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ZONING DEPARTMENT
400 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
Comments Questions
Sec. 10B-293. Prohibited
sign features.
No sign shall contain features which:
(a) Bear or contain statements, words or pictures which are
offensive to the community's standards.
(b) Purport to be or resemble official traffic signs or
signals or which bear the words "stop," "go slow," "caution," "danger," "warning," or
similar words; or which by reason of size, location, movement,
content, coloring or manner of illumination may be confused
with or construed as a traffic control device; or which
obstruct from view
any pedestrian
or vehicular traffic or any street sign or signal.
(c) Except as provided in section 10B-294, advertise or publicize
an activity, use, business, product, real estate, or service not located
or conducted on the premises upon which such signs are located.
(d) Contain electronic, flashing, glowing or moving devices
(except time and temperature devices) or emit smoke, visible vapor, particles,
sound or odor, or use exposed incandescent bulbs, or neon tubes, or use
mirrors or other similar reflecting devices.
(e) Are located in a public right-of-way, except with the
approval of the zoning officer based on a finding that the particular
type of sign is customarily located within the right-of-way (such as,
but not limited to, no hunting signs, farm produce signs, names on roadside
mailboxes, entrance/exit signs, etc.) and that the interrelationship
among the right-of-way line, the information to be conveyed by the sign,
and the particular characteristics of the property (including its topography,
vegetation, and structures) requires the sign to be located within the
right-of-way. No sign shall be located so as to cause a visual obstruction
within an approved sight easement.
(f) Consist of banners (except grand opening banners), posters,
flags (except U.S. flags), pennants, ribbons, streamers, strings of light
bulbs (except seasonal decorations) and spinners.
(g) Are portable or temporary, except as permitted in section
10B-294, such as sandwich boards or signs fixed on a movable stand, not
permanently embedded in the ground or supported by other objects, mounted
on wheels or on a movable vehicle or temporary structure.
(h) Are located, painted or affixed on benches, water towers,
storage tanks, smokestacks, utility poles or other similar structures,
or on trees, rocks or other natural features.
(i) Are placed on a flat roof or above the roof peak of a
building or structure, project from the facade of a structure (other
than as permitted for a facade sign), or appear on awnings or canopies
(other than on the valance).
(j ) Are attached to or placed on merchandise or materials
stored or displayed outdoors and visible from a public street or other
public area.
(k) Contain changeable copy (except theater marquee signs,
business directories, church and museum signs and gas price
signs). (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1.)
Sec 10B-294. Exempt signs not requiring a permit.
The following signs do not require a 'permit if they do not
violate the criteria set forth in section 10B-293 and comply with the
standards of section 10B-298 and with all other relevant sections of
the township code:
(a) Permanent signs.
(1) Non-illuminated memorial or historical signs, corner stones and tablets
indicating the name and/or date of erection of the building on which they are
located, which do not exceed two square feet in surface area, and which are
part of the wall of the building which is identified.
(2) Non-illuminated residential nameplates with an area of
less than two square feet, which may include the name of the owner or
resident and the address of the property.
One sign for each access drive may be permitted provided
the signs meet the above requirements. Sign background for house numbers
shall not be counted as part of the sign area.
(3) Seasonal decorations for display purposes provided that
such decorations are safely maintained.
(4) Grave markers.
(5) Private "no trespassing" and "no hunting" signs placed on private
property, provided that each sign does not exceed one square
foot.
(6) Directional signs not exceeding thirty inches in height
and located within a site, provided that the following criteria are met.
a. Entrance and exit signs may contain the name of an accessory
use conducted on the property, such as loading zones, service areas,
and service truck routes.
b. Entrance and exit signs not exceeding three square feet
in area, and located at a minimum setback distance of five feet from
a public right-of-way.
c. Signs related to emergency medical care not exceeding an area of twelve
square feet.
(7) One ground sign identifying the name of a multifamily
complex not to exceed ten square feet may be erected at the primary entrance
to the complex. The sign shall be located at a minimum setback of fifteen
feet from the public right-of-way and shall not exceed seven feet in
height.
