# Sign Regulations in Swedesboro Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Swedesboro Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/swedesboro-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/31172724#31172724)

## At a glance

Swedesboro Borough, New Jersey regulates 21 sign types across 4 zoning districts. Flags in the Central Business District (CBD) zoning district are capped at 15 sq ft (3' x 5' max) unless approved otherwise and 3 ft wide (Sec. §266-25). Most commercial signs in Swedesboro Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (4 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Central Business District (CBD) | 9 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft or 1/2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, whichever is less | — |
| Residential Zones | 5 | — | 15 sq ft | — |
| Nonresidential Zones | 9 | 6 ft | 40 sq ft or 1/2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, whichever is less | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 2 sq ft (or 10 sq ft for nonprofit public message board) | — |

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

### Central Business District (CBD)

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign | — | 40 sq ft or 1/2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, whichever is less | — | — | One per tax lot unless multiple buildings/offices/storefronts (then one per each); exceptions allowed by waiver | On the tax lot, building or storefront associated; signs must not obscure architectural features | — | §266-11, §266-4, §266-6, §266-9, §266-14 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 40 sq ft or 1/2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, whichever is less | — | — | One per tax lot unless multiple buildings/offices/storefronts (then one per each); exceptions allowed by waiver | On the tax lot, building or storefront which it identifies. Not in public right-of-way unless by Planning Board waiver/approval | — | §266-11, §266-4, §266-6, §266-9, §266-14 |
| Menu/Bill-of-Fare Sign - Window or Display Case | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | One per restaurant | In window or display case mounted on restaurant facade | — | §266-16A(1), (B) |
| Menu/Bill-of-Fare Sign - Freestanding or Wall Board | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per restaurant | Freestanding, one-sided easel/pedestal or wall board near entrance | — | §266-16A(2)-(3), (B), §266-26 |
| Barbershop Pole | 6 ft | — | — | — | One pole per barbershop | Mounted to front facade or freestanding in front, not in streetscape/paver or public right-of-way | — | §266-17 |
| Flag | — | 15 sq ft (3' x 5' max) unless approved otherwise | 3 ft | — | One per storefront/building (exclusive of US flag) | Mounted to exterior of building or storefront, or freestanding; cannot encroach pavement/sidewalk/steps | — | §266-25 |
| Temporary Advertising Sign (Interior or Banner) | — | 10% of window area or no larger than permitted sign; cannot exceed width of display windows | — | — | See business banner rules; not counted towards total sign number | On or in business it advertises | — | §266-19B |
| Business Banner | — | No larger than permitted sign (see principal sign limits); cannot exceed width of display window(s) | — | — | See banner rules | On business it advertises; not to cover business sign or architectural features | — | §266-19C |

### Nonresidential Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Retail/Office/Business Use) | — | 40 sq ft or 1/2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, whichever is less | — | — | See above (per use/entrance on one public right-of-way; 1 per frontage for multiple frontages) | On the building/storefront with which associated | — | §266-14, §266-6, §266-4, §266-9 |
| Freestanding Sign | — | 40 sq ft or 1/2 sq ft per linear foot of frontage, whichever is less | — | — | One per tax lot/building/storefront unless otherwise permitted by waiver | On tax lot/building/storefront identified; not in right-of-way unless by waiver | — | §266-6, §266-5, §266-9 |
| Flag | — | 15 sq ft (3' x 5' max) unless otherwise approved | 3 ft | — | One per storefront/building (not counting US flag) | Attached to exterior or freestanding, cannot encroach on pavement/sidewalk/stairs | — | §266-25 |
| Menu/Bill-of-Fare Sign - Window or Display Case | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | One per restaurant | In window or mounted display case on facade | — | §266-16A(1), (B) |
| Menu/Bill-of-Fare Sign - Freestanding or Wall Board | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | One per restaurant | Freestanding, one-sided easel/pedestal or wall board near entrance | — | §266-16A(2)-(3), §266-26 |
| Barbershop Pole | 6 ft | — | — | — | One per barbershop | Mounted to front facade or freestanding near entrance; not in right-of-way | — | §266-17 |
| Temporary Advertising Sign (Interior or Banner) | — | 10% of window area or no larger than permitted sign (principal sign); cannot exceed width of window | — | — | Within temporary sign rules | On the business premises | — | §266-19B-C |
| Temporary Sign (Real Estate/Contractor/Tradesmen) | — | 6 sq ft; Open house up to 48 hr prior event | — | — | One per tax lot per service | On lot where service is being performed | — | §266-19A |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | Counted as one sign | On awning | — | §266-22 |
| Commercial Informational Sign | — | 1 sq ft aggregate | — | — | Aggregate area rule | On or near entrance/door | — | §266-23 |
| Functional Public Service Sign | — | 2 sq ft (or 10 sq ft for nonprofit public message board) | — | — | One per service unless permit issued | At site where service or announcement is relevant | — | §266-21 |
| Private Parking Sign | — | 2 sq ft (or size of similar standard municipal sign if smaller); may include name of building/use but that may not exceed 1/2 of total sign area | — | — | Not specified | At parking area/lot entrance/exit | — | §266-20 |
| Historical Identification Sign | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | §266-2 |
| Political Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Only on private property with owner permission; not in public right-of-way | — | §266-19D |
| Official Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Erected/maintained by government or licensed public utility | — | §266-2, §266-28 |
| Interim Business Sign | — | Same as permitted permanent sign | — | — | — | Location of permanent sign unless otherwise approved | — | §266-24 |

