[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as amended by Ord. 622, 12/29/1987;
by Ord. 657, 10/9/1990, §§ 1 — 5; by Ord. 724,
11/17/1997; by Ord. 754, 2/18/2002; and by Ord. 866, 6/10/2013, § 3]
1.
The following regulations shall apply to all zoning districts:
A.
A permit shall be required to construct, install, and maintain any
sign, in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. 904, 6/19/2017]
B.
Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with
the provisions of this chapter and all other ordinances and regulations
relating to the erection, alteration, or maintenance of signs. Permit
fees shall be established by resolution of the Borough Council.
C.
Signs shall not contain flashing, revolving, moving, sound-producing,
or animated parts, including any sign which has the capability of
motion in whole or in part, with the exception of:
[Amended by Ord. 904, 6/19/2017]
D.
No sign shall be placed in such a position or have such a source
of illumination that it will cause any danger to pedestrians or vehicular
traffic.
E.
Floodlighting of any sign shall be arranged so that the source of
light is not visible nor glare is detected from any property line
or vehicular access and that only the sign is illuminated.
F.
No sign other than official traffic signs or public service signs
shall be erected within the right-of-way lines of any street.
G.
Every sign must be constructed of durable material and be kept in
good condition. Any sign which is allowed to become dilapidated shall
be removed by the owner or, upon failure of the owner to do so, by
the Borough at the expense of the owner or lessee. The Borough Building
Inspector shall make such determination as to state of repair. All
violations shall be corrected within 90 days of receiving notice of
violation.
H.
No sign shall be erected or located so as to prevent free ingress
to or egress from any window, door, fire escape, sidewalk, or driveway.
I.
No sign shall be erected which emits smoke, visible vapors or particles,
sound, or odor.
J.
No sign shall be erected which uses an artificial light source or
reflecting device which may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
K.
No sign shall be erected containing information which implies that
a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions
of this chapter.
L.
No sign shall be placed on any tree except political signs, yard
or garage sale signs, hunting, and trespassing signs.
M.
The distance from ground level to the highest part of any freestanding
sign shall not exceed eight feet in all residential districts. The
distance from ground level to the highest part of any freestanding
sign in any commercial or industrial district shall not exceed 15
feet. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the placement of any freestanding
sign may not impede or endanger pedestrian or vehicular traffic with
its minimum height or otherwise.
N.
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
be subject to the provisions regarding freestanding signs in the district
in which such vehicle or structure is located.
O.
No sign except an official, traffic, public service, or political
sign, or a billboard shall be erected on a property to which it does
not relate.
P.
Temporary signs, if properly permitted by the Zoning Officer, may
be allowed for short periods. The following signs shall be exempt
from permit requirements stated herein, provided, that they are removed
in the time period specified and conform to the specifics in each
subsection:
(1)
Yard or garage sale signs, provided that they do not exceed
four square feet in area and are removed within 48 hours after the
sale.
(2)
Signs giving notice of the sale or rental of the property on
which the sign is located, provided that they do not exceed five square
feet in area and are removed upon execution of an agreement of sale
or rental or upon settlement of the contract.
(3)
Political signs, provided that they do not exceed eight square
feet in area and are removed within seven days after election or referendum.
(4)
Signs erected by a nonprofit or charitable entity denoting an
activity or event, provided that they are erected no more than 30
days before the activity or event and removed within seven days after
the activity or event.
[Amended by Ord. 904, 6/19/2017]
(5)
Signs and decorations for an officially recognized designated
holiday, provided that they do not create traffic or fire hazards
and are removed within three days following the event.
(6)
Signs announcing work being performed on the premises by contractors,
mechanics, painters, artisans, etc., not to exceed five square feet,
provided that they are removed within three days after completion
of said work.
(7)
Trespassing signs or signs indicating the private nature of
a road, driveway, or premises and signs prohibiting or controlling
hunting and fishing upon the premises, not to exceed two square feet.
Q.
Portable Signs.
(1)
Portable signs shall be permitted in the C-1, C-2, C-3, PC/LI,
and I Zoning Districts where the principal use of the property is
nonresidential.
(2)
No more than one portable sign per property shall be permitted,
except that where the front facade of a building is divided among
two or more discrete principal uses, each such use shall be permitted
one portable sign.
(3)
A portable sign may be placed in front of the principal use
with which it is associated, including within a sidewalk.
(4)
A portable sign shall not exceed nine square feet. The actual
size of the portable sign shall be included in the calculation of
the maximum square footage of signs allowed at the property. Where
the sign is double-faced, only one face shall be used to calculate
the size of the sign.
(5)
Where placed on a sidewalk, a minimum clear walking path of
four feet shall be maintained.
(6)
The maximum height of a portable sign shall be five feet, measured
from the sidewalk or other surface on which the sign is placed.
