[§§ 429-192—429-202 adopted 12-6-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-08]
No person shall erect, alter, relocate, maintain, reconstruct or cause to be erected, altered, relocated or reconstructed any sign of any type or description unless it shall conform to the requirements of this Chapter and until he shall have complied with the requirements of Chapter 367, Signs, and its amendments and supplements, and shall have applied for and secured a sign permit from the Building Subcode Official. New or altered signs shall be subject to site plan review.
A.
In all districts, maximum permitted sizes of each listed type shall
be in accordance with the regulations set forth as follows:
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Business Identification Signs
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
District
|
Professional Sign on Residence
(square feet)
|
Free-Standing Sign
(square feet)
|
Monument Sign
(square feet)
|
Institutional Sign
(square feet)
|
Wall Sign*
(percentage of wall area)
|
For Sale or Rent Sign
(square feet)
|
|
Residential
|
1 1/2
|
Prohibited
|
Prohibited
|
12
|
Prohibited
|
6
|
|
NB
|
N/A
|
Prohibited
|
Prohibited
|
—
|
5%
|
24
|
|
LB
|
N/A
|
Prohibited
|
30
|
—
|
5%
|
24
|
|
HCC and HHC-2
|
N/A
|
36
|
30
|
30
|
5^
|
32
|
|
*In no event, however, shall the total wall area usable for
sign display exceed 100 square feet on any one side of a building
or structure or 5 percent of the total area of said side, whichever
is less, less the area of any nonconforming signs. Only one sign unit
shall be permitted on any wall and a total of no more than four sign
units shall be permitted on any single tenant building, provided that
the total sign area shall not exceed 200 square feet, less the area
of any nonconforming signs, and provided further that no individual
sign shall exceed 5 percent of the wall area on which it is located
or 100 square feet, whichever is less, less the area of any nonconforming
signs. The wall area calculations should be taken to the roofline
(and not include any surface area of the parapet or mansard above
the roofing).
|
|
** Enclosed shopping malls shall be permitted to have exterior
wall business signs only for tenants having a floor area of at least
35,000 square feet and having an exclusive customer entrance and exit
door leading to a parking area. Any such wall sign shall be positioned
to draw attention to the customer entrance door.
|
B.
Where separate entrances exist and specific certificate of occupancy
is on record with the Building Department, a wall sign may be allowed
for the wall area associated with the business. A total of 100 square
feet of sign area is allowed for the entire wall, and no more than
5 percent of the individual store front wall can be used in determining
the size of the allowable sign area. In any one building, there shall
be no more than one wall sign per tenant, except that end tenants
shall be permitted to have two wall signs, one on each of the front
and side walls.
A.
A freestanding, double-faced sign, not to exceed 36 square feet,
is permitted in the HCC and HCC-2 Zones where necessary to identify
a group of stores or other commercial establishments on the same lot.
B.
Freestanding signs shall not be externally illuminated.
C.
The bottom of any freestanding sign shall be a minimum of eight feet
from the ground level and the top of said sign shall not exceed 18
feet from the ground level.
D.
No freestanding sign panel shall exceed a height of eight feet, a
length of 12 feet, nor a depth of 18 inches.
E.
No part of a freestanding sign shall be closer than 15 feet to the
curbline of an abutting street nor closer than 10 feet to the street
right-of-way.
F.
Street address numbers. All freestanding signs and monument signs
referencing businesses shall contain the street address number of
the property on each face which displays information. Street address
numbers on business and all other freestanding signs (except entrance
signs) shall have a height of eight inches on State highways and a
height of four inches on other roads.
G.
A freestanding sign may have a decorative sign base as long as it
meets the following requirements:
(1)
The color of the decorative sign base must be consistent with
the colors of the sign. The sign and decorative sign base, together,
may not exceed the maximum of four colors.
(2)
A decorative sign base may not contain any lettering, logo or
other advertising. The street address of the property required may
be located on a decorative sign base.
(3)
A decorative sign base must cover the entire length (the distance
between the bottom of the sign panel and the ground) of the support
structure to which it is affixed.
(4)
The width of a decorative sign base may not be greater than
1/3 the length of the sign panel or 42 inches, whichever is less.
(5)
The depth of a decorative sign base may not be greater than
the depth of the sign panel. The depth of the base shall be measured
to include the support structure.
(6)
A decorative sign base may not be illuminated.
