As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
AWNING OR CANOPY SIGN
A sign that is part of an awning or canopy over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. See also §
186-5C, Word usage and definitions, "Awning or canopy."
BILLBOARD
See "off-premises signs" and "commercial outdoor advertising
signs."
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign on which message copy can be changed through the use
of electronic switching of lamps or other illuminated devices. This
includes public service information, such as time and temperature,
displays or any sign which features automatic or manual switching
or changing of its message content.
COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN
A permanent off-premises sign erected, maintained or used
for the purpose of providing copy area for advertising messages for
rent or lease.
CONSTRUCTION/DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A type of temporary sign which is intended to advertise the
name of project or development and/or the contractor, architect, engineer,
financier, etc.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign supported by means of poles or standards on the ground.
The height of a freestanding sign shall be measured from the proposed
finished grade to the highest point of the sign structure.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a person, business, profession,
product, home occupation or activity not conducted on the same premises.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a person, business, profession,
product, home occupation or activity conducted on the same premises.
PARALLEL SIGN
A sign parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface.
Parallel signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other
surface to which they are mounted or shall not project more than six
inches from its surface.
POLITICAL SIGN
Any temporary sign pertaining to political views, an individual
seeking election or appointment to a public office or a forthcoming
public election or referendum.
PREMISES
A separate lot or tax parcel with individual frontage abutting
the street line. A "premises" may include more than one occupant,
as in an office complex or shopping center.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign on a wall or other vertical building surface other
than a parallel sign or a window sign.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of the property
upon which it is located.
ROOF SIGN
A sign upon the roof or parapet of a building, the entire
face of which is situated above the highest point of the roof for
flat roofs, the decklines of mansard roofs and the mean height between
eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs of the building to
which it is attached and which is wholly or partially supported by
said building.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN
A temporary sign, also called an A-frame sign, which has
no permanent base and is not fixed permanently to the ground or a
building, with a one- or two-sided sign face.
SIGN
Any permanent or temporary structure or part thereof or any
device attached, painted or represented, directly or indirectly, on
a structure or other outdoor surface that shall display or include
any letter, work, insignia, flag or representation used as or which
is in the nature of an advertisement, announcement, visual communication,
direction or which is designed to attract the eye or bring the subject
to the attention of the public.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign intended for short-term use, such as a promotional
sign, including signs pertaining to business events, community events,
political issues, an individual seeking public office or a forthcoming
public election.
VEHICULAR SIGN
A sign which is affixed and/or painted to a vehicle in such
a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs is no longer incidental
to the vehicle's primary purpose. Such signs shall be subject to the
regulations for freestanding signs as defined in this article. This
definition does not apply to signs on vehicles when in motion and
vehicles with a valid license.
WINDOW SIGN
A temporary or permanent sign which is oriented to the public
right-of-way and is located on the inside or outside of a window to
direct attention to an activity conducted on the same lot.
No sign shall be allowed except as follows:
A. Parallel or freestanding signs for bulletin- or announcement-type
boards or for identification of schools, churches, hospitals, recreation
areas and other principal uses and buildings other than dwellings,
provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 15 square
feet and not more than one such sign shall be placed on property held
in single and separate ownership, unless such property fronts on more
than one street, in which case one such sign may be placed on each
street frontage, and provided that the height of such sign shall not
exceed 20 feet.
B. Parallel or freestanding signs for identification of an apartment
development or single-family residential development of 25 units or
more, erected on the site of said development and containing only
the name of the development and the location of a sale or rental office,
provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 15 square
feet and not more than one such sign shall be placed on property held
in single or separate ownership, unless such property fronts on more
than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each
street frontage. Such signs shall be constructed of brick, masonry,
wood or other durable material to resist weathering and deterioration.
No portion of such sign shall exceed 20 feet in height.
C. One sign for home occupations, indicating only names of persons,
addresses, telephone numbers and the occupations, provided that the
area of any such sign shall not exceed four square feet. A permit
for such sign shall not be required if the subject home occupation
has been approved by the Zoning Hearing Board where required. Signs
of this nature shall be located within five feet of the rear edge
of the sidewalk or within 10 feet behind the proposed curbline of
the street in those areas not having a sidewalk.
D. One construction/development sign, provided that the area of any
such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet and such sign shall be removed
within 20 days after the final inspection by the Borough Building
Inspector. In addition to the construction/development sign, the following
temporary signage is permitted in association with a new residential
development.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1000]
(1) Temporary on-premises signs associated with the proposed development
may be erected along the project frontage/right-of-way during the
construction period, provided that the area of such signs shall not
exceed six square feet per sign and that no more than one sign per
200 feet of frontage shall be permitted along the existing right-of-way.
