No sign shall be placed, constructed, or erected or modified unless a sign permit shall have been obtained from the Zoning Officer and, where required by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, a building permit shall have been obtained from the Construction Official. Signs which are not specifically allowed by this subsection shall be prohibited.

A Master Signage Plan shall accompany:

The Master Signage Plan graphically depicting the sign shall be prepared by the applicant or a sign professional. The Master Sign Plan application shall include a sketch or photograph showing the dimensions of each facade, window and canopy of the building to which a sign is to be attached, in sufficient detail to clearly indicate the location, dimension and area of all existing and proposed permanent signs affixed to the walls, windows and canopies of the building. These dimensions shall either be shown on the sketch or photograph or on an attached table. Samples of construction materials shall be submitted.

In the case of a freestanding sign, a plot plan of the lot shall be required as part of the Master Signage Plan, showing the location of buildings, parking lots, driveways, landscaped areas and all other existing and proposed signs.

Whenever a Master Signage Plan is filed with the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Adjustment, a plot plan as described in this section shall be required for all applications, and all plans and drawings which comprise a part of the Master Signage Plan shall be prepared by a licensed architect, engineer and/or land surveyor, as appropriate.

The applicant shall provide any additional information which may be deemed necessary to determine whether the signage plan complies with the purpose of the sign regulations.

When installation or modification of a sign has been approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment as part of a development application, the Construction Official shall issue a sign permit only if the proposed sign is consistent with the reviewing board's approval.

Where the sign being requested conforms in every way with the provisions of this Chapter, site plan approval is not required. The Zoning Officer shall review the application and, if all provisions of the ordinance are met, the Zoning Officer may issue the permit. In the event the proposed sign does not conform to the provisions of this Chapter, or in the event there is a request for signage that raises questions, interpretation of the ordinance, or similar issues, the Zoning Officer shall not approve the application, but instead, shall refer the application to the appropriate Board for review and action.

Existing Sign Maintenance and Changes to Contents. Preexisting permanent signs may be maintained and the sign lettering and artwork may be changed or altered, provided that no structural changes involving enlargement or change in dimension, material, character, location, or illumination are made and a permit is issued by the Zoning Officer.

A permit to erect or maintain a sign may be revoked by the Zoning Officer for any one or more of the following causes:

No permit will be revoked for any of said causes until a ten-day notice has been given the permittee, which ten-day notice shall be served either personally or by first class mail. Any permittee will be given a hearing thereon by the Zoning Officer if promptly requested, in writing, addressed to the Zoning Officer within five days of notification.

As soon as a permit for a sign is revoked, the permittee shall remove the sign, advertising structure or space within 10 working days of written notification, unless an appeal is initiated within 30 calendar days.

A permit to erect or maintain a sign may be denied for any one or more of the following:

Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state, county or local law, regulation or ordinance.

Any sign which is inside a building, not attached to a window or door, and is not readable from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the lot or parcel nearest to where such sign is located.

Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message.

Traffic control signs on private property, the face of which meets the Department of Transportation standard, and which contain no commercial message of any sort.

Flags of the United States, New Jersey, the Borough of Tinton Falls, foreign nations having diplomatic relations with the United States, other flags adopted or sanctioned by an elective legislative body of competent jurisdiction and flags flown in conjunction with the flag of the United States. In residential districts the flag pole may not exceed a height of 20 feet with a maximum flag size three feet by five feet. In nonresidential districts the flag pole may not exceed a height of 45 feet with a maximum flag size four feet by six feet. The statutory requirements associated with flags and generally accepted standards of flag display etiquette shall be observed. Setbacks for flagpoles shall be as follows:

Signs or banners advertising Borough sponsored events that are posted with the permission of the Borough Council or of any person to whom the Borough Council has delegated this authority according to guidelines set by the Borough Council.

Pump mounted fuel price informational signs subject to the following:

U.S. Postal regulation mailboxes.

Measurement of Area of Individual Signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, graphic illustration, picture, symbol or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the sign and used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets zoning regulations and is clearly incidental to the sign itself. No sign shall have more than two display faces. The sign area for a sign with two faces shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When a sign having two faces is such that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of the larger of the two faces. Signs which are required by county, state or federal agencies are exempt from calculation of permanent and temporary signage up to the minimum size required by such agencies. The area of the sign in excess of the minimum shall be subject to the sign calculation. In the event that no size requirement is imposed by such agency, the sign shall not exceed one square foot.

