As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign, the character or appearance of any element or part
of which changes by any device, mechanical, electrical or otherwise.
AWNING
A covering attached to a building or structure, erected in
or over a window or door, and usually supported by gravity and a metal
frame.
BALLPARK SIGN
Any sign located on the inside and/or outside of fencing
in an enclosed ball field in a public park.
BANNER
Any sign appended on or from a staff, pole, wire, frame or
similar support, extending across the entire width of any street,
road, highway or alley or affixed to a building advertising a product
or services.
BILLBOARD
Any sign, in excess of 150 square feet, advertising a person,
place, event, product, business or other matter which is remote from
the site or property upon which the sign is erected or displayed.
BUSINESS SIGN
Any sign advertising a business conducted within the building
or structure, or upon the real property, on which the sign is erected
or displayed.
CANOPY or AWNING SIGN
Any sign which is displayed beneath a sidewalk canopy or
sidewalk awning so as to be perpendicular to that sidewalk. No lettering
is permitted on the canopy.
CHURCH SIGN
Any bulletin board type of sign erected or displayed on the
real property of a church, chapel, temple, synagogue or other place
of worship for the display of messages.
COMPLEX IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign which identifies either an office complex or an industrial
park without reference to individual tenants or uses.
CONTRACTOR or SUBCONTRACTOR SIGN
Any sign containing the name and type of work performed by
a contractor or subcontractor and erected or displayed on the property
upon which building operations are being conducted.
CONVENIENCE SIGN
Any sign indicating the location of or direction to a place
or object of public convenience, such as a rest room, telephone, bus
stop or public parking area.
CURB SIGN
Any sign composed of one or more numerals painted on a curb
located within a public right-of-way which designates the premises
upon which it is located.
DIRECTORY SIGN
Any sign which contains a complete listing of either all
tenants in a building complex and/or a complete listing of all buildings
in a building complex.
DOUBLE-FACE SIGN
Any sign having two parallel planes or surfaces-faces upon
which advertising is displayed.
FACADE SIGN
Any sign which is permanently attached to and parallel with
the front exterior wall of a principal structure, which identifies
only the facility or business upon which the sign is located.
FLAG
A piece of material, usually rectangular in shape, on which
is imprinted, or into which is woven, a distinctive design which is
or denotes the official symbol of a national, state or local government.
A flag shall not be considered a sign. However, a piece of material
on which is imprinted, or into which is woven, a design, business
trademark or other pattern or symbol that does not constitute or denote
an official government symbol shall be considered a sign.
FLASHING SIGN
Any sign consisting of, or illuminated by, flashing or intermittent
lights or other lights of changing degrees of intensity, brightness
or color, except a sign showing the date, time and/or temperature.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign permanently affixed into the ground, erected on
its own foundation or placed on a pole which is independent of but
on the same lot or parcel as the building or structure in which the
person, place, event, product, business or other matter noted on the
sign is located.
HOME OCCUPATION SIGN
Any sign erected or displayed on the property of a private
dwelling which states the name of a person occupying the dwelling
and/or the name of a product or service offered in or from the dwelling
by that person.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any sign stating the use and name given to the use of a building,
structure or area, when such use is permitted in the zone in which
the sign is located.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign which has letters, figures, characters, designs
or outlines illuminated by electric lights, whether such lights be
incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes, mercury vapor lights, flood
or spot lights and whether or not such lights are a part of the sign
proper or focused upon it from a location or source separate and apart
from such sign. The light source shall be from the bottom or below
the sign and angled no closer to the horizontal than two vertical
to one horizontal and shall be shielded or have a translucent fixture
or covering to reduce off-site effects. Such sign shall not include
any beam, beacon, flashing or rotating light or device, or give the
illusion of any of these.
MOBILE SIGN
Any sign mounted on wheels or built with axles to which wheels
may be attached. A sign attached to a motor vehicle shall not be considered
a mobile sign. A parking permit sticker, inspection sticker, regulatory
permit or bumper sticker attached to a motor vehicle shall not be
considered a sign.
