The purpose of these regulations is to:
A.
Control the size, location, character and other pertinent
features of all exterior signs or signs visible from the exterior
of any premises within Rockaway Borough.
B.
Promote signage which is compatible with its surroundings,
orderly, readable, appropriate, helpful and nondistracting to motorists.
C.
Discourage and render unlawful signs which contribute
to visual pollution and clutter, are in disrepair or of faulty construction
or are in any way inimical to the public safety and welfare.
D.
Permit the use of banners (as defined in this § 172-35) by business owners for a limited period of time as provided in this Article IV. "Banners" shall be defined as a sign, displayed for the limited period of time, intended to inform the public of a unique happening, action, purpose or occasion or to advertise sales or seasonal items. The banner shall be printed or displayed on cloth or other durable flexible material and may be used to supplement permanent signs lawfully erected on the property of the business owner but may not be used as a substitute for permanent signs as required hereunder. Banners shall be temporary in nature and must meet all of the requirements specified in this Article IV. Balloons, streamers, or flags of any kind or size do not qualify for a permit to display banners.
[Added 10-13-2005 by Ord. No. 15-05]
A.
Generally. A sign permit shall be required before
the erection, re-erection, laminating, changing plastic panels, construction,
alteration, placement or location of any permanent sign permitted
by this article.
C.
Permit application and fees. Before the issuance of
any permit required by this chapter, the applicant shall pay to the
Treasurer of the Borough of Rockaway the required fee in accordance
with the building permit fee schedule of the Uniform Construction
Code.[1]
D.
Any business owner requesting the right to display
temporary banner signs shall apply for and have issued a permit by
the Borough of Rockaway before such business owner may display such
signs. There shall be imposed a fee of $40 for each permit period
subject to the following limitations: Each permit period shall consist
of 21 consecutive days; there shall be no more than four permit periods
in any calendar year; and there shall be not less than 15 consecutive
days between each permit period. The application must identify the
permit period(s) and shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer not
later than 10 days prior to the commencement date of any permit period.
Any tenant of a business owner must have the written consent of the
business owner or owner of the property from which the banner sign
shall be displayed.
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated
former Subsection D as Subsection E.
E.
Plan requirements. Plans shall conform to the requirements as stated on the application form. In addition, when application is made for a freestanding or pylon sign or an on-site directional sign, a site plan shall be submitted in the manner prescribed by Chapter 171, Land Subdivision and Site Plan Review.
A.
Signs on vacant premises. The owner of a property
shall remove the advertising, message, symbol or other information
conveyed by any sign within 90 days after the activity, business or
use which the sign advertises or calls attention to is no longer conducted
in or upon the premises or is abandoned.
B.
Illegal signs. Any sign erected or applied in violation
of this chapter shall be removed by the owner within 10 days after
receipt of written notification by the Construction Official.
The following signs are prohibited:
A.
Flashing, moving or animated signs; however, nonflashing,
digital reflected-light time and temperature signs shall be allowed
in the O-B, G-B, H-C, GLI and HT/LI Zones. Any temperature sign shall
conform to the height, size and setback requirements for the zoning
district where it is located.
B.
Signs which have any lighting or control mechanism
which causes radio or television interference.
C.
D.
Hanging signs which are fixed to any tree, fence or
any electrical, telephone or other public utility pole.
E.
Signs which in any way simulate official directional
or warning signs erected or maintained by the State of New Jersey,
Morris County, or Rockaway Borough or by any railroad, public utility
or agency concerned with the protection of the public health or safety.
F.
Signs which may dangerously confuse or distract the
attention of the operator of a motor vehicle.
[Amended 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 22-07]
G.
Signs which may dangerously confuse or distract the
attention of the operator of a motor vehicle or a pedestrian.
H.
Signs which consist of balloons, streamers and flags of any size (unless such flag shall have a qualified right to be displayed on property), posters, fluorescent paint, ribbons, steamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners or any other similar types of devices, whether or not they contain a message. A business owner, however, may display banner signs for the limited period of time expressed in this Article IV.
