Borough of Dormont, PA Signs

§ 210-501 Purpose and intent.

While signs are an available means of individual expression, their time, place, and manner can create visual disorder, leading to a diminution of aesthetic quality, property values, and public safety. Therefore, the regulation of signs within the Borough based on time, place, and manner, is intended to protect the residents, property owners, visitors of the Borough, and others from nuisances and safety risks associated with signs.

§ 210-502 Applicability.

The provisions of this article shall apply to all signs erected within the Borough that are directed to be viewed from any outdoor space(s). All erection, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, moving, altering or converting of signs in the Borough shall be performed in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

§ 210-503 General regulations and standards for all signs in all districts.

In this section, standards that apply to all signs in all districts are described.

Measuring sign dimensions.

(1)

Sign height. The height of a sign shall be the difference between the 1) elevation of the highest point of the sign, including the bracket, supports, and sign face surrounds, and 2) the elevation of the finished grade at the base of the sign or the elevation of the crown of the adjacent public street, whichever is highest.

(2)

Measuring sign area.

(a)

For signs that include a sign frame or background around or behind the sign letters, designs or symbols, the sign area shall mean the area of the frame or background and contents therein, such as six square feet in the case of a two-foot-by-three-foot vinyl temporary yard sign.

(b)

For sign elements mounted directly on a principal or accessory structure’s architectural surface, such as in the case of letters mounted without a frame or background into a building’s brick facade, the sign area shall mean the area of the smallest rectangle that encompasses all of the letters, designs, and symbols of a sign.

(c)

The sign area shall not include any supporting framework or bracing that is incidental to the display, provided that it does not contain any lettering, wording, or symbols.

(d)

When two identical sign faces are placed back-to-back so that both faces 1) cannot be viewed from any one point at the same time, 2) are part of the same sign structure, and 3) are not more than 24 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed as the sign area of one of the faces.

Sign location and safe movement.

(1)

Sight triangle for vision clearance. No sign may obstruct the sight triangle of an intersection along a public right-of-way. The sight triangle for vision clearance is defined in this chapter’s glossary.[1]

[1]

Editor’s Note: See Article VIII, Glossary of Terms.

(2)

Traffic signs and signals.

(a)

No sign may, by its color, shape, positioning, or nature, obstruct the view of a traffic sign or traffic signal.

(b)

A sign may not use a color, shape, positioning, or message that could reasonably cause confusion with pedestrian or vehicular traffic directives.

(c)

No red, green, or yellow illuminated sign may be located within 300 feet of any traffic signal.

(3)

A sign shall not be located in a manner that interferes with the movement or visibility of pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, or other such users of the right-of-way.

(4)

A sign and its supporting structures shall not interfere with public utility equipment or communications lines or equipment that are either above or below grade.

Consent. No sign may be permitted without the consent of the property owner or their authorized agent. If it is determined that a sign is or was erected without proper consent of the property owner or their authorized agent, the permit for such a sign shall be revoked.

Public property.

(1)

A sign on public property may not project over a roadway or into a utility easement airspace.

(2)

A new permit for a sign located on public property will only be granted for a sign of the projecting sign type or of the sandwich board sign type.

(3)

A projecting sign must be affixed to a legal structure and affixed to a structure’s elevation that is set back less than five feet from a lot line abutting public property.

(4)

No sign is permitted on public property in the P-1 District.

Conditional uses. For conditional uses in any district: sign types, sizes, location, and manner may be allowed or prohibited in association with such conditional use as determined by this chapter or by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Lots with multiple street frontages. For a lot with multiple street frontages, any sign allowance that allows sign counts or area based on street frontage shall apply to each street frontage. In this case, a frontage with a public alleyway does not constitute a street frontage.

Changeable copy and electronic digital message sign features.

(1)

Changeable copy and electronic digital message signs are permitted only where indicated in the Sign Table.[2]

[2]

Editor’s Note: See § 210-508, Changeable copy features.

