[Ord. 384, 7/17/1993, § 2201]
The purpose of this Part is to set forth standards to regulate
the use, erection, alteration, repair and maintenance of signs and
similar devices, together with their accessories and auxiliary devices.
Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the
provisions of this Part and any other regulations of the Township,
state or federal governments.
[Ord. 384, 7/17/1993, § 2202]
The following signs shall not be permitted, erected, constructed
or maintained in any zoning district. Such signs in existence which
are prohibited shall be removed or brought into conformity with the
provisions of this Part within three years after this chapter is enacted:
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 mechanical movement of any description or other
apparent visible movement achieved by electrical pulsations or by
actions of normal wind currents, including hanging signs which simply
swing in the wind. Clock, time or temperature signs and barber poles
shall not be considered as a prohibited sign if it complies with the
other provisions of this Part and other applicable Township codes.
B.
Signs advertising activities that are illegal under federal, state
or local laws, regulations or ordinances as applied to the location
of a particular sign or the location of such activities.
C.
Signs which by reason of size, location, movement, content, coloring
or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of drivers either when
leaving or entering a public street from another street or driveway,
obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic
control device or traffic sign on a public street.
D.
Signs which make use of words such as "stop," "look," "one-way,"
"danger," "yield," "go slow," "caution" or any similar words, phrases,
symbols, lights or characters in such a manner as to interfere with,
mislead or confuse traffic or which imitate an official traffic sign
or signal.
E.
Signs which advertise an activity, business, product or service no
longer produced or conducted. In such case, such sign shall be removed
within 30 days after the same is no longer produced or conducted.
F.
Signs which are placed or located within the public right-of-way
except official governmental signs.
H.
Signs which consist of pennants, spinners, banners, streamers or
searchlights except for occasions such as grand openings and then
only with permission of the Zoning Officer for a use limited to a
period of 30 days.
I.
String lights, other than temporary holiday decorations or special
events or functions of public service, charitable, religious, educational
and civic organizations, which are unshielded from off the premises
on which they are located.
J.
Signs which obstruct free ingress to, or egress from a fire escape,
door, window or other exitway.
K.
Signs which are structurally unsafe or in a state of disrepair.
[Ord. 384, 7/17/1993, § 2203]
The following signs shall be permitted in all zoning districts:
A.
Signs advertising the sale or rental of residential premises upon
which they are erected by the owner or broker or any other person
interested in the sale or rental of such premises may be erected and
maintained, provided:
(1)
The size of any such sign for an individual lot is not in excess
of six square feet.
(2)
The size of any such sign advertising an entire residential
development involving a group of lots/dwelling units is not in excess
of 32 square feet.
(3)
Not more than two signs are placed upon any property in single
and separate ownership, unless such property fronts upon more than
one street, in which event two such signs may be erected on each frontage.
B.
Signs advertising the sale, lease or development of nonresidential
premises upon which they are erected, when erected in connection with
the development of the premises by a builder, contractor, developer
or other person interested in such sale or development, may be erected
and maintained, provided:
C.
Signs bearing the word "sold" or the word "rented," with the name of the person effecting the sale or rental; provided, the conditions in Subsection A hereof, are complied with.
E.
Signs indicating the private nature of a driveway or trespassing
signs, provided that the size of any such sign shall not exceed two
square feet.
F.
Signs of schools, colleges, churches, hospitals, sanitariums or other
public or semipublic institutions of a similar nature, provided:
G.
Signs advertising home occupations shall be not larger than one square
foot bearing not more than the occupation conducted within the dwelling
and the name of the practitioner. Only one sign shall be permitted
per home occupation.
H.
Signs indicating the location and direction of real estate for sale
or rental, but not erected upon such premises, may be erected and
maintained, provided:
I.
Signs indicating the location and direction of premises available
for or in process of development, but not erected upon such premises,
and having inscribed thereon the name of the owner, developer, builder
or agent, may be erected and maintained, provided:
K.
Notwithstanding any other limitation or regulation of this chapter,
one sign not larger than one square foot, showing only the location,
identity, name or office hours of business or professional offices,
where such offices are permitted by the terms of this chapter, may
be erected within any yard of the premises occupied by such offices.
L.
Signs necessary for the identification, operation and protection
of public utility facilities, providing the size thereof is not in
excess of two square feet.
M.
Signs to identify construction and development programs of state,
federal and other public agencies shall be exempted from the regulations
controlling the size of signs.
