As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ADVERTISE
Giving, attempting to give or intending to give any notice
or information, or any activity which gives, attempts to give or intends
to give notice, information or warning.
AWNING
Any structure made of cloth or metal, with a metal frame
attached to a building, projecting over a thoroughfare.
BANNER
Any temporary sign applied to paper, plastic or fabric of
any kind, which shall be permitted by the Borough Council by permit,
above a public right-of-way.
BILLBOARD
Any signboard or other surface used for the purpose of displaying
a sign not related to the use of the premises.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix,
and shall also include the painting or lettering or otherwise affixing
of any sign, insignia or letters to the outside wall of any building
or structure or part thereof.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed
on or anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building
or other structure.
FRONT FACADE
In a building without dividing walls or partitions, the front
width between the two intersecting walls multiplied by the height;
and in a divided building, the front width between the side wall and
the dividing wall, or between the two dividing walls, as applicable,
multiplied by the height.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other 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.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure, or 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.
PREMISES
A building or structure or tract of land.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon
or over the roof of any building, with the principal support on the
roof structure.
SIGN
Includes any device, either freestanding or attached to a
building or structure or erected, painted, represented or reproduced
upon or in (to the extent provided herein) any building or structure,
which displays, reproduces or includes any letter, word, name, number,
model, insignia, emblem, design, device or representation used for
one or more of the following purposes: to identify the premises or
occupant or owner of the premises; to advertise any trade, business,
profession, industry, service or other activity; to advertise any
product or item; to advertise the sale or rental or use of all or
part of the premises, including that upon which it is displayed; to
direct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, other than state, county or
municipal highway and roadway markers; and shall include any announcement,
declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia or any
representation used to advertise or intended to advertise or promote
the interests of any person. In no event shall the word "sign" be
construed to mean any sign in the interior of any structure except
as specifically set forth in this chapter.
SIGN AREA
Shall be computed as the total square foot content of the
background upon which the lettering, illustration or display is presented,
including any frame, but not base support. If there is no background,
the sign area shall be computed as the product of the largest horizontal
width and the largest vertical height of the lettering, illustration
or display. This shall not be construed to include the supporting
members of any sign which are used solely for such purposes. For signs
with two display faces, the maximum area requirement shall be permitted
on each side.
STRUCTURE
Any building, edifice, construction, canopy, awning, device
or piece of work, or any part thereof or any combination of related
parts.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign that is not permanently mounted as specifically
permitted by this chapter.
USE
The occupation, activity, business operation or industrial
operation maintained or engaged in by any person. Where a business
or industrial building contains no dividing walls or partitions, the
one or more uses maintained or engaged in therein shall be considered
as one use. Where such business or industrial building is divided
by dividing walls or partitions, the one or more uses maintained or
engaged in each such division shall be considered as one use.
WALL SIGN
All flat signs of solid-face construction which are placed
against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior
front, rear or side wall of any building or other structure so that
the display surface is parallel with the plane of the wall. Signs
painted on an exterior wall shall be deemed to be "wall signs" subject
to this chapter. All wall signs shall not extend greater than 12 inches
from the exterior surface that the sign is mounted to.
WINDOW
Any opening in the exterior wall of any building for the
purpose of admitting air or light and enclosed by glass.
WINDOW DISPLAY SIGN
Includes all signs defined herein which are situated on or
within 12 inches of the window surface.
WINDOW SPACE
Includes the aggregate square footage of all windows on any
given side and any given story of any structure, regardless of the
angle or angles at which they are set. In computing window space there
shall be included all portions of any door which contains a window.
The following principles shall control the computation of sign
area and sign height.
A. Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face
shall be computed by drawing a square or rectangle that will encompass
the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other
display, together with the sign frame and any material or color forming
an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate
the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed,
or by delineating the area established by reason of distinctive variation
in background color or by borders, whichever is greater.
B. Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign
with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area
of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical signs
are placed back-to-back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from
any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the
same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart at any one
point, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of
the faces.
C. Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as
the distance from the base of the sign at grade to the top of the
highest attached component of the sign.
The following permanent signs are permitted within the zones
specified:
A. Permitted signs, all zones. The following signs are allowable in
all zones where they apply to a permitted use:
(1)
Official signs of any governmental agency. Such signs may be
freestanding or attached.
(2)
One professional nameplate, not to exceed two square feet per
professional occupant. Such sign shall not be freestanding.
