Monroe Township (Gloucester County), NJ Home Business: Signage Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sign size
- Two square feet on one side (§ 175-135B(1))
- Number allowed
- Only one home occupation or home professional sign
- EMC signs
- Not permissible for home occupation signs
- Permit
- Zoning office permit plus fee to Construction Code Office
- Penalty
- $50 to $500 or up to 90 days, or both, per violation
- Conflicting figure
- § 175-111G prints five sq ft on each of two sides
Summary
In Monroe Township, Gloucester County, § 175-135B(1) permits one home occupation or home professional sign of no more than two square feet measured on one side, and EMC signs are not allowed for it. A permit from the Zoning office and a fee to the Construction Code Office come before the sign goes up. Section 175-111G separately prints a five square foot limit.
B. Signs in residential districts. The following signs are permitted when located on the immediate premises: (1) Home occupation and home professional signs not exceeding two square feet measured on one side; only one such sign is permissible. EMC signs are not permissible for this purpose. ... F. Sign permit. ... No sign for any non-profit organization, social club, church, or business, whether commercial or industrial, or for a home occupation or professional shall be erected without first receiving a permit from the Zoning office and paying a fee whether exempt or not to the Construction Code Office. ... L. Violations and penalties. Any person, firm, association, partnership, organization or corporation who or which violates or neglects to comply with any section of this chapter or notice issued pursuant thereto shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to a penalty of not less than $50 nor more than $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both, for each violation.
Full Breakdown
Section 175-135 is the Township's sign section, and Subsection B lists the signs allowed in residential districts when located on the immediate premises. Item B(1) allows home occupation and home professional signs not exceeding two square feet measured on one side, with only one such sign permissible and no electronic message center (EMC) sign for the purpose. Subsection F then bars any sign for a home occupation or professional from being erected without first receiving a permit from the Zoning office and paying a fee to the Construction Code Office, whether the sign is exempt or not.
Two other sections of the Township Code print their own home-business sign figures. Section 175-111, Home occupations, says in Subsection G that no sign shall be larger than five square feet on each of two sides, and its Subsection F adds that no related displays of articles for sale shall be visible from the street. Section 175-112, Home professional offices, says in Subsection E that no sign shall be larger than two square feet on each of two sides. The printed text does not say which of these controls over the one-sided, single-sign wording of § 175-135B(1). Section 175-135 was most recently amended 7-23-2025 by Ord. No. O:23-2025, and § 175-111 was amended 12-11-2024 by Ord. No. O:58-2024.
The sign criteria in § 175-135G apply as well. Sign area counts all lettering, wording, coloring, designs and symbols together with the background, but not the supporting framework, and a freestanding sign with two exposures counts the area of one side. Street number designations and family names on residences are permitted and are not counted in sign area. Illuminated signs have to reflect light and glare away from adjoining lots and streets, and no sign is permitted with beam, beacon or flashing illumination. Freestanding signs sit only in the front yard, never within the minimum side yard of the principal building and never closer than two feet to a street right-of-way. Signs have to be built of durable materials and kept in good condition.
Violations & Fines
Subsection L sets the penalty for violating any section of the chapter: not less than $50 nor more than $500, or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both, for each violation, on conviction. Each day the violation exists counts as a separate violation. Putting up a home occupation sign without the Zoning office permit and the fee to the Construction Code Office is a violation of Subsection F.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a home business sign be in Monroe Township?
Do I need a permit for a home occupation sign?
Can a home business use a lighted or electronic sign?
What is the penalty for an illegal home business sign?
Where on the lot can a home business sign go?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monroe Township (Gloucester County)
Compare Monroe Township (Gloucester County) to another location·View the New Jersey home business overview
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