[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg 7-8-2014 by Ord. No. 5-2014.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
CROSS REFERENCES
Definitions — see Chapter 7-333.
Special exceptions and variances — see Chapter 7-323.
Nonconforming uses and structures — see Chapter 7-321.
Historic Overlay District — see Chapter 7-317.
Environmental performance standards — see Chapter 7-331.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Part Three,
7-300, composed of Ord. Nos. 112-1964, 17-1965, 79-1965, 13-1974,
29-1974, 30-1974, 13-1977, 26-1977, 19-1985, 6-1988, 25-1993, 26-1995,
10-1996, 61-1996 and 3-2012, as amended.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote and maintain overall
community beautification and to establish reasonable time, place,
and manner regulations on the exercise of free speech in order to
promote communication that does not create nuisances, without regulating
content. This chapter protects property values by ensuring that proposed
signage does not negatively impact adjacent land uses, existing neighborhoods,
and municipal historic districts. This chapter promotes traffic safety
by avoiding distractions and sight distance obstructions and serves
the other objectives of this Code.
B.
A certificate of appropriateness shall be required before receiving
a building permit to erect a sign located in a municipal historic
district that is visible from the public right-of-way.
C.
Only types, sizes and heights of signs that are specifically permitted
by this Code within the applicable district shall be allowed.
D.
Each sign permit application shall be accompanied by a plan(s) drawn
to scale indicating the proposed dimensions and location of each sign.
E.
Any lawfully existing sign (including nonconforming signs) may be
painted or repaired or changed in message without a new zoning permit
provided that the changes do not increase the sign area or otherwise
result in noncompliance or an increased nonconformity with this Code.
A.
Sign construction shall conform in all respects to the City Building
Code.
B.
Every permanent sign shall be constructed of durable materials and
shall be kept in good condition and repair. No on-premises or off-premises
sign (billboard) shall be painted on any wall, fence, or other surface.
C.
Any sign which becomes dilapidated or deemed to be unsafe may be
repaired or removed by the City at the expense of the owner or lessee
of the property on which it is located, after providing written notice
to such owner or lessee.
D.
The Zoning Officer shall cause to be removed any sign that endangers
the public safety, such as an abandoned, dangerous, or materially,
electrically, or structurally defective sign, or a sign for which
no permit has been issued.
A.
Signs lawfully existing at the time of enactment of this Code which
do not conform to the requirements of the same shall be considered
nonconforming signs. Existing nonconforming signs may be continued
to be used and may be repaired, repainted and changed in message but
shall not be increased in their nonconformity.
B.
An existing lawful nonconforming sign may be replaced with a new
nonconforming sign, provided that the replacement sign meets the following
standards:
To determine sign area, signs shall be measured as follows:
A.
The sign area shall be computed by multiplying the greatest height
by the greatest length.
B.
For double-faced signs, only one side shall be considered when determining
sign size when both sides are identical, both sign faces share the
same structure and supports; and the sign faces are back to back with
an interior angle formed by the two faces which is less than or equal
to 45°.
C.
Structural members not bearing advertising matter and/or not in the
form of a symbol or logo shall not be included in the computation
of surface area.
D.
Unless otherwise specified, all square footages in regards to signs
are maximum sizes.
A.
The following table[1] contains the requirements for on-premises signs which are permitted on a lot within the specified districts in addition to signs covered under §§ 7-325.7 and 7-325.8 and such other signs specifically permitted by other provisions of this chapter. The location of signs is regulated under § 7-325.10. Sign definitions are under Chapter 7-333.
[1]
Editor's Note: The table is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
The following signs are exempt from the regulations of this chapter:
(1)
Official or government signs, including but not limited to directional
signs, safety signs, and transportation signs which are authorized
by the City of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, or the State of Pennsylvania;
(2)
Street signs;
(3)
Historic signs that commemorate an important historic place,
event, or person and that is specifically authorized by the City of
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, or the State of Pennsylvania;
(4)
Noncommercial signs;
(5)
Holiday decorations;
(6)
Signs which are not visible from the public right-of-way; and
(7)
Signs which are carried.
