Diagrams and photos are for illustrative purposes only or to
provide examples, and in case of direct conflict between a diagram
or a photo and ordinance text, the text shall govern.
ADVERTISING SIGN
A sign used to advertise or announce a business. Advertising
signs shall include awning, canopy, ground, location, marquee, neon,
projecting, blade, vehicular directory, shopping cart corral, pedestrian
information sign plaza, wall, and window and door signs.
AIRDANCER
Inflatable moving advertising product comprised of a long
fabric tube which is attached to and powered by an electrical fan
causing the tube to move about in a dynamic dancing or flailing motion.
[Added 3-23-2017 by Ord.
No. 212]
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict
action or create a special effect or scene; or any sign that utilizes
mechanical movement.
AWNING
Any nonrigid material such as fabric or flexible plastic
that is supported by or stretched over a frame that is attached to
the exterior of a building.
AWNING SIGN
Any sign that is part of or attached to an awning (See Figure
9-1).
FIGURE 9-1 - EXAMPLES OF AWNING SIGNS
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BACKLIGHTING
The use of a light source behind an awning, canopy, or other
semitransparent material to illuminate or intensify the effect of
that material.
BANNER
A flexible plastic or fabric-type device intended to be hung
with or without frames that displays a message. A banner is a type
of special event sign. (See Figure 9-2).
[Amended 3-23-2017 by Ord. No. 212]
FIGURE 9-2 - EXAMPLES OF A BANNER
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BEACON
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere
or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light
source; any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BLADE SIGN
A sign suspended from a marquee, canopy, awning, or porch
roof or ceiling. (See Figure 9-3). See also "projecting sign."
FIGURE 9-3 - EXAMPLES OF A BLADE SIGN
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BUILDING MARKER
An individual sign indicating the name of a building and
date and incidental information about its construction, which sign
is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent
material and attached to the building.
BUSINESS NAMEPLATE
An on-premises sign attached to the front facade of a nonresidential
building giving the name(s) of the individual businesses/occupants
of the nonresidential building.
CANOPY
An extension of the roof of a building or a freestanding
structure that has a roof with ground support, but no walls.
CANOPY SIGN
Any sign that is part of or attached to a canopy (See Figure
9-4).
FIGURE 9-4 - EXAMPLE OF A CANOPY SIGN
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CHANGEABLE SIGN
A sign that is designed to have its sign message content
changed by manual means (such as by physically changing letters) or
that is an electronically changeable message sign.
CHARITABLE SPECIAL EVENT STREET BANNER
A sign advertising an occasional special event that benefits
a charitable or public service purpose (such as to benefit volunteer
fire service or a school parent-teacher organization) and that extends
into or over a public street right-of-way. Approval shall be provided
by the Board of Supervisors or its designee, as provided in § 090-130A(4)
of this article.
COMMERCIAL AREA
The C1 and C2 Zoning Districts, and land area that has been
approved to be part of a resort complex/commercial resort.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN
A temporary individual sign identifying an architect, contractor,
subcontractor, engineer, financial institution, or material supplier
involved in the construction, reconstruction, or repair of a building
or buildings on a lot.
DAMAGED SIGN
Any sign or sign structure that has been substantially damaged
and which has not been repaired within 45 days after written notice
from the Zoning Officer that the sign constitutes a damaged sign.
DECORATIVE FLAGS
Flexible fabric flags that do not display an advertising
message or logo.
ELECTRONICALLY CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGN
A sign that uses electronically changing images, including,
but not limited to, light emitting diode signs, fiber optics, light
bulbs or other illumination devices within the sign display area to
communicate information.
FACADE
The exterior walls of a building exposed to public view or
that wall viewed by persons not within the building.
FARM PRODUCT SIGN
A temporary individual sign used to advertise the sale of
agriculture products when used in a zoning district where agricultural
use is permitted.
FEATHER FLAG/BANNER
A flexible fabric item affixed on one side to a flexible
flagpole designed to be freestanding with or without words or advertising.
[Added 3-23-2017 by Ord.
No. 212]
FLAG
A flexible fabric item that is designed to be able to fly
with the wind on a flagpole, but which may also be hung.
FLASHING SIGN
Any sign which has intermittent or changing lighting or illumination.
FLUORESCENT SIGN
Any sign containing fluorescent colors in the text, graphic,
or background.
FOR SALE SIGN
A personal use and identification sign used to announce the
sale of a used product personally owned by the seller.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign that is mounted on pole(s), post(s), column(s) or
similar feature and that is not attached to a building.
GARAGE SALE SIGN
A type of personal use and information sign advertising a
garage or yard sale that complies with Township ordinances.
GRADE LEVEL
The ground elevation at the base of a sign. The ground level
shall not be artificially increased at the sign base, such as through
use of berming or retaining walls, to increase the total allowed height
of a sign. If a sign is located on a sloped site, the grade level
shall be based upon the side of a sign that is closest to the nearest
street. (See Figure 9-5).
