Signs and Banners for Hackensack

Hackensack's sign permit, in plain terms

Hackensack is stricter than many of its neighbors. The city's sign ordinance requires a permit for signs, and that includes temporary ones like a sale banner or a grand opening sign. What we found when we read it:

• A temporary sign can be up to 8 square feet.
• The permit is good for 30 days, and it can be renewed.
• The temporary sign fee is $25.00, and the fee is waived for community special events.

You apply with the city's Form E-2 sign permit application at the Building Department, 116 Holt Street. The form asks for the sign's size and a drawing, so design the sign first. You can download a proof from our designer and attach it.

The 8 square foot limit decides the size. A 2 x 4 foot banner is exactly 8 square feet, and ours is $30.50. A 3 x 6 foot banner is 18 square feet, so it would not work as a temporary sign. We are not zoning experts, so treat this as a starting point and confirm with the Building Department.

Downtown and Main Street storefronts

If your business is downtown, there is a second layer. The city's Downtown Rehabilitation Plan includes design standards for signs, and it discourages vinyl banners and limits signs to four colors. For downtown shops, we usually suggest putting the money into the window instead:

• Cut vinyl window lettering for your name, hours, phone and website. Our store hours package is $79.00, and we can install it for $75.00.
• A window graphic, 24 x 36 inches, for a seasonal promotion or a menu. It is $43.50 in perforated film, which lets you see out from inside.
• An indoor sign on an easel near the door, 24 x 36 inches on foam board for $40.00.

Keep the four-color limit in mind when you design. Two or three colors that match your logo usually read better anyway.

The Main Street Business Alliance has also offered a storefront and sign grant to businesses in the downtown Special Improvement District. Under the 2025 program, the Alliance's committee had to approve the design before purchase, the grant covered part of the cost, and it was paid back after the work was done. If you are thinking about new signs downtown, ask the Alliance first. We are happy to send a written price for your application.

Festivals, schools and family events

Hackensack has plenty of events where a sign helps: the Hackensack Street Festival, school concerts and games, church and community fundraisers. A booth banner, a few yard signs pointing the way, and matching volunteer shirts cover most of it. Remember that the city waives the temporary sign fee for community special events, but the sign still needs a permit.

At home, the most common orders are graduation signs for Hackensack High School and Bergen County Academies seniors, birthday signs and welcome-home signs. Those go on your own lawn.

Prices are per sign before New Jersey sales tax. Signs are taxable; shirts are not. A nonprofit with an ST-5 exempt organization certificate can send it to us for tax-free signs.

Ordering from Hackensack

Build your sign in the online designer, pick your size and see the price before you pay. Standard turnaround is 5 to 7 business days after your 50% deposit, or 3 business days with rush for 25% more. If you need a permit, leave time for that too: apply with the proof, then order once you have approval.

Pickup is contactless in Paramus, about 7 miles from downtown, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11am to 3pm. You can book a pickup time when your order is ready, or have it shipped, starting at $14.99 for up to two signs (large banners ship in a tube and cost a bit more). Staff shirts and hoodies are on our Hackensack custom shirt page.

Prices as of November 2026, from our online designers. Clothing is exempt from NJ sales tax; signs and vinyl are taxed at 6.625%.