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BILLBOARD
A structure utilized for advertising an establishment, an activity, a product, a service or entertainment, which is sold, produced, manufactured, available or furnished at a place other than on the property on which the sign is located.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD
A sign whose messages change by mechanical or electronic means.
FEATHER SIGN/ FEATHER FLAG/ FEATHER BANNER
An advertising sign composed of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a vertical pole, and resembles the shape of a bird's feather (aka quill).
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign, other than a facade sign, suspended from or attached to a building or wall in a manner which is other than parallel to the building or wall, including a sign hung under a canopy.
SAIL SIGN
An advertising sign composed of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a vertical pole, and resembles the shape of a boat sail. This type of sign does not require wind to stay open.
SIGN
A name, identification, description, display, illustration or any other device observable from out-of-doors, which is affixed to, pointed on, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure, including motor vehicles or piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business, regardless of whether such device is located indoors or outdoors. Lighting used to outline any part of a building shall not be deemed to be a sign if the lighting is used as an architectural treatment. However, a sign shall not include any display of official court or public office notices, any official traffic control device, nor any flag, badges, or insignia of any public, quasi-public, civic, charitable, or religious group.
SIGN AREA
The area defined by the outside edge of the frame surrounding the sign or by the edge of the sign if no frame exists. Where no frame or edge exists, the area shall be defined by a projected enclosed four-sided (straight lines) geometric shape which most closely outlines the sign.
SIGN, ADVERTISING
A sign off-site which directs attention to a business, commodity, or service conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than on the premises where the sign is located.
SIGN, BUSINESS
A sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted on or to a commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
SIGN, FACADE
Any sign placed or inscribed upon the face of a building.
SIGN, FREESTANDING
Any sign supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any building.
WINDLESS FLAG SIGN
Another name for sail sign, feather sign, feather flag or feather banner; this type of sign does not require wind to stay open.
A. General provisions.
 
(1) Any signs not specifically permitted are hereby prohibited.

(2) No signs, except window or special event signs, shall be placed on private or public property except for the purpose of identifying a use or uses actually conducted upon the premises upon which such signs are erected and for no other purpose.

(3) No sign shall be located in such a manner as to materially impede the view of any street or intersection.

(4) Except where otherwise provided, no sign or any part thereof shall be located closer than 15 feet to any lot line.

(5) All height limitations shall be measured from ground level to the highest part of the sign or its supporting structure, whichever is higher.

(6) The maximum height for freestanding signs, unless otherwise provided, shall not exceed 12 feet above ground level.

(7) Except where specifically prohibited, all signs may be double-faced, and the maximum area shall apply to each side. The areas of the sign shall include each and every part of the sign, including moldings and frames. Where the sign is supported by a post or pylon whose surface is being used for advertising purposes, the areas of this post, pylon or other supporting members shall be considered as part of the total sign area.

(8) Wherever the name or advertising message on a sign is divided between a number of panels or parts, the total area of all of the panels or parts shall be considered as one sign; and where a sign consists of individual letters or numbers, the area of the sign shall be considered as the total area of the smallest rectangle or rectangles which can collectively enclose all of the letter or numbers. The total area of a neon, LED or electronic light sign shall be measured as provided in Subsection L(3).

(9) Signs erected flat against the side of a building shall not extend above the height of the vertical wall or cornice to which they are attached.

(10) Unless specifically prohibited, all signs may be illuminated as provided for in Subsection E.

(11) Whenever a parcel is bordered by more than one street, additional signage may be permitted by the municipal agency, in accordance with the standards of this section, for each major street upon which the parcel fronts. This standard shall also apply to the installation of neon, LED or electronic light signs in accordance with Subsection L(3).

(12) No display vehicles or display trailer devices for commercial purposes shall be permitted to remain in any district for longer than a consecutive twenty-four-hour period.

(13) No portion of any sign shall be located within or suspended over a public right-of-way or pedestrian walkway.

