West New York, NJ Sign Regulations: Window Signs (2026)

Chapter 338 of the Code of the Town of West New York, adopted by the Board of Commissioners on 3-23-2017 as Ord. No. 8/17, is the sign chapter. Section 338-9(B) sets the window rule for nonresidential districts: the aggregate area used for window display signs cannot exceed 10% of the total window area in (on) which the signs are located. Window display signs cannot be illuminated, so a lit window sign falls outside the allowance. They also do not count toward the total signage on a building, which keeps them separate from the frontage formulas in § 338-9(D) through (H), where a single-occupancy commercial or industrial lot is limited to two square feet of sign area for each linear foot of building frontage and a maximum of 40 square feet.

Temporary signs are governed by § 338-11. All temporary signage needs a permit unless the chapter exempts it. The permit is valid for a period not to exceed 30 days from issuance and can be renewed for a period not to exceed 60 days, and a renewal requires a new permit application and fee. No temporary sign can exceed 12 square feet. Streamers, flags, pennants and banners are permitted as temporary signs under the same permit and time rules. Signs listed in § 338-13(B), such as real estate signs not exceeding six square feet, need no permit or fee.

The Zoning Officer acts on a sign permit application within 15 business days of receipt (§ 338-6). Anyone who obtains a permit to erect a sign must give the Building Inspector proof that the person doing the erection carries public liability insurance with limits of no less than $100,000 for property damage and $500,000 for bodily injury per occurrence. In residential districts, a property without a Zoning Board-approved commercial use is not entitled to signage beyond residential nameplates, artisan signs, real estate signs and signs that need no permit (§ 338-10(K)).