E. A sign which identifies an individual building containing multiple
dwelling units. The sign may identify only the property number, street
address and/or the name of the building for a multiple family dwelling.
(1) Number: no more than one sign shall be provided for any one building
unless the building is located on a corner lot, in which case a sign
may be erected on each street frontage.
(2) Type: awning, freestanding, projecting, or wall.
(3) Size: maximum of eight square feet.
(4) Height of freestanding sign: maximum of five feet.
(5) Illumination: unilluminated or indirectly illuminated only.
Except for residential signs as governed by §
186-79, supra, or home occupation signs as permitted in §
186-18H(4)(j), no sign shall be permitted except as hereinafter set forth:
A. Parallel signs for nonresidential uses, subject to the following
conditions:
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1000]
(1) No portion of the signs shall be less than 10 feet above the proposed
finished grade. If not projecting more than three inches from a wall
of a building, the sign need not conform to the ten-foot height limit.
(2) The total area of all signs shall not exceed 15% of the area of the
first floor of the building face, including window and door area and
cornices, to which they are attached.
(3) Permanent window signs shall be considered parallel signs and included
in this computation; temporary window signs shall not be included
in this computation but shall nevertheless not exceed 40% of the total
window area on each street.
(4) One parallel sign may be erected for each street-level use occupying
a single structure on the same premises.
(5) If a parallel sign is utilized at a premises, then the premises shall
not also have a roof sign.
B. Freestanding signs in the case of planned commercial development
shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) They shall be limited to one sign indicating the name of the development
or similar information. In the event that such development fronts
on two or more streets, a sign may be placed for each street frontage.
(2) No portion of the sign shall be more than 20 feet above the ground.
(3) The area of the sign shall not exceed one square foot for each two
feet of linear lot frontage or 60 square feet, whichever is smaller.
(4) Freestanding signs shall be so landscaped as to screen any utility
and/or service equipment associated with them.
C. Freestanding signs for nonresidential use in the case where planned
commercial development has not been applied due to configuration of
lots, size of lots or where individual lots are not considered part
of a planned commercial development, subject to the following conditions:
(1) They shall be limited to one such sign per structure. If more than
one use is carried on in a single structure, then only one such sign
may be erected; said sign may indicate the presence of all uses in
the structure.
(2) No portion of the sign shall be more than six feet above the ground.
(3) The area of the sign shall not exceed 16 square feet or one square
foot for each two feet of premises frontage, whichever is less.
(4) In the event that the premises fronts on more than one street, one
sign may be placed along each street frontage.
(5) In the C-2 District, signs located along the Ridge Road frontage shall meet the following height and area standards instead of the standards of §
186-80C(2) and
(3): No portion of the sign shall be more than 12 feet above the ground, and the area of the sign shall not exceed 30 square feet.
D. Projecting signs are prohibited in the C-1 District.
E. Projecting signs for nonresidential uses are permitted in the C-2
District, subject to the following conditions:
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1000]
(1) No portion of a projecting sign shall be less than 10 feet nor more
than 20 feet above the proposed finished grade, and no such sign shall
be less than two feet from the plane of the face of the curb.
(2) When a building is occupied by one use, the area of such signs shall
not exceed 16 square feet or one square foot for each two feet of
premises frontage, whichever is less.
(3) When a building is occupied by more than one use, each business may
have a projecting sign; the area of such signs shall not exceed eight
square feet.
(4) In the event there are multiple uses occupying a single structure,
one projecting sign may be erected for each use occupying a single
structure on the same premises.
(5) In the event that the premises fronts on more than one street, one
projecting sign may be placed along each street frontage. Where multiple
uses occupy a single structure, each projecting sign shall be located
on the same street frontage as the entrance for the associated use.
(6) If a projecting sign is utilized at a premises, then the premises
shall not have a freestanding sign.
F. Sandwich board signs are permitted in commercial districts in accordance
with the following:
(1) Such sign shall be displayed outside only during business hours and
taken inside after business hours.
(2) Only one such sign shall be permitted per property frontage.
(3) Such signs shall not obstruct pedestrian traffic nor interfere with
the opening of vehicle doors or obstruct sight lines along streets,
sidewalks, or driveways.
(4) Such signs shall be a maximum of two feet by three feet per side,
exclusive of the stand.
