Fairfield City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Signs
§ 45-62.1 Words and Terms; Definitions.
[1969 Code § 75-94; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 738; New; Ord. No. 2015-14 § 1]
As used in this article:
Shall mean any rigid or semirigid material, with or without a message or symbol displayed thereon, situated upon or attached to real property, mobile objects and vehicles outdoors for the purpose of furnishing a background, base or support on which a sign may be posted or displayed.
DIRECTOR OF OCCUPANTS SIGNShall mean a sign or plate attached to the facade of a building listing the tenants or occupants thereof and their respective professions or business activities.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNShall mean a sign or device intended to director or point toward a place which gives verbal directions, including traffic directional signs.
IDENTIFICATION SIGNShall mean any sign, symbol, trademark, structure or similar device used to identify the occupant of any structure, the product made or the activity being pursued by any individual business service, commercial or industrial activity.
OFFICIAL SIGNShall mean any sign, symbol or device erected or duly authorized by the Federal government, the State of New Jersey, County of Essex, or the Township of Fairfield for the purpose of informing or guiding the public or for the protection and promotion of health, safety, convenience and general welfare.
GROUND OR FREESTANDING SIGNShall mean a self-supporting sign including pylon, pedestal or individual post-type supports, connected to the ground and independent of any other structure.
WALL SIGNShall mean a sign attached to or inscribed directly upon a building wall.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER or SIGN (EMC)Shall mean an electrically activated chargeable sign whose variable message and/or graphic presentation capability can be electronically programmed by computer from a remote location. EMCs typically use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a lighting source.
[Ord. No. 2015-14 § 1]
Shall mean the permanent outdoor display of any writing, printing, picture, painting, emblem, drawing, flag not subject to regulation pursuant to State or Federal law, or similar device intended to invite or draw the attention of the public to any activity, goods, merchandise, property, business, service, entertainment or industrial activity or establishment. This definition shall include all signs permanently affixed to the building or mounted on the property in a manner which prevents their removal.
[Amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
§ 45-62.2 Permit Required; Exceptions.
[1969 Code § 75-95; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § IV]
No outdoor sign or structure shall be erected, hung or placed until written application has been made to the Zoning Officer, in a manner prescribed by him, and a permit therefor has been duly issued, except for the following:
a.
Official signs.
b.
Warning and no-trespassing signs, not to exceed one square foot in surface area on any one side.
c.
Name and number plates identifying the residents, on a house, apartment or mailbox, not to exceed one square foot in area on any one side.
d.
Lawn signs, identifying residents, not to exceed two square feet in surface area or, if double-faced, a total of three square feet for both sides. Such signs shall be nonilluminated except by light which is an integral part of the lamppost if used as a support. No advertising messages shall be permitted.
e.
Flags or emblems of religious, educational, governmental or service organizations or individuals, which shall be flown from suitable supports on the building or grounds being occupied by the organization. However, if a structure to support the flag or emblem is to be erected, a permit shall be obtained for the structure.
f.
Seasonal displays and decorations, such as Christmas, etc. However, such displays must comply with regulations of this chapter as to safety and general welfare.
§ 45-62.3 Signs Requiring Fee.
[1969 Code § 75-96; amended ; Ord. No. 2008-02 § 1; Ord. No. 2009-03 § 16; Ord. No. 2009-11 § 1; Ord. No. 2015-14 § 2; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § V; 2-24-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-08]
a.
The fee for a wall sign or a freestanding sign, or an electronic message center or sign (EMC), single-or-double-faced, shall be $150.
b.
Flags, banners, strings of banners, pinwheels, A-type signs, sandwich-type signs, sidewalk signs, curb signs or similar advertising devises which advertise a seasonal sale, event or other function shall be permitted for a period of one week up to six times in a 365-day period beginning on the date of the first request. A permit may be obtained for two or more consecutive weeks provided that the total number of weeks for all permits shall not exceed six weeks in a 365-day period beginning on the date of the first request. Signs shall be kept a minimum of 10 feet from the property line. A permit shall be required for the display of such signs on each occasion. The permit may be obtained from the Zoning Officer. The fee for each one-week period shall be $50. Any temporary sign not removed upon expiration of the permit may result in immediate Municipal Court action.
c.
