# Sign Regulations in Southampton Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Southampton Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/southampton-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/29791252#29791252)

## At a glance

Southampton Township, New Jersey regulates 22 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Freestanding Signs in the TC zone, TC1 zone zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 12 sq ft, with a At least 5 feet from street right-of-way setback (Sec. [12-6.13.e](https://ecode360.com/29795123#29795123)). Most commercial signs in Southampton Township require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Historic District | 1 | — | — | — |
| TC zone, TC1 zone | 7 | No higher than 15 ft above the second floor window sill, parapet, eave, or building facade | 20% of total window area | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 13 | 30 ft | 150 sq ft or 1 sq ft per linear foot of lot frontage (whichever is less) | — |
| All zoning districts | 1 | — | 4 in x 10 in | — |

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

### TC zone, TC1 zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential Identification Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | — | Flat against the dwelling or gatepost | — | [12-6.13.a](https://ecode360.com/29795119#29795119) |
| Wall Sign | No higher than 15 ft above the second floor window sill, parapet, eave, or building facade | 1 sq ft per linear ft of building face or 10% of wall area (per wall) | — | — | — | Above the storefront, affixed to the wall | — | [12-6.13.b](https://ecode360.com/29795120#29795120) |
| Wall-mounted Building Directory Sign | — | 3 sq ft total (1 sq ft per tenant) | — | — | — | At building entrance or location typical for directory | — | [12-6.13.b](https://ecode360.com/29795120#29795120) |
| Projecting Sign (Perpendicular) | — | 8 sq ft (one face) | — | — | — | Mounted perpendicular to building wall, minimum clearance 8 ft over sidewalk, no closer than 2 ft to curb line | — | [12-6.13.c](https://ecode360.com/29795121#29795121) |
| Window/Door Sign | — | 20% of total window area | — | — | — | On or behind the window/door glass | — | [12-6.13.d](https://ecode360.com/29795122#29795122) |
| Freestanding Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | At least 5 feet from street right-of-way | 1 per building | Front of building, must be set back at least 5 feet from street right-of-way and near main entrance | — | [12-6.13.e](https://ecode360.com/29795123#29795123) |
| Menu Display (Restaurant/Café) | — | — | — | — | — | On exterior of building | — | [12-6.13.g](https://ecode360.com/29795125#29795125) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Real Estate Sign | — | — | — | — | 1 per lot | — | — | [12-5.15c.6](https://ecode360.com/29794658#29794658) |
| Temporary Development Sign | 6 ft | 20 sq ft | — | — | 1 per major subdivision | — | — | [12-5.15c.7(b)](https://ecode360.com/29794661#29794661) |
| Nonprofit Institution Sign (Freestanding/Attached) | Freestanding: 10 ft | Freestanding: 15 sq ft; Attached: 10% of wall area | — | — | 1 per street frontage | — | — | [12-5.15c.8](https://ecode360.com/29794665#29794665) |
| Development Sign (Permanent, Major Subdivisions) | — | 15 sq ft per sign | — | — | 1 or 2 per major subdivision (if two entrances) | At (main) subdivision entrance or as approved by Land Development Board | — | [12-5.15c.9](https://ecode360.com/29794667#29794667) |
| Attached Sign (Individual Tenant in Shopping Center) | — | 1 wall sign per facade facing customer parking; total area as per district regulations | — | — | 1 per fa0cade facing customer parking | On facade facing parking lot | — | [12-5.15c.10(a)(b)(c)](https://ecode360.com/29794670#29794670) |
| Freestanding Sign (Shopping Centers/Multiple-Tenant Facilities) | 30 ft | 150 sq ft or 1 sq ft per linear foot of lot frontage (whichever is less) | — | No closer than 10 ft to right-of-way and 50 ft from street intersection | 1 per lot frontage | On same lot as shopping center, no closer than 50 ft to intersection of street lines, and minimum 10 ft from right-of-way | — | [12-5.15c.10(c)](https://ecode360.com/29794673#29794673) |
| Freestanding Sign (Principal Use, Not Shopping Center) | 10 ft | 50 sq ft per street frontage | — | Minimum 10 ft from any street or property line | 1 per principal use per street frontage | On premises to which sign relates | — | [12-5.15c.10(d)](https://ecode360.com/29794677#29794677) |
| Attached Sign (Principal Use, Not Shopping Center) | — | 10% of wall surface area where attached | — | — | 1 per principal use | Attached to wall of principal use | — | [12-5.15c.10(d)](https://ecode360.com/29794677#29794677) |

### All zoning districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| No Solicitors Sign | — | 4 in x 10 in | — | — | — | Near primary entrance to residence | — | [4-1.4](https://ecode360.com/29791915#29791915) |

## Prohibited signs in Southampton Township

- All mobile signs, billboards, and blinking signs are prohibited.
- No sign shall be erected or maintained on a lot, tract or parcel, including any improvement thereon, unless the message on the sign directly relates to the use, sale, or lease of said lot, tract, or parcel. Exception: off-tract signs for churches or fraternal organizations are allowed.
- No sign shall be placed in such a position that it causes or is likely to cause danger to vehicular or pedestrian traffic on any street, sidewalk or right-of-way.
- No sign other than an official sign may be placed within the right-of-way of any Township or County street.
- Illuminated signs shall be arranged such that no light or glare is directed or reflected to adjoining lots or streets or into residential windows.
- No sign with red, green, blue or amber illumination in a beam or beacon resembling an emergency light shall be erected or used in any location.
- Signs shall not obliterate or obscure the architecture of the building.
- Obsolete signage from defunct activities should be removed unless it is an integral part of the building's original architecture.
- The usage of self-illuminated signs shall be restricted as such signs are less appropriate to the basic architectural and historical character of the Historic District.
- Signs shall be installed so as to be flush with the exterior wall of the historic site.
- No sign shall obscure important architectural features or details such as window openings, transom panels, sills, moldings, or cornices.
- Signs shall not be allowed on upper facades of buildings.

## Signs exempt from permit in Southampton Township

- Any sign inside a structure or building which is not visible from outside the building or structure is excluded from ordinance requirements.
- The limitations on signs prescribed in this chapter shall not apply to any sign or device erected by any recognized local, County, State, or Federal government agency.
- Existing signs erected prior to the adoption of this chapter are not subject to the standards provided below (but see provisions on nonconforming signs).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The commission will review sign applications in accordance with the requirements and review standards applicable to signs, as well as specific sign review criteria.
- Maintenance of a sign within the historic district (whether existing or new) requires the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness.
- Owners of existing signs in the historic district must apply for and obtain a certificate of appropriateness within two years of the effective date of the section or lose the right to continue maintenance.
- The Zoning Official only issues a permit for erection or construction of a sign that meets ordinance requirements.
- Applications for sign permits must be accompanied by plans showing sign area, size, illumination method, exact location, method of fastening, distances from grade, curb, and right-of-way, and any other requested information.
- The location of the permanent development sign must be approved by the Land Development Board at the time of preliminary subdivision and other development 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 4 zoning districts in Southampton Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Southampton+Township+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-southampton-township

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