As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BANNER
A sign consisting of lightweight, flexible material which is supported by frame, rope, wires or other anchoring devices, which may or may not include copy, logo, or graphic symbols. This definition includes but is not limited to flags.
BILLBOARD
An off-premises sign, structure or symbol erected and maintained by a person engaged in the sale or rental for profit of space thereon to a clientele of manufacturing, service or commercial enterprises upon which space there is displayed by means of painting, posting or other method, advertising copy describing a wide variety of projects or services which are not necessarily made, produced, assembled, stored or sold from the lot or premises upon which the advertisement is displayed. This definition does not include a scoreboard.
BUSINESS SIGN
An on-premises sign directing attention to a business, public use (public schools, utility, library, parks, and essential services) and semipublic uses (hospitals, urgent care, churches, and similar uses), commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold or offered on the premises.
DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A sign located at a residential development of 20 or more residential homes or business park of five or more businesses identifying the name of the residential development or business park.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN
A freestanding sign with two identical faces of equal sign area which are back-to-back and no more than two feet apart.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER SIGN
Any sign or portion thereof that displays electronic images, graphics, or pictures with or without textual information, using LEDs, fiber optics, light bulbs, or other illumination devices or combination thereof within the display area and where a static message change sequence is accomplished immediately or by means of fade.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign and supporting structure which is secured in the ground and independent of any building, fence or other support. For the purpose of this definition, freestanding signs consist of the following:
A. 
GROUND SIGNA sign designed to be viewed at eye level or below within the immediate vicinity and which is intended to be designed and viewed as an architecturally unified and proportional element. Ground signs shall be constructed so that the maximum height from mean grade to the lowest area of the sign face does not exceed four feet.
B. 
POLE SIGNA sign which is detached from a building and supported by no more than two poles or other structural supports which are architecturally dissimilar to the design of the sign.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGNS
Any sign for the control of traffic or for identification purposes, street signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs and signs of public utility companies indicating danger or construction, which are erected by or at the order of a public officer, employee or agent thereof in the discharge of his official duties.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign illuminated by electricity, gas or any other artificial light, including but not limited to reflective or phosphorescent light. An illuminated sign may include lighting devices such as any light, string of lights, or group of lights located or arranged so as to cast illumination on a sign. This definition does not include a scoreboard.
MOBILE SIGN
Any vehicle with commercial logos, names, and/or messages covering more than four square feet parked at a location other than the business location for that specific business and/or entity on the vehicle or that of a client during the performance of work and/or business-related activities, which is not at one of those locations for longer than 24 hours, shall be considered a mobile sign.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
Any sign containing informative contents or advertising a product, service, business, or activity sold, located or conducted elsewhere than on the premises on which the sign is located. The word "off-premises sign" includes but is not limited to billboards. Directional, warning and/or other signs posted by officials in the course of their public duties shall not be construed as an off-premises sign.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
Any sign advertising a product, service, business, message or activity sold, located or conducted on the premises on which the sign is located.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, partnership, organization, association, trust, or entity. When used in penalty provision, person shall include members of such partnership, the trustees of such trust, and the officers and/or members of such organization, association, corporation, or entity.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign relating to the election of a person to a public office or a political party or a matter to be voted upon at an election by the general electorate or public.
PREMISES
A descriptive word to include all improvements, buildings, structures and land on or within a lot.
PROPERTY CONTROL SIGN
Signs relating to the oversight and control of real estate, including signs containing the message "No Trespassing," "Private Property," "No Hunting or Fishing," "Posted," "Private Drive" or similar type signs.
PROTRUDING SIGN
An on-premises sign that extends away from the building and/or structure to which it is attached.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A temporary sign indicating the sale, rental or lease of premises on which the sign is placed.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN
A freestanding sign capable of being readily moved or relocated and advertises products, services, and/or commodities of the business and located on the premises of said business or commercial establishment. A sandwich board sign may only be placed outside the building and/or structure of the business or commercial establishment during business hours of the business or commercial establishment.
