[Adopted by the City Council of the City of Newark 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E,
11-01-2023. Chapter history includes Ord. No. 6PSF-C,
2-4-2015. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
It is the purpose of this Chapter to promote the public health,
safety, and general welfare through reasonable, consistent, and nondiscriminatory
sign standards. The standards in this ordinance are content-neutral
and are not intended to censor speech. The standards are intended
to regulate the secondary effects of signage as a medium of speech
and their impacts on aesthetics, traffic, and pedestrian safety. The
regulation of signage within the City of Newark is a means to promote
a desirable visual environment, provide adequate light air and open
space, and ensure the public health, safety, and welfare by promoting
safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and the motoring public.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
The following signs shall be exempt from all signage requirements:
a.
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable Federal,
State, County or local law, regulation or ordinance.
b.
Any sign which is inside a building, not attached to a window or
door, and is not readable from a distance of more than 10 feet beyond
the lot line of the lot or parcel nearest to where such sign is located.
c.
Seasonally appropriate holiday lights and decorations with no commercial
message. However, such lighting can only remain for no more than three
months.
d.
Traffic control signs on private property, which meet Department
of Transportation standards, and which contain no commercial message
of any sort.
e.
Flags of the United States, New Jersey, the City of Newark, flags
of any foreign nation, or other flags with purely non-commercial purposes.
f.
Pump mounted fuel price informational signs subject to the following:
i.
Only one fuel price informational sign shall be permitted per fuel
pump nozzle.
ii.
Fuel price informational signs shall be limited in size to an
area of 216 square inches in accordance with State and Federal regulations.
iii.
Each fuel price informational sign shall be affixed directly
and firmly to a fuel pump and shall be stationary.
iv.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the advertisement
of fuel prices on any other sign meeting the requirements of this
section.
g.
US Postal Regulation mailboxes.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
All temporary signs shall have the date that the sign is installed
in the lower left corner, written legibly. No such sign shall be permitted
that would, in the opinion of the Zoning Officer, interfere significantly
with vehicular or pedestrian traffic. All such signs shall be of professional
quality. A temporary sign which does not comply with the time limitations
shall become a permanent sign and shall be subject to compliance with
all standards of this Chapter, which may require the sign be removed
or a approval sought. The following temporary signs shall be permitted
without a permit.
1.
Signs associated with active construction sites, to be removed upon
completion of construction.
2.
Sandwich board or sidewalk signs shall be permitted associated with
a specific business only during business hours. Sidewalk signs shall
not obstruct pedestrian passage along the sidewalk and shall maintain
a minimum clear width of six feet.
3.
Rental or Leasing Signs.
a.
One sign advertising the sale or rental of an individual unit or
commercial space on the premises upon which they are located shall
be permitted provided that the sign is no more than eight square feet
and removed within one week of the date of sale or rental of the property.
b.
One rental or leasing sign or banner securely affixed to a building
facade, advertising a development in a new or substantially rehabilitated
building shall be permitted for a total of 180 days which may begin
prior to certificate of occupancy. Such banner or leasing signs shall
be subject to review either as part of a site plan application or
by the zoning officer. The area of the sign shall not exceed 100 square
feet and the sign shall be exempt from placement and location restrictions
contained elsewhere in this Chapter.
4.
Political signs provided that they fully comply with Section 29:22-1 et seq. of the Revised General Ordinances of the City of Newark.
5.
Grand opening signs or banners shall be permitted, provided the sign
does not exceed 70 square feet and is not displayed for a period greater
than four weeks.
6.
Special event signs shall be permitted for a period not to exceed
14 days. One special event sign shall be permitted per property and
the sign shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
Sign Prohibitions for All Districts:
a.
Billboards shall be prohibited except as permitted by conditional
use in Section 41:6-2-11 of the Zoning and Land Use Regulations of
the City of Newark.
b.
No signs shall be placed on municipal fences, walls, railway or road
bridges, bridge supports or abutments, retaining walls, parking meters
or water towers unless approved by the City Council. Signs on trees
and utility poles are prohibited.
c.
No roof signs, also known as "sky signs," mounted above the roofline
of a building shall be permitted.
d.
No sign shall be placed on an accessory building.
e.
No sign shall be lighted by means of a varied illuminated light,
nor shall any sign be in whole or in any part moving, mobile, revolving
and/or electrically or mechanically activated.
f.
No sign shall be allowed with the optical illusion of movement by
means of a design which presents a pattern capable of reverse perspective
or giving the illusion of motion or changing copy.
g.
No signs shall be allowed that are placed on or affixed to vehicles
and/or trailers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public
property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way,
where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product, service or activity
or direct people to a business or activity. This is not intended,
however, to prohibit signs placed on or affixed to vehicles, buses
or trailers where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the
vehicle or trailer. The vehicle shall remain in fully operable condition
and be driven or moved by its own power at least once per week.
h.
