A.
Purpose. This article is intended to promote and maintain
overall community aesthetic quality; establish reasonable time, place
and manner of regulations for the exercise of free speech, without
regulating content (excepting obscenity that is prohibited by state
law or language that incites violence); promote traffic safety by
avoiding distractions and sight distance obstructions; and protect
property values and ensure compatibility with the character of neighboring
uses.
B.
Permit required. A zoning permit shall be required for all signs except for: signs meeting the requirements of § 255-54; and nonilluminated window signs constructed of paper, cardboard or similar materials and that are not of a permanent nature. Only types, sizes and heights of signs that are specifically permitted by this chapter within the applicable district shall be allowed.
C.
Changes on signs. Any lawfully existing sign (including
nonconforming signs) may be painted or repaired or changed in logo
or message without a new permit under this chapter; provided that
the changes do not increase the sign area or otherwise result in noncompliance
or an increased nonconformity with this chapter.
A.
Signs legally existing at the time of enactment of
this chapter and which do not conform to the requirements of the chapter
shall be considered nonconforming signs.
B.
An existing lawful nonconforming sign that was lawful
when it was initially placed may be replaced with a new sign, provided
the new sign is not more nonconforming in any manner than the previous
sign. A nonconforming sign shall not be expanded in a manner that
does not conform to this chapter.
The following signs shall be permitted by right
within all zoning districts within the following regulations, and
shall not be required to have a permit under this article.
|
Type and Definition of Signs Not Requiring
Permits
|
Maximum No. of Signs Per Lot
|
Maximum Sign Area Per Sign1 on Residential Lots2
(square feet)
|
Maximum Sign Area Per Sign1 on Nonresidential Lots
(square feet)
|
Other Requirements
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Agricultural sales or Christmas tree sign: advertises
the seasonal sale of agricultural products or Christmas trees
|
2
|
8
|
24
|
Shall only be posted during seasons when such
products are actively offered for sale
|
|
Charitable event sign: advertises a special
event held a maximum of 9 days in any calendar year that primarily
is held to benefit a legitimate tax-exempt nonprofit organization
or charity
|
2
|
4
|
40
|
Shall be placed a maximum of 30 days prior to
event and removed a maximum of 7 days after event
|
|
Contractor's sign: advertises a building tradesperson,
engineer or architect who is actively conducting significant work
on a particular lot that is not such person's place of business
|
2
|
8
|
40
|
Shall only be permitted while such work is actively
and clearly underway and a maximum of 10 days afterward; such signs
shall not be placed on the lot for more than 1 year, unless a one-year
extension is granted by the Zoning Officer; shall not be illuminated
|
|
Directional sign: provides information indicating
traffic direction, entry or exit, loading or service area, directions
to apartment numbers or parking courts in a development, fire lanes,
parking or closely similar information regarding the same lot as the
sign is on, and that does not include advertising
|
No max.
|
3, in addition to signs painted on pavement
|
3, in addition to sign painted on pavement
|
Directional signs within a residential development
shall not be illuminated
|
|
Flag: a pennant made of fabric or materials
with a similar appearance that is hung in such a way to flow in the
wind; see also "special sale signs" below
|
1
|
20
|
20
|
Flags of governments and flags that simply include
colors or patterns are not regulated by this chapter, provided they
do not exceed 10 in number
|
|
Garage sale sign: advertises an occasional garage
sales/porch sale or auction
|
2 per event
|
2 per sign
|
2 per sign
|
Shall be placed a maximum of 48 hours before
permitted garage sale or auction begins, and be removed maximum of
24 hours after event ends
|
|
Home occupation sign: advertises a permitted
home occupation.
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
Shall not be illuminated, except a sign of a
medical doctor may be externally lit; shall be set back a minimum
of 10 feet from the street right-of-way, unless printed on a mailbox;
may be freestanding, attached flat on a building wall or within a
window
|
|
Identification sign: only identifies the name
and/or occupation of the resident and/or the name, street address
and/or use of a lot, but that does not include advertising
|
1
|
1, except 2 for a principal nonresidential use.
