River Edge City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Signs and Signage
§ 416-43 Sign approval, fees and permits.
A.
All signs, except those prohibited under § 416-44, shall be subject to approval by the Construction Official.
B.
The changing of any sign shall be subject to approval by the Construction Official of the replacement's size, style and design.
C.
When use or occupancy changes, signs, whether new or existing, become subject to the present sign ordinance, except that existing nonconforming signs shall be permitted subject to § 416-35.
F.
The fees for permits shall accompany the application.
§ 416-44 Prohibited signs and lighting.
A.
The following types of signs or artificial lighting are prohibited:
(1)
Billboards.
(2)
Flashing signs or moving signs, including any sign or device on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary, and constant in intensity and color, at all times when in use.
(3)
Neon, flashing and strobe-light signs.
(4)
Signs which compete for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
(5)
Signs on marquees, awnings, canopies or roofs.
(7)
Signs with more than two faces.
(8)
Street clocks and tower clocks.
(9)
The display of pennants and bunting, except for grand openings when they may be displayed for 30 days.
[Amended 5-18-1998 by Ord. No. 1220]
(10)
Signs, logograms and pictures painted or affixed to windows, buildings, walls and roofs, except upon approval of the Zoning Officer.
[Amended 5-18-1998 by Ord. No. 1220]
§ 416-45 Locations prohibited.
The following types of locations are prohibited, except as otherwise provided herein. No signs may:
A.
Be permitted, other than those required by ordinance, statute or governmental regulation, on a radio receiving or transmitting tower, telecommunication antennas, chimney, television aerial, smokestack or any other projection above a roof;
C.
Be placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon any structure which extends above the roof of any building, except such directional devices as may be required by federal or state aeronautical authorities.
§ 416-46 Nonconforming signs; repair and removal.
All nonconforming signs requiring repair of 50% or more according to the judgment of the Construction Official shall be removed.
§ 416-47 Location and placement of signs on buildings.
A.
The top of each sign shall be no higher than whichever of the following is lowest:
(1)
Eighteen feet above the average grade at the facade(s) where the sign is attached;
(2)
Six inches below the lowest point of the roofline (roofline includes false mansards). In the case of a flat roof, six inches below the top of the parapet wall;
(3)
Six inches below the sill of a second-story window.
B.
No sign shall extend more than eight inches beyond the face of a building or fascia to which it is attached, and it shall have a minimum ground clearance of eight feet.
C.
No part of any business sign shall project above the top or beyond the end of the wall surface upon which it is placed.
D.
No sign, logograms or pictures, temporary or otherwise, on or inside a window, shall be greater than two feet in height or cover more than 20% of the square-foot area of the window. Signs on the inside of a window shall be considered part of the main sign for the purpose of calculating maximum allowed sign area. Any area within 48 inches of a window is considered window area for signage purposes.
[Amended 5-18-1998 by Ord. No. 1220]
E.
Each commercial business establishment is permitted to construct a banner, as described herein, on a temporary basis for not more than 28 days upon application to the Building Department and issuance of a permit by the Building Department for construction of the temporary sign.
[Added 11-17-2003 by Ord. No. 1449]
(1)
This application for the temporary sign shall include a detailed sketch of the proposed banner, including proposed colors and dimensions.
(2)
A commercial business establishment may apply for a permit to construct a temporary banner no more than four times in a calendar year, which may not be consecutive.
(3)
A temporary banner shall be constructed of canvas or such similar sturdy material but not paper.
(4)
The total area of a temporary banner shall not exceed one square foot for each two feet of street frontage of the building or 16 square feet, whichever is greater, but may not exceed 50 square feet.
(5)
The total area of a temporary banner on any building set back 40 feet or more from a street may be 1.5 square feet for each two feet of building street frontage or 16 square feet, whichever is greater, but not to exceed 50 square feet.
(6)
The number of colors permitted in the temporary banner shall be four with black and white included as colors.
(7)
From time to time, the governing body may designate, by resolution, "Shop River Edge Week" for the purpose of promoting Borough business. During a designated "Shop River Edge Week," a commercial business establishment in the Borough is permitted to construct a banner in accordance with the terms and conditions of this section. Any banners constructed and utilized during a "Shop River Edge Week" will not count towards the maximum of four as provided in Subsection E(2).
§ 416-48 Lighting.
A.
