Lake Como City Zoning Code

Animated, Flashing and Illusionary Signs. Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited.

Height. No roof signs shall exceed 30 feet above ground level. No sign shall project beyond a building in a manner placing it above an area traversed by motor vehicles such as, but not limited to, driveway and parking areas. Where signs project beyond a building, facade or wall over a pedestrian way, the lowest portion of the sign shall be at least nine (9') feet above the walkway.

Free-Standing Signs. They shall be supported by one or more columns or uprights which are firmly embedded in the ground. Exposed guy wires, chains or other connections shall not be made a permanent support of the freestanding sign.

Illuminated Signs. They shall be arranged as to reflect the light and glare away from adjoining premises and away from adjoining highways. No sign with red, green or blue illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location.

Information and Direction Signs. Street number designations, postal boxes, on-site directional and parking signs and warning signs are permitted in all zones but are not to be considered in calculating sign area. No such sign shall exceed one square foot in area.

Maintenance. Signs and their support structures must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not be allowed to become dilapidated. All painted surfaces shall be repainted as needed.

Portable Signs. No sign shall be exhibited which is portable, i.e. fixed on a movable stand, self-supporting without being permanently embedded in the ground, supported by other objects, mounted on wheels or movable vehicles, or made easily movable in some other manner.

Real Estate Signs. Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or portion thereof shall be, if not attached to the building, set back at least five (5) horizontal feet from all street lines. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area and shall be removed at the expense of the advertiser within 30 days after the termination or completion of the matter of business being advertised. "Sold" signs shall be permitted between the signing of the contract of sale and the date of legal closing. All such signs do not need a construction permit.

Sign Area. The area of a sign shall be measured around the outside edges of a framed or enclosed sign or by the area utilized by isolated words and/or symbols including the background, whether open or enclosed, but the area shall not include any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself.

Signs with Two (2) Exposures. Such signs shall be measured for area by using the surface of one side of the sign only. Both sides may be used.

Temporary Signs. One (1) temporary banner sign shall be permitted as a maximum on the exterior of the building only. No temporary banners shall be permitted to be placed on any other portion of the property except on the exterior of the building. A maximum of four temporary banner permits shall be issued for any property per year. There shall be a 30 day interval between permit expiration and issuance of the subsequent permit. No permit shall be valid for longer than 30 days. No temporary banner sign shall be larger than the largest permitted sign on the property. The fee to be charged for each temporary banner sign shall be thirty ($30) dollars (each banner permit). A photo or rendering of each banner must be attached to the permit application.

Projection. Wall fascia shall mean a flat sign or lettering attached to a building. It shall be firmly attached to the exterior wall of the building and shall not project from the building more than 15 inches. Attached signs that project at an angle to the building shall not project more than forty-eight (48) inches.

Abandonment. Any conforming or nonconforming sign, as well as their support structure, shall be presumed to be abandoned when there occurs a cessation of any bona fide use or activity to which the sign is accessory. Said sign shall be removed by the property owner within 30 days of abandonment or 30 days from the adoption of this amendment in the case of existing signs and support structures. This includes all painted signs, interior window signs, displays and banners.

Unsafe or Insecure Signs. In the event the Code Enforcement Officer shall determine that any sign, including any nonconforming sign, is unsafe, insecure, in need of repair, not maintained in proper condition or has been constructed, erected or installed in violation of any of the provisions of this subsection, the Code Enforcement Officer shall give written notice of such violation to the permit holder and owner of the premises. If the violation(s) is not remedied within 10 days after receipt of the notice, a complaint shall be filed against the person(s) responsible for the violation in the Municipal Court. In the event such sign violation constitutes an immediate danger to the safety of persons or property, the Code Enforcement Officer shall have the sign removed immediately at the expense of the person(s) responsible for the violation. In such event, notice to the person(s) responsible for the violation shall not be required prior to the ordering of the work.

Restoration. In the event any nonconforming sign shall be partially destroyed, such sign may be restored provided there is no change in the size and location. If a nonconforming sign is totally destroyed, defined as more than seventy (70%) percent, such sign shall not be rebuilt. Restoration or removal shall take place within 30 days after notice from Code Official.

Continuance. The lawful use of any nonconforming sign existing at the date of this chapter, which is not a portable, temporary or abandoned sign, may be continued although such sign does not conform to this chapter, provided that no such signs shall be enlarged, extended, or changed in material, character, location, illumination, or message. Signs of a portable or temporary nature existing as of the date of the adoption of this chapter shall be removed upon this chapter becoming law.