MOTOR VEHICLE SIGN
Any sign on or attached to a motor vehicle which is being
used primarily for the purpose of displaying advertising and is not
being utilized in the normal business or work of the vehicle owner.
MOVING or WINDBLOWN SIGN
Any sign, any element or part of which (such as a pennant,
streamer, moored blimp or propeller) moves by means of a mechanized,
electrical or other device or is set in motion by movement of the
atmosphere.
OFFICE CAMPUS
A parcel of land having separate buildings, any one or all
of which may have one or more business office tenants.
OFF-SITE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign which directs attention to a business commodity, service
or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than
the premises on which the sign is located.
PERMANENT SIGN
Any enduring sign meant to last - not expecting to change
in status or place, which is attached to the outside of a building
upon a wall, or upon standards, columns or poles separate from the
buildings, or within the window area of a building.
PERSON
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company, trust or other group or combination of persons operating
as a unit.
POLITICAL SIGN
Any sign addressing the candidacy of one or more persons
for elective office.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign which is not permanently affixed into the ground
or to a building or structure and which can easily be picked up and
moved to another location.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign which is suspended or supported from a building so
as to be perpendicular to the facade from which it projects.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
Any sign advertising the sale, lease or further use of real
estate which is placed upon the property so advertised.
REMOTE SIGN
Any sign advertising or indicating the location of or direction
to a person, place, event, product, business or other matter which
is remote from the site or property upon which the sign is erected
or displayed, other than a billboard, directional sign, real estate
sign, ballpark sign or contractor or subcontractor sign.
SCHOOL SIGN
Any bulletin board type of sign erected or displayed on the
real property of a school for the display of messages.
SIGN
Any letters, parts of letters, words, figures, numerals,
emblems, devices, designs, trademarks, posters, handbills or any other
objects (i) which make known or designate, or attract attention to,
any person or any thing (such as a place, event, product or business),
(ii) which are visible to persons located outdoors, and (iii) which
are capable of attracting the attention of such persons. Any supporting
standard for a sign shall not itself be considered a sign if no letters,
parts of letters, words, figures, numerals, emblems, devices, designs,
trademarks, posters, handbills or other objects are affixed thereon.
SIGNBOARD
Any structure or part thereof on which lettered or pictorial
matter is displayed for advertising or notice purposes.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING
Advertisement of a product or service which constitutes less
than 50% of the gross business conducted by the person erecting or
displaying the sign either in the building or structure or on the
property to which the sign containing the advertisement is affixed.
SUBDIVISION SIGN
Any sign erected or displayed for the purpose of identifying
or advertising a residential development or subdivision.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign which is not meant to be displayed for an extended
period of time which is constructed so as not to endure. A sign for
advertising a special event or sale of a particular product.
TENANT SUITE SIGN
An outdoor sign which identifies each particular business
in a multitenant structure, which has no common lobby and which is
located at the main entrance of that particular business.
TRAFFIC CHANNELIZATION ISLAND
A defined area of the public right-of-way located in a roadway
to confine specific movements of traffic, usually turning movements
at an intersection, to definite channels.
WARNING SIGN
Any sign stating that solicitation, trespassing or parking
is prohibited on the premises upon which the sign is erected or displayed,
and any sign stating that dogs are present, that the building or structure
to which it is affixed is protected by a security or alarm system,
or other similar statements of caution.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign affixed to, or visible from the outdoors through,
any window in a building or structure; provided, however, that any
object which is sold or available for purchase on the premises of
the property upon which it is erected or displayed shall not be considered
a window sign.
YARD SALE SIGNS
Any sign stating the date and time of a yard sale or garage
sale to be conducted on the premises of the property upon which it
is erected or displayed.
The following regulations shall be applicable
to all zones, except as specifically limited:
A. No sign shall be placed in such a position that it
will cause danger to traffic, which either is on any street or which
is entering a street, by obscuring the view of traffic on either street.