No sign shall be allowed which obstructs any window or door opening
to the point of jeopardizing public safety. Additionally, no sign
shall obstruct the view of any building's existing decorative
architectural features.
i.
No sign shall be allowed which obstructs the view of vehicle operators
or pedestrians entering a public roadway from any parking area, service
drive, public driveway, alley or other thoroughfare.
j.
Awnings made of translucent material of any type are prohibited.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
No sign except those exempted in subsections 41:9-2 and 41:9-3 above shall be placed, constructed, erected or modified unless a sign permit shall have been obtained from the Zoning Officer and, where required by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, a building permit shall have been obtained from the Construction Official.
2.
When installation or modification of a sign has been approved by
the Board as part of a development application, a sign permit shall
be issued only if the proposed sign is consistent with the Board's
approval.
3.
Where a proposed sign is not consistent with the requirements of
this Chapter, the Zoning Officer shall refer the application to the
appropriate Board for variance review. The Planning Board shall have
jurisdiction over sign approvals when they are part of a new or amended
site plan or subdivision application. The Zoning Board of Adjustment
shall have jurisdiction if a variance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70.d
is also required or if site plan or subdivision approval is not otherwise
required.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
The following methods of measurement shall be utilized for the purposes
of calculating permissible signage:
a.
Individual Sign Area Measurements.
i.
The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign
or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the
smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle or combination thereof
that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, graphic illustration,
picture, symbol of other display, together with any material or color
forming an integral part of the background of the sign. For purposes
of calculating sign area, any illuminated border including those which
may frame the signage within a window shall be included in the sign
area calculation and used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop
or structure against which it is placed. This does not include any
framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence or
wall otherwise meets zoning regulations and is clearly incidental
to the sign itself.
ii.
No wall or canopy sign shall have more than two display faces.
When a sign has two display faces such that both faces cannot be viewed
from any one point at the same time, the sign's area shall be
computed by the measurement of the larger of the two faces.
b.
Glazed Area. Any glazing in doorways shall be considered part of
the glazed area. For purposes of calculating window signs, a window
shall be considered the glazed area. Signs which are required by County,
State, or Federal agencies shall be exempt from calculation of permanent
signage.
c.
Measurement of Height. The height of a monument sign shall be computed
as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top
of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall
be considered to be the lower of the existing grade prior to construction
of the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any
filing, berming, mounding or excavation solely for the purpose of
locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably
be determined, the sign height shall be computed on the assumption
that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is
equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public
road or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal
structure on the lot, whichever is lower.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
Electronic Message Center and Digital Display signs shall not be
permitted within the city. Where applications for variance to permit
an Electronic Message Center/Digital Display Sign are made, the standards
in this section shall be considered. Billboards shall not be subject
to this subsection but shall be regulated in accordance with the standards
in Section 41:6-2-11.
2.
Application Requirements. Applications for permits for electronic
message center/digital display signs shall include all information
typically required for sign permit and/or site plan or subdivision
application along with the following information:
3.
General Requirements.
a.
Electronic message center and digital display signs are subject to the same sign type, placement, height, area, and design standards as other sign types as defined in Section 41:9-10.
b.
A maximum of one electronic message center or digital display sign
shall be permitted per property.
c.
Animated or otherwise moving messages or images shall not be permitted.
d.
Transitions between messages shall be instantaneous and shall not
utilize fade-ins, fade-outs, star-wipes, or other similar transitions
that create the illusion of movement.
e.
The signs shall default to a black or similar dark color screen in
the event of message or communication malfunction.
f.
The owner of a message center sign shall coordinate with the City
Council to provide an opportunity to display, when appropriate, emergency
information important to the traveling public. Emergency information
messages shall remain in the advertising rotation according to the
protocols of the agency that issues the information.
4.
Luminance. Electronic message center and digital displays are subject
to the following luminance limits. These standards ensure effective
visibility of the sign while minimizing adverse impacts on neighboring
properties and the motoring public:
a.
During daylight hours between sunrise and sunset, luminance shall
be no greater than 5,000 nits.
b.
At all other times, luminance shall be no greater than 250 nits.
c.
Each sign shall have a light sensing device that automatically adjusts
the luminance of the display as the natural ambient light conditions
change to comply with the limits set herein.
5.
Message Duration. The length of time each message may be displayed
on a message center sign or digital display is based upon the visibility
and speed limit unique to the location of individual signs and the
adjacent road conditions. The following method shall be used to calculate
the minimum required message duration:
a.