The fee for noncommercial signs shall be $150.
§ 45-62.4 Signs Not Requiring Fee.
[1969 Code § 75-97; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; New; Ord. No. 2007-19 § 1]
No fee shall be required for the following signs:
a.
Historical tablets, cornerstones, memorial plaques and emblems which do not exceed six square feet in surface area and which are installed by government agencies or religious organizations, and signs identifying charity or nonprofit service organizations, limited to one sign per lot, which signs do not exceed six square feet in surface area.
b.
Residential real estate signs announcing the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is located, the sign not to exceed four square feet in area per side. The sign shall be nonilluminated. Such sign shall not be closer to the lot line than 1/2 the distance between the building setback line and the lot line. No more than one such sign shall be permitted per individual lot.
c.
Traffic directional signs as required by the Planning Board or other governmental agency.
§ 45-62.5 Changes in Sign Messages.
[1969 Code § 75-98; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § IV; Ord. No. 2007-19 § 1]
A legally existing sign may be refaced and/or have its message changed provided a permit has been obtained from the Zoning Officer for which no fee is required. No such sign shall be enlarged or altered in any other way unless a new sign permit has been obtained and the required fee paid as specified in Subsection 45-62.3a.
§ 45-62.6 Revocation of Permit.
[1969 Code § 75-99; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § IV]
a.
A permit to erect or maintain a sign may be revoked for any one or more of the following causes:
b.
No permit will be revoked for any of the causes until a ten-day notice has been given the permittee, which ten-day notice shall be served either personally or by first-class mail. Any permittee will be given a hearing thereon by the Construction Official if promptly requested, in writing, within the ten-day period, addressed to the Construction Official of the Township.
c.
As soon as the permit for a sign is revoked, the permittee shall remove the sign advertising structure or space within 30 days of written notification of the revocation unless an appeal to the Township Council is initiated within 30 days. A sign in a hazardous condition shall be removed upon notice by the Zoning Officer.
§ 45-62.7 General Sign Provisions.
[1969 Code § 75-100; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 2007-19 § 1; Ord. No. 2015-14 § 3; amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
a.
No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals and signs or similar safety devices, nor other places of business.
b.
No sign of any type shall be moving with the exception of clocks or thermometers. Reader board signs are prohibited.
[Ord. No. 2015-14 § 3]
c.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, signs and sign structures and display of all types shall be set back or elevated sufficiently to allow a clear unobstructed line of sight from any point of ingress or egress for at least 1,000 feet along all abutting streets and highways.
d.
All signs shall be set back at least 25 feet from the nearest property line.
[Added 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
e.
No sign shall extend or project at any point above or outside the limits of the wall to which it is attached. No sign shall be permitted on roofs or accessory buildings, except that water towers may be used for unlighted signs.
f.
Signs must be constructed of durable materials adequately maintained and not allowed to become dilapidated.
g.
No sign shall extend farther than 18 inches from the face of the wall to which it is attached; provided, however, that where a sign extends more than three inches from the face of the wall, the bottom of the sign shall not be closer than eight feet to the ground level below the sign.
h.
An EMC sign may be a portion of a building sign or freestanding sign, or may comprise the entire sign area.
[Ord. No. 2015-14 § 3]
i.
All EMC signs shall have automatic dimming controls, either by photocell (hardwired) or via software settings, in order to bring the EMC lighting level at night into compliance with Township illumination standards.
[Ord. No. 2015-14 § 3]
§ 45-62.8 Measurement of Signs.
[1969 Code § 75-101; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § IV]
a.
The area of a sign shall be computed as the total square-foot content of the background upon which the lettering, illustration or display is presented, including mountings or frames.
b.
