Penns Grove City Zoning Code

The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed (but not including any supporting framework and bracing which are incidental to the display itself).

Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to a building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.

In computing square foot area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered, provided that both faces are identical. If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the double-faced sign is greater than 45°, then both sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the sign area.

Directly illuminated sign. A directly illuminated sign shall be a sign designed to give forth artificial light directly (or through transparent or translucent material) from a source of light within such sign, including but not limited to neon and exposed lamp signs. Festoon lighting is a directly illuminated sign comprised of either:

Indirectly illuminated sign. An indirectly illuminated sign shall be a sign illuminated with a light so shielded that no direct rays therefrom are visible elsewhere on the lot where said illumination occurs. If such shielding device is defective, such sign shall be deemed to be a directly illuminated sign.

Flashing sign. A flashing sign shall be an illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times when in use.

Nonilluminated sign. A nonilluminated sign shall be a sign which is not illuminated either directly or indirectly.

On-premises sign. An on-premises sign shall be a sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to an activity conducted on the same lot.

Advertising sign. An advertising sign shall be an off-premises sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to a commodity, business, industry, home occupation or other similar activity which is sold, offered or conducted elsewhere than on the lot upon which such sign is located.

Business sign. A business sign shall be an on-premises sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to a business, commodity, service, industry or other activity which is sold, offered or conducted other than incidentally on the premises upon which such sign is located or to which it is affixed.

Freestanding sign. A freestanding sign shall be a permanently affixed self-supporting sign resting on or supported by means of poles or standards either on the ground or on the roof of a building. The height of freestanding signs on the ground shall be measured from the mean elevation of the finished grade at the front of the building to the uppermost portion of the sign.

Parallel sign. A parallel sign shall be a sign mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface. Parallel signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which they are mounted and shall not project more than eight inches from its surface.

Projecting sign. A projecting sign shall be any sign mounted to a wall or other vertical building surface other than a parallel sign. Projecting signs shall not project more than two feet from the wall or surface to which they are mounted, except as provided under § 450-58, nor in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

Nonstationary sign. A nonstationary sign shall be a sign which, by means of some mechanical device, changes its position constantly or at regular intervals by rotating around an axis or shifting in horizontal or vertical alignment.

Prohibition. Flashing signs, nonstationary signs, neon signs exceeding two square feet in area, handwritten signs, portable signs not permanently affixed to either the ground or to a building and festoon lighting, except as provided under Subsections L and M, shall not be permitted in any district. Freestanding roof signs shall not be permitted in any district, except as provided under § 450-58, provided that they do not extend more than four feet above the roofline of a one-story building.

Obstruction. No sign shall be erected or maintained within a distance of 10 feet from the intersection of any street lines or the intersection of a street line and the edge of a private accessway, and 25 feet in the H-C/I District, unless the location of the sign is situated at least eight feet above the level of the street center line.

Overhanging. No signs shall overhang any walkway or public right-of-way, except as provided under § 450-58.

Maintenance. All signs permitted in this article must be professionally designed and constructed of durable materials and must be kept in good condition and repair. Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated shall be removed by the Borough at the expense of the owner or lessee of the property on which it is located.

Nonconforming signs. Signs existing at the time of passage of this chapter, which do not conform to the requirements of this chapter, shall be considered nonconforming signs and may continue in nonconformity. Once removed for repair, replacement or any other reason, a nonconforming sign shall not be replaced unless with a conforming sign; however, nonconforming signs may be repainted or repaired in place, provided that such action does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign. All nonconforming signs must be registered with the Zoning Office.

Permit required. All signs shall require the issuance of a sign permit from the Zoning Office before erection or replacement, except for patriotic signs as described in § 450-51. A building permit shall also be required by the Construction Code Official for any sign which is permanently affixed to the ground, the building facade or the inside or outside of windows.

Separate frontage. If an establishment has walls fronting on two or more streets, the provisions of § 450-58A(2) and (3) shall apply for each street frontage.

Signs within street lines. Signs erected by a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, shall be allowed within street lines. No other signs shall be permitted within street lines, except that this provision shall be waived for parallel signs in areas where no front yard setback is required.

Yard requirements. No portion of any freestanding sign shall be located closer to any lot line than 1/2 the required yard for the district in which it is located, except for COS and H-C/I Districts. If this requirement cannot be met, then freestanding signs shall be prohibited on such properties.