(14) No sign, other than exempt signs, shall be permitted within 50 feet of the property line of any historical site or monument.

(15) Setbacks from residential district. No sign shall be located closer than 25 feet to any residential zone boundary and, further, shrubbery, a wall or other suitable device shall be provided as a visual barrier between said sign and adjoining residential properties.

(16) No existing sign shall be enlarged, rebuilt, structurally altered, or relocated except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and until a permit has been issued. The issuance of a permit shall not relieve the owner or lessee of the premises from the duty of safely maintaining such structures.

(17) With the exception of any neon, LED or electronic light sign existing on the date of adoption of Ordinance No. 6-1993 which was and can be conclusively established by the owner of the premises to have been in existence prior to June 24, 1986, all other neon, LED or electronic light signs within the City of Northfield require a permit to be issued and must satisfy the requirements of this chapter as they pertain to the placement and operation of neon, LED or electronic light signs, and a permit must be obtained not later than 45 days from the effective date of Ordinance No. 6-1993; and any sign which requires such a permit which shall not have been obtained within 45 days shall be deemed to be in violation of this chapter. No permit shall be issued for any neon, LED or electronic light sign to be installed within any building or structure where there exists any signage in violation of this chapter.

B. Permits. See § 215-113B for permitting information. 
                  See also § 215-113N(3) for more permitting information.
 
C. Construction.
 
(1) All signs shall conform to the structural requirements of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code and applicant shall be responsible for obtaining any and all other necessary permits and/or approvals, including, but not limited to, the City of Northfield Construction/Building Department, prior to sign installation.

(2) Freestanding signs shall be supported by posts or pylons of durable materials which may include concrete, steel, treated wood, other suitable materials, or any combination of same. Supports for freestanding signs shall be set securely in the ground or concrete so that the sign will be capable of withstanding high winds. No other bracing or guy wire shall be permitted.

(3) Any sign attached flat against the surface of a building shall be constructed of durable material and attached securely to the building with nonrusting metal hardware. When a sign is to be installed on a masonry building, holes shall be drilled in the masonry, and proper nonrusting hardware of the expansion type shall be used. The use of wood or fiber plugs is prohibited.

(4) All neon, LED or electronic light signs shall satisfy the requirements of this Subsection C, shall be subject to review and inspection by the Electrical Inspector of the City of Northfield if required, shall be properly insulated and grounded, and shall meet or exceed the requirements of the National Electrical Safety Code and the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.

D. Maintenance.

All signs shall be kept and maintained in a safe, secure and good condition. Failure of a permittee and/or property owner to maintain a sign as set forth herein shall constitute a violation of this section by both the permittee and property owner enforceable by the Code Enforcement Officer in a court with appropriate jurisdiction. If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that any sign is unsafe, insecure or in need of repair, or is not maintained in proper condition, the Code Enforcement Officer may, within his/her discretion, give written notice to the permittee thereof and the owner of the property on which said sign is located. If the permittee fails to repair or remove as required within 10 days after such notice, such sign may be removed by the Code Enforcement Officer at the expense of the permittee and/or owner of property on which it is located. The Code Enforcement Officer may cause any sign or other advertising structure which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which the sign is located and without notice to said persons.

E. Illumination.
 
(1) Wiring for illuminated signs shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the electrical codes of the City. Any fee for an electrical inspection shall be in addition to the fee provided for in the sign permit.

(2) Where illuminated signs are permitted, illumination may be provided by floodlights, spotlights, ordinary incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes, LED or mercury vapor lamps. Neon tube lights and LED strip lights are specifically prohibited except within the C-B Community Business, the O-PB Office Professional Business and the R-C Office Professional Business and the R-C Regional Commercial Zones. However, no neon, LED or electronic light sign shall be permitted to be placed within any window of any structure within any such zone if such window shall face or front upon an immediately adjacent residential zone (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, R-SC, AH), even if separated from the residential district by a street, road or highway. Regardless of the type of illumination employed, all illuminated signs shall be properly shielded and so located as to prevent glare or blinding effects upon motor vehicle traffic and so as not to cause a nuisance to residents of the area.

