates.
- All applications seeking approval for signs must submit sign area, dimensions, height, views, materials, illumination details, and related information.
- Site plan approval is required by the Planning Board for certain freestanding directional or safety signs.
- The lighting of all directional and safety signs shall be approved by the Planning Board as part of site plan approval.
- All freestanding flagpoles, except in the case of one-family and two-family detached dwellings, shall require site plan approval.
- In the case of buildings used or designed for multiple tenants, all signs must express a single design theme utilizing uniform size, color, materials, lighting, and styles.
- Temporary banners by nonprofit, not-for-profit, or religious organizations require a permit from the Construction Official, and if placed over a road, written approval from the road jurisdiction entity.

## 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 7 zoning districts in Rockaway Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Rockaway+Township+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-rockaway-township

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