# Sign Regulations in West Cape May Borough, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** West Cape May Borough, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/west-cape-may-borough
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/36333166#36333166)

## At a glance

West Cape May Borough, New Jersey regulates 27 sign types across 5 zoning districts. Monument Signs in the C-1 Broadway Commercial District zoning district are capped at 4 ft tall and 12 sq ft, with a 4' from property line or right-of-way setback (Sec. 27-27.4l1(a)(4), 27-27.4c10, 27-27.4l1(c)). Most commercial signs in West Cape May Borough require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (5 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1 Broadway Commercial District | 8 | 6 ft | 25% of window | — |
| C-2 Park Commercial District | 10 | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — |
| C-3 Sunset Commercial District | 6 | — | 25% of window | — |
| Residential Districts | 3 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 14 | 4 in (letter height) | 16 sq ft (lots ≤ 5,000 sq ft), 32 sq ft (lots > 5,000 sq ft) | — |

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

### C-1 Broadway Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | No more than two signs per 50' lot frontage; no more than one sign for undersized lots | Vertical fringe of awning | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(1), 27-27.4c13 |
| Façade Sign | — | 15% of first floor façade | — | — | Included in sign total per lot | First floor façade | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(2), 27-27.4c11, 27-27.4l1(c) |
| Hanging Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | Part of overall sign allotment (see frontage restriction above) | — | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(3) |
| Monument Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 4' from property line or right-of-way | As above | — | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(4), 27-27.4c10, 27-27.4l1(c) |
| Portable Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | Part of sign total per frontage | — | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(5), 27-27.4l1(c) |
| Projecting Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | — | — | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(6), 27-27.4c12, 27-27.4l1(c) |
| Wall Sign | — | 5% of wall | — | — | — | Wall of building | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(7), 27-27.4c11, 27-27.4c7, 27-27.4l1(c) |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window | — | — | — | Affixed to window, visible from outside | — | 27-27.4l1(a)(8), 27-27.4l1(c) |

### C-2 Park Commercial District

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Awning Sign | — | — | — | — | No more than two signs per 50' of store frontage | Vertical fringe of awning | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(1), 27-27.4c13 |
| Hanging Sign | 6 ft | 12 sq ft | — | — | As above | — | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(2) |
| Façade Sign | — | 15% of first floor façade | — | — | As above | First floor façade | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(3) |
| Monument Sign | 4 ft | 12 sq ft | — | 4' from property line or right-of-way | As above | — | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(4), 27-27.4c10 |
| Portable Sign | — | 6 sq ft | — | — | As above | — | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(5) |
| Shopping Center Sign | 10 ft | 100 sq ft | — | — | 1 main sign per shopping center | — | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(7) |
| Wall Sign | — | 5% of wall | — | — | — | Wall of building | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(8), 27-27.4c11 |
| Window Sign | — | 25% of window | — | — | — | Affixed to window, visible from outside | — | 27-27.4l2(a)(9) |

### General Regulations For All Zones

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Roadside Farm Stand Sign | — | 12 sq ft | — | — | — | At stand | — | 27-27.4g1 |
| Historical Sign | — | 1.5 sq ft | — | — | One per structure | Front of structure | — | 27-27.4g2 |
| Resident Name/Address Sign | — | 1 sq ft | — | — | — | On residence | — | 27-27.4g3 |
| For Sale or Rent Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | One per property | At property being sold/rented | — | 27-27.4g4(a) |
| Contractor Sign | — | 5 sq ft | — | — | — | At job site | — | 27-27.4g4(c) |
| Construction Sign | — | 16 sq ft (lots ≤ 5,000 sq ft), 32 sq ft (lots > 5,000 sq ft) | — | — | One per construction site | At construction site | — | 27-27.4g4(d) |
| Temporary Sale/Event/Notice Sign | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | — | Inside window | — | 27-27.4g4(f) |
| Building Information Sign (hours, cards, etc) | 4 in (letter height) | — | — | — | — | Attached to building | — | 27-27.4g6 |

## Prohibited signs in West Cape May Borough

- No sign shall be installed which is not in accordance with standards established in this chapter. If a sign type is not specifically permitted, it is prohibited.
- No sign may be placed on or attached to a building or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted use conducted on the same premises.
- No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, or vehicular or pedestrian traffic in a public right-of-way.
- No sign or sign supports shall be located within any street, road, sidewalk or other public right-of-way, except where provided herein for awning, canopy and projecting signs.
- No sign may project above the roof line of the building on which it is mounted, or above the maximum height of the building to which it is associated.
- The following specific types of signs are prohibited: electronic message signs; animated, blinking, flashing, moving or revolving signs; neon, LED or similar signs; roof signs; signs attached to trees or utility poles; inflatable signs; billboard signs; bench signs; any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle except for those vehicles actively used in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate; banners (except where permitted herein) and pennants; vinyl signs; internally lit signs.
- All signs shall be made of durable material and fastened securely with nonrusting hardware. Cardboard, poster board, corrugated plastic, and other similar materials are considered substandard and unacceptable sign materials and shall be removed.
- Nonconforming signs shall not be structurally altered, enlarged, relocated, extended or increased, unless they are to conform to these regulations and receive a zoning and construction permit.

## Signs exempt from permit in West Cape May Borough

- Official traffic, parking, and street signs are exempt.
- Trespassing signs and signs indicating private ownership of roadways or other private property are exempt.
- Signs installed by or at the direction of the Borough upon Borough streets, roads, sidewalks, rights-of-way or other real property owned or controlled by the Borough are exempt.

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Unless otherwise stated herein, the installation of any permanent sign for a commercial, professional and/or institutional use shall require a zoning permit.
- All signs except those listed as exempt or as signs not requiring a permit require a zoning permit prior to installation. Certain sign types also require a construction permit to ensure proper, safe and secure installation.
- For some sign types (e.g., pole signs), approval of the Planning Board and/or Zoning Board of Adjustment is required, depending upon which Board has jurisdiction.
- For shopping centers, waivers for freestanding sign requirements can be requested as part of the site plan application.
- Banners indicating a sale event or grand opening require prior written notification of and written confirmation by the Zoning Officer or Code Official.

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

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