# Sign Regulations in Roselle Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Roselle Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/roselle-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/33684456#33684456)

## At a glance

Roselle Borough, New Jersey regulates 21 sign types across 8 zoning districts. Flagpoles in the Residence A Zone, Residence B Zone, Residence C Zone, Residence D Zone, Residence E Zone, Residence F Zone, Residential Sub-Zone (Central Roselle Revitalization Plan) zoning district are capped at 35 feet tall and 18 square feet per flag, with a 10 feet from all property lines setback (Sec. §620-4G). Most commercial signs in Roselle Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (8 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | Bottom of awning at least 8 ft above sidewalk/ground | — | — |
| Residence A Zone, Residence B Zone, Residence C Zone, Residence D Zone, Residence E Zone, Residence F Zone, Residential Sub-Zone (Central Roselle Revitalization Plan) | 9 | 35 feet | 160 square inches | — |
| Professional Office Zone | 6 | 14 feet from sidewalk or ground | 30 square feet | — |
| Industrial Zone, Flex Industrial Sub-Zone (Central Roselle Revitalization Plan) | 3 | Top: 20 feet above sidewalk or ground | 30 square feet | — |
| Public Use Zone | 6 | — | — | — |
| Commercial-Industrial Zone | 6 | 20 feet above sidewalk or ground | 50 square feet | — |
| Business/Commercial Zone (St. Georges Avenue Frontage) | 7 | 20 feet above sidewalk or ground | 50 square feet | — |
| Business/Commercial Zone (Other Locations), Mixed-Use Commercial Sub-Zone (Central Roselle Revitalization Plan) | 7 | 14 feet above sidewalk or ground | 40 square feet | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 8 zones)

### Residence A Zone, Residence B Zone, Residence C Zone, Residence D Zone, Residence E Zone, Residence F Zone, Residential Sub-Zone (Central Roselle Revitalization Plan)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flagpole | 35 feet | 18 square feet per flag | — | 10 feet from all property lines | One flagpole per parcel | On parcel | — | §620-4G |
| Temporary Construction Sign (Residential Use) | 3 feet | 4 square feet | — | 5 feet from all property lines | One per parcel | On premises under construction | — | §620-4H |
| Temporary Real Estate Sign (Residential Zone) | 3 feet | 6 square feet | — | 5 feet from all property lines | One per street frontage | On parcel for sale/lease/rent | — | §620-4I |
| Garage/Yard Sale Sign | 3 feet | 3 square feet | — | 5 feet from any property line | One per street frontage | On parcel with residential use | — | §620-4J |
| Monument Sign (Multifamily, Garden, Townhouse) | 5 feet | 16 square feet | — | 5 feet from all property lines | One per public street frontage | One per public street frontage | — | §620-8E(1) |
| Nameplate Sign (Family Day-care or Community Residence) | — | 160 square inches | — | — | One per use | On building | — | §620-8E(2)(a) |
| Incidental Sign | — | 1 square foot (residential); see 2 allowed for family day-care or community residence | — | — | Up to 2 for family day-care/community residence | On building wall or door | — | §620-8E(2)(b) |
| Temporary Grand Opening/Coming Soon Sign | Placed no higher than 14 ft from the ground | 20 square feet | — | — | One per business event | Within window or on building exterior (commercial establishments only) | — | §620-8C |

### Business/Commercial Zone (St. Georges Avenue Frontage)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Internally Lit, Back-lit, or Signage Board) | 20 feet above sidewalk or ground | 50 square feet | 80% of width of building frontage | — | One per business per street frontage; additional 15 sq ft sign for side/rear entrance | Facade facing St. Georges Avenue | — | §620-13A |
| Pole Sign | 20 feet | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | One per street frontage | Freestanding, 10 ft setback | — | §620-13B(2) |
| Monument Sign | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | 10 feet from all property lines | One per street frontage | 10 ft setback | — | §620-13B(1) |
| Window Sign | — | 15% of each window's area | — | — | — | Within window | — | §620-13C |
| Directory Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | Next to entrance to upper story establishment(s) | — | §620-13D |
| Drive-thru Menu Board Sign | — | One at 30 sq ft; one at 15 sq ft | — | — | Maximum two per establishment | Drive-through lane (not visible from public street) | — | §620-13E |
| Incidental Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | One per use | On wall/door | — | §620-13F |

