# Sign Regulations in Westfield Town, New Jersey

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

- **Jurisdiction:** Westfield Town, New Jersey (NJ)
- **Canonical page:** https://permitpal.io/sign-regulations/new-jersey/westfield-town
- **Data last verified:** 2025-04-28
- **Source:** [ecode360 municipal code](https://ecode360.com/34840369#34840369)

## At a glance

Westfield Town, New Jersey regulates 36 sign types across 12 zoning districts. Freestanding Sign (Retail/Commercial Alternative)s in the GB-2, GB-3, C Zone Districts zoning district are capped at 8 ft tall, 16 sq ft, and 6 ft horizontal or vertical wide, with a At least 5 ft from any property line setback (Sec. §16.04(E)(4)). Most commercial signs in Westfield Town require a permit.

## Sign rules by zoning district (12 zones)

| Zoning District | Sign Types Regulated | Max Height | Max Area | Permit Required |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CBD, GB-1, GB-2, GB-3, C Zone Districts | 1 | 48 inches (4 ft) | — | — |
| Residence "A" Zone | 7 | — | 24 sq ft | — |
| Residence "B" Zone | 1 | — | 2 sq ft | — |
| Garden Apartment "G" Zone | 1 | — | — | — |
| Business Zone | 5 | 15 ft above ground | Area: width of business frontage occupied, not exceeding 50 feet; height: max of 15% of width or 5 feet, whichever is larger; lettering: area must not exceed these limits. | — |
| Commercial Zone, Industrial Zone | 2 | 10 ft above ground (top of sign) | Min 30 sq ft, Max 100 sq ft | — |
| Multi-family zone districts | 2 | 6 ft | 16 sq ft | — |
| RS-40, RS-24, RS-16, RS-12, RS-10, RS-8, RS-6, RM-12, RM-8, RM-6, RM-6D | 3 | 8 ft | 24 sq ft | — |
| General Regulations For All Zones | 2 | 5 ft (if freestanding) | 1 sq ft | — |
| P-1, P-2, O-1, O-2, O-3 | 2 | 12 ft or height of ground floor | 10 sq ft | — |
| GB-2, GB-3, C Zone Districts | 8 | 17 ft or height of ground floor (whichever is less) | 25 sq ft | — |
| Residential Zone Districts | 3 | 5 ft (if freestanding) | 4 sq ft | — |

## Zone-by-zone sign requirements (sample of 3 of 12 zones)

### Residence "A" Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Announcement Sign (Professional Use) | — | 2 sq ft | — | — | 1 per professional use | On premises | — | § 3-4(a)(1) |
| Churches, Charitable and Civic Organization Sign | — | 20 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises of organization | — | § 3-4(b) |
| Temporary Construction/Contractor Sign | — | 16 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street line if not on building | — | On premises where work is ongoing | — | § 3-4(c) |
| Subdivision Ground Sign (Temporary) | — | 24 sq ft | — | 20 ft from street line | 1 per subdivision | On approved subdivision | — | § 3-4(d) |
| Real Estate Sign (For Sale/Rental) | — | 4 sq ft | — | 10 ft from street line if not on building | 1 | On premises offered for sale/rental | — | § 3-4(e) |
| Governmental/Official Signs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 3-4(f) |
| Temporary Signs/Banners (Town Council authorized) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | § 3-4(g) |

### Business Zone

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Signs as in Residence Zones | — | — | — | — | — | As per Residence Zones | — | § 3-5(a) |
| Wall Sign (Business/Product/Commodity) | Max 5 ft or 15% of sign width (whichever larger) | Area: width of business frontage occupied, not exceeding 50 feet; height: max of 15% of width or 5 feet, whichever is larger; lettering: area must not exceed these limits. | Max 50 ft or width of business frontage | — | 1 per street or parking area per occupant | Painted/erected on entrance wall or wall abutting street or parking area; parallel to wall (not >36 in out). | — | § 3-5(b) |
| Freestanding Sign | 15 ft above ground | 16 sq ft | — | — | — | On premises; must not project past property line | — | § 3-5(c) |
| Window Lettering | — | Max 30% of window area | — | — | — | On window | — | § 3-5(d) |
| Temporary Window Signs (Sales/Functions) | — | Max 50% of street frontage window area | — | — | — | Exterior/interior of window | — | § 3-5(e) |

