The following regulations and restrictions shall
apply to all signs erected in all zoning districts of this Township.
A.
Permits and exemption.
(1)
It is unlawful for any person to erect, construct,
enlarge, alter, move, or convert any sign in Darlington Township or
cause the same to be done without first obtaining a sign permit, if
required, for each sign from the Township Zoning Officer.
(2)
Applications for a sign permit shall be made,
in writing, to the Township Zoning Officer and shall be accompanied
by such information as may be required to assure compliance with these
regulations and all other appropriate ordinances and regulations of
Darlington Township.
(3)
The following signs do not require a sign permit:
(a)
Any sign with a gross surface area of four square
feet or less;
(b)
Official traffic signs erected by the commonwealth,
Beaver County or Darlington Township;
(c)
Temporary signs, including but not limited to
real estate, no trespassing, artisan, seasonal or special activities
or contractors' signs which are six feet or less in gross surface
area.
B.
Signs within public rights-of-ways.
(1)
No sign shall be constructed, erected, or so
located that any portion of the sign structure projects over or is
placed within the right-of-way lines of any public highway or street
except for official traffic signs or for street or road signs as required
and erected by local, state, and/or federal governmental agencies
or authorities.
(2)
Street or road signs as required and erected
by local, state, and/or federal governmental agencies or authorities
are permitted at a height of not less than seven feet above the top
level of established or proposed curb. Such signs may have a reflective
surface. Signs guiding or controlling traffic movement may be permitted
at a height to exceed seven feet above adjacent grade level and may
be illuminated if such is judged to be appropriate and necessary by
the governmental agency or authority responsible for the erection
and maintenance of said signs.
(3)
Any sign which does not comply with the provisions
of this article shall constitute a public nuisance in addition to
being in and of itself a violation of this chapter.
C.
Sign location and construction.
(1)
All signs shall be a minimum of 10 feet from
the abutting public road or street right-of-way or four feet inside
public sidewalk and the clear sight triangle must be maintained.
(2)
No permanent sign shall be erected, placed,
or constructed in any zoning district on a movable base, sled, trailer,
vehicle, or any other portable device. Temporary signs shall be erected
and maintained in accordance with the appropriate provisions of this
article.
D.
Sign lighting.
(1)
Signs that flash, rotate, oscillate or move
shall not be permitted. Digital signs are not included in this reference.
(2)
Any sign other than official governmental traffic
control signs using the words "stop," "look," "listen," "slow," "danger,"
or any other words, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner
as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic shall be prohibited.
(3)
A sign may be illuminated according to the provisions
of this article. The illumination is confined to or directed to the
surface of the sign.
(4)
All illumination shall be by diffuse or indirect
light.
(5)
All lighting shall be so arranged as to reflect
the light away from adjoining premises and public right-of-way.
(6)
No artificial light or reflecting device shall
be used where such will interfere with, compete for attention with,
or may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
(7)
No illumination utilizing red, green, or yellow
lights, or a combination thereof, shall be utilized if such sign interferes
with the effective visibility of any adjacent traffic signal or if
such sign is located adjacent to a roadway where such illumination
might give the appearance or impression of a traffic signal.
A.
Temporary on-premises signs advertising the sale or
rental of the premises when erected by the owner or broker or any
other person interested in the sale or rental of such premises shall
adhere to the following:
B.
Signs bearing the word "sold" or the word "rented"
with the name of the persons or corporate entity effecting the sale
or rental may be erected and maintained in compliance with this section,
provided such signs are removed within 30 days of the date of the
final sale or rental.
A.
Temporary signs designed and displayed for a seasonal
or brief activity, including but not limited to sales, specials, promotions,
holidays, auctions, business openings and signs advertising properties
for lease or sale may be erected on real estate located in any zoning
district by the owner or owners of that property, provided:
(1)
The gross surface area of such sign shall not
exceed 20 square feet in all districts.
