# Sign Regulations in Somerdale Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Somerdale Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/somerdale-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/29969800#29969800)

## At a glance

Somerdale Borough, New Jersey regulates 32 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Directory Sign (Motorist-Oriented)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at Varies by number of tenants: 3-4 tenants/6 ft; 5-6/7 ft; 7-8/8 ft; 9-10/9 ft; 11-12/10 ft; 13+/12 ft tall and Varies by number of tenants: 3-4 tenants/50 sq ft; 5-6/80 sq ft; 7-8/110 sq ft; 9-10/140 sq ft; 11-12/170 sq ft; 13+/200 sq ft, with a 10 feet from street right-of-way and principal building; 30 feet from another freestanding sign. setback (Sec. §162-196D). Most commercial signs in Somerdale Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 12 | Flagpole: 50 feet max height | US: 150 square feet; State/Local: 60 square feet | — |
| Residential Districts | 6 | 8 feet | One square foot per apartment (up to 40 sq ft) | — |
| B1 Commercial Districts | 7 | 35 feet (freestanding); 6 feet (grade level) | Up to 100 square feet | — |
| B2 Shopping Center and Industrial Districts | 4 | 35 feet | 200 square feet | — |
| PCRD Zone | 3 | 10 feet | Up to 200 square feet (or 10% of principal front wall area, whichever is less) | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 5 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Directional Sign (General, Freestanding) | 2.5 feet | 3 square feet | — | — | — | At the streetline; must not obscure vision of motorists. | — | §162-191A-C |
| Directory Sign (Pedestrian-Oriented) | — | 20 square feet | — | Minimum 3 feet from sidewalk or alley edge | — | Within site or complex (as specified in §162-196A(8)) | — | §162-196A |
| Directory Sign (Motorist-Oriented) | Varies by number of tenants: 3-4 tenants/6 ft; 5-6/7 ft; 7-8/8 ft; 9-10/9 ft; 11-12/10 ft; 13+/12 ft | Varies by number of tenants: 3-4 tenants/50 sq ft; 5-6/80 sq ft; 7-8/110 sq ft; 9-10/140 sq ft; 11-12/170 sq ft; 13+/200 sq ft | — | 10 feet from street right-of-way and principal building; 30 feet from another freestanding sign. | One per intersection of site access with adjoining street or one per multi-unit building in suitable location (§162-196E). | At least 10 feet from street right-of-way and principal building; 30 feet from any other freestanding sign. | — | §162-196D |
| Directory Sign (Electronic Reader Board) | — | 24 square feet | — | Minimum 3 feet from sidewalk or alley edge | — | Pedestrian-oriented locations as shown on scalable site plan drawing. | — | §162-196B |
| Real Estate Sign (General) | 5 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | One per lot | One per lot | — | §162-186C(5); §162-187F |
| Temporary Sign (General) | — | 12 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | One per street frontage per lot | — | §162-186C(4); §162-187E,F,V |
| Portable A-frame Sign | 5 feet | 6 square feet per side | — | — | One per business | On business property only; prohibited in/on public right-of-way. | — | §162-187U |
| Banner Sign (General) | — | 30 square feet for stand-alone business; 15 square feet per business with multiple businesses on one property | — | — | One per business | Mounted on the business property; not in right-of-way. | — | §162-187T |

### Residential Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nameplate (Residential) | — | 2 square feet | — | 15 feet from curbline | One per residence | Must be at least 15 feet back from curbline. | — | §162-186C(1)(a) |
| Temporary Sign (Residential Real Estate) | — | 6 square feet | — | — | One | On lot/building for sale/lease | — | §162-186C(1)(b) |
| Bulletin Board/Institutional Sign (Residential) | 8 feet | 12 square feet | — | — | One per institution | Premises of church or nonprofit institution | — | §162-186C(1)(c) |
| Multiple Dwelling Identification Sign | — | One square foot per apartment (up to 40 sq ft) | — | — | One per multiple dwelling | — | — | §162-186C(1)(d) |
| Grade Level Sign (Residential Permitted Business) | 8 feet | 40 square feet | — | — | — | — | — | §162-186C(1)(f) |
| Real Estate/Contractor Sign (Temporary) | 4 feet | 6 square feet | — | — | — | Lot for sale/rent or on which work is performed | — | §162-187F |

### B1 Commercial Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| All Signs Permitted in Residential Districts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §162-186C(2)(a) |
| Wall Sign (Principal Facade, Each Street Frontage) | — | Up to 40 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage | On/attached to the principal facade on each street frontage. | — | §162-186C(2)(b) |
| Freestanding Sign (Street Frontage with Vehicular Access) | 35 feet (freestanding); 6 feet (grade level) | Up to 100 square feet | — | — | One per street frontage with vehicular access | Front yard, not closer to side yard lot lines than required side yard setback. | — | §162-186C(2)(c) |
| Directional Sign (B1 District) | 3 feet to bottom of sign | 12 square feet per side | — | — | Not to exceed entrances/exits | — | — | §162-186C(2)(d) |
| Awning Sign (B1 District) | — | Up to 20% of entire area the awning covers (when extended), but not larger than permitted wall sign. | — | — | — | On awning | — | §162-186C(2)(e) |
| Canopy Sign (B1 District) | — | Up to 50% of canopy face or 50 sq ft, whichever is less. | — | — | One per yard | On canopy in any yard area | — | §162-186C(2)(f) |
| Window Sign (B1 District) | — | 25% of window area | — | — | — | In or on window | — | §162-186C(2)(g) |