SCOREBOARD
A scoreboard is an on-premises sign designed to provide information to spectators at athletic events that may or may not contain advertising message or public service announcements located inside an enclosed athletic field located at a property owned by a municipal entity or owned and operated by a nonprofit corporation engaged in providing recreation facilities to the community.
SIGN
Any object, device, display, figure, painting, drawing, message, poster, structure, or other thing, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is designed, intended, or used to advertise, identify, display, direct, inform or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images. Excluded from this definition of signs are national or state flags, window displays, scoreboards, or the official governmental announcements or proclamations.
SIGN AREA
The area of all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background on which they are displayed, but excluding any supporting framework and bracing which are solely incidental to the display itself, provided that the same do not contain any such lettering, wording, designs, or symbols. For the purpose of this chapter, sign area shall be computed as a square or rectangle drawn at the outer limits of the sign face.
A. 
Where the sign consists of a double face, only one side shall be considered for the purpose of calculating the total sign area. Where both sides are not identical or when the interior angle formed by the faces of a sign is greater than 45°, all faces shall be considered in calculating total sign area.
B. 
Any spacing between signs designating different or separate occupants or uses of a building shall not be included in the computed area(s) of regulated signs.
SIGN FACE
The part of the sign area that is or can be used to identify, advertise and communicate information for visual representation which attracts the attention of the public for any purpose. This definition shall include any background material, panel, trim and color used that differentiates the sign from the building or structure on which it is placed. The sign structure shall not be included, provided that no message, display or symbol is designed and included as part of the structure.
SIGN HEIGHT
The distance from the highest portion of the sign, including all structural elements, to mean grade.
TEMPORARY SIGN
An on-premises sign which advertises the services of professionals or building trades during construction or alteration of the premises. Any such sign shall be removed within two days of said professional completing his work on premises.
YARD/GARAGE SALE SIGN
A sign that is located on premises and/or off premises which advertises a sale of personal items of an individual located at a residence within the Borough.
A. 
The intent of this article is to provide for the regulation of signs in the Borough of Waynesboro to protect the public health, safety, and welfare in accordance with the following objectives:
(1) 
To control the size, location, and illumination of signs in order to reduce hazards to pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
(2) 
To encourage signs that are well designed and pleasing in appearance, and to provide latitude for variety in order to enhance the economic value as well as the character of the properties within the Borough.
(3) 
To establish standards designed to encourage signs that are compatible with their surroundings, appropriate to the type of activity to which they pertain, expressive of the individual proprietors, and legible in the circumstances in which they are seen, and to prohibit the erection of signs that do not meet these criteria.
(4) 
To encourage the effective use of signs as a means of identification and communication.
(5) 
To maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment of the Borough.
(6) 
To minimize adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property.
(7) 
To preserve the wholesome and attractive character of the Borough.
B. 
Signs as defined in this article shall be regulated for all uses within all zoning districts.
A. 
All signs, as the same are defined in this chapter, shall be subject to the provisions of this article. All signs located on the premises shall be considered when determining compliance with this chapter.
B. 
All signs shall require a zoning permit except a temporary sign, real estate sign, political sign, property control signs, and governmental signs. Any person desiring a permit for a sign may obtain one by filing the appropriate permit application and the appropriate permit fee with the Zoning Officer. The fee for permits shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.
C. 
No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger traffic on a street by obscuring a clear view or by causing confusion with official street signs or signals by virtue of position or color. No sign shall be placed in a manner on a sidewalk, which interferes with pedestrians and/or those using said walkways (a clear walkway of five feet must be maintained at all times).
D. 
No sign shall be placed within a clear sight triangle as specified in Article II, § 295-8.
E. 
No sign shall be permitted within the public right-of-way, excepting sandwich board signs or banners and other signs used for informational purposes for an event of civic or public interest; provided, however, said banner or sign shall be approved in advance by Borough Council of the Borough of Waynesboro, the property owner consents to such sign being located on the property owned, and which said sign shall conform to all applicable federal state and local laws, rules, and regulations.
