A. 
No sign or advertising structure shall be erected, altered, located, relocated or maintained within the City of Long Branch except in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
No sign or advertising structure exceeding six square feet in area shall be erected or created until a permit has been secured as provided for in § 284-15.
C. 
No sign or advertising structure shall be erected, placed, maintained, lighted or of such a color so that it impedes, interferes with or distracts from the operation of any traffic control light or sign, official traffic directional sign or other traffic safety or control device or general traffic safety.
D. 
No sign or advertising structure shall be erected, maintained or lighted in a manner to interfere with traffic upon any public right-of-way or the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of any adjacent property.
E. 
No sign or advertising structure shall be erected or maintained in other than a safe condition or be maintained in a state of disrepair.
F. 
No sign or advertising structure shall include any flashing, blinking or series lights or any rotating or moving parts.
G. 
No sign or advertising structure shall be erected or used upon the top or roof of any building, and no sign or advertising structure attached to a building shall project higher than the roofline of that building.
H. 
No sign shall be painted directly on the wall of any building without the use of an advertising structure.
I. 
No sign shall be placed or maintained on a utility pole.
J. 
No sign in the City of Long Branch regulated under the provisions of this chapter shall exceed a height of 30 feet, measured from the ground to the top of the sign structure.
K. 
No sign shall restrict vision other than by structural supports within the area between two feet above the ground and six feet above the ground when such sign is within 30 feet of any street line or public right-of-way.
L. 
A sign shall be measured at the outer edges of the sign structure. In the case of a wall sign not mounted on a single sign structure or of a sign of irregular shape, the area of the smallest regular rectangle encompassing all component parts of the sign shall be the area of the sign.
M. 
On corner lots any combination of signs permitted may be erected on each side of a building or in yard area fronting on a public street.
N. 
All signs shall be designed according to the best accepted engineering practice. If attached to a building, the loads shall be distributed to the structure so that no members thereof shall be overstressed.
O. 
All supports and brackets for signs suspended from or supported upon a building shall be constructed of metal not less than one-fourth-inch thick if not galvanized and not less than three-sixteenths-inch thick if all members, including bolts and rivets, are galvanized.
P. 
All signs shall be securely attached to the building by means of metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws, provided that signs exceeding 50 pounds in weight shall be secured at both the top and bottom with metal shelf anchors.
Q. 
No signs or illustrations or symbols shall be placed so as to interfere with the opening of an exit door of any building or to obstruct any window opening of a room in a dwelling or to interfere with the use of any fire escape or to create a hazard to pedestrians.
R. 
All signs must be so installed and of such materials as to withstand a wind resistance of not less than 30 pounds per square foot.
S. 
No person shall interfere with any City official or employee entering upon any premises between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. for the purpose of examining any sign or advertising structure.
T. 
Public access signs.
[Added 7-25-2017 by Ord. No. 16-17]
(1) 
Definition. "Public access sign" shall be a posted sign indicating the public access point to, from and along tidal waterways and their shores within the City of Long Branch. Public Access signs shall list the location of the access point as well as any restrictions.
(2) 
Location. All public access signs shall be installed at the entrance of the designated access points as outlined in the Municipal Public Access Plan.
(3) 
Maintenance. All public access signs shall be maintained by the City of Long Branch Department of Public Works.
[Added 3-24-1998 by Ord. No. 7-98; amended 8-11-1998 by Ord. No. 24-98]
A. 
The designs, concepts and regulations contained in the Commercial Facade Design Kit[1] shall pertain to facades and signage in applications before the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Long Branch for new structures as well as renovations of old structures in an area east of the railroad tracks in the C-1 Zone of the City of Long Branch as defined in § 345-5 of Chapter 345 of Chapter 345, Zoning, and Zone Map which is also made a part of § 345-5.
[1]
Editor's Note: The kit is on file in the office of the City Clerk.
B. 
This section shall be read in conjunction with § 345-19.
C. 
The Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Long Branch shall consider the guidelines, concepts, regulations and information contained in the Commercial Facade Design Kit as to facades and signage for applications for new buildings as well as renovations of existing structures in an area east of the railroad tracks in the C-1 Zone of the City of Long Branch.
The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. 
Temporary window signs located and displayed inside business or industrial buildings, provided that they do not occupy or cover more than 25% of the window area of that wall.
B. 
Official signs.
C. 
Theater bills and changeable copy signs. The changing of bills of acts and features of theaters on established frames at such theaters and changing the copy of any authorized changeable copy sign, the wording of which does not conflict with these regulations.
D. 
Billboard advertising. Changing of matter advertised on authorized billboards and poster panels.
E. 
Signs within a building. A sign located within a building, not attached directly to or painted on a window and not located within 18 inches of a window or entrance.
F. 
Show cards. No more than two show cards not to exceed 28 inches by 22 inches, advertising matters of current public interest, may be placed or displayed in show windows of occupied business establishments for a period not exceeding 30 days.
G. 
Political signs; subject, however, to the following restrictions:
[Amended 7-14-1983 by Ord. No. 1110; 3-11-1986 by Ord. No. 1267]
(1) 
Only one sign per candidate or public issue shall be allowed on each property. The one sign permitted may be two-sided. When one or more candidates run on a ticket, and have campaign signs printed jointly, that sign listing the names of the candidates on the ticket shall be considered the one sign permissible for the ticket.
(2) 
No political sign may be erected more than 45 days prior to an election and must be removed no later than 10 days after an election.
(3) 
No political signs may be placed on or attached to any public property, utility pole, traffic sign or street corner marker.
(4) 
No person shall place or attach any political signs on or to any occupied private property without first obtaining the permission of the property owner of that property.
(5) 
No person shall place or attach any political sign on or to any vacant property or unoccupied or abandoned buildings or structures without first obtaining the written permission of the owner of that property, building or structure.
H. 
Vacated property. On vacated property, one sign not to exceed six square feet in area, giving the name, business and new address of the former occupant, may be displayed for not more than 60 days.
I. 
Marquee signs or any other signs, banners or devices for which special permission may be granted by resolution of the City Council in each instance.
J. 
Church bulletins which do not exceed 20 square feet in area for each church.
K. 
For the purpose of advertising matters of a public, semipublic or charitable character, temporary permits may be granted at the discretion of the City.
L. 
Banners, streamers and advertising flags to advertise openings and sale days, provided that such devices shall not be displayed on any one property for more than 30 days in any calendar year.