[Amended 10-13-2005 by Ord. No. 15-05]
I.
Signs which are portable or fixed on a movable stand, self-supporting without being firmly imbedded in the ground, or are supported by other objects. Notwithstanding this prohibition, a business owner in the B-C zone may display an A-frame sign per § 172-61D(13).
[Amended 9-22-2011 by Ord. No. 09-11]
J.
Signs located in a public right-of-way or approved
sight easement (if the sign is taller than 30 inches), except those
owned and maintained by a duly constituted governmental agency.
K.
Signs located, painted or affixed on a water tower,
storage tank, tower or other similar structure.
L.
Signs located, painted or affixed on trees, rocks
or other natural features.
M.
Signs which extend above the top or beyond the ends
of the canopy, marquee or mansard surface of the wall on which they
are located.
N.
Signs which protrude more than 12 inches from the
surface to which they are affixed.
O.
Except for A-frame signs permitted in the B-C zone per § 172-61D(13), signs which are mounted on wheels or on a movable vehicle and signs which are made easily movable in any other manner.
[Amended 9-22-2011 by Ord. No. 09-11]
B.
Maintenance.
(1)
All signs (including official signs, banner signs, and portable signs as permitted by this Article IV), together with all their supports, braces, hooks, anchors and other fastening devices, shall be of substantial and sturdy construction, shall be kept in good repair and shall be painted or cleaned as often as necessary to maintain a clean, neat, safe and orderly appearance. All signs must be properly secured so as to not cause a hazard or an unsafe condition to pedestrians or property.
[Amended 10-13-2005 by Ord. No. 15-05; 9-22-2011 by Ord. No.
09-11]
(2)
The area surrounding permitted freestanding or pylon
signs shall be kept neat, clean and free of litter. The owner of the
property upon which said sign is located shall be responsible for
maintaining the condition of the sign and of the surroundings. These
provisions shall apply to freestanding or pylon signs existing on
the effective date of this chapter, as well as those hereafter erected,
enlarged or reconstructed.
(3)
Banner signs shall be placed only upon a structure located upon the property of the business owner requesting the right to display banner signs, or if a tenant of the business owner desires to display banner signs, such tenant shall adhere to the requirements of this Article IV. The owner of the property upon which such banner signs are erected shall be responsible for the acts of its tenant in utilizing the property of such business owner.
[Added 10-13-2005 by Ord. No. 15-05]
C.
Lighting of signs. Indirect or interior lighting may
be used to illuminate any sign, unless otherwise indicated, provided
that the source of light shall concentrate the illumination upon the
area of the sign in a manner to prevent glare upon the street or adjacent
property.
D.
Permanent signs. Permanent signs shall be permitted
as specified in the Schedule of Sign Regulations. All permanent signs,
other than directional signs, shall be located on the premises of
the use or activity which they identify, advertise or to which they
call attention.
E.
Banner signs. No more than two banner signs may be permitted in any permit period as defined in § 172-36D. If a business owner shall have more than one tenant in his building who wishes to utilize banner signs, no tenant shall be permitted to display more than one banner sign for each permit period where more than one tenant or business owner desires to display a banner sign. Banner signs may be displayed as wall-mounted or ground-mounted signs, provided the size of such banner sign and its location meet in all respects the requirements for permanent signs for such business owner’s property.
[Added 10-13-2005 by Ord. No. 15-05;
amended 9-22-2011 by Ord. No. 09-11]
(1)
Size of banner signs. If a business owner makes application
for one banner sign during any permit period, such banner sign shall
not, in any event, exceed 30 square feet in sign area (excluding any
wall- or ground-mounting hardware). If the business owner shall make
application for two banner signs, no such banner sign shall exceed
15 square feet in size (excluding any wall- or ground-mounting hardware).
No business owner or tenant shall utilize or maintain any banner sign
beyond the boundaries of the business owner’s property. If a
business owner or tenant desires to mount a banner sign on a wall
of a building, such banner sign shall not protrude above the roofline
of the building or structure upon which such sign is mounted and must
lie flat against the building surface at all times. No banner sign
shall be permitted to "stream" in the wind.