### Business/Commercial Zone (Other Locations), Mixed-Use Commercial Sub-Zone (Central Roselle Revitalization Plan)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Internally Lit, Back-lit, or Signage Board) | 14 feet above sidewalk or ground | 40 square feet | 80% of width of building frontage | — | One per use per frontage; plus one for side or rear entrance | Facade facing street | — | §620-14A |
| Monument Sign | 5 feet | 24 square feet | — | 5 feet from property lines | One per parcel | 5 ft setback from property lines | — | §620-14B |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | One per business | Above ground-level doors/windows | — | §620-14C |
| Directory Sign | — | 3 square feet | — | — | One per entrance | Next to entrance to upper-story establishment(s) | — | §620-14D |
| Drive-thru Menu Board Sign | — | 30 sq ft (one), 15 sq ft (second) | — | — | Up to two per drive-through restaurant | Drive-through lane (not visible from public street) | — | §620-14E |
| Window Sign | — | 20% of each window's area | — | — | — | Within window | — | §620-14F |
| Incidental Sign | — | 1 square foot | — | — | One per use | On wall/door | — | §620-14G |

## Prohibited signs in Roselle Borough

- Revolving, flashing and animated signs are prohibited.
- Roof signs are prohibited.
- Vehicle signs are prohibited when the vehicle is not regularly used in the business or activity advertised, is visible and parked within 50 feet of a street right-of-way, and is parked for more than six consecutive hours within 50 feet of any street right-of-way.
- Signs located on real property without the permission of the property owner are prohibited.
- Signs prohibited by state or federal law are prohibited.
- Signs that emit smoke, visible vapor, sound, odor, or visible particles are prohibited.
- Signs that obstruct, conceal, hide, or otherwise obscure any official traffic or governmental sign, signal, or device are prohibited.
- Freestanding signs higher than 20 feet are prohibited.
- Signs within a sight triangle that obstruct a clear view of pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic are prohibited.
- Mounted or portable search lighting used to project moving or stationary overhead light beams is prohibited.
- Signs which contain or consist of pennant ribbons, balloons or blimps, streamers, feather flags, spinners or other similar moving devices are prohibited.
- Signs attached to utility poles, trees, fences, streetlights, or street furniture are prohibited.
- Obsolete or abandoned signs are prohibited.
- Domed, waterfall, box-shaped or backlit awnings are not permitted. Plastic coated or vinyl awnings or 'day glow' colors are not permitted on awnings.
- Signs with more than two faces are prohibited.
- Signs containing text and/or images intended to promote excessive consumption of legal cannabis products are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent free ingress to and egress from any door, window, or fire escape.
- No sign of any kind shall be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
- No sign shall be erected at intersections in such manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, interfere with, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or make use of words, phrases, symbols, or characters that mislead or confuse traffic.
- It is unlawful to display obscene, indecent, or immoral matter on any sign.
- Free-form exposed neon lights for signs are prohibited.
- No sign illumination or other illumination shall be used or designed for use as an attraction device in itself. The use of bulbs, strobe lights, black lights, string lights, moving lights, or similar attraction devices is prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Roselle Borough

- Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into masonry surface or constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials are exempt.
- Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing signs, danger signs, and temporary, emergency or nonadvertising signs approved by the Borough Council are exempt.
- Building numbering required by ordinance and street address signage provided on each building or for each building tenant is exempt.
- Private sale and private auction signs as permitted under applicable code are exempt.
- On-site instructional signs not exceeding three square feet in area and three feet in height per nonresidential parcel are exempt. On-site instructional signs may be internally illuminated.
- Political signs: one per candidate and issue per parcel, not exceeding eight square feet, displayed as a freestanding sign and removed within seven days after the election, are exempt.
- One flagpole per residential parcel (not exceeding 35 feet in height, set back at least 10 feet from all property lines) and up to two flags (each not greater than 18 square feet) in residential zones are exempt.
- Temporary construction signs: one per parcel (residential max 4 sq ft/3 ft high; nonresidential max 12 sq ft/5 ft high; setback at least 5 ft from property lines; not displayed for longer than six months; not illuminated) are exempt.
- Temporary real estate signs: one per street frontage, residential max 6 sq ft/3 ft high, nonresidential max 24 sq ft/5 ft high, setback at least 5 ft, removed within 10 days after closing/settlement, not illuminated are exempt.
- Temporary garage/yard sale signs: one per street frontage for residential parcels, not exceeding 3 sq ft/3 ft high, setback at least 5 ft, not displayed longer than seven days are exempt.
- Temporary window signs where permitted, if total does not exceed 30 sq ft or 20% of any one window's glass surface, not displayed longer than 14 days are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign permit application must be accompanied by plans and specifications, together with any site plan required by this chapter or this Code.
- There is no reference to a 'master sign plan' or formal sign plan requirement in general, but sign permit application requires sufficient documentation about sign type, location, structure, and method of attachment.
- No sign permit will be issued for a prohibited sign.
- Permanent signs not included in the exempted section require a sign permit prior to erection, alteration, relocation, or display.
- Structural alterations or erection of a sign subject to the Uniform Construction Code require a building permit, independent of sign permit requirements.

## 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 8 zoning districts in Roselle Borough — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Roselle+Borough+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-roselle-borough

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