A.
One double-faced or single-faced entrance sign shall be permitted
at each entrance driveway for the purpose of directing motorists safely
into business establishments located in the NB, LB, HCC and HCC-2
Zones. Such entrance signs shall be uniform in size and content as
follows:
(1)
Size: Two feet in height; four feet in length and not more than
12 inches in depth.
(2)
Lettering and construction: The content of the sign and the
size of lettering shall conform to all of the aspects of the standard
entrance sign in Figure I appended to this Article [by reference]
and on display in the office of the Building Subcode Official of the
Borough of Paramus. Only the name of the principal occupant may be
inscribed thereon.
(3)
Coloring: Black letters on a white background shall be employed.
(4)
Illumination: All entrance signs under this Chapter must be
of reflective surface and not lighted by interior illumination.
(5)
Height: Height of sign from mean ground level shall not exceed
four feet.
(6)
Location: Sign shall be placed on the far side of the entrance
driveway relative to the direction of traffic flow.
(7)
Shape: Rectangular shape shall be required.
(8)
All entrance signs shall contain the street address number of
the property on each face which displays information. Street address
numbers on entrance signs shall have a height of four inches.
A.
No sign shall project from the building to which it is attached more
than one foot at one end and no more than three feet at the other
end. That side which projects more than one foot shall be covered
with the same material as the remainder of the sign and shall be at
a right angle to the façade or side of said building. The space
between the sign face and the building wall shall be enclosed so that
the sign face and sign sides are flush with the building wall.
B.
No wall signs shall be permitted on any office buildings except as
follows:
(1)
A single building identification sign consisting of the name
or number of the building, not exceeding in area 5 percent of the
area of the wall on which it is located or 60 square feet, whichever
is less, less the area of any nonconforming sign, shall be permitted.
(2)
An identical facsimile of the single sign identified above may
be permitted on a second wall of an office building, provided that
the aggregate area of both signs does not exceed 90 square feet, less
the area of any nonconforming signs.
One monument sign per lot shall be permitted no greater than
30 square feet. Such sign shall be located in any front yard area
but in no case less than 15 feet from the curbline of any abutting
street nor less than 10 feet to the street right-of-way. The maximum
height from the ground shall be six feet. No internal illumination
shall be permitted.
One institutional sign shall be permitted for any principal
use allowed in any residential zone. Such sign shall be located in
a front yard area but in no case less than 15 feet from the curbline
of any abutting street nor less than 10 feet to the street right-of-way.
The maximum height from the ground shall be six feet. No internal
illumination shall be permitted.
A.
A gasoline service station shall be permitted to have only the following
signs:
(1)
One freestanding sign containing a maximum of 60 square feet
and comprised of a maximum of 36 square feet for gas station identification
purposes and a maximum of 24 square feet for price display and other
purposes.
(2)
Where a canopy is provided over pump islands, one canopy fascia-
mounted business sign shall be permitted having a maximum area of
12 square feet. Where a gasoline service station with a canopy is
on a corner lot, two canopy fascia-mounted business signs shall be
permitted.
(3)
Where an accessory convenience retail building is provided, wall-mounted signage shall be permitted in accordance with the standards for wall-mounted signs elsewhere in this Article XXXII.
(4)
Each fuel dispenser shall be permitted to contain product pricing
information, provided that the letters, numbers or brand information
do not have a height which exceeds six inches, but in no case shall
any fuel dispenser signage exceed two square feet in area.
A.
All business signs and all spotlights and floodlighting used in connection
with the operation of any business shall be extinguished by 11:00
p.m. or upon the close of business serviced by said signs or lighting,
whichever last occurs. Extinguishing of such lights shall be controlled
by automatic means. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chief of Police,
subject to the approval of the Building Engineer, may authorize lighting
specifically designed for the protection of properties otherwise subject
to this section, which lighting, when authorized, shall be exempt
from the provisions hereof.
B.
Winter season holiday lighting shall be permitted within a continuous
period of no more than 60 days per year and shall be exempt form site
plan approval. Such building, landscaping or site accent lighting
which is installed or used at times outside of the permitted 60 day
period shall be subject to site plan approval.
C.
No sign shall be illuminated by lighting of intermittent or varying
intensity. Klieg lights or similar high-intensity search lights shall
be prohibited. Open neon signs shall be permitted within the interior
of enclosed shopping malls.