(8) One ground sign identifying the name of a singlefamily
development and. not exceeding ten square feet may be erected at the
primary entrance to a residential development having a homeowner's association
provided that the association or the developer agrees .to maintain the
sign. The sign shall be located at a minimum setback or twenty?five feet
from the public right-of-way and shall not exceed seven feet in height.
(9) Directory signs erected as part of a municipally sponsored
program, at a location and of a size approved by the zoning officer.
(10) All signs and signals owned or operated by the township,
the county, the state or the United States of America.
(b) Temporary signs. Signs may be erected for a limited period
of time and for a specific purpose which:
(1) Advertise the sale or rental of the premises on which
they are located, provided that:
a. The size of any sale or rental sign for a single dwelling
shall not exceed eight square feet. Not more than one sign
may be placed upon any property and such signs shall be
promptly removed when premises
are sold or rented, except that a sign with the words "sold" or "rented" may
be continued for an additional two weeks.
b. Developments with four or more homes for sale may advertise
the development on each frontage, if the development fronts on more than
one street. All signs advertising the development shall be removed when
seventy-five percent of .the lots have been initially sold or initially
rented, or within fifteen months, whichever is less. Each sign shall
not exceed twelve square feet.
(2) Advertise the future construction or location of a nonresidential
use, provided that:
a. The sign does not exceed twenty-four square feet in area.
b. The sign may also identify public or private lenders providing
the construction financing and identifying architects, engineers, contractors,
tradesmen, or others engaged or to be engaged in construction work.
Such signs shall not be erected until final subdivision or
final site plan approval has been granted, including approval of the
proposed temporary sign, and shall be removed as soon as the work ceases
or is completed, in any event not to exceed a two year period.
(3) Advertise farm products grown on site, provided that
the sign does not exceed ten square feet. It may be erected at the entrance
of an active farm stand advertising the sale of farm products when such
sale is conducted in accordance with the provisions of this code. Such
sign shall be displayed only when the products are on sale. The sign
shall be located at a minimum setback of' ten feet from the public right-of-way.
The sign may be a wall or a ground sign not to exceed six feet in height.
(4) Warn of construction, excavation or similar hazards for
as long as the hazard exists.
(5) Advertise the sale of merchandise, if they are located
in a window and do not exceed four square feet, or fifteen percent of
the window area of each facade, whichever is greater. For windows which
are more than twenty-five feet from the public right-of-way, such signs
shall not exceed twenty-five percent of such window area.
(6) Advertise a garage or yard sale, provided the sign does
not exceed four square feet and is displayed for no more than seven days.
Off-premises signs may be permitted upon the approval of the zoning officer.
(7) Consist of directional signs that concern particular
transitory purposes or occasions shall be permitted, provided that:
a. Such signs shall be removed as soon as the purpose of
occasion has passed or been served, and, in any event; the sign shall
not be erected more than ten days prior to the event nor remain more
than one week after posting, unless an extension of time is granted by
the zoning officer.
b. The advertising area of the sign shall not exceed three
square feet and shall not be more than three feet in height.
c . Signs may be located elsewhere than on the lot to which
they refer, as permitted, by the zoning officer. In no event shall more
than one directional sign for the same event be independently posted
at an intersecting street.
(8) Consist of on-premises grand opening banners attached
to the building in which the new activity is being established. These
may remain in place for three weeks from the date of opening of the activity.
(9) Consist of celebration bunting with no lettering on state
holidays and days of public celebration. Bunting shall be removed within
seven days of celebration.
(10) Publicize special public issues or events, including
elections and the events of fraternal, charitable or religious organizations,
provided that:
a. The sign is removed within five days after the event takes
place.
b. The sign does not exceed six square feet.
c. The sign shall not remain in place more than four weeks.
Signs publicizing special public issues or events, including
elections, may be located elsewhere than on. the lot to which they refer,
as permitted by the zoning officer.
(11) Consist of federal, state or local government signs
and notices issued by any court, person or officer in performance of
a public duty.
