# Sign Regulations in Stafford Township, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Stafford Township, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/stafford-township
- **Data last verified:** 2025-02-24
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/11380267#11382832)

## At a glance

Stafford Township, New Jersey regulates 9 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Ground Signs in the Nonresidential zoning districts - BP, C, CC, HC, HMC, LB, MC, MU, NC, NMC, RB, RMC zoning district are capped at 20 feet tall and 75 square feet, with a Front setback minimum 35 feet, side setback minimum 50 feet setback (Sec. Table 1: Sign Bulk Requirements by Zone - Nonresidential Zoning Districts).

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nonresidential zoning districts - BP, C, CC, HC, HMC, LB, MC, MU, NC, NMC, RB, RMC | 8 | 30 inches | 75 square feet | — |
| Rural Residential Zone (RA) | 1 | 30 inches | 4 square feet | — |
| Low-Density Rural Residential Zone (RA-4) | 2 | 30 inches | 48 square feet | — |
| Environmentally Sensitive Rural Residential Zone (RA-5) | 1 | 30 inches | 4 square feet | — |

_1 additional zoning district is covered in PermitPal (free account)._

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

### Nonresidential zoning districts - BP, C, CC, HC, HMC, LB, MC, MU, NC, NMC, RB, RMC

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ground Sign | 20 feet | 75 square feet | — | Front setback minimum 35 feet, side setback minimum 50 feet | 1 per site | Front setback minimum 35 feet, side setback minimum 50 feet | — | Table 1: Sign Bulk Requirements by Zone - Nonresidential Zoning Districts |
| Ground Sign - Neighborhood Commercial Zone (NC) | 15 feet | 40 square feet | — | Front setback minimum 15 feet, side setback minimum 20 feet | 1 per site | Front setback minimum 15 feet, side setback minimum 20 feet | — | Table 1: Sign Bulk Requirements by Zone - Nonresidential Zoning Districts |
| Ground Sign - Neighborhood Mixed-Use Commercial Zone (NMC) | 15 feet | 20 square feet | — | Front setback minimum 15 feet, side setback minimum 20 feet | 1 per site | Front setback minimum 15 feet, side setback minimum 20 feet | — | Table 1: Sign Bulk Requirements by Zone - Nonresidential Zoning Districts |
| Freestanding Sign | 25 feet or highest roofline, whichever is less | — | — | See Table 1 | — | Outside of intersection or driveway sight triangles | — | General sign regulations in nonresidential zones (4) |
| Wall Sign | Not above top of building wall or roofline | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | General sign regulations in nonresidential zones (4) |
| Neon Sign | — | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Nonresidential zones only | — | General sign regulations in nonresidential zones (4) |
| Directional Sign | 30 inches | 4 square feet | — | — | — | Visible to approaching vehicles | — | General sign regulations in nonresidential zones (4) |
| Directional Sign - Highway Medical Commercial Zone (HMC) | 7 feet | 10 square feet | — | — | — | Visible to approaching vehicles | — | General sign regulations in nonresidential zones (4) |

### Rural Residential Zone (RA)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 inches | 4 square feet | — | Minimum front yard setback: 10 feet, Minimum side yard setback: 6 feet | — | Minimum front yard setback: 10 feet, Minimum side yard setback: 6 feet | — | Rural Residential Zone (RA) (2) |

### Low-Density Rural Residential Zone (RA-4)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Freestanding Sign | 30 inches | 4 square feet | — | Minimum front yard setback: 10 feet, Minimum side yard setback: 6 feet | — | Minimum front yard setback: 10 feet, Minimum side yard setback: 6 feet | — | Low-Density Rural Residential Zone (RA-4) (1) |
| Identification Sign | 8 feet | 48 square feet | — | Minimum front yard setback: 10 feet, Minimum side yard setback: 6 feet | 1 per commercial farm, farm market, or pick-your-own farm | Minimum front yard setback: 10 feet, Minimum side yard setback: 6 feet | — | Low-Density Rural Residential Zone (RA-4) (2) |

## Prohibited signs in Stafford Township

- No sign shall be erected, altered, constructed, reconstructed, placed, replaced or otherwise displayed which is not in accordance with the standards and requirements established in this section.
- No sign shall be placed on or affixed or attached to a building or structure or erected independently for any purpose other than to identify a permitted business, occupant, service, office, address, process, use or product offered, sold, conducted, manufactured or assembled on the same premises.
- No sign or structure supporting the sign shall be attached to any natural objects, trees, stumps, fences, fence posts, utility poles or towers, or other such structures.
- Signs, whether permanent or temporary, other than signs of the municipal, county, state or federal government that are official traffic control devices, shall not be erected, altered, constructed, reconstructed, placed, replaced or otherwise displayed within or overhanging a sight easement, in the right-of-way of any street, or in an easement of a public or private utility, nor shall any sign be located so as to constitute a traffic hazard.
- Signs using mechanical devices, electrical devices or both to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited in all zones.
- No sign with red, amber, green or blue illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location where it may be confused with a railroad, traffic control or emergency vehicle signal.
- Permanent banner signs are not permitted in any zone.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, constructed, reconstructed, placed, replaced or otherwise displayed that, by its size, location, color, shape, lighting, message or nature, may be confused with or obstruct the view of an official traffic sign or traffic control device by pedestrians or operators of bicycles or motor vehicles.
- No sign shall be erected, altered, constructed, reconstructed, placed, replaced or otherwise displayed that uses admonitions, including but not limited to 'Stop,' 'Go,' 'Slow,' 'Danger,' 'Caution,' etc., which may be confused with, resembles or is an imitation of an official traffic sign or signal.

## Signs exempt from permit in Stafford Township

- Sign area shall not exceed 16 square feet.
- Sign height shall not exceed six feet.
- Signs shall be ground mounted.
- Signs shall be nonilluminated.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Each site plan and subdivision application shall include a signage plan showing the specific design, location, size (dimensions and square footage), height, materials of construction, color scheme and illumination in compliance with the provisions required herein.
- All new planned unit developments, such as shopping centers and office parks, shall present an integrated sign design scheme for signage in conjunction with the application for site plan.
- In cases where a sign is not part of a signage plan as part of a site plan or subdivision application, a separate sign permit shall be applied to and issued by the Building Department.

## 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 Stafford Township — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Stafford+Township+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-stafford-township

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