A.
Permits for signs. Except for temporary, safety, traffic
directions and warning signs not exceeding four square feet permitted
in all zones and signs as required by any provision of law, no sign
shall be constructed or displayed unless a permit shall have first
been obtained from the Construction Code Official.
B.
Prohibited signs.
(1)
Advertising billboard signs shall not be permitted
in any zone.
(2)
Moving, fluttering or rotating signs, including streamers,
pennants and similar displays, are not permitted in any zone.
(3)
Signs which might be mistaken for a traffic light
or similar safety device or which might interfere with traffic visibility
are not permitted in any zone.
(4)
Flashing signs.
[Added 6-25-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-06]
The following types of signs shall be permitted
in all zones:
A.
Nameplate and identification signs for single- or
multifamily dwellings. A sign indicating the name of the occupant
may be permitted, provided that the sign shall be no larger than two
square feet. A permitted home occupation may be included with the
name of the occupant. Only one sign per dwelling unit is permitted
in addition to a mailbox identification sign.
B.
Sales or rental signs. Signs advertising the sale
or rental of the premises upon which they are located may be permitted,
provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sale or rental sign shall not
exceed eight square feet.
(2)
Not more than one sign is placed upon any property
per road frontage.
(3)
Such sign shall be properly removed when premises
are sold or rented.
(4)
Developments with four or more homes for sale or commercial
properties may be advertised on a sign not to exceed 32 square feet.
One such sign shall be permitted on each frontage if the development
fronts on more than one street. All development signs shall be removed
when 95% of the lots have been initially sold.
C.
Golf course/clubhouse: one unlighted freestanding
sign not exceeding 20 square feet in area and not exceeding eight
feet in height at each public access drive.
[Added 8-24-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-05]
D.
Institutional signs.
(1)
Signs of schools, churches and other institutions
of a similar public or semipublic nature may be erected and maintained,
provided that the size of any freestanding sign shall not exceed 30
square feet and not more than one such sign is placed on a property,
unless the property fronts on more than one street, in which instance
a sign may be erected on each frontage.
(2)
A sign affixed to the facade of a structure shall
be permitted, provided that the sign shall not exceed 5% of the building
facade.
E.
Permitted farming uses may display one freestanding
identification sign not exceeding nine square feet in area, designating
the name of the use and the address and name of the owner. The sign
may be placed in the front yard but not closer than 15 feet to any
street, right-of-way or property line.
F.
Preserved farmland.
[Added 8-2-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-06]
(1)
Owners of land permanently preserved through the state
Farmland Preservation Program shall be allowed to place, on the preserved
property, one sign identifying the property as "Preserved Farmland."
(2)
The signs to be used shall be limited to those provided
by the State of New Jersey to be obtained from the State Agriculture
Development Committee in conjunction with the state Farmland Preservation
Program.
(3)
Any such signs shall be placed in accordance with the requirements and restrictions of Subsection E of this section. Subsection E shall only govern with regard to the placement of the signs, as the size of such signs shall be in conformance with the standards provided by the State Agriculture Development Committee.
Signs in the C Commercial Zone shall be regulated
as follows:
A.
Business signs. No business or other establishment
shall be allowed a total of more than two signs.
B.
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted on each commercial
building wall that faces on a street, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Not more than one wall sign on each wall shall be
permitted for each business establishment or use located in the building.
(2)
No such sign shall extend further than six inches
from the face of the building wall to which it is attached.
(3)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least eight feet
above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign if it extends more
than three inches from the face of the building wall.
(4)
The height of any such sign shall not exceed five
feet or 20% of the height of the building wall to which it is attached,
whichever is the lesser.
(5)
The total of the widths of any such signs shall not
exceed 50% of the width of the building wall to which they are attached.
(6)
The total area of any such signs shall not exceed
10% of the area of the building wall, including window area, to which
they are attached. In addition, the maximum permitted sign area for
wall signs shall be reduced by the area of any projecting ground signs.
C.
Projecting signs. Not more than one projecting sign
shall be permitted for each commercial building, subject to the following
limitations and requirements:
D.
Roof signs. Provided that there are no wall signs,
a sign may be erected on sloping roofs, including gambrel and mansard
roofs, or on roof fascias, overhangs and marquees, subject to the
following limitations and requirements:
(1)
Only one such sign shall be erected on a building.
(2)
The top of the sign shall be located at least one
foot below the highest point of the building.
(3)
The height of the sign shall not exceed five feet
or 20% of the height of the building, whichever is less.