In no case shall any sign, other than an official sign or directional
sign, be erected within the official right-of-way of any street unless
specifically authorized by ordinance or regulations of Wrightstown
Borough.
B. Size and area.
(1) All signs shall be measured at the perimeter of their
signboards. Measurements shall not include the pedestal.
(2) The area of sign shall be determined by extending
an imaginary line six inches above the largest letter, number, logo
or symbol and six inches below the lowest by extending an imaginary
line six inches outside the farthest left and right sides of the letter,
number, logo or symbol. The area enclosed by the imaginary lines shall
constitute the size of the sign.
C. All signs shall be permanently fixed to the ground
or attached to a building or structure in a manner conforming to state
statutes and borough ordinances.
D. No sign shall be erected containing information on
it which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose
not permitted under the provisions of the Borough Zoning Ordinance in the zoning district in which the property to which
the sign relates is located.
E. Signs and attachments advertising an establishment
or use no longer in existence or a product no longer available shall
be removed by the property owner within seven days after final business
closing date.
F. In order that no sign may be injurious to public interest
or endanger the interests of public safety, signs without proper zoning
permits and sign registrations shall be removed upon receipt of a
written notice of violation served by the Zoning Officer or his representative
to the landowners or lessee of the sign. Such violation shall be discontinued
immediately upon receipt of notice. All existing signs found not to
be injurious to public interest or to not endanger the interests of
the public as determined by the Zoning Officer or his representative
must obtain a zoning sign permit and sign registration within 90 days
from the effective date of this chapter.
G. Every sign permitted by this chapter must be constructed
of durable materials and must be kept in good condition and repair.
All signs shall be maintained by the owner of said sign, including
painting, repairing and cleaning as necessary. Any sign that is deemed
by the enforcing authority to be in a state of disrepair, such that
the sign is no longer functional or is not adequately maintained or
visible, shall be repaired by the owner of said sign within 30 days
of receipt of notice indicating the requirement of said repair; otherwise,
the sign shall be removed. Any dangerous condition shall be eliminated
immediately upon notification by the enforcing agency.
H. Official governmental signs which can be regulated
by this chapter shall be regulated to conform with the zone in which
they are placed.
I. The minimum letter size for all signs, except official
government signs, directory signs, "no trespassing" signs, addresses
and "tenant suite" signs, shall be three inches.
J. All buildings are required to be numbered and meet
911 requirements. Building numbers shall not be interpreted to be
signs unless they meet the following criteria:
(1) Nonresidential buildings less than 25 feet tall, with
addresses which have either any letter sizes greater than two feet
in height or which have more than seven characters, shall be interpreted
as having a sign.
(2) Nonresidential buildings greater than 25 feet tall,
which have either a letter size greater than three feet in height
or which have more than seven characters, shall be interpreted as
having a sign.
K. Signs required by law are permitted.
The following regulations shall be applicable
to all temporary signs:
A. Temporary signs of contractors, architects, tradesmen
and artisans are permitted subject to the following requirements:
(1) No more than one sign shall be permitted per residential
lot for each contractor, architect, tradesman or artisan. Such sign
shall not exceed nine square feet.
(2) No more than one sign, inclusive of all contractors,
architects, tradesmen or artisans shall be permitted per nonresidential
site. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.
(3) These signs shall be removed within five days of the
completion of work.
B. A sign indicating the development of a site or subdivision
is permitted where preliminary site plan or subdivision approval has
been granted by the Joint Land Use Board subject to the following
requirements:
(1) One sign shall be permitted per site of 10 acres or
less. Sites of 10 acres or more shall be permitted two signs if there
is frontage on more than one road.
(2) Development signs shall not exceed 32 square feet
in area.
C. Temporary real estate signs indicating the prospective or completed
sale or rental of a premises are permitted subject to the following
requirements:
[Amended 8-13-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-10]
(1) The sign shall not exceed six square feet for a residential use.
