Sherwin Williams -- Preservation Palette

3M Image Graphics -- Films for Opaque Applications

P. Sign design requirements and guidelines. In developing signs and signage plans or programs for sites, applicants should utilize design standards that will enhance the building, site and overall appearance of the neighborhood and Township as a whole. Specific requirements and guidelines that can help achieve this goal include: [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

(1) The design of signs should be compatible with the architectural character of the related building and its site.

(2) Materials, colors and lettering on all signage for the identified business or businesses should be compatible with the related building or buildings.

(3) The graphic design should be simple in approach and reflect the business's logo, merchandise or service.

(4) Signs should be readable from the street or internal driveway(s) within shopping centers.

(5) No more than two type styles per sign face are permitted.

(6) Materials and design should be compatible with the design of the building.

(7) Sign bases should be part of the overall sign design and should complement the sign face and related building material.

(8) For longer messages, the use of uppercase and lowercase lettering is recommended since it is easier to read than words which are all uppercase.

(9) Where more than one business or occupant shares a building, it is required that a master sign plan for the building be implemented by the property owner.

(10) Building-mounted signs should be designed to enhance the facade by blending with the architectural features of the building and not merely applied to the surface.

(11) Signs should not cover or obscure decorative architectural details or overwhelm the facade of the building.

(12) Sign bands should be of a consistent height and size along the building facade and for multitenant buildings with more than one facade sign.

Q. The content or advertising message carried by permitted signs shall pertain to the business located on the same premises as the sign, or to any otherwise lawful noncommercial message that does not direct attention to a business operated for profit, or to a commodity or service for sale, provided that signs erected on contiguous properties or buildings may pertain to a business located on any such contiguous property or building. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

R. For signs with changeable message panels or zip tracks, the changeable message area of the sign shall not exceed 25% of the total sign area, except for fueling product price signs and multiplex cinema signs, which shall not exceed 75% of the total sign area. Reverse white or light-colored lettering with no white background is required. Electronic changeable-message boards shall be prohibited except as follows: [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3; amended 5-28-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-16]

(1) Fueling product price signs (manual or electronic). Fueling product price signs are subject to the following:

(a) One fueling product price sign shall be permitted per gasoline or alternative motor vehicle fueling station for each roadway for which an access driveway to the station occurs. It shall be affixed to a permanent sign structure or to a building and shall not be located closer than 20 feet to any side property line.

(b) The price sign shall be permitted to change price no more than four times within a twenty-four-hour period. Changes in numerical digits must be completed within 10 seconds.

(c) If illuminated, the fueling product price sign shall not be illuminated with an exposed or a visible lighting source. Prohibited lighting for electronic price signs shall include lamps or bulbs in excess of 30 watts, exposed reflectorized lamps or bulbs, lamps or bulbs not covered by a lens, filter or sunscreen and lamps or bulbs that scroll, flash, zoom, twinkle or sparkle.

(d) A fueling product price sign may be mechanically or remotely operated utilizing light-emitting diode (LED) lighting subject to the following:

[1] Changes to the price shall appear instantaneous, as perceived by the human eye, without any special effects.

[2] LED characters shall not exceed 12 inches in height.

[3] LED character colors for fuel prices shall be in accordance with common industry standards (i.e., red for gasoline and green for diesel fuel).

[4] The LED sign shall not exceed a brightness level of 0.3 footcandle above ambient light as measured using a footcandle (LUX) meter at a preset distance depending on sign area.

[a] The measurement distance shall be calculated with the following formula: The square root of the product of the sign area and 100. An example of the formula using a twelve-square-foot sign:

Measurement Distance = square root(12 square feet x 100) = 34.6

[b] Light measurement shall be taken with the meter aimed directly at the sign message face, or the area of the sign emitting the brightness light.

[5] No LED sign shall be operated without a mechanism able to automatically adjust the display's illuminative brightness according to ambient light conditions by means of a light detector/photo cell by which the sign's brightness shall be dimmed.

[6] The LED sign shall not be operated without a written certificate from a sign manufacturer or other approved testing agency that the light intensity has been preset to conform to the brightness and display standards established herein and that the preset levels are protected from end-user manipulation by password-protected software or other method. An annual inspection shall be performed and a certificate of compliance shall be issued.

[7] LED signs shall contain a default mechanism that will cause the sign to revert immediately to black screen if the sign malfunctions.

[8] LED signs shall be equipped with a nonglare panel covering the LED display.

(2) Multiplex cinemas with four or more screens shall be allowed 16 square feet of sign area per screen to be used for marquee identification of the movie playing. The display of movie posters shall be allowed on the same side of the building as the main entrance, with a maximum size of 12 square feet for each poster. Permitted marquee signs identifying the movies playing and movie posters shall not be included within the permitted sign area within the applicable zone.

