Beach Haven City Zoning Code
§ 212-16
Signs.
A.
Signs in RA, RNA, RSA and RB Districts. No signs, billboards, advertising structures or similar items are permitted except as follows:
(1)
One lighted professional office announcement sign not over five square feet in area.
(2)
One unlighted home occupation announcement sign not over five square feet in area for each dwelling in which a home occupation is conducted.
(3)
One lighted sign not to exceed 12 square feet in area for a church, school, public museum or similar use set back a minimum of five feet from any property line. Directional signs for specific buildings, driveways and off-street parking areas not exceeding two square feet may be provided at the entrance to any such building, driveway or parking area.
(4)
One unlighted sign no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches or one unlighted real estate sign no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches inside the premises or attached to the building.
[Amended 4-9-1984 by Ord. No. 84-10]
(5)
One unlighted sign not over six square feet in area identifying the architect and/or artisan(s) designing, building, painting, repairing, modifying, landscaping or decorating a building or lot during actual construction and for a period of two weeks thereafter.
(6)
Lighted signs, where permitted, excluding neon, flashing, digital, and animated signs. Such signs are expressly prohibited. Additionally, no lighted sign shall produce a strong, dazzling light or a reflection of a strong, dazzling light or glare beyond property lines. Lighted signs shall be shielded, buffered and directed so that glare, direct light or reflection will not become a nuisance to adjoining properties, adjoining dwelling units, adjoining districts or streets. For the purposes of § 212-16, the following definitions shall apply:
[Amended 3-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-2C]
(a)
Animated sign: A sign depicting action, motion, or light or color changes through electrical or mechanical means;
(b)
Digital sign: A sign made up of internally illuminated components capable of changing the message periodically. Digital displays may include but are not limited to LCD, LED, or plasma displays;
(c)
Flashing sign: A sign whose artificial illumination is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use and which exhibits changes in light, color, direction, or animation:
(d)
Neon sign: A sign illuminated by a neon tube, or other visible light-emanating gas tube, that is bent to form letters, symbols, or other graphics. A neon sign spelling out the word "open," which is placed indoors in a manner which can be read from the exterior through a window shall not be included within this definition of "neon sign," but remains subject to the sign permitting process.
(7)
One signboard per storefront, not larger than six feet in area. Signboards may be placed on the lot owned by the business or in the public right-of-way, provided that the area of the public right-of-way remains unobstructed in accordance § 141-4C of the Code of the Borough of Beach Haven. Signboards shall be removed and shall be placed indoors at the close of the business day.
[Added 5-9-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-8C[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former Subsection A(7) as Subsection A(8).
(8)
No sign as authorized herein shall be erected without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Building Administrator, who shall issue the same upon being satisfied that such sign will not violate this chapter and upon payment of the appropriate permit fee; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to those signs allowed by Subsection A(4) above.
B.
Signs in the RC District:
(2)
One lighted sign not to exceed six square feet in area for each apartment house set back a minimum distance of five feet from the property line or attached to or within the building. Such sign may not be a neon or flashing sign.
(3)
One lighted sign not to exceed 35 square feet in area for each motel or hotel is permitted. Such sign shall be attached to the building, but, if erected on or above the roof of the building, such sign shall be set back a minimum distance of five feet from the property line. Flashing, digital, neon, and animated signs are not permitted. Additionally, no lighted sign shall produce a strong, dazzling light or a reflection of a strong, dazzling light or glare beyond property lines. Lighted signs shall be shielded, buffered and directed so that glare, direct light or reflection will not become a nuisance to adjoining properties, adjoining dwelling units, adjoining districts or streets. Directional signs for specific buildings, driveways and off-street parking areas not exceeding two square feet may be provided at the entrance to any such building, driveway or parking area.
[Amended 3-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-2C]
(4)
No sign authorized herein shall be erected without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Building Administrator, who shall issue the same upon being satisfied that such sign will not violate this chapter and upon payment to him of the appropriate review fee; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to those signs allowed by Subsection A(4) above.
C.
Signs in the BD and MC Districts:
(3)
No sign as authorized hereunder shall be erected without first obtaining a permit therefor from the Building Administrator, who shall issue the same upon being satisfied that such sign will not violate this chapter and upon payment to him of the appropriate permit fee; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to signs allowed by Subsection A(4) above.
(4)
Any business wishing to display decorative or advertising flags on or over the public right-of-way or on private property must mount the flags from the building so that, when hanging in their lowest position, there is a clear, unobstructed space of not less than seven feet between the sidewalk and the lowest portion of the flag. There shall be no limitation as to the number of American flags which any business may wish to display, provided that they do not to interfere with pedestrian movement or traffic. Feather-type flags shall not be permitted.
[Added 11-13-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-30C; amended 7-8-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-19C]
D.
Prohibited features.
(1)
No sign shall be erected, used or maintained which in any way simulates official, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by the State of New Jersey, by any county or municipality thereof or by any public utility or similar agency concerned with the protection of the public health or safety.
(2)
No neon sign or similar illuminated advertisement shall be of such color or located in such a fashion as to diminish or detract in any way from the effectiveness of any traffic signal or similar safety or warning device.
(3)
The following advertisements are specifically prohibited: any advertisement which uses a series of two or more signs placed in a line parallel to the highway or in similar fashion, all carrying a single advertising message, part of which is contained on each sign.
(4)
No sign shall have flashing lights or exposed high-intensity illumination.
(5)
Inflatable signage, advertisement, or objects used to attract attention are not permitted.
[Added 11-13-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-30C]
E.
Permit fee. No sign shall be erected pursuant to the terms of this section before paying a zoning fee of $25 to the Borough of Beach Haven.
[Added 2-9-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-6; amended 5-9-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-8C; 3-13-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-07C]
(1)
No signboard shall be displayed before paying a zoning fee as established in § 212-18.1 annually, to coincide with mercantile license renewals, to the Borough of Beach Haven. If the signboard will be placed in the Borough right-of-way, the application shall be accompanied by a certificate of insurance showing that the Borough of Beach Haven is an additional insured on the mercantile owner's policy, which shall have limits of not less than $1,000,000.