The area of a sign containing individual letters shall be computed as the total square-foot area of the smallest rectangle which can enclose all of the letters of figures.
c.
Where a sign is supported by a pylon whose surface is being used for an advertising message, the area of the pylon shall be constructed as part of the total allowable sign surface.
d.
When the name or advertising message is divided between a number of panels or parts, it shall be considered as one sign. When the sign has been installed, the Zoning Officer shall be notified so that he may make a final inspection.
§ 45-62.9 Illumination.
[1969 Code § 75-102; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § IV]
a.
All illuminated signs, where permitted, shall be either indirectly lighted or of the diffused-lighting type. No sign shall be lighted with flashing, flickering or intermittent lighting. All lights used for the illumination of any use, building or premises shall not project above the highest elevation of the front wall of the building and shall be completely shielded from the view of vehicular traffic using the road or roads abutting the subject property, as well as adjoining property in a residential district or being used exclusively for a residential use.
b.
No signs shall be lighted, directly or indirectly, in a residential zone between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
c.
Nonconforming illumination, whether used for existing signs or new signs, shall be corrected within 30 days from the notification of the owner by the Zoning Officer of a written notice to correct. Failure to correct the illumination so as to make it conform with the requirements of this article and the performance standards of § 45-65 of this chapter shall result in the removal of the nonconforming sign at the expense of the owner of the sign.
§ 45-62.10 Prohibited Signs.
[1969 Code § 75-103; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 729; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 2007-19 § 1; Ord. No. 2008-05 § 5]
Prohibited signs are as follows:
a.
Signs using reflective material which sparkles, glitters or reflects light in such a manner as to be deemed, by the Construction Official of the Township, to be a traffic hazard.
b.
Signs using wording such as "stop," "look" or "danger."
c.
Any sign which causes confusion with official signs.
d.
Signs causing radio television or other communication systems interference due to light or control mechanisms.
e.
Signs obstructing doors, fire escapes, fire zones or stairways or keeping light or air from the windows used for living quarters.
f.
Flags, banners, strings of banners, pinwheels, A-type signs, sidewalk signs, curb signs or similar advertising devices, except as specifically permitted in this chapter.
g.
Signs or poles maintained by public utilities, or on trees and fences or attached to signs or buildings owned by other persons.
h.
Signs advertising any business function or commodity and the location of any business or function not conducted on the premises on which the signs shall be located, except as permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
i.
No parked automobile, truck, bus or other vehicle may be used for advertising purposes, inclusive of all advertising for political campaigns and elections, by displaying banners, placards, flags, strings of banners or similar advertising devices, nor shall vehicles be displayed with "for sale" signs on nonresidential properties within the Township. A maximum of one automobile on residentially developed property may be displayed with a "for sale" sign, provided it is owned by the occupant of the dwelling, licensed for the current year, and parked on the driveway serving the dwelling unit.
[Amended 3-23-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05]
j.
Signs advertising contractors business on property where contractor is working.
§ 45-62.11 Maintenance of Signs.
[1969 Code § 75-104; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § IV]
All signs or displays shall be maintained. In the event that any sign or display is not maintained or is permitted to become unsafe, in the judgment of the Zoning Officer, and the owner of the sign does not correct the condition within 30 days of written notice from the Zoning Officer, the sign or signs shall be removed at the expense of the owner.
§ 45-62.12 Registration of Existing Signs.
[1969 Code § 75-105; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 93-61 § IV]
Within 90 days of the effective date of the passage of this chapter and conditions and regulations stated herein, any sign not conforming to the requirements of this chapter shall be registered with the Zoning Officer by submission of a picture and a sketch of the sign showing its dimensions, the distance between the sign and all property lines and the height of the sign. The date on which the sign was erected and, if available or pertinent, the permit number and/or variance case number under which the sign was erected shall also be provided. If the sign is not so registered, the presumption will be that it did not legally exist at the effective date of this chapter, and the burden will be upon the owner of the sign to prove otherwise.
