The intent of this article is to regulate all
signs within the Township of Chester.
A.
Exemptions. No permit is required for the erection
or alteration of any sign or signs as follows:
(1)
Nameplate or identification signs having an
area not greater than two square feet.
(2)
Directional signs sanctioned by any unit of
government or by a public utility. Any other directional signs having
an area not greater than two square feet.
(3)
Sale or rental signs having an area not greater
than four square feet.
(4)
Temporary signs on private property.
B.
Required. All signs not specifically exempted by the
provisions of this section or the action of the Planning Board shall
require a permit issued by the Zoning Official.
Prohibited signs are as follows:
A.
Any sign, except warning or safety signs, which is
designated to attract attention by flashing, movement or blinking,
and any mobile sign.
B.
Any sign which causes radio or television interference.
C.
Any sign placed so as to interfere with a fire exit,
window, egress or ingress or ventilation.
D.
Any sign of a form, character, shape or location which
might confuse or dangerously distract the attention of a motor vehicle
operator.
E.
Any sign affixed to or projecting above the roof of
a structure.
F.
Any sign designed to imitate a sanctioned directional
sign.
G.
Any freestanding sign which exceeds 10 feet in height
above grade at any support.
H.
Any sign having an area greater than 25 square feet.
I.
Any advertising sign.
K.
Any pennants, streamers, advertising flags, spinners,
balloons or similar devices of a permanent nature.
L.
Any sign attached to or painted on fixed natural or
man-made objects, other than buildings, except directional signs conforming
to all other provisions of this article.
M.
Any sign utilizing neon or other types of gas-filled
tubing.
A.
No sign, except sanctioned directional signs and mailboxes,
shall be posted or erected within any street or road right-of-way
or within any approved sight easement.
B.
The structure, footings, appearance and lighting of
all signs shall be kept in good repair.
C.
The appearance of signs advertising a premises for
sale or for rent shall be deemed to mean that any previously existing
signs on such premises have been abandoned.
D.
Signs shall be illuminated from the exterior only
by stationary, shielded light directed solely at the sign without
causing glare for motorists, pedestrians or neighboring premises.
Internally illuminated signs are not permitted. No sign shall be illuminated
between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
E.
If, in the opinion of the Zoning Official, a sign
is dilapidated, abandoned, structurally unsafe or not in compliance
with the provisions of this article, the Zoning Official shall give
written notice by certified mail to the owner or tenant that the sign
be returned to good repair, made safe, made to comply or be removed
within 20 calendar days of such notice. Noncompliance by the owner
or tenant upon whom the notice is served may cause the Zoning Official
to order the removal of the sign or signs by the Township, all costs
of which shall be charged to the owner or tenant upon whom the notice
is served, and shall become a lien upon the land in accordance with
the procedures established by law.
B.
One nameplate or identification sign is permitted
per dwelling unit, in addition to a name or box number affixed to
a mailbox.
[Amended 12-17-2002]
C.
One sale or rental sign is permitted at any one time
on any lot and shall not exceed four square feet. Sale or rental signs
shall be removed within five calendar days after the premises is sold
or rented. Off-premises real estate signs are not permitted; however,
one off-site "Open House" sign is permitted once per week during the
hours of the open house only. Attachments, such as balloons, steamers,
etc., are prohibited.
[Amended 7-2-2002; 12-17-2002]
D.
One temporary sign is permitted at any one time on
any lot and shall comply with the following requirements:
[Amended 7-2-2002; 12-17-2002; 10-7-2003; 10-17-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-07]
(1)
No temporary sign shall be illuminated.
(2)
No temporary sign shall exceed six square feet.
(3)
No temporary sign shall be located in the road right-of-way
or closer than 25 feet to an adjoining property line.
(4)
Temporary signs shall be freestanding. No temporary sign shall
be permitted to be attached to any landscape feature, including a
tree or shrub, a building or any other improvement. Temporary signs
may be attached to a permanent sign.
(5)
No temporary sign shall be permitted to remain for more than
30 days after placement.
(a)
Temporary signs for any events or activities shall be removed
within five days after the event or sooner so as not to exceed a total
of 30 days.
(b)
This subsection shall not be applicable to directional signs
approved as part of a written traffic management plan for commercial
farms engaging in on-farm activities for the public and sales of produce,
product and merchandise.
E.
Home occupation signs having an area no greater than
two square feet; provided, however, that there shall be only one such
sign per dwelling unit.
F.
Institutional signs having an area no greater than
eight square feet; provided, however, that there shall be only one
such sign per institution.
[Amended 11-2-1992 by Ord. No. 2:19D1-92; 12-2-1997]
A.