The sign shall not exceed 20 square feet or a height of six feet for
a nonresidential use.
(2) Only one sign shall be permitted per lot, except in the following
instances:
(a)
Residential lots with frontage on more than one street shall
be permitted two signs. One sign shall be placed on each street.
(b)
Commercial lots with frontage on more than one street shall
be permitted two signs. One sign shall be placed on each street.
(3) Temporary real estate signs shall be removed within seven days after
the consummation of a lease or sales agreement.
(4) Temporary real estate signs shall not be illuminated.
(5) Signs advertising an open house may be erected so as to direct individuals
to the site. These signs may be erected five days prior to the start
of an open house and must be removed at the conclusion of the open
house.
D. Temporary signs or banners announcing any educational, charitable,
civic, religious or like event, fair, bazaar or auction are permitted
subject to the following requirements for each activity:
[Amended 8-13-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-10]
(1) No more than four temporary signs shall be permitted per activity.
(2) The size of the temporary sign or banner shall not exceed 32 square
feet in area and six feet in height.
(3) The period of time during which any such temporary sign is permitted
shall not exceed 15 days.
(4) Applications for such signs shall include the language which is to
be displayed on the sign.
E. Temporary political signs are permitted subject to the following
requirements:
[Amended 8-13-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-10]
(1) No such sign shall exceed 32 square feet in area.
(2) Such signs shall not be erected prior to 30 days before the election
or referendum and shall be removed within seven days after the election
or referendum by the candidate or his representative.
F. Temporary signs or banners announcing any special and limited commercial
event are permitted subject to the following requirements for each
activity:
[Amended 8-13-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-10]
(1) No more than two temporary signs shall be permitted per activity.
(2) The size of the temporary sign or banner shall not exceed 20 square
feet.
(3) The period of time during which any such temporary sign is permitted
shall not exceed 15 days. A thirty-day period of time must pass between
advertised activities per business.
(4) Applications for such signs shall include the language which is to
be displayed on the sign.
(5) A fee of $30 will be charged for each fifteen-day commercial temporary
sign permit.
The following signs are prohibited:
A. Any sign, other than a warning or safety sign, which
is designed or intended to attract attention by a physical movement
or flashing, blinking or twinkling lights. Stationary time-and-temperature
displays are permitted.
B. Signs with any lighting or central mechanism which
may cause radio or television interference.
C. Any sign so erected, constructed or maintained as
to:
(1) Obstruct any fire escape, window, door or opening
used as a means of egress or ingress.
(2) Interfere with any opening required for legal ventilation.
D. Any sign whose form, character or shape may confuse
or dangerously distract the attention of the operator of a motor vehicle.
E. Any advertisement which uses a series of two or more
signs or units, placed in a line parallel to the highway, where each
signboard carries a part of the total message.
F. Signs which in any way simulate official, functional,
directional or warning signs erected or maintained by the State of
New Jersey or a county, borough or municipality thereof, any railroad,
public utility or similar agency concerned with the protection of
public health or safety.
G. No sign, except such directional devices as may be
required by the Federal Aeronautical Authorities, shall be placed,
inscribed or supported upon the roof or upon the structure in such
a fashion as will cause the sign to extend above the roof of any building.
No rooftop signs shall be permitted.
H. Any sign attached to or painted on walls, trees, fences,
utility poles, rocks, curbs, walks, lamps, hydrants, benches or bridges.
This subsection does not apply to attached "no trespassing," "no fishing"
and/or "no hunting" signs and warning signs, such as "beware of dog,"
"high voltage," "buried cables," etc.
J. Signs affixed to motor vehicles and/or storage trailers
which are regularly parked, stopped or located so as to be conspicuous.
K. Any sign advertising a business not located on the
same lot. (Off-site commercial advertising signs.)
Within this zone, no sign shall be erected or
altered, in whole or in part, unless it complies with the following
regulations:
A. Permitted signs.
(1) Each lot shall be permitted either one freestanding
or one other sign. If the building is located within 10 feet of a
curbline, a freestanding sign shall not be permitted.