§ 45-62.13 Freestanding Signs.
[1969 Code § 75-106; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 738]
Where permitted by this chapter, freestanding signs shall conform to the following:
a.
Only the basic supports which include posts or pylons shall be permitted, and no other bracing from the ground to the sign or sign post shall be allowed.
b.
Where a freestanding sign is subject to damage by cars or trucks, as in the case of a sign located in or near a parking area, loading area or driveway, such structure shall be sufficiently reinforced at its base to minimize the possibility of damage, or a curbed island shall be provided about such sign.
§ 45-62.14 Temporary Commercial Signs.
[1969 Code § 75-107; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 738; New; Ord. No. 2007-19 § 1; amended 3-23-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05]]
Temporary signs shall be governed by the provisions set forth in § 3-9 of the Code of the Township of Fairfield, with the following exceptions for certain temporary commercial signs. Temporary signs governed under this section shall carry the same penalties for any person or party found to be in violation of the regulations set forth herein as specified in § 3-9.12 of the Code of the Township of Fairfield.
a.
Real Estate Signs. Residential real estate signs, announcing the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is located, shall be permitted, the sign not to exceed four square feet in area per side. The sign shall be nonilluminated. The sign shall not be closer to the lot line than 1/2 the distance between the building setback line and the lot line. Not more than one such sign shall be permitted per individual lot. The sign shall be removed within 15 days of the sale or leasing of the property.
b.
Directional Signs. Signs for the sole purpose of directing people to a housing or industrial development located in Fairfield shall be permitted, but such signs shall not exceed two square feet in surface area. A maximum of three such signs shall be permitted in the Township for any one development. The signs shall be of a freestanding type supported by a single post, and shall be considered in violation of this article if erected in any other manner of if attached to any public utility pole, other sign, fence or tree. The overall height shall not exceed four feet above ground level.
c.
Developments Under Construction. In the case of a development under construction, one nonilluminated temporary freestanding sign with not more than 16 square feet of sign surface area may be permitted for each street which adjoins the development on the tract where the construction is taking place, provided that the sign shall not be closer to any lot line than 15 feet and shall not exceed six feet in height.
1.
Upon completion of the total number of houses or units to be constructed in the development, all the signs shall be removed prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the remaining houses or units.
2.
A rental or sales office of such residential development may have one illuminated wall sign identifying it as a rental or sales office only. Such sign shall not exceed four square feet for a single-faced sign or eight square feet for a double-faced sign.
d.
In the Commercial and H-D U.S. Route 46 Special Highway Development Zones one freestanding nonilluminated temporary real estate sign, which shall not exceed 32 square feet in surface area, shall be permitted, except that lots having a frontage of 300 feet or greater may display two signs, each of which shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. The sign shall pertain only to the sale, lease or rental of the property on which it is located. No such sign shall be closer than 15 feet to any side or front property line. Such signs shall be removed within 15 days of the sale, leasing or rental of the property.
e.
In L-1, L-2, R-1 and L-3 Zones, one temporary real estate sign shall be permitted to advertise a property for sale, rental or lease. The sign shall be located only on the aforesaid property which is for sale, rental or lease. The sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in surface area if it is a single-faced sign or 64 square feet if a double-faced sign, except that in the case of State highways, such sign may be equal to one square foot in size for every lineal foot of frontage up to a maximum of 100 square feet of area. The sign shall not exceed 10 feet in height above ground level. The sign shall not be closer than 15 feet to any lot line. The sign shall be removed within 15 days of the sale, rental or leasing of the property.
§ 45-63.1 Signs Permitted in R-1, R-2 and A-C Zones.
[1969 Code § 75-108; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 2008-02 § 2; amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
Signs permitted in the R-1, R-2 and A-C Zones are as follows:
a.
