No signs shall be erected, altered, or replaced
which are not in accordance with the standards of this article.
A. Zoning permits shall be required for all signs greater
than two square feet in area unless specifically exempted herein.
Relief from the requirements of this article shall be requested in
the form of a variance from the appropriate Board pursuant to N.J.S.A.
40:55D-l et seq.
B. No signs shall be placed on or attached to a building
or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a
permitted business or use conducted on the same premises unless specifically
permitted herein.
C. No sign shall be placed in a public right-of-way nor
otherwise obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional
or identification signs. All signs shall comply with the requirements
of this chapter pursuant to sight triangles and required sight distances.
D. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this
article, no part of any sign shall extend above the top or beyond
the ends of the wall surface on which it is placed; no sign, except
such directional devices as may be required by federal aeronautical
authorities, shall be placed, inscribed or supported upon the roof
or upon any building which extends above the roof of any building;
and no sign shall be placed so as to interfere with the opening of
an exit door or to obstruct any window opening to a room to be used
for dwelling purposes.
E. Freestanding signs shall be supported by one or more
columns or uprights which are firmly embedded in the ground. Exposed
guy wires, chains or other connections shall not be permitted except
that the sign itself may hang from its supporting frame by flexible
links. Two-faced freestanding signs shall have no angle between the
two sides.
F. Interior window signs shall not be considered in computing
total allowable signage, provided that such signs shall not exceed
50% of the total window area, shall be used only for advertising of
special sales, products, or services sold on the premises, and shall
not be used for business identification purposes.
G. Informational signs such as street number designations,
postal boxes, parking signs, "private property" signs, on-site directional
signs, and warning signs are permitted in all zones. Such signs shall
not exceed one square foot in area and shall not be considered in
calculating total permitted signage.
H. Illuminated signs shall be designed to minimize light
spillage and/or glare beyond the border of the sign, itself. Such
signs shall be either indirectly lighted or of the diffused lighting
type. Illumination shall be designed to direct light and glare away
from adjoining streets and properties. Floodlights used for sign illumination
shall not project light above the highest elevation of the illuminated
wall of the building.
I. A single decorative flag of 25 square feet or less
may be affixed to any building in any zone without necessity for a
zoning permit. Such flags may contain generic words such as "open,"
but shall not advertise any product or event. Such a decorative flag
shall not be included in any calculation of total permitted signage.
The following signs are expressly prohibited
in all zones:
A. Billboards are not permitted in any zone of Cedar
Grove Township.
B. Flashing, intermittent intensity or revolving signs
shall not be permitted, nor shall any illuminated sign of red, green,
yellow, or any light placed in a location or manner which could be
mistaken for a traffic signal or emergency vehicle.
C. No person may erect a sign which is affixed to a fence,
utility pole, tree or natural object. No sign, artistic mural/painting
or mosaic may be painted directly on the exterior surface of a building
or an accessory structure such as a storage tank.
[Amended 10-4-2021 by Ord. No. 21-881]
D. All other attention attracting devices such as streamers,
strings of pennants, spinners, pin wheels, beacons, inflatables, flashing
signs or similar devices are prohibited. Banners shall be permitted
as temporary signs in accordance with the requirements of this section.
E. No movable signs shall be permitted, except in conjunction
with Christmas tree sales, which may be permitted for no more than
45 days.
F. It shall be unlawful to utilize a vehicle or trailer
as a structure to which a sign is attached or placed. Vehicles on
which signs are placed, painted, or erected and which are regularly
parked in a conspicuous location for the purpose of advertising are
prohibited.
In residential zones the following signs may
be permitted:
A. A nonilluminated nameplate sign, situated within the
property lines and bearing only a place name, the name of the principal
occupant, and/or the address of a private dwelling, and not exceeding
96 square inches in total area.
B. Signs advertising a use in a residential zone such
as a nonprofit organization or fraternal group, identification for
a multifamily development, public or quasi-public building or building
used solely for a nonprofit church, school, hospital or other like
purpose, but not including any activity of a retail nature, provided
that it is located on the same premises which it advertises. Such
sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. Where such signs are
freestanding they shall be a minimum of 10 feet from any property
line and no higher than six feet.
C. Not more than one sign shall be posted for each use
or activity permitted within the provisions of this section.