Franklin Township Hunterdon
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IX
Signs
§ 220-58 Permit required; prohibited signs.
A.
Permits for signs. Except for temporary, safety, traffic directions and warning signs not exceeding four square feet permitted in all zones and signs as required by any provision of law, no sign shall be constructed or displayed unless a permit shall have first been obtained from the Construction Code Official.
B.
Prohibited signs.
(1)
Advertising billboard signs shall not be permitted in any zone.
(2)
Moving, fluttering or rotating signs, including streamers, pennants and similar displays, are not permitted in any zone.
(3)
Signs which might be mistaken for a traffic light or similar safety device or which might interfere with traffic visibility are not permitted in any zone.
(4)
Flashing signs.
[Added 6-25-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-06]
§ 220-59 Permitted signs in all zones.
The following types of signs shall be permitted in all zones:
A.
Nameplate and identification signs for single- or multifamily dwellings. A sign indicating the name of the occupant may be permitted, provided that the sign shall be no larger than two square feet. A permitted home occupation may be included with the name of the occupant. Only one sign per dwelling unit is permitted in addition to a mailbox identification sign.
B.
Sales or rental signs. Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises upon which they are located may be permitted, provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sale or rental sign shall not exceed eight square feet.
(2)
Not more than one sign is placed upon any property per road frontage.
(3)
Such sign shall be properly removed when premises are sold or rented.
(4)
Developments with four or more homes for sale or commercial properties may be advertised on a sign not to exceed 32 square feet. One such sign shall be permitted on each frontage if the development fronts on more than one street. All development signs shall be removed when 95% of the lots have been initially sold.
C.
Golf course/clubhouse: one unlighted freestanding sign not exceeding 20 square feet in area and not exceeding eight feet in height at each public access drive.
[Added 8-24-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-05]
D.
Institutional signs.
(1)
Signs of schools, churches and other institutions of a similar public or semipublic nature may be erected and maintained, provided that the size of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 30 square feet and not more than one such sign is placed on a property, unless the property fronts on more than one street, in which instance a sign may be erected on each frontage.
(2)
A sign affixed to the facade of a structure shall be permitted, provided that the sign shall not exceed 5% of the building facade.
E.
Permitted farming uses may display one freestanding identification sign not exceeding nine square feet in area, designating the name of the use and the address and name of the owner. The sign may be placed in the front yard but not closer than 15 feet to any street, right-of-way or property line.
F.
Preserved farmland.
[Added 8-2-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-06]
(1)
Owners of land permanently preserved through the state Farmland Preservation Program shall be allowed to place, on the preserved property, one sign identifying the property as "Preserved Farmland."
(2)
The signs to be used shall be limited to those provided by the State of New Jersey to be obtained from the State Agriculture Development Committee in conjunction with the state Farmland Preservation Program.
(3)
Any such signs shall be placed in accordance with the requirements and restrictions of Subsection E of this section. Subsection E shall only govern with regard to the placement of the signs, as the size of such signs shall be in conformance with the standards provided by the State Agriculture Development Committee.
§ 220-60 Signs in C Commercial Zone.
Signs in the C Commercial Zone shall be regulated as follows:
A.
Business signs. No business or other establishment shall be allowed a total of more than two signs.
B.
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted on each commercial building wall that faces on a street, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Not more than one wall sign on each wall shall be permitted for each business establishment or use located in the building.
(2)
No such sign shall extend further than six inches from the face of the building wall to which it is attached.
(3)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least eight feet above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign if it extends more than three inches from the face of the building wall.
(4)
The height of any such sign shall not exceed five feet or 20% of the height of the building wall to which it is attached, whichever is the lesser.
(5)
The total of the widths of any such signs shall not exceed 50% of the width of the building wall to which they are attached.
(6)
The total area of any such signs shall not exceed 10% of the area of the building wall, including window area, to which they are attached. In addition, the maximum permitted sign area for wall signs shall be reduced by the area of any projecting ground signs.
C.
Projecting signs. Not more than one projecting sign shall be permitted for each commercial building, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
D.
Roof signs. Provided that there are no wall signs, a sign may be erected on sloping roofs, including gambrel and mansard roofs, or on roof fascias, overhangs and marquees, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
Only one such sign shall be erected on a building.
(2)
The top of the sign shall be located at least one foot below the highest point of the building.