FIGURE 9-5 - GRADE LEVEL ON A SLOPED SITE
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GRAPHIC
A lettered, numbered, symbolic, pictorial, or illuminated
visual display that is visible from a public right-of-way.
GROUND SIGN
A freestanding sign that has a maximum total height of eight
feet. (See Figure 9-6).
FIGURE 9-6 - EXAMPLES OF GROUND SIGNS
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HISTORICAL MARKER
An individual sign erected by a public agency and intended
to mark or honor an historical site, structure, or event located on
or near the location of the sign.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS
Any combination of lights, posters, or other material temporarily
displayed on traditionally or legally accepted civic, patriotic, or
religious holidays related to observance of that civic, patriotic,
or religious holiday.
ILLEGAL SIGN
A sign which does not meet the requirements of this article
and is not lawfully nonconforming. An illegal sign specifically includes:
(1)
A sign that remains standing when the time limits set by the
permit are exceeded; and/or
(2)
Any sign not removed after notification from the Zoning Officer
that a sign needs to be removed.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
An on-premises sign for the convenience of the public giving
directions, instructions, facility information, or other assistance
around the site, such as location of exits, entrances, one-way signs,
parking lots, driveways, delivery or service area entrances, specific
locations within a specific nonresidential development or lot or a
multifamily housing development in order to direct and/or orient pedestrians
and/or vehicles to assist in proper circulation.
INDIVIDUAL SIGN
A sign allowed for a specific purpose and subject to standards
allowing the purpose and intent of the sign to be fulfilled without
adversely impacting the public health, safety, or welfare. Individual
signs include, but are not necessarily limited to, auto dealer vehicle
signs, construction signs, farm product signs, flags, incidental signs,
murals, charitable special event street banner, personal use and information
signs, political signs, business nameplate signs, real estate signs,
special event signs, subdivision identification signs, and vending
machine signs.
INFLATABLE SIGN
An inflated balloon or other device 18 inches or greater
in diameter or length used to attract attention to a business or activity.
INTERIOR SIGN
A sign which is fully located within the interior of any
building or stadium or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building
and which provides information relevant only to the interior of the
building and/or provides information which can only be read from inside
the building.
INTERNAL ILLUMINATION
A light source concealed or contained within the sign and
which becomes visible in darkness through a translucent surface.
MARQUEE
A roofed structure attached to and extending from the front
facade of a building and which projects at least three feet from the
building, and which is erected over a customer doorway(s) to provide
protection from the weather, such as at a theater.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign that is part of or attached to a marquee (See Figure
9-7).
FIGURE 9-7 - MARQUEE SIGN
|
MASTER SIGN PLAN
A site plan and accompanying documentation that identifies
all existing and proposed signage for a nonresidential development.
MEMORIAL SIGN
Memorial plaques or tablets, grave markers, statuary, or
other remembrances of persons or events that are noncommercial in
nature.
MURAL
A picture painted directly on a wall.
NEON ILLUMINATION
Illumination caused by neon and similar electrically charged
gases within a glass or plastic tube, specifically including cold
cathode and other similar light sources but not fluorescent light
sources.
NEON SIGN
Any sign using neon illumination to form letters, symbols,
or other shapes.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign, sign structure, or any part thereof that does not
comply with the provisions of this article, but which lawfully existed
prior to the effective date of this article. In order to be lawfully
nonconforming, a sign that required a Township permit at the time
the sign was placed shall have received a Township permit.
OBSTRUCTIVE SIGN
Any sign erected or maintained at the intersection of roads
in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision of the intersection;
any sign located in a sight triangle (see definition in § 020-020).
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign advertising a land use or promoting a commercial or
noncommercial message unrelated to the activity conducted on the lot,
development or site where the sign is located; or a sign which directs
attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment, or attraction
sold, offered, or existing elsewhere than on the same lot or development
where the sign is located.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
Signs accessory to commercial, industrial, or institutional
activities, the purpose of which is to sell or index a product, service,
or activity or to provide information regarding a commercial, industrial,
or institutional facility. On-premises signs are located on the same
lot, development or site as the advertised use. If a sign relates
to an activity or use within a resort complex or commercial resort,
a business subdivision or multifamily development, and that sign is
placed within that same complex, resort, subdivision or development,
such sign shall be considered an on-premises sign, even if the sign
is on a different lot than the activity or use advertised by the sign.
PEDESTRIAN INFORMATION SIGN PLAZA
A freestanding on-premises sign, not attached to the exterior
of a building, that lists the tenants or occupants of a group of nonresidential
buildings and which directs pedestrians to the various locations,
and which may include a map.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or otherwise flexible or
reflective 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.