### GB-2, GB-3, C Zone Districts

| Sign Type | Max Height | Max Area | Max Width | Setback | Signs Allowed | Location | Permit Required | Ordinance Citation |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wall Sign (Main Public Entrance) | 17 ft or height of ground floor (whichever is less) | — | 20 ft or 75% of building frontage width (whichever is less) | — | 1 per main entrance | On wall at main public entrance | — | §16.04(E)(1) |
| Wall Sign (Corner Lot - Additional Streets) | 17 ft or height of ground floor (whichever is less) | — | 20 ft or 75% of building frontage width | — | 1 per additional wall with street frontage | On additional facade(s) with direct street frontage | — | §16.04(E)(1.1) |
| Window Glass Sign | — | — | — | — | — | Placed only in windows facing a street or municipal lot | — | §16.04(E)(2) |
| Projecting Sign | 17 ft or height of ground floor (whichever is less); min 8 ft above grade | 6 sq ft | — | — | 1 per entrance wall | 1 per building wall with entrance, 6–48 in from wall, max outward projection 4 ft, not exceeding 2/3 width of sidewalk, not along unoccupied wall | — | §16.04(E)(2.2) |
| Freestanding Sign (Retail/Commercial Alternative) | 8 ft | 16 sq ft | 6 ft horizontal or vertical | At least 5 ft from any property line | 1 | Front yard (or street side/corner lot), at least 5 ft from property line, only where yard depth is at least 20 ft | — | §16.04(E)(4) |
| Freestanding Sign (Office Alternative) | 8 ft | 10 sq ft | 6 ft horizontal/vertical | 5 ft from property line | 1 | Front yard (or street side/corner lot), ≥5 ft from property line, only where yard ≥20 ft; for offices only | — | §16.04(E)(5) |
| Wall Sign – Side/Perpendicular Facade (Alternative) | 17 ft or height of ground floor | 25 sq ft | 10 ft | — | Up to 2 | On exterior side wall perpendicular to street (up to 2 walls), must be clearly visible from approaching automobile | — | §16.04(E)(3)(a) |
| Wall Sign – Third Street Frontage Facade (Alternative) | 17 ft or ground floor height | — | 20 ft or 75% of building frontage | — | 1 on third wall | On wall or awning at entrance on third street frontage | — | §16.04(E)(3)(b) |

## Prohibited signs in Westfield Town

- No sign may be a principal use on the lot, including billboards.
- No sign may be erected, used, located or maintained that is not associated with and accessory to the use on the same lot.
- The parking or storage of a vehicle or mobile unit displaying a sign so as to be visible from the public right-of-way or abutting a residential zone is prohibited.
- Flashing, fluttering, animated, moving, vibrating, sequential, tracer, rotating or revolving signs are prohibited, except barber poles.
- Signs attached to public buildings (except for official government signs), sidewalks, curbs, traffic signs, trees, fences, retaining walls, freestanding walls, utility poles, and posts not specifically intended for sign support are prohibited.
- Signs are prohibited on railroad or vehicular overpasses, except official railroad or traffic signs.
- Signs which confuse or dangerously distract the attention of motor vehicle operators or resemble public safety or traffic signs are prohibited.
- Signs simulating official, directional or warning signs erected by government or relevant public utilities are prohibited.
- Signs, illustrations or symbols may not interfere with the operation of exit doors, block window openings of dwellings, interfere with fire escapes, or create hazards to pedestrians.
- Signs in a series which carry a single message, with each part on a different sign, are prohibited.
- Signs placed, inscribed or supported upon any roof, including the lower slope of a mansard roof, or upon any structure so the sign extends above the lowest portion of the roof, are prohibited.
- The use of flags, banners, bunting, pennants, streamers, balloons, multiple lights, or similar devices or displays, either strung together or hung separately, is prohibited, unless specifically permitted.
- Any sign which falsely identifies the premises or occupant, or falsely advertises products/services not available there, is prohibited.
- Any sign accessory to a home occupation is prohibited.
- Signs containing obscene, pornographic or lewd messages are prohibited.
- Exterior signs utilizing visible ionized inert gas sign lighting (neon) are prohibited, except hidden halo illumination.
- No sign shall be placed or oriented perpendicular to a wall (must be flat against the wall, except as permitted).
- No wall sign shall project more than eight inches from the building wall.
- No signs, illustrations or symbols shall be placed so as to interfere with the opening of an exit door, obstruct window openings of dwellings, interfere with fire escapes, or create a hazard to pedestrians.
- All signs must be so installed and constructed with materials to withstand a wind resistance of not less than 30 pounds per square foot.
- No illuminated sign shall be of such a color or located so as to diminish or detract from any traffic signal or official safety/warning device.
- No lighted signs shall be of the flash type or utilize flashing or moving lights as an attraction device.
- No sign illumination or other illumination shall be used or designed for use as an attraction device (e.g., bulbs as attraction, strobe, blacklight, string, flashing, or moving lights).
- No sign, including freestanding signs, may have more than two display faces, and if two faces, the angle between faces may not exceed 30°, and both faces must be identical.
- Signs may not include paper, fiberboard, foam core board, corrugated paper, or unfinished wood materials.
- Street name signs with duplicated or confusing names are not permitted.
- No signs posted on poles, posts, trees, sidewalks, curbs, or Town property in any fashion.
- Exterior flashing or high-illumination interior flashing signs (over 100-watt total) are prohibited.
- Pylon signs supported by pyramidal tower supports, roof signs (except as elsewhere specifically allowed), marquee signs (except by special permission), banners, streamers, advertising flags/twirlers (unless specifically allowed), fence signs, and signs projecting more than specified maximums from buildings are prohibited.
- Signs producing glare that interferes with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or detrimentally affects the health/welfare of persons, are prohibited.
- Signs standing, painted, or installed on sidewalks (except as specifically allowed) are prohibited.
- Exterior moving signs of every nature are prohibited.
- Outdoor neon signs with exposed tubing are prohibited.

