# Sign Regulations in Washington Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Washington Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/washington-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/12540342#12540342)

## At a glance

Washington Borough, New Jersey regulates 32 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Freestanding/Pylon Sign (Gasoline/Public Garage)s in the B-1 District, B-2 District zoning district are capped at 20 ft max; bottom at least 10 ft above curb tall and 40 sq ft per side, with a ≥5 ft from property/right-of-way; front yard ≥50 ft for main building (B-1) setback (Sec. §94-62C(5)(a), (6)). Most commercial signs in Washington Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Residential zone districts, OB Zone | 5 | 4 ft | 24 in x 30 in (informational); 18 in x 24 in (directional) | — |
| B-1 District, B-2 District | 16 | 36 in | 40 sq ft per side | — |
| B-2 Central Business District | 9 | 36 in | ≤20% of window glass | — |
| I Industrial District | 3 | ≤½ sign length, max 10 ft | 24 in x 30 in (informational); 18 in x 24 in (directional) | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 8 | — | 64 sq ft | — |

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

### B-1 District, B-2 District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flat, General regulations) | 5 ft (single sign, see C(3)(b)); See also: 36 in (flat sign on first floor, B-2, §94-62C(7)(a)[1]) | — | — | — | 4 per business max; 2 per wall | Exterior wall; for shopping plazas multi-tenant, see C(1)(d) | — | §94-62C(1),(3) |
| Wall Sign (Flat, First Floor, B-2 District) | 36 in | — | — | — | 2 per first-floor establishment; max 1 per exterior wall | First floor of building; attached & parallel to wall | — | §94-62C(7)(a)[1] |
| Directory Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per public access/entry | One per public access to establishment advertised | — | §94-62C(7)(b) |
| Standing Sign (A-frame/Easel, Temporary) | 36 in (sign only); 42 in overall (support + sign) | 6 sq ft per side | 24 in | — | 1 per business | Adjacent to building, in entrance alcove or adjacent to curb; within business' extended property lines | — | §94-62C(7)(d)[1] |
| Second Floor Business Sign (Window) | 18 in (sign), letters ≤8 in high | — | 3 ft | — | 1 per business | Window of second floor business | — | §94-62C(7)(e) |
| Freestanding/Pylon Sign (Gasoline/Public Garage) | 20 ft max; bottom at least 10 ft above curb | 40 sq ft per side | — | ≥5 ft from property/right-of-way; front yard ≥50 ft for main building (B-1) | 1 per business (see options for garages/service stations, and B-1 Hwy Business District) | Within 5 ft of property line; not closer than 5 ft to property or right-of-way line | — | §94-62C(5)(a), (6) |
| Directional Signs (Gas Station/Public Garage) | — | 6 sq ft | Letters ≤12 in high | — | 1 per entrance/bay | Over entrance doors or bays | — | §94-62C(5)(c) |
| Freestanding Sign (B-1 Highway Business District) | 20 ft | 40 sq ft per side (max 2 sides) | — | ≥5 ft from property/right-of-way, main building front yard ≥50 ft | 1 per business | On property of business being advertised | — | §94-62C(6) |