(4)
The width of the sign shall not exceed 75% of the
width of the roof or other structure to which it is attached.
(5)
The area of the sign shall not exceed 10% of the area
of a vertical plane incorporating the building wall and any sloping
roof. In addition, the maximum permitted area of any such sign shall
be reduced by the area of any projecting and in-ground signs.
E.
Ground signs. Provided that there is no projecting
sign, one ground sign shall be permitted for each commercial building,
subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall extend more than eight feet above
the ground level below the sign.
(2)
No such sign shall exceed a width of six feet.
(3)
Said sign shall be at least 15 feet from a street,
right-of-way or property line.
(4)
Said sign shall be at least 50 feet from the point
of intersection of any two street lines.
F.
Freestanding signs. Provided that there is no ground
sign or projecting sign, a commercial property having a street frontage
of at least 300 feet shall be permitted one freestanding sign, subject
to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
Said sign shall contain only the name of the commercial
property or facility or the brand or manufacturer's name of the principal
product sold or other service rendered.
(2)
The top of the sign shall not extend more than 15
feet above the ground surface below the sign.
(3)
The total area of the sign shall not exceed 30 square
feet.
(4)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least 10 feet above
the ground level below the sign.
(5)
Subject to other requirements, one sign for each business
establishment located on the premises may be suspended below the principal
sign surface. Each such subsign shall contain only the name of the
business establishment and shall not exceed one foot in height and
five feet in width.
G.
Covered-walk signs. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions, a commercial building containing a canopy or overhang
along the building wall and over a sidewalk shall be permitted one
sign suspended from or attached to the ceiling of the canopy or overhang
for each business establishment, subject to the following limitations
and requirements:
(1)
Said sign shall be located in front of the commercial
establishment.
(2)
Said sign shall be erected perpendicular to the face
of the building wall.
(3)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least eight feet
above the sidewalk below the sign.
(4)
The sign shall not extend beyond the canopy or overhang.
(5)
The sign shall not exceed 10 inches in height nor
four feet in width.
(6)
The sign shall contain only the name of the commercial
establishment or the name of the principal product sold or service
rendered.
[Added 8-3-1979]
Signs in the NB Neighborhood Business Zone shall
be regulated as follows:
A.
Business signs. No business or other establishment
shall be allowed a total of more than two signs. Internally illuminated
or neon signs shall not be allowed. Signs may be indirectly lighted.
B.
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted on any business
building wall that faces on a street, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Not more than one wall sign on each wall shall be
permitted for each business establishment or use located in the building.
(2)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least four feet
above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign if it extends more
than three inches from the face of the building wall.
(3)
The height of any such sign shall not exceed three
feet.
(4)
The total width of any such sign shall not exceed
five feet.
(5)
The total area of any such signs shall not exceed
15 square feet. In addition, the maximum permitted sign area for wall
signs shall be reduced by the area of any projecting and ground signs.
C.
Projecting signs. Not more than one projecting sign
shall be permitted for each business building, subject to the following
limitations and requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall project more than four feet from
the building wall to which it is attached.
(2)
The bottom of said sign shall be at least eight feet
above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign.
(3)
The height of the sign shall not exceed three feet,
the width shall not exceed five feet and the area shall not exceed
15 square feet.
D.
Ground signs. Provided that there is no projecting
sign, one ground sign shall permitted for each business building,
subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall extend more than five feet above
the ground level below the sign.
(2)
No such sign shall exceed a width of five feet, a
height of three feet nor an area of 15 square feet.
(3)
Said sign shall be at leas 15 feet from a street,
right-of-way or property line.
(4)
Said sign shall be at least 50 feet from the point
of intersection of any two street lines.
E.
Freestanding signs. Provided that there is no ground
sign or projecting sign, a business property shall be permitted one
freestanding sign, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1)
Said sign shall contain only the name of the business
property or facility or the brand or manufacturer's name of the principal
product sold or other service rendered.
(2)
The top of the sign shall not extend more than eight
feet above the ground surface below the sign.
(3)
The total area of the sign shall not exceed 15 square
feet, its width shall not exceed five feet and its height shall not
exceed three feet, not including any supports.
(4)
The bottom of the sign shall be at least three feet
above the ground level below the sign.
(5)
Subject to other requirements, one sign for each business
establishment located on the premises may be suspended below the principal
sign surface. Each such subsign shall contain only the name of the
business establishment and shall not exceed one foot in height and
five feet in width.
[Added 3-29-2018 by Ord.