S. Gasoline or alternative motor vehicle fueling pump island signs. Nonilluminated gasoline or alternative motor vehicle fueling pump island signs shall be permitted subject to the following restrictions: [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3; amended 5-28-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-16]

(1) One fuel price or promotional information sign per fuel pump not to exceed two square feet.

(2) Any other signs on the canopy or pump islands shall be subject to the requirements for building-mounted wall signage.

T. Natural features located in a public right-of-way shall not be altered to increase the visibility of a sign. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

U. Registration of existing signs. All signs of more than eight square feet in area shall be registered with the Zoning Officer by submission of a sketch of the sign showing its dimensions, the distance between the sign and all property lines, and the height of the sign. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

V. Replacement of signs that are damaged or destroyed. In the event that any nonconforming sign is damaged or destroyed, it may be replaced with the same sign, notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter. In that event, the advertising message on the sign shall remain the same. Where any such damaged or destroyed sign is to be replaced in conjunction with a change of business or message, said replacement sign shall conform in all respects with the requirements of this article. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

W. Abandoned signs. A sign, including its supporting structure or brackets, shall be removed by the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is located when the business or the businesses which it advertises is (are) no longer on the premises. Such sign, if not removed within 30 days from the termination of occupancy by such business, shall be considered to be in violation of this chapter and shall be removed at the owner's expense. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

X. Dilapidated signs. All signs shall be maintained in good working condition so as to present a neat and orderly appearance. The Zoning Officer shall give written notice to remove or repair any sign which in his/her opinion shows gross neglect or which becomes dilapidated. Failure to repair, replace or remove the sign in violation within 30 days shall be considered a violation of this chapter. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

Y. Sign submission with land use applications. All applicants for land use approvals for developments in the enumerated zones shall submit details of signs prepared in accordance with the requirements of this chapter as a part of their subdivision or site plan application, which sign submission shall be reviewed under the provisions of § 190-114. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

Z. Informal sign review. All applicants for issuance of sign permits, whether in conjunction with subdivision or site plan application or any other circumstance, may apply to the Sign Review Subcommittee for an informal review of any proposed signage to identify areas of concern, the need for exceptions or such other matters as may be related to the configuration and location of a proposed sign. The information disclosed and the positions taken by the respective parties during informal reviews shall be nonbinding upon each. [Added 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

AA. Electronic graphic display signs are permitted only on a site with an entertainment event center in accordance with the following: [Added 11-12-2013 by Ord. No. O-13-34; 4-22-2014 by Ord. No. O-14-4]

(1) Setback from residential. The leading edge of the sign must be a minimum distance of 500 feet from an abutting residential district boundary which it faces.

(2) Orientation. When located within 750 feet of a residentially used lot, any part of the electronic graphic display sign must be oriented so that no portion of the sign face is visible from an existing or permitted principal structure on that lot.

(3) Setback from other electronic graphic display signs. Electronic graphic display signs must be separated from other electronic graphic display, electronic changeable copy signs or video display signs by at least 50 feet, with the exception of two-sided signs.

(4) Duration. Any portion of the image on the electronic graphic display sign must have a minimum duration of 10 minutes (changing a maximum of six times per hour) and must be a static display.

(5) Motion. No portion of the image may flash, scroll, twirl, change color, or in any manner imitate movement.

(6) Electronic display area. The electronic graphic display area shall not exceed 60% of the total sign area.

(7) Limitation of characters. The narrative script of the electronic graphic display sign comprised of letters, numbers or other symbols shall not exceed 40 characters. The date and reservation information on the sign shall not be part of the character limitation or emergency or public service announcements.

(8) Limitation of Content. Content displayed on the electronic display sign shall be limited to signage and advertising provided by the entertainment event center and is limited to events, promotions and activities that will occur on the site within four months of signage display. Advertising matter of an indecent, immoral or obscene nature is prohibited as defined in § 190-3, Definitions, "obscene material."

(9) Background. The electronic graphic display sign shall be comprised of a matte finish background to decrease reflection for safety purposes.

(10) Displays of static messages. The change of static message sequence must be accomplished instantaneously as seen by the human eye and shall not use blinking, fading, rolling, shading, dissolving, or similar effects as part of the change.

(11) Emergency/public service announcements. Electronic display signs may be utilized for public service announcements and emergency service announcements including police and fire, at the request of the Township of Freehold for up to 50% of the display time (a maximum of three times per hour).