Measurement of Height. The height of a freestanding sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of existing grade prior to construction or the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavation solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public road or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the lot, whichever is lower.

Signs shall be in harmony and consistent with the architecture of the building and relate to the features of the building in terms of location, scale, color, lettering, materials, texture and depth. Signs shall not be dominant but shall be proportionate and shall complement the building, existing signs and surroundings.

There shall be consistent sign design throughout a particular project. The design elements include style of lettering, construction material, size and illumination.

Freestanding signs shall be integrated with the landscaping on site.

No signs shall be erected, placed on, or attached to a structure or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted business or use conducted on the same premises. Signage for a business or other purpose located off-site is not permitted.

Signs shall be considered accessory uses in all zones and shall be subordinate to a use on the same property.

No sign except infrastructure and traffic control devices of a duly constituted government shall be erected within the public street right-of-way. No sign shall be placed upon any property without the consent of the property owner.

No sign shall be erected so that any part of the sign or its supporting members project over a permitted setback line or height limit.

Signs shall be either freestanding or attached to a building in an approved manner. Freestanding signs shall be supported by one, but not more than two, columns or uprights firmly imbedded in the ground. Exposed guy wires, braces or other connections shall not be permitted.

Wall signs shall not obscure, conflict with or cover any architectural element and must be aligned with major building elements such as windows, trim and structure lines.

No sign shall extend or project above the highest elevation of the wall to which it is attached or above the lowest part of the roofline of the building, whichever is less. Where signs project beyond a building facade or wall over a pedestrian way, the lowest part of the sign shall be at least eight feet above the walkway.

Wall, facia or attached signs shall be firmly attached to the exterior wall of a building and shall not project more than 15 inches.

No electric wiring associated with a sign shall be visible to public view.

Illuminated Signs.

No billboards shall be erected, used or maintained within the Borough of Tinton Falls; provided, however, that this regulation shall not apply to temporary signs, otherwise permitted by this subsection, that advertise special events sponsored by nonprofit social, religious, political or cultural organizations or institutions.

No signs shall be attached to trees, fence posts, stumps, utility poles, water towers, storage tanks, chimneys, smoke stacks, radio towers, antennae, or similar structures.

No roof sign, known also as a "sky sign," shall be allowed.

No sign shall be placed on an accessory building.

No sign shall be lighted by means of a flashing light, nor shall any sign utilize red, green, blue or amber illumination in a beam, light, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location.

No sign shall be allowed with optical illusion of movement by means of a design which presents a pattern capable of reverse perspective, giving the illusion of motion or changing of copy. Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement, or to emit a sound, are prohibited, with the exception of signs which alternately show the time of day and temperature by lighted numbers where each sequence remains fixed for at least four seconds.

No commercial sign shall be allowed in a window which serves a residential use. Signs such as, but not limited to, various professional services, piano tuning, lawn care, house painting, and home repairs when those signs are located on residential properties where the sign advertises the occupation of the resident, but the business and/or service is conducted at another location are prohibited.

No signs shall be allowed on any street furniture.

The use and display of temporary portable signs or windsocks, kites, banners or strings or streamers of flags, pennants or spinners or similar objects and devices across, upon, over or along any premises or building, whether as part of any sign or for advertising or public attraction, or otherwise, is prohibited in any zone, except for:

The parking of trucks, vans, trailers, and similar vehicles in locations other than the loading or parking spaces intended for those vehicles so that the vehicle and its permanent or temporary signage become an additional form of advertising when regularly parked to be in view of the general public who travels along one or more adjacent streets is prohibited.

No sign shall be allowed which obstructs any window or door opening used as a means of egress, interferes with an opening required for legal ventilation, or is attached to or obstructs any standpipe, fire escape or fire hydrant.

No sign shall be allowed which obstructs the view (sight triangle) of vehicle operators or pedestrians entering a public roadway from any parking area, service drive, public driveway, alley or other thoroughfare.

No trademarks or brand names on any sign (including umbrella signs) shall be allowed when the commodity is not available in the establishment.

No sign element shall be interpreted as part of the architectural element of the building.

No inflatable signs and tethered balloons shall be allowed, except decorative small balloons.

No neon or gas filled decorations which outline facade elements or windows are allowed.

Search lights are prohibited.

No temporary signs shall be allowed except as detailed below.

No sandwich board signs shall be permitted. Freestanding signs not permanently anchored into the ground such as tripods, A-frames, signs on trailers, or similar portable structures used as signs are prohibited.