(2)
The total height of such sign shall not exceed
six feet above adjacent ground grade.
(3)
Only one such sign shall be erected and maintained
on each property unless such property fronts on more than one public
street, in which event one such sign may be erected on each frontage.
(4)
Such signs shall only be erected and maintained
during the time period beginning four weeks before an event and terminating
one week following that event or use.
(5)
The owner of the property upon which such sign
is erected shall be responsible for the placement, maintenance, and
removal of such sign in accordance with the terms of this article.
(6)
No sign shall be reflective or illuminated.
(7)
All such signs shall be self-supporting or wall-mounted.
Overhead signs, arched signs, and banners are prohibited.
(8)
At no time shall such signs be placed on any
utility pole.
B.
Signs of mechanics, painters, and other artisans may
be erected and maintained during the period such persons are performing
work on the premises on which such signs are erected, provided:
(1)
The gross surface area of such sign shall not
be in excess of 20 square feet.
(2)
Such signs shall not be reflective or illuminated.
(3)
No more than one such sign shall be placed upon
each property.
(4)
Such signs when pertaining to remodeling or
rehabilitation work being performed on an existing structure may be
displayed for a period not to exceed 60 days in any one calendar year.
(5)
Such signs when pertaining to the construction
of a new structure or an addition to an existing structure shall be
removed within 15 days of the completion of work or the issuance of
an occupancy permit, as applicable, except as mandated by state or
federal regulations.
C.
Temporary signs advertising the sale of farm products,
when such sale is not the primary use of the premises and where such
sale is permitted under the terms of the districts established by
this chapter, may be erected, provided:
D.
Temporary advertising for community activities, auctions,
garage or yard sales, special events of charitable or public service
groups. Such signs shall be limited to a maximum area of six square
feet. Signs shall not be erected earlier than 30 days prior to the
advertised event or activity and shall be removed within 48 hours
following the event or activity. A temporary sign is intended to be
used for a period of 30 days or less, announcing an event or advertising
a special limited time offer not normally available on the premises.
(1)
Temporary signs pertaining to special sales
or events may be displayed for a period of 30 days or less.
(2)
The cumulative area of temporary window sign(s)
shall not exceed 50% of the area of each display window or public
entrance on the building site. For purposes of this subsection, any
display window that faces a separate public right-of-way or which
is separated from any other display window by a public entrance shall
be considered a single display window.
(3)
Holiday message and decorations are excluded
from the restrictions under this section.
A.
No trespassing signs, or signs indicating the private
nature of a driveway or property, or restricting the use of a driveway
or property, may be erected and maintained, provided that the gross
surface area of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet. Only
two such signs are permitted for every 100 feet of public street frontage.
Such sign shall not be an overhead sign or be illuminated.
B.
For any nonresidential property, a no trespassing
sign, or sign indicating the private nature of a driveway or property,
or restricting the use of a driveway or property, may be erected and
maintained, provided that the gross surface area of any such sign
shall not exceed four square feet. Only two such signs are permitted
per property unless such property fronts on more than one street,
in which event two such signs may be erected on each frontage. Such
signs shall not be overhead signs or illuminated, but may be reflective.
A.
Business identification signs bearing the name of
the occupant and the service offered or products sold or displayed
may be erected and maintained on a tract or parcel when said tract
or parcel contains only one business enterprise, provided:
(1)
No more than two such signs may be placed on
each property unless such property fronts on more than one public
street, in which event one sign may be erected on each additional
frontage.
(a)
A combination of self-supporting, wall-mounted,
or overhead signs are permitted, provided that the total number shall
not exceed two signs except as provided for in this article.
(b)
The gross surface area of an overhead sign shall
not exceed 20 square feet and shall not project beyond the building
line.
(c)
The gross surface area of a wall-mounted sign
shall not exceed one square foot of gross sign surface area per two
lineal feet of building frontage or 10% of the surface area of the
wall upon which the sign is mounted, whichever is less.