(7)
Any portable sign shall be taken indoors at the close of each
business day.
(8)
No portable sign may be placed on wheels.
(9)
A portable sign shall comply with the terms of this section,
but a sign permit shall not be required.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as amended by Ord. 657, 10/9/1990, §§ 6,
7]
1.
The following signs shall be permitted in residential districts:
A.
Official traffic signs.
B.
Identification signs, bulletin, or announcement boards for schools,
churches, hospitals, or similar institutions and for clubs, lodges,
farms, estates, or similar uses, provided that:
C.
Professional, home occupation, or name sign indicating the name,
profession, or activity of the occupant of a dwelling, provided that:
D.
Real estate signs, including signs advertising the rental or sale
of premises, provided that:
E.
Temporary signs of contractors, architects, special events, and the
like, provided that:
F.
Signs advertising an existing nonconforming use, provided that:
(1)
The area on one side of such sign shall not exceed six square
feet.
(2)
The sign shall be erected only on the premises on which such
nonconforming use is located.
(3)
No more than one such sign shall be erected on any one street
frontage.
(4)
When an existing nonconforming use fronts on a street that forms
the boundary with a nonresidential zoning district, the sign(s) which
front on that street may assume the requirements of the district on
the other side of the boundary upon a duly executed application to
the Zoning Officer and fulfillment of other requirements of this chapter
for that nonresidential district.
G.
Signs necessary for the identification and protection of public utility
corporation facilities, provided that the area of one side of such
sign shall not exceed four square feet.
H.
Signs within a residential subdivision to direct persons to a rental
office or sample unit within that subdivision, provided that the area
on one side of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
I.
Trespassing signs and signs indicating the private nature of premises.
The area of any one side of such signs shall not exceed two square
feet, and such signs shall be placed at intervals of not less than
100 feet along any street frontage.
J.
Sign denoting the name of a subdivision or development, provided
that:
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as amended by Ord. 705, 8/21/1995]
1.
The following signs shall be permitted in the C-1 Commercial District.
B.
Business signs, provided that:
(1)
No sign shall be visible from the rear of any property when
the rear of that property abuts a residential district, nor shall
any sign be visible from the side of any property when the side of
that property abuts a residential district.
(2)
The total area on one side of all signs placed on or facing
any one street frontage of any one premises shall not exceed 32 square
feet, except in the case of a tract or building housing more than
one commercial use.
(3)
In the case of a building or tract of land housing more than
one use, one permanent directory and one identifying sign for the
building tract may be erected. The area of one side of the permanent
directory shall not exceed 10 square feet for each use housed in said
building or tract. The identifying sign shall not exceed 68 square
feet. In addition, for each use located in that building or on the
same lot, one wall-mounted sign shall be permitted. The area of such
sign shall not exceed 12 square feet for a building at or within 50
feet of street frontage or 27 square feet for a building between 50
and 150 feet set back from street frontage or 42 square feet for a
building with over 150 feet set back from street frontage, and the
sign may be attached to that portion of the building housing the use.
(4)
No more than two separate signs shall face any one street frontage
for any one use, except in the case of a tract containing a directory
sign.
C.
Directional signs, provided that the area on any one side of a directional
sign shall not exceed two square feet.
[Amended by Ord. No. 927-2019, 8/19/2019]
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as amended by Ord. 657, 10/9/1990, § 8;
by Ord. 724, 11/17/1997; and by Ord. 858, 11/12/2012, §§ 1,
2]
1.
The following signs shall be permitted in the C-2 Commercial District:
B.
Business signs, provided that:
(1)
No sign shall be visible from the rear of any property when
the rear of that property abuts a residential district, nor shall
any sign be visible from the side of any property when the side of
that property abuts a residential district.
(2)
The maximum permitted permanent signage for a property in the
C-2 District shall be determined by the following formula:
|
(Road frontage plus building frontage) divided by two equals
total square feet of permitted signage.
|
(3)
Multiple-use properties shall prorate the permitted signage
for each use based on the square footage of actual floor space for
each use. (Example: a use that utilizes 40% of the usable space may
employ up to 40% of the total permitted signage of the multiple use
property (total permitted signage x percentage of area of use = percentage
per use).
(4)
Total permitted signage shall be divided among not more than
three signs; one such sign shall be mounted parallel on the building
frontage, and no single sign shall exceed 40% of the total permissible
sign age.
(5)
One directory sign listing each use in a multi-use property
shall be permitted. Such directory sign shall not exceed 16 square
feet.
(6)
Signs mounted perpendicular to the building frontage shall not
project more than five feet from the building wall. The minimum height
from ground level to the lowest part of such sign shall be not less
than eight feet.
(7)
One temporary sign (or banner) per property shall be permitted
for special events. Such temporary sign shall be without fee and shall
not be computed as part of the total permitted permanent signage.
