Wood Ridge City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Signs
§ 530-53 Outdoor signs.
A.
No billboards shall be erected.
B.
No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic direction and identification signs and places of business.
C.
No signs of any type shall be permitted to be flashing or revolving.
D.
Existing signs as of the date of this amendment are allowed to continue.
[Added 6-17-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-9]
§ 530-54 Animated or flashing signs.
Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to display flashing, movement or an illusion of movement are prohibited.
§ 530-55 Height restrictions.
No freestanding or attached sign shall exceed the maximum height permitted in the district. In any event, a sign shall not exceed any lesser height if specified elsewhere in this chapter and shall not be higher at any point than the roofline of the building if it is attached to the building.
§ 530-56 Light and glare; illuminated signs.
A.
Where permitted, signs shall be so arranged that light and glare shall reflect and shine away from adjoining premises in any residential district and away from all adjoining highways.
B.
Illuminated signs shall comply with the National Electrical Code and shall not be erected without a building permit.
§ 530-57 Maintenance.
Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.
§ 530-58 Real estate signs.
A.
A sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or portion thereof shall be, if not attached to the building, set back at least 10 horizontal feet from all street lines. Such residential signs shall not exceed two square feet on each side. Commercial or industrial signs shall not exceed 25 square feet on each side and shall be removed at the expense of the advertiser within 30 days after the termination or completion of the matter of business being advertised. All such signs do not need a building permit.
B.
Directional residential real estate open house signs shall be permitted in any zone within the Borough of Wood-Ridge, notwithstanding any other provisions in this chapter restricting the placement or size of such signs, but nevertheless only under the following terms and conditions:
[Added 9-18-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-9]
(1)
For the purposes of this subsection, "directional residential real estate open house signs" shall be defined as temporary signage placed either upon private property with the permission of the owner of that property or within the public right-of-way, in either event under the conditions hereinafter set forth and in accordance with laws, ordinances and regulations governing public rights-of-way, which said signs are limited in language to so much as may be reasonably necessary to give notice to the public of residential property that is then being offered for sale and upon which there is or will be conducted an open house for the purpose of promoting such sale; to give notice of the location and times of such open house; and to give notice of the name and address of the licensed real estate broker conducting such open house or the fact that such open house is being conducted by the owner intending to sell the premises.
(2)
Size. The total face area of such signs shall not exceed a maximum of 24 inches measured horizontally and 24 inches measured vertically.
(3)
Heights. The vertical distance measured from ground level to the highest point of such sign or sign structure or other support shall not exceed three feet.
(4)
Local address. Such signs shall only advertise a residence within the Borough of Wood-Ridge.
(5)
Limit. There shall be permitted no more than three such signs per each property for sale, one located on the subject property and two located off site; all three shall be in accordance with the terms hereof.
(6)
Type. Signs shall be mounted either on stakes placed in the ground or with an A-frame support of sufficient weight so that said signs remain upright when mounted. Signs and any supporting structures shall be maintained in good condition at all times and shall be constructed of quality materials normally utilized in a professional signage setting.
(7)
Location. No sign shall be placed:
(a)
On any trees, traffic signs or utility poles, nor be placed in such a manner as to obstruct the view of any official public sign.
(b)
On a right-of-way if the location is determined by the Police Department of the Borough to obstruct the safe and convenient use by the public of any street, sidewalk, or curbside parkway area or obstruct the necessary vision of motorists.
(c)
In any roadway area or center median area.
(d)
At any location whereby the clear space for the passageway of pedestrians is reduced to a width that violates the American with Disabilities Act.
(e)
On any street undergoing construction or on any streets upon which there is being conducted a special event or parade duly authorized by the Borough.
(f)
Within five feet of any of the following: driveway, traffic signal, traffic sign, designated bus stop sign, bus bench or any other bench on the sidewalk.
(g)
In front of any traffic sign so as to obstruct the view of that traffic sign.
(h)
Within such proximity to any traffic sign so that any attachment to such real estate sign, such as balloons or streamers, may obstruct the view of that traffic sign.
(i)
Anywhere within five feet of any traffic sign.
(8)
Time. Such signs shall be displayed only during the open house and only on Saturdays and Sundays (or federal or state holidays) and not earlier than 11:00 a.m. on that day, and the same must be removed no later than 5:00 p.m. on said day.
(9)
Permit. No real estate broker/sales agent or property owner may place a sign in the public right-of-way without obtaining an open house real estate sign permit from the Borough. Such permits shall be issued by the Borough Clerk upon the completion of an application in a form said Clerk shall provide and only upon the payment of the permit fee hereinafter required.
