Newfield City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Signs
§ 295-50 Purpose.
The purpose of this article shall be to provide standards for signs for all zones and uses within the Borough.
§ 295-51 General requirements.
A.
Freestanding signs shall be designed and erected so as not to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic. No sign shall be permitted within a sight triangle or in a location where it would obstruct a driver's view of a traffic sign or signal.
B.
All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the appropriate building codes and subcodes.
C.
The following signs shall be prohibited within the Borough:
(1)
Signs that are stapled, pasted, painted or otherwise attached to trees, utility poles, fences, rocks, curbs, walls, lamp posts, hydrants, or benches.
(2)
Signs displaying flashing lights, utilizing the projection of film or video, mechanical or moving devices, balloons, kites, inflatable objects, banners, pennants, nongovernmental flags, or search lights.
(3)
Any sign advertising or identifying a business or use no longer in existence or a product or service that is no longer available on the site on which the sign is located.
(4)
Movable signs including signs attached to vehicles not capable of self-propulsion or registered with the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles.
D.
Illuminated signs shall be designed and constructed to avoid glare and to direct light towards the ground and away from adjoining lots and structures. No sign shall be permitted to have a beam or flashing light.
E.
Signs and the area surrounding a sign shall be maintained in good condition.
F.
Signs shall be limited to information related to the property on which they are located. Off-premises signs shall be prohibited.
§ 295-52 Signs permitted in all districts.
[Amended 6-12-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-7]
A.
Signs containing street number designations, household nameplates, postal boxes, historical markers, and directional signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts, provided that they do not exceed two square feet in area. Advisory signs such as those with text similar to but not limited to "private property, "no soliciting," "no trespassing," "no hunting," "beware of dog," shall be permitted in all zones provided that they do not exceed two square feet in area and that advisory signs with the same or related message shall be separated by a minimum distance of 50' in order to prevent the adverse impact of sign clutter on adjacent properties.
B.
Pavement markings designed to control the flow of traffic on private driveways or parking areas shall be permitted in all zoning districts.
C.
Signs to regulate vehicular and pedestrian traffic are permitted in all zones, provided that they meet the standards of the Manuel of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways published by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, as amended.
D.
Signs identifying a residential development or an existing neighborhood as part of the overall landscaping plan of a subdivision, site plan or neighborhood landscaping plan subject to the review and approval of the Borough Planning Board.
E.
Signs for institutional uses. Schools, places of worship and similar uses shall be entitled to one freestanding sign with a maximum area of 24 square feet and a maximum height of five feet.
F.
Temporary signs. The following signs shall be permitted on a temporary basis:
(1)
Real estate signs, provided that no real estate sign shall be larger than 12 square feet and that the sign shall be removed within 10 days of the completion of the sale or rental announced by the sign. Real estate signs shall only be permitted on the lot which is the sign is advertising.
(2)
Signs identifying new construction or a home repair business provided that only one nonilluminated sign shall be permitted, that the sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and that the sign shall be removed within 10 days of the completion of the work it advertises.
§ 295-53 Signs permitted in business and industrial districts.
A.
The purpose of the text of any sign permitted by this section shall be limited to the identification of the business and the text and copy of the sign shall be limited to the name of the business, its principal product or service and the logo of the business or entity identified by the sign.
B.
Facade signs. A business shall be permitted one facade sign which relates to the business conducted on the premises and which does not exceed an area equal to 15% of the front facade of the building or portion of the building in which the use is located. The sign shall be located below the roofline and shall not project more than two feet from the surface of the building or project beyond any edge or corner of the building.
C.
Freestanding signs. A business shall be permitted one freestanding sign in accordance with the following standards:
(1)
All freestanding signs shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the right-of-way of any public street and be located a minimum of 200 feet from any other freestanding sign.
(2)
The maximum area of a freestanding sign shall not exceed the smaller of either 200 feet or 10% of the area of the principle facade of the building it identifies. The area shall be calculated by measuring the exterior perimeter of the portion of the sign containing the text and logo. The area of a sign with two parallel sides shall be equal to the area of the largest side of the sign. The area of a sign with three or more sides shall be the total area of all the faces.
(3)
The maximum height of a freestanding sign shall be 15 feet.