Any sign having a message which in and of itself is lewd or licentious, or advocates an act in violation of any municipal, County, State or Federal law, shall be prohibited.

No nonconforming signs may be enlarged or altered in a way which would increase its nonconformity. Existing nonconforming permanent signs may continue to exist; however, when the sign is modified either in shape, size, illumination or structure, the sign shall be altered to conform to the provisions of this section.

Should any nonconforming sign be damaged by any means to an extent of more than 50% of its replacement cost at time of damage, it shall not be reconstructed except in conformity with the provisions of this section.

In the event a business ceases operation for a period of time in excess of 60 days, the sign owner or lessee, or the property owner, shall immediately remove any sign identifying or advertising said business or any product sold thereby. Upon failure of the sign owner or lessee, or property owner to comply with this section, the Zoning Officer shall issue a written notice to the sign owner or any lessee and to the property owner, which notice shall state that such sign shall be removed within the following time period:

If the sign owner or lessee, or property owner, fails to comply with such written notice to remove, the Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expenses incidental to such removal shall be charged to owner of the property upon which the sign is located and shall constitute a lien upon the property. For the purposes of this section, the word "remove" shall mean:

Signs in Residential Districts.

Signs for Public Uses, Including Libraries, Schools, Parks, Firehouses and Uses in All Districts.

Signs in Nonresidential Districts Except the HCC Highway/Community Commercial District.

Signs HCC Highway/Community Commercial District.

Wall signs shall be located between the top line of windows or doors on the first floor, and the bottom line of the second floor windows, roof, or cornice above, in an area that is uninterrupted by windows, architectural details, or openings.

Wall signs shall not project beyond the roof or sides of the building. Wall signs may not project more than six inches beyond the front surface of the building.

All signs, as part of a complex, shall be designed and constructed in such a way as to be harmonious and compatible with the complex and surrounding area. All signs will be properly located and designed as an integrated signage system.

Directional signs in parking areas or for the purpose of directing patrons to correct entrances shall be permitted, in addition to signs otherwise permitted as above, with no more than two such signs permitted, each such directional sign not to exceed two square feet.

No sign may be located closer to any side of a building than 10% of the linear front footage of the building.

Signs in Historic District. In addition to meeting the applicable requirements for signs set forth above, wall mounted signs in a historic district shall be consistent with the architectural features of the building, externally illuminated, and have approved colors for the period. Freestanding signs shall be constructed of wood, have routed letters, symbols and numbers painted in gold, and be externally illuminated.

Signs in Drive-Through Restaurants and other Drive-Through Facilities. Restaurants that meet the definition of restaurant, drive through or other retail facilities that offer drive through services, such as banks and financial institutions or pharmacies, where permitted, may display the following signs which are deemed customary and necessary to their respective businesses.

Temporary signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises upon which said sign has been erected or a sign indicating that said premises have been sold or rented, provided that:

Signs advertising political parties, propositions, referendums or candidates for election may be erected and maintained, provided that the size of any such sign is not in excess of six square feet in size and three feet in height. A maximum of one political sign per property is permitted. Political signs may be posted 30 days prior to Election Day and must be removed within seven days after Election Day. All political signs must be located so as not to obstruct sight triangles. Political signs are not permitted on publicly owned property.

Grand Opening Signs. A temporary sign announcing the future opening of a shopping center shall be permitted, provided the sign not to exceed 300 square feet nor shall any portion of the sign be greater than 12 feet in height or closer than 10 feet to any property line, for a period not to exceed six months next preceding the opening of the center. Opening of the center, as used herein, shall be deemed the anticipated date of issuance of a certificate of occupancy. No such sign shall be allowed after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Special Event Signs.

Directional Signs. Signs containing street number designations, household nameplates, postal boxes, historical markers, directional signs and advisory signs, such as but not limited to "private property," "no soliciting," "no trespassing," "warning dog," shall be permitted provided that they do not exceed two square feet in size.

Contractors Performing a Service On Site. Contractors performing a service on site shall be permitted to place a temporary sign on the property during the time their work is actively being performed at the site. Said signs would be contractors such as, but not limited to, painters, carpenters, electricians, remodeling, and roofing. The sign shall not be lighted, shall not exceed 16 square feet, and shall not be located in a sight triangle or on any part of a public right-of-way.

Window Signs in Retail Establishments. Retail establishments shall be allowed temporary window signs for products and services offered on site, provided the windows remain 50% free of obstruction. This shall include neon signs that are nonpermanent and removable, subject to the same 50% restriction.