Scotch Plains City Zoning Code

Signs shall not be erected or maintained except in conformity with the provisions of this section.

No permanent or temporary sign shall be constructed or displayed unless a sign erection permit has been obtained from the construction official except for those signs exempt as per the Uniform Construction Code.

In all zone districts, no commercial sign shall be permitted which is not accessory to the business conducted on the property.

This section does not prohibit any signage based solely on the content of the signage message. Noncommercial speech, such as political speech or religious speech, is allowed in all residential and commercial zones at a maximum sign area of 16 square feet on a side.

Any political sign that is protected under the free speech provisions of the United States and New Jersey Constitutions shall be permitted in any zoning district, provided that it is not located within a public right-of-way. Any sign sponsored by a political party and connected to an election event shall be a maximum of six square feet and removed within two weeks after the date of the political event.

No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause confusion or danger to street traffic by obscuring the view or by simulating official, directional or warning signs maintained by any governmental body, railroad or public utility concerned with the protection of the public health or safety. This shall include, but not be limited to, any sign visible from the public right-of-way which uses an arrow device or simulates a stop sign or stoplight.

All signs shall be placed in a location which will allow sufficient reaction time for drivers on the adjacent roads to safely enter and exit the site.

No sign of any type shall be attached to trees, fence posts, stumps, utility poles, bridges, rocks or like features not considered to be advertising structures on public property.

All billboard signs are prohibited. Much of the Township of Scotch Plains is residential in nature, and in those areas, billboards would detract from the small-town residential neighborhoods. In the commercial areas, billboards would detract from the economic link of the signage necessary for the Township businesses and along the highway, in addition, would create unnecessary distractions and burden traffic safety.

Rotating signs, live-action signs, signs with an electronic display, flashing or intermittent illuminated signs are prohibited.

Noncommercial banners, containing a message or not, are prohibited, unless specifically authorized by the governing body for a special public event.

Official signs erected or required by the federal government, the State of New Jersey or any of its agencies, and any county or municipality of the state shall be exempt from the regulations in this section to the extent that governmental requirement conflicts with the requirements of this section.

Official flags of the United States, the State of New Jersey, Union County and the Township of Scotch Plains shall be permitted in all of the zone districts.

No sign shall be erected within or over the right-of-way of any street or highway unless specifically authorized by NJDOT and/or this chapter or other ordinances of the Township or Union County.

The setback of a sign shall be measured to the nearest part of the sign, including any base, frame, or decorative elements.

Any sign that is or shall become dangerous or unsafe in any manner whatsoever, or any sign erected hereafter contrary to the provisions of this section shall be repaired, made safe, and otherwise restored to its original condition in conformity with this section or shall be taken down and removed by the owner, lease, agent or occupant of the building, property or land upon which it is placed or to which it is attached.

Signs for houses of worship, public schools and private nonprofit schools and institutions of higher learning shall permit an illuminated ground sign, or an illuminated facade sign. The permitted illumination shall be shielded and nonflashing. Any ground sign shall be located at least 10 feet from any street right-of-way or property line, shall not exceed five feet in height. One side of the ground sign shall count toward total signage. The total maximum of signage on site (not including parking and/or directional signs) shall not exceed 32 square feet on either side. See Subsection 23-5.2b6.

Signs for lawfully permitted nonprofit chartered membership organizations, farms, public buildings, playgrounds, golf clubs and the offices of charitable organizations shall be facade signs of a maximum of 200 square feet of sign area or 10% of the building facade and 5% of a secondary facade, whichever is less. Facade signs shall consist of individual noninternally illuminated letters, mounted directly on the building facade. The signage letters can be illuminated only by indirect shielded, nonflashing light. Ground signs are also permitted of a maximum size of 32 square feet on either side.

The following regulations pertain to permitted LED signs:

Development and Coming Soon Signs.