|
6
|
Maximum height of 8 feet
|
|
Open house sign: advertises the temporary and
periodic open house of a property for sale or rent
|
2 per event
|
4
|
4
|
Shall be placed maximum of 5 days before open
house begins and be removed maximum of 24 hours after open house ends;
such sign shall not be posted more than 5 consecutive days
|
|
Political sign: advertises a person or party
seeking political office or a political cause or opinion on a referendum
or matter of political concern and which relates to a scheduled election
or matter of upcoming vote by a governmental body
|
Maximum of 2 square feet per faces per issue
or candidate
|
Maximum of 10 square feet per issue or candidate
|
Maximum of 20 square feet per issue or candidate
|
Shall be removed a maximum of 5 days after an
election, vote or referendum; persons posting political signs shall
maintain a written list of locations of such signs, unless posting
signs on their own property; political signs shall not be placed on
private property without the prior consent of the owner; if a political
sign does not meet these requirements, then it shall be regulated
as an off-premises sign
|
|
Public services sign: advertises the availability
of rest rooms, telephone or other similar public convenience
|
No maximum
|
2
|
2
| |
|
Real estate sign: advertises the availability
of property on which the sign is located for sale, rent or lease
|
1 per street the lot abuts
|
6
|
30
|
Shall only be placed on the property while it
is actively for sale, lease or rent, and shall be removed a maximum
of 7 days after settlement or start of lease
|
|
Service organization/place of worship sign:
an off-premises sign stating name of a recognized incorporated service
organization or place of worship and that states the place and times
of meetings or services and/or an arrow directing persons to such
location
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
Maximum of 2 such signs per such organization
or place of worship
|
|
Special sale signs: temporary banners, flags
and other signs that advertise a special sales event at a lawful principal
commercial business. A portable sign may be used under this provision.
|
5 per lot
|
Not permitted
|
Total of 60 square feet for all such banners,
flags and other temporary signs. No one banner, flag or sign shall
exceed 40 square feet.
|
Shall be displayed a maximum of 7 consecutive
days per event, and a maximum of 5 events per year. Such signs shall
not flash, be internally illuminated, nor obstruct safe sight distances.
|
|
Time and temperature sign: with a sole purpose
to announce the current time and temperature and any nonprofit public
service messages
|
1
|
Not permitted
|
30
| |
|
Trespassing sign: indicating that a road is
private, that trespassing is prohibited on a lot, or controlling certain
activities such as hunting and fishing on the lot
|
No maximum
|
2
|
4
|
|
NOTES:
| |
|---|---|
|
1
|
Maximum sign areas are for each of two sides
of each permitted sign, measured in square feet.
|
|
2
|
For the purposes of this section, a "residential
lot" shall mean a lot occupied by a principal residential use, or
an undeveloped lot in a residential district.
|
A.
In addition, the following types of signs are not
regulated by this chapter:
(1)
Historic sign: memorializes an important historic
place, event or person and that is specifically authorized by the
Borough or a county, state or federal agency.
(2)
Holiday decorations: commemorates a holiday recognized
by the Borough, county, state or federal government and that does
not include advertising.
(3)
Not readable sign: not readable from any public street
or any exterior lot line.
(4)
Official sign: erected by the state, county, Borough
or other legally constituted governmental body, or specifically authorized
by Borough ordinance or resolution, and which exists for public purposes.
(5)
Required sign: only includes information required
to be posted outdoors by a government agency or the Borough.
(6)
Right-of-way sign: posted within the existing right-of-way
of a public street and officially authorized by the Borough or PennDOT.
A.
The following are the on-premises signs permitted on a lot within the specified districts and within the following regulations, in addition to exempt signs and temporary signs permitted in all districts by other provisions of this article. See definitions of the types of signs in § 255-62. However, if a commercial building faces two different public streets, then a maximum of five wall signs shall be allowed on each side of the building that faces onto the street, per establishment.
|
Zoning District or Type of Use
|
Total Maximum Height of Freestanding Signs
|
Total Maximum Area of Wall Signs
|
Total Maximum Area of Window Sign
|
Total Maximum Area and Number of Freestanding
Sign
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Residential districts, with signs in this table
limited to allowed principal nonresidential uses
|
8 feet
|
30 square feet on each side of a principal nonresidential
building
|
May be used in place of a wall sign with the
same restrictions
|
1 sign on each street the lot abuts, each with
a maximum sign area of 30 square feet
|
|
For home occupation signs, see § 255-54; no new signs in these districts shall be internally illuminated
| ||||
|
See also entrance signs for major residential developments in § 255-64.
| ||||
|
V Village District
|
12 feet
|
10% of the area of the building side on which
the signs are attached, but in no case exceeding an absolute maximum
of 200 square feet per establishment2
|
Temporary nonilluminated window signs are not
regulated. Other window signs shall be considered wall signs
|
1 sign per street that the lot abuts, each with
a maximum area of 30 square feet1
|
|
C and any other district not listed above
There shall be a maximum of 5 wall signs per
establishment
|
15 feet
|
10% of the area of the building side on which
the signs are attached, but in no case exceeding an absolute maximum
of 200 square feet per establishment.2
|
Temporary nonilluminated window signs are not
regulated. Other window signs shall be considered wall signs
|
1 sign per street that the lot abuts, each with
a maximum area of 40 square feet;1 If a
subdivision involves 3 or more commercial or industrial lots, then
one additional freestanding sign shall be allowed at an entry to the
subdivision with a maximum sign area of 60 square feet
|
|
NOTES:
| |
|---|---|
|
1
|
If a lot includes two or more distinct principal
nonresidential uses, the maximum freestanding sign area may be increased
by 10 square feet for each principal nonresidential use beyond the
first nonresidential use. For example, in the C District, if a lot
includes three such uses, the maximum freestanding sign area shall
be 40 plus 20 equals 60 square feet. For a lot with six or more retail
establishments, the maximum freestanding sign height shall be 25 feet.
|
|
2
|
There shall be a maximum of five wall signs
per establishment. However, if a commercial building faces two different
public streets, then a maximum of five wall signs shall be allowed
on each side of the building that faces onto the street, per establishment.
|
B.
