The intent of this article is to strike a reasonable balance
between the need or desire to display public information on signs
with the need or desire to minimize visual conflicts that can occur
when placement of signs is not adequately controlled. Appropriate
design, placement and maintenance of signage can complement the visual
appeal of the community and facilitate safe and efficient travel within
the Township. Absence of appropriate standards can allow development
of signage that distracts or competes excessively for visual attention
or that detracts from the desirable appearance of the community.
In addition to the words and terms included in § 220-6, Definitions, pictorial descriptions of certain sign types defined in this section are provided by Exhibits XXV-1 through XXV-2.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibits XXV-1 and XXV-2 are included as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
No sign shall be placed, erected, altered, enlarged or relocated until a permit for doing so has been issued by the Zoning Officer. A construction permit shall also be required unless the sign proposal satisfies exemption criteria listed in Chapter 70, Building Construction and Safety Standards. Signs listed in § 220-251 herein are exempt from zoning permit requirements, provided that the use of such signs is in accordance with other provisions of this article. Applications shall be submitted on forms provided by the Township, shall indicate consent of the owner of the premises upon which the sign is to be located and shall be accompanied by supporting information that is sufficient to determine compliance with this article and any other relevant ordinances. Examples of supporting data that may be required include a scale drawing with relevant dimensions noted to illustrate the proposed height, area, size and sign copy; a plot plan of the property on which the sign will be located to illustrate the position of proposed signs relative to buildings, structures, lot lines and rights-of-way; illumination method and materials; and support systems, structural loads, stresses and anchoring details. Compliance with performance criteria may require certification by a registered design professional.
B.
Signs and sign components may be removed for repair and maintenance,
provided that they are restored to the same height, size, area and
location authorized by permit. Repair and maintenance activities that
do not affect the height, size, area or location of a sign do not
require a zoning permit, however, if these activities affect structural
or electrical components of the sign, a construction permit may be
necessary.
C.
No sign may be erected or maintained that may be confused with any
authorized traffic control device.
D.
Animated signs are not permitted in any district.
E.
Changeable message signs are permitted in all zoning districts, subject to limitations contained in § 220-252D herein.
F.
Every sign permitted by this article shall be kept in good condition and repair. When the Code Official determines that a sign is unsafe, unsecured, is a menace to the public or has been installed, erected or maintained in violation of any provision of this chapter, written notice shall be given to the owner of the sign, in accordance with § 220-268 herein. Said notice shall set forth a reasonable time period in which violation(s) shall be corrected. Immediate action may be required in the case of imminent danger to the public.
G.
Any off-premises directional sign associated with a use that is no longer active, and any on-premises sign copy that no longer relates to a use conducted at the property on which it is located, except memorial signs, shall be covered or removed by the sign owner or property owner within 30 days after receipt of written notice from the Code Official, in accordance with § 220-268 herein. Any obsolete sign structure that is not reused for a new sign within one year of such notice shall be deemed abandoned. Any abandoned sign and structure and any temporary sign that is displayed beyond the permitted time limit shall be removed by the sign owner or property owner within 30 days of receipt of written notice from the Code Official, in accordance with § 220-268 herein. Upon failure to comply with a notice regarding an obsolete or abandoned sign or a temporary sign that remains in place after expiration of the display time period, the Code Official is hereby authorized to cause removal or covering of obsolete sign copy or removal of temporary and abandoned signs. Any expense incident thereto shall be assessed to the property. When an obsolete or abandoned wall sign is removed, the wall of the building or structure on which it was attached shall be restored to resemble the appearance of the wall surrounding the sign location.
A.
Placement standards.
(1)
No sign shall be installed in a public right-of-way unless installation
is authorized by the authority having jurisdiction. Permitted sign
types are limited to traffic control devices, signs displayed on public
transportation passenger shelters, temporary street banners advertising
special events for civic or charitable nonprofit organizations and
building identification signs displayed on mailboxes.