Permitted lighting for illuminated signs shall be limited to that concentrated upon the face of the sign. If any such sign is situated within 20 feet of a street, the direct source of light shall not be visible from the street or any neighboring lots or uses.
B.
All business signs and all spotlights and floodlights used to illuminate any sign shall be extinguished by 11:00 p.m. or upon the close of business serviced by the signs or lighting, whichever last occurs.
§ 416-49 Colors.
Maximum number of colors permitted in the sign shall be four; black and white colors are included.
§ 416-50 Message.
A sign message may include lettering to indicate only the street number, name and kind of business, service or facility conducted on the premises, the year the business was established, a slogan, hours of operation and lettering that is part of a trademark or logo.
§ 416-51 Construction.
Every sign shall have its top designed to prevent the roosting, nesting or standing of any bird or animal. The use of spikes, screens or any other such device will not be accepted. This design requirement must be satisfied within the framework of the sign, as constructed.
§ 416-52 Main sign: industrial, office, professional buildings.
A.
Any industrial, office or professional buildings with a common entrance shall have one main identification sign located on the wall surface of the principal frontage or facade of the building. Such industrial, office or professional building, if located on a corner lot, may have a second sign located on the wall fencing the other street. Such second sign shall not exceed 50% of the principal sign.
B.
The total area of all signs on the building shall not exceed one square foot for each two feet of street frontage of the building, and further provided that the total area of all such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet, except that a corner lot shall not exceed 30 square feet, with no one sign exceeding 20 square feet.
C.
The sign shall be composed of individual letters applied to the building itself, measured by the smallest rectangle which encloses the letters, figures and symbols (logo design, etc).
D.
A total exterior design treatment must be presented showing a complementary and harmonious relationship between the signage of the business frontage and the architecture of the building itself.
E.
No supplemental signs on the exterior or on windows are permitted.
§ 416-53 Main sign: other retail and commercial uses.
A.
The regulations of this section shall apply to establishments in any building containing any uses permitted as of right in the C-1 and C-2 Commercial Zoning Districts, and not being herein defined as a shopping center.
B.
All business or other commercial buildings having a principal frontage of 12 feet or less will be permitted to have signs with a total area no greater than 10% of the square footage of the front of the building allowing for a maximum height of 10 feet.
C.
The maximum area of such signs for business or other commercial buildings having a principal frontage of over 12 feet shall be governed by the material of which the sign is composed, as follows:
(1)
No larger than 16 square feet: All signs painted (silk-screen, decal, etc.) on boards (metal, wood or plastic). The area will include all lettering, wording and accompanying design and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed.
(2)
No larger than 18 square feet: Illuminated box signs. The area shall be measured by the exterior dimensions of the box.
(3)
No larger than 20 square feet: A sign composed of individual letters applied to the building itself, measured by the smallest rectangle which encloses the letters, figures and symbols (logo, design, etc.).
(4)
A total exterior design treatment must be presented showing a complementary and harmonious relationship between the signage of the building frontage and the architecture of the building itself.
(5)
This § 416-53 in no way substitutes for, annuls or voids any other section of this chapter which further limits or restrict the posting of signs.
(7)
Each retail or other permitted establishment may have one sign and a second sign on the building if located on a corner lot. The main sign shall be located on the wall surface of the building's principal frontage or facade. The second sign shall be located on the wall facing the other street.
(8)
All signs shall be uniform in style and design, except that no second sign, if allowed, shall exceed 50% of the size of the main sign.
§ 416-54 Main signs: shopping center.
A.
The regulations of this section shall apply to any establishment or use within a shopping center as herein defined: A shopping center is hereby defined to mean and include any concentration of over two retail stores and service establishments, under one property ownership or management, having common off-street parking facilities, off-street sidewalks or pedestrian walkways and ingress from and egress to a public street.
B.
The shopping center may have either a single main sign containing the names (and/or trademarks) of each establishment located therein, or individual main signs, one for each establishment.
(1)
The single main sign shall be located on the facade or wall surface of a building or structure having frontage along the principal street; this sign shall have a total area of not more than one square foot for every two feet of principal street frontage of the shopping center and not exceeding 35 square feet.
(2)
Should the shopping center have one main sign, each business or establishment shall be allowed one identifying sign.
(a)
This is a sign on a wall or facade surface adjoining the establishment thereby identifying each establishment's location within the shopping center. The area of such sign shall not exceed one square foot for every five feet of the establishment's frontage and shall not exceed the maximum areas set forth in §§ 416-53B and C(1) through (3) of this chapter.
