The intent of this article is to regulate all signs within the Township of Chester.
All definitions given in § 113-214 of this Part 5 and in Part 4, Subdivision of Land, shall apply to this article.
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.
J. 
Any window sign, except as permitted in § 113-352.
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.
A. 
All signs permitted by § 113-348.
[Amended 12-17-2002]
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.
G. 
Signs associated with a farm market or commercial farm operation, as permitted by § 113-353, provided that there shall be only one such sign per market or operation.
[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.
(3) 
Wall signs shall be limited to identification and directional signs as specified in Subsection A(4) and (5) below.
(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.
(c) 
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.
(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.