Vehicular signs. Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that carrying of such sign or signs no longer is incidental to the vehicle's primary purpose but becomes a primary purpose in itself shall be considered a freestanding sign and as such be subject to the provisions regarding freestanding signs in the district in which such vehicle is located.

Abandoned signs. For the purpose of this chapter, an abandoned sign(s) is one that, after one year, said sign(s), including all hangers, brackets or superstructures used in support or attached to said sign, no longer represents the user or use of the structure or land to which said sign(s) is attached or freestanding.

Festoon lighting, which is to be defined as miniature, nonflashing lights of a discrete nature, will be permitted in commercial and H-C/I Districts if it lends to the attractiveness of the business and connects with the overall appearance of the district as a whole.

Festoon lighting shall be clear in color and of an encased commercial grade.

Appearance. Any sign for which a permit is issued is approved for appearance and condition as well as for dimension. Any change that may affect the original appearance must be approved by the Zoning Officer.

On-premises signs. The following types of signs and no other shall be permitted:

Off-premises signs. No off-premises signs shall be permitted except directional or information signs of a public or semipublic nature, not exceeding eight square feet in area. Not more than one such sign shall be placed on each property unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage. Such signs shall only be used for the purpose of stating or calling attention to:

Locational restrictions.

On-premises signs. In the COS District, no on-premises signs shall be permitted except as follows:

Off-premises signs. All off-premises signs permitted in § 450-57B at the standards prescribed therein are permitted.

On-premises signs. In the H-C/I District, no on-premises signs shall be permitted except as follows:

Off-premises sign. All off-premises signs permitted in § 450-57B at the standards prescribed therein are permitted.

Nonilluminated real estate signs announcing the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is located and real estate signs announcing an open house. The sign may be double-faced and, except as noted below, only one sign announcing the sale, rental or lease of the premises shall be permitted on each lot or parcel unless it fronts on more than one street right-of-way or property line, unless attached to a portion of a building that may be nearer to said street right-of-way or property line. Temporary real estate signs announcing an open house may be located so as to provide directions to the open house; however, in no event shall such signs remain in place for a period exceeding 24 hours. Temporary signs shall not be located so as to obstruct traffic in any way, and such signs shall not be located in any landscaped traffic island. Any temporary sign erected pursuant to this subsection may be erected on private property only with the authorization of the owner of the property.

Temporary signs for advertising public functions or fund-raising events for charitable or religious organizations shall be permitted for a period of 30 days prior to and during the event and shall be removed within five days after the event. The sign shall be nonilluminated, not larger than 24 square feet in area, not exceeding eight feet in height and may be erected flat against the building or freestanding.

Temporary political signs and signs not related to a political campaign but containing political expressions may be erected for a period of 60 days prior to any scheduled election date. Campaign signs shall be removed within 15 days after the election. Political signs in residential zones shall not exceed 16 square feet, the dimension shall not exceed four feet on any side, and they shall not exceed the height limitation for residential zones. Political signs in all other zones shall not exceed the maximum size and height limitation for the zone in which they are placed. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-22.3, temporary political signs aiding or promoting the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or providing political information on a political candidate or aiding the passage or defeat of any public question or providing political information on any public question shall clearly state on the face thereof the name and business or residence address of the committee, group or person that financed the temporary political sign and shall contain a statement that the temporary political sign has been financed by that group, committee or person.

Relocation information signs for a period of 30 days. Relocation signs shall be restricted to the present location of the relocating business and the future location of the relocating business. The signs, one each at the present and the future business sites, shall not be in excess of standards set forth for the zone in which the business is located.

Construction signs. One sign announcing the name of architects, engineers and/or contractors, the building enterprise and related information shall be permitted at a site under construction, alteration or repair, provided that the sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area and that the sign shall be removed before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

Commercial temporary signs and banners. The construction, erection, replacement or alteration of any temporary sign or banner advertising a grand opening or special sales event on a commercial premises shall be permitted subject to the following standards:

Noncommercial banners. Nonprofit and public organizations and agencies shall be permitted to erect or display a banner which shall comply with the standards and procedures as set forth this section.

There shall be no fees imposed or approvals required for the erection of any temporary sign which satisfies the requirements of this section.