This section pertains to signs which direct attention
to a business conducted in or on the premises in the PO/R Zone at
which the sign is located, or to a product sold or serviced by such
a business. All business signs in the PO/R Zone, whether erected on
a lot or structure or affixed or painted on a building wall, shall
comply with the following requirements:
[Amended 4-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-07]
(1)
On a lot with a business or businesses, there
shall be permitted one freestanding sign identifying the business
center. The sign may be double-faced, but shall not exceed an area
greater than 25 square feet, nor exceed 10 feet in height above grade
at any support.
(2)
Wall signs shall also be permitted, provided
that the area of the signs shall not exceed 5% of the area of the
principal facade of the building upon which the signs are located.
The area of the facade, for the purpose of determining the maximum
sign area, shall be calculated by multiplying the length of the wall
by the average height to the beginning of the roof, less the area
of the facade occupied by windows or doors. In no case shall be combined
area of all wall signs exceed the maximum permitted area for the facade
upon which they are attached.
(4)
In addition to a freestanding sign, a lot with businesses shall be permitted no more than two directory signs per building. The directory sign(s) may be freestanding, provided that it does not exceed eight square feet in area. Any such signs shall be constructed so that no portion of the sign exceeds a height of five feet above ground level, nor shall it be constructed within five feet from the edge of a roadway or parking area. If the directory sign is attached to the building, its area shall be included in the calculation of the permitted area of a wall sign as set forth in Subsection A(2) above.
(5)
Each separate business within a building may
display one nameplate or identification sign, not to exceed two square
feet. The sign shall be attached to the building in which the business
is located. No freestanding nameplate or identification sign shall
be permitted. No more than one nameplate identification sign shall
be affixed to the building per business.
B.
No signs shall be painted or attached to any window,
except that decals noting the business hours of operation or credit
cards accepted may be attached adjacent to the principal doorway of
the business.
C.
All signs for a single premises shall be complementary
in size, shape, color and graphic design.
[Added 4-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-07]
A.
This section pertains to signs which direct attention to a business
conducted in or on the premises in the B and LB Zones at which the
sign is located, or to a product sold or serviced by such a business.
All business signs, whether erected on a lot or structure or affixed
or painted on a building wall, shall comply with the following requirements:
(1)
Freestanding and monument signs.
(a)
No more than one freestanding sign or monument sign shall be
permitted on any property.
(b)
The maximum area of a freestanding sign or monument sign shall
be 25 square feet.
(c)
The maximum height of a freestanding sign or monument sign shall
not exceed six feet, as measured from the ground.
(d)
No sign shall be located within five feet from a ROW nor within
a sight triangle.
(e)
Signs shall only identify the business or businesses conducted
on the premises.
(f)
The base of the sign shall be constructed of materials that
are of a complementary character or design with the building architecture
and shall be landscaped with plantings.
(g)
The area of the base of the sign shall be limited to 50% of
the sign area.
(2)
Wall signs.
(a)
Wall signs shall not exceed 5% of the area of the principal
facade of the building upon which the signs are located. The area
of the facade, for the purpose of determining the maximum sign area,
shall be calculated by multiplying the length of the wall by the average
height to the beginning of the roof, less the area of the facade occupied
by windows or doors.
(b)
In no case shall the combined area of all wall signs exceed
the maximum permitted area for the facade upon which they are attached.
(3)
Directory signs.
(a)
In addition to a freestanding sign, a lot with multiple businesses
shall be permitted no more than two directory signs per building.
(b)
The directory sign(s) may be freestanding, provided that it
does not exceed eight square feet in area. Any such signs shall be
constructed so that no portion of the sign exceeds a height of five
feet above ground level, nor shall it be constructed within five feet
from the edge of a roadway or parking area.
(4)
Nameplate or identification signage.
(a)
Each separate business within a building may display one nameplate
or identification sign, not to exceed two square feet.
(b)
The sign shall be attached to the building in which the business
is located.
(c)
No freestanding nameplate or identification sign shall be permitted.
(d)
No more than one nameplate identification sign shall be affixed
to the building per business.
(5)
Instructional signage.
(a)
Instructional wall and ground signs are permitted.
(b)
The maximum number of instructional signage shall be determined
by safety considerations. It is encouraged that instructional signage
be designed so as to avoid visual clutter.
(c)
The maximum instructional sign area shall be two square feet.
B.
No signs shall be painted or attached to any window, except that
decals noting the business hours of operation or credit cards accepted
may be attached adjacent to the principal doorway of the business.
C.
All signs for a single premises shall be complementary in size, shape,
color and graphic design.
A.
A subdivision with five or more units for sale may
be identified with one sign.
[Amended 11-2-1992 by Ord. No. 2:19D1-92]
B.
Subdivision signs are permitted as a means to identify
a development with residential lots for sale. The residential subdivision
sign shall not be a permanent sign identifying a particular development.
All residential subdivision signs shall be removed prior to the release
of the final Township performance bond relating to the development.
All nonconforming signs shall be removed upon
a change of use of the premises.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former §113-355, Fees, as amended,
was repealed 12-19-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-09.
