The purpose of this article is to permit signs that will not,
by their reason, size, location, construction or manner of display,
endanger the public safety of individuals; confuse, mislead or obstruct
the vision necessary for traffic safety; limit adequate light and
air; overcrowd land or buildings or diminish their value; adversely
impact the various zoning districts in the Township of Little Falls
or otherwise endanger public health, safety and morals; and to permit
and regulate signs in such a manner as to support and compliment land
use objectives set forth in this chapter.
Notwithstanding any other provision or ordinance, no sign may
be erected, altered or maintained within the Township except as otherwise
provided herein.
As used in this article, the following terms have the meanings
indicated:
A-FRAME OR SANDWICH SIGN
An A-shaped temporary and easily movable ground sign, usually
two-sided, used for advertising commodities, services or entertainment
usually conducted upon the premises where the sign is located.
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict
action or the illusion of movement or create a special effect or scene.
AREA IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign to identify a common area containing a group of structures,
or a single structure, such as a residential subdivision, apartment
complex, industrial park, mobile home park or shopping center, located
at the entrance or entrances of the area. Such signs may or may not
consist of a fence or wall or archway with letters or symbols affixed
thereto.
AWNING SIGN
Any sign that is a part of, attached to or printed on an
awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover
over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area.
AWNINGS
Roof-like coverings extending over a walkway, sidewalk or
exterior place, supported by a frame attached to the building and/or
ground with a surface made of fabric or a more rigid material, such
as plastic or metal, and either retractable against the building or
fixed in place.
BANNER
Any sign printed or displayed upon cloth or other flexible
material, with or without frames. National flags, state or municipal
flags or the official flag of any not-for-profit institution shall
not be considered banners for the purposes of this chapter.
BEACON
A stationary or revolving light which flashes or projects
illumination, single-colored or multicolored, in any manner which
is intended to attract or divert attention; except, however, this
term is not intended to include any kind of lighting device which
is required or necessary under the safety regulations described by
the Federal Aviation Agency or similar agencies.
BILLBOARD OR OFF-SITE ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign having one or two sides which directs attention to
anything except the business or function offered upon the premises
where the sign is located.
BUILDING MARKER
Any sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental
information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry
surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
BUILDING SIGN
Any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted
to a freestanding sign.
BUSINESS SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business, industry, profession,
commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises
where such sign is located.
CHANGEABLE MESSAGE
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations
that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the
surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than
eight times per day shall be considered an animated sign and not a
changeable message sign for purposes of this chapter. A sign on which
the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication
of time or temperature shall be considered a time and temperature
portion of a sign and not a changeable message sign for purposes of
this chapter.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE
Any sign wording, logo or other representation that, directly
or indirectly, names, identifies or calls attention to a business,
product, service or other commercial activity.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN
Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors,
architects and lending institutions responsible for construction on
the site where the sign is placed, together with other information
included thereon.
DIGITAL SIGN
A billboard or off-site advertising sign that permits a change
in the message displayed, limiting the number of messages displayed
by requiring a minimum display time of eight seconds per message,
and does not include any scrolling or flashing messages.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign intended to direct or point toward a place or which
gives directions. Such signs shall carry no advertising copy describing
the activities carried on at the premises where such signs are located.
DISPLAY SURFACE AREA
The net geometric area enclosed by the display surface of
the sign, including the outer extremities of all letters, characters
and delineations, the surfaces upon which they are presented, voids
between elements of the sign or any element of the display that goes
beyond the primary surface, whichever is greatest; provided, however,
that display surface area shall not include the structural supports
for freestanding signs. The display surface area (or area) for a sign
with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area
of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign
faces are placed back-to-back, so that both faces cannot be viewed
from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part
of the same sign structure and are not more than 12 inches apart,
the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
ERECT
To construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach,
create, paint, draw or in any other way bring into being or establish,
but not including any of the foregoing activities when performed as
incidental to the normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure.
