[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 1]
1.
Regulation of the location, size, placement, and certain features
of signs is necessary to enable the public to locate goods, services,
and facilities in the Borough of Centre Hall without difficulty and
confusion, to encourage the general attractiveness of the community
and to protect property values therein. Accordingly, it is the intent
of this Part to establish regulations governing the display of signs
which will:
A.
Promote and protect the public health, safety, comfort, morals, and
convenience.
B.
Enhance the economy and the business and industry of the area by
promoting the reasonable, orderly, and effective display of signs,
and thereby encourage increased communication with the public.
C.
Restrict signs and lights which overload the public's capacity
to receive information or which increase the probability of traffic
congestion and accidents by distracting attention or obstructing vision.
D.
Reduce conflict among signs and light and between public and private
environmental information systems.
E.
Promote signs which are compatible with their surroundings, are appropriate
to the type of activity to which they pertain, and are expressive
of the identity of proprietors and other persons displaying signs.
2.
Interpretation. In their interpretation and application, the provisions
of this Part shall be held to be the minimum requirements necessary
for the promotion and protection of the public health, safety, comfort,
morals, and convenience.
3.
Conflicting Codes and Ordinance. If any provision(s) or requirement(s)
of this Part is found to be in conflict with any other provision(s)
or requirement(s) of this Part or of any other applicable governmental
law, ordinance, resolution, rule or other governmental regulation
of any kind, the regulation which establishes a more restrictive rule
or higher standard shall govern.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 2]
For the purposes of this Part, the following terms shall be
defined and applied as follows:
A sign painted on or attached to an overhanging shelter which
projects from the wall or surface of a building. The sign shall not
project beyond the surface or be attached to the underside of the
awning or marquee.
Boards which direct the motorist or pedestrians to a product,
place or activity that is available, exists or occurs at a location
other than the location upon which the board is erected. Billboards
are freestanding structures and are differentiated thereby from wall
signs which are attached to the wall of a building. "Billboard," as
used herein, shall refer to a sign with a single face area greater
than 25 square feet. These signs are not permitted in any district.
The governing body for the Borough of Centre Hall, Centre
County, Pennsylvania.
Signs or boards that are directly oriented to activities
that occur on the same premises as the sign or board. Such signs may
be either freestanding or attached to a wall of a building.
The officially designated Code Enforcement Officer, or Assistant
Code Enforcement Officer(s), of the Borough of Centre Hall.
A sign supported vertically by one or more uprights placed
in or on the ground but designed to be movable. Such a sign advertises
products or items offered for sale or are directly related to the
premises upon which it is located, e.g., a business identification
sign.
Any person, partnership, firm, corporation, agency, department,
bureau or any other legal entity.
Signs or boards directing attention to or promoting a particular
individual or group of persons running for office in a public election.
The area occupied by a single business, professional office
or other public enterprise or home. When more than one business, office
or home occupies a single building on the ground floor, each business
area shall be considered a separate premises. Businesses, homes or
other enterprises which occupy space on other floors shall be considered
separate premises.
Any sign erected and maintained on or above the roof of any
building.
The area of the smallest triangle, rectangle or circle which
can wholly enclose the surface area of a sign. All visible faces of
a multifaced sign shall be counted separately and then totaled in
calculating the sign area. Three dimensional signs shall be treated
in the same manner as dual-faced signs, i.e., the area(s) of the faces
shall be calculated and then totaled to calculate the total sign area.
Flags, pennants, ground signs or special promotional devices
intended to be erected for a limited period of time to call attention
to a legally permissible special event. Such signs shall not protrude
on any right-of-way nor interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Examples: yard and garage sales, auction signs, book sale signs, etc.
Signs attached to a wall or part of a wall of a building
or structure, not including billboards as defined above, which advertise
products sold or directly related to the premises on which they are
located, e.g., a business identification sign.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 3]
Signs may be erected, altered and maintained only when in compliance
with the provisions of this Part and any other appropriate Centre
Hall Borough regulation(s).
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 4]
Every sign and all parts thereof, including framework, supports,
background, anchors and wiring systems, shall be constructed and maintained
in compliance with the building, electrical and fire prevention codes,
as they now exist or may hereafter exist. All signs and all parts
thereof shall be kept in good repair and maintenance.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 5]
These regulations shall apply to all signs, commercial and otherwise,
where such signs are not more specifically regulated herein. In the
case of conflict between any two or more provisions of this Part,
the more stringent shall apply.
A.
Signs in Historic Areas. These regulations shall apply to any property
listed on the National Register of Historic Places or to any property
or portion thereof within 500 feet of such historic property:
B.