Unless otherwise restricted, temporary signs may be erected
not more than two weeks prior and shall, unless a longer
period is permitted, be removed within three days after
termination of the event advertised
by the sign. (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1; Ord. No. 89-29, §§ 1,
2.)
Sec. 10B-295. Permits.
Except for the exempt signs described in section 10B-294,
no sign shall be erected, altered, or moved without a permit issued pursuant
to the provisions of this subdivision.
Applications for a sign permit shall be filed with the
zoning officer. To obtain a permit, the proposed sign must
meet the dimensional standards set forth in Table A (free standing
signs) or Table B (facade
signs) contained at section 10B-297. Signs shall be classified
by the zoning officer as being in one of the three review
categories specified
in section 10B-296. Signs in the SC zoning district shall
be consistent with the general signage plan for the district.
If the zoning officer
determines that a proposed sign in such district is not
consistent with such plan, he shall refer the application
to the
site plan review
advisory
board, which may approve same only if it determines that
the proposed sign is consistent with the plan and that
the criteria set forth in section
10B-296(c) have been met. (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1.)
Sec 10B-296. Review categories and criteria.
(a) "As of right" signs. If the proposed sign does not contain
any of the prohibited features set forth in section 10B-293 and meets
the size, height, and location standards for this category as set forth
in Table A or Table B and the illumination standards of section 10B-298(h)
the Zoning Officer shall issue a permit. Site plan review pursuant to
section 10B-205 shall not be required for "as of right" signs.
(b) "Restricted" signs. If the proposed sign does not contain
any of the prohibited features set forth in section 10B-293 and meets
the size, height, and location standards for this category as set forth
in Table A or Table B, the zoning officer shall issue a, permit. Site
plan review pursuant to section 10B-205 shall not be required for "restricted
signs;" provided that:
(1) The information on the sign is limited to the name, address
and a brief description of the business; and if a business logo is also
to appear on the sign, the logo may not exceed ten percent of the area
of the sign. Alternatively, directory signs shall be limited in content
to the address of the property and may contain the names of the several
on-site businesses or professional users and shall be designed to meet
the standards of section 10B-296(c)(8).
(2) A maximum of three colors (including black and white)
may appear on the sign.
(c) "Design Review" signs. Signs in this category are to be
reviewed by the zoning officer for conformity with the requirements set
forth in Table A or Table B. Signs for conditional uses shall be classified
as "design review" signs. Unless waived by the zoning officer as unnecessary,
concept plans and sample field mock up signs shall accompany
the permit application for all signs in this category.
The review and approval process
shall be as in the case of a classification applicable
for minor site plan approval. The site plan review advisory
board shall review
the application
based on the following review criteria:
(1) Lettering styles shall be clear and visible under normal
viewing conditions in the area where the sign is to be located.
(2) Sign content shall comply with the following.
a. The name of the business shall appear only once.
b. A brief description of the nature of the business may
be on the sign.
c. The street name and number may be given, if useful to
avoid confusion, but numbers shall be no smaller than the largest letter
on the sign, but in no event smaller than three inches in height.
d. If a logo is used, it may not exceed ten percent of the
sign area.
e. Such other content as the reviewing agency may in its
discretion allow, provided that all other standards below are met.
(3) The sign shall be designed to take into account the relative
scale and proportions of the building or surface to which it is related
or on which it is .mounted.
(4) The sign shall have a logical relationship to the building
to which it is related and in the case of facade signs shall be integrated
into the existing architecture.
(5) The construction materials of the sign shall be chosen
to complement the architecture and building materials of the building
on which it is located, or to which it is related, as well as the surrounding
buildings.
(6) If more than one sign is permitted on a site or building, the signs shall
be compatible with each other and with the character of the site and should
not obscure other signs or architectural features.
(7) Messages on signs shall be brief, the layout simple,
and the range of colors limited. The use of product trademarks is discouraged.
(8) Signs setting forth a listing of multiple on-site businesses
or professional services shall be designed as a unified
and internally compatible single sign with all listings
being of a relatively
uniform
size. (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1; Ord. No. 89-29, § 3.)