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any illuminated sign whose illumination is derived from an
external artificial source outside the display portion of the sign.
FACADE
The total wall surface, including door and window area of
a building's principal face. A mansard roof shall be considered as
part of the facade.
FEATHER FLAG
A six-foot-tall to twenty-foot-tall vertical flag, mounted
on a portable based on anchored into the ground, that is used to advertise
a company and draw attention to an event or business.
FLAG
Any fabric or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns
or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision
or other not-for-profit institution. A flag as defined herein is not
a pennant or banner.
FLASHING SIGN
An illuminated sign, the illumination of which is not kept
constant in intensity at all times when in use. Illuminated signs
which indicate the time, temperature, weather or similar public service
information shall not be considered flashing signs.
FREESTANDING OR GROUND SIGN
Any sign supported by permanent structures or supports that
are placed on or anchored in the ground and that are independent from
any building or other structure.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign which is lighted by a self-contained interior light
or by lights projected or directed onto it.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary
to the use of the zone lot on which it is located, such as "no parking,"
"entrance," "loading only," "telephone" and other similar directives.
No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the
zone lot on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental.
INDIRECTLY LIGHTED SIGN
Any sign that is illuminated by a source that shines directly
on the surface of a sign, which light source is directly designed
specifically to illuminate only the sign.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign whose sole source of artificial illumination is
contained within the display portion of the sign, including neon-type
signs and internally and back-lit signs.
LOCATION
Any lot, premises, building, structure, wall or any place
whatsoever upon which a sign is located.
MARQUEE
A permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building
or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building
and supported in part from the ground, generally designed and constructed
to provide protection from the weather.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a
marquee.
MESSAGE BOARD
Any sign erected by a charitable, educational or religious
organization or a public body, which is erected upon the same property
as said institution, for purposes of announcing changing events.
NAMEPLATE SIGN
A sign which states the name or address, or both, of the
occupant of the premises where the sign is located and not exceeding
one square foot in area.
NEON SIGN
Self-luminous electric signs usually constructed of glass
tubing containing a vapor or gas configured to form a display or lettering.
OFFICIAL SIGN
Any sign, symbol or device erected and maintained by the
federal government, State of New Jersey, County of Passaic, Township
of Little Falls or a public utility for the purpose of informing or
guiding the public or for the protection and promotion of the health,
safety, convenience and general welfare of the public.
OVERHANGING SIGN
A sign suspended from a marquee, awning, canopy or a wooden
or metallic bar where such sign is located within the public right-of-way
or other than parallel to the facade.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether
or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire
or string, usually, but not necessarily, in series, designed to move
in the wind.
PERSON
Any association, company, corporation, firm, organization
or partnership, singular or plural, of any kind.
POLITICAL SIGN
A sign advancing the candidacy of any candidate or group
of candidates for public office or a cause subject to political judgment.
PORTABLE OR MOBILE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure, or a sign designated to be transported, including
but not limited to signs designed to be transported by means of wheels;
A-frames and sandwich-board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas
used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles
parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle
is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.
PROFESSIONAL SIGN
A sign listing only the name, profession and/or specialty
of each practitioner.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that
its leading edge extends more than one foot beyond the surface of
such building or wall.
PUMP ISLAND CANOPY SIGN
A flush-mounted sign on the vertical surface and canopy which
is the ornamental or protective roof-like structure erected above
the pumps of a gasoline station.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A temporary sign placed upon the property for the purpose
of advertising to the public the availability for sale, rent or lease
of said property.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected, constructed and maintained upon or over
the roof of any building with the principal support of the roof structure
or parapet wall.
ROOFLINE
The juncture of the roof and the perimeter wall of the structure.
SETBACK
The distance from the property line to the nearest part of
the applicable building, structure or sign, measured perpendicularly
to the property line.