(3) Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer, with or without consultation with any member of the City of Northfield Police Department, determines that the lighting on any sign now or hereafter erected constitutes a safety hazard to motor vehicle traffic in the vicinity, the Code Enforcement Officer shall serve written notice of this determination upon the property owner and permittee, directing them to correct the condition within 15 days from the date of the mailing of the notice. Failure to correct the condition or file an appeal within the time specified shall constitute a violation of this section by both the sign owner and property owner.

F. Signs permitted without a permit. See § 215-113F for information.
Prohibited signs. The following signs are prohibited in all zones in the City:
 
(1) Signs using red, yellow and green lights which, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, interfere with the operation of any traffic control signal.

(2) Moving or revolving signs, strips, tubes or lamps, of any illumination source, using any mode of blinking, flashing, vibrating, flickering, tracer, color changing or sequential lighting, used as sign or as an architectural accent, except for the standard movement of clocks and temperature gauges or signs that indicate the "open" status of business. Signs indicating the "open" status of a building shall not be larger than two square feet in area.

(3) Signs using any material which sparkles or glitters, but nothing herein contained is intended to prohibit the use of reflective paint on signs directing traffic or identifying various locations within a lot or parcel. Signs using neon lights are prohibited in all zones except as specifically provided in Subsection E(2).

(4) Any sign which, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, unreasonably tends to distract drivers or otherwise constitutes a traffic hazard.

(5) Roof signs. No sign may be constructed which attaches to or projects above the roof line. No sign attached to any building may project above the roof line.

(6) Signs or advertising matter of an indecent or obscene nature.

(7) Signs using words such as "stop," "look," "danger," etc. which are placed in a manner or position which, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, constitute a traffic hazard or otherwise interfere with the free flow of traffic.

(8) Signs which attempt to imitate or otherwise cause confusion with existing signs erected by any governmental board, body or agency.

(9) Except where specifically permitted, signs advertising a product or service not sold on the premises, signs advertising or directing attention to another premises and any other signs unrelated to the premises on which the sign is erected.

(10) Signs causing interference with radio or television reception.

(11) Signs obstructing doors, fire escapes or stairways or keeping light or air from windows used for living quarters.

(12) Banners, strings of banners, pennants, pinwheels, sidewalk signs, curb signs, and similar advertising devices.

(13) Any sign or banner spanning a public street.

(14) Signs placed on trees, fences, utility poles, light poles, signs attached to other signs and signs placed upon motor vehicles which are continuously or repeatedly parked in a conspicuous location to serve as a sign, but nothing herein contained is intended to prohibit the placement of signs directing traffic or identifying various locations within a lot or parcel on light poles and utility poles erected therein.

(15) Any series of two or more signs placed along a street or highway carrying an advertising message, part of which is contained on each sign.

(16) Signs which advertise that real estate has been sold.

(17) A sign on a motor vehicle, truck, trailer, whether or not operational and whether or not self-propelled, which is used or parked or designated to be parked for advertising purposes. Specifically exempted from this section are those signs, nameplates, or letters affixed to or printed upon commercial vehicles regularly used in the course of business for regular deliveries, pick-ups or other such purposes and/or in compliance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:4-46. Specifically included are signs on vehicles, trailers, and the like which have as their prime purpose the advertising of goods, wares, or services of a business which are maintained in a stationary manner at one or more locations for extended periods of time.

(18) Outdoor advertising signs, billboards, or devices which are not directly related to an activity currently being conducted on the lot or premises upon which such sign is located.
Nonconforming signs.
 