(2) Each lot shall be permitted temporary signs as regulated by §
175-4.
(3) Each lot shall be permitted those signs which are
permitted in all zones as regulated by § 145-6.
(4) Signs which are internally lighted shall not be permitted.
B. Facade signs.
(1) Facade signs shall not exceed an area of 12 feet.
(2) Facade signs shall be located not less than eight
feet above grade nor more than 12 feet above grade.
(3) Facade signs shall project no more than two feet beyond
the front of the facade.
(4) Facade signs shall be located not less than one foot
below the roof line.
C. Freestanding signs.
(1) Freestanding signs shall not exceed an area of 12
square feet per side.
(2) The bottom of a freestanding sign shall be a minimum
of 8 feet above grade. The top of a freestanding sign shall be a maximum
of 12 feet above grade.
(3) There shall be a minimum distance of 15 feet to any
property line and the nearest portion of any freestanding sign. This
requirement may be waived where the existing building setback is less
than 15 feet.
(4) There shall be a minimum distance of 25 feet between
the nearest portions of any freestanding sign and another freestanding
sign.
D. Projecting signs.
(1) Projecting signs shall not exceed an area of 12 square
feet per side.
(2) The bottom of a projecting sign shall be no less than
eight feet above grade. The top of a projecting sign shall be no more
than 15 feet above grade.
(3) The outside edge of a projecting sign shall be no
further than five feet from the building.
Within this zone, no sign shall be erected or
altered, in whole or in part, unless it complies with the following
regulations:
A. Each lot shall be permitted one freestanding sign,
except for office parks as regulated by this chapter.
B. Multitenant structures.
(1) Each building shall be permitted one facade sign,
except for office parks as regulated by this chapter.
(2) Each multitenant structure which has no common lobby
shall be permitted one tenant-suite sign for each tenant.
(3) Each multitenant structure which has no common lobby and contains 20,000 square feet of gross floor area for five or more tenants shall be permitted directory signs as regulated by Subsection
C(3).
(4) Each lot shall be permitted temporary signs as regulated by §
175-4.
(5) Each lot shall be permitted those signs which are permitted in all zones as regulated by §
175-6.
(6) Each lot shall be permitted one directional sign.
C. Signs in office campus.
(1) Freestanding signs.
(a)
Freestanding park identification signs shall
not be permitted within 150 feet of any freestanding sign.
(b)
Freestanding park identification signs shall
not exceed an area of 80 square feet. These shall be ground-mounted.
(c)
All freestanding signs in an office park shall
be located as follows:
[1]
There shall be a minimum distance of 15 feet
between any property line and the nearest portion of any freestanding
sign.
[2]
All freestanding signs, except ground-mounted
signs, must have a least eight feet of clearance between the grade
and the bottom of the sign.
[3]
There shall be a minimum distance of 50 feet
between the nearest portions of any freestanding sign and another
freestanding sign.
(2) Facade signs.
(a)
Facade signs in office parks shall be permitted
according to the following schedule:
[1]
Tenant-suite sign: three square feet.
[2]
Building identification sign:
[a]
Buildings less than 25 feet tall: 10 square
feet, one sign per building.
[b]
Buildings greater than 25 feet tall: 20 square
feet, one sign per building.
(b)
All facade signs in an office complex shall
be consistent in finish and style.
(c)
All facade signs in an office complex shall
be located no more than two feet beyond the front of the facade.
(d)
All facade signs in an office complex shall
be located no less than two feet below the roof line.
(3) Directory signs.
(a)
Directory signs shall be located within the
site so as to allow motorists to leave the flow of traffic and safely
read the directory.
(b)
Directory signs shall not exceed an area of
32 square feet.
(c)
No more than one directory sign shall be permitted
for each site entrance.
(4) Directional signs.
(a)
Directional signs are permitted only in office
campus.
(b)
Directional signs shall not exceed three square
feet.
