Unless prohibited by other Borough ordinances, the erection
and maintenance of signs shall be subject to the regulations as set
forth in this article. All signs requiring applications must have
the proper approval and permitting from the Construction and Zoning
Offices, and proper usage fee (if applicable) paid in full before
proceeding with the construction and placement of a sign.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BACKLIT SIGN
Any sign which is lit from within the sign structure, with
no lighting source visible.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign that is designed and erected solely for the purpose
of traffic or pedestrian direction that is placed on the property
to which or on which the public is directed. Such signs may contain
a business or professional name, but no advertising copy. Such design
shall not exceed three square feet, except in residential districts
where such signs shall not exceed one square foot, and as otherwise
specified herein.
DISPLAY AREA
The portion of the sign on which the message should be placed.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign that is not attached to a building structure; is
self-supported by a secure sign structure.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign which advertises candidates for public office
or statements on issues for which residents of the Borough are eligible
to vote. Political signs shall be removed not later than one week
after the election.
PREMISES
Any building within which a permitted commercial use is located,
whether such business use occupies the entirety or any portion of
the building.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
Any sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of lands
or buildings.
SIGN
Any device that is intended to provide visual communication
to others. A "sign" may have any and/or all of the following elements:
B.
Decorative features, such as ornamental flourishes, which are
neither part of the display area nor covering for the structure.
C.
Other appurtenances, such as lamps or lighting.
SIGN AREA
The area in square feet of a rectangle drawn so as to include
the entire sign face. Any area with any logo, trademark, or otherwise
protected design, image or wording shall count towards sign area.
SIGN BILLBOARD
Any commercial sign that directs attention to a business,
commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered at
a location other than the premises on which the sign is located.
SIGN FACE
A plane consisting of the total area of the display area
and decorative features as viewed from a point of optimal visibility
of the display area and decorative features. No sign shall have more
than two sign faces.
SIGN STRUCTURE
Any structure that supports, has supported or is capable
of supporting a sign, including decorative cover.
STATIONERY SIGNS
Any sign constructed of paper, cardboard, paperboard, poster
board, construction paper and all those similar.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign that is made of light material, designated to be removed
daily. A temporary sign shall not be homemade, except as is otherwise
allowed in this chapter.
The following are prohibited in all zones:
A. Any sign which does not advertise a permitted business or use located
on the same premises.
B. Roof signs and signs extending above the wall to which they are attached.
C. Permanent marquees extending over the sidewalk beyond the street
line.
D. Signs posted on fences, posts, utility poles or trees.
E. Signs posted on Borough property, except where specifically authorized
by the Borough Council.
F. Signs installed or painted on sidewalks or curbs.
G. Signs using mechanical or electrical devices or wind to revolve,
flash or display movement or the illusion of movement or to spell
alternating messages or images.
H. Signs on abutments, retaining walls or embankments.
I. Wall signs painted directly on buildings which obstruct any windows.
J. Pylon signs, except as permitted herein.
K. Signs that constitute a hazard to the traveling public by obstructing
driving vision, regulatory directional signage or signals.
L. Automobile trailers, attached or unattached, or vehicles of any nature
bearing signs or advertisements, parked or left stationary for more
than 24 hours upon any vacant land or public street, or parked between
the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in any residential zone.
M. Signs using any lighting or control mechanism that may cause radio
or television interference.
N. Illuminated signs where the source of light is directly visible from
adjoining properties or streets.
O. Banners except as detailed in §
255-62F of this chapter.
P. No provision contained herein shall be construed to prohibit signs,
not larger than two feet by two feet, that issue warnings or safety
messages, such as, but not limited to, "no hunting," "no trespassing,"
"beware of dog" or traffic directional signs.
Q. All temporary signs, except as set forth herein.
R. Signs containing profane or obscene language.
[Added 11-7-2022 by Ord. No. 6-2022]
A. The changeable copy portion of an LED illuminated sign display shall
not exceed 1/3 of the total allowable sign area or 24 square feet,
whichever is less, and signs capable of illumination shall be turned
off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following morning,
unless the business or uses identified are open to the public later
than 10:00 p.m. or earlier than 7:00 a.m., in which event any such
establishment may keep a sign illuminated during business hours, only.
B. An LED illuminated sign message may be changed six times per hour,
but no less than every 10 minutes.
C. LED signs must advertise the business to which it associated with,
or events local to the Borough of Tuckerton or the immediate surrounding
areas. The sign should also be accessible for emergency use including,
but not limited to, display of Nixle alerts or Amber alerts.
D. LED signs may not be too bright as to be distracting or blinding
to drivers or pedestrians, or disturbing to adjacent property residents.
Signage brightness shall be automatically adjusted during evening
hours. No sign shall have flashing lights or exposed high-intensity
illumination.
E. LED signs may not have moving, distracting or flashing displays.
Signs which message sequence, flash, strobe, make noise or show pyrotechnics
are not permitted.
F. Animated, flashing and illusionary signs using mechanical or electrical
devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement
are prohibited.
G. No LED sign shall be permitted which attempts or appears to attempt
to direct the movement of traffic or which interferes with, imitates,
or resembles any official traffic sign, signal or device.
Temporary political signs shall be permitted in all zones for
a period of two months prior to a primary, general or special election
and for one week thereafter. The sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.
Window lettering and window signs shall be permitted only in
the commercial zones: Seaport Village, B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-4. For
the purpose of enforcing this chapter, window lettering and signs
shall be subject to the following restrictions:
A. All window lettering and signs shall be considered as a sign as defined
in this chapter.