(a)
Permittee. The permittee must be either the owner of the property or a licensed real estate broker/sales agent of the State of New Jersey who shall execute an application agreeing to comply with the within regulations and who shall pay an annual permit fee in the sum of $100.
(b)
Insurance. The permittee shall provide proof of and shall maintain in force policies of insurance or certificates thereof reflecting comprehensive public liability insurance in a combined single limit of at least $1,000,000.
(c)
Annual permit. A permit shall issue on an annual basis from January 1 to the following December 31 of any year.
(d)
Decal required. Each sign placed in the public right-of-way shall possess a real estate open house sign decal thereon, indicating the name and address of the permittee.
(10)
Any sign installed, placed or disposed of in violation of this section may be removed by the Borough and placed in storage; provided, however, that any sign determined to have a replacement value of less than $25 may be immediately disposed of by Borough personnel. The owner of any sign determined to have a replacement value of $25 or more shall be properly notified verbally or in writing. Any said sign shall be disposed of without further notice to such owner upon failure of the owner to claim such sign and pay the expenses of removal and storage within 30 days after removal.
§ 530-59 Measurement of sign area.
Sign area shall be measured around the edges of a framed or enclosed sign or by the area utilized by isolated words or symbols, including the background, whether open or enclosed, but the area shall not include any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself.
§ 530-60 Unobstructed line of sight required.
Signs and sign structures of all types shall be set back or elevated sufficiently to allow a clear, unobstructed line of sight from the stop line of intersecting streets and driveways for at least 300 feet along all abutting streets and highways.
§ 530-61 Area measurement for signs with two exposures.
Signs with two exposures shall be measured for area by using the surface area of one side of the sign only. Both sides may be used.
§ 530-62 Schedule of sign regulations.
[Amended 10-20-1986 by Ord. No. 86-16; 6-17-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-9[1]]
The schedule of sign regulations contained in this section is hereby made a part of this chapter.
A.
One- and two-family dwellings. Street number designations, postal boxes, signs posting property as private property or similar purposes are permitted.
B.
Professional offices in one- and two-family dwellings. Professional occupations may be permitted one lighted sign, nonflashing and not to exceed six square feet in area.
C.
Churches, public uses, funeral parlors and multifamily buildings. Churches and public uses may be permitted one lighted sign, nonflashing and not to exceed eight square feet in area.
D.
Retail stores, business and personal services, offices, theaters, restaurants, cleaning establishments, printing establishments and shopping centers (GB).
(1)
Not more than one sign shall be permitted for each tenant on the premises on each entry wall fronting on a street.
(2)
The maximum height shall not exceed two feet, and the maximum width shall not exceed 90% of the width of the storefront.
(3)
Such sign or signs shall be parallel to the face of the building, and no part thereof, including any illuminating devices, shall project more than 12 inches beyond the face of the wall to which applied nor any distance beyond or above the building in any other direction.
(4)
In addition, where the building is set back from the street line a distance of 25 feet or more, not more than one freestanding sign, with a total area of not more than 40 square feet, may be erected.
E.
Industrial, offices, manufacturing, warehousing and office research facilities.
(1)
Only signs related to the use on the premises are permitted and in accordance with this article and the following:
(a)
Directional signs may be permitted as approved on the site plan and are not considered part of the minimum sign area.
(b)
One freestanding sign may be erected. It may have interior lighting, be not more than six feet high, be not more than six feet long, have not more than two sides and be set back at least 1/2 the distance of the required building setback from the future street right-of-way.
(c)
One attached sign may be erected, either lighted or unlighted, provided that the area of the sign does not exceed the equivalent of 5% of the area of the wall on which it is attached or 150 square feet, whichever is smaller. Where an attached sign is provided, the building may not be illuminated.
(2)
Buildings themselves may be illuminated in lieu of an attached sign outlined in Subsection E(1)(c) above.
(3)
In addition, where the building is set back from the street line a distance of 25 feet or more, not more than one freestanding sign with a total area of not more than 40 square feet may be erected.
F.
Hotels.
(1)
One freestanding monument sign with a maximum sign area of 72 square feet and not to exceed 15 feet in height shall be permitted.
(2)
Two wall-mounted signs may be erected, either lighted or unlighted. The wall-mounted signs shall not exceed 5% of the area of the front facade wall.
(3)
Buildings themselves may be illuminated by indirect lighting.
G.
Catering halls.
(1)
One freestanding monument sign with a maximum sign area of 72 square feet and not to exceed 15 feet in height shall be permitted.
(2)
Four wall-mounted signs may be erected, either lighted or unlighted. No one wall-mounted sign shall exceed 5% of the area of the front facade wall.
(3)
One directional sign with a maximum sign area of 80 square feet shall be permitted.
(4)
Buildings themselves may be illuminated by indirect lighting.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