Maximum height of wall signs. The maximum height of
wall signs shall be equal to the top of the roof along the wall to
which they are attached. However, sign may be attached to a parapet
roof that vertically extends up to 10 feet above the structural roof,
provided the parapet roof appears to be an architectural extension
of the building.
C.
Portable signs (including signs on mobile stands)
and other temporary signs.
(1)
Purpose. These standards recognize portable signs
as a particular type of sign that has the characteristics of a temporary
sign but that has been inappropriately used as a permanent sign. This
section is based on the policy that if a use desires to regularly
display a sign for regularly changing messages, that it erect a permanent
sign within all of the requirements of this chapter.
(2)
Definition of a "portable sign": a freestanding sign
that is attached to a chassis or legs that allows it to be towed or
carried from one location to another and that is not permanently attached
to the ground.
(3)
Portable signs are prohibited in all districts, except as a temporary charitable event sign permitted by § 255-54.
(4)
Businesses are encouraged to provide an area on a
permanent sign that displays changeable messages, as opposed to using
a separate sign for such purpose.
D.
Wiring of signs. Signs shall be prohibited that involve
electrical cords laying across parking lots, driveways or sidewalks,
except on a residential property for seasonal lighting.
E.
Signs on freestanding walls. A freestanding sign may
be attached to a decorative masonry or stone wall with a maximum height
of six feet and a maximum length of 12 feet, without being regulated
by the wall setback regulations of this chapter and with the wall
itself not counting towards the maximum sign area.
Signs advertising a use no longer in existence
(other than a sign relating to a building that is clearly temporarily
vacant and being offered to new tenants or for purchase) shall be
removed within 180 days of the cessation of such use.
The following shall regulate the location of
signs:
A.
Setbacks.
(1)
All signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from
the existing street right-of-way, and shall not be located within
the existing street right-of-way. However, a directional sign showing
entrances and exits may be located without a ten-foot setback.
(2)
A freestanding illuminated sign for a commercial or
industrial business shall not be located within 10 feet from an abutting
lot line of a principally residential lot.
(3)
These setbacks shall not apply to official signs,
nameplate signs, public service signs and directional signs.
B.
Sight clearance. No sign shall be so located that it interferes with the sight clearance requirements of § 255-66.
C.
Off-premises. No signs except permitted off-premises,
official, political or public service signs shall be erected on a
property to which it does not relate. A major development sign may
be located on one lot in a subdivision to advertise uses throughout
the subdivision.
D.
Permission of owner. No sign shall be posted on any
property or sign pole or public utility pole, unless permission has
been received by the owner.
E.
Utility poles. No sign shall be attached to a utility
pole using metal fasteners, except by a utility or government agency.
See § 255-46, Control of light and glare.
Any vehicle, trailer or structure to which a
sign is affixed in such a manner that the carrying of such sign(s)
no longer is incidental to the primary purpose of the vehicle, trailer
or structure but instead becomes a primary purpose in itself shall
be considered a freestanding sign and shall be subject to all of the
requirements for freestanding signs in the district in which such
vehicle, trailer or structure is located.
The following prohibitions on signs shall apply
in all zoning districts:
A.
Any moving object used to attract attention to a commercial use is prohibited. However, certain flags and banners may be allowed as provided in § 255-54.
B.
Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated scrolling
or moving signs of any type are prohibited. Signs may change their
message from time to time provided that each message is visible for
at least one full minute, except time and temperature signs may change
more frequently.
C.
Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles,
sound or odor are prohibited.
D.
Signs which contain information that states that a
lot may be used for a purpose not permitted under this chapter are
prohibited.
E.
Signs that are of such form, shape or color that they
resemble an official traffic sign, signal or device or that have any
characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator
of a motor vehicle on a public street (such as prominent use of the
words "Danger") are prohibited.
F.
Signs or displays visible from a lot line that include
words or images that are obscene or pornographic are prohibited.
G.
Balloons of greater than 50 cubic feet that are tethered
to the ground or a structure for periods of over a day and that are
primarily intended for advertising purposes are prohibited.
H.
Floodlights and outdoor lasers for advertising purposes
are prohibited.
I.
