The following temporary signs shall be permitted
in all districts of the Borough subject to general regulations applicable
to all signs.
A. Election, special election and referendum signs. Such
signs may be erected not more than three weeks prior to an election.
Election signs shall be removed within 48 hours after the completion
of the event. Signs shall not exceed six square feet on a side.
[Amended 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
B. Land development signs. Signs advertising the sale
of property or structures in developments of two or more lots and
signs advertising the opening or construction of a new business shall
be permitted for a period up to three months, or until the signing
of the contract or transaction of sale or lease of the last lot or
structure in the development. Signs shall not exceed six square feet
on a side.
C. "For Sale" and "For Rent" signs. One temporary sign
is permitted per lot for a lot not exceeding two acres. The sign may
contain the word "owner" and the telephone number, or alternatively,
it may identify by name and telephone number the New Jersey licensed
real estate broker, if any, given the right to sell or lease property
and/or the word "broker." The following additional criteria shall
apply:
(1) If relating to a residential lot or building, the sign shall not exceed four square feet in area on any one side. If relating to a lot or building, the sign shall not exceed two square feet for each foot of front wall width or six square feet, whichever is less, except as otherwise provided in Subsection
G, below.
[Amended 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
(2) The sign shall be removed from the premise within
two days after closing of sale or signing of lease for the premises.
(3) "Open House" signs are permitted for a forty-eight-hour
period immediately preceding the open house and must be removed within
24 hours from their original posting. Such signs are not to exceed
six square feet in size; one may be located on site, and up to three
may be located off site. No more than four such signs may be posted
in total.
[Amended 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
D. Banners on Main Street. Such banners are considered
temporary signs. Banners are subject to the general regulations regarding
temporary signs as well as the following additional regulations:
[Added 10-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-29]
(1) Only nonprofit organizations that benefit the Chesters
may apply for a permit to erect these banners.
(2) No more than two banners shall be allowed on Main
Street at any one time. No banner shall be attached to any utility
pole having a streetlight.
(3) Banners shall not be placed earlier than two weeks
before the event which they announce and shall be removed within five
days after the event has occurred.
(4) The dimensions shall not exceed four feet by 30 feet.
(5) A banner shall be removed immediately upon notice
to the permit holder from the Chief of Police that it has created
a traffic or other hazard.
(6) The organization applying for a banner permit shall
obtain the written consent to the placement of the banner from:
(a)
The Morris County Board of Freeholders;
(b)
Any utility or private owners included in suspending
the banner; and
(c)
Borough Zoning Officer or, in his absence, the
Police Chief.
(7) A certificate of insurance shall also be filed with
the Borough Clerk naming the Borough as an additional insured party.
(8) There shall be a fee of $50 for a permit to erect
the banner.
[Amended 6-6-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-14]
E. Nonprofit organizations.
[Amended 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
(1) Nonprofit
organizations may display no more than one sign per event on site
no earlier than two weeks before an event and must be removed within
24 hours after the event has occurred. A permit must be obtained from
the Borough Zoning Officer, and all fees may be waived. Such sign
shall not exceed 15 square feet.
(2) Nonprofit
organizations may additionally utilize up to four temporary lawn signs
on other property no earlier than one week before an event, and must
remove the same within 24 hours after the event has occurred. A permit
must be obtained from the Borough Zoning Officer and all fees may
be waived. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
F. Window signs. Establishments in business districts
shall be permitted temporary signs displayed in windows for the advertising
of community events and for advertising and promotion of special services
and goods available on the premises. Such signs shall not be placed
on doors and may only be located on the interior of the windows. The
total sign coverage cannot exceed 30% of the business's interior window.
Such temporary signs shall be permitted for no more than 30 days in
duration.
[Amended 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
G. "For Sale" or "Lease" signs for a commercial or industrial
site of over two acres. Such signs shall be permitted, provided that
they shall not exceed a total of 15 square feet in size and there
shall not be more than one sign on each street frontage of any parcel
of land.
H. Temporary signs identifying architect, builders, realtors
and contractors of premises. Only one sign per project is permitted
for a period not exceeding the time required for such construction
to be completed and such shall be removed within 48 hours after the
work is completed. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
The following signs shall be prohibited in all
zoning districts of the Borough:
A. Signs painted on exterior walls of any structure.
B. Signs higher than 30 feet.
C. Signs which impede, interfere with or distract from
the operation of any traffic control device.
D. With lights; exceptions.
[Amended 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
(1) Signs
which include any flashing, blinking of series lights or any rotating
or moving parts, or neon sign or signs containing reflective enhancing
materials. Exceptions are limited to traffic control and seasonal
decoration for the months of November through January.
(2) Interior
use of lit signs or lights within 15 feet from the exterior windows
and doors. Exceptions are limited to traffic control and seasonal
decoration for the months of November through January.
E. Signs erected or used upon the top or roof of any
building.
F. Signs which extend in height or project higher than
the roofline of any building.
G. Signs with more than two display faces are prohibited.
H. A double face sign having an included angle of over
45° is prohibited.
I. Signs mounted, erected or maintained on a utility pole, trees in public right-of-way or on municipal property except as otherwise specifically authorized [except trespass signs described in §
163-89A(6)], water tower, standpipe, tower or other similar structure.
J. Pylon signs exceeding 15 feet.
K. Attached signs other than perpendicular signs projecting
more than 12 inches from the building wall.
L. The use of pennants, streamers, balloons, windmills
or other moving devices, banners or flashing signs is prohibited,
other than for a period of two weeks from the date of opening of a
new establishment. Searchlights and animated signs are prohibited
at all times. A business may display one national flag and one other
flag, each no larger than five feet by eight feet. All flags must
be displayed so that they do not impede the flow of pedestrian traffic.
[Amended 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
M. Signs extending more than three inches from the surface
of a wall but less than 10 feet from the ground level below the sign.
N. Signs, illustrations or symbols shall not be placed
so as to interfere with the opening of an exit door of any building,
to obstruct any window opening of a room in a dwelling to interfere
with the use of any fire escape or to create a hazard to pedestrians.
O. Signs erected, painted, affixed, located, or maintained
on any box van, cube van, bob truck, or cube truck (i.e., a chassis
cab-truck with an enclosed cuboid-shaped cargo area) parked in an
area visible to the general public, other than parked or stopped temporarily
for active loading or unloading, which identifies or advertises a
business within the immediate area of the parked vehicle is prohibited.
In no case may vehicle signs extend above the top of the vehicle or
impair its safe operation. Trailers or vehicles whose main use is
the display of signs or media are prohibited.
[Amended 6-20-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-06]
P. Except as otherwise specifically provided for herein,
changeable information signs are only permitted in the commercial
zones.
Q. No sign may impede the flow of pedestrian traffic.
R. No window
signs or lettering on windows shall be permitted in any residential
zone.
[Added 5-18-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-13]
In the event that a proposed sign does not comply
with the provision of this article, an application for a variance
may be made and decided by the Zoning Board of Adjustment, in the same manner as any other variance. Signs constructed
under a variance must obtain a permit and permit number after the
granting of said variance and before sign installation is begun.