(2)
Setback requirements. Any banner sign which is ground-mounted
shall not be closer to any side line of the property owned by the
business owner or leased from the business owner than 10 feet from
said side line. No banner sign shall be strung across any roadway
nor shall such sign be affixed to any utility pole. No such banner
sign shall be affixed to any other structure adjoining the property
of the business owner or tenant of the business owner.
(3)
Ground-mounted banner signs. Any ground-mounted banner
sign shall be securely attached at the top and bottom corners of the
metal or other durable structure frame designed to hold such banner
sign.
A.
Every facade sign shall be attached and parallel to
the face of the building and shall not extend further than 12 inches
from the face of the building, provided that where a sign extends
more than three inches from the face of said building no portion of
a facade sign shall be closer than 10 feet to the ground level below
said sign. Where a building has a permanent mansard, canopy or marquee
constructed as an integral part of said building, a sign as permitted
in this section may be placed on the front of the marquee. For the
purpose of administering this section, the permitted area of the sign
on the canopy, mansard or marquee shall be determined by the area
of the wall from which said canopy, mansard or marquee extends.
B.
There shall be not more than one such sign as herein
regulated for each separate tenant of the premises, provided that
where the tenant premises front on two streets, two signs shall be
permitted. Where a building is served with a rear entrance or entrances
opening on a parking area and intended for use by the public as approved
by the Land Use Board, each tenant with such entrance or entrances
in the building is permitted one additional sign facing such parking
area as regulated for the frontage of the building.
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12]
C.
Permitted area.
(1)
The total sign area for all facade signs permitted
in the O-B, G-B, H-C, GLI and HT/LI Zones shall be computed as follows:
|
Building Frontage
(feet)
|
Permitted Sign Area as a
Percentage of Facade Area
| |
|---|---|---|
|
40 or less
|
20%
| |
|
41 to 100
|
15%
| |
|
Over 100
|
10%
|
(2)
However, where an extension or enlargement of an existing
business or industrial building is permitted, facade signs having
an area not to exceed 20% of the facade area may be permitted by the
Land Use Board at site plan approval, if necessary, to create compatibility
with existing signage. Those portions of a building facade over 14
feet in height shall not be included in the computation of permitted
sign area.
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12]
D.
No facade, building canopy or marquee sign shall have
an area, height or any dimension greater than as approved by the Land
Use Board as part of the site plan approval.
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12]
F.
In the O-B, G-B, H-C, GLI and HT/LI Zones, one freestanding sign per commercial or industrial site development shall be permitted; in the B-C Zone only facade signs or monument signs not higher than six feet or more than 15 square feet in area shall be permitted. All business signs in the B-C District shall also comply with the requirements of § 172-61D.
[Amended 7-11-2002 by Ord. No. 10-02]
A.
The provisions of this section shall be applicable only to those locations within the O-B, G-B, H-C, GLI and HT/LI Zones at which no more than one business is located. Locations at which more than one business is located shall be governed by § 172-42.
B.
No freestanding or pylon sign shall be hung less than
10 feet from a property line or more than 15 feet above the ground,
or exceed an area of 15 square feet per sign face. Where the subject
property abuts a street right-of-way, no sign shall be hung less than
15 feet from the property line.
C.
No freestanding or pylon sign shall have more than
two sign faces.
One freestanding pylon sign for each building
or group of buildings under one management, having a gross floor area
of not less than 20,000 square feet shall be permitted, provided that
the following conditions are met:
A.
Said pylon sign shall identify the commercial or industrial
center or principal business only. Tenants within the building shall
not attach their sign to any part of the permitted pylon sign.
B.
The height of the pylon sign shall not exceed 15 feet,
and no part of the sign illustration shall be less than 10 feet above
the ground.
C.
No freestanding sign shall be within 15 feet of any
abutting street right-of-way or property line.
D.
The area of the sign shall not exceed 15 square feet.
E.
