Borough of Bellmawr, NJ Signs

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

Animated, flashing and illusionary signs. Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited.

Height. No freestanding sign shall exceed the maximum height of 15 feet, except for billboards in the Limited Access Highway Proximity Zone, and no attached sign shall be higher at any point than the roofline of the building. In addition, no attached sign shall project into or hang over a street right-of-way, and no sign shall project beyond a building in a manner placing it above an area traversed by motor vehicles, such as, but not limited to, driveway and parking areas.

[Amended 7-20-2006 by Ord. No. 06:10-06]

Illuminated signs shall be so arranged as to reflect the light and glare away from adjoining premises and away from adjoining highways. No sign with red, green or blue illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location where it may be confused with a railroad, traffic control or emergency signal. Illuminated signs shall comply with the National Electric Code.

Information and direction signs. Street number designations, postal boxes, on-site directional and parking signs, warning signs and signs posting property as "private property," "no hunting" or similar signs are permitted in all zones but are not to be considered in calculating sign area. No such sign shall exceed two square feet in area.

Maintenance. Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.

Portable signs. No sign shall be exhibited which is portable, i.e., fixed on a movable stand, self-supporting without being firmly embedded in the ground, supported by other objects, mounted on wheels or movable vehicles or made easily movable in some other manner.

Sign area shall be measured around the outside edge of a framed or enclosed sign or by the area utilized by isolated words and/or symbols, including the background, whether open or enclosed, but said area shall not include any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself. Signs with two exposures shall be measured for area by using the surface area of one side of the sign only. Both sides may be used. However, permit fees shall be charged for both sides, if copy is shown on both sides.

Residence districts.

(1)

In residence districts, no signs shall be permitted except the following:

(a)

A nameplate not more than two square feet in area, bearing the name and profession or home occupation of a person residing on the premises.

(b)

A temporary nonilluminated sign not exceeding nine square feet on each of two sides pertaining to the lease or sale of the lot or building on which it is placed, provided that it is removed within 15 days after the sale is completed.

(2)

No such sign needs a building permit. Any sign or nameplate permitted by this subsection shall be at least 15 feet back from the curbline or five feet back from the street line if there is no curb.

Business districts.

(1)

Definitions. For the purpose of this subsection, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ADVERTISING SIGN

A sign which directs attention to a business, service, commodity or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than upon the premises.

BUSINESS SIGN

A sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted upon the premises.

(2)

In a business district, there shall be permitted signs in accordance with the following regulations:

(a)

Any type of sign in a residence district.

(b)

One business sign placed or inscribed upon the front facade of a building for each permitted use or activity which occurs therein. The sign shall not exceed an area of two square feet for each foot in width of the front of the building or portion thereof devoted to such use or activity. However, if the building fronts on more than one street, the side of the building facing the side street may have an additional side street sign, subject to all sign requirements and to the further requirement that the area of the side street sign not exceed in total area 1/2 that allowed on the major street. In no case shall the side street sign exceed 30 square feet.

(c)

An advertising sign less than three square feet is permitted, provided that it is placed or inscribed upon the front facade of the building.

(d)

No business sign or advertising sign shall protrude more than 12 inches beyond the building. It shall be at least 15 feet back from the curbline or 10 feet back from the street line if there is no curb.

(e)

One freestanding sign may be erected to identify permitted buildings and their occupants, provided that the area of one side of the sign shall not exceed 25 square feet. Such signs shall not be located within 20 feet of a street or within 25 feet of a residence district.

(f)

Freestanding signs necessary to control traffic movements within, onto and off the premises may be erected, provided that they are for traffic directions only. They shall not exceed a height of six feet and may not be larger than four square feet on each of two sides.

(g)

Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or portion thereof shall be, if not attached to the building, set back at least 10 feet from all street lines. Such signs shall not exceed nine square feet on each of two sides. All such signs shall be removed by the advertiser within 15 days after the termination or completion of the matter or business being advertised. No such sign needs a building permit.

Office, institutional and municipal government and educational districts. In the above districts, there shall be permitted signs in accordance with the following regulations:[1]

(1)

Civic, institutional and church buildings: one freestanding sign not exceeding 12 square feet in area and 10 feet in height and set back at least 25 feet from all street rights-of-way and lot lines, plus one attached sign not exceeding 25 square feet in area.

(2)

Office buildings may have one sign, either freestanding or attached, not exceeding an area equivalent to 5% of the first floor portion of the front facade or 25 square feet, whichever is smaller. Where an individual office unit has direct access from the outside, a sign not exceeding four square feet identifying the name of the office may also be attached to the building at the office entrance.

(3)

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

Industrial districts. In an industrial district, there shall be permitted signs in accordance with the following regulations:

(1)

One business sign may be placed or inscribed upon each of two facades of a building, showing only the name of the building or of its occupants, provided that the sign shall not exceed an area equal to 10% of the area of the facade upon which it is placed. The sign may be illuminated but shall not be of the flashing or animated type and shall not project more than one foot in any direction from the facade.

(2)

One freestanding sign for each 200 feet of frontage on a public street may be erected to identify permitted buildings and their occupants, provided that the area of one side of the sign shall not exceed 25 square feet. Such signs shall not be located within 20 feet of a street or driveway or within 75 feet of a residence district.

(3)

Freestanding signs necessary to control traffic movement on the premises may be erected, provided that they include traffic directions only. They shall not exceed a height of six feet nor an area greater than four square feet.

(4)

Freestanding business signs shall have a space of not less than four feet between the lower edge of the sign and the ground level and shall have no part thereof greater than 12 feet above ground level.

(5)

An advertising sign less than six square feet is permitted, provided that it is placed or inscribed upon the front facade of the building.

(6)

Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or portion thereof shall be, if not attached to the building, set back at least 10 feet from all street lines. Such signs shall not exceed 25 square feet on each of two sides. All such signs shall be removed by the advertiser within 15 days after the termination or completion of the matter or business being advertised. No such sign needs a building permit.

Limited Access Highway Proximity Zone.

[Added 7-20-2006 by Ord. No. 06:10-06]

(1)

No billboard sign shall have a maximum square footage in excess of 1,000 square feet.

(2)

No billboard sign shall be higher than is necessary to provide full visibility to the main traveled way of the limited access highway.

(3)

No billboard sign shall be constructed on or adjoined to any other building or structure. All billboards shall be supported by a single pole affixed to or embedded into the ground.

(4)

The area surrounding the base of the billboard signs shall be suitably landscaped as directed by the Bellmawr Planning Board in the site plan process.

(5)

No portion of any billboard sign shall be located within 200 feet of any residential use within the Borough of Bellmawr.

(6)

The distance from any billboard sign to any other billboard sign shall be as provided by the State of New Jersey, but in no case closer to one another than 500 feet.

(7)

The lighting of said billboards shall conform to New Jersey and federal sign regulations.

(8)

All billboard signs shall conform to all state and federal rules governing billboards, including the requirement for an off-site premises sign permit.