Determine the greatest distance from which the sign becomes visible
on the road from which the sign will primarily serve. If a sign is
intended to be seen from more than one road, the road with the lower
posted speed limit shall be used for determining message duration.
b.
Multiply the road's posted speed limit (MPH) by 5,280 and then
divide by 3,600 to obtain the speed limit in feet/second.
c.
Divide the maximum visibility distance from a. by the speed limit
in feet/second from b.
d.
Add an additional 10% to the total calculated in c.
e.
The resulting amount of time in seconds is the minimum permitted
message duration. Where the result is less than eight seconds, the
minimum message duration shall be eight seconds.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
Internal Illumination.
a.
Wall Signs shall be permitted to be internally illuminated through
the use of channel letters or halo lighting mounted behind signs to
create a glowing halo effect. Light box signs shall not be permitted.
b.
Free-standing signs shall be permitted to be internally illuminated
provided that no more than 50% of the sign is translucent (meaning
up to half the sign may allow illumination to pass, with the remainder
opaque to prevent visible illumination).
c.
Internal illumination shall be static in intensity and color.
3.
Illuminated signs shall be extinguished 1/2 hour past the close of
business of the facility being identified or advertised, unless otherwise
required by State or Federal Law or if there is a demonstrated security
need to maintain illumination. Signs shall be equipped with an automatic
timer to comply with this subsection.
4.
All wiring and other equipment associated with illuminated signs
shall be contained within the sign or a secure enclosure that obscures
loose wires from general visibility.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
No nonconforming sign may be enlarged or altered in a way which would
increase its nonconformity. Existing nonconforming permanent signs
may continue to exist; however, when the sign is modified in either
shape, size, illumination, material, or structure, the sign shall
be altered to conform to the provisions of this section.
2.
Should any nonconforming sign be damaged for any reason by any means
to an extent of more than 50% of its replacement cost at time of damage,
it shall not be reconstructed except in conformity with the provisions
of this section.
[Adopted 11-1-2023 by Ord. No. 6PSF-E, 11-01-2023]
1.
The following signs and standards and conditions that govern such
signs are set forth in Table 9-1. All other signs are expressly prohibited
unless otherwise regulated in this Chapter. The following design standards
shall apply:
a.
Signs shall be in harmony and consistent with the architecture of
the building and related to the features of the building in terms
of location, scale, color, lettering, materials, texture and depth.
Signs shall not be dominant but shall be proportionate and shall complement
the building, existing signs and surroundings.
b.
There shall be consistent sign design throughout a particular project.
The design elements include style of lettering, construction materials,
size and illumination.
c.
Building signs shall not obscure, conflict with, or cover any architectural
element and must be aligned with major building elements such as windows,
trim and structure lines.
d.
No sign shall extend or project above the highest elevation of the
wall to which it is attached or above the lowest part of the roofline
of the building, whichever is less.
e.
Signs and sign structures of all types shall be located to allow
a clear, unobstructed line of sight for 300 feet from the stop line
of any intersection of streets and/or driveways, traffic signal or
traffic directional sign in the intersection.
f.
The width of signs mounted on the ground floor for any nonresidential
or non- industrial use may be 100% of the width of the portion of
the wall area dedicated to the applicable use if that width is less
than 30 feet, or 75% if the relevant width is 30 feet or greater.
2.
All signs shall comply with the standards enumerated in Table 9-1
below:
|
Table 9-1: Signage Design And Measurement Requirements
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Signage Type
|
Maximum Total Area (SF)
|
Maximum Number
|
Maximum Height of Sign
(feet)
|
Other Requirements
|
|
SINGLE-, TWO-, THREE-, AND FOUR-FAMILY DWELLING
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
1
|
1
|
Not to be located above the first floor on the building.
|
Home occupation or profession only. (Address numbers are exempt.)
|
|
TOWN HOUSES AND ROW HOUSES; LOW-, MID- AND HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
20
|
1 per street frontage for complex
|
Not to be located above the first floor on the building.
|
Building or complex Identification only - home occupation signs
are not permitted for multi-family developments.
|
|
OR
| ||||
|
Monument
|
25
|
1 per street frontage
|
5 feet including base
|
Where permitted, monument signs shall be set back at least 5
feet from all property lines and 5 feet from all structures.
|
|
MIXED-USE BUILDING WITH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL USES
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
10% of the wall area associated with the tenant space but no
greater than 50 square feet per sign.
|
Commercial: 1 per commercial tenant, per frontage occupied by
the tenant
|
Not to be located more than 4 feet above the top of the door,
window, or lintel line, whichever is tallest.
| |
|
Residential: 1 per frontage
| ||||
|
Projecting
|
6
|
1 per commercial tenant per frontage occupied by the tenant
|
n/a
|
May project a maximum of 4 feet from the building. Minimum distance
between the ground and the bottom of the sign is 8 feet; Sign must
be hung by brackets at right angles to the facade
|
|
Window
|
No more than 10% of glazed area for signs.