No permit for a freestanding pylon sign under § 172-41 and this section shall be issued unless detailed plans of the sign, structure and foundation have been submitted and approved by the Borough Engineer. Such plans shall bear the signature and seal of an architect or professional engineer registered in the State of New Jersey.
The following temporary signs are permitted:
A.
Temporary signs announcing or advertising any political,
educational, charitable, professional, religious or like campaign
or event for a period not to exceed a total of 30 days of any calendar
year.
B.
A real estate sign other than a "sold" sign is permitted
in all zones advertising the sale, rental, lease or future use of
a property, provided that:
(1)
It is nonilluminated.
(2)
It pertains only to the premises on which it is placed.
(3)
It does not exceed four square feet in area.
(4)
It is removed within seven days of the consummation
of the lease, rent or sales transaction.
(5)
It is at least 10 feet from any street right-of-way
line, unless the sign is attached to a portion of a building that
may be nearer to said street line.
Signs of schools and public buildings, churches,
and rest homes may be erected and maintained, provided that:
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12]
Signs which do not lend themselves to the ordinary
processes of measurement or, because of their nature, require special
control, may be permitted when the Land Use Board finds such signs
are appropriate to the type of development or structure to which they
are related. All such signs shall be subject to site plan review and
approval by the Land Use Board. Signs of or similar to the following
types require special permits:
A.
On-premises directional and traffic control signs
shall be permitted, provided that they conform to all state, county
and Borough traffic regulations and ordinances where applicable. In
the event that the directional sign is not a standard traffic control
device or sign, it shall not exceed two square feet in area or 30
inches in height.
C.
One additional direction sign for each road frontage
in addition to the principal road frontage may be erected on a commercial
or industrial lot which has frontage on more than one public road.
The face of such signs shall not exceed a maximum size of two feet
by three feet and the height shall not exceed 30 inches. All such
signs shall be subject to site plan review and approval by the Land
Use Board.
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12]
The following signs do not require a sign permit
and are exempt from the provisions of this chapter, provided that
they meet the following stated requirements where applicable:
A.
Public signs. Public signs of a noncommercial nature,
including safety signs, danger signs, no trespassing signs, signs
indicating scenic or historical points of interest and all signs erected
by a public officer in the performance of a public duty.
B.
Memorial signs and tablets. Nonilluminated memorial
signs or tablets, indicating the name of a building or date of erection
not exceeding two square feet in surface which are part of the building
construction or attached as wall signs.
C.
Name plates and directories (nonresidential). Nonilluminated
name plates and building directories relating only to the use or occupancy
of the building to which they are attached. Such signs shall not exceed
12 square feet in surface area and may be part of the building construction
or attached as a wall sign.
D.
Name plates (residential). One nonilluminated or shielded
illuminated name plate, not exceeding two square feet in surface area,
shall be permitted for each single-family residence.
E.
Compatibility with county, state and federal regulations.
All street signs shall comply with all appropriate county, state or
federal regulations. In the event of a conflict, the more strict regulations
shall be observed.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
chapter, garages and stations permitted herein may display only the
following signs which are deemed customary and necessary to their
respective business:
A.
One freestanding sign advertising the name of the
station and/or the principal products sold on the premises, including
any special company or brand name, insignia or emblem, provided that
each such sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area on each side
and shall be placed not less than 10 feet from the property line and
no portion of said sign other than supporting members shall be less
than 10 feet above the ground.
B.
No freestanding pylon sign shall be more than 15 feet
in height or have an area in excess of 15 square feet.
C.
Directional signs or lettering displayed over the
individual entrance doors or facilities offered at the station, provided
that there shall be not more than one such sign over each entrance
or facility and the same shall not exceed 12 inches in height nor
three square feet in area.
D.
Customary lettering on or other insignia which are
a structural part of a fuel dispenser, consisting only of the brand
name of gasoline sold, lead warning sign, a price indicator, and any
other sign required by law and not exceeding a total of two square
feet on each dispenser.
E.
One temporary sign located inside the property line
and specifically advertising special seasonal servicing of automobiles,
provided that such sign does not exceed six square feet in area.