(2)
No sign shall be affixed to a natural object such as a tree,
shrub or rock, or to a utility structure or utility pole, with the
following exceptions: regulatory notice signs, such as those used
to regulate hunting and trespassing, may be attached to a tree. A
street banner may be attached to a utility structure or utility pole
or a tree, provided that permission is granted from the owner of the
utility structure, utility pole or tree.
(3)
No sign may be mounted on a roof; however, signs may be mounted
on roof-like architectural projections of walls, such as pent eaves
and mansards, provided that the sign does not project above the highest
part of the wall. Roof signs are pictorially described on Exhibits
XXV-1 and XXV-2.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibits XXV-1 and XXV-2 are included as an attachment to this chapter.
(4)
No sign or sign structure shall be erected at any street intersection
in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, nor at any
location where it may interfere with or obstruct any traffic control
device.
(5)
A vertical clearance height of at least eight feet shall be
provided between the surface of a public walkway and any sign that
projects over the walkway.
(6)
No freestanding sign, together with any supporting framework,
shall extend to a height above the maximum building height allowed
within the respective district.
B.
Safety standards. No sign may be erected and maintained which:
(1)
Is structurally unsafe in accordance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as modified by Chapter 70, Building Construction and Safety Standards, as amended.
(2)
Constitutes a hazard to public safety and health by reason of
dilapidation, abandonment or inadequate maintenance.
(3)
Obstructs free entrance or exit from a required door, window
or fire escape.
(4)
Obstructs light or air, or interferes with proper functioning
of a building.
C.
Illumination standards.
(1)
Signs may be internally or externally illuminated. Externally
illuminated signs shall only be illuminated with steady, stationary,
shielded light sources directed solely onto the signs.
(2)
Illuminated signs shall not be permitted to produce glare in violation of performance standards for outdoor lighting contained in Article XIX herein.
(3)
Strings of bulbs are not permitted, except as part of a holiday
celebration.
A.
Any sign lawfully existing at the effective date of this chapter
that does not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be
considered nonconforming, and the nonconforming use, location, area,
height and/or size may be continued until such time as replacement
or rebuilding becomes necessary. Replacement of copy or panels upon
which copy is displayed does not constitute replacement or rebuilding
of the sign, provided that the structure supporting the copy or copy
panels is not rebuilt or replaced and the new copy or copy panels
are not larger in any dimension than those being replaced.
B.
When a nonconforming sign is replaced or rebuilt, the following limitations
shall apply:
(1)
A nonconforming sign damaged by fire, explosion, windstorm or
other sudden natural or criminal act may be reconstructed or restored,
provided that the reconstruction or restoration does not conflict
with any regulation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the degree
of nonconformity of the original sign is not increased.
(2)
When the land upon which a nonconforming sign is located is
taken for public purposes through eminent domain proceedings, the
nonconforming sign may be relocated or replaced elsewhere on the residual
property, provided that the degree of nonconformity of the original
sign is not increased.
(3)
All other nonconforming signs may only be replaced with or rebuilt
as conforming signs, in accordance with all applicable provisions
of this chapter.
A.
The area of a sign shall be the area of the smallest geometric figure
or the sum of the combination of regular geometric figures which comprise
the sign face. The area of any double-sided or V-shaped sign shall
be the area of the largest single face. Any portion of the sign face
that displays a street address for the building to which the sign
is associated shall not be included in the area calculation.
(1)
In the case of panel or cabinet-type signs, the sign face shall
include the entire area of the sign panel, cabinet or substrate upon
which the sign copy is displayed or illustrated, but not open space
between separate panels or cabinets.
(2)
In the case of sign structures with routed areas of sign copy,
the sign face shall include the entire area of the surface that is
routed, except interrupted by a reveal, border or contrasting surface
or color.
(3)
In the case of signs painted on a building or individual letters
or graphic elements affixed to a building or structure, the sign face
shall comprise the sum of the geometric figures or combination of
regular geometric figures drawn closest to the edge of the letters
or separate graphic elements comprising the sign copy, but not the
open space between separate groupings of sign copy on the same building
or structure.
