[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Franklin 11-25-2008 by Ord. No. 20-2008. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Land development — See Ch. 161.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BANNER SIGN
A temporary sign of cloth, plastic, fabric, or similar material that celebrates an event, season, community, neighborhood or district and is sponsored by a recognized community agency or organization, or a business to call attention to a grand opening, owner or management change, or the advertising of special events.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs to be transported on wheels. The term "portable sign" includes a sign affixed to a vehicle and/or trailer which is parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product, service or activity or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or other property.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN
A portable sign easily moved from place to place on a stand or A-type frame and having no permanent attachment to the ground.
TEMPORARY SIGNS
A sign or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, plywood, plastic or other light material and designed or intended to be displayed for a short period of time not to exceed one year, excluding public safety signs, which shall have no time limit.
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2-2011]
WINDOW SIGN
A sign that is painted or mounted onto a windowpane or hung directly inside a window solely for the purpose or effect of advertising or identifying any premises. For purposes of calculating the size of window signs, a window shall be considered the glazed area.
[Amended 6-23-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009; 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2-2011; 7-26-2016 by Ord. No. 14-2016; 6-23-2020 by Ord. No. 04-2020]
A. 
Upon securing a permit as set forth in § 218-8, a business establishment in the B-1, B-2, HC-1, HC-2, NC or Upper ZM Zone shall be permitted one sandwich board sign subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1) 
The sign shall be located on the applicant's property and at least four feet from the paved surface of the road. The sign shall be located in front of the principal entrance to the business to which it relates.
(2) 
Each of the two sides of the sign shall be less than nine square feet in area.
(3) 
The maximum height shall not exceed 54 inches.
(4) 
(Reserved)
(5) 
The sign shall not obstruct site distance visibility, or ingress and egress from the site, or other passage of vehicles or pedestrians.
(6) 
The sign may be displayed outside only during business hours and shall be stored in an indoor area when not in use.
(7) 
The sign shall be kept in good condition and properly secured.
(8) 
(Reserved)
(9) 
Sandwich board signs shall not be illuminated, nor shall they contain moving parts or have balloons, streamers, pennants or similar adornment attached to them.
B. 
Where a commercial property has more than one business or commercial tenant, one sandwich board sign permit for each business establishment shall be allowed.
A. 
Upon securing a permit as set forth in § 218-8, a business establishment in the B, HC-1, HC-2, NC or Upper ZM Zone shall be permitted to display one banner sign of up to 25 square feet in sign area for grand openings, owner or management change, or the advertising of special events.
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2-20117-26-2016 by Ord. No. 14-2016]
B. 
Each business on the site may utilize a banner sign for a maximum period of 35 consecutive days per event, four times per year.
C. 
A banner sign shall be installed no more than 30 days prior to the event and removed within five days of the completion of the event.
D. 
The banner sign shall not obstruct sight distance visibility, ingress and egress from the site, or other passage of vehicles or pedestrians.
E. 
The banner sign shall be located on the applicant’s property and at least four feet from the paved surface of the road.
[Amended 6-23-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009]
F. 
The banner sign shall be kept in good condition and properly secured.
[Amended 6-23-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009]
A. 
Window signs shall be permitted in the B, HC-1, HC-2, NC and Upper ZM Zones only.
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2-2011; 7-26-2016 by Ord. No. 14-2016]
B. 
Window signs shall not require a permit.
C. 
The area of each window sign shall not exceed 80% of the window in which it is placed or, in the case of a storefront, the total glazed area of the facade on which the sign is being displayed.
D. 
Neon signs as regulated in § 161-24S(1)(f) and changeable copy signs, as regulated in § 161-24S(7), shall be deemed to be window signs and included in the calculation of the total window sign area.
[Amended 12-8-2015 by Ord. No. 13-2015]
E. 
No televised advertising in a window shall be allowed.
F. 
Changeable copy signs shall be permitted as regulated in § 161-24S(7).
[Added 12-8-2015 by Ord. No. 13-2015]
A. 
One temporary sign advertising the prospective sale or rental of the premises upon which it is located, not exceeding 16 square feet in area in the B, HC-1, HC-2, NC, I, and Upper ZM Zones and four square feet in all residential zones, shall be permitted, provided that the sign shall be maintained in good condition and removed within seven days after consummation of lease or sale transaction.
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2-2011; 7-26-2016 by Ord. No. 14-2016]
B. 
One nonilluminated temporary sign on a new construction site, which has received site plan or subdivision approval from the Planning or Zoning Boards, not exceeding 24 square feet in sign area, is permitted in any zone, provided that the sign shall be maintained in good condition and removed within seven days after completion of the construction work or within one year, whichever date shall occur first. Such sign shall not be more than eight feet above ground level, setback at least 15 feet from street right-of-way or property line and shall not obstruct sight distances.
[Amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2-2011]
C. 
A nonilluminated temporary sign, not exceeding four square feet in area, erected by a business (e.g., architects, contractors) performing construction work or repairs on a lot that is already improved may be displayed on such lot in any zone for a period not to exceed the duration of the project or one year, whichever is less.
D. 
A temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election or an event sponsored by a nonprofit organization shall be permitted to be displayed in any zone for a period of not more than 30 days prior to the election or event and not more than three days following the election or event.
[Amended 6-23-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009]
E. 
Banner-type signs shall be permitted in any location in the Borough in celebration of public events or to call attention to dates of holidays of public significance when erected by the Borough itself or otherwise authorized by the governing body.
F. 
A temporary "help wanted" sign advertising a job position in the same building shall be permitted to be displayed on the same property on the building or in a window or in a grass area in any business or commercial zone, provided that each business is limited to one sign and the sign shall be no larger than 18 inches by 24 inches.
[Added 5-12-2020 by Ord. No. 01-2020]
A. 
Temporary safety, traffic, directional and warning signs approved by the governing body shall be permitted in all zones and shall not count in the measurement of sign area.
B. 
Signs which are required by any provision of law and signs deemed necessary to the public welfare by the governing body may be located in any zone and shall not count in the measurement of sign area.
[Amended 2-24-2009 by Ord. No. 1-2009; 6-23-2009 by Ord. No. 10-2009; 6-23-2020 by Ord. No. 04-2020]
A. 
A sandwich board sign permit pursuant to § 218-3 will be issued by the Borough Zoning Officer upon approval of a completed application submitted with applicable fees and will be registered to the business at the address with no expiration date.
B. 
A banner sign permit pursuant to § 218-4 will be issued by the Borough Zoning Officer upon approval of a completed application submitted with applicable fees and is valid for 35 days.
C. 
(Reserved)
D. 
All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this chapter or any amendment thereto are revocable at any time by the Borough Zoning Officer if the applicant fails to accurately depict the sign erected or to be erected or if the sign which is erected fails to meet the details or the detailed drawing submitted by the applicant. All such permits shall contain this provision.
E. 
No permit shall be issued to any business establishment that, within the twelve-month period prior to the date on which the permit application is made, failed to comply with the requirements of this Chapter 218 as to the display of any banner or sandwich board sign, within 30 days after notice from the Borough as to such noncompliance.
F. 
The fees for permits established by this section shall include a nonrefundable application processing fee of $15 and can be found in Chapter 119, entitled "Fees."
Anyone violating the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to fine of up to $50 for first offense and $200 for second offense. The Borough Zoning Officer shall have authority to enforce the requirements of this chapter.