(3)
One attached sign indicating the name of a building or the date
of its erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed
of bronze or other incombustible material and mounted on the building
surface, not to exceed eight square feet in area.
(4)
Such signs as required by law, that is, licenses and permits,
which signs shall not be freestanding.
B. Permitted signs, residential districts. The following signs are allowable
in all residential districts where they apply to a permitted use:
(1)
Those permitted in all zones, where applicable.
(2)
One nameplate sign bearing only the name of the principal occupant
and/or street number of a private dwelling, not to exceed 1.5 square
feet in area.
(3)
One sign identifying an incidental home occupation, as permitted
by this chapter, bearing only the name of the person residing on the
premises and the permitted incidental home occupation being conducted
there. The sign shall not exceed 1.5 square feet in area.
(4)
Freestanding signs identifying residential areas. Such signs
shall show only the name assigned to the area and shall not exceed
six square feet in area.
C. Permitted signs in the CBD/SPE District:
(1)
Those permitted in Subsection
A above, where applicable.
(2)
Wall signs.
(a) Wall signs are permitted, subject to the following requirements,
for uses occupying the first floor (or ground level) of a building:
[1]
One attached sign is permitted for the purpose of identification
and advertising the use of the premises. The sign shall not exceed
75% of the storefront in length and two feet in height. The maximum
length of said sign shall not exceed 20 feet. The maximum size of
the lettering of a sign shall be no larger than 12 inches. If a wall
sign for an establishment is 50 feet or more from the closest street
right-of-way, then said sign lettering shall be permitted to be 18
inches high. Ascending or descending lower-case lettering shall be
permitted to extend an additional six inches from the letter height
limitation noted above. All wall signs shall be on any one wall abutting
a street.
[Amended 9-18-2012 by Ord. No. 12-15]
[2]
The wall sign may not be located more than 15 feet from the
ground. No wall sign shall be less than six feet from the ground.
No wall sign shall project above the parapet or roof. No wall sign
shall project more than 12 inches from the wall on which said sign
is mounted.
[Amended 9-17-2013 by Ord. No. 13-21]
[3]
Where the rear or the side of the building, or portion of the
building occupied, has a public entrance from the rear or side of
the building, one additional wall sign on the respective building
facade of said side or rear public entrance shall be permitted. The
sign shall not exceed 25% of the facade in length and one foot in
height. The maximum length of said sign shall not exceed 10 feet.
[Amended 9-17-2013 by Ord. No. 13-21]
[4]
Where the side of a building or portion of an occupied building
abuts a public street, there shall be permitted one additional sign
on the side building facade. The area of the sign shall not exceed
an area equivalent to 10% of the total area of the side facade, and
in no event shall such sign exceed 50 square feet.
[5]
Materials utilized for wall signage should reflect the traditional
period style that is encouraged in the Master Plan. Source of illumination
should similarly reflect the traditional period style that is encouraged
in the Master Plan. Particular attention should be given to the use
of stylized lighting fixtures that serve to illuminate signage.
[6]
Internally illuminated signs shall only be permitted to illuminate
the text or logo of the sign, with the remainder of the sign background
to be opaque or nonilluminated with no illumination showing from the
light source.
[Amended 3-2-2021 by Ord. No. 21-2]
(b)
In cases where a use occupies the second floor of any premises
(exclusive of the first floor), the following sign regulations apply:
[1]
One wall sign is permitted, provided the sign does not exceed
5% of the front facade or 24 square feet, whichever is less.
[2]
The wall sign may not be located more than 12 feet from the
ground. No wall sign shall be less than six feet from the ground.
No wall sign shall project above the parapet.
(c)
Nonflashing illuminated interior signs of LED, neon or technology
creating a similar effect is permitted only internally in a building
subject to the following:
[Added 9-18-2012 by Ord. No. 12-15]
[1]
Such sign shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from the nearest
window wherein the sign can be viewed from outside of the same window.
[2]
Said sign shall be no larger than three square feet and contain
no more than three colors.
[3]
There shall be no more than three such signs at any one premises
as viewed from outside the same window.
(d)
Hanging signs, perpendicular to building facades subject to
the following:
[Added 9-18-2012 by Ord. No. 12-15]
[1]
One hanging sign shall be permitted per first-floor business
or commercial use conducted in said building.
[2]
The maximum area of said hanging sign shall be no more than
six square feet. The hanging sign area permitted is in addition to
the wall-mounted sign permitted herein.
[3]
Hanging signs shall not be lower than eight feet from the adjacent
grade plane to bottom of said sign.