(4)
In the case of sign copy enclosed within a painted or illuminated
border or displayed on a background contrasting in color with the
building or structure, the sign face shall comprise the area within
the contrasting background, or within the painted or illuminated border.
(5)
Sign area computation methodology is pictorially described on
Exhibits XXV-3 and XXV-4.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibits XXV-3 and XXV-4 are included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
Height.
(1)
The height of any building sign is limited to the actual height
of the building. The height limit for a freestanding sign shall be
established in the specific regulations for the district in which
it is located, but in no case may it be greater than the maximum permitted
building height of the respective district.
(2)
The height limit of any freestanding sign shall be measured
relative to the surface elevation of the road from which the freestanding
sign is intended to be viewed. If the center-line elevation of the
road cartway has a higher elevation than the ground elevation at the
proposed sign location, when measured along a line connecting these
two points and running perpendicular to the intersecting lot line,
the sign height limit may be increased by the resulting difference
in elevation. If this same measurement methodology indicates that
the ground at the proposed sign location has a higher elevation than
the center-line elevation of the roadway from which the sign is intended
to be viewed, then the sign height limit prescribed by the appropriate
section within this article may not be adjusted, and any lot elevation
increase achieved by mounding the proposed sign location shall be
subtracted from the maximum allowable sign height. When a proposed
sign will be readable from multiple roads, the greatest sign height
resulting from application of this section shall be permitted.
The following signs shall be exempt from zoning permit requirements,
but must conform to all other requirements of this article. Construction
permits may be necessary.
A.
Signs erected or posted and maintained for public safety and welfare,
pursuant to any governmental function, law or other regulation, and
any sign related to an emergency.
B.
On-premises directional signs that are placed at driveways solely
to indicate the location of ingress and egress at public streets.
Such signs may not exceed four square feet per face or extend higher
than 3.5 feet above ground level. Such signs shall not contain any
advertising, but up to 25% of the sign area may contain the business
name and/or logo.
E.
Real estate and on-premises residential sales signs, in accordance with temporary sign provisions of § 220-254.
G.
A bulletin board or similar sign not exceeding 40 square feet per
sign face, with a limit of two sign faces, in connection with any
church, neighborhood or civic association, museum, library, school
or similar public or semipublic nature, provided that the top of the
sign shall be not more than eight feet above ground level, and provided
that it complies with all other provisions of this article.
H.
Holiday decorations displayed for recognized holidays, except as
they may interfere with traffic safety or in any other way become
a safety hazard.
I.
Flags of any political or noncommercial entity.
J.
Sign, or portions thereof, devoted solely to display of building
address numbers.
K.
Any on-premises event, identification or marketing sign that is not
primarily intended for viewing from a public street, or adjacent property,
and the copy of which is not readily discernible from an adjacent
property or the public street that abuts the property on which the
sign is located.
L.
Off-premises signs located at athletic facilities, typically utilized
for fund-raising purposes, that are attached to fences, scoreboards
and other structures, provided that they are primarily oriented for
viewing by participants and spectators.
M.
Opinion and election campaign signs, in accordance with the general
sign regulations of the underlying zoning district.
A.
Freestanding signs. Any freestanding sign, unless permitted in a public street right-of-way, is limited to a height of 3.5 feet when located less than 10 feet from a public street right-of-way. Specific zoning district height limits (§ 220-253) apply when such signs are placed at least 10 feet from a public street right-of-way. No freestanding sign may be located within five feet of a side or rear property line, nor in such a manner that it interferes with a traffic control device or a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.
B.
Memorial signs. Freestanding memorial signs are limited to 10 square
feet per face, with a maximum of two faces. When affixed to the surface
of a building, they shall either be cut into exterior masonry facing,
or constructed of durable, noncombustible material and fastened to
the exterior surface of the building. Memorial signs affixed to building
surfaces are limited to 10 square feet and one such sign per street
frontage.
C.
Portable signs are only permitted as temporary signs and shall comply with temporary sign placement provisions contained in § 220-254 herein.
D.