To avoid distractions to motorists, neon lighting
of more than 10 square feet per lot shall be prohibited as part of
signs and if attached to the outside of a building.
Every permanent sign permitted in this section
shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be kept in good
condition and repair. The Zoning Officer shall, by written notice,
require a property owner or lessee to repair or remove a dilapidated
or unsafe sign within a specified period of time. If such order is
not complied with, the Borough may repair or remove such sign at the
expense of such owner or lessee.
A.
Sign definitions. The following definitions shall
be used in determining whether signs meet the measurement and type
requirements of this article:
(1)
Building face. The vertical area of a particular side
of a building, but not including the area of any slanted roof.
(2)
Freestanding sign. A sign which is self-supporting
upon the ground or which is primarily supported by poles attached
to the ground and not primarily supported by a building.
(3)
Height of sign. The vertical distance measured from
the average ground level surrounding a sign to the highest point of
the sign and its supporting structure. Religious symbols, when not
accompanied by lettering, shall not be restricted by the sign heights
of this article when attached to a tower or spire of a place of worship.
(4)
Illuminated sign, internally. A sign illuminated by
light from within the sign rather than a source adjacent to or outside
of the sign. A sign within a display case with lights only shining
onto the front of the sign shall be considered to be externally illuminated.
(7)
Wall sign. A sign primarily supported by or painted
on a wall of a building. A wall sign may also be displayed upon an
awning or canopy, provided other requirements of this chapter are
met.
(8)
Window sign. A sign which is readily visible and can
be at least partially read from an exterior lot line and which is
attached to a window or transparent door or that can be read through
a window or transparent door.
B.
Measurement of sign area.
(1)
Sign area shall include all lettering, wording and
accompanying designs and symbols, together with related background
areas on which they are displayed. One freestanding sign may include
several signs that are all attached to one structure, with the total
sign area being the area of a common geometric form that could encompass
all signs.
(2)
The sign area shall not include any structural supports
that do not include a message.
(3)
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols
attached to or painted directly on a building or window, other than
an illuminated background that is a part of the sign, the sign area
shall be the smallest rectangle that includes all of the letters and
symbols.
(4)
The maximum sign area of sign shall be for each of
two sides of a sign, provided that only one side of a sign is readable
from any location.
(5)
Unless otherwise specified, all square footages in
regards to signs are maximum sizes.
A.
Purposes. Off-premises signs are controlled by this chapter for the following purposes: to ensure that a physical environment is maintained that is attractive to desirable types of development, especially light industrial and office parks; to prevent visual pollution in the Borough and protect property values, especially in consideration of the fact that most commercial areas of the Borough are within close proximity to existing residences; to prevent glare on adjacent property and streets; to avoid the creation of additional visual distractions to motorists, especially along busy arterial streets that involve complex turning movements and numerous traffic hazards; to recognize the numerous alternative forms of free speech available in the Borough, including existing nonconforming off-premises signs, on-premises signs and temporary signs and printed and electronic media; to carry out the purposes listed in § 255-52.
B.
Nonconforming off-premises signs. This section is
not intended to require the removal of an existing lawfully placed
off-premises sign that is in structurally sound condition.
C.
PennDOT sign. Signs erected and maintained by PennDOT
are permitted by right in all districts.
D.
Permitted off-premises signs. Except for other types
of signs that are specifically allowed by this section to be off-premises,
an off-premises sign is only permitted if it meet the following requirements:
(1)
District. An off-premises sign is only permitted in
the C District.
(2)
Location. An off-premises sign shall be set back a
minimum of 25 feet from all lot lines and street rights-of-way.
(3)
Maximum total sign area on each of two sides: three
hundred square feet in the C District. Such size may be composed of
two or more sign faces, provided the maximum total sign area is met.
(4)
Spacing. Any off-premises sign shall be separated by a minimum of 1,000 feet from any other off-premises sign with a sign area greater than 20 square feet, including signs on either side of a street and including existing signs in other municipalities. No lot shall include more than one off-premises sign, except as allowed in Subsection D(6) below.
(5)
Maximum height. Thirty-five feet above the elevation
of the adjacent street, measured at the street center line.
(6)
Attached. No off-premises sign or sign face shall
be attached in any way to any other off-premises sign, except that
a sign of 300 square feet may have two sign faces of 300 square feet
each, provided the angle between the signs does not exceed 45°.
(7)
Control of lighting and glare. See standards in § 255-46. Lights shall be directed so they do not shine into the eyes of motorists nor residents of homes.
(8)
Residences. No off-premises sign greater than 20 square
feet in sign area shall be located within 200 feet from an existing
dwelling.
(9)
Condition. The sign shall be maintained in a good
and safe condition, particularly to avoid hazards in high winds. The
area around the sign shall be kept free of debris. If the message
of a sign is no longer intact, it shall be replaced with a solid color
or a "for lease" sign.