(2)

No video, animation, scrolling, noise, or flashing features are permitted.

Sign maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in safe and good structural condition, in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this chapter at all times. Such maintenance includes replacement of all defective bulbs, parts, materials, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for maintenance of erected signs. If any sign does not comply with the above maintenance and repair standards, the Borough shall require its removal.

Removal of unsafe, unlawful, or abandoned signs.

(1)

Upon written notice by the Borough, the owner, person, or firm maintaining a sign shall remove the sign when it becomes unsafe, is in danger of falling, becomes so deteriorated that it no longer serves a useful purpose of communication, is determined by the Borough to be a nuisance, or is unlawfully erected in violation of any of the provisions of this article.

(2)

The Borough may remove or cause to be removed the sign at the expense of the owner and/or lessee in the event the owner or the person or firm maintaining the sign has not complied with the terms of the notice within 30 days of the date of the notice. In the event of immediate danger, the Borough may remove the sign immediately upon the issuance of notice to the owner, person, or firm maintaining the sign.

Building Code compliance. To the extent that it is not inconsistent with this chapter, the present edition of the Standard Building Code, National Electric Code and other building and construction codes as adopted and modified by the Borough and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are incorporated as a part of this chapter as if fully restated herein for the same purposes stated in the purpose and intent subsection hereof and for the same purposes for which the International Building Code was promulgated and enacted, which purposes are expressly incorporated therein.

Permits.

(1)

Every person desiring to erect a sign shall first obtain a sign permit and all other permits required for the desired structure.

(2)

Any sign of the following type(s) does not require a permit:

(a)

Temporary sign.

(b)

Entranceway sign.

§ 210-504 Exempt sign types.

The following signs shall be exempt from the regulations in this article:

Memorial/historical plaques, as defined herein.

Signs authorized by the Borough Council or erected by a governmental agency, including street signs, official traffic signs and public art when approved by the Borough Council.

§ 210-505 Prohibited sign types.

The following sign types are prohibited in all districts:

Portable or wheeled signs;

Banners;

Inflatable display devices of any kind;

Searchlights, oscillating signs, moving signs, flashing signs;

Signs on trees, signs on utility poles, signs on official traffic control devices;

Signs that imitate traffic control devices;

Strings of lights, flashers, pennants, or other display paraphernalia, except those displays specifically authorized by this article;

Overhanging signs;

Freestanding signs, other than monument signs and access signs;

Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers that are parked on a public right-of-way, public property, or private property, other than temporarily for overnight storage on the site of a business or for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading, or rendering a service at any location, that are visible from the public right-of-way and where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property; and

All sign types not expressly listed as permitted.

§ 210-506 Sign types.

The table below defines each sign type.

Freestanding monument sign: a monument sign that contains only one distinct signage area within the sign face.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	NP	NP	NP	NP	P (with site plan only)	P
Count	—	—	—	—	1	1
Sign area (maximum) (square feet)	—	—	—	—	24	36
Sign height (maximum) (feet)	—	—	—	—	6	8
Sign base materials	—	—	—	—	Brick or rock	Brick or rock
Illumination	—	—	—	—	Direct	Direct
Setback from right-of-way (minimum feet)	—	—	—	—	9	10

Wall (including marquee) sign: any sign attached parallel/flat to a wall, painted on the wall surface or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, that is supported by such wall or building, and that displays only one sign surface. No wall sign shall extend more than 14 inches from any wall, building, or structure.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	P only for accessory home occupations accessible from alley	NP	P	NP
Count	—	—	—	—	—	—
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) (aggregate)	5% of total facade but not more than 35% of height of facade measured from bottom to top of message	5% of total facade but not more than 35% of height of facade measured from bottom to top of message	1	—	5% of total facade but not more than 35% of height of facade measured from bottom to top of message	—
Materials	Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view	Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view	Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view	—	Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view	—
Illumination	Gooseneck or shadow	Gooseneck or shadow	None	—	Gooseneck or shadow	—
Location and setback	Flush with wall not protruding more than 24 inches from wall (48 inches if marquee sign)	Flush with wall not protruding more than 24 inches from wall (48 inches if marquee sign)	Flush with wall abutting alleyway	—	Flush with wall not protruding more than 24 inches from wall (48 inches if marquee sign)	—