## Prohibited signs in Swedesboro Borough

- Any digital, flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving sign, and any sign which presents an illusion of movement.
- Any sign erected, constructed or maintained so as to obstruct any fire escape, door or other legally required means of egress from the structure, or blocking any door, window or other opening required by law.
- Any sign which has any form, character, lighting, color, content, location or shape that may confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle.
- Any sign which in any way simulates any official, functional, directional, or warning sign erected or maintained by any federal, state, county or local government or their instrumentalities, or by any railroad or public utility.
- Any off-site commercial sign, including the sandwich board type, unless expressly permitted by this chapter.
- Any mobile sign.
- Any billboard or similar sign.
- Any internally lighted sign.
- Any other sign of any kind whatsoever that is not expressly allowed by this chapter.
- Electronic messaging center.
- Signs are prohibited within or over any state, county or municipal right-of-way, except by permission of the governing body.
- Signs are prohibited on any roof, including a pent roof, of any structure.
- Signs are prohibited when directly painted on any part of a structure other than a fascia board or other architectural element designed to serve as a signboard.
- Signs are prohibited when affixed or painted on trees, rocks, fences, gates, curbs, public rights-of-way, walkways, utility poles, or other signs.
- Signs on any window glass or door glass of any structure are prohibited unless a waiver has been granted.
- Signs are prohibited where the sign, by itself or by its means of attachment, would materially damage the structure to which it is attached.
- Signs are prohibited if located so as to allow less than seven feet clearance over any pedestrian walkway.
- No sign shall be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. if the lit sign creates any light or glare that substantially affects any dwelling or residential zone.
- Handwritten signs or banners affixed to or placed in store windows are not permitted.
- Handwritten banners are not permitted.
- Display banners and signs cannot cover the business sign or key architectural features.
- A business with an exterior display of merchandise or a restaurant with a bill-of-fare easel shall not be permitted to display a flag (other than the U.S. flag).

## Signs exempt from permit in Swedesboro Borough

- No sign permit is required for banners.
- No sign permit is required for commercial informational signs.
- No sign permit is required for legal nonconforming signs.
- No sign permit is required for official signs.
- No sign permit is required for political signs.
- No sign permit is required for residential signs.
- No sign permit is required for temporary signs.
- No sign permit is required for temporary interior advertising signs.
- No sign permit is required for flags.
- No sign permit is required for signs relettered on the same signboard using the same colors and fonts.
- Residential signs shall not require any sign permit.
- The outdoor marketing graphic display restrictions do not apply to civic or eleemosynary organizations.
- This section does not apply to and does not prohibit and/or regulate the display of flags on a single-family residence, two-family residence and on any federal, state, or local governmental structure or building.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Any sign on any one tax lot shall be part of a sign plan for the entire tax lot. Where there is more than one building or storefront, the sign plan may be limited to that one building or storefront.
- Signs for any one tax lot, building or storefront shall be considered as a unitary application, and a sign permit shall not be issued for any sign unless it is part of a complete sign plan.
- Private parking signs and functional public service signs shall be considered as part of the sign plan of any tax lot and included in any initial site plan application.
- Waivers for off-site signage or for additional signs require inclusion in the sign plan of the relevant tax lot, building or storefront.
- A sign permit application must include all signs on a tax lot.
- Deviations or waivers from the requirements of the chapter, such as location on another lot or additional signs, may be granted by the Swedesboro Zoning/Planning Board and must be reflected in the sign plan.
- Appeals and waivers are considered by the Swedesboro Planning Board, with the application requiring adequate documentation (such as sign plan, application documents, etc.).

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

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