General Objectives. It is the objective of this paragraph a5 to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare by restricting signs and awnings which violate privacy or increase accidents by distracting attention or obstructing vision. It is also the intention of this paragraph to promote a desirable visual environment and to encourage the replacement of nonconforming signs and awnings with conforming signs and awnings through enforcement.

The following general standards shall apply to all signs and awnings:

Unless specifically stated herein, the following application procedures shall apply to all signs and awnings in the Borough, and unless stated otherwise all signs and awnings shall require a sign permit application.

The following signs and awnings shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection which require a permit but all other provisions regarding size, location and type shall apply where appropriate.

Governmental Signs. All signs and awnings which are erected by the Borough of Lake Como or any of its Departmental Committees or Agencies of the State of New Jersey or County of Monmouth.

Political Signs. All signs which are political in message provided that said signs are erected not more than 45 days prior to an election and removed no later than 10 days after an election and providing further that the aggregate total of all signs per property shall not exceed forty (40) square feet.

Religious, Civic Signs. Church, civic, or nonprofit temporary signs not to exceed four (4') feet by eight (8') feet provided that special permission is granted by resolution of the Mayor and Council.

Temporary Special Signs. Any temporary sign or banner may be erected for a period not to exceed 30 days by permission granted by resolution of the Mayor and Council.

Grand Opening. Any sign or banner which is used to designate a grand opening of a business provided, however, that said sign shall be limited to forty (40) square feet per property and shall be removed within 30 days after commencement.

Residential Signs. One (1) non-illuminated temporary sign which must be properly maintained which advertises the sale or rental of the lot or building on which the sign is located that said sign is not greater than nine (9) square feet in total area.

Commercial Window. Window signs and lettering shall be permitted in nonresidential zones subject to the following restrictions.

Wall Mounted Signs and Projection Signs. Wall mounted signs and projection signs shall be permitted subject to the following:

Permanent Window Graphics. Permanent window graphics shall be permitted provided that they comply with the provisions of General Business or Commercial District.

Outdoor advertising signs and billboards of any type including free-standing and/or sandwich board type signs.

Any permanent signs which do not pertain to an occupant, service or product actually occupying or provided on the premises where such sign is located.

Roof signs extending above the wall to which they are attached.

Signs posted on fences, posts, utility poles, trees, street signs or traffic signs.

Signs painted on municipal property or rights-of-way without the consent of the Mayor and Council.

Signs painted directly on buildings, sidewalks or curbs.

Signs on accessory buildings which are specifically defined by this chapter.

Signs which flash, make noise, imitate official traffic signs or signals or which otherwise contribute a hazard to the traveling public.

Banners, streamers or advertising flags, except as set forth under subsections 17-10.10a7(e) and 17-10.10a7(f).

All signs not authorized by this subsection are prohibited.

Home Occupations. One (1) unlighted or interior lighted name plate sign identifying the home occupation, not exceeding two square feet, either free-standing or attached flat against the building. If free-standing, the sign shall not exceed three feet in height and shall be set back five (5) feet from the street right-of-way.

One (1) sign advertising a permitted boarding or rooming house, garden apartment or apartment house on the same lot therewith, provided that such sign shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area and that no one side shall exceed three feet in length. Such sign may be illuminated by white light only and the total illumination for any side shall not exceed the equivalent of that given by a one hundred fifty (150) watt incandescent bulb or a forty (40) watt fluorescent.

Churches and Schools. One (1) free-standing sign not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area and 10 feet in height and set back at least eight (8) feet from all street rights-of-way and lot lines, or one attached sign not exceeding twenty (20) square feet in area.

Attached Signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted attached wall fascia sign per building lot shall be allowed on principal building facade with street frontage. The total area of the sign shall not exceed 10% of the façade area of the lowest floor of that portion of the building occupied by the business or forty (40) square feet, whichever is less. Where the building(s) is (are) designed for rear or side entrances, one attached facade sign per business may be attached flat against the building at the rear and/or side entrances, each sign not to exceed an area equivalent to that of the sign on the front of the building.

Free-Standing Signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted free-standing sign for each principal building.

One (1) lighted or unlighted roof sign shall be allowed per building lot. Signs shall be no larger than five (5) feet by five (5) feet.