Surf City City Zoning Code
§ 30-10.2
Signs in Business Zone.
[Ord. No. 72-7 § 10B; Ord. No. 87-14 § 1; Ord. No. 2016-05; amended 5-9-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-09; 6-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-11]
No signs, billboards, advertising structures, flags, sandwich boards, banners, or similar items are permitted in the Business Zone, except as follows:
b.
Separately fabricated lighted or unlighted point of sale signs attached to a building or mounted on a separate support on the premises apart from the building are permitted provided that:
1.
There shall be on any parcel or use not more than two such signs except an additional illuminated, digital or neon sign, not exceeding 16 square feet.
2.
The area of any one sign or the total combined areas of all signs shall not exceed 48 square feet.
3.
The horizontal or vertical dimensions of any one sign, or the horizontal dimensions of two signs when added together, or the vertical dimensions of two signs when added together shall not exceed 12 feet.
4.
The area of the trim or framing device of any sign shall not exceed 10% of the sign area as defined in § 30-3.
5.
No sign shall project more than five feet beyond the street line, nor more than six feet beyond the face of the building to which it is attached.
6.
Illuminated signs shall not contain, have attached thereto, or incorporated therein any flashing lights, nor shall there be any real or simulated motion of the letters, designs, or figures depicted thereon; however, intermittent illumination of a sign is permitted.
7.
All signs may be unlighted, lighted, illuminated, digital or neon except:
c.
A sign painted upon or mounted on the surface of an exterior wall of a commercial building provided:
1.
That the area of the sign does not exceed 10% of the area of the building actually devoted to the business described in such sign; however, the area of the sign in any case shall not exceed 300 square feet.
2.
That no such sign shall exceed five feet in height, except that a sign not more than five feet in width may be not more than 12 feet in height.
3.
The area of the trim or framing of such sign shall be not more than 20% of the sign area as defined in § 30-3.
4.
That there shall be not more than one such sign per side or front of the building.
5.
The sign may be lighted by light sources above or below provided the light sources are concealed.
d.
A point of sale sign may be erected on any property in the business zone owned by the proprietor of a business in this municipality, although not adjacent to the property on which the business advertised thereon is conducted, provided that the sign conforms with the provisions of this chapter and provided further that such point of sale sign may only be used for the purpose of advertising the proprietor's business.
e.
Signs identifying or directing persons to a parking area provided by the owner of a business or professional office for the use of customers, clients, or patients may be displayed on the premises in addition to those permitted by the foregoing regulations provided that not more than one directional sign and one identifying sign be used for this purpose, and further providing that neither of such signs exceed six square feet in area.
f.
Any other provision to the contrary notwithstanding the total area for signs for property utilized as a dual commercial use, shall not exceed the area for signs permitted on property utilized as a commercial and residential use.
g.
No sign shall be erected, used or maintained which, in any way, simulates official, directional or warning signs erected or maintained by the State of New Jersey, County of Ocean or Borough of Surf City thereof, or by any public utility or similar agency concerned with the protection of the public health or safety.
h.
Sandwich board, A-frame and chalkboard type signs shall be permitted, but shall be limited to no more than one per business, not to exceed six square feet and shall be further limited to advertising the hours of the business, daily specials or sale of items specifically sold within the business location. Such sign shall not be placed in a location that will block or impede the sidewalk and must be removed each night upon the closing of operations.
i.
Flags and feather flags shall be limited to one flag for every 25 feet of street frontage and shall not be placed in the right of way or in a location that will block or imped the sidewalk. All such flags and feather flags must be removed each night upon the closing of operations. National flags and flags of political subdivisions shall not be considered flags for the purpose of this section.
j.
The Borough of Surf City assumes no responsibility or liability for any accident or injury resulting from the placement of any sign, flag, banner, sandwich style board, etc.
k.
Special event signs may be permitted upon receipt of a permit issued by the Zoning Official to non profit public service organizations such as the Volunteer Fire Department and/or emergency service organization.
l.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter to the contrary, places of worship located in the B-Business Zone shall be exempt from the provisions of this section pertaining to signs.