Changeable message signs. Nonresidential uses in all residential
zoning districts may install changeable message signs in accordance
with other provisions of this article, provided that activation of
message change is by manual means. Changeable message signs may be
either electrically or manually activated in commercial and industrial
districts. Electrical activation may include projection or rotation
of sign copy or electronically programmed message changes. Scrolling
message changes are permitted, but flashing and animated signs, as
defined herein, are prohibited.
E.
Building signs. Such signs may not project horizontally beyond or vertically above the face of the building upon which they are displayed. Panels, cabinets and individual copy elements may not extend perpendicularly from the building face more than 15 inches, unless classified as, and subject to limitations for, projecting signs contained in § 220-252F herein.
F.
Projecting signs. Signs attached to buildings and having copy elements
displayed perpendicularly to the building face may project more than
15 inches from the building face, provided that:
(1)
Vertical clearance of at least eight feet shall be provided
below all parts of a projecting sign.
(2)
Horizontal projection shall not extend past a vertical plane
established by the location of any minimum building setback line,
except as specifically allowed in a traditional neighborhood development
or neighborhood redevelopment.
(3)
Sign area is limited to the maximum area for a freestanding
sign in the district in which the projecting sign is located.
(4)
Method of structural attachment is subject to construction code
compliance if the sign area exceeds 2.5 square feet.
H.
Outdoor advertising signs. Signs classified as billboards are only
permitted in C-2 General Commercial, I-1 General Industrial, I-3 Industrial/Commercial
and C-4 Regional Commercial Zoning Districts, subject to the following
limitations:
(1)
Such signs shall be located at least 100 feet from any residence
or residential zoning district; at least 10 feet from any property
or street right-of-way line; and at least 1,000 feet from any other
billboard.
(2)
The number of faces is limited to two in the C-2, C-4 and I-3
Districts and to four faces in the I-1 District.
(3)
Sign area is limited to 300 square feet per face in the C-2,
C-4 and I-3 Districts; and to 672 square feet per face in the I-1
District. Temporary embellishments may be added to billboards in the
I-1 District, provided that they do not increase sign area beyond
750 square feet per face.
I.
Window signs. Such signs that are designed so they can be legibly
viewed from an adjacent property or public street right-of-way shall
be classified as building signs and the area of these window signs
shall be included in the total window sign area permitted on the property.
Incidental and regulatory signs are exempt from this requirement.
No more than 30% of the area of a window may be covered with window
signs that are classified as building signs.
J.
Development identification signs. Freestanding signs that identify
shopping centers or groups of related buildings, such as residential
subdivisions, institutional campuses, industrial and business parks
and office and apartment complexes, may be installed in addition to
any identification signs that may be permitted for individual buildings
or uses, provided that the following limitations are met:
(1)
The land area of nonresidential developments must be at least
10 acres.
(2)
Unless otherwise permitted in a public street right-of-way,
all development identification signs shall be located at least 10
feet from said right-of-way.
(3)
The height limitation for such signs is six feet when located
in a residential district; otherwise, this limitation shall be the
maximum height of a freestanding sign in the district in which the
sign is located.
(4)
External illumination is the only type of illumination permitted
in a residential district.
(5)
The area of such signs is limited to 40 square feet per face with a maximum of two faces per sign in any zoning district with the following exception: development identification signs for shopping centers in a C-2 District shall comply with § 220-253D(6).
(6)
Where primary access to a development is provided by a boulevard,
an off-premises development identification sign may be located in
the boulevard island, provided that the sign location and construction
is approved by the Township Engineer, the island is not maintained
by the Township and the entity responsible for island maintenance
agrees in writing to maintain, repair and replace the sign and indemnify
the Township against any claims or actions resulting from damage caused
by or to the sign.
K.
Incidental signs. These signs are limited to two faces per sign.
The sign area per face shall be limited to four square feet in residential
districts and six square feet in all other districts.
L.
Regulatory signs. These signs are limited to two faces per sign.
The sign area per face shall be limited to four square feet in residential
districts and six square feet in all other districts, except where
a larger size is mandated by regulations promulgated under authority
of state or federal statutes or by judicial order.
M.