B. Permanent window lettering or signs shall be permitted only if the
rectangle or circle confining such lettering or sign or the background
upon which it appears does not exceed 20% of the window area and further,
that no window sign shall exceed the total window area permitted for
a sign. Any painted area of any window shall be construed as window
lettering or signs, whether or not such area actually contains lettering
or background advertising.
C. Window letters can be no greater than eight inches high.
D. Interior hung panels fall under the same category.
E. Temporary window lettering or signs advertising special sales or
events shall be removed within seven days following the advertised
event or within 30 days after affixing of the same, whichever is earlier.
Such temporary window lettering or signs, in conjunction with any
permanent window lettering shall not cover more than 50% of the window
area nor exceed the area permitted for a sign. Only one temporary
window sign or lettering per calendar quarter is permitted.
F. All window lettering must be approved and permitted through the Zoning
Office.
G. The following window lettering and signs are specifically prohibited:
(1)
Those having an exterior source of illumination that is not
permanently installed in accordance with the National Electrical Code.
H. All window lettering and signs shall be kept in good repair.
I. The Zoning Officer shall have the authority to order the removal
of any window lettering or sign that does not conform to these specifications.
Any owner or tenant not complying within 10 days of such order shall
be in violation of the provisions of this chapter and subject to the
penalties set forth herein.
Freestanding signs shall not be permitted without special consideration
given to each application received due to the diversity of setbacks
that exist in various zones. Freestanding signs shall not be permitted
where they pose hazards to the public. Freestanding signs must be
approved by the Zoning Official. The following standards will apply
where a freestanding sign is permitted:
A. Signs can be no larger than 10% of the building facade fronting the
roadway, or 50 square feet in area and a maximum of 10 feet wide or
five feet high measuring from the surrounding grade to the top of
the sign, for single occupancy commercial spaces, or up to 100 square
feet in area and a maximum of 10 feet wide or 10 feet high measuring
from the surrounding grade to the top of the sign, for multiple occupancy
commercial spaces. Whichever is smaller shall take precedence.
B. A freestanding sign may be backlit.
C. In the Historic Landmarks District, and the Seaport Village District,
a freestanding sign shall incorporate special design attributes if
it is to be lit, such as downturned gooseneck lighting, shadow box
lighting, projection box lighting which consists of a fluorescent
tube shielded from sight, aiming the light onto the sign. All illuminated
signage must have proper electrical permits. Signs in these districts
must comply with the use of the suggested sign styles and shapes and
sign enhancement features as set forth in Schedule A of this article,
which is on file with the Borough Clerk and which is incorporated
herein by reference, as well as conform to the colors shown for background
colors, lettering colors, and lettering style as set forth in Schedule
A. Any proposed sign that does not conform to these Schedules must
have the Landmarks Commission approval, and the issuance of its certificate
of appropriateness, prior to application to the Zoning Office.
D. The use of A-frame sidewalk signs or sandwich board signs will be
permitted and are permitted in the Seaport Village District, Landmarks
District, B-1, B-3 and B-4 Districts and must follow the guidelines
set forth herein.
(1)
The sign shall be no larger than two feet wide by three feet
high, generally in keeping with Schedule A, thoughtful and of sturdy
construction.
(2)
The sign shall not be illuminated and must be taken down at
the end of the business day.
(3)
The sign shall be placed out of the main flow of pedestrian
traffic, in front of the building associated with the A-frame sign.
(5)
There shall be a limit of one A-frame sidewalk sign per building
or lot.
The maximum sign area is 100 square feet with a maximum height
of three feet, or 10% of the wall area of the building it is attached
to; whichever is smaller shall take precedence. This type of signage
shall be permitted only in the Seaport Village, B-1, B-2, B-3 and
B-4 Zones.
A. Building wall sign letters shall be less than 15 inches tall, filling
no more than 60% of the sign surface area.
B. Wall lighting for building wall signs must follow the same lighting
standards as freestanding sign lighting.
C. Wall signs in the Historic Landmarks District, and the Seaport Village District shall conform to §
255-63.6 of this chapter.
Only the following signs shall be permitted in any residential
district:
A. In residential districts, no stationery signs shall be permitted,
except for real estate signs not larger than eight square feet, when
placed on properties offered for rent or sale, and customary signs
identifying any building or use permitted under this chapter.
B. Signs of a temporary nature which direct attention to the sale of
new lots, homes or dwelling units in a residential development shall
be permitted, provided that the total area of such signs shall not
exceed 32 square feet, and the signs are not closer than 10 feet to
the front property line and are removed immediately upon the sale
or occupancy of the last lot or house or dwelling unit in such development.
C. One home occupation announcement sign not over two square feet in
area for each dwelling unit conducting a lawfully operating home occupation.
Such signs shall not be illuminated.
D. One professional office announcement sign not over two square feet
in area for each lawfully operating professional office.
E. Yard sale signs as detailed in §
255-62.
All signs within the designated district must be in keeping
with the area, style and architecture of the property on which it
is placed. The Construction Official shall refer any application for
a sign to the Land Use Board for its approval prior to the issuance
of a permit. The Land Use Board shall refer any application for a
sign to the Landmarks Commission for its comment prior to issuing
a permit in the Landmarks District. Real estate signs are exempt from
this requirement.
The Construction Officer, the Code Enforcement Officer, the
Zoning Officer, all Borough Inspectors and the Borough Police Department
shall enforce the provisions hereof.