N.
Temporary political signs advertising political parties or candidates
for election may be erected, provided:
O.
Recreational Signs, Banners and Logos. In addition to the general
provisions of these regulations, the following specific regulations
shall apply to all recreational facilities including parks, ballfields
and stadiums intended for public and private recreational use and
activities where permitted shall be allowed, subject to the following
regulations:
[Added by Ord. No. 559,
3/18/2015]
(1)
Each advertiser, company and/or individual providing support
to the cause of the organization for recreational activity use shall
be limited to one sign at each recreational facility.
(2)
The maximum size for any sign, banner or logo shall be limited
to not greater than 32 square feet.
(3)
All signs shall be placed and attached to fences, posts or structures
so that the advertisement faces directly toward and within the field
of play or activity. No sign shall be located so that the face of
the advertisement may be viewed from a public highway, road or alley.
(4)
Each sign when installed shall be inspected and approved by
the zoning officer or code official.
(5)
Advertiser shall first make application and obtain a permit
prior to installing a sign. Application shall include two copies of
a plan giving the details, including size, colors, type of durable
material and method of attachment.
(6)
Advertiser shall be responsible for maintaining and/or removal/replacement
of each sign.
(7)
Permit fees shall be waived.
[Ord. 384, 7/17/1993, § 2204; as amended by Ord.
409, 6/18/1997, § 1; and by Ord. 448, 11/15/2000]
The following types of signs, bearing the name of the occupant
and products manufactured or services provided, sold or displayed
may be erected and maintained on the premises in any nonresidential
district where such activities are permitted, subject to the following
regulations:
A.
One freestanding sign not to exceed 100 square feet in surface area,
and no dimension of the sign surface shall exceed 10 feet.
B.
In addition, one of the following types of signs may also be erected:
(1)
One wall sign to a business unit, provided it is attached to
the wall of the building and projects horizontally not more than 12
inches therefrom, provides not less than eight feet of clearance beneath
it, and occupies a sign surface area not more than 20% of the total
area of the front portion of the building face assigned to the business
unit. It shall not project above the building roof line or parapet
wall.
(2)
One projecting sign to a business unit, provided it is attached
to the wall of the building, provides not less than eight feet of
clearance beneath it, contains a sign surface area not to exceed 15
square feet with no dimension exceeding six feet, and shall not project
above the building roof line or parapet wall.
C.
Miscellaneous advertising on the sides of structures shall not be
permitted.
D.
Signs as permitted in residential districts.
E.
Related business signs (e.g., office or professional service, real
estate, apartments, etc.) identifying the business and service, or
the apartment name shall not exceed an area of 25 square feet.
F.
Signs identifying businesses in nonconforming structures and the
nonconforming use of land shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
G.
The following types of signs are permitted in the Industrial Park,
Industrial Park-Limited, Office Park, Commercial Highway and Airport
Industrial Districts:
(1)
One individual business identification sign for each business.
This sign may be located on or adjacent to the building, but in no
event so as to project above the roof of the building and shall not
exceed 100 square feet in area.
(2)
One additional sign listing all the occupants of the premises
shall be permitted, providing said sign does not exceed 100 square
feet in area. No other business identification or advertising signs
shall be permitted.
H.
By special exception, off-premises directional signs for motor vehicle
service uses, in support of Harrisburg International Airport activities,
may be erected and maintained in proximity to the Airport Connector
Route (SR 3032) of the exit ramp intersections with SR 0230. The following
criteria shall apply:
(1)
The applicant shall verify the existence of a hazardous or dangerous
situation incidental to public safety which would be alleviated by
such directional signs.
(2)
The height of any such sign structure shall not exceed 12 feet
in height.
(3)
The sign may contain only the names of the facilities and the
necessary arrows or information to reach the designation in a safe
and efficient manner.
(4)
Acceptable visibility of the sign structure and its location
proximity to the intersection shall be determined by the Zoning Hearing
Board.
(5)
Only multipanel signs designed in accordance to appropriate
standard will be acceptable to the Zoning Hearing Board.
[Ord. 384, 7/17/1993, § 2205; as amended by Ord.
446, 7/9/2000, § I]
Off-premises advertising signs shall be permitted to be erected
only in the Commercial-Highway (C-H) and Industrial (I, IP, IP-L AND
A-I) Districts immediately adjacent to:
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South Eisenhower Boulevard (SR 3001)
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West Harrisburg Pike (PA Route 230, SR 0230)
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PA Turnpike (I-76)
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PA Route 283 (SR 0300)
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I-283
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Airport Connector (SR 3032)
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subject to the following regulations:
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A.
