Ramapo College of New Jersey Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays Rules (2026)

Bergen County holiday decoration regulation is minimal on private property, reflecting First Amendment protections for symbolic expression. No Bergen municipality requires permits for standard residential holiday displays. Common universal requirements across Bergen towns: decorations must not obstruct public sidewalks or driveways; must not block sight triangles at intersections (typically 25-foot triangle per municipal zoning codes); electrical installations must use UL-listed outdoor-rated equipment per N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.16 (NJ Electrical Subcode adopting NEC 2020); inflatable decorations must be secured and cannot encroach on neighboring properties; noise-producing decorations (animatronic carolers, music speakers) are subject to each town's noise ordinance quiet hours (typically 10 PM to 7 AM). Some towns impose seasonal installation windows: Ridgewood Code §190-128 limits holiday decorations to 45 days before and 15 days after the holiday. Franklin Lakes and Upper Saddle River HOAs commonly restrict displays to 30 days pre-holiday and 14 days post. Fort Lee Code §345-23 permits temporary holiday lighting November 15 through January 15 without permit. The famous Christmas lighting displays in Saddle River (Candy Cane Lane) and Woodcliff Lake draw tourists but must comply with traffic management requirements; some towns require police detail for high-traffic displays. Rooftop installations should not damage structure and must comply with building code. HOA-governed communities (Alpine, Franklin Lakes, Upper Saddle River, parts of Mahwah) commonly restrict display duration, colors, and types. NJ religious display rules follow Lynch v. Donnelly (1984) and County of Allegheny v. ACLU (1989) for public property displays.