|
n/a
|
n/a
| |
|
Awnings
|
To be used in lieu of wall signs, subject to same conditions
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Awnings, which are not internally lit, may be used to display
signage in lieu of a wall sign. However, an awning with no signage
but for the name, address and phone number on the fringe of the awning
with lettering no greater than 8 inches high may be used in addition
to a wall sign. A minimum letter height of 12 inches shall be used
|
|
Window Sign (above ground level)
|
25% of the total glazed area of the windows applicable to the
use.
|
1 per street frontage
|
Signs may be located in the windows of the second or third levels
of a building.
|
A sign for a commercial use above first level may be installed
at the second or third level
|
|
DETACHED COMMERCIAL/SCHOOLS/COMMUNITY CENTERS/PLACES OF
WORSHIP/HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
10% of the wall area associated with the tenant space but no
greater than 70 square feet per sign.
|
1 per tenant, per frontage occupied by the tenant
|
Not to be located more than 4 feet above the top of the door,
window, or lintel line, whichever is tallest.
| |
|
For a single tenant building, 10% of the wall area but no greater
than 100 square feet per sign.
| ||||
|
Projecting
|
6
|
1 per commercial tenant, per frontage occupied by the tenant
|
n/a
|
May project a maximum of 4 feet from the building. Minimum distance
between the ground and the bottom of the sign is 8 feet; Sign must
be hung by brackets at right angles to the facade
|
|
Window
|
No more than 10% of glazed area for signs
|
n/a
|
n/a
| |
|
Awnings
|
To be used in lieu of wall signs, subject to same conditions.
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
Awnings, which are not internally lit, may be used to display
signage in lieu of a wall sign. However, an awning with no signage
but for the name, address and phone number on the fringe of the awning
with lettering no greater than 8 inches high may be used in addition
to a wall sign
|
|
Monument Sign
|
25 square feet
|
1 per street frontage
|
5 ft. including base
|
Monument signs shall be set back at least 5 feet from all property
lines and 5 feet from all structures.
|
|
A minimum letter height of 12 inches shall be used
| ||||
|
FUNERAL HOME OR MORTUARY
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
10
|
1 per street frontage
|
Not to be located more than 4 feet above the top of the door,
window, or lintel line, whichever is tallest.
| |
|
Monument Sign
|
25
|
1
|
5 ft. including base
|
Monument signs shall be set back at least 5 feet from all property
lines and 5 feet from all structures.
|
|
A minimum letter height of 12 inches shall be used
| ||||
|
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE; AUTOMOTIVE SALES AND REPAIR
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
10% of the wall area but no greater than 50 square feet.
|
1 per street frontage
|
Not to be located more than 4 feet above the top of the door,
window, or lintel line, whichever is tallest.
| |
|
Monument
|
25
|
1 per street frontage
|
5
|
Monument signs shall be set back at least 5 feet from all property
lines and 5 feet from all structures.
|
|
SELF STORAGE
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
10% of the wall area but no greater than 100 square feet.
|
1 per street frontage
|
n/a
| |
|
Monument
|
25
|
1 per street frontage
|
n/a
|
Monument signs shall be set back at least 5 feet from all property
lines and 5 feet from all structures.
|
|
ALL OTHER INDUSTRIAL USES
| ||||
|
Wall Sign
|
10% of the wall area but no greater than 100 square feet.
|
1 per street frontage
|
n/a
| |
|
Monument
|
25
|
1 per street frontage
|
5
|
Monument signs shall be set back at least 5 feet from all property
lines and 5 feet from all structures.
|
3.
Other signs not listed in Table 9-1.
a.
Building types or uses not listed in Table 9-1 shall comply with
the signage standards for the most similar or appropriate building
or use as determined by the Zoning Officer.
b.
Office buildings of 12 stories or more with signs indicating the
address or owning company's name or trademark image may be placed
below the parapet line and above the top floor row of windows and
shall be no more than 50% of the building width. Such signs shall
be limited to business identification for the principal tenant or
owner, who must occupy at least 40% of the building's total floor
area. Such signs shall be limited to one tenant/owner per building
and one sign per building elevation. Such signs shall be prohibited
in the Downtown Business District on buildings under 110 feet in height.
Such signs shall be prohibited on key and contributing historic buildings
in historic districts as well as on individually landmarked buildings
in all districts. Such signage shall not have a negative effect on
any historic structure.
c.
Free-standing signs shall be permitted for detached commercial malls
and strip centers with a minimum area of 40,000 square feet and a
minimum lot frontage of 200 feet subject to the following:
