All signs erected under this section shall conform to the requirements of the Township Building Code. All signs, as defined, shall require a permit for the erection and maintenance of the same, unless otherwise stated.
A.
A sign not expressly permitted is prohibited.
B.
Sign area. The square-foot area of a sign shall be computed as defined in "sign, gross surface area" in § 27-202 of this chapter.
C.
Sign location. No sign shall be located in such a position that it will cause a hazard by obstructing visibility. No sign shall interfere with minimum site distance required by PennDOT standards from access drives to a street. No sign, other than official traffic signs and off-premises directional signs placed by a government agency, shall hang over or be erected within the right-of-way of any street, except as and subject to the following:
(1)
A monument sign as an off-premises directional sign, not to exceed 150 square feet and 12 feet in height, notwithstanding stricter requirements which may be imposed by Chapter 21, Streets and Sidewalks. The sign shall be located within the CC Commercial Corridor or LI Large-Scale Industrial Districts and is approved in accordance with the procedures set forth within and meets the standards of Chapter 21, Streets and Sidewalks. The sign shall not include automatic or manual changeable copy signs.
(2)
Off-premises directional signs shall receive approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, when required, and shall meet the policies and standards of Jackson Township, including those set forth in Chapter 21, Streets and Sidewalks.
(3)
The sign shall function as a directional sign, limited to the name and address of the office park(s) or retail center(s) to which the sign provides direction and the names of establishments located therein.
D.
Maintenance and inspection. All signs shall be constructed of a durable material and maintained in good condition. All signs, other than those constructed of decay-resistant wood, shall bear a protective treatment to guard against rust or decay. Signs using removable paper or other materials and general signs bearing protective coatings such as paint shall be maintained in such condition as to eliminate loose or frayed material protruding or hanging or falling from the structure. Any sign found to be in an unsafe or poorly maintained condition upon inspection shall be declared to be a public nuisance, and the Zoning Officer shall give notice to the owner in writing, in accordance with Part 25 of this chapter, to repair or remove the sign within 10 days. Upon failure of the owner to comply, the Township shall remove the sign at the owner's expense.
(1)
Externally illuminated signs.
(a)
Illumination, when authorized by this chapter, shall be directed upon the sign face and not towards adjoining properties or streets.
(b)
Flashing or oscillating signs shall not be permitted.
(c)
Lighting shall be stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times.
(d)
The intensity of any source of illumination of any sign, whether indirect or internal, shall be controlled so as to not exceed a maximum of 1.0 footcandle at the property line.
(e)
External light bulb fixtures shall project no colors.
(f)
Lighting emitted by signage shall be subject to lighting standards otherwise applicable to the property.
(2)
The following shall apply to all internally illuminated signs, including automatic changeable copy signs and electronic message centers:
(a)
Where otherwise authorized by this chapter within the R Residential District, IIS signs shall have a minimum display time of 12 seconds. The transition time between messages and/or message frames is limited to one second.
(b)
Where otherwise authorized by this chapter within the MU, Mixed Use, CC Commercial Corridor, TO Transitional Overlay, and LI Large-Scale Industrial Districts, IIC signs shall have a minimum display time of eight seconds.
(c)
The following display features and functions are prohibited on all signs: scrolling, traveling, flashing, spinning, rotating, fade, dissolve, any other moving effects, and all dynamic frame effects or patterns of illusionary movement or simulated movement.
(d)
Signs may be illuminated at night. Signs that are illuminated at night may not exceed a maximum luminance level of 250 cd/m2 or NITS, regardless of the method of illumination.
(e)
All illuminated signs must comply with the maximum luminance level of 250 cd/m2 or NITS at least 1/2 hour before apparent sunset, as determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Department of Commerce, for the specific geographic location and date. All illuminated signs must comply with this maximum luminance level throughout the night, if the sign is energized, until apparent sunrise, as determined by the NOAA, at which time the sign may resume luminance levels appropriate for daylight conditions, when required or appropriate.