No. 2018-07; amended 12-13-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-18]
Signs in the MF Multifamily Housing Zone shall be regulated
as follows:
A.
Ground sign. One ground sign shall be permitted per parcel, subject
to the following limitations:
B.
Temporary signs. Temporary signs shall be permitted identifying the
owner, architect, builder, realtor and/or contractor on the premises
on which a building is being constructed, altered or repaired, subject
to the following limitations:
[Added 3-29-2018 by Ord.
No. 2018-06; amended 12-13-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-19]
Signs in the MXD Mixed-Use Development Overlay Zone shall be
regulated as follows:
[Added 11-12-2020 by Ord.
No. 2020-12]
Signs in the VB Village District Zone shall be regulated as
follows:
A.
No business or other establishment shall be allowed a total of more
than two signs. Internally illuminated or neon signs shall not be
allowed. Signs may be indirectly lighted.
B.
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted on any business building wall
that faces on a street, subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Not more than one wall sign on each wall shall be permitted
for each business establishment or use located in the building.
(2)
The bottom of the signs shall be at least four feet above the
ground level or sidewalk below the sign if it extends more than three
inches from the face of the building wall.
(3)
The height of any such sign shall not exceed three feet.
(4)
The total width of any such sign shall not exceed five feet.
(5)
The total area of any such sign shall not exceed 15 square feet.
C.
Projecting signs. Not more than one projecting sign shall be permitted
for each business building, subject to the following limitations and
requirements:
(1)
No such sign shall project more than four feet from the building
wall to which it is attached.
(2)
The bottom of sign shall be at least eight feet above the ground
level or sidewalk below the sign.
(3)
The height of the sign shall not exceed three feet, the width
shall not exceed five feet and the area shall not exceed 15 square
feet.
D.
Ground signs. Ground signs are permitted subject to the following
limitations:
(1)
The principal building must be set back at least 50 feet from
the right-of-way.
(2)
No such sign shall extend more than five feet above the ground
level below the sign.
(3)
No such sign shall exceed a width of five feet, a height of
three feet nor an area of 15 square feet.
(4)
Said sign shall be at least 10 feet from a street, right-of-way
or property line.
(5)
Said sign shall be at least 50 feet from the point of intersection
of any two street lines.
A.
Application. Application for a sign permit shall be
made by the owner or the person responsible for the erection, and
both shall be responsible for compliance with the terms. Application
shall be made on forms available from the Construction Code Official,
accompanied by the appropriate fee therefor.
B.
Issuance of permit. The Construction Code Official
shall examine the application and other data regarding the premises
upon which it is proposed to erect a sign, and if it appears to be
in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and other
laws and ordinances, the Township shall then issue the sign permit,
along with a tag to be attached to the sign. The permit shall be issued
or denied within 45 days of application.
C.
Duration of permit. If the work authorized under the
sign permit has not been completed within four months after date of
issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
Whenever in the opinion of the Construction
Code Official any sign becomes unsafe or endangers the safety of the
building or premises or the public safety, the Construction Code Official
shall send a certified letter to the owner of the sign or the premises
on which the sign is located, ordering that the sign be made safe
or be removed within five days of receipt of the letter. If the sign
is not removed or repaired within 30 days after the notice, the sign
may be removed, altered or repaired, in order to comply with the Construction
Code Official, at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property
on which the sign is located. The Construction Code Official may cause
any sign or sign structure to be removed summarily and without written
notice if it is an immediate peril to persons or property by virtue
of its construction or moorings.
Any sign now or hereafter existing which no
longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold
or is not used for a permitted use hereunder shall be taken down and
removed by the permittee, owner or agent or person having the beneficial
use of the building or structure or land upon which the sign is located
within 10 days after written notification from the Construction Code
Official, and upon failure to comply with such notice, the Construction
Code Official is hereby authorized to cause removal of the sign, and
any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the permittee or owner
of the building or structure to which the sign is attached.
The failure to keep a nonconforming sign painted
or in good repair for a period of six months shall constitute abandonment,
and such sign may not be reused and must be removed.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. IX, Board of Adjustment,
which previously followed this section, was repealed 2-10-2005 by
Ord. No. 2005-02. This ordinance transferred the powers previously
exercised by the Board of Adjustment to the Planning Board, which
is now referred to as the “Land Use Board.” References
to the Planning Board throughout this chapter and the Code of the
Township of Franklin have been changed to the Land Use Board. References
to the Board of Adjustment have been deleted.