(c)
Directional signs shall be internally lit.
(d)
Areas where directional signs are placed shall
be supplemented with landscaping to provide visual distinction to
the location where the sign is placed.
(e)
One directional sign shall be permitted at each
exterior entrance.
(f)
Directional signs designating exits shall not
be permitted along the primary frontage, but shall be located within
the interior of the site.
(g)
Temporary signs shall be permitted as regulated by §
175-4.
(h)
Those signs which are permitted in all zones shall be permitted as regulated by §
175-6.
Within this zone, no sign shall be erected or altered, in whole or in part, unless it complies as regulated by §§
175-7,
175-8 and
175-9, as applicable.
[Amended 7-9-2008 by Ord.
No. 2008-06; 8-13-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-10]
A. Any nonconforming
sign which has a valid permit on the effective date of this chapter
shall be deemed to have legal nonconforming status.
B. Loss of
legal nonconforming status.
(1) A
legal nonconforming sign shall immediately lose its legal nonconforming
status if:
(a) The sign is altered in any way.
(2) Upon
the happening of any one of the above events, the sign shall be immediately
brought into compliance with this chapter with a new permit, in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter, or shall be immediately removed.
(3) Periodic maintenance, as required by §
175-2G, shall not be considered an alteration, resulting in the loss of a sign's legal nonconforming status.
[Amended 12-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-13; 7-9-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-06; 8-13-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-10]
A. A sign fee of $20 per sign, regardless of illumination or conforming square footage, is due and payable with each annual fire safety registration and is to be paid to the Fire Marshal upon registration with the Wrightstown Borough Bureau of Fire Prevention. Any new permanent sign erected or displayed in the Borough requires an application/permit fee in accordance with Chapter
80, §
80-1.
B. Temporary
signs: $30 payable to the Borough of Wrightstown (per fifteen-day
permit issued by the Municipal Clerk or designee).
[Added 3-10-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-1]
A. Enforcement.
(1) The Mayor's designee shall enforce the provisions
of this chapter. Said designee shall be hereinafter referred to as
the "Enforcement Official."
(2) Upon discovery of an alleged violation of this chapter,
the Enforcement Official shall serve written notice, either by personal
service or certified mail, return receipt requested, on the owner
of the sign and/or the owner or lessee of the property where the sign
is located, ordering the sign to be brought into conformity with the
provisions of this chapter, or its removal, within 30 days of the
date of said notice or seven days if the alleged violation concerns
a temporary sign. The notice shall include notification that if the
sign is not brought into conformity or removed within such time, a
summons and/or complaint will be issued. In the event that said sign
is not brought into conformity with the provisions of this chapter,
or removed, prior to said 30 days or seven days from the date of said
notice, the Enforcement Official or other responsible person shall
cause a summons and/or complaint to be issued.
(3) Should the owner of a sign and/or the owner or lessee
of the property where a sign is located violate the provisions of
this chapter a second or subsequent time(s) after receiving notice
as set forth hereinabove for an initial violation, a summons and complaint
shall be issued for such second or further subsequent violations without
further notice and opportunity to conform. The notice provided for
initial violations as set forth above shall state the consequences
for second or further subsequent violations.
B. Summary removal. In the event that it shall be determined
by the Enforcement Official that the presence of any sign, either
by reason of its construction, location or lack of maintenance and
repair, presents an immediate hazard to the health, safety and welfare
of the residents of the Borough of Wrightstown, the Enforcement Official
shall be empowered to immediately effectuate the removal of said sign,
and the expenses and costs of said removal shall be borne by the owner
of said sign and/or the owner or lessee of the property upon which
the sign is located.
C. Penalties.
(1) For an initial violation of this chapter, the sentencing
court shall impose a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100.
(2) For second or further subsequent violations, the sentencing
court shall impose a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000.
(3) In addition to any fine imposed for a violation of
this chapter, the sentencing court shall order the removal of the
sign or the sign being brought into conformity with the provisions
of this chapter at the owner's sole expense.