As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
AREA OF SIGN
The area included within the frame or edge of a sign, including the frame. Where the sign has no such frame or edge, the area shall be computed as specified by §
185-133 herein.
AWNING
Any structure made of cloth or metal with a metal frame that
is stationary using welded construction or retractable, attached to
a building, projecting over a thoroughfare and requiring no uprights
for support.
BANNER
Any temporary sign applied to paper, plastic or fabric of
any kind, which shall be permitted by the Township Committee by permit,
above a public right-of-way.
BILLBOARD
Any sign erected or maintained for the purpose of displaying
outdoor advertising for products or services provided off premises.
CANOPY
Any structure made of cloth with a metal frame, welded construction
and requiring uprights for support.
FACING or SURFACE
The surface of the sign upon, against or through which the
message is displayed or illuminated on the sign.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed
on or anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building
or other structure.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs
or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part
of the sign proper.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether
or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire
or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure or a sign designed to be transported, including
but not limited to signs designed to be transported by means of wheels;
signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs;
balloons used as signs; and umbrellas used for advertising.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon
or over the roof of any building, with the principal support on the
roof structure.
SIGN
Includes any device, either freestanding or attached to a
building or structure or erected, painted, represented or reproduced
upon or in (to the extent provided herein) any building or structure,
which displays, reproduces or includes any letter, word, name, number,
model, insignia, emblem, design, device or representation used for
one or more of the following purposes: to identify the premises or
occupant or owner of the premises; to advertise any trade, business,
profession, industry, service or other activity; to advertise any
product or item; to advertise the sale or rental or use of all or
part of the premises, including that upon which it is displayed; to
direct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, other than state, county or
municipal highway and roadway markers; and shall include any announcement,
declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia or any
representation used to advertise or intended to advertise or promote
the interests of any person. In no event shall the word "sign" be
construed to mean any sign in the interior of any structure except
as specifically set forth in this chapter.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign that is not permanently mounted as specifically
permitted by this article.
WALL SIGN
All flat signs of solid-face construction which are placed
against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior
front, rear or sidewall of any building or other structure so that
the display surface is parallel with the plane of the wall. Signs
painted on an exterior or a wall shall be deemed to be "wall signs"
subject to this chapter.
WINDOW DISPLAY SIGN
Includes all signs defined herein, which are situated on
or within 12 inches of the window surface.
WINDOW SPACE
Includes the aggregate square footage of all windows on any
given side and any given story of any structure, regardless of the
angle or angles at which they are set. In computing window space,
there shall be included all portions of any door which contains a
window.
The following principles shall control the computation
of sign area and height:
A. Computation of area of individual signs. The area
of a sign face shall be computed by drawing a square or rectangle
that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation,
emblem or other display, together with the sign frame and any material
or color forming an integral part of the background of the display
or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against
which it is placed or by delineating the area established by reason
of distinctive variation in background color or by borders, whichever
is greater.
B. Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign
area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding
together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When
two identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces
cannot be viewed from any point at the same time and when such sign
faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42
inches apart at any point, the sign area shall be computed by the
measurement of one of the faces.
C. Computation of height. The height of a sign shall
be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at grade to
the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
Residential signs, including name and address plates, professional nameplates, signs for places of worship, real estate signs and contractor signs as provided herein, are permitted in accordance with the size limitations as set forth in §
185-132C. Signs not otherwise in compliance with these provisions or as permitted and regulated in this article are prohibited.
Temporary signs shall comply to the following:
A. All temporary signage, except as specifically exempted
under this article, shall require a permit. Said permit shall be valid
for a period not to exceed 15 days from the issuance thereof and may
be renewed for a period not to exceed an additional 15 days for a
maximum of 30 days per twelve-month period.
B. No temporary sign shall exceed an area of 12 square
feet, provided that temporary signs, such as banners, which are permitted
by permit by the Township Committee within the public right-of-way
may exceed 12 square feet in size.
C. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to permit
the erection or installation of any political signs upon any pole
or tree located on public property or within the public right-of-way
within the Township of Rochelle Park and their erection or installation
is hereby specifically prohibited. This section shall not be deemed
to prohibit temporary lawn signs or street banners as set forth elsewhere
in this chapter.
D. Streamers of flags or pennants and banners shall be permitted as temporary signs in accordance with the permit requirements and time restrictions set forth in this article and §
185-132.
E. Nonprofit organizations shall be permitted to erect
and maintain a single temporary sign on their property not exceeding
five square feet in area, provided that such sign is maintained for
a period of no more than 10 days and has a maximum four-foot height.
Upon determination that a violation of the provisions
of this article exists, the Construction Official shall provide written
notice of said violation with a demand that the violation be abated
within five days from the date on which the notice is mailed. If the
violation is not abated within that five-day period, there shall be
a fine imposed, upon conviction, of not less than $100 nor more than
$1,000 for each offense. Each day that the violation continues shall
be considered a separate offense.