# Sign Regulations in Scotch Plains Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Scotch Plains Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/scotch-plains-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36466132#36466132)

## At a glance

Scotch Plains Township, New Jersey regulates 14 sign types across 10 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the B-1, B-1A, B-2 zoning district are capped at 6 ft tall and 16 sq ft per side; both sides count toward sign area, with a 10 ft minimum from right-of-way if adjacent to state highway setback (Sec. §23-7.6a, b, c, e, h, i, j). Most commercial signs in Scotch Plains Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (10 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 3 | — | 16 sq ft | — |
| R-2, R-3, R-3A | 1 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-2B, R-2C, R-3, R-3A | 1 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| B-1, B-1A, B-2 | 5 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| B-3 | 8 | 15 ft | 40 sq ft per side; both sides EXCLUDED from max 20% of facade area | — |
| M-1, M-2 | 7 | 6 ft | Not greater than 40 sq ft for every 100 linear feet of front facade (per §23-7.5a3) | — |
| B-1A | 4 | 6 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| P | 2 | — | — | — |
| SC-1, SC-2 | 2 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per side | — |
| ML-1, ML-2 | 1 | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 10 zones)

### B-1, B-1A, B-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On building facade; only first-floor business may use first-floor facade for calculations | — | §23-7.8a, b, c, e, f, g, h, i |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 16 sq ft per side; both sides count toward sign area | — | 10 ft minimum from right-of-way if adjacent to state highway | 1 per property | Approved location by Police Department Traffic Safety Section | — | §23-7.6a, b, c, e, h, i, j |
| For Sale or Lease Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | At least front yard setback of the zone or 15 ft, whichever is less | 1 per lot | Not closer than the front yard setback or 15 ft, whichever is less | — | §23-7.7a-e |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft | — | — | 10 ft minimum building to property line | — | Only where building is set back at least 10 ft from property line; subject to Police Department Traffic Safety Section approval | — | §23-7.9e, h, i |
| Residential and Commercial Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum from property line | — | — | — | §23-7.10a-d |

### B-3

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign | — | — | — | — | — | On front principal building facade; only first-floor business may use first-floor facade for calculations | — | §23-7.8a, b2, c, e, f, g, h, i |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft | 32 sq ft per side; both sides count toward max of 20% of building facade | — | — | 1 per property | — | — | §23-7.6d,h |
| Ground Sign | 6 ft (general); 18 sq ft max per side, 6 ft max height (double-sided ground sign) | — | — | Building must be set back at least 10 ft from property line | — | Only where building set back at least 10 ft from property line | — | §23-7.9c, e, f, h, i |
| Residential and Commercial Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum from property line | — | — | — | §23-7.10a-d |
| For Sale or Lease Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | At least front yard setback of the zone or 15 ft, whichever is less | 1 per lot | Not closer than the front yard setback or 15 ft, whichever is less | — | §23-7.7a-e |
| Motor Vehicle Service Establishment - Freestanding Sign | — | 40 sq ft per side; both sides EXCLUDED from max 20% of facade area | — | — | — | — | — | §23-7.12a |
| Motor Vehicle Service Establishment - Facade Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 (max) | Front facade | — | §23-7.12b |
| Motor Vehicle Service Establishment - Temporary Window/Door Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 (max) | On doors and windows of front facade | — | §23-7.12c |

### M-1, M-2

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign | — | Not greater than 40 sq ft for every 100 linear feet of front facade (per §23-7.5a3) | — | — | — | First-floor facade area only for first-floor business | — | §23-7.5a3, §23-7.8a, b3, c, e, f, g, h, i |
| Freestanding Sign | 6 ft | 24 sq ft per side | — | 10 ft from right-of-way if adjacent to state highway | 1 per property | Approved location by Police Department Traffic Safety Section | — | §23-7.6c, f, h, i, j |
| For Sale or Lease Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | At least front yard setback of the zone or 15 ft, whichever is less | 1 per lot | Not closer than the front yard setback or 15 ft, whichever is less | — | §23-7.7a-e |
| Residential and Commercial Development Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft minimum from property line | — | — | — | §23-7.10a-d |
| Motor Vehicle Service Establishment - Freestanding Sign | — | 40 sq ft per side | — | — | — | — | — | §23-7.12a |
| Motor Vehicle Service Establishment - Facade Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 (max) | Front facade | — | §23-7.12b |
| Motor Vehicle Service Establishment - Temporary Window/Door Sign | — | — | — | — | 2 (max) | On doors and windows of front facade | — | §23-7.12c |

## Prohibited signs in Scotch Plains Township

- No sign may use electronic displays, neon, mirrors, or flashing or intermittent illumination.
- All illuminated signs must be shielded to prevent glare or blinding effects upon motor vehicle traffic or light spillage upon a neighboring property.
- The use of temporary signs, the commercial use of flags or the use of pendants and banners is prohibited other than a period of 14 days from the date of an opening.
- No facade sign shall extend further than 12 inches from the face of the building upon which it is attached.
- No ground sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause confusion or danger to street traffic by obscuring the view.

## Signs exempt from permit in Scotch Plains Township

- A residential nameplate sign is permitted in all zones for residential uses, with specified limitations on area, content (must include house number), and illumination.
- Signs not exceeding two square feet in area, on either side, may be used for driveway entrances, exits or for warning and directional purposes, provided the signs do not contain any advertising for the use of the premises and may only be internally lit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The components of a freestanding ground and facade sign shall consist of materials and colors in conformance with and/or compatible with the primary structure and the design standards implemented by the Architectural Review Committee of the Planning Board.
- Sign location in certain zones requires approval by the traffic safety section of the Police Department.
- Signage locations adjacent to the state highway must be approved by the NJDOT as to the appropriate right-of-way setback.

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

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