The following signs shall be permitted by right
within all zoning districts within the following regulations and shall
not be required to have a permit under this Article.
Conforming and nonconforming signs advertising
a use no longer in existence (other than a sign relating to a building
that is clearly temporarily vacant and being offered to new tenants
or for purchase) shall be removed within 180 days of the cessation
of such use.
The following shall regulate the location of
signs:
A. Public rights-of-way and sign setbacks from streets.
(1) No sign except official signs, nameplate signs, public
service signs and directional signs shall be erected within or project
more than two feet over any existing street right-of-way, except:
(a)
If an awning or canopy that is authorized by the City to extend over a sidewalk, then a portion or all of the permitted sign area may be located on such awning or canopy (see §
445-74).
(b)
As may specifically be permitted by another
City ordinance.
(c)
As permitted by §
445-61E for projecting signs.
(d)
For occasional banners erected across streets
when authorized by the City or PennDOT to advertise a public celebration
or charitable event.
(e)
If a setback is required by Subsection
A(2) below.
(2) A freestanding sign of greater than five square feet
in sign area shall be set back a minimum of five feet from the existing
right-of-way of a public street, except in the C-N and C-D Districts.
(3) Any sign, canopy or awning shall maintain a nine-foot
minimum vertical clearance over a sidewalk. See provisions of the
City building code regarding construction of signs that intrude over
a sidewalk.
B. Sight distance. No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with the sight distance requirements of §
445-74 or safe sight distances for vehicles within a lot.
C. Off-premises. No signs except permitted off-premises,
official, political or public service signs shall be erected on a
property to which it does not relate.
D. Setbacks. An illuminated freestanding sign for a commercial or industrial business shall not be located within 25 feet of a residential lot line (see definition in Article
II). A sign is not required to meet setback requirements for principal or accessory structures.
E. Permission of owner. No sign shall be posted on any
property or sign pole or public utility pole, unless permission has
been received by the owner.
F. Utility poles. No sign shall be stapled or nailed
to a utility pole, except by an authorized utility.
Any vehicle or structure to which a sign is
affixed in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs no
longer is incidental to the primary purpose of the vehicle or structure
but becomes a primary purpose in itself shall be considered a freestanding
sign and as such shall be subject to requirements for freestanding
signs in the district in which such vehicle or structure is located.
The following signs are prohibited in all zoning
districts:
A. Spinners, pennants or any moving object used to attract
attention to a commercial use; flags and banners of more than 20 square
feet per lot that contain a commercial message and that do not meet
the requirements for a permitted sign.
B. Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except for time and temperature signs and signs that have a nonflashing electrically changing message. This restriction specifically includes window signs, but does not prohibit Christmas lighting or displays, within §
445-60.
C. Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles,
sound or odor.
D. Signs which contain information that states or implies
that a lot may be used for any purpose not permitted under the applicable
provisions of this chapter.
E. Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color
that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or
device or that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse
or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street (such
as prominent use of the words "danger" or "stop").
F. Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance
of flashing, blinking or twinkling.
G. Signs or displays that include words or images that
are obscene or pornographic.
[Amended 3-9-2021 by Ord.
No. 50-2021]
H. Balloons of greater than 25 cubic feet that are tethered
to the ground or a structure and are primarily intended for advertising
purposes, except as provided as a special sale sign.
I. Floodlights and lasers, except as is permitted as a special sale display under §
445-60.
See the City building code. Every permanent sign permitted in this chapter shall be
constructed of durable materials and shall be kept in good condition
and repair. Any sign which becomes dilapidated or unsafe may be repaired
or removed by the City at the expense of the owner or lessee of the
property on which it is located, after providing written notice to
such owner or lessee.
The following signs are permitted by right in
all districts, provided that they meet the following requirements.
A. When allowed. Signs and any supporting structure (as
described in this section) are allowed for developments that have
been approved to involve either:
(1) A total of 10 or more residential lots; or
(2) A total of five or more separate office, commercial,
industrial and/or institutional establishments on a minimum total
of three acres of land.
B. Size and number. Signs described in this section may
have a maximum sign area of 40 square feet and a maximum height of
10 feet, except a maximum height of 15 feet may apply in a commercial
district. These signs and/or structures may be located one each a
maximum of three of the major entrances to the development from exterior
streets. This sign area may be an addition to other sign area limits
of this chapter. The signs may be attached to a brick or wooden structure
with a maximum height of 10 feet and maximum length of 20 feet, which
shall be permitted within a required front yard, provided that required
sight distance is not obstructed.
C. Durability. Such signs shall be designed to be of
a durable construction requiring little maintenance.
D. Message. Such signs may only include the name of the
development, the names of any uses within the development and any
logo. A phone number may only be included during sale or rental of
the development. Such signs shall not include any advertising.
E. Landscaping. Such signs shall be attractively landscaped,
with plants and shrubs requiring minimal maintenance.
F. Location. Such signs and structures shall be located outside of the existing and future street rights-of-way lines and shall satisfy the sight distance requirements of §
445-74.
G. Maintenance. If such signs are intended to remain
beyond the completion of a developer's involvement in a project, the
developer shall provide an appropriate method to ensure proper maintenance
of the sign.
H. Illumination. Such signs in a residential district
shall not be illuminated.
I. Directional signs within a major business development.
(1) When allowed. A directional business sign is allowed
at each intersection of two or more streets within an office, commercial
or industrial development that involves a total of 20 or more acres.
(2) Size. Each sign may have a total square footage of
120 square feet on each of two sides. The sign shall be an orderly
single structure and may include on it the names and logos of all
the businesses located in the development, along with directional
arrows and a map.
(3) Purpose. The signs allowed by this subsection are
to direct visitors to businesses. These signs are not intended for
routine advertising purposes.
(4) Illumination. Such signs may be externally but not
internally illuminated.