SIGN
Includes every object, device, frame, figure, character,
mark, point, fixture, graphic design, picture, stroke, stripe, trademark,
model, emblem, placard, symbol, display, light, logo or reading matter
which is used or intended to be used to advertise, identify, display,
direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization,
business, product, service, event or location by any means, including
words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, colors, illumination or
projected images, when the same is placed in the view of the general
public, either outdoors or indoors. Any of the above which are not
placed out of doors, but which are illuminated with artificial or
reflected color or otherwise made visible from out of doors, shall
be considered a sign within the meaning of this chapter when placed
in such a way as to be used to attract attention or convey information
to motorists or pedestrians.
SIGN AREA
The area within the shortest line that can be drawn around
the outside perimeter of a sign, including all decorations but excluding
supports, if any, unless such supports are illuminated. In computing
the area of a sign, the area of all faces of such sign shall be included.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently
mounted.
WALL SIGN
Any sign that shall be affixed parallel to the wall or printed
or painted on the wall of any building in such a manner as to read
parallel to the wall on which it is mounted; provided, however, said
wall sign shall not project above the top of the wall or beyond the
end of the building. For the purposes of this chapter, any sign display
surface that is affixed flat against the sloping surface of a mansard
roof shall be considered a wall sign. Any sign that is affixed to
the face of a building marquee, building awning or a building canopy
shall be considered a wall sign.
WINDOW
Total glass area presented to public view for purposes of
display.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign, pictures, symbol, or combination thereof, designed
to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity,
event, sale or service, that is placed inside a window or upon the
windowpanes of glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
No sign, except those set forth under §
280-161 below, shall be erected, installed, posted, placed, relocated, affixed or maintained upon any premises unless a zoning permit shall have first been obtained therefor from the Construction Official and the fee, if required, paid.
Any existing sign that was legally erected and maintained may continue to exist with the existing business at its present location but shall not be altered, rebuilt, relocated, enlarged or extended if the change results in a less conforming sign in any aspect. All new businesses are required to meet the requirements of §
280-156. New businesses are defined as a change of business or new ownership of an existing business.
The following signs are prohibited in all zone districts in
the Township of Little Falls unless otherwise permitted by this chapter:
A. Signs erected, used or maintained which in any way simulates official
directional, traffic or warning signs erected or maintained by the
state, the county or the Township or by any public utility or similar
agency concerned with the protection of the public health or safety.
B. Signs of any type which obstruct or otherwise confuse directional
and identification signs, other places of business or other signs.
C. Signs using red, yellow or green lights placed within 100 feet of
any traffic control signal now or hereafter erected or placed so as
otherwise to create confusion with respect to such signals.
D. Any sign which is of such form, character or shape so as to confuse
or distract the attention of the operator of a motor vehicle or any
sign which creates a danger to the operator of a motor vehicle or
pedestrians.
E. Signs which obstruct any window, door, fire escape, stairway or opening
intended to provide light or ingress and egress to or from any building
or structure or which create a fire, safety or health risk.
F. Animated, moving or revolving signs and signs using blinking, flashing,
vibrating, flickering, tracer or sequential lighting, which display
movement or the illusion of movement, including interior signs visible
from the exterior of the premises. This provision shall include lighting
around the perimeter of any window.
G. Projecting wall signs, unless incorporated as an element of an awning
or blade sign, which usage must conform to the appropriate sections
of this chapter.
H. Signs, other than officially authorized signs, attached to poles,
trees, posts, fences, sidewalks or curbs.
I. A sign or any portion of any sign, other than official traffic control
devices or street signs, which is located within or encroaches upon
the public right-of-way.
J. Signs painted on the surface of a building.
L. A-frame, mobile, stand-alone or sandwich-type signs.
M. All balloons and inflatable signs, except as permitted for temporary
use up to seven days. A permit for these signs shall be required from
the Construction Official. Only two temporary permits per year for
balloon and inflatable signs shall be allowed for each business.
O. Feather flags of any type.
P. No security frames of any type or material shall be permitted around
windows or doors.
