# Sign Regulations in Ship Bottom Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Ship Bottom Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/ship-bottom-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/35823221#35823221)

## At a glance

Ship Bottom Borough, New Jersey regulates 11 sign types across 3 zoning districts. Temporary Construction Signs in the Residential districts zoning district are capped at 32 sq ft, with a 10 ft from all street and lot lines setback (Sec. §16.52.130(A14.b.i, iii)). Most commercial signs in Ship Bottom Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (3 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SC District, GC District | 3 | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — |
| Residential districts | 7 | — | 32 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements

### SC District, GC District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of permitted business or use; must not be within street right-of-way. | — | §16.52.130(A, A1, A2, A3, A4), §16.52.130(General Provisions) |
| Wall Fascia or Attached Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | Firmly attached to the exterior wall of a building. | — | §16.52.130(A, A4, A11) |
| Window Sign (Interior) | — | 25% of total window area | — | — | — | Interior of window. | — | §16.52.130(A12) |

### Residential districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all side property lines | — | Private property | — | §16.52.130(A7) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from all street lines if not attached | — | Private property | — | §16.52.130(A8) |
| Information/Directional/Warning Sign | — | 3 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §16.52.130(A5) |
| Temporary Special Event Sign | — | 30 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises | — | §16.52.130(A14.a) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all street and lot lines | 1 | On the site of construction, not in street/easement. | — | §16.52.130(A14.b.i, iii) |
| Temporary Contractor Sign | — | 12 sq ft (total, inclusive of all contractors on site) | — | 10 ft from all street and property lines | 1 | On the site where contractor is performing work | — | §16.52.130(A14.b.ii, iii) |
| Flag | — | — | — | — | — | On premises | — | §16.52.130(A13) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 ft | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On premise, not within street right-of-way | — | §16.52.130(A, A1, A2, General Provisions) |
| Wall Fascia or Attached Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | — | On exterior wall of building. | — | §16.52.130(A11, General Provisions) |
| Window Sign (Interior) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | Interior of window. | — | §16.52.130(A12) |
| Political Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from all side property lines | — | Private property | — | §16.52.130(A7) |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | 5 ft from street if not attached | — | Private property | — | §16.52.130(A8) |
| Temporary Construction Sign | — | 32 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street and lot lines | 1 | On site, not within any street or easement | — | §16.52.130(A14.b.i, iii) |
| Temporary Contractor Sign | — | 12 sq ft (total) | — | 10 ft from street and property lines | 1 | On site where work is performed | — | §16.52.130(A14.b.ii, iii) |
| Sign - Double-Faced for On-Site Sale (e.g. Garage Sale) | — | 4 sq ft (2'x2') | — | — | 1 | On the site licensed for the sale | — | §5.28.050 |

## Prohibited signs in Ship Bottom Borough

- No signs shall be placed on or attached to a building or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted business or use conducted on the same premises unless specifically permitted.
- No billboards shall be erected or replaced.
- Any sign with a message which is lewd and licentious or advocates an act in violation of any municipal, county, state or federal law is prohibited.
- No signs may be erected, altered or replaced which are not in accordance with the standards established in this title.
- No sign except traffic signs and those of a duly constituted governmental body shall be erected within the street right-of-way.
- No sign may be placed on any property without the consent of the property owner.
- No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, other places of business, or other signs or windows of the building on which they are located.
- No signs shall be attached to trees, fenceposts, stumps, or utility poles.
- Signs must be freestanding or attached to buildings in an approved manner.
- No sign shall be erected so as to project over the property line.
- Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement and electronic message signs are prohibited.
- No sign with red, green, blue or amber illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location.
- Illuminated signs shall not be erected in residential districts.
- Banner-style signs extending from one side of the street to the other are not permitted, except as specifically allowed by Borough.
- No cardboard signs are permitted as interior window signs.
- All signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed to become dilapidated or unsightly.

## Signs exempt from permit in Ship Bottom Borough

- Street number designations, household nameplates, postal boxes, 'private property', on-site directional and parking signs, and warning signs are permitted in all zones and are not counted towards sign area (must not exceed 3 square feet).
- Political signs temporarily giving notice of political campaigns do not need a sign permit (must comply with setback, timing, and area restrictions).
- Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises do not need a construction permit (must comply with area and removal requirements).
- Flags may be displayed in all zones and do not require a permit, provided that no portion of any flag extends beyond the property line.
- Interior window signs are not counted in allowable signs area, provided they do not exceed 25% of total window area and are professionally designed.
- Temporary special event signs (like fairs, bazaars, auctions, garage sales) are allowed with time and size restrictions.
- Temporary construction and contractor signs are allowed subject to specific area, timeframe, setback, and removal conditions.
- All other temporary signs permitted in the B.O.C.A. Building Code are allowed, subject to number, size, and duration limitations.
- Street signs for public streets are exempt if they meet DOT standards and are installed as required.
- The Borough may provide advertising for any business or use when deemed in the public good, health, safety, and welfare.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- All signs shall require a sign permit from the zoning officer and a building permit from the construction code official.
- The applicant shall furnish the zoning officer the necessary information to determine whether the subject sign meets the requirements of this title.
- Permits become null and void if erection is not completed within four months after issuance.
- Certain temporary and exempt sign types (political signs, real estate signs, flags, qualifying temporary signs) do not require a permit.
- A temporary construction sign must be approved as part of a development application.

## Full detail

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

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