[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Norwood 3-27-1937 by Ord. No. 272 (Ch. 73 of the 1967 Codification). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 300.
A. 
Definition. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SIGNS, BILLBOARDS and ADVERTISING STRUCTURES
Any signboard erected, constructed or maintained for the purpose of displaying outdoor advertising by means of posters, pictures, pictorial or reading matter, when such sign is supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any part of the building.
B. 
They shall not be over 15 feet above the ground level, and if the sign is an illuminated one, the lighting reflectors may project five feet beyond the building line, but they must be at least 12 feet above the sidewalk. No signboard or billboard shall exceed 50 square feet in area.
[Amended 6-10-1949 by Ord. No. 308]
C. 
Any person or company occupying any vacant lot or premises with such a signboard shall be subject to the same duties and responsibilities as the owner of the lot or premises, with respect to keeping the same clean, sanitary, inoffensive and free and clear of all noxious substances in the vicinity of such signboard.
A. 
A roof sign, as used herein, shall mean any sign erected, constructed or maintained upon the roof of any building. No sign shall be placed on the roof of any building so as to prevent the free passage from one part of said roof to any other part thereof, or interfere with any openings in such roof, and no sign that is placed upon the roof of any building shall project beyond the edge of said roof in any direction. All roof signs shall be so constructed as to leave a clear open space of not less than six feet between the roof level and the lowest part of the structure, and at least a five-foot clearance between the vertical supports thereof; and every roof sign shall be set back at least four feet from the face of any front or rear wall, and if the sign is an illuminated one, lighting reflectors may project six feet beyond the building line.
B. 
Every roof sign shall be constructed entirely of steel construction, including the uprights, supports and braces of the same, excepting only that the ornamental molding and battens behind the steel facing and the decorative latticework may be of wooden structure. All roof signs must be so constructed as to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds to the square foot or area subject to such pressure, and when erected upon buildings which are not constructed entirely of fireproof materials, the bearing plates of said sign shall bear directly upon the masonry walls or upon steel girders which are supported on the masonry walls and intermediate columns in building.
C. 
No roof sign structure having a tight, closed or solid surface shall be at any point over 31 feet above the roof level. Roof sign structures not having a tight, closed or solid surface may be erected upon fireproof buildings to a height not exceeding 75 feet above the roof level, and upon nonfireproof buildings to a height not exceeding 50 feet above the roof level, but the portions of such structures covered and exposed to wind pressure shall not exceed 35% of the area thereof. All such signs shall be thoroughly secured to the building upon which they are installed, erected or constructed, by iron or metal anchors, bolts, supports, chains, stranded cables, steel rods or braces.
A. 
A wall bulletin, as used in this chapter, shall mean any sign or any surface or plane that may be affixed at a point less than eight feet in height from sidewalk line to the front, rear or side wall of any building, providing it does not extend beyond the building line more than six inches.
B. 
Above 12 feet from the sidewalk, signs may be placed, but they must not extend more than five feet from the building line.
C. 
All such bulletins and wall signs must be safely and adequately attached to said building wall by means of iron or metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws.
D. 
No such sign or bulletin shall be so erected so as to cover the doors or windows of any building, or otherwise prevent free ingress or egress to or from any window, door or fire escape of any building.
A. 
A hanging sign, as used in this chapter, shall mean any sign affixed to the front, rear or side wall of any building which extends more than six inches from the building line. All such signs must be erected so that the bottom thereof shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk. Such signs may extend beyond the building line for a distance of five feet.
B. 
All such bulletins and wall signs must be safely and adequately attached to said building wall by means of iron or metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws.
C. 
No such signs or bulletins shall be so erected so as to cover the doors or windows of any building, or otherwise prevent free ingress or egress to or from any window, door or fire escape of any building.
Every sign and all the supports, braces, guys and anchors thereof shall be kept in repair, and unless galvanized shall be thoroughly and properly painted at least once every two years, and the Building Inspector may order the removal of any such signs that are not maintained in accordance with the conditions hereof.
In case any sign shall be installed, erected or constructed in violation of any of the terms of this chapter, the Building Inspector shall notify, by registered mail, the owner thereof or the person controlling or maintaining the same to alter such sign so as to comply with this chapter, and to secure the necessary permit therefor or to remove the sign.
Should any sign, ground sign, roof sign or wall bulletin or hanging sign, now or hereafter to be erected, be or become insecure or in danger of falling or otherwise unsafe, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, the owner thereof or the person controlling and maintaining the same shall, upon receipt of written notice from the Building Inspector, within the time named in such notice, secure the same in a manner to be approved by the Building Inspector, in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. If such notice is not complied with, the Building Inspector, if in his judgment there is an immediate necessity for prompt action, can remove or cause to be removed said sign or bulletin at the cost and expense of the person owning, controlling or maintaining the same, and in the meantime and until such sign or bulletin is made safe and secure, to rope or cause to be roped off the sidewalk in front of and immediately adjacent to the lot, building or structure on which or attached to which is said sign or bulletin.
[Amended 5-13-1938 by Ord. No. 277]
A. 
No sign or bulletin board erected or constructed heretofore shall be relocated, repaired or rebuilt without being so relocated and rebuilt so as to be brought into compliance with this chapter, and until after a permit has been obtained therefor to effect such alterations.
B. 
Every sign or bulletin hereafter constructed or maintained shall be plainly marked with the name of the person, firm or corporation erecting and maintaining the same.
C. 
The erector of all illuminating signs, billboards or advertising signboards shall present to the Building Inspector a certificate of approval issued by the Fire Underwriters for all electrical equipment and wiring of the same, before approval by the Building Inspector.
A. 
No sign or bulletin of any type shall hereafter be erected by any person, firm or corporation until after a permit to erect same has been obtained from the Building Inspector. Before such permit shall be issued, there shall be filed with the Building Inspector a plan and specifications showing the dimension, material and detail of construction of such sign. The fee for such permit shall be in an amount as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council, payable to the Borough of Norwood, to be used to defray expenses of the Building Inspector.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
B. 
Every person, firm, copartnership or corporation maintaining any sign, billboard or advertising signboard within the Borough of Norwood shall annually pay an inspection fee per sign, in an amount as set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council. Payment to be made on or before the first day of January of every year. Payments to be made to the Borough of Norwood, to be used to defray the expenses of inspection.
[Amended 5-13-1938 by Ord. No. 277[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
C. 
The purpose and intent of this chapter is that billboards, advertising signboards, roof signs, wall bulletins or hanging signs of any kind shall be placed, erected, constructed or maintained in the Borough of Norwood except as provided for herein, and that no sign of any kind shall be placed, erected, constructed or maintained in the Borough of Norwood in dwelling and apartment districts, except as permitted in Clause 7, Article 3[3] of the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Norwood, No. 217.
[3]
Editor's Note: Refers to 1927 Zoning Ordinance; see now Chapter 300, Zoning.
D. 
Any person, firm, copartnership or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter, or any amendments that may hereafter be made, shall be punishable, upon conviction, as indicated in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I, General Penalty, of this Code, to be collected as similar fines are collectible by law, and in addition, the sign or advertising device erected by said person, firm, copartnership or corporation shall be forthwith removed under direction of the Building Inspector at the cost and expense of the person, firm, copartnership or corporation owning, controlling or maintaining the same.
[Amended 8-22-1988 by Ord. No. 2-88]