Sec. 10B-297. Standards of size, setback and height.
(a) The size, setback, and height of permanent signs, both
free-standing (Table A) and facade mounted (Table B), shall be regulated
by applying the following standards to each zone district:
PERMANENT FREE-STANDING
SIGNS |
|
Area: By Sign Category
(in sq. ft.) |
|
|
|
Zone |
As of right |
Restricted |
Design
review |
Minimum
Setback
all sign |
Maximum
Height
categories |
POR |
2 |
6 |
12 |
5 ft |
8 ft |
B-1 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
3 ft |
8 ft |
B-2 |
2 |
8 |
16 |
3 ft |
8 ft |
SC
Shopping
Center
identification
sign |
- |
- |
64 |
5 ft |
6 ft |
Shopping
Center
directory
sign* |
8 |
- |
- |
- |
5 ft |
Individual
merchant
sign |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
E-1 |
- |
- |
8 (on-site)
8 (off-site) |
8 ft
- |
8 ft
8 ft |
E-2 |
- |
- |
8 (on-site)
8 (off-site) |
8 ft
- |
8 ft
8 ft |
E-3 |
- |
- |
8 (on-site)
8 (off-site) |
8 ft
- |
8 ft
8 ft |
OR-1 |
2 |
8 |
24 |
10 ft |
6 ft |
OR-2 |
2 |
8 |
24 |
10 ft |
6 ft |
S-1 |
2 |
8 |
24 |
8 ft |
10 ft |
S-2 |
2 |
8 |
24 |
8 ft |
10 ft |
H-2 |
2 |
10 |
20 |
5 ft |
8 ft |
All "R"
Zones |
** |
** |
** |
5 ft |
8 ft |
*No more than four signs as are permitted by
section 10B-294 They shall be located within the courtyard
or passageway leading thereto.
**"Such exempt signs as are permitted by section 10B-294. The standard
for a sign for a conditional use in an "R" cone is one square foot
per ten linear feet of frontage - maximum four
square feet. |
TABLE - B
PERMANENT FACADE MOUNTED SIGNS |
Area by Sign Category |
(Permitted size of sign is calculated
as a percentage of the
width of the building facade--expressed in square
feet***) |
Zone |
As of Right
(not to exceed
4 sq ft) |
Restricted
(not to exceed
8 sq ft) |
Design View
(not to exceed
24 sq ft) |
LOCATION /
HEIGHT |
| POR |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| B-1 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| B-2 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
SC
Shopping
Center
identification
sign |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Shopping
Center
directory
sign |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Individual
merchant
sign |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| E-1 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| E-2 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| E-3 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| OR-1 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| OR-2 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| S-1 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| S-2 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| H-2 |
10% |
20% |
35% |
(*) |
| All "R" |
10% |
** |
** |
(*) |
(**) Such exempt signs as are permitted by
section 10B-294 The standard for a sign for a conditional
use is ten percent.
(***) For a building with more than one store or
user, each store user shall be permitted a sign the size of which
may not exceed its proportionate share of the total permitted area
measured by its proportionate share of the building's line width. |
(b) Signs aligned with
the outer facing of a covered passageway shall have a minimum
height of nine feet and a maximum height of twelve feet.
(c) Signs at right angles to building facade under covered
passways shall have a minimum height of nine and one-half feet and a
maximum height of twelve feet, except that if the covered passageway
is less than ten feet in height, the minimum height shall be seven and
one-half feet.
(Ord. No. 89-15, § 1; Ord. No. 89-29, § 4.)
Sec. 10B-298. General sign requirements.
All signs are subject to the following general requirements:
(a) Conformance with construction code. All signs shall conform
to the requirements of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.
(b) Maintenance. All signs, including official signs, together
with all their supports, braces, hooks, guys and anchors, 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, legible, safe and orderly appearance. When lighting is provided,
all lighting elements shall be kept in good working order. The area surrounding
ground signs must be kept neat and clean. The owner of the property upon
which a sign is located shall be responsible for maintaining the sign
and the condition of the surrounding area.