Such temporary sign shall not be displayed for a period in excess
of 60 days. No such sign shall exceed 1/3 of the square footage of
the total permitted permanent sign on the property. Additional temporary
signs may be permitted as determined by the Zoning Officer not to
be detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare and for such
fee as may be determined by Borough Council. No temporary sign or
signs shall be erected on any property more than three times during
any twelve-month period and shall be separated by not less than a
thirty-day interval.
(8)
Window signs shall be excluded from the calculation of the total
permitted sign area. Temporary and/or permanent window signs shall
not exceed 35% of the total window area in the frontage wall. Window
signs displayed on the inside of any window shall not require a permit.
(9)
Properties abutting on more than one street shall use only the
longest street frontage to determine permitted maximum permanent signage.
(10)
Freestanding signs shall not be erected within street rights-of-way and shall be set back from all side and rear lot lines a distance of not less than the total sign height. One freestanding sign shall be permitted on each property and shall not exceed 40% of the total permitted signage or, in the case of multi-use properties, 40% of the prorated signage calculated pursuant to Subsection 1B(3). All freestanding signs shall comply with the provisions of § 27-1601, Subsection 1M.
C.
Directional signs, provided that the area on any one side of a directional
sign shall not exceed two square feet.
[Amended by Ord. No. 927-2019, 8/19/2019]
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as amended by Ord. 657, 10/9/1990, § 9;
and by Ord. 724, 11/17/1997]
1.
The following signs shall be permitted in the C-3 Commercial District:
B.
Business signs, provided that:
(1)
Such sign shall be erected only on the tract of land where the
use to which the sign pertains is conducted.
(2)
The maximum permitted permanent signage per property in the
C-3 District shall be determined by the following formula:
|
2.5 x street frontage = total square feet of signage permitted,
except no single sign shall exceed 100 square feet
|
(4)
Total permitted signage may be divided into not more than two
signs. One such sign shall be mounted on the building frontage.
(5)
One directory sign listing each use in a multi-use property
shall be permitted. Such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
D.
Directional signs, provided that the area on any one side of a directional
sign shall not exceed two square feet.
[Added by Ord. No. 927-2019, 8/19/2019]
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as amended by Ord. 657, 10/9/1990; and
by Ord. 754, 2/18/2002]
1.
The following signs shall be permitted in the I Industrial District:
B.
Business signs, provided that:
(1)
Such sign shall be erected only on the tract of land where the
use to which the sign pertains is conducted.
(2)
There shall be a maximum of two signs facing one street frontage
for any one premises.
(3)
The total area of all business signs on a property shall be
four square feet for every one foot of building frontage or 150 square
feet, whichever is greater. "Building frontage" shall be defined as
the linear footage of a building face which serves as the principal
approach to a building and which building face fronts a public street.
(4)
Signs shall not project in height above the roofline of the
building to which they are attached.
D.
Directory or identifying sign for a tract of land designed and developed
from a single, unified plan for a number of uses, provided that:
(1)
The overall height of any identifying sign at the entrance of
a planned industrial development shall not exceed 12 feet.
(2)
The total sign area of an entrance directory sign shall not
exceed 100 square feet, of which not more than 50% may be used to
identify the various tenants.
(3)
There shall not be more than one such sign for any one development.
E.
Billboard, provided that:
(1)
Billboards shall be permitted only within the I General Industrial
District, and only when approved as a special exception by the Zoning
Hearing Board.
(2)
In addition to the criteria for evaluating a special exception application contained in § 27-1905, Subsection 1C, of this chapter, any application for approval of a billboard as a special exception shall be evaluated in terms of the potential impact of the proposed billboard's location and dimensions on:
(3)
Any application for approval of a billboard as a special exception
shall demonstrate compliance with the following requirements:
(a)
A billboard may only be constructed as a freestanding sign,
as that term is defined in this chapter.
(b)
The maximum sign area of any billboard shall be 75 square feet.
(c)
The maximum height of any billboard shall be 15 feet.
(d)
No billboard shall be located closer than 15 feet to any property
line.
(e)
There shall be a minimum separation distance of 300 feet between
any two billboards, and between a billboard and any residential zoning
district boundary.
[Ord. 593, 4/8/1986; as added by Ord. 657, 10/9/1990, § 10]
Any signs that are to be associated with a proposed special
exception use shall be reviewed and either be approved or denied at
the same time that the special exception use is being reviewed.
[Added by Ord. 888, 6/8/2015]
No person shall maintain or permit to be maintained on any premises
owned or controlled by him a sign which has been abandoned. An "abandoned
sign," for the purposes of this chapter, is a sign erected on and/or
related to the use of a property which becomes vacant and unoccupied
for a period of one year or more, or any sign which was erected for
a prior occupant or business, or any sign which relates to a time,
event, or purpose which is past. Any such abandoned sign shall be
removed by the landowner or person controlling the property within
30 days of notice from the Code Enforcement Officer that the sign
is deemed to have been abandoned, as that condition is described above.