[4]
Hanging signs shall be no higher than 15 feet above the adjacent
grade plane to top of said sign or not higher than the top of the
window frame of the second-story windows of said building, whichever
is less.
[5]
Signs and supportive framework shall extend no more than three
feet from the building face where said sign is mounted.
[6]
Hanging signs shall be tethered to prevent their swinging in
the wind.
[7]
No hanging sign shall move or be animated as noted herein.
[8]
No hanging signs shall extend above the roof of any building
containing such sign.
[9]
No hanging signs shall obstruct a fire escape or window opening.
[10] Hanging signs shall comply with the maximum letter
height of wall signs.
[11]
Barbershop pole hanging sign: used as a sign for a barbershop,
consisting of a rotating pole with diagonal stripes of red and white
or of red, white, and blue, subject to the following:
[Added 3-2-2021 by Ord. No. 21-2]
[a]
Only one such barber pole sign shall be permitted per business
in leu of a hanging sign;
[b]
Maximum height of 30 inches;
[c]
Maximum diameter: nine inches;
[d]
Maximum projection from wall: 12 inches;
[e]
Minimum clearance from grade at base of pole: seven feet;
[f]
Such barbershop pole may be internally illuminated, although
shall not be illuminated after business hours.
(3)
Window signs are permitted for uses occupying the first and
second floors in a building. The following regulations apply to window
signs:
(a)
One window sign on a door serving the premises is permitted
to occupy a maximum of 10% of the door, but may not exceed three square
feet.
(b)
One window sign is permitted to occupy a maximum of 20% of a
window on the first or second floors, but may not exceed 10 square
feet.
(c)
All window signs shall be nonilluminated.
D. Permitted signs in the CBD, CO and O Districts:
(1)
Wall signs as permitted in the CBD/SPE District, except nonflashing
illuminated interior signs shall only be permitted in the CBD District
as noted herein. Perpendicular hanging signs are not permitted in
the CO and O Districts.
[Amended 9-18-2012 by Ord. No. 12-15]
(2)
In addition to permitted wall signs, one freestanding sign shall
be permitted to identify the name of the building or the businesses
on the premises. The freestanding sign shall have a maximum sign area
of 24 square feet. The sign shall have a maximum height of five feet.
It shall have a minimum setback of five feet from a street line or
right-of-way line and 10 feet from a property line. The bottom of
the sign face shall not be more than two feet above the ground.
(3)
Internally illuminated signs shall only be permitted to illuminate
the text or logo of the sign, with the remainder of the sign background
to be opaque or nonilluminated.
E. Permitted signs in the SC District:
(1)
Wall signs are permitted, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
One attached sign is permitted for the purpose of identification
and advertising the use of the premises. The sign shall not exceed
75% of the storefront in length and 2.5 feet in height, provided the
length of the sign in no event exceeds 20 feet in length, and further
provided that a store with a front linear building wall of minimally
200 feet may have a sign with a maximum height of six feet and a maximum
size of 100 square feet. All wall signs shall be level to the ground.
(b)
No wall sign shall project above the parapet or roof. No wall
sign shall project more than 12 inches from the wall which said sign
is mounted.
(c)
Where the rear of the building, or portion of the building occupied,
has a public entrance from the rear of the building, one additional
wall sign on the rear building facade shall be permitted. The sign
shall not exceed 25% of the facade in length and one foot in height.
The maximum length of said sign shall not exceed 10 feet.
(2)
One freestanding sign shall be permitted on the premises to
advertise the name of a shopping center. The sign shall not advertise
the name or names of any tenant or occupant and shall not exceed 75
square feet in area. The sign shall be set back at least 10 feet from
a street line or right-of-way line and property line.
F. Permitted signs in the LB-1, LB-2, LB-3, RW and LM Districts:
[Amended 1-18-2011 by Ord. No. 11-04]
(1)
Wall signs, as permitted in the CBD/SPE District above.
(2)
In addition to permitted wall signs, one freestanding sign shall
be permitted to identify the name of the building or the businesses
on the premises. The freestanding sign shall have a maximum sign area
of 30 square feet. The sign shall have a maximum height of five feet.
It shall have a minimum setback of five feet from a street line or
right-of-way line and 10 feet from a property line. The bottom of
the sign face shall not be more than three feet above the ground.