(d)
The gross surface area of a self-supporting
sign shall be as follows:
[1]
The gross surface area of such self-supporting
sign located a minimum of 10 feet from a public street or road right-of-way
shall not exceed 50 square feet.
[2]
The gross surface area of such self-supporting
sign located more than 50 feet from a public street or road right-of-way
shall not exceed 75 square feet.
(2)
Such signs may be illuminated in accordance
with the provisions of this article.
(3)
Each business may erect signs directing and
guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising
matter. Such signs shall be limited to such information or instructions
as necessary for the convenience of vehicular traffic in reaching
such business.
(4)
No sign shall exceed the height of 15 feet above
adjacent ground level.
(5)
All wall-mounted signs shall be affixed to or
displayed on the face of a building. Such signs shall not project
or extend above or beyond the roof or eave line.
(6)
Overhead signs shall be at least nine feet high
measured from the adjacent ground grade.
(7)
No wall-mounted sign shall project over a sidewalk
area available for public use more than 12 inches.
B.
Business identification signs for multiuse commercial
sites bearing the name of the integrated commercial development, the
commercial occupants, and the services offered or products sold or
displayed may be erected and maintained on a parcel when:
(1)
Only one self-supporting sign identifying only
the name of the integrated commercial development may be erected and
maintained per land parcel unless such property fronts on more than
one street, in which event one such sign may be erected on each frontage.
(a)
There shall be only one sign of any type mounted
on a support or supports erected to hold a self-supporting sign.
(b)
The gross surface area of such identification
sign shall not exceed 1.5 square feet of gross sign surface area per
two linear feet of street frontage to a maximum of 300 square feet
in gross surface area.
(2)
Each business enterprise shall be permitted
one wall-mounted business identification sign not to exceed one square
foot of gross sign surface area per one linear foot of frontage of
the building or portion of the building occupied by said business
enterprise.
(3)
As applicable, each business enterprise shall
be permitted one additional wall-mounted business identification sign
for each auxiliary or accessory use. Such sign shall not exceed 40
square feet of gross surface area.
(4)
No combination of business enterprises may combine
their interest to permit larger signs or increase the number of signs.
(5)
Such signs may be illuminated in accordance
with the provisions of this article.
(6)
Each business may erect signs directing and
guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising
matter. Such signs shall be limited to such information or instructions
as necessary for the convenience of vehicular traffic in reaching
such business.
(7)
No sign shall exceed the height of 35 feet above
adjacent ground level.
(8)
All wall-mounted signs shall be affixed to or
displayed on the face of a building. Such signs shall not project
or extend above or beyond the roof or eave line.
(9)
No wall-mounted sign shall project over a sidewalk
area available for public use more than 12 inches.
C.
Within a M Manufacturing District, at or in close
proximity to the intersection of State Highway Route 51 with any intersecting
Township road, the erection of a business directional sign providing
directional information to the location of a business within the M
Manufacturing District or the adjoining L-I Light Industrial District
shall be permitted.
(1)
No more than one self-supporting sign shall
be permitted at any intersection.
(2)
No sign shall exceed the height of 20 feet above
the adjacent ground level.
(3)
No sign shall exceed 160 square feet of gross
sign surface.
(4)
No business enterprise shall be permitted more
than 20 square feet of gross sign surface in the directional sign.
(5)
No sign shall be constructed, erected or so
located that any portion of the sign projects into or is located within
the public right-of-way.
(6)
No sign shall be so located as to interfere
with the sight distance on any intersecting road.
(7)
Such signs may be illuminated in accordance
with the provisions of this article.
Billboards or advertising sign boards may be
erected and maintained in commercial, manufacturing, and industrial
districts. All such signs shall be controlled by the Outdoor Advertising
Act[1]and Highway Beautification Act if erected contiguous to
a commonwealth or federal right-of-way.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 36 P.S. § 2718.101 et seq.
