As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
SIGN
Any material, structure or device or part thereof composed
of lettered or pictorial matter which is located out-of-doors or on
the exterior of any building, displaying an advertisement, announcement,
notice or names, and shall include any declaration, demonstration,
display, representation, illustration or insignia used to advertise
or promote the interests of any person or business or cause when placed
in view of the general public.
A.
AWNING SIGNAny visual message incorporated into an awning attached to a building.
C.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNA sign limited to providing information on the location of any activity, business or event.
D.
FREESTANDING SIGNAny sign not attached to or part of any building but separate and permanently affixed by any other means in or upon the ground. Included are pole signs, pylon signs and masonry wall-type signs.
E.
ILLUMINATED SIGNAny sign illuminated by electricity, gas or other artificial light, either from the interior or exterior of the sign, including reflective and phosphorescent light.
F.
OFF-PREMISES SIGNA sign unrelated to a business or a profession conducted or to a commodity or service sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
G.
PORTABLE SIGNA sign, whether on its own trailer, wheels or otherwise, designed to be movable and not structurally attached to the ground, a building, a structure or another sign.
H.
PROJECTING SIGNA sign which is attached to a building wall or structure and which extends horizontally more than 15 inches from the plane of such wall, or a sign which is perpendicular to the face of such wall or structure.
J.
TEMPORARY SIGNA sign related to a single activity or event having a duration of no more than 30 days.
K.
WALL SIGNA sign which is painted on or attached to the outside wall of a building, with the face of the sign in the plane parallel to such wall and not extending more than nine inches from the face of such wall.
SIGN DIRECTORY
A listing of two or more business enterprises, consisting
of a matrix and sign components.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The supports, uprights, bracing and framework for the sign.
In the case of a sign structure consisting of two or more sides where
the angles formed between any two of the sides or the projections
thereof exceed 30°, each side shall be considered a separate sign
structure.
SIGN SURFACE AREA
The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter enclosing
all elements which form an integral part of the sign. The structure
supporting a sign shall be excluded unless the structure is designed
in a way to form an integral background for the display. Both faces
of a double-faced sign shall be included as surface area of such a
sign.
The following types of signs may be erected
and maintained without permits or fees, provided that such signs comply
with the general requirements of this chapter and other pertinent
regulations:
A. Historical markers, tablets and statues, memorial
signs and plaques, names of buildings and dates of erection, when
cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze, stainless
steel or similar material, and emblems installed by governmental agencies
or religious or nonprofit organizations, not exceeding six square
feet in area.
B. Flags and insignias of any government, except when
displayed in connection with commercial promotion.
C. On-premises directional signs for the convenience
of the general public, identifying public parking areas, fire zones,
entrances and exits, and similar signs, internally illuminated or
nonilluminated, not exceeding four square feet per face and six feet
in height. Business names and personal names shall be allowed, excluding
advertising messages.
D. Nonilluminated warning, "Private Drive," "Posted"
or "No Trespassing" signs, not exceeding two square feet per face.
E. One on-premises sign, either freestanding or attached
in connection with any residential building, for permitted professional
offices or home occupations, not exceeding two square feet and set
back at least 10 feet from the highway right-of-way.
F. Numbers and nameplates identifying residents, mounted
on a house, apartment or mailbox, not exceeding one square foot in
area.
G. Lawn signs identifying residents, not exceeding one
square foot or two square feet if doubled-faced. Such signs are to
be nonilluminated, except by a light which is an integral part of
a lamppost if used as a support, with no advertising message thereon.
H. Private-owner merchandise sales signs for garage sales,
yard sales, auctions and the like, not exceeding four square feet,
for a period not exceeding seven days.
I. Temporary, nonilluminated "For Sale," "For Rent" and
real estate signs and signs of a similar nature concerning the premises
upon which the sign is located, one sign not exceeding four square
feet per side, and in a business or industrial area, one sign not
exceeding 50 square feet set back at least 15 feet from all property
lines. All such signs shall be removed within three days after closing
the sale or the effective date of the lease or rental of the premises.
J. One temporary sign for a roadside stand selling agricultural
produce grown on the premises in season, provided that such sign shall
not exceed 16 square feet and shall be set back at least 10 feet from
the public right-of-way. Said signs shall be removed within three
days after the produce is no longer being offered for sale.
K. Christmas holiday decorations, including lighting.
These decorations are exempt from the provisions of this chapter and
may be displayed without a permit.
L. At gasoline stations:
(1) Integral graphics or attached price signs on gasoline
pumps.
(2) One portable sign per station, not exceeding 12 square
feet and four feet in height.
M. Temporary directional signs for meetings, conventions
and other assemblies. Said signs may be displayed seven days prior
to said event, and said signs shall be removed within three days after
the conclusion of said event.
N. One sign, not exceeding six square feet in the residential
districts or 16 square feet in the business districts, listing the
architect, engineer, contractor and/or owner, on premises where construction,
renovation or repair is in progress. Said signs shall be removed within
three days of the completion of such work.
O. Political posters, banners, promotional devices and
similar signs not exceeding four square feet in the residential areas
or 16 square feet in the business areas, provided that:
(1) Placement shall not exceed 30 days.
(2) The names and addresses of the sponsor and the person
responsible for removal are identified.
P. Banners of upcoming events or fund-raisers of community
organizations that are regulated under the Banner Policy previously
adopted by the Board of Trustees.
The following permanent signs may be erected; provided, however, that the provisions of this section shall not serve to expand the number of signs otherwise allowed pursuant to §
129-7:
A. Off-premises directional signs for the convenience
of the general public and for the purpose of directing people to a
business, activity, service or community facility may be erected,
provided that such signs do not exceed 10 square feet per establishment
nor total more than two such signs per establishment. The message
shall be limited to name or identification, arrow or direction and
distance.
B. A nonilluminated, single-sided real estate development
sign, including industrial and commercial development and residential
subdivision, or a construction sign denoting the architect, engineer
and/or contractor, not exceeding 32 square feet in business and industrial
areas nor 16 square feet in residential areas, may be erected on property
being sold, leased or developed. Such sign shall be erected parallel
to the fronting highway and set back a minimum of 35 feet from the
property line or attached to the building face. Such sign shall be
removed upon completion of the project and shall be in place for a
period not exceeding two years.
C. Signs or bulletin boards customarily incident to schools,
places of worship, libraries, museums, social clubs or societies may
be erected on the premises of such institutions. One such sign or
bulletin board not exceeding 20 square feet may be erected for each
entrance on a different street or highway.
D. For multiple dwellings or apartment developments,
one sign advertising availability of dwelling units, not exceeding
20 square feet, shall be permitted. One such sign shall be permitted
for each entrance on a different street or highway.