[Amended 12-17-2002 by Ord. No. 02-19]
G. Permitted signs in the HSO District:
(1)
One directory sign listing the users of the property, provided
that four or more users have an allowed use of the property. Such
sign may be freestanding or attached and shall not exceed 20 square
feet in area.
(2)
One freestanding sign shall be permitted on the premises to
advertise the business on premises. The sign shall not be greater
than 24 square feet in area. The sign shall be set back at least five
feet from a street line, right-of-way line, and property line.
(3)
One front-facing wall sign is permitted, provided the dimensions
of such sign do not exceed 1.5 square feet per linear foot of the
front building wall.
H. Permitted signs in the H District:
[Added 4-22-2008 by Ord. No. 08-10]
(1)
One freestanding sign shall be permitted at each entrance drive
that intersects a county roadway. These freestanding signs individually
shall not exceed 24 square feet in area per sign face, exclusive of
the sign's pedestal. No sign and pedestal combination shall exceed
10 feet in height. Said signs shall be set back no less than five
feet from any property line and be located outside any necessary sight
distance triangle.
(2)
One front-facing wall sign shall be permitted on a hospital
building, provided the dimensions of such sign do not exceed 1.5 square
feet per linear foot of the front building wall, with no sign to exceed
80 square feet.
(3)
Medical schools in this zone are permitted two additional wall-mounted
signs. Said signs individually shall not exceed 32 square feet in
area.
I. The following sign provisions shall govern all signage associated
with gasoline and service stations:
(1)
One freestanding sign bearing the brand, trade name and/or trademark,
with unit prices of the station, not exceeding 40 square feet on each
side, shall be permitted. The bottom of the sign shall not be less
than 10 feet from the average grade elevation below the sign, nor
shall any part of the sign be more than 25 feet above ground level.
(2)
No sign shall be permitted on a canopy over the gas pumps.
(3)
Signs attached to fuel pumps indicating the unit price per gallon
of fuel are permitted. Such signs shall not exceed one square foot
in area per sign per individual pump.
(4)
No signage may be illuminated after business hours.
(5)
Lettering or other insignia which are a structural part of the
gasoline pumps, as manufactured, shall be permitted.
(6)
Credit card signs may be placed on or near the gasoline pump
islands, not to exceed a maximum one square foot per sign per island.
(7)
Not more than two temporary signs located within the property
lines advertising services and product prices shall be permitted,
provided that each sign shall not exceed nine square feet in area
on each side. All temporary signs must be removed from public display
after business hours.
The following prohibitions and limitations apply to all signs
permitted under this article:
A. No sign shall be located or displayed upon any sidewalk or public
right-of-way.
B. No sign shall be permitted on the surface of any principal roof,
and no sign shall project above the parapet or roof ridge.
C. No sign shall have more than five colors, exclusive of its background,
frame or decorative supports. For the purposes of this article, black
and white shall be considered colors. Three shades of one color shall
be calculated as one color in the calculations of the maximum number
of sign colors. The color red is permitted on signs as an accent but
cannot comprise more than 10% of the overall area of color on the
sign. Signs shall be compatible with the color of the building facade
and of neighboring facades and signs. Signs shall not use iridescent
or fluorescent colors.
[Amended 9-17-2013 by Ord. No. 13-21; 3-2-2021 by Ord. No. 21-2]
D. No sign shall be, in whole or part, moving, mobile or revolving.
E. Strings of streamers, flags, pennants, spinners or other similar
devices strung across, upon, over or along any premises or building,
whether as a part of any sign or not, shall not be allowed except
as specifically permitted herein.
F. No sign shall be erected, relocated or maintained so as to prevent
free ingress to or egress from any door, window or fire escape.
G. No sign shall be placed or displayed in any manner which will interfere
with traffic or traffic control signs and signals.
H. Window signs shall be painted in gold leaf, blue, cream or white.
[Amended 9-17-2013 by Ord. No. 13-21]
I. Except as specifically permitted by this article, no sign shall be
permitted where the notice, advertisement or other medium to be presented
relates to the use of premises other than that upon which the sign
is located.
J. Permitted advertising signs shall be removed within 30 days after
the cessation of the activity of business which the sign advertises,
except as specifically provided herein.
K. No billboards or roof signs shall be permitted.
L. No freestanding signs shall be permitted except as specifically allowed
by this article.
If the Construction Official, in his opinion, shall find that
any sign is unsafe or insecure or is a menace to the public, he shall
give written notice to the owner, agent or person having the beneficial
use of the premises upon which such sign may be erected. Such sign
shall be removed within 10 days after such notice.