A.
The following signs shall be permitted by right within all zoning districts and shall not be required to obtain a zoning permit based on the following criteria. No exceptions are permitted to the criteria. No sign permitted by this § 7-325.8 shall be internally illuminated, except a "time and temperature sign."
(1)
Christmas tree sign. A sign which advertises the seasonal sale
of Christmas trees is limited to two signs per lot with a maximum
sign area of 10 square feet and shall only be posted when such products
are offered for sale.
(2)
Charitable event sign. A sign which advertises a special event
is limited to two signs per lot with a maximum sign area of 10 square
feet and shall be placed no more than 30 days before the event and
shall be removed no later than 10 days after the event.
(3)
Contractor's sign. A sign which advertises work being performed
on a lot is limited to one sign per lot with a maximum area of 10
square feet and shall be placed during the period of work and removed
no later than 10 days after the completion of the work.
(4)
Directional sign. A sign which provides information regarding
traffic direction, fire lanes, loading or service area, directions
to apartment numbers or parking courts in a development.
(5)
Garage/yard sale sign. A sign which advertises a garage or yard
sale is limited to two signs per lot and shall be installed no sooner
than two days prior to the sale and shall be removed no later than
one day after the sale.
(6)
Identification sign. A sign which identifies the name or title
of the resident and or the name, street address, or use of a lot without
any advertising shall be limited to one sign per lot with a maximum
sign area of two square feet.
(7)
Open house sign. A sign which advertises the temporary open
house of a property for sale or for rent is limited to one sign per
lot and shall be placed no sooner than seven days before the open
house and shall be removed at the end of the day of the open house.
(8)
Parking area sign. A sign which identifies the persons permitted
to use the parking space and the rules of use is limited to two signs
per lot, not including handicapped signs, and shall be a maximum sign
area of four square feet.
(9)
Political sign. A sign which promotes a candidate or an initiative
related to an upcoming election shall have a maximum sign area of
10 square feet and shall not be placed on any lot earlier than 60
days prior to the election and shall be removed no later than seven
days after the election. Political signs shall be installed on private
property only with the consent of the property owners and may not
be installed on any public right-of-way including sidewalks, medians,
and traffic islands.
(10)
Proposed development or funding sign. A sign which announces
a proposed development that has received final approval and/or funding
from the City is limited to two signs per lot with a maximum sign
area of 10 square feet and shall be removed after receipt of a certificate
of occupancy.
(11)
Real estate sign. A sign which advertises that a property is
for sale or for rent is limited to one sign per street that the lot
abuts and shall be placed on the lot only during the period when the
property is for sale or for rent and shall be removed no later than
seven days after the property is sold or rented. Real estate signs
may be window signs, projecting signs, or wall signs. Freestanding
real estate signs are permitted only on lots with a front yard setback.
All real estate signs are limited to a sign area of 10 square feet.
(12)
Sidewalk or sandwich board sign. A sign which advertises a retail
operation located on the same block and which is only placed on the
sidewalk near the building and does not obstruct pedestrian traffic.
A sidewalk sign must be taken inside when the business is closed and
must not exceed four feet in height or four square feet in sign area
on each face of the sign.
(13)
Time and temperature sign. A sign which announces the current
time and temperature and any nonprofit public service message is limited
to one sign per lot with a maximum sign area of 10 square feet.
(14)
Trespassing or warning sign. A sign which indicates that a road
or lot is private or prohibiting certain activities is limited to
two signs per lot with a maximum sign area of four square feet.
A.
Following the closing of any business, any and all related exterior
signs shall be removed no later than 30 days from the effective closing
date. However, a freestanding sign structure or wall sign structure
may remain if all of the following conditions are met:
(1)
Such sign is of substantial construction and in good condition;
(2)
Such sign is clearly appropriate for reuse;
(3)
A principal building of substantial construction suitable for
reuse remains on the site;
(4)
The business space is clearly being actively offered for rent
or sale for a new use, or is being actively renovated;
(5)
The sign is changed to a blank face or to a "for rent, lease
or sale" sign; and
(6)
Internal light bulbs inside of the sign are not visible.