An informational sign or bulletin board, which may be illuminated, not more than 20 square feet in area, for a religious or similar public facility or institution, private schools, service organizations, recreational facilities and other such uses, necessary to provide direction or describe specific buildings in connection with such uses. No signs shall be located nearer to any lot line than 20 feet and shall not exceed six feet in total height.
b.
A business sign of not more than two square feet of total surface area for single-faced or a total of four square feet for double-faced signs, in connection with a professional home-office located in a home, provided that the sign may be mounted flat against the face of the building or on a single freestanding post as a lawn sign and shall not be located closer to any lot line than five feet.
c.
A business or store which has been allowed in any residential zone may have one illuminated, flat sign against the building, and if located on a corner, two such signs shall be permitted, one facing each street. The area of each sign shall not exceed 10% of the area of the side of the building to which the sign is attached or 32 square feet, whichever is the lesser.
d.
Signs permitted in the R-1, R-2 and A-C Zones shall be defined in accordance with the "Sign" definition set forth in § 45-62.1 of the Code of the Township of Fairfield and shall include, but are not limited to flags not subject to regulation pursuant to State or Federal law.
[Added 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
§ 45-63.2 Signs Permitted in C-1, C-2, C-3 and H-D Zones.
[1969 Code § 75-109; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 729; Ord. No. 738; Ord. No. 2004-16 § 8; Ord. No. 2008-02 § 3; Ord. No. 2015-14 § 4; amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
Signs permitted in the C-1, C-2, C-3 and H-D Zones are as follows:
b.
Each business or commercial use may have one or more illuminated flat signs displayed on the face of the building, except that if the property is located on a corner lot, the signs shall be permitted on each side of the building facing a street. The total area of the sign or signs shall not exceed 10% of the area of the face of the building to which the sign is attached.
c.
Each commercial and industrial building may display one freestanding illuminated sign, unless otherwise stated herein. One EMC sign may be included with the freestanding sign, provided the total sign area meets the maximum sign area requirement for that particular zone. With the exception of an electronic message center or sign (EMC), the sign shall advertise only the occupants of the building. EMCs may constitute a portion of a building sign or freestanding sign, or may comprise the entire sign area, and by definition provide variable message and/graphic presentation.
[Ord. No. 2015-14 § 4]
d.
Signs permitted in the C-1, C-2, C-3 and H-D Zones shall be defined in accordance with the "Sign" definition set forth in § 45-62.1 of the Code of the Township of Fairfield and shall include, but are not limited to flags not subject to regulation pursuant to State or Federal law.
[Added 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
1.
The size of the sign shall be determined by the linear dimension of the side of the lot facing the street or highway in accordance with the following table:
Frontage (feet) | Number and Type of Signs | Maximum Size (square feet) |
|---|---|---|
Up to 100 | 1 single-faced | 20 |
1 double-faced | 20 per face | |
Up to 200 | 2 single-faced | 35 |
1 double-faced | 35 per face | |
Up to 300 | 1 single-faced | 50 |
1 double-faced | 50 per face | |
Up to 400 and over | 1 single-faced | 65 |
1 double-faced | 65 per face |
2.
No sign shall be closer than 1/2 the distance between the lot line and the required building setback line.
3.
No freestanding sign shall exceed 25 feet in height, nor shall the bottom edge of the sign be less than 10 feet from the ground.
4.
No sign shall be located within 50 feet of a residential zone line.
e.
Each parcel or lot may display one entrance and exit sign at each driveway. The signs shall not exceed six square feet in area, per face, and three feet in height.
f.
Industrial parks which contain more than one building on the same lot may display one freestanding sign identifying the industrial park and its tenants. The sign shall not exceed 15 feet in height and 200 square feet, per face, in area. Such sign shall be located no closer than 50 feet to any property line. Each tenant in the industrial park may display, on the front or side facade, one identification sign on the building in which the company is located. The sign shall not exceed in area 5% of the floor area occupied by the tenant.
h.