The following signs shall not require permits and are exempt,
so long as they conform to the standards contained herein:
A. Official signs posted by governmental agencies or pursuant to government
statute, order or regulation.
B. Real estate signs advertising the sale, lease or rental of the premises
upon which the sign is located, limited to one sign per lot or premises
advertised for sale or rent. Real estate signs for residential properties
are limited to six square feet in area, and real estate signs for
commercial or industrial properties are limited to 12 square feet
in area. Any such sign shall be located at least five feet from the
property curb line. All signs must be professionally printed and not
handwritten.
C. Lights and strings of illuminated devices and graphics used to celebrate
a national or religious holiday for a period not to exceed 14 days
before the holiday and 14 days following the holiday.
D. Residential nameplate and professional nameplate signs, not exceeding
one square foot in area for each side. The signs shall not contain
any advertising message and shall be nonilluminated.
E. Historic tablets, cornerstones, memorial plaques and emblems which
do not exceed six square feet in area, and which are installed by
government agencies or civil or religious organizations.
F. Temporary signs for advertising public functions or fundraising events
for nonprofit or charitable organizations, provided that such signs
do not exceed 24 square feet in area and are not illuminated. Said
signs shall be put in place no earlier than 14 days before the event
and shall be removed upon completion of the public phase of said event
or function.
G. Bulletin boards not over 12 square feet in area for public, charitable
or religious institutions when the same are located on the premises
of said institutions and are used solely for temporary notices.
H. Nonilluminated on-site directional and parking signs, warning signs
and signs posting property as "private property," "no trespassing"
or similar signs not to exceed three square feet in area.
I. Temporary signs denoting the architect, engineer or contractor when
placed upon the site under construction and not exceeding six square
feet in area. Said signs shall be in place only while work is in progress
and shall be placed at least 20 feet from the curb line.
J. Garage sale signs located on the premises only, not exceeding three
square feet and containing the date of sale. Said signs shall be put
in place no earlier than five days before the garage sale and shall
be removed within 24 hours of the last day of sale.
K. Temporary promotional decorations for opening day of a new business,
to be displayed for a period not to exceed 30 days. Decorations shall
consist of small "grand opening" banners and small balloons.
L. Flags or emblems of religious, education, civic or governmental organizations.
M. Special signs serving the public convenience such as "notary public,"
"public rest rooms," "public telephone" or words of similar import.
The area of such sign shall not exceed 24 square inches.
N. Signs which are an integral part of vending machines, including gasoline
pumps and milk machines, provided that they do not exceed eight square
feet in area.
O. Temporary, nonilluminated political signs, provided that such signs
do not exceed nine square feet in area and do not exceed eight feet
to the top of said sign. Such signs may not be displayed on any trees,
telephone poles or lighting stanchions or other public property. All
such signs shall be erected no earlier than 30 days prior to an election
and shall be removed within five days after the completion of said
political election. Said signs shall be placed or a minimum of four
feet from the curb line or edge of pavement.
P. Temporary banner signs, limited to 2.5 feet in height and eight feet
in width, limited to a timeframe of three weeks. Placed across a street
suspended from telephone poles or light stantions, only in locations
designated by the Mayor and Township Council.
Q. Menu Boards, provided that they are not located in the front yard.
R. "Open" and "closed" signs, provided they do not exceed one per business,
may be placed in the top 2/3 of a window.
S. Temporary leasing signs, until 75% of the development is leased may
be provided but limited to two colors.
T. Anniversary signs, for up to a three-month period, limited to 10
feet by four feet in size. Must be located on the building for a commercial
business.
U. Memorial walls, no more than five feet in height and not located
in the front yard.
V. Signs located on municipal property for municipal purposes only authorized
by the Mayor and approved by Council resolution.
W. Signs similar is in use to no trespassing, beware of dog, no soliciting
provided that they are no larger than 8.5 inches by 11 inches and
no more than two per property.