(12) Luminance. This is the "brightness" of the electronic graphic display signs as seen from a particular angle of view. This is measured in candelas per square meter, also termed "nits." All electronic graphic display signs shall have installed ambient light monitors and shall at all times allow such monitors to automatically adjust the brightness level of the sign based on ambient light conditions. The sign must not exceed a maximum illumination of 5,000 nits (candelas per square meter) during daylight hours and a maximum illumination of 350 nits (candelas per square meter) between dusk and dawn as measured from the sign's face at maximum brightness.

(13) Dimmer control. Electronic graphic display signs must have an automatic dimmer control to produce a distinct illumination change from a higher illumination level to a lower level for the time period between 1/2 hour before sunset and 1/2 hour after sunrise as those times are determined by the National Weather Service.

(14) Audio. Audio speakers are prohibited in association with an electronic graphic display sign.

(15) Any electronic graphic display sign that malfunctions, fails or ceases to operate in its usual or normal programmed manner, causing motion, movement, flashing or any similar effects, shall be shut off immediately and restored to its normal operation conforming to the requirements of this subsection within 48 hours.

(16) Electronic graphic display signs shall meet all other sign requirements of the zone in which they are located and all other requirements as listed in Article XVII, Signs.

(17) Utilization of electronic graphic display signs is subject to approval by the Township Engineer and/or Chief of Police for traffic and pedestrian safety purposes.

(18) Emergency generator. The electronic graphic display sign must be permanently connected to an emergency generator to provide backup power to the sign in the event of power outages. The operation of the emergency generator is limited to the time period during power outages.

A. An informational sign or bulletin board, which may be illuminated, of not more than 20 square feet in area for a religious or similar public facility or institution, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior rental apartments, private schools, service organizations, recreational facilities, and other such uses, together with incidental signs which may be illuminated, not to exceed four square feet in area, necessary to provide direction or describe specific buildings in connection with such uses. No signs shall be located nearer to any lot line than 15 feet. [Amended 3-25-2003 by Ord. No. O-03-3]

B. A business sign of not more than two square feet of surface area for single-faced or a total of four square feet for double-faced signs in connection with a business or professional office located in a home.

(1) Such sign may be mounted flat against the face of the building or on a single freestanding post as a lawn sign, and shall not be located closer to any lot line than 1/2 the distance between the lot line and the building line.

(2) If the building has more than one use, all names shall appear on one sign, which sign shall have a maximum of four square feet per side or a total of eight square feet for double-faced signs. Sign may be illuminated and shall state the name of the occupant, his business or profession and house number only. Freestanding signs shall not exceed six feet in height above ground level. [Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

C. Temporary signs for fund-raising events for religious organizations, hospitals, public functions or political activities shall not exceed 32 square feet in surface area, to be located on the premises of the organization sponsoring the event. Signs shall be nonilluminated, freestanding, and shall be removed within 15 days upon termination of event. Such signs shall not be closer to any lot line than 1/2 the distance between the lot line and the building line. The sign or signs shall not exceed eight feet in height above ground level.

D. A business or store which has been allowed in this area may have one illuminated, flat sign against the building, and if located on a corner, two such signs shall be permitted, one facing each street.

(1) The area of each sign shall not exceed 10% of the area of the side of the building to which the sign is attached or 32 square feet, whichever is the lesser.

(2) Such business or store, instead of having a sign affixed to the building, may have an illuminated freestanding sign which shall not exceed 10 feet in overall height.

E. In the case of a development under construction, one nonilluminated temporary freestanding real estate sign of not more than 64 square feet of sign surface may be permitted on the premises where the construction is taking place. Upon completion of the total number of houses or units to be constructed in the development, all signs and supports shall be removed.

F. The rental or sales office of such residential development may have one illuminated sign identifying it as a rental or sales office only. Such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet for a single-faced sign or 24 square feet for a double-faced sign.

(1) No freestanding sign shall be located closer to any lot line than 1/2 the distance between the lot line and the building line.

(2) The overall height of any such sign shall not exceed five feet above ground level.

(3) Each such sign shall be removed no later than 10 days from the date of the homes or units planned for the development have been sold or rented.

[Amended 3-25-2003 by Ord. No. O-03-3]

A. Those signs permitted in § 190-177 of this article shall also be permitted in this section. The rules and regulations pertaining under § 190-177 shall also pertain under this section.

B. In addition to the signs permitted in Subsection A above, the following types of signs shall also be permitted in this section:

(1) Two illuminated freestanding signs identifying a farm and advertising the sale of farm or dairy products, which sign shall be located on the premises where the goods are to be sold. Each sign shall not exceed 16 square feet in the case of a single-faced sign.