### B-2 Central Business District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Flat, First Floor, B-2 District) | 36 in | — | — | — | 2 per first-floor business, 1 per wall | First-floor, attached & parallel to wall | — | §94-62C(7)(a)[1], §94-62C(7)(f) |
| Overhanging Sign (B-2) | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per wall facing abutting street (2 if corner lot) | Perpendicular to wall, abutting street(s) | — | §94-62C(7)(a)[2], §94-62C(7)(f) |
| Awning Sign | 9 in (lettering/graphics on valance) | — | — | — | — | Valance of fabric awning | — | §94-62C(7)(a)[3] |
| Directory Sign | — | 10 sq ft | — | — | One per public entry | One per public access/entrance | — | §94-62C(7)(b) |
| Window Sign | — | ≤20% of window glass | — | — | — | Window | — | §94-62C(7)(c) |
| Standing Sign (A-frame/Easel, Temporary) | 36 in (panel), 42 in overall | 6 sq ft per side | 24 in | — | 1 per business | Adjacent to building/alcove/curb, within extended property lines | — | §94-62C(7)(d)[1] |
| Decorative Flag (Temporary) | — | — | — | — | — | Projecting from façade | — | §94-62C(7)(d)[2] |
| Second Floor Business Sign (Window) | 18 in; letters ≤8 in high | — | 3 ft | — | 1 per business | Second floor window | — | §94-62C(7)(e) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Banner/Flag/Bunting (Temporary/Grand Opening) | — | — | — | — | — | Any zone (see B-1 opening restriction) | — | §94-62E(1) |
| Temporary Portable Sign (Trailer or Wheeled, Mobile) | — | — | — | — | — | Any zone | — | §94-62E(2) |
| Nonprofit Ground Sign (Temporary) | — | 64 sq ft | — | ≥5 ft from right-of-way | — | On premises occupied by nonprofit group; ≥5 ft from right-of-way; not impacting visibility | — | §94-62E(3) |
| Directional Sign (Driveway, Entrance, Exit, etc.) | — | As specified in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) | — | — | — | All nonresidential uses | — | §94-62E(4) |
| Construction Sign (Nonresidential) | — | 64 sq ft | — | — | 1 | On construction site | — | §94-62E(5)(a) |
| Construction Sign (Residential Development) | — | 12 sq ft | — | ≥15 ft to any street or side lot line | 2 | On residential development site; ≥15 ft to any street or side lot | — | §94-62E(5)(b) |
| Prohibited: Curved-face Sign or 3+ Faces | — | — | — | — | — | Any | — | §94-62E(6) |
| Garage/Yard Sale Directional Sign | — | 12 in x 12 in | — | — | 3 off-site, 2 on-site | On property of sale/authorized property (freestanding), or municipal right-of-way (not on poles, trees, fences) | — | §94-62E(7)(a)-(d) |

## Prohibited signs in Washington Borough

- No sign shall be erected, displayed, or altered without first obtaining a permit from the Building or Zoning Officer.
- No sign shall have flashing, intermittent, or rotating illumination.
- All lights for sign illumination must be completely shielded from view of vehicular traffic on adjacent roads.
- No banner, flag, bunting, or other sign made of plastic, cloth, or other fabric shall be suspended or affixed on a temporary or permanent basis in any zone, except as an indication of the opening of a business in the B-1 Highway Business District and then only for 30 days.
- No temporary sign or portable roll-about sign constructed on a trailer, wheeled support, skids, or otherwise mobile shall be permitted in any zone, except when erected by the Borough or a political subdivision for political events or holidays.
- No sign with curved faces or more than two faces shall be permitted in any zone.
- No signs shall be posted on telephone poles, street signs, trees, or fences.
- Unsafe, obsolete, and abandoned signs must be removed or repaired as ordered by the Building or Zoning Officer.

## Signs exempt from permit in Washington Borough

- Temporary signs or portable roll-about signs may be erected on a temporary basis by the Borough of Washington or a political subdivision to call attention to political events or holidays.
- Signs indicating driveways, entrances, exits, and similar traffic-directional signs are permitted in all nonresidential uses, subject to standards in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
- Garage and yard sale directional signs: no permit shall be required for such signs.
- Nonprofit groups may erect a ground sign on their premises, not exceeding 64 square feet, for up to two weeks, provided it does not create a safety hazard.
- Construction signs as specified: for nonresidential (one sign, up to 64 sq ft, during construction), and for residential (two temporary signs, up to 12 sq ft each, properly placed, removed after sales).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- No explicit requirement for a master sign plan is indicated. Permits are generally required before erecting, displaying, or altering any sign; all signs must have professional design and harmonious graphics/logos and be maintained in good repair.
- Administration and permissible sign types, numbers, and sizes differ by zone and use, and all signs are subject to the zoning and building officer's review.

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

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