[Ord. 1839, 12/9/1996, § 1]
BUSINESS SIGN — A sign that directs attention
to a business, profession, activity, commodity, service, product price
or entertainment conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where
such sign is located or within the building to which such sign is
affixed.
A sign identifying individuals or companies involved in design,
construction, wrecking, financing or development when placed upon
the premises where work is under construction, but only for the duration
of construction or wrecking.
A sign which indicates the name and/or address of the occupant,
the address of the premises, and/or identification of any legal business
or occupation which may exist at the premises.
The entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed
of a single face enclosing the extreme limits of characters, lettering,
illustrations, ornamentations or other figures, together with a material
or color forming an integral part of the display or to differentiate
the sign from the background to which it is placed. Structural supports
bearing no sign copy shall not be included in gross surface area;
however, if any portion of the required structural supports become
enclosed for decorative or architectural purposes, that portion will
be included in the total gross surface area of the sign.
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by
plot, subdivision or otherwise permitted by law to be used, developed
or built upon as a single unit under single ownership or control.
A sign visible from a public way that directs attention to
a business, commodity, service, entertainment, attraction or subject
sold, offered or existing elsewhere than upon the same lot where such
sign is displayed. The term "off-premises sign" shall include an outdoor
advertising sign (billboard) on which space is leased or rented by
the owner thereof to others for purpose of conveying a commercial
or noncommercial message.
A sign which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent that
premises upon which such sign is placed.
[Ord. 1839, 12/9/1996, § 1]
The owner of every lot upon which an off-premises sign is located
within the Borough of Pottstown shall be responsible to obtain an
annual off-premises sign license for every off-premises sign located
thereon. The term for the off-premises sign license shall be from
January 1 to December 31. Every owner shall be responsible to obtain
the necessary license(s) by January 1 of every year.
[Ord. 1839, 12/9/1996, § 1]
Application for an off-premises sign license shall be made upon
a form provided by the Borough of Pottstown. The application form
shall require the following information:
A.
The name and address of the owner of the lot upon which the off-premises
sign is located.
B.
When there is more than one sign on a lot, a description of the off-premises
sign.
C.
The gross surface area of the sign.
D.
The name and address of the sign operator, if any.
E.
The address of or description of the location of the lot where the
off-premises sign is located.
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The Borough of Pottstown shall make the application form available
to lot owners, but responsibility for acquiring the application form
and obtaining an off-premises sign license by January 1 remains with
the lot owner. A separate application form must be submitted for every
off-premises sign.
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[Ord. 1839, 12/9/1996, § 1]
With the annual application for an off-premises sign license,
the owner shall pay the full amount of the off-premises sign tax,
which shall be calculated by multiplying by $2 the gross surface area,
measured in square feet, of the off-premises sign. The term of the
annual license shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31
of that year. If a new off-premises sign is erected between January
1 and March 31, inclusive, the full amount of the tax for that year
shall be paid. If a new off-premises sign is erected between April
1 and December 31, inclusive, 1/2 of the tax shall be paid.
[Ord. 1839, 12/9/1996, § 1]
[Ord. 1839, 12/9/1996, § 1]
1.
The Code Enforcement Office of the Borough of Pottstown shall enforce
the provisions of this Part.
2.
When an owner fails to properly submit an application by January
1, or within 14 days of erecting a new off-premises sign, the Code
Enforcement Office shall notify the owner by certified mail that the
license application must be submitted within 30 days. If the application
is not submitted within 30 days, a summary citation shall be filed
with the District Justice. Upon conviction thereof, the owner shall
be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600, together with costs
of prosecution. Every off-premises sign for which a proper application
has not been submitted shall be considered a separate offense.