Height of Signs. No sign, or any part thereof, shall exceed a height
of 15 feet as measured from natural ground level directly below the
face of the sign to the highest part of the sign.
C.
Location. Signs must be located on the premises that they advertise.
E.
Number. No more than four signs may be erected or maintained on any
one premises at any one time. A double-sided sign shall count as a
single sign.
F.
Licensing. All signs shall be subject to the permit provisions of
this Part unless otherwise noted.
G.
Projecting Signs. No projecting sign shall project more than five
feet beyond the building line, nor project over the public walkway
(sidewalk), in the direction of the street. No portion of any projecting
sign shall be any lower than 10 feet above grade level. No single
face of any projecting sign shall exceed 15 square feet in sign area.
No projecting sign shall exceed 30 square feet in total sign area.
No projecting sign shall have a vertical dimension greater than five
feet. No more than one projecting sign is permitted per premises,
unless said premises is located on a corner lot, in which case, two
projecting signs shall be permitted, one erected for and towards each
public way.
H.
Wall Signs. No wall sign shall project above the top, or to the left,
or to the right of the wall to which it is attached. No wall sign,
or any part thereof, shall project more than one foot from the wall
on which it is mounted. If external lighting is used, reflectors must
be not less than 10 feet above grade and no part may extend further
than two feet from the wall of the building. Reflectors must be shielded
to prevent glare from leaving the premises or interfering with motorists.
Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet.
I.
Ground Pole Signs.
(1)
All ground pole signs and all parts, braces and supports thereof
shall be located entirely behind the property line and any appropriate
setback lines and shall not project over any setback line, property
line, public right-of-way or adjoining land.
(2)
No ground pole sign shall be larger than 32 square feet in area on
a single-faced sign or 64 square feet in combined area for both sides
on a double-faced sign. No ground pole sign shall exceed 12 feet in
any dimension of the sign face.
(3)
One ground pole structure or one projecting sign may be erected on
a premises, but not both.
(4)
No more than four signs shall be mounted to the supporting structure
of any ground pole sign.
K.
Indoor Signs. No indoor sign shall be considered a sign for purposes
of this Part, nor shall any indoor sign be subject to the regulations
hereunder.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 6]
1.
When a regulation hereunder is nonspecific, i.e., when the terms
"reasonably necessary," "as appropriate," "noncommercial," etc., are
used, the Code Enforcement Officer shall decide any questions that
may arise as to the necessity, appropriateness or content of a sign
or signs hereunder.
2.
The following regulations shall apply to all permitted sign uses:
A.
The Only Signs Permitted in an R2 District.
(1)
Name and Address of Resident; Professional Signs. Such signs
shall not include any commercial advertising and shall not be larger
than two square feet in area per side or four square feet total for
a two- or three-dimensional sign. No more than one such sign shall
be permitted per premises, located on the premises. Such signs shall
include signs identifying a professional office such as doctor, dentist,
osteopath, lawyer, accountant, architect, surveyor, elected office,
or other licensed professionals. Such signs are not subject to the
permit provisions herein. Where a sign is to be located in the R2
Zoning District, the sign is to be no more than 10 feet from the primary
structure.
B.
Signs Permitted in All Districts. Signs listed in this Section shall
be permitted in all the zoning districts, and shall require permits
as noted. Where no specific regulation is given, such signs shall
conform to the general regulations for signs set forth in this Part.
(1)
Name and Address of Resident; Professional Signs. Such signs
shall not include any commercial advertising and shall not be larger
than two square feet in area per side or four square feet total for
a two- or three-dimensional sign. No more than one such sign shall
be permitted per premises, located on the premises. Such signs shall
include signs identifying a professional office such as doctor, dentist,
osteopath, lawyer, accountant, architect, surveyor, elected office,
or other licensed professionals. Such signs are not subject to the
permit provisions herein.
(2)
No Trespassing Signs. Included in this group shall also be other
similar signs regulating or warning of use of the property such as
"Beware of Dog," "No Parking," "No Camping," etc. Such signs may not
be more than two square feet in total area. There shall be no more
than four signs per premises. They must be located on the premises.
Commercial content is not permitted. Such signs are not subject to
the permit provisions herein.
(3)
Real Estate Signs. Such signs shall not exceed six square feet
in total area in all zones. They shall be limited to statements advertising
that the premises is for sale, rental or lease and names and other
information for interested parties to contact. They shall be located
only upon the premises offered for sale, etc. Such signs shall be
removed within 14 days after the premises advertised has been sold,
rented or leased. No more than three such signs per premises may be
erected. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(4)
Informational Signs for On-Premises Direction. Such signs shall
not exceed four square feet in total area each and shall be used exclusively
for noncommercial direction, e.g., "Telephone," "No Parking," "Office
Entrance," "Lubrication & Lube Tune Up," etc. They shall be located
only on the premises. As many of such signs as are reasonably necessary
to accomplish the purposes of the signs may be erected. Such signs
are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(5)
Signs Erected by a Governing Body. Such signs may be erected
as any governing body (federal, state, county or local) may direct.