A.
Only the following signs may be located or may be extended into public
rights-of-way:
(1)
Permitted official signs, nameplate signs, public service signs,
and directional signs;
(2)
Projecting signs which do not extend more than six feet into
the public right-of-way or beyond the public sidewalk;
(3)
An awning or canopy that has received an administrative easement
permit from the Zoning Officer may contain a portion or all of the
permitted sign area;
(4)
Temporary banners for 30 days which have received a permit from
the Zoning Officer to advertise a public celebration or charitable
event, but not a political campaign, cause or opinion and which are
permitted to be attached to utility poles, bridges or other fixtures
by the respective owner; and
(5)
Wall signs attached to a building located close to the right-of-way,
in which case the wall sign may extend a maximum of 24 inches into
the right-of-way if necessary.
B.
The following requirements cover setbacks for freestanding signs:
C.
No sign shall be so located or arranged that it interferes with safe
sight distances for streets or driveways. However, the City does not
accept responsibility to identify all such hazards.
D.
No signs except permitted off-premises, official, political or public
service signs shall be erected on a property to which it does not
relate.
E.
No sign shall be posted on any property or sign pole or public utility
pole, unless permission has been received by the owner.
F.
No sign shall be stapled or nailed to a utility pole, except by an
authorized utility or the City.
Any vehicle or structure to which a sign is affixed in such
a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs no longer is incidental
to the primary purpose of the vehicle or structure but becomes a primary
purpose in itself shall be considered a freestanding sign provided
it is located on the same lot as the business and as such shall be
subject to requirements for freestanding signs in the district in
which such vehicle or structure is located.
A.
The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:
(1)
Spinners, pennants or any moving object used to attract attention
to a commercial use; flags and banners of more than 20 square feet
per lot that contain a commercial message and that do not meet the
requirements for a permitted sign.
(3)
Signs which emit smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or
odor.
(4)
Signs which contain information that states or implies that
a lot may be used for any purpose not permitted under the applicable
provisions of this Code.
(5)
Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color that
they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device
or that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract
the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street (such as prominent
use of the words "danger").
(6)
Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of
flashing, blinking or twinkling.
(7)
Signs or displays that include words or images visible from
any public right-of-way that are obscene or pornographic.
(8)
Balloons of greater than 25 cubic feet that are tethered to
the ground or a structure and are primarily intended for advertising
purposes.
A.
Off-premises signs shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1)
An off-premises sign shall only be permitted in the IND District;
(2)
An off-premises sign is only permitted within a maximum of 250
feet of existing right-of-way of an arterial street or expressway;
(3)
An off-premises sign shall have a maximum sign area of 350 square
feet on each sign face. A maximum of two sign faces may be attached.
One off-premises sign face shall only be attached to another off-premises
sign face if they are generally back-to-back. V-shaped installations
shall be regarded as one location providing they have a maximum open
space of five feet;
(4)
Each off-premises sign shall be separated by a minimum of 500
feet from any other off-premises sign, including existing signs in
other municipalities;
(5)
The total height of the sign shall be a maximum of 40 feet above
the average surrounding ground level.
(6)
An off-premises sign may have direct or indirect lighting but
internal illumination and electronically changing signage is prohibited.
(7)
An off-premises sign shall meet the following minimum setback
requirements:
B.
Off-premises signs will be constructed and located to:
(1)
Ensure that a physical environment is maintained that is attractive
to desirable types of development, especially light industries and
offices;
(2)
Prevent visual pollution in the City and protect property values,
especially in consideration of the fact that most commercial areas
of the City are within close proximity to existing residences;
(3)
Prevent excessive light and glare on adjacent property and streets;
(4)
Protect the open space character of public park corridors;
(5)
Avoid the creation of additional visual distractions to motorists,
especially along the high-speed expressways and along busy arterial
streets that involve complex turning movements, congestion and numerous
traffic hazards; and
C.
This section applies to both commercial and noncommercial off-premises
signs except as may be specifically provided for elsewhere in this
Code.
Chapters 7-701, and 1-305 shall apply.
