# Sign Regulations in Spotswood Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Spotswood Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/spotswood-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/15262118#15262118)

## At a glance

Spotswood Borough, New Jersey regulates 28 sign types across 7 zoning districts. Nonprofit Organization Event Sign (Freestanding or Attached)s in the General Regulations For All Zones zoning district are capped at 5 feet (if freestanding) tall and 8 sq ft, with a Setback from street/driveway/property line = 1 ft per 2.5 sq ft of sign area setback (Sec. §120-604A(8)). Most commercial signs in Spotswood Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (7 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 11 | 15 feet | 32 sq ft | — |
| R-10, R-7.5, R-5 | 4 | 10 feet | 25 sq ft | — |
| TH, APT, AR-MHP, SC | 3 | 5 feet | 25 sq ft | — |
| NC, GC | 5 | 15 feet | 25 sq ft | — |
| MSR | 6 | 10 feet | 25 sq ft | — |
| LI | 3 | 15 feet | 8 sq ft | — |
| C, PE | 1 | 10 feet | 25 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 7 zones)

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 feet | 15 ft height max, unless otherwise specified | — | — | — | Not within or suspended over public right-of-way or walkway; must be supported by columns or uprights embedded in ground | — | §120-604A(3)-(5) |
| Wall Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Firmly attached to exterior wall of building, not projecting more than 6 inches | — | §120-604A(14) |
| Window Sign (Temporary Interior) | — | — | — | — | — | Interior of window | — | §120-604A(15) |
| Directional/Wayfinding Sign | 4 feet | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | §120-604A(19) |
| Nonprofit Organization Event Sign (Freestanding or Attached) | 5 feet (if freestanding) | 8 sq ft | — | Setback from street/driveway/property line = 1 ft per 2.5 sq ft of sign area | Max 3 total (1 per property, 2 on non-nonprofit properties) | 1 sign on nonprofit property, up to 2 on other properties in nonresidential districts | — | §120-604A(8) |
| Political Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | 15 ft from all street and property lines | — | — | — | §120-604A(9) |
| Real Estate Sign (Standard) | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street line, comply with side yard for zone | 1 per property | On premises being sold or rented | — | §120-604A(11) |
| Real Estate Sign (Construction/Subdivision) | — | 32 sq ft | — | — | 1 | At construction site or subdivision during construction | — | §120-604A(11)(c)-(d) |

### NC, GC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign (Church) | 10 feet | 25 sq ft | — | 25 ft from all property lines | 1 | On church property | — | §120-604D(1) |
| Attached Sign (Church) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On church property (attached) | — | §120-604D(1) |
| Wall Sign (Major Attached Sign, Commercial Building or Shopping Center) | 10% of building's front facade height (ground to top of upper story, exclude roof) | 5% of front facade, max 75 sq ft combined attached+freestanding | — | — | 1 major attached sign per building/center | Principal commercial bldg or shopping center | — | §120-604D(2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Commercial Building/Shopping Center) | 15 feet | 5% of front facade, max 75 sq ft combined attached+freestanding | — | 25 ft from all street and property lines | 1 freestanding sign per building/center | Principal commercial bldg or shopping center | — | §120-604D(2) |
| Additional Identification Sign (Principal Commercial Use >=500 sq ft, Direct Exterior Access) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 per eligible use | Attached flat at entrance or suspended perpendicular from roof over walkway; if suspended, min 10 ft above grade at lowest point | — | §120-604D(3) |

### MSR

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Facade Sign (Wall Sign) | — | 10% of front facade area (corner lots: both facades) | — | — | 1 per use/tenant | Facade (first floor only; surface-mounted signs not permitted above first floor) | — | §120-604E(1), (2), (5), (6), (10) |
| Monument Sign (by Board Relief) | 4 feet | — | — | — | — | Ground sign only with relief; must have planter base around sign | — | §120-604E(3) |
| Shingle Sign (First/Second Floor) | — | 4 sq ft | — | — | — | First or second floor | — | §120-604E(4) |
| Awning Sign | — | — | May not extend more than 4 ft from building; minimum 8 ft clearance | — | — | May be on awning (cloth/canvas encouraged) | — | §120-604E(7), (9), (10), (11), (12) |
| Freestanding Sign (Church) | 10 feet | 25 sq ft | — | 25 ft from all property lines | 1 | On church property | — | §120-604E(13) |
| Attached Sign (Church) | — | 8 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On church property (attached to building) | — | §120-604E(13) |

## Prohibited signs in Spotswood Borough

- No sign 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 herein.
- No billboards shall be erected or replaced.
- No signs shall be erected, altered, enlarged or replaced which are not in accordance with the standards established in this chapter.
- No portion of any sign shall be located within or suspended over a public right-of-way or pedestrian walkway.
- 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 sign shall be erected, used or maintained which in any way simulates official, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by the State of New Jersey, any county or municipality, or by any public utility or similar agency concerned with the protection of the public health or safety.
- No sign shall be erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct or be attached to any fire escape, window, door or opening that is intended to provide light or a means of ingress or egress, or for fire-fighting purposes, or placed so as to interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.
- No sign, other than exempt signs, shall be permitted within 50 feet of the property line of any historical site or monument.
- Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited. This includes LED style signs, variable message signs and electronic billboard signs.
- No freestanding sign in any district shall be higher than 15 feet, measured to the top of the sign from grade unless otherwise specified.
- Exposed guy wires, chains or other connections shall not be a support of a freestanding sign.
- No sign with red, green, blue or amber illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light, safety or warning device or traffic signal shall be erected in any location.
- No sign lighting or control mechanism that interferes with radio or television reception shall be permitted.
- Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed to become dilapidated or unsightly.
- Any sign that is or is becoming dangerous or unsafe must be repaired and made safe or must be removed.
- Portable signs (i.e., fixed on a movable stand, self-supporting without being firmly imbedded in the ground, supported by other objects, mounted on wheels or movable vehicles, or made easily movable) are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Spotswood Borough

- Street number designations, postal boxes, 'private property', 'no hunting', on-site directional and parking signs, and warning signs are permitted in all zone districts, are not considered in calculating sign area, shall not exceed one square foot in area, and do not require a zoning permit.
- Residential nameplate signs situated within the property lines and not exceeding 72 square inches are permitted, are not considered in calculating sign area, and do not require a zoning permit.
- Political signs temporarily giving notice of political campaigns do not require a zoning permit.
- Temporary window signs do not require a zoning permit.
- The flag of the United States of America or the State of New Jersey may be displayed in all zoning districts and do not require a zoning permit.
- Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or portion thereof, if nonilluminated and not exceeding four square feet in area, do not require a zoning permit.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- The erection of any sign shall require a zoning permit and certificate of occupancy unless specifically exempted herein.
- An application for a zoning permit to erect, hang or place a sign shall be submitted on forms obtainable from the Zoning Officer, unless such sign has been specifically approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment as part of an approved application for development.
- Each application for any required zoning permit shall be accompanied by plans showing the area of the sign; the size and character of the sign; the method of illumination, if any; the exact location proposed for the sign; and, in the case of a projecting sign, the proposed method of fastening, distances from building, curb, and right-of-way.
- Directional or wayfinding signs must be approved by the Planning Board.
- If a ground sign is proposed in the MSR Zone, such signs shall require relief (variance) from the appropriate Board.
- Nonprofit organization event signs require a written application to the Zoning Officer including permissions and a sketch indicating proposed sign location and graphics.

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

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