[Adopted 5-4-1948 by Ord. No. 55 (Ch. 19, Part 1, of the
1999 Code of Ordinances)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
All boards, walls, fences, screens, and any other devices
or structures of similar nature used or employed for the posting,
painting or affixing thereon of advertising matter, but shall not
include electric signs or boards, nor signs on or attached to buildings,
advertising solely the business, trade, or occupation of the owner
or occupier thereof.
[Amended 3-16-1999 by Ord. No. 1094]
Hereafter, no billboard shall be erected, maintained, or used except in accordance with the provisions of this article and Chapter 290, Zoning, and then only upon permit issued by the Building Inspector of the Borough of West Mifflin as hereinafter provided.
Before commencing or proceeding with the erection, construction,
enlargement, alteration or repair of any billboard, an application
shall be filed with the Building Inspector of the Borough of West
Mifflin, setting forth the proposed location of the billboard, a plan
and specifications thereof, showing the design thereof, the dimensions
thereof, the material of which it is to be constructed, the nature
of the display, pictorial and advertising matter to be placed thereon,
the type of illumination, if any, the height and grade at which it
is to be set, the name and address of the owner of the billboard,
the name and address of the owner of the ground on which it is to
be erected, with the permission and consent of the owner of the ground,
in writing, attached, and the approximate cost of such billboard.
The Building Inspector of the Borough shall have the right to
refuse to issue a permit or license for such billboard if the plans
or specifications are not such as will insure safety and stability
of construction or if the structure or its intended or actual use
is, or shall be, detrimental to the health, cleanliness, beauty, comfort
or safety of the Borough. He shall take into consideration the materials
of which it is to be constructed, the site upon which it is proposed
to erect the same, the harmony thereof with the surroundings and the
effect of the billboard on the outlook from the adjacent or neighboring
properties. He shall refuse any application where the written consent
of the owner of the ground is not attached.
In case of refusal by the Building Inspector to issue a license
or permit, the applicant may appeal to the Borough Council to make
such order in the premises as they consider proper.
Each billboard permitted to be erected and for which a permit
or a license is issued shall have stenciled upon it, in a plainly
visible way, the name and address of the owner of the billboard and
also the serial number given by the Building Inspector.
[Amended 3-4-1952 by Ord. No. 137; 4-5-1988 by Ord. No. 937; 9-7-1991 by Ord. No. 985; 3-16-1999 by Ord. No. 1094]
An annual license fee as established from time to time by resolution
of Borough Council on each sign used for advertising purposes situate
in the Borough of West Mifflin for the year 1991, and annually thereafter,
is hereby imposed. The license fee for the year 1991 and subsequent
years thereafter will be due and payable on the second day of January
of each year.
A.
No sign shall be constructed of any material which shall not meet
with the approval of the Building Inspector for the purpose of safety
to the public or which sign in any manner shall be so located along
any street, highway, lane or alley so as to interfere with the proper
view by motorists or pedestrians for a reasonably safe distance along
said street, highway, lane or alley or which shall so reflect lights
or cast shadows in such a manner as to interfere with safe walking
or driving along any street, highway, alley or lane or which in any
way may create a menace or hazard to life, limb or property.
B.
No sign shall be so placed so as to prevent free ingress to or egress
from any door, window or fire escape, nor shall any sign be attached
to any fire escape, and no sign shall be so placed or so constructed
as to interfere with the view or operation of any authorized traffic
sign, signal or device.
A.
Any sign placed on the inside of a building.
B.
Any sign painted or lettered directly on the surface of any window,
door or wall of a building.
C.
Professional signs, nameplates, house numbers, emergency nonadvertising
signs, bulletin boards or other signs of purely public or charitable
or religious institutions.
D.
Solely temporary real estate signs, advertising the sale, rental
or lease of premises in the Borough of West Mifflin; except, however,
that a permit or license shall be applied for and obtained for the
same.
E.
Bronze, brass, stone or other noncombustible tablets when attached
to the walls of a building or other structure.
F.
Solely temporary signs in excess of 25 feet in area, announcing the
names of architects, engineers and contractors of construction work,
alteration or repair projects or active building construction.
G.
Signs when a special permit has been granted by Borough Council to
advertise public demonstrations or meetings, promoting civic, welfare
or charitable enterprises.
H.
Signs used as a warning of danger to the public.
All license fees herein imposed if not promptly paid in accordance
with the provisions of this article shall become delinquent on the
31st day of January of each year, except in such cases where the license
fee shall immediately become due and payable upon the erection, construction,
maintenance, repair or alteration of any sign.
The Building Inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to
revoke any license or permit upon violation of any of the provisions
of this article, and it shall be the duty of the owner, lessor or
lessee of such sign to abate the violation within 10 days after notification.
[Amended 3-16-1999 by Ord. No. 1094]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay
a fine of not more than $600, plus costs, and, in default of payment
of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30
days. Each day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute
a separate offense.