(f)
Luminance levels of illuminated signs shall not otherwise exceed 5,000 NITS.
(g)
Signs that have external illumination, whether the lighting is mounted above or below the sign face or panel, shall have lighting fixtures or luminaires that are fully shielded.
E.
Permit requirements. Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by a drawing to scale showing the design which is being proposed, the size, character and color of letter, lines and symbols, method of illumination, the exact location of the sign in relation to the building and property and construction details. The application shall be accompanied by the permit fee, as designated in the Township fee resolution.
F.
Permit expiration. Any permit issued by the Zoning Officer for erection, alteration, replacement or relocation of any sign shall expire automatically within six months of the date of issuance if work authorized by the permit has not been initiated and diligently pursued. G. Existing nonconforming signs. Every sign or other advertising structure lawfully in existence on the effective date of this chapter may not be replaced, altered or relocated, unless it is made to comply with this section. A change in wording of the sign message does not constitute replacement, alteration or relocation and, as such, shall be permitted.
G.
There is no setback requirement for signs whose area does not exceed two square feet, except that no private sign is permitted in any street right-of-way, unless otherwise provided by this chapter.
H.
All setbacks specified within this chapter shall apply to the entirety of the sign, including elements that overhang or extend from the supporting structure.
I.
No sign shall bear any part moved by natural or mechanical means which flash, revolve, rotate, swing, undulate, or convey the impression of such movements through digital or analog means.
J.
No part of any sign shall provide for movement, the impression of movement, or animation, nor shall any sign emit noise.
K.
No sign or structure shall be erected at any location where, by reason of the position, shape or color of the sign or structure, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device or restricting sight distance.
L.
A sign shall bear no more than two faces.
M.
Obscene signs are prohibited. No sign shall utilize sexually explicit or suggestive language or graphics, nor any illustration of specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas as defined in this chapter, and/or bear language deemed obscene by Chapter 59, Public Indecency, of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.
N.
Pennants, balloons, and similar signage shall not be permitted as temporary signs.
O.
Automatic changeable copy signs shall not bear advertising of an establishment, an activity, a product, a service or entertainment which is sold, produced, manufactured, available or furnished at a site other than on the premises on which the sign is located.
P.
Within 90 days of a business's closing, the sign copy of the associated obsolete sign or signs shall be removed or obscured in a manner commensurate with general construction standards outlined herein.
Q.
Exempt signs. The following types of signs are exempted from permit requirements and square footage maximums but must be in conformance with all other requirements of this Part 20:
(1)
Messages placed on the inside of a building, except that no such sign identifying the business and affixed to the inside of the window can be larger than 50 square feet.
(2)
Real estate signs not exceeding 12 square feet in area and advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is located; one real estate sign per road frontage, up to a maximum of two such signs on any one lot at a time.
(3)
A sign not exceeding three square feet in area, used only to display the name(s) of the individuals, family, organization or institution occupying the premises.
(4)
Traffic signs or other municipal signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, legal notices and trespassing signs.
(5)
Official notices posted by public officers or employees in the performance of the officer's or employee's duties.
(6)
Directional signs for hospitals, medical clinics, ambulances, essential services, libraries and churches up to four square feet, with no more than three erected at different locations at any one time throughout the Township, each to be less than 10 feet in height. Same may not be located within the public right-of-way.
(7)
Signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers where the sign is incidental to the primary use of the vehicle or trailer. However, this is not in any way intended to permit signs placed on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers that are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.
(8)
Directional signs designating parking area entrances and exits, limited to one sign for each entrance and/or exit, not exceeding four square feet in gross surface area and containing no advertising matter. Parking lot directional signs shall not project higher than five feet.
(9)
American and State of Pennsylvania flags, vertically supported on a single pole and no larger than 100 square feet.
(10)
Signs for home occupation, where permitted, shall not exceed two square feet in area on one side in any district.
(11)
Political signs, regulated in § 27-1803.G.
(12)
Holiday decorations temporarily displayed on traditionally accepted patriotic or religious holidays.