Off-premises directional signs. These signs must be freestanding
signs. They are intended to guide motorists to residential developments
and nonresidential destinations that do not have readily apparent
access or visibility from a public street. The following limitations
apply to off-premises directional signs:
(1)
Sign copy is limited to name and/or logo of premises and distance
and/or directional information. Copy may not be illuminated in residential
districts.
(2)
These signs must be located on private property, with written
consent of the property owner. They must be located at street intersections
that are within one mile of the destination. No more than two signs
may be erected per use.
(3)
In all residential zoning districts, these signs are limited
to 3.5 feet in height and 6.0 square feet per face, with a limit of
two faces per sign and two signs per property.
(4)
In all other zoning districts, these signs have the same limits
as residential districts if located within 10 feet of the street right-of-way.
If located 10 or more feet from the street right-of-way, limits for
these signs are a height of eight feet, 10.0 square feet per face
with a limit of two faces per sign and four signs per property. These
signs must be a minimum of five feet from side and rear property lines.
(5)
Tourist-oriented destination (TOD) signs and travel logo signs
erected in public rights-of-way by the authorities having jurisdiction
over them are exempt from these regulations.
A.
The purpose of these regulations is to allow signs that are customary
and reasonable for the variety of dwelling unit types permitted in
these districts, and to allow signs for permitted nonresidential uses
that sufficiently identify these uses in a manner that is compatible
with predominant residential uses. Signs in R-1 Single-Family Residential
Districts, R-2 Single-Family Rural Residential Districts and R-3 Multifamily
Residential Districts shall be subject to the following limitations:
(1)
Identification signs for residential uses are limited to street address, owner/occupant name, customarily incidental welcome messages and lawfully existing home occupations. Freestanding signs may not be located in a public street right-of-way, unless limited to one square foot per face and located on a mailbox that is installed in accordance with United States Postal Service guidelines. These signs may be illuminated in accordance with § 220-248C.
(2)
All uses in these residential districts may display temporary signs in accordance with § 220-254 herein.
(5)
Opinion and election campaign signs in accordance with the Zoning
Ordinance Sign Table – By Zoning District.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The sign tables are included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
The purpose of these regulations is to provide adequate signage for
the mix of residential and commercial uses that are permitted to coexist
in this Mixed-Use Neighborhood District. Limited commercial uses are
provided with adequate opportunities for identification that also
minimize the impact upon adjacent residential uses. Signs in MUN Mixed-Use
Neighborhood Districts shall be subject to the following limitations:
(5)
Opinion and election campaign signs in accordance with the Zoning
Ordinance Sign Table – By Zoning District.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: The sign tables are included as an attachment to this chapter.
C.
The purpose of these regulations is to provide adequate signage for
permitted commercial uses, while minimizing the impact upon adjacent
residential districts. Signs in C-1 Neighborhood Commercial Districts
shall be subject to the following limitations:
(5)
Opinion and election campaign signs in accordance with the Zoning
Ordinance Sign Table – By Zoning District.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: The sign tables are included as an attachment to this chapter.
D.
The goal of these regulations is to provide legible signage for auto-oriented
commercial facilities that attract regional retail business, while
moderating visual competition. Signs within the C-2 General Commercial
and C-4 Regional Commercial Districts shall comply with the following
provisions. Signs in C-2 General Commercial and C-4 Regional Commercial
Districts shall be subject to the following conditions:
(5)
Freestanding signs used for events, marketing or identification.
(a)
Number: limit is one such sign per street frontage of a lot.
If multiple commercial uses exist on the lot, they must share a common
freestanding sign, except in cases where multiple signs are permitted
due to multiple street frontages, and the number of permitted freestanding
signs equals or exceeds the number of uses.
(6)
Building signs used for events, marketing and identification.
(a)
Number. The number of such attached signs is not limited, however,
the signs may only be attached to the building or its appurtenances
on building elevations that front a street, parking area or adjacent
properties used for commercial purposes.