(c) Obstruction to doors, windows or ire escapes or lanes. No
sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent ingress
or egress from any door, window, fire escape, or fire lane.
(d) Obstruction of architectural features. No sign shall be erected,
relocated or maintained in such a manner as to cover or intrude upon
any special architectural features of a building, such as windows, columns,
moldings, railings or any major decorative or structural feature.
(e) Signs not to constitute traffic hazards. In order to promote
reasonable traffic safety, no sign shall be erected or maintained in
such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision or distract the attention
of the driver of any vehicle by reason of the position, shape, color,
reflection, or illumination.
(f) Signs in historic district. Signs within a historic district
or historic buffer district shall be complimentary to the character of
the historic district in terms of the choice of materials, colors and
lettering style.
(g) Number of signs per lot. In all zones except as otherwise
specified in sections 10B-293 through 10B-297, the number
of signs permitted on a lot is one freestanding and one facade sign
per lot frontage in
the case of "as of right" or "restricted" signs. In the case of "design
review" signs, one facade or one freestanding sign is permitted per lot
frontage; except that the site plan review advisory board
may permit both a freestanding and a facade sign when the proximity of
the building
to the street, the size of the building, the visibility of
the building and/or freestanding sign, or the speed of traffic on the
street on which
the building is located dictates a need for both signs.
(h) Lighting of signs. It is the intent of this subdivision to
minimize the use of illuminated signs. The exterior source
of light shall be arranged so as to prevent glare on the street or adjacent
properties.
Sign lighting shall comply to the standards of section 10B-317.
Internally illuminated signs shall be permitted only in the S-2 district
and subject
to the following: at least sixty-six and one-third percent
of the sign area must be opaque; the non-opaque portion must be white
or off-white;
the light source must be fluorescent and of no more than
forty watts for "as of right" signs, eighty watts for "restricted" signs, and one
hundred sixty watts for "design review" signs.
(i) Nonconforming sign. Any nonconforming. permanent sign which
can be shown to have lawfully existed on the date of enactment of this
subdivision may be continued and, except as provided in paragraph (k)
below, may be restored.
(j) Removal of damaged signs. Any sign damaged, destroyed or deteriorated
in any manner whatsoever to the extent of more than fifty percent of
its replacement value shall be removed or reconstructed in accordance
with the provisions of this division and thereafter utilized only in
such a manner as to conform to all provisions of this subdivision.
(k) Abandoned signs. Signs shall be removed by the owner at the
owner's expense within ninety days following written notification by
the zoning officer from any location where the sign no longer relates
to an activity conducted on the site. In the event the sign is not removed
within this time period, the township may remove the sign at the expense
of the property owner and for this purpose the township shall have a
lien in the amount of the removal cost.
(1) Measurement of area of a sign.
(1) The square footage of a free-standing sign consists of
the space within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the limits of
such sign. Such perimeter shall not include any structural framing elements
lying outside the limits of such sign and not forming an integral part
of the display.
(2) Cutout letters or numbers supported independently on
a facade sign shall be measured by the smallest rectangle which encompasses
all of the letters and numbers.
(3) Freestanding, hanging, or window signs which have no
background shall be measured by the smallest rectangle which encompasses
the total display, exclusive of any supporting members used solely for
such purpose.
(4) Freestanding signs consisting of opaque or translucent
backgrounds and having cutout displays shall be measured by the outside
dimensions of the background.
(5) Freestanding signs carrying the same message on two sides
shall be considered a single sign, provided that the two sides are parallel
and of the same size. In the case of multi-faceted signs, the area shall
cumulatively include all the faces of the sign.
(Ord. No. 89-15, § 1; Ord. No. 89-29, § 5.)
Sec. 10B-299. Penalties.
Any violation of any provision of this article or of any
rule, regulation or order made under the authority of this
article may result in the removal of the offending sign and shall
be punishable under
section 10B-116 of the township code. (Ord. No. 89-15, § 1.)
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