Except for residential signs as governed by §
186-79, supra, or home occupation signs as permitted §
186-18H(4)(j), no sign shall be permitted except as hereinafter set forth:
A. On-premises signs.
(1) Parallel signs for permitted nonresidential uses, provided that:
(a)
No portion shall be less than 10 feet above the proposed finished
grade and extend more than six inches from the building wall. If not
projecting more than three inches from a wall of a building, the sign
need not conform to the ten-foot height limit.
(b)
The total area of all signs shall not exceed 15% of the area
of the building face, including window and door area and cornices,
to which they are attached.
(c)
Permanent window signs shall be considered parallel signs and
included in this computation; temporary window signs shall not be
included in this computation but shall nevertheless not exceed 40%
of the total window area on each street.
(d)
One parallel sign may be erected for each use occupying a single
structure on the same premises.
(e)
If a parallel sign is utilized at a premises, then the premises
shall not also have a roof sign.
(2) Freestanding signs in the case of planned industrial development
shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a)
They shall be limited to one sign indicating the name of the
development or similar information. In the event that such development
fronts on two or more streets, a sign may be placed for each street
frontage.
(b)
No portion of the sign shall be more than 20 feet above the
ground.
(c)
The area of the sign shall not exceed one square foot for each
two feet of linear lot frontage or 100 square feet, whichever is smaller.
(d)
If a freestanding sign is utilized at a premises, then the premises
shall not also have a projecting sign.
(3) Freestanding signs for nonresidential uses in the case where planned
industrial development has not been applied due to configuration of
lots, size of lots or where individual lots are not considered part
of a planned industrial development, subject to the following conditions:
(a)
They shall be limited to one such sign per structure. If more
than one use is carried on in a single structure, then only one sign
may be erected; said sign may indicate the presence of all uses in
the structure.
(b)
No portion of the sign shall be more than 20 feet above the
ground.
(c)
The area of the sign shall not exceed 100 square feet or one
square foot for each two feet of premises frontage, whichever is less.
(d)
In the event that the premises fronts on more than one street,
one sign may be placed along each street frontage.
(e)
If a freestanding sign is utilized at a premises, then the premises
shall not also have a projecting sign.
(4) Roof signs shall conform in all respects to the conditions specified
for freestanding signs in this section, except that no portion of
a roof sign shall be more than 10 feet above the roof. Roof signs
shall not be established less than 100 feet from an R-1A, R-1B, R-2,
R-3 or A District, unless the advertising surface of the roof sign
is not visible therefrom.
(5) Projecting signs are prohibited in the I-1 District.
(6) Projecting signs for nonresidential uses are permitted in the I-2
District, subject to the following conditions:
(a)
All projecting signs shall be reviewed for structural soundness
by the Borough Code Enforcement Officer prior to erection and issuance
of a building permit.
(b)
No portion of a projecting sign shall be less than 10 feet nor
more than 20 feet above proposed finished grade, and no such sign
shall be less than two feet from the plane of the face of curb.
(c)
The area of such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet or one
square foot for each two feet of premises frontage, whichever is less.
(d)
In the event that the premises fronts on more than one street,
one sign may be placed along each street frontage.
(e)
If a freestanding sign is used at a premises, then the premises
shall not also have a projecting sign.
B. Off-premises signs, commercial outdoor advertising signs. Only one
commercial outdoor advertising sign may be erected per premises fronting
on a public right-of-way, provided that:
(1) Yard setbacks.
(a)
Right-of-way. No outdoor advertising sign or any part thereof
shall be erected or maintained within 50 feet of the future right-of-way
of a public street.
(b)
Side or rear yards. No outdoor advertising sign or any part
thereof shall be erected or maintained within 50 feet of any side
or rear property line.
(2) No such sign shall be erected within 500 feet of any other such sign
or freestanding sign.
(3) The following minimum landscaping shall be planted adjacent to each
such sign:
(a)
Five five-foot-to-six-foot-high evergreen trees planted within
a forty-foot radius on the sides and rear of the base of the sign.
(b)
Four eight-foot-to-ten-foot-high flowering trees planted within
a fifty-foot radius on the sides of the base of the sign.
(c)
One three-foot-to-four-foot-high shrub per three lineal feet
of frontage or 40 shrubs, whichever is greater, to be planted in front
of the sign.
(4) Area and height.
(a)
No outdoor advertising sign shall be permitted to exceed a maximum
area of 50 square feet, including border and trim, but excluding supports.
(b)
No outdoor advertising sign shall exceed 20 feet in height.
(5) Commercial outdoor advertising signs/billboards shall not have internally
illuminated, light emitting diode (LED), or electronic or digital
displays.