(a) Continuance. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the lawful use of any sign existing at the date of the adoption of this chapter may be continued, although such sign does not conform to the regulations specified by this section for said sign; provided, however, that no nonconforming signs shall be enlarged, extended or increased or changed in material, character, location or illumination, with the exception of any neon, LED or electronic light sign which was, and can be conclusively established by the owner thereof to have been, in existence prior to June 24, 1986; all neon, LED or electronic light signs within the City of Northfield must satisfy the requirements of this chapter pertaining to the placement and operation of neon, LED or electronic light signs; and all neon, LED or electronic light signs, whether preexisting the June 24, 1986, date, shall be subject to the permitting requirements of this chapter.

(b) Abandonment. A nonconforming sign shall be presumed to be abandoned when there occurs a cessation of any use of activity pursuant to ordinance. Failure to keep signs in good repair for a period of 12 consecutive calendar months shall constitute abandonment and such sign may not then be replaced or reused and must be removed.

(c) Restoration. If any nonconforming signs shall be destroyed by reason of windstorm, fire, explosion or other act of God or the public enemy, to an extent in excess of 50% of its then true value, said sign shall not be rebuilt or reconstructed except in conformance with the provisions of the section.

(d) Reversion. No conforming sign shall, once changed into a conforming sign, be changed back again into a nonconforming sign.
Interior neon, LED or electronic light signs.
 
(a) With the exception of any neon, LED or electronic light sign which was, and can be conclusively established by the owners thereof to have been, in existence prior to June 24, 1986, all neon, LED or electronic light signs within the City of Northfield must be in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. No neon, LED or electronic light sign shall be permitted to be placed in any zone within the City of Northfield other than the C-B Community Business, the O-P Office Professional, the O-PB Office Professional Business and the R-C Regional Commercial Zones.

(b) All neon, LED or electronic light signs shall be subject to the provisions of Subsections A through G of this section and shall be further subject to the following requirements:
 
[1] Every neon, LED or electronic light sign requires a sign permit.

[2] No neon, LED or electronic light sign may revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement.

[3] All neon, LED or electronic light signs must be installed within and attached to the area of the interior window of the business premises in which they are installed.

[4] No neon, LED or electronic light signs shall be installed within doorways nor attached to any glass within a door or door frame; nor shall any neon, LED or electronic light sign be permitted to be installed in any window area other than on the first floor of the business premises.

[5] The area of any neon, LED or electronic light sign shall not exceed 25% of the total window area in which such neon, LED or electronic light sign is to be installed. For purposes of this section, the limitation is imposed upon the aggregate window area of the specific window in which the neon, LED or electronic light sign is placed. The aggregate of all window area of a premises cannot be used to calculate the size of a neon, LED or electronic light sign permitted to be installed within a single window. A window shall be defined as the area of glass within a frame or panel.

[6] The area of the neon, LED or electronic light sign to be measured in calculating the 25% limitation shall be calculated by measuring around the exterior edges of a framed or enclosed sign; or by measuring the area utilized by isolated words and/or symbols, which shall include the background area as if the sign had been enclosed or framed and had been squared off at the highest and widest points, regardless of whether the neon, LED or electronic light sign is open or enclosed; but excluding any bracing incidental to the display itself and which is not made of neon, LED or electronic light or otherwise self-illuminated.

[7] Whenever a parcel in the C-B, O-PB or R-C Zone is bordered by more than one street, road or highway, neon, LED or electronic light signage may be permitted to be installed in compliance with the requirements of this chapter within the first-floor window(s) facing each such street, road or highway upon which the subject business within said parcel fronts; unless prohibited by Subsection L(3)(b)[8] of this section.

[8] No window within any structure situated in a zone within which neon, LED or electronic light signs are permitted shall be eligible for the placement or installation of any neon, LED or electronic light sign if such window faces or fronts upon an adjacent residential district (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-2, R-SC, AH) as shown on the Zoning Map of the City of Northfield, regardless of whether such residential district is separated by a street, road, or highway. This limitation shall not apply, however, unless the residential district is directly adjacent to the property upon which the structure is located or immediately adjacent to the street, road or highway between the residential district and such structure.