Projecting sign: any sign that projects outward from a building or other structure and extends more than 24 inches horizontally from the plane of the building wall. The signage area must not be parallel to the building.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	NP	P	P
Count (per principal building)	1	1	—	—	1	1
Location (minimum clearance above grade) (feet)	9	9	—	—	9	9
Height (maximum) (feet)	18	18	—	—	18	18
Extension beyond building facade (maximum) (feet)	3	3	—	—	3	3
Angle at facade (degrees)	90°	90°	—	—	90°	90°
Sign area (maximum) (square feet)	6	6	—	—	6	6
Materials	Wood; metal	Wood; metal	—	—	Wood; metal	Wood; metal
Illumination	Yes	Yes	—	—	Yes	Yes

Roof sign: a sign attached to or supported by the roof of a building, or a sign that extends into and/or above the immediately adjacent roofline of the building irrespective of attachment point, or a sign that wholly or partially encroaches upon any roofline of a building, or a sign attached to, encroaching into or extending above the sloping phase of a mansard roof or faux mansard roof, or any combination thereof.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	NP	NP	NP
Sign height from base of sign frame to top of sign frame (maximum) (feet)	Equivalent to least floor-to-ceiling height of any floor in principal building	Equivalent to least floor-to-ceiling height of any floor in principal building	—	—	—	—
Width (maximum) (feet)	40	40	—	—	—	—
Illumination	Gooseneck or direct	Gooseneck or direct	—	—	—	—
Setback from edge of roof (feet)	3	3	—	—	—	—

Window sign (including doors sign): any sign that is placed on, in or intrudes over a window opening or upon the panes of glass, either inside or outside the building, and is oriented to be viewed from the exterior of the structure. Customary displays of merchandise behind a store window are not considered window signs. Any sign within 24 inches of the inside surface of a window and facing the outside will count toward the allotment of total permitted window signage.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	NP	NP	NP
Front facade window coverage (maximum) (percentage of total front facade glazing)	15%	15%	—	—	—	—
Decals	NP	NP	—	—	—	—
Painted window signs	15%	NP	—	—	—	—
Illumination	NP	NP	—	—	—	—

Painted mural: a large picture/image (including but not limited to painted art) that is painted, constructed, or affixed directly onto a vertical building wall, that may or may not contain text, logos, and/or symbols.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	NP	P	NP
Off-site advertising permitted	NP	NP	—	—	NP	—
Sign area (maximum) (square feet)	1/8 of the total facade wall area not including the area of glazing	1/8 of the total facade wall area not including the area of glazing	—	—	1/8 of the total facade wall area not including the area of glazing	—
Illumination	Indirect	Indirect	—	—	Indirect	—

Sandwich board: a single or double-faced, hinged or unhinged, temporary sign designed to be used on a sidewalk or pedestrianway.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	P	P	P
Sign area (maximum aggregate) (square feet)	6	6	—	6	6	6
Board width (maximum) (inches)	24	24	—	24	24	24
Board height (maximum) (inches)	36	36	—	36	36	36
Materials	Wood; metal	Wood; metal	—	Wood; metal	Wood; metal	Wood; metal
Duration (maximum) (hours per day)	12	12	—	12	12	12
Illumination	NP	NP	—	NP	NP	NP

Awning sign: any sign painted on, or applied to, an awning. Lettering, logos, or symbols are permitted on the valance and sloping portion.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	NP	P	NP
Count (per entrance)	1	1	—	—	1	—
Sign area (maximum) (as percentage of awning area)	75% valance; 25% sloping portion	75% valance; 25% sloping portion	—	—	75% valance; 25% sloping portion	—
Materials	Metal supports; vinyl face	Metal supports; vinyl face	—	—	Metal supports; vinyl face	—
Lettering height (inches)	16 valance; 8 sloping portion	16 valance; 8 sloping portion	—	—	16 valance; 8 sloping portion	—
Illumination	Direct	Direct	—	—	Direct	—