A letter of permission to erect the sign is received from the property
owner.
B.
Such sign does not exceed 600 square feet in area.
D.
No such sign shall be permitted upon or within 200 feet of the premises
containing a unified, integrated shopping center, office or industrial
park complex.
E.
In the balance of the Commercial-Highway District, off-premises advertising
signs shall be no closer than 1,000 feet from any other off-premises
advertising sign. No sign shall contain over one advertising sign
per facing, nor shall any individual sign exceed 20 feet in vertical
measurement or 40 feet in length.
F.
In the balance of the Industrial District, off-premises advertising
signs shall be no closer than 1,000 feet from any other off-premises
advertising sign. No sign shall exceed 50 feet in length nor a vertical
measurement of 20 feet.
G.
No such sign shall be permitted upon the roof of any building. All
signs shall be required to set back 30 feet from the front lot line
or to the established building line, whichever is less.
H.
No sign shall be permitted to be erected within 50 feet of an adjoining
residential district or existing residential use.
I.
All lighting shall be indirectly illuminated and conform to the height
regulations for buildings in the district in which they are located.
[Ord. 384, 7/17/1993, § 2206]
1.
The following regulations shall apply to all signs, unless otherwise
specifically provided for:
A.
In addition to the other requirements of this Part and, in compliance
with other applicable codes and ordinances, every sign must be constructed
of durable materials, kept in good repair and maintained so as not
to become dilapidated.
B.
Signs shall not project beyond property lines, over public walkways
nor within any street right-of-way.
C.
Signs shall not project above the height limit permitted in any district
in which they are located, except when required yards are expanded
accordingly.
D.
All signs shall be removed within 14 days after the circumstances
leading to their erection no longer apply.
E.
All signs erected within the right-of-way of a state highway shall
be in accordance with the regulations of the Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation.
F.
All sign lighting shall be arranged, designed and shielded or directed
to protect the adjoining properties and streets from glare. Reflectors
and lights permitted in conjunction with signs shall be equipped with
restraining hoods or shields to concentrate the illumination upon
the area of the sign.
G.
If the Zoning Officer finds that any sign is unsafe, insecure or
a menace to the public or had been constructed or erected or is being
maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall
give written notice to the owner thereof. If the owner fails to remove
or alter the sign so as to comply with the standards herein set forth
within 10 days after receipt of such notice, the Township may proceed
to remove or alter such sign so as to comply and charge the expense
thereof to the owner of the property on which it is located. The Zoning
Officer may cause any sign or other advertising structure which is
in immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily
and without prior notice, provided that written notice of such action
shall be furnished to the owner of such sign within five days after
the date of such removal.
H.
Any sign lawfully existing as of the effective date of this chapter
that does not conform with the regulations of the district in which
such sign is located shall be considered nonconforming and may continue,
subject to the following provisions:
I.
Computation of Sign Area.
(1)
The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering,
wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background,
whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including
any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself.
(2)
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached
to a building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be
that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape which
encompasses all of the letters and symbols.
(3)
In computing square foot area of a double-faced sign, only one
side shall be considered, provided both faces are identical. If the
interior angle formed by the two faces of the double-faced sign is
greater than 45°, then both sides of such sign shall be considered
in calculating the sign area.
2.
Permit Application and Fees. Except for signs exempted under this
Part, no person shall erect, cause to be erected, change or alter
any sign on any property within the Township until a permit for the
same has been issued by the Township Zoning Officer. Property owners
who authorize or allow any sign on their property shall ensure that
all provisions of this chapter are adhered to and shall comply with
the following provisions:
A.
Application for a permit shall be made on an authorized Township
form and shall be accompanied by the following:
(1)
A detailed scale drawing showing the sign and its intended location.
(2)
A description of its type, construction, manner and method of
installation, and materials to be used.
(3)
Written authorization of the owner or lessee of the property,
if other than the applicant.
(4)
A permit fee, as established by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
B.
After the sign has been erected, moved or altered, as authorized
by the permit, the applicant shall notify the Zoning Officer who will
then arrange for inspection.
C.
For the purpose of this Part, the terms "alter" or "change" shall
not be interpreted to include routine maintenance.