[Amended 12-4-2018 by Ord. No. 18-34]
A.
A professional or announcement sign of a home professional office
on a residence building shall be fixed on the main wall of such building
or on a signpost not more than six feet in height above ground and
set back not less than 20 feet from the curbline and shall not project
more than 24 inches. Such sign may be internally lighted between the
hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., and as to a sign of a physician,
surgeon or dentist, without any time restriction. Such lighting shall
be arranged so as to prevent glare, and no sign shall be illuminated
by lighting of intermittent or varying intensity.
B.
A name or announcement sign affixed to the main wall and one double-faced
freestanding sign for the use of a church, parish house, club, school
or public or semipublic building shall be permitted in any district.
The wall sign shall not exceed in height 10% of the vertical height
of the wall of the building to which the sign is attached and shall
not exceed 12 square feet in area. Such signs may be internally lighted
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Such lighting shall be
arranged so as to prevent glare, and no sign shall be illuminated
by lighting of intermittent or varying intensity.
C.
A real estate "for sale or rent" sign shall apply only to the premises
upon which it is placed, and no part of said sign shall be erected
closer than 15 feet to the front property line of said premises. Said
sign must be removed upon the sale of said premises.
D.
No business sign shall be erected or maintained upon the roof of
a building, including a mansard roof or parapet, nor shall any sign
project above the roof of a building, except that a wall-mounted sign
on the parapet wall of a one-story building is permitted above a roofline
elevation, provided that the sign shall be placed in symmetry with
the architectural lines and shape of the front wall. Where a sign
is mounted on a parapet wall, the parapet wall shall not extend more
than four feet above the abutting roof elevation.
E.
The erection of any advertising sign (off-premises) or billboard
or sign which moves or rotates is prohibited in all districts.
F.
No sign, temporary or otherwise, on the inside of a window shall
be greater than two feet in height nor cover more than 20% of the
square footage of said window, but in no case shall such sign be greater
than the total of 16 square feet of the total glass area of each wall.
No window sign shall be permitted above the first floor of any building.
G.
No sign permitted in this chapter shall consist of more than four
colors, inclusive of black and white. In a building with more than
two first-floor retail uses, all signage shall conform to a sign program
authorized by the property owner for the entire building wherein the
sign colors of all signs shall not exceed eight colors, inclusive
of black and white.
H.
No permanent cloth, paper, oilcloth or canvas signs, promotional flags, banners or pennants of any kind shall be permitted on the exterior of any structure. Temporary signs are only permitted in accordance with Chapter 367 of the Code of the Borough of Paramus.
I.
No permit shall be issued to erect an exterior sign on property containing
a nonconforming sign until such time as the nonconforming sign has
been removed.
J.
When the owner or lessee of a sign vacates the premises upon which
the sign is located, the lettering on said sign must be removed. If
the owner or lessee of said sign does not remove it, then the owner
of the building or property shall be held responsible for the removal
of the lettering within 30 days of vacancy.
K.
A logo may be permitted on a sign only after specific approval of
the Zoning Officer and the Construction Code Official.
L.
No vehicle or mobile sign shall be used to circumvent these regulations.
M.
No balloon, banner or similar attention-getting device shall be permitted
on any building or on any site.
N.
No internally illuminated panels on vending machines outside of buildings
shall be permitted wherein the lettering or product image exceeds
four inches in height.
O.
Grand opening and/or grand reopening signs are limited to one two-foot-by-twelve-foot banner/sign, only for a maximum of 14 days from erection. Said sign can include the name of the business and the words "grand opening" or grand reopening." Any sign must be mounted on the front elevation wall. If a tenant occupies the corner space of a building with two elevations, or if the building is a freestanding building, then a maximum of two signs is permitted. Additionally, two bunting flags may be mounted for a maximum of 14 days from erection. Flags must be mounted on the front elevation wall. If a tenant occupies the corner space of a building with two elevations or if the building is a freestanding building, then four bunting flags are permitted, one on each end of said banner. Notwithstanding Subsection M above, balloons and a ribbon-cutting event shall be permitted for the first day of the grand opening only, after which all balloons and ribbon must be removed. A fee of $50 shall be paid for any grand opening and grand reopening banners/signs/balloons/ribbon.
A sign which is nonconforming for any reason shall not be reconstructed,
enlarged or extended.