Each lot may have one EMC sign, which shall be subject to the requirements outlined under Subsection 45-63.2c. In addition EMC sign messages shall only be changed a maximum of two times per day. The transition time between messages and/or message frames is limited to three seconds and these transitions may employ fade, dissolve, and/or other transition effects. EMC display features that are prohibited include continuous scrolling and/or traveling, flashing, spinning, rotating, and similar moving effects, and all dynamic frame effects or patterns of illusionary movement or simulating movement.
[Ord. No. 2015-14 § 4]
§ 45-63.3 Signs Permitted in L-1, L-2, L-3 and O-P Zones.
[1969 Code § 75-110; Ord. No. 591; Ord. No. 618; Ord. No. 738; New; Ord. No. 2008-02 § 4; amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
Signs permitted in L-1, L-2, L-3 and O-P Zones are as follows:
a.
An occupant of a planned industrial park or of a separate industrial use may display flat signs or letters on its building to identify the company and its principal products, provided that the total sign area shall not exceed 10% of the total area of the front wall elevation of the building.
b.
Each industrial building may display one freestanding sign identifying the company and its principal products. Such sign or signs may have an area and be of a size in accordance with the table set forth in Subsection 45-63.2c. No freestanding sign shall exceed six feet in height above ground level. No freestanding sign shall be located closer than 50 feet to any residential zone line nor closer than 1/2 the distance between lot line and required building setback line. No more than one sign per lot shall be permitted.
c.
A planned industrial park shall be permitted one freestanding sign to identify the industrial park and its occupants and its principal product. The sign may be illuminated and may be single-faced or double-faced. No sign shall exceed 100 square feet in surface area per side. No such sign shall exceed 15 feet in height or be closer than 25 feet to any lot line.
d.
Signs permitted in the L-1, L-2, L-3 and O-P Zones shall be defined in accordance with the "Sign" definition set forth in § 45-62.1 of the Code of the Township of Fairfield and shall include, but are not limited to flags not subject to regulation pursuant to State or Federal law.
[Added 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
e.
Industrial uses may display entrance, exit, shipping and receiving directional signs, which may be illuminated. No such sign shall exceed five square feet in surface area on any one side.
§ 45-63.4 Noncommercial Signs.
[Ord. No. 2008-02 § 5; Ord. No. 2008-05 § 5; 3-23-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05; amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
Noncommercial signs not governed by § 3-9 shall be permitted under the following conditions:
a.
Noncommercial signs shall include and are limited to political signs or any sign expressing an opinion on a noncommercial issue.
b.
Signs covered under this subsection shall not be permitted in the public right-of-way, on public property, or any road right-of-way, road easement, access easement, or County roadway.
c.
Noncommercial signs are not required to relate to or apply to a permitted use on the property.
1.
In commercial and industrial zones, on vacant sites one noncommercial sign shall be permitted for the first one acre, and one noncommercial sign for every additional two acres.
2.
In commercial and industrial zones, on developed sites, one noncommercial sign shall be permitted for the first two acres.
3.
In commercial and industrial zones, such signs shall be set back from each other by a minimum distance of 1,000 linear feet.
4.
In commercial and industrial zones, such signs shall be a maximum size of 100 square feet with a maximum height of 25 feet or the height of the principal building on site, whichever is less.
5.
Signs shall not be larger than 4 square feet in all residential zones with a maximum foot height of 4 feet from grade level, and no larger than 100 square feet in all other zones where permitted.
[Amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
6.
Noncommercial signs shall not be located closer than 25 feet from the side yard property line and rear yard property line.
[Amended 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
7.
Signs shall not be located closer than 20 feet from the curbline in front of the property on which they are located, or in the event there is no curb, no closer than 20 feet from the edge of the paved roadway in residential zones. In all other zones the requirement shall be 25 feet to the curbline, or further if it is determined that the location of the sign interferes with road safety.
8.
Wherever and whenever commercial signs are permitted in any zone, noncommercial signs shall be permitted to the same extent and under the same circumstances, provided that they meet the provisions set forth herein.