(a) In lieu thereof, there shall be permitted one double-faced sign, each face of which shall not exceed 16 square feet of face surface.

(b) The overall height of each such sign shall not exceed eight feet above the ground level.

(2) One illuminated sign advertising the sale of farm produce, which sign shall not exceed 20 square feet of surface area. Such sign shall be attached flat against the face of the farm stand or farm building where the produce is to be sold.

(3) Two single-faced, freestanding, nonilluminated, temporary real estate signs of not more than 32 square feet for each sign; or, in lieu thereof, one double-faced sign of not more than 16 square feet of surface area for each face. Such sign or signs shall be permitted only in the case where it pertains to the sale, lease or rental of the property on which it is located. Lots having a frontage of 400 feet or more may display no more than two single-faced signs which shall not exceed an area of 32 square feet each, or in lieu thereof, one double-faced sign, each face of which shall not exceed 32 square feet of surface on each side. No such sign shall be closer than 15 feet to any lot line. The overall height of each such sign shall not exceed 10 feet above ground level. Each such sign shall be removed upon the sale, leasing, or rental of the property.

(4) Temporary nonilluminated single-faced, freestanding informational signs not to exceed 32 square feet in area advertising an event of a public organization or official Township function of public interest. Such signs may not be located closer than 500 feet to each other and such signs shall be removed upon the termination of the event. No such sign shall be attached to any utility pole, tree, fence, or other sign.

[Amended 12-8-2009 by Ord. No. O-09-32; 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. O-11-3]

A. Subject to the following limitations, all signs permitted in §§ 190-177 and 190-178 shall be permitted in this section.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter and in furtherance of the goals of § 190-114 of this chapter, the following restrictions, limitations and conditions shall apply to signs in these zones:

(1) Each sign in the enumerated zones shall be of a general design and shall contain lettering appropriate to and visually compatible with the architectural style of the building to which it is affixed or which it services.

(2) The placement of signs shall be appropriate to and visually compatible with the architectural style and architectural elements of the buildings.

(3) The colors of backgrounds and letters on signs shall be appropriate to and visually compatible with colors used on the building.

C. In addition to the signs permitted under Subsection A hereof, the following sign or signs shall also be permitted:

(1) Wall signs. Each business or commercial use may have one or more illuminated flat signs displayed on the face of the building or space which it occupies. The aforesaid sign shall advertise only the business and product occupying the space. If the property is located on a corner lot, such signs shall be permitted on the sides of the building facing each street.

(a) Size. The permitted size of wall signs shall be based on a percentage of the wall areas computed by the length times the height in the geometric figures which determine the actual area. The wall length shall be the building, or that portion occupied. The height of the wall for computing purposes shall not exceed 15 feet for one-story structures or 25 feet for two- or more story structures. One wall shall be the front wall; other walls shall be figured on the basis of one-half of the percent allowable given the front wall.

Wall Signs: Allowable Size

(b) Maximum allowable size. The maximum allowable size of a wall sign shall not exceed 495 square feet.

(c) No wall sign shall be mounted at a distance measured perpendicular to said wall face greater than 24 inches.

(d) No wall sign shall cover wholly or partially any required wall opening.

(2) Freestanding signs.

(a) Each business or commercial use may display one freestanding, illuminated sign, provided that such business is not part of a planned center of three or more units. Such sign shall advertise only the business or use occupying the space. The size of the sign face or faces shall be determined by the linear dimension of the side of the lot facing the street or highway in accordance with the following table:

CHART A

(b) Freestanding signs shall comply with the minimum side and corner yard setbacks of the applicable zoning district as an accessory structure but in no event shall a sign be closer than 15 feet to any lot line or building line.

(c) All freestanding signs shall be located at least five feet from all buildings.

(d) Signs shall not exceed the following heights; provided, however, that when freestanding signs are placed in raised decorative planters not exceeding four feet, the height shall be measured from the height of the planter structure:

[1] Route 9: 30 feet.

[2] Route 537 and Route 33: 20 feet.

[3] Route 79 and all other streets: 10 feet.

(3) Real estate signs. Two single-faced, freestanding, nonilluminated temporary real estate signs shall be permitted, which signs shall not exceed 32 square feet of surface area for each sign; in lieu thereof, there shall be permitted one double-faced sign which shall not exceed 32 square feet of surface area for each face. The sign or signs shall pertain only to the sale, lease or rental of the property on which it is located. Lots having a frontage of 400 feet or greater may display two single-faced signs which shall not exceed an area of 64 square feet each; or, in lieu thereof, one double-faced sign, each face of which shall not exceed 64 square feet in surface area. No such sign shall be closer than 15 feet to any lot line.