[9] When neon, LED or electronic light signs have been placed in compliance with this section, no other temporary or permanent signs shall be placed within any window in which such neon, LED or electronic light sign has been installed. This prohibition is intended to apply to all types of temporary or permanent signs, whether constructed of paper, cardboard, wood, or any other material whatsoever.
 
Electronic message boards; purpose and intent.

More businesses desire to utilize advancements in sign technology which permit signs to change content electronically which are known as “electronic message boards,” e.g., LED-type signs. These electronic message boards may adversely impact adjacent areas unless they are regulated in a reasonable fashion. The intent and purpose of this subsection is to establish standards and regulations for electronic message boards to minimize potential adverse impacts, preserve the character of adjacent areas to the extent practical and reasonable and minimize potential traffic safety concerns.

(a) Electronic message boards shall be permitted uses in the N-B Neighborhood Business; C-B Community Business; and R-C Regional Commercial Zones.

(b) An electronic message board may be placed on a freestanding sign.

(c) On an electronic message board:
 
[1] Text and messages shall be limited to no more than four lines, shall be nonmoving and shall not contain any animation.

[2] Electronic message boards may display nonmoving pictures, graphics or logos of businesses and/or products sold on premises.

[3] A maximum of one message change every 60 seconds shall be permitted. All transitions between messages shall be by way of nonmoving fades or cuts.

(d) Electronic message boards must conform to all dimensional, location and placement standards as prescribed for nonelectronic message boards in the applicable zoning districts. In no case shall an electronic message board sign face exceed 24 square feet in size.

(e) Electronic message boards are required to have an automated device to be able to dim the sign to the requirements of this chapter. This may be a photocell or a schedule programmed into or by the electronic message board's control system. From sunset to sunrise, an electronic message board shall be controlled to restrict the brightness /luminance of the display to 50 nits or cd/m2, measured while a 100% plain white image is displayed on the electronic message board. Owners or tenants of properties with electronic message boards are required to display a 100% plain white image for measurement upon reasonable written notice and demand from the appropriate enforcement agent for the City of Northfield. The measurement sensor will be positioned to integrate the emission of all colors on the electronic message board, or a diffuse media will be used, to mix the colors of the electronic message board emitters allowing an accurate measurement. If diffusion media is used to accomplish the measurement, a correction factor allowing for the transmission loss of the diffusion will be added to the measurement. This measurement is to be taken no more than six inches from the front of the electronic message board display, on the center axis of the electronic message board's brightest light emitting devices.

(f) If the Code Enforcement Officer finds that the electronic message board causes a glare, illuminates neighboring buildings or otherwise impairs the vision of drivers of motor vehicles, the property owner and/or permittee of the electronic message board, within 24 hours of a notice by the City, will reduce the intensity of the electronic message board to a level acceptable to the City.

(g) Preexisting nonconforming signs may not be converted to electronic message boards unless approved by the appropriate land use board and the proposed electronic message board and structure completely conform to all sign regulations, as set forth in Subsection L(4)(d).

(h) Only static images may be displayed on electronic message boards. No movement or animation is permitted in the message, whether same consists of text or images. Transitions between messages can only be by way of dissolves or cuts only. There shall be no wipes or moves. Time and temperature may be displayed on the sign. An electronic message board would not be a violation of this chapter should the time or temperature change during the display of the information.

(i) The content of the electronic message board should reflect the character of the business and respect the environs of the community. The images should be clearly readable and understandable to prevent distraction to drivers. Darker backgrounds should be scheduled during evening hours to facilitate reading and help maintain night vision for drivers.

(j) The liability, content, control and ownership of the electronic message board is strictly limited to the owner/lessee of the property on which the electronic message board is constructed. All advertisement on the electronic message board shall strictly be for products or services offered by the business owner/lessee on the property on which the electronic message board is constructed.

(k) No electronic message board may be used on a portable vehicle or trailer.