(b)
Supplemental sign area. Any portion of the total available building
sign area not utilized for permanently affixed building signs may
be utilized for placement of temporarily affixed signs without being
subjected to time limitations otherwise placed upon display of temporary
signs, in accordance with provisions for temporary commercial signs
contained in § 220-254B(6).
(8)
Opinion and election campaign signs in accordance with the Zoning
Ordinance Sign Table – By Zoning District.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: The sign tables are included as an attachment to this chapter.
E.
The purpose of these regulations is to provide adequate signage for
permitted nonresidential uses that do not require as much sign area
as uses in the C-2 General Commercial and C-4 Regional Commercial
Districts because the uses permitted in these districts do not generally
attract regional retail business. Signs in C-3 Planned Business Center
Districts, I-1 General Industrial Districts, I-2 Mineral Recovery
Districts, and I-3 Industrial/Commercial Districts shall be installed
in accordance with the following limitations:
Temporary signs provide an alternative or supplement to permanent
signs for communicating information to the public. Their messages
are generally applicable for a limited time, and the signs are not
permanently fastened to the ground or a structure.
A.
General regulations for temporary signs.
(1)
Placement, public rights-of-way. The only temporary signs permitted
in a public right-of way are those classified as traffic control devices
or emergency signs. They may only be installed by, or at the direction
of, the authority having jurisdiction over the right-of-way.
(2)
Placement, private property. All other temporary signs must
be located on private property. In the case of off-premises temporary
signs, written permission of the private property owner must be obtained,
and the signs must bear the name, address and telephone number of
the person responsible for placement of the sign.
(3)
Permits. A zoning permit shall be obtained prior to displaying
any temporary sign except opinion, election campaign, real estate
and on-premises residential sale signs.
(4)
Illumination. The only temporary signs that may be illuminated are on-premises commercial signs and community event signs that are located on properties used for nonresidential purposes. Illumination must be in accordance with § 220-248C.
(5)
Durability and wind resistance. Temporary signs need not be
constructed of permanent materials, but they must be constructed so
that the sign and its message remain intact for the duration of the
display period. The placement of a temporary sign must include a method
of attachment to a structure or the ground that provides sufficient
resistance to uplifting, overturning or transporting of the sign by
wind forces. Freestanding temporary signs must either be fastened
to a support structure that is embedded into the ground or displayed
on a portable structure that is anchored to the ground.
(6)
Height limits. Attached temporary signs may not exceed the height
of the building upon which they are fastened and may not be installed
as projecting signs. Freestanding temporary signs are limited to 3.5
feet in height when installed within 10.0 feet of the dedicated public
right-of-way line. When installed greater than or equal to 10.0 feet
from the dedicated public right-of-way line, they may be up to 6.0
feet in height if located on a property used for residential purposes,
and up to 10.0 feet in height if located on a property used for nonresidential
purposes.
(7)
Off-premises outdoor advertising. These temporary sign regulations
are not intended to preclude or limit the legitimate use of off-premises
outdoor advertising signs, commonly referred to as "billboards." Temporary
signs displayed on a public transportation shelter located in a public
right-of-way shall be regulated in a manner prescribed by the authority
having jurisdiction over the right-of-way.
B.
Specific regulations for temporary signs.
(1)
Residential sales. This type of temporary sign is intended for
use with garage sales, yard sales, auctions and similar events. These
temporary signs may be displayed not more than 10 days before the
event and must be removed not more than one day after the event.
(2)
Commercial signs. This type of temporary sign provides an opportunity
for businesses to replace or supplement permanent signs on a short-term
basis. They also provide an opportunity for businesses to display
public information regarding special events, new products and services,
changes in ownership or management, employment opportunities and similar
messages. Temporary commercial signs shall be on-premises signs and
must be placed and maintained in accordance with the general regulations
for temporary signs. Home occupations are excluded from using this
type of sign.
(a)
Freestanding temporary commercial sign limitations.
[1]
When a temporary freestanding sign is used as a short-term substitute
for a permanent freestanding sign that is removed for replacement
or repair, the temporary freestanding sign area may exceed the zoning
district area limitation, provided that the temporary sign area is
not greater than the area of the permanent sign.