## Signs exempt from permit in Westfield Town

- Official signs erected or required by the Federal government, State of New Jersey, its agencies, county, or municipality are exempt to the extent governmental requirements conflict with the ordinance.
- Official flags of the United States, State of New Jersey, Union County, Town of Westfield and Downtown Westfield Corporation are permitted in all zone districts.
- Governmental street name signs at street intersections, per Town Engineer approval.
- Routine maintenance for nonconforming (legal pre-existing) signs is permitted.
- Restoration or repair of partially destroyed legal nonconforming signs is permitted.
- Removal and reinstallation of legal nonconforming signs for maintenance, restoration, repair, or permitted alteration is allowed.
- Nothing prohibits governmental signs on public buildings which are for the governmental entity using the building.
- Credit card signs and trading stamp signs affixed flat against windows/doors (not pole mounted, not illuminated, not more than three square feet total per use) are permitted.
- Public convenience signs (e.g., 'Public Telephone,' 'Public Restroom') are allowed, one per type, subject to dimensional and placement restrictions.
- Signs on trucks and vehicles displaying only a name and telephone number are permitted. Business signs may be displayed if vehicle is parked/stored in a building or in a rear yard (unless otherwise prohibited).

## Sign plan & submission notes

- Plans and detailed information (including lighting, location, dimensions, colors, existing and proposed signs) must be submitted in triplicate with each application for a sign permit; written consent of the owner and lessee is required.
- No exterior sign shall be erected, hung, painted or otherwise located in any zone district unless it complies with all provisions of Article 16 (Exterior Signs).
- No exterior sign may be erected, placed, hung, painted, refurbished, altered, or replaced until approved by the Zoning Officer and, when required, a permit has been granted by the Construction Official.
- A permit and approval, including submission of plans, are required before erecting, altering, rebuilding, enlarging, or relocating signs (except certain signs as permitted in specific code sections such as §3-4).
- Site plan review by the Board is required for freestanding signs, including decisions about sufficient distance from other signs for visibility.
- Application for mural or public art requires Town Public Arts Commission approval, submission of detailed application materials (owner, site, rendering, description, size, color, visibility to motorists, etc.), and a $250 fee; a hearing and public notice are required.
- For sidewalk signs, a permit from the Town Clerk is required (not a zoning permit), with insurance and indemnification; permit subject to consultation with public safety/engineering officials.
- Temporary exterior signs announcing new business/tenant (with pennants, balloons, 'grand opening') require a permit from the Zoning Officer specifying nature, location, and display time limits.
- In cases where a sign is not specified or removal is in doubt, the Zoning Officer makes the determination about required removal.
- Construction code or land use approval may be required for installations in addition to sign permit approvals.

## 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 12 zoning districts in Westfield Town — every sign type, every field — are available with a free PermitPal account: https://app.permitpal.io/?address=Westfield+Town+NJ&override=true&utm_source=landing&utm_medium=city-page&utm_campaign=city-westfield-town

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