They shall be reasonable in size, type, number, location, design or
any other manner by anything contained herein. Such signs are not
subject to the permit provisions herein.
(6)
Memorial Signs or Tablets. Such signs shall not exceed such
dimension as is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose thereof
and shall be noncommercial in nature. They need not be located on
the premises referred to. Two such signs per premises may be erected.
The content shall be limited to date of erection of buildings or events
and short statements of historical circumstances, as appropriate.
Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(7)
Banners, Pennants and Flags. Decorative banners or pennants,
or flags bearing the insignia of any government, religious, charitable
or fraternal organization, shall be maintained in a serviceable condition
and limited to a maximum area of 24 square feet. Such signs shall
have no commercial intent. Such signs are not subject to the permit
provisions herein.
(8)
Temporary Signs, Advertising Farm Products, Auctions, Yard Sales
and Special Events of Charitable, Public Service or Political Groups
or Political Campaigns. Such signs shall be no larger than six square
feet each. Location (on premises) and number as appropriate. In the
case of farm products, products advertised must be produced on the
premises, and must be an integral part of the business conducted on
the property involved. In the case of political signs, the property
owner must give prior permission for any such signs on the property.
No commercial content is permitted. Failure to remove political signs
within 36 hours after the election/political event shall constitute
a violation hereunder and shall subject the candidate, or the local
party affiliate or committee, to a fine of $5 per sign. Such signs
are not subject to the permit provisions herein.
(9)
Signs Identifying Places of Worship. Location and number as
appropriate. Total size to be no greater than 20 square feet. No commercial
content permitted. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(10)
Bulletin Boards for Quasi-Public Facilities. Such signs shall
not exceed 20 square feet in total area and shall be used exclusively
for noncommercial announcement. They shall be located only on the
premises of the church or other institution. No more than one sign
per premises. Such signs are not subject to the permit provisions
herein.
(11)
Directional Signs.
(a)
These signs may be erected along major roadways to direct motorists
to premises in locations far removed from the roadway. They shall
be ground pole signs with a total area of 15 square feet for a single-sided
sign or 30 square feet for a double-sided sign.
(b)
Content shall be limited to the name of the establishment and
distance/direction information. No more than two signs per single
advertising establishment shall be permitted. Such signs shall be
subject to the permit provisions herein.
(c)
Temporary off-premises directional signs shall contain addresses
and dates of event. Such signs are not subject to permits, but must
be removed within 36 hours after the event. Otherwise there will be
a removal fee of $10.
(12)
Real Estate Development Signs.
(a)
Such signs may be erected only by developers or owners with
a minimum of six lots for sale in a single subdivision. Such signs
must be located on the premises which are for sale.
(b)
Content is limited to advertisement of the lots in the subdivision
on which the sign is located; the name of the development; and the
developer's, realtor's or landowner's names, addresses
and telephone numbers. Content shall not include reference to the
sale of lots elsewhere or the realtor's, developer's or
landowner's business in general.
(c)
No more than two such signs shall be permitted per premises,
located no closer than 1,000 feet apart. Maximum total area for each
single-faced sign shall be 32 square feet and for each double-faced
sign shall be 64 square feet. No sign shall be higher than 10 feet
above grade or in excess of 12 feet in any direction. Such signs shall
be subject to the permit provisions herein.
(13)
Shopping Center Signs. Such signs are limited to ground pole
signs located on the premises of the shopping center. One such sign
per premises is permitted. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet
for a single-sided sign and 64 square feet for a double-sided sign.
No such sign shall be higher than 10 feet above grade or in excess
of 12 feet in any direction. Content shall be limited to the name
of the shopping center. Such signs shall be subject to the permit
provisions herein.
(14)
Permanent Residential, Commercial and Industrial Development
Signs and Signs Identifying Country Clubs and similar Recreational
Facilities. Such signs shall be located on the premises at the entrance(s)
of residential, industrial and commercial developments or on the premises
of any recreational facility. They shall be no larger than 32 total
square feet, per entrance, or no more than 32 total square feet for
recreational facilities. No more than two faces per entrance. No commercial
content is permitted. Such signs shall be subject to the permit provisions
herein.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 7]
The following signs shall not be erected, permitted or maintained
in any district, notwithstanding anything contained in this Part or
elsewhere. Such signs that are prohibited in the following subsections
shall be removed or brought into conformance with the provisions of
this Part within 90 days after the effective date of this Part.