PERSON
Any individual, association, company, corporation, firm,
organization, or partnership, singular or plural, of any kind.
PERSONAL USE AND INFORMATION SIGN
An individual sign installed on a private residential lot
by the owner or tenant of that lot for the purposes of displaying
the following types of information: street addresses, nameplates,
private street signs, home occupation signs, property names, for sale
signs, warning signs, garage sale signs, alarm company signs, "No
Trespassing" signs, "No Soliciting" signs, "Beware of Dog" signs,
"No Parking" signs, "No Dumping" signs, "No Hunting or Fishing" signs,
and signs for closely similar purposes.
POLITICAL SIGN
Signs used to advertise an individual candidate or slate
of candidates for any public office or a statement of an opinion on
a political matter or referendum. Political signs are not personal
use and information signs.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign, magnetic or otherwise, not permanently attached
to the ground or other permanent structure; 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
(See Figure 9-8).
FIGURE 9-8 - EXAMPLE OF PORTABLE SIGN
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PREMISES
A lot or adjacent lots in common ownership, together with
the buildings and structures thereon.
PRIVATE DRIVE SIGN
A personal use and identification sign located at the entrance
of a private drive and denoting that access as private.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign which extends perpendicularly to a facade (See Figure
9-9), and which is not a Blade sign.
FIGURE 9-9 - EXAMPLES OF PROJECTING SIGNS
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PUBLIC NOTIFICATION SIGN
A temporary public use and information sign installed by
a government employee that provides public notice of a government
event.
PUBLIC USE AND INFORMATION SIGN
Signs installed by a public entity (such as the Township,
commonwealth, school district or federal government). Public use and
information signs include, but are not limited to street signs, traffic
control signs, public notification signs, and any other sign required
by the Township to provide services to its residents. Public use and
information signs also include, but are not limited to, off-premises
signs specifically authorized by PennDOT regulations to direct persons
to tourism attractions.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A temporary individual sign announcing the proposed sale
or lease of part or all of a structure or land.
ROOF SIGN
A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building and which
extends in height above the total structural height of the building
roof. (See Figure 9-10).
FIGURE 9-10 - EXAMPLE OF ROOF SIGNS
|
SHOPPING CART CORRAL SIGN
A sign fastened to a shopping cart corral structure designating
the structure for the return of shopping carts.
SIGN
Any device, fixture, placard, or structure that uses any
color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise,
announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity,
or to communicate information of any kind to the public.
SIGN ALTERATION
Any change to any feature of a sign, including, but not necessarily
limited to, location, area, height, or physical design features, excluding,
however:
(1)
Changes in copy and/or the advertising message;
(2)
Regular maintenance of the sign, including electrical, repainting,
or cleaning of a sign; or
SNIPE SIGN
A sign that is attached to a tree, pole, stake, fence or
similar object, and which is readable from a street, and which is
not allowed in that location by this article as a different type of
sign.
[Amended 3-23-2017 by Ord. No. 212]
FIGURE 9-11 - EXAMPLE OF A SNIPE SIGN
|
SPECIAL EVENT SIGN
Individual signs announcing special events, including but
not limited to:
(1)
Auctions, grand openings, new management, going out of business
and similar purposes;
(2)
Events sponsored by religious, charitable, or public service
groups;
(3)
Festivals within a resort complex or commercial resort; or
(4)
Festivals sponsored by the Township.
STREET ACCESS
Access to a publicly owned road by a permitted driveway.
STREET SIGN
A public use and information sign identifying the name of
a street or road.
SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A type of ground sign located at the entrance of a Township-approved
subdivision or multifamily complex and identifying the name of the
development. A subdivision identification sign is not a freestanding
sign.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN
A public use and information sign used to direct traffic,
control direction or speed, or warn pedestrians and motorists of hazards
or unusual road conditions.
VEHICULAR DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign containing one or two sides which displays smaller
signs, often of equal size, to provide directions to motorists within
a nonresidential lot, development or site. For the purposes of this
article, drive-through menu signs are also classified as vehicular
directory signs.
VEHICULAR SIGN
Any sign of more than 40 square feet of sign area that is
displayed within clear view of a public street on a parked vehicle
or trailer or that is transported by a vehicle, where the primary
purpose of such vehicle, trailer or transported sign is to advertise
a product, service or business or to direct people to a business or
activity. If a vehicle or trailer is used on a daily basis to transport
persons and materials off of the site, it shall not be considered
to be a vehicular sign.
VENDING MACHINE SIGN
An individual sign that was incorporated into the design
of a vending machine and cannot be removed from the machine. These
signs advertise either the distributor that stocks the machine or
the major supplier of the machine's contents.
WALL SIGN
A sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or
structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure
for, or forms the background surface of, the sign.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign painted or attached to a window or transparent door,
and which can be read from outside the building and which provides
advertisements or information to persons standing outside the building.