Temporary sign: a nonpermanent sign that may be erected for identification purposes for a new business for 60 days prior to the installation of a permanent sign.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	NP	NP	P
Sign area (maximum aggregate) (square feet)	12	12	—	—	—	12
Sign height (maximum) (feet)	6	6	—	—	—	6
Materials (sign and supports)	Vinyl face; metal supports	Vinyl face; metal supports	—	—	—	Vinyl face; metal supports
Setback from right-of-way (minimum) (feet)	3	3	—	—	—	3
Duration (maximum number of consecutive days displayed)	90	90	—	—	—	90
Illumination	NP	NP	—	—	—	NP

Access sign: signs that direct traffic or pedestrians towards a point of interest that are visible from a public right-of-way.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	NP	NP	NP	P
Count (maximum) (per vehicular access point)	1	1	—	—	—	1
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) (per sign)	4	4	—	—	—	4
Sign height (maximum) (feet)	3	3	—	—	—	3
Setback from right-of-way (maximum) (feet)	4	4	—	—	—	4
Illumination	P	P	—	—	—	P

Entranceway sign: a sign that is located on a wall immediately adjacent to the primary entrance of a building.

	District
Regulations	TO	C	R-A	R-S	R-C	PA
Permitted	P	P	P	P	P	P
Count (maximum) (per primary exterior entranceway)	1	1	1	1	1	1
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) (per sign)	1	1	1	1	1	1
Position	Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door	Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door	Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door	Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door	Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door	Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door
Illumination	P	P	NP	NP	NP	NP

§ 210-507 Sign illumination types.

The following sign illumination types are permitted in specific districts:

Sign Illumination Type	Definition	Example Graphic
Direct: channel letters	An illumination technique that lights a sign’s translucent front surface with internal lamps that are housed within the sign’s characters, follow the paths of the sign’s characters, and project light in the direction of the viewer
Direct: box lit	An illumination technique that lights a sign’s translucent front surface panel with lamps behind the sign’s face. Signs with this type of illumination are typically box shaped.
Indirect: shadow/halo	An illumination technique that lights the wall area behind a sign, which creates a silhouette of the sign’s characters or images. In some instances, lighting that creates a shadow/halo effect may be located on the interior of dimensional characters; this location of the light source is permissible if light is not emitted through the front face of sign characters or images.
Indirect: gooseneck	An illumination technique that casts light on the front face of the sign from a light source external to, and independent of, the sign. In gooseneck indirect illumination, the lamp is housed in one or multiple outstretched, curved, gooseneck-like supports, and light is not projected upwards.
Indirect: other	An illumination technique that casts light on the front face of the sign from a light source external to, and independent of, the sign. The lamp is housed in other-than-gooseneck-like fixtures, and light is not projected upwards.

§ 210-508 Changeable copy features.

Changeable copy features are categorized as either 1) channel letter features or 2) electronic message center features.

(1)

Channel letter changeable copy features are signs or portions thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged manually without altering the face or surface of the sign.

(2)

Electronic message center (EMC) features are signs or portions thereof designed so that the characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged automatically on a lamp bank.

A sign with changeable copy features contributes to the total allowable sign area for that sign type.

A changeable copy feature may not exceed 30 square feet on any sign.

Video, scrolling, noise, and flashing features are prohibited.

Changeable copy features may only be located on monument signs in the following districts:

Changeable Copy Feature	District
Changeable Copy Feature	Transit-Oriented (TO)	Commercial (C)	Residential Alley-Loaded (R-A)	Residential Street-Loaded (R-S)	Residential Collector Streets (R-C)	Public Amenities (PA)
Channel letter	P	P	NP	NP	NP	P
Electronic message center (EMC)	P	P	NP	NP	NP	P