A.
Signs which incorporate in any manner any flashing or moving illumination
or with illumination which varies in intensity or color and signs
which have any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible
mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement
achieved by electrical pulsations or by actions of normal wind currents
except when not visible from motor vehicles traveling on public roadways.
Hanging signs which simply swing in the wind, clocks, time and temperature
signs and barber poles may be exempted, provided that they comply
with the other provisions hereunder.
B.
Light sources which cast light on signs shall be shielded by opaque
material so that the bulbs, floodlights or tubes are not visible off
the property or premises on which the signs are located.
C.
Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety
or public health.
D.
Signs which, by reason of size, location, content, coloring or manner
of illumination, obstruct the vision or impair the concentration of
drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness
of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.
E.
Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape,
door, window or other required exitway.
F.
Signs which make use of words such as "STOP," "LOOK," "ONE WAY,"
"DANGER," "YIELD," or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights,
or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, confuse or mislead
traffic.
G.
Any obsolete sign (including the structural members of the sign)
which advertises a business no longer being conducted or a product
no longer sold. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner
to remove an obsolete sign.
H.
Signs on public property or a public right-of-way unless erected
by a governing body or unless required to be so located by order of
a governing body. No sign erected on public property or on a public
right-of-way shall contain any commercial content.
I.
Signs painted on, attached to or supported by a utility pole, tree,
stone or rock outcropping or similar object, except temporary signs
as permitted by § 19-106.2B(8) above.
J.
String lights to illuminate commercial enterprises, other than temporary
holiday decorations, which are unshielded from off of the premises
on which they are located.
K.
Searchlights, pennants, banners, spinners and streamers, except for
occasions such as grand openings and similar events and then only
through obtaining a temporary sign permit from the Code Enforcement
Officer. Use shall be limited to 15 days.
L.
Except as specifically permitted herein, the erection, placing and construction of ground pole signs, commonly known as billboards or advertising sign boards and defined in § 19-102 above, off of the premises where the product or service advertised is to be found, shall be prohibited in all districts. No alteration in either length, height or width shall be permitted nor shall any single-faced billboard be converted into a two-faced billboard.
M.
Roof signs.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 8]
All signs shall be classified as either temporary or permanent
and shall be subject to the following regulations:
A.
Permanent Signs; General Provisions.
(1)
Prior to placing a sign not otherwise exempt hereunder, an application
shall be submitted to the Borough Code Enforcement Officer on a form
provided by the Borough. If the application is approved, the applicant
shall pay a permit fee as set forth below and may place or erect the
sign.
(2)
Any sign altered structurally or moved will be considered a new sign
and is subject to the application and permit requirements hereof.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 9]
1.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall examine all applications for permits
for erection of new signs and issue permits for new signs.
2.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall make an annual inspection of all
signs in the Borough and make such report to the Centre Hall Borough
Council as may be necessary or as it may require. An inventory of
all nonconforming signs shall be made by the Code Enforcement Officer
and a copy submitted to the Borough Secretary.
3.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall record and file all applications
for sign permits with any accompanying plans or documents. The Zoning
Officer must verify the zone designation for the sign and attest to
such on the application.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 10]
1.
Any person who violates any provision(s) of this Part shall, upon
being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced
by the Borough or its Code Enforcement Officer, pay a judgment of
not more than $500, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney
fees incurred by the Borough as a result thereof. No judgment shall
commence or be imposed, levied or be payable until the date of the
determination of a violation of this Part by the Magisterial District
Judge. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment,
the Borough may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules
of Civil Procedure. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute
a separate violation.
2.
If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that any sign has been
constructed, structurally altered or erected, or is being maintained
in violation of the provisions of this Part, he shall promptly notify
the owner or lessor thereof in writing. If the owner or lessor fails
to remove or alter the sign so as to comply with the provisions of
this Part within 36 hours of the mailing or delivery of written notice,
the Code Enforcement Officer shall cause a violation notice to be
filed with the Magisterial District Judge, as provided in this Part.
3.
If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find any sign that is in immediate
peril to persons or property, he shall be empowered to order it to
be removed immediately. If the Code Enforcement Officer cannot locate
the owner or lessor to have the sign removed immediately, he shall
cause the sign to be removed and the costs of such removal shall be
borne by the owner or lessor and shall constitute a lien upon the
premises.
[Ord. 151, 5/8/2008, § 11]
The Centre Hall Borough Council may, in its sole and absolute
discretion, grant variances to the regulations of this Part.
