# Sign Regulations in South Toms River Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** South Toms River Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/south-toms-river-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36289853#36289853)

## At a glance

South Toms River Borough, New Jersey regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign - Single Shops in the C-N, SED, MU, MR zoning district are capped at 18 ft maximum height (sign or structure); bottom of sign at least 10 ft above ground OR, for ground-based, 3 ft high (max) and 5 ft long (max) tall and 40 sq ft per side, with a Not less than 20 ft from right-of-way setback (Sec. §26-13.3a6(a)(1),(b),(d),(e); §26-13.3a6(a)(4)-(6)). Most commercial signs in South Toms River Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 6 | — | — | — |
| Single-Family Residential Zones (R-7, R-10, R-15) | 7 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| Residential zone | 7 | — | 20 sq ft | — |
| C-N, SED, MU, MR | 9 | 18 ft maximum height (sign or structure); bottom of sign at least 10 ft above ground OR, for ground-based, 3 ft high (max) and 5 ft long (max) | 100 sq ft per side | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 4 zones)

### Single-Family Residential Zones (R-7, R-10, R-15)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Sign (Government/Utility) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §26-13.2a1 |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | §26-13.2a2 |
| School/Church/Permitted Use Institutional Sign | — | 20 sq ft | 5 ft per side | — | 1 per street frontage per property | Same lot as use | — | §26-13.2a3 |
| Trespassing/Private Ownership/Roadway Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited, spaced at 100 ft intervals | On same premises | — | §26-13.2a4 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | 3 ft per side | — | 1 per premises | On premises for sale/rent | — | §26-13.2a5 |
| Construction Sign (Architect/Engineer/Contractor) | — | 16 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 1 per premises | On construction site only | — | §26-13.2a6 |
| Temporary/Special/Commemorative/Directory/Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §26-13.2a7 |

### Residential zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Official Sign (Government/Utility) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §26-13.2a1 |
| Nameplate Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per premises | — | — | §26-13.2a2 |
| School/Church/Permitted Use Institutional Sign | — | 20 sq ft | 5 ft per side | — | 1 per street frontage per property | Same lot as use | — | §26-13.2a3 |
| Trespassing/Private Ownership/Roadway Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | Unlimited, spaced at 100 ft intervals | On same premises | — | §26-13.2a4 |
| Real Estate Sign | — | 4 sq ft | 3 ft per side | — | 1 per premises | On premises for sale/rent | — | §26-13.2a5 |
| Construction Sign (Architect/Engineer/Contractor) | — | 16 sq ft | 5 ft | — | 1 per premises | On construction site only | — | §26-13.2a6 |
| Temporary/Special/Commemorative/Directory/Event Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §26-13.2a7 |

### C-N, SED, MU, MR

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Any Sign permitted in the residential zone | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §26-13.3a1 |
| Memorial Sign/Building Name/Date Tablet | — | — | — | — | — | Cut into masonry or constructed of bronze/incombustible materials | — | §26-13.3a2 |
| Wall Sign | 5 ft vertical | — | 40% of wall width | — | — | On building wall (no more than 15 inches projection; bottom of sign at least 10 ft above ground; may not project above wall) | — | §26-13.3a3, §26-13.3a4, §26-13.3a7 |
| Display Window Sign (Interior) | — | Up to 25% of window area | — | — | — | Inside surface of display window | — | §26-13.3a5(b) |
| Wall Sign (Number Allowed) | — | — | — | — | 2 signs per 75 ft of frontage; 1 additional per extra 75 ft or fraction | On public street | — | §26-13.3a5(a) |
| Freestanding Sign - Single Shop | 18 ft maximum height (sign or structure); bottom of sign at least 10 ft above ground OR, for ground-based, 3 ft high (max) and 5 ft long (max) | 40 sq ft per side | — | Not less than 20 ft from right-of-way | 1 per property | Accessory to use; not closer than 20 ft to right-of-way | — | §26-13.3a6(a)(1),(b),(d),(e); §26-13.3a6(a)(4)-(6) |
| Freestanding Sign - Two or Three Shops | 18 ft maximum height (sign or structure); bottom of sign at least 10 ft above ground OR, for ground-based, 3 ft high (max) and 5 ft long (max) | 75 sq ft per side | — | Not less than 20 ft from right-of-way | 1 per property | Accessory to use; not closer than 20 ft to right-of-way | — | §26-13.3a6(a)(2), (a)(7), (a)(8), (b), (d), (e); §26-13.3a6(a)(4)-(6) |
| Freestanding Sign - Four or More Shops | 18 ft maximum height (sign or structure); bottom of sign at least 10 ft above ground OR, for ground-based, 3 ft high (max) and 5 ft long (max) | 100 sq ft per side | — | Not less than 20 ft from right-of-way | 1 per property | Accessory to use; not closer than 20 ft to right-of-way | — | §26-13.3a6(a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), (b), (d), (e); §26-13.3a6(a)(4)-(6) |

## Prohibited signs in South Toms River Borough

- Any class of sign or other advertising structure which is not specifically provided for and permitted by this chapter is prohibited.
- Temporary, portable or movable signs are prohibited.
- The use of signs on parked vehicles for bringing to the attention of the general public any off premises or billboard type advertising or to add to otherwise permitted advertising of the premises within the Borough is prohibited.
- Billboards are prohibited.
- Off premises or point of sale signs are prohibited unless primarily directional and designating a parking lot or area operated in a zone permitting such use by a business being conducted within the Borough.
- Signs painted on or fastened to the roof of any building or structure are prohibited.
- Blinking lights or displays on any sign are prohibited (in applicable zones).

## Signs exempt from permit in South Toms River Borough

- Official municipal, County, State or Federal signs, including traffic and directional markers, and signs in connection with the identification, operation or protection of any public utility or municipal, County, State or Federal activity.

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

---

PermitPal — AI sign code research. Full HTML page: https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/south-toms-river-borough