(b)
All such identifying signs shall be uniform in style, size and design, except that the establishment may include within the sign its logo or trademark. No identifying sign shall be affixed so as to extend beyond the structure's roofline, and shall conform to the maximum height set forth in § 416-47A of this chapter.
(3)
Should a shopping center have individual main signs, each of the signs shall be located over the establishment it identifies.
C.
Each business or establishment shall be allowed one secondary identifying sign at its rear or secondary entrance. This sign shall not exceed one square foot, shall not be illuminated and may be of the same design and style as the establishment's identifying sign.
D.
All main, identifying and secondary signs shall comply with all other regulations of these ordinances.
§ 416-55 Comprehensive sign design.
A.
A sign applicant or agent occupying a single- or multiple-tenanted industrial, office, professional office, retail or commercial building may apply to the Planning Board for a comprehensive sign design. The comprehensive sign design is a vehicle to encourage the imaginative integration of signage into the framework of a new or existing building. Under this plan, the total area of signs on a single- or multiple-tenanted building may, upon approval of the Planning Board, be at variance to the maximum regulations set forth in the sign ordinance.
B.
An applicant or agent using comprehensive sign design shall file the application with the Construction Official prior to the start of any construction of the sign on the building, structure or lot. Failure to file the application prior to construction shall void said sign from the comprehensive sign design procedures and allowances.
C.
In applying comprehensive sign design, the Planning Board shall consider but will not be limited to such factors as:
D.
The sign(s) must conform to this chapter in all other respects.
E.
An application for a comprehensive sign design review must be filed with the Construction Official and shall include:
(1)
A scaled elevation drawing of the entire building facade(s);
(2)
The proposed sign(s) clearly delineated on the elevation drawing, plus detailed drawings, as deemed necessary by the Construction Official and/or Planning Board, indicating color and style of lettering;
(3)
An eight by ten (8 x 10) color photograph(s);
(4)
An agency authorization of all tenants or occupants of a tenanted building, stating their intention to participate in a comprehensive sign design.
F.
On completion of its review, the Planning Board will approve or disapprove the variance or make recommendations and notify the applicant.
§ 416-56 Accessory signs permitted in all districts.
A.
The following accessory signs are permitted in all zoning districts:
(1)
A professional nameplate with an area of not more than one square foot freestanding or otherwise with the name of the principal occupant or the street number or name of a private dwelling. The title or professions of the principal occupant may also be on such sign.
(2)
A sign or bulletin board with an area of not more than eight square feet, maximum length four feet, illuminated or not, for church, school, library, club or other public or quasi-public building or use.
B.
Nonilluminated temporary signs, freestanding or otherwise, except as herein noted:
(1)
A single sign with an area of not more than 12 square feet pertaining only to the lease or sale of the premises upon which it is placed.
(2)
A sign with the street number of a new building or development and the name of the architect, engineer, planner, landscaper, the general contractor and subcontractors, and the project title and sponsor, owner or tenant, and located on a lot during construction on the premises. Such sign shall be located at the principal entrance and within the street line and lot lines of the premises and shall be removed within seven days after the completion of the construction work. The total area of all such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(3)
Signs announcing or advertising any educational, charitable, philanthropic, civic, professional, religious or like campaign drive, movement or event, for one consecutive period not exceeding 21 days in any calendar year. The total area of all such signs on a lot shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(4)
Special signs. Permitted special signs shall be signs serving the public convenience, such as "Notary Public," "Public Telephone," "Public Rest Rooms," or words or directions of similar import, or directional parking signs. The area of each sign shall not exceed 100 square inches. Only one sign of each type utilizing standardized letters shall be displayed.
[Amended 12-16-1996 by Ord. No. 1172]
§ 416-57 (Reserved) [1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 416-57, Political signs, was repealed 11-17-2008 by Ord. No. 1631.
§ 416-58 Signs in residential zoning districts.
The regulations of this section shall apply to single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and townhouses being permitted uses within the R-1, R-2, R-3 and PRD-1 Residential Zoning Districts.
A.
Single-family residences may have only those signs allowed by §§ 416-45 and 416-56A(1) and B of this chapter.
B.
No two-family residence will have any sign other than is allowed for a single-family residence.
C.
Multiple-family buildings of three or more families shall be permitted a sign of an area not exceeding eight square feet depicting the building's name and/or number.
D.
No townhouse residence will have any sign other than is allowed for a single-family residence.