[Ord. 904, 6/19/2017]
1.
LED Signs. LED (light-emitting diode) signs or similar digital display
forms of messaging shall be permitted, subject to the following:
A.
Any LED sign shall have installed an ambient light monitor, which
shall continuously monitor and automatically adjust the brightness
of the sign to appropriate levels for the existing ambient light conditions.
B.
The maximum brightness levels for LED signs shall not exceed 0.1
footcandle over ambient light levels measured at the boundary of any
abutting property.
C.
Between sunrise and sunset, luminance shall be no greater than 5,000
nits. At all other times, luminance shall be no greater than 250 nits.
D.
LED signs shall comply with all applicable general signage and zoning
district regulations of this chapter or as otherwise lawfully permitted.
E.
Any such sign employing changeable displays shall also be subject to the terms of Subsection 2, below.
2.
Changeable display signs.
A.
Changeable display signs are prohibited except as expressly provided
below.
B.
Changeable display signs shall comply with all applicable general signage and zoning district regulations of this chapter, including Subsection 1, above, or as otherwise lawfully permitted.
C.
Changeable displays shall only be utilized as a component of a business
sign.
[Amended by Ord. No. 929-2019, 10/21/2019]
D.
A changeable display sign shall only be located as a freestanding
sign in the front yard, or on the front facade of a building, on property
in the C-1, C-2, C-3, or PC/LI Zoning Districts. Only one such sign
shall be permitted per property.
E.
Changes in the signage display shall be instantaneous and shall not
flash, blink, or otherwise give the appearance of movement or other
variation in display.
F.
Changes in the signage display shall include the entire display such
that different portions of the display are not changing at different
times.
G.
Changes in the signage display shall not occur more frequently than
once every five seconds.
H.
Changeable display signs shall be subject to the Building and Electrical
Codes of Oxford Borough.
I.
A nonconforming sign shall not be converted to, adapted, repurposed,
or otherwise approved as a changeable display sign unless it is modified
to conform to the applicable regulations of this chapter, including
the requirements of this section.
J.
No sign designated as a billboard under the terms of this chapter
shall utilize changeable displays.
K.
A changeable display sign shall require a sign permit. The fee for
the permit shall be as established by resolution of Borough Council.
L.
Any
changeable display sign shall be extinguished automatically from 11:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m. on the following day.
[Added by Ord. No. 929-2019, 10/21/2019]
M.
Changeable Display Signs Within the Oxford Borough Historic District:
[Added by Ord. No. 929-2019, 10/21/2019]
(2)
For any changeable display sign permitted on the basis of a variance from the terms § 27-1609, Subsection 2(M)(1) that may be granted by the Oxford Borough Zoning Hearing Board, the following standards shall apply explicitly to such sign, and shall supersede any otherwise applicable terms of this section:
(a)
There shall be a minimum separation distance of 300 feet of
street frontage between any two such signs.
(b)
Images displayed on the sign shall be limited to letters, numbers,
and symbols found on an ASCII keyboard.
(c)
Changes in the signage display shall not occur more frequently
than once every 30 seconds.
(d)
No such sign shall include an illuminated border.
(e)
The maximum size of the face of any sign shall be 12 square
feet.
(3)
Where a changeable display sign is granted a variance from the terms of § 27-1609, Subsection 2(M)(1) and, as applicable, § 27-1609, Subsection 2(M)(2), issuance of a sign permit shall be conditioned upon a review of the proposed sign by the Borough Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) and approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness by Borough Council.
(a)
The applicant, at his/her discretion, may seek an informal review
by the HARB prior to the elate of the hearing before the Zoning Hearing
Board to consider the application for variance. The Zoning Hearing
Board shall give consideration to the results of the HARB review in
its deliberations on the variance application. Any HARB review and
recommendations shall occur, and the outcomes shall be communicated
to the Zoning Hearing Board, within the time frame stipulated by this
chapter for conduct of the Zoning Hearing Board hearing.
(b)
Following the grant of any variance from the terms of § 27-1609, Subsection 2(M), the result of which permits a changeable display sign within the Borough Historic District, a subsequent denial by Borough Council of a certificate of appropriateness for such sign shall serve to deny issuance of any permit authorized by the terms of the variance granted by the Zoning Hearing Board. Where the applicant subsequently alters relevant aspects of the proposed sign that address the basis for denial of the certificate of appropriateness and, as a result, Borough Council, after review and recommendation by the HARB, approves a certificate of appropriateness for the sign, the applicant shall be entitled to seek a sign permit consistent with any terms of the certificate of appropriateness, as well as the terms of the variance granted by the Zoning Hearing Board and other terms of this chapter applicable to such sign.