(3)
The height of the sign shall not exceed five feet or 20% of the height of the building, whichever is less.
(4)
The width of the sign shall not exceed 75% of the width of the roof or other structure to which it is attached.
(5)
The area of the sign shall not exceed 10% of the area of a vertical plane incorporating the building wall and any sloping roof. In addition, the maximum permitted area of any such sign shall be reduced by the area of any projecting and in-ground signs.
E.
Ground signs. Provided that there is no projecting sign, one ground sign shall be permitted for each commercial building, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall extend more than eight feet above the ground level below the sign.
(2)
No such sign shall exceed a width of six feet.
(3)
Said sign shall be at least 15 feet from a street, right-of-way or property line.
(4)
Said sign shall be at least 50 feet from the point of intersection of any two street lines.
F.
Freestanding signs. Provided that there is no ground sign or projecting sign, a commercial property having a street frontage of at least 300 feet shall be permitted one freestanding sign, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
Said sign shall contain only the name of the commercial property or facility or the brand or manufacturer's name of the principal product sold or other service rendered.
(2)
The top of the sign shall not extend more than 15 feet above the ground surface below the sign.
(3)
The total area of the sign shall not exceed 30 square feet.
(4)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least 10 feet above the ground level below the sign.
(5)
Subject to other requirements, one sign for each business establishment located on the premises may be suspended below the principal sign surface. Each such subsign shall contain only the name of the business establishment and shall not exceed one foot in height and five feet in width.
G.
Covered-walk signs. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a commercial building containing a canopy or overhang along the building wall and over a sidewalk shall be permitted one sign suspended from or attached to the ceiling of the canopy or overhang for each business establishment, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
Said sign shall be located in front of the commercial establishment.
(2)
Said sign shall be erected perpendicular to the face of the building wall.
(3)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk below the sign.
(4)
The sign shall not extend beyond the canopy or overhang.
(5)
The sign shall not exceed 10 inches in height nor four feet in width.
(6)
The sign shall contain only the name of the commercial establishment or the name of the principal product sold or service rendered.
§ 220-61 Signs in NB Neighborhood Business Zone.
[Added 8-3-1979]
Signs in the NB Neighborhood Business Zone shall be regulated as follows:
A.
Business signs. No business or other establishment shall be allowed a total of more than two signs. Internally illuminated or neon signs shall not be allowed. Signs may be indirectly lighted.
B.
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted on any business building wall that faces on a street, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Not more than one wall sign on each wall shall be permitted for each business establishment or use located in the building.
(2)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least four feet above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign if it extends more than three inches from the face of the building wall.
(3)
The height of any such sign shall not exceed three feet.
(4)
The total width of any such sign shall not exceed five feet.
(5)
The total area of any such signs shall not exceed 15 square feet. In addition, the maximum permitted sign area for wall signs shall be reduced by the area of any projecting and ground signs.
C.
Projecting signs. Not more than one projecting sign shall be permitted for each business building, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall project more than four feet from the building wall to which it is attached.
(2)
The bottom of said sign shall be at least eight feet above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign.
(3)
The height of the sign shall not exceed three feet, the width shall not exceed five feet and the area shall not exceed 15 square feet.
D.
Ground signs. Provided that there is no projecting sign, one ground sign shall permitted for each business building, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall extend more than five feet above the ground level below the sign.
(2)
No such sign shall exceed a width of five feet, a height of three feet nor an area of 15 square feet.
(3)
Said sign shall be at leas 15 feet from a street, right-of-way or property line.
(4)
Said sign shall be at least 50 feet from the point of intersection of any two street lines.
E.
Freestanding signs. Provided that there is no ground sign or projecting sign, a business property shall be permitted one freestanding sign, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
Said sign shall contain only the name of the business property or facility or the brand or manufacturer's name of the principal product sold or other service rendered.
(2)
The top of the sign shall not extend more than eight feet above the ground surface below the sign.
(3)
The total area of the sign shall not exceed 15 square feet, its width shall not exceed five feet and its height shall not exceed three feet, not including any supports.
(4)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least three feet above the ground level below the sign.
(5)
Subject to other requirements, one sign for each business establishment located on the premises may be suspended below the principal sign surface. Each such subsign shall contain only the name of the business establishment and shall not exceed one foot in height and five feet in width.
§ 220-61.1 Signs in MF Multifamily Housing Zone.