## Prohibited signs in Somerdale Borough

- Any sign that is not permitted by the provisions of this Part 4 is prohibited.
- Pennants, streamers, or similar devices and searchlights, displayed for the purpose of attracting attention, are prohibited except by special zoning permit for up to 30 days.
- Any sign obstructing fire escapes, windows, doors, or other means of ingress/egress is prohibited.
- Series of two or more signs that together display a single message placed in a line parallel to the street are prohibited.
- Portable bench signs, signs emitting smoke, vapor, or noise, and portable electric signs (except as specifically allowed for A-frame signs and Borough-owned signs) are prohibited.
- Any sign with a dominant theme appealing to prurient interests, as defined by community standards, is prohibited.
- Signs attached to the roof or projecting above the lowest roof level or beyond the corner of a wall are prohibited.
- No permanent sign or sign structure may project over a street, alley, or other public right-of-way.
- Off-premises signs are prohibited, except for advertising a Somerdale business with landowner permission for a business within the Borough.
- No sign other than traffic control or official governmental signs may be erected within or project over the right-of-way of any public street or sidewalk, except as provided elsewhere.
- No sign may imitate official traffic signs or signals or create confusion/danger for motorists.
- No sign may be erected within a triangular area at intersections that impedes vision or endangers safety.
- No sign may be placed on trees, telegraph, electric, or utility poles, rocks, or other natural features, or in the public right-of-way.
- No sign may state or imply that a property may be used for a purpose not permitted in the zoning district.
- Signs installed on public property except as allowed are subject to confiscation and removal, with costs recoverable from the owner.
- No figure or figure signs (statues, artwork used as signage, etc.) may be constructed, erected, or placed upon any property.

## Signs exempt from permit in Somerdale Borough

- Holiday decorations (subject to removal and installation timeframes and safety).
- Official governmental signs, including banners (may be illuminated).
- Building markers (name, construction date, or historical data not exceeding 3 sq ft, made of durable material).
- Changing the copy of a changeable-copy sign, once a permit for the sign has been issued.
- Yard or garage sale signs (up to 4 sq ft, limited placement/removal times and frequency).
- Temporary real estate signs and contractor signs (up to 6 sq ft, not more than 4 ft high, with removal after sale/rental/work completion).
- Trespassing control signs (up to 2 sq ft, spaced at least 25 ft apart).
- Emergency warning signs by government/public utilities/contractors (may be illuminated).
- Public notices required by law or ordinance.
- Interior signs not attached to windows/doors and not legible from the lot line.
- Works of art that do not contain a commercial message (may be illuminated with Planning Board approval).
- Traffic control devices on private property (meeting DOT standards, no commercial message, location approved by Planning Board).
- Flag of the United States (up to 150 sq ft, flagpole up to 50 ft; other flags may be considered freestanding and regulated by zone).
- Flags of other governments (up to 60 sq ft and 50 ft pole).
- Name and address signs on building or mailbox (up to 1 sq ft).
- Incidental signs (up to 2 sq ft).
- Residential freestanding signs (up to 4 sq ft).
- Project development signs (with site plan or subdivision approval, up to 32 sq ft and 8 ft high, with timing for removal).
- Window signs pursuant to specific window sign section.
- Political signs (up to 16 sq ft, with placement and removal timeframe).
- Banners (one per business, up to 30 sq ft for standalone business, 15 sq ft for multiple businesses, attached at four points).
- Portable A-frame signs (up to 6 sq ft per side, max 5 ft high, weighted, and only during business hours).
- Other allowable temporary, portable, lightweight fabric signs (one per business, up to 10 sq ft, max 8 ft high, only on business property, not in ROW, must be maintained in good condition).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- A sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, or maintained only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exceptions, and requirements of this Part 4.
- A permit is required for the installation of all signs unless specifically exempted in the ordinance.
- For pedestrian-oriented directory signs, elevation views and color renderings, as well as associated buildings, must be submitted to the Planning Board with all site plan applications or submitted with sign permit application packages.
- For pedestrian-oriented electronic reader boards, elevation views and color renderings of proposed signs and buildings must be submitted to the Planning Board with all site plan applications or with individual sign permit applications. Examples of intended text messages must be provided for Board review.
- The location of proposed pedestrian-oriented signs must be designated on a scalable site plan drawing, showing relationships to sidewalks, crosswalks, parking areas, and buildings; clear sight triangles required for safe crossings.
- Planning Board may require installation of specified signs as a condition of site plan approval.
- Directory signs may be permitted in addition to otherwise allowed signage when there are multiple tenants sharing an entrance, obscured entrances, or office campuses, subject to directory sign standards.
- Art may be illuminated with the approval of the Planning Board.
- Traffic control signs on private property require Planning Board location approval.

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

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