[Added 3-29-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-07; amended 12-13-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-18]
Signs in the MF Multifamily Housing Zone shall be regulated as follows:
A.
Ground sign. One ground sign shall be permitted per parcel, subject to the following limitations:
B.
Temporary signs. Temporary signs shall be permitted identifying the owner, architect, builder, realtor and/or contractor on the premises on which a building is being constructed, altered or repaired, subject to the following limitations:
§ 220-61.2 Signs in MXD Mixed-Use Development Overlay Zone.
[Added 3-29-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-06; amended 12-13-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-19]
Signs in the MXD Mixed-Use Development Overlay Zone shall be regulated as follows:
§ 220-61.3 Signs in the VB Village Business Zone.
[Added 11-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-12]
Signs in the VB Village District Zone shall be regulated as follows:
A.
No business or other establishment shall be allowed a total of more than two signs. Internally illuminated or neon signs shall not be allowed. Signs may be indirectly lighted.
B.
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted on any business building wall that faces on a street, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Not more than one wall sign on each wall shall be permitted for each business establishment or use located in the building.
(2)
The bottom of the signs shall be at least four feet above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign if it extends more than three inches from the face of the building wall.
(3)
The height of any such sign shall not exceed three feet.
(4)
The total width of any such sign shall not exceed five feet.
(5)
The total area of any such sign shall not exceed 15 square feet.
C.
Projecting signs. Not more than one projecting sign shall be permitted for each business building, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall project more than four feet from the building wall to which it is attached.
(2)
The bottom of sign shall be at least eight feet above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign.
(3)
The height of the sign shall not exceed three feet, the width shall not exceed five feet and the area shall not exceed 15 square feet.
D.
Ground signs. Ground signs are permitted subject to the following limitations:
(1)
The principal building must be set back at least 50 feet from the right-of-way.
(2)
No such sign shall extend more than five feet above the ground level below the sign.
(3)
No such sign shall exceed a width of five feet, a height of three feet nor an area of 15 square feet.
(4)
Said sign shall be at least 10 feet from a street, right-of-way or property line.
(5)
Said sign shall be at least 50 feet from the point of intersection of any two street lines.
§ 220-62 Application for permit; issuance; duration.
A.
Application. Application for a sign permit shall be made by the owner or the person responsible for the erection, and both shall be responsible for compliance with the terms. Application shall be made on forms available from the Construction Code Official, accompanied by the appropriate fee therefor.
B.
Issuance of permit. The Construction Code Official shall examine the application and other data regarding the premises upon which it is proposed to erect a sign, and if it appears to be in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and other laws and ordinances, the Township shall then issue the sign permit, along with a tag to be attached to the sign. The permit shall be issued or denied within 45 days of application.
C.
Duration of permit. If the work authorized under the sign permit has not been completed within four months after date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
§ 220-63 Unsafe signs.
Whenever in the opinion of the Construction Code Official any sign becomes unsafe or endangers the safety of the building or premises or the public safety, the Construction Code Official shall send a certified letter to the owner of the sign or the premises on which the sign is located, ordering that the sign be made safe or be removed within five days of receipt of the letter. If the sign is not removed or repaired within 30 days after the notice, the sign may be removed, altered or repaired, in order to comply with the Construction Code Official, at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property on which the sign is located. The Construction Code Official may cause any sign or sign structure to be removed summarily and without written notice if it is an immediate peril to persons or property by virtue of its construction or moorings.
§ 220-64 Obsolete signs.
Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold or is not used for a permitted use hereunder shall be taken down and removed by the permittee, owner or agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure or land upon which the sign is located within 10 days after written notification from the Construction Code Official, and upon failure to comply with such notice, the Construction Code Official is hereby authorized to cause removal of the sign, and any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the permittee or owner of the building or structure to which the sign is attached.
§ 220-65 Abandoned signs.
The failure to keep a nonconforming sign painted or in good repair for a period of six months shall constitute abandonment, and such sign may not be reused and must be removed.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. IX, Board of Adjustment, which previously followed this section, was repealed 2-10-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-02. This ordinance transferred the powers previously exercised by the Board of Adjustment to the Planning Board, which is now referred to as the “Land Use Board.” References to the Planning Board throughout this chapter and the Code of the Township of Franklin have been changed to the Land Use Board. References to the Board of Adjustment have been deleted.