F. 
Maximum sign area for building frontage.
(1) 
Building frontage means the architecturally designated front of a building on a public street, parking lot, or pedestrian walk where the primary access to the structure is provided. In the case of buildings located on the corner of two public rights-of-way where the primary entrance of the building is located on the corner of the building, the building frontage is the longer of the two sides which front the public right-of-way. The building front shall be no more than one face of a building.
(2) 
The maximum sign area for building frontage equation shall be:
(a) 
Abbreviations: sq = square feet and bf = linear feet of building frontage.
(b) 
Maximum sign area for building frontage equation:
bf x 1 sf = maximum sign area for building
EXAMPLE:
295 Example Public Right of Way.tif
(3) 
In the event that a building contains a business and any other activity for which signage is permitted, the cumulative signage for the building shall not exceed the least restrictive maximum sign area for the building.
G. 
The following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts:
(1) 
Any sign placed on or over a public sidewalk except as specifically permitted in this article.
(2) 
Any sign which flashes, moves, blinks, animates or emits smoke, steam or other visible particulates or odor except for an electronic message center as regulated herein.
(3) 
Any sign that projects above the roofline of the building on which it is mounted, or any sign affixed to a roof, or mounted over and/or covering any window on the second floor or higher.
(4) 
Spinners, pennants, streamers and any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes, whether or not any of the aforementioned items contains a message unless otherwise set forth in this article.
(5) 
Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal, or device that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street.
(6) 
Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking or twinkling.
(7) 
Balloons of greater than five cubic feet that are tethered to the ground or a structure and are primarily intended for advertising purposes.
(8) 
Signs permanently affixed, placed, maintained, erected, constructed or displayed upon any public property, public street, public sidewalk, public right-of-way, tree, utility pole, stone, cliff and other natural objects except for any government sign, sandwich board sign as permitted in this chapter, or banners and other signs used for informational purposes for an event of civic or public interest as permitted in this chapter.
(9) 
Sign illuminated with flashing, intermittent or moving lights.
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with the following requirements:[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Specific Sign Regulations, included as an attachment to this chapter.
A. 
Billboards, as that term is defined in this Article XI, may be authorized by Borough Council as a conditional use upon a finding that compliance with the requirements of this chapter as well as the following specific criteria have been established by the applicant:
(1) 
The submission by the applicant of a land development application, which shall contain the information, maps, plans and narrative and graphic materials set forth in Chapter 250, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Borough of Waynesboro.
(2) 
All lots upon which billboards are to be located on lots which have frontage:
(a) 
Along S.R. 0016 in the General Commercial District west of Frick Avenue;
(b) 
Along S.R. 0316 in the General Commercial District north of Grandview Avenue; and
(c) 
Along S.R. 0997 in the General Commercial District north of King Street.
(3) 
All lots upon which a billboard is to be located must conform to the area requirements of the district in which it is located. In the event the requirements of this provision are more restrictive than the requirements of a district, these restrictions apply.
(4) 
The leased portion of any lot upon which the advertising sign is to be located shall contain a minimum of 5,000 square feet in area.
(5) 
The display area of a billboard shall be a maximum of 300 square feet (12 feet by 25 feet) per face, only one face per sign structure, and all portions of any display shall fit within such area with no extensions beyond the edge of the billboard's framework.
(6) 
V-shaped billboard sign structures supported by a single structure shall be permitted provided that the inside angle formed by the two sides of the Billboard does not exceed 30°.
(7) 
All utility lines servicing the advertising sign, or those extended to provide such service, must be installed completely underground. Such requirement may be waived if the Billboard is powered by nontraditional alternative energy sources (for example, solar power).
(8) 
All billboards shall be set back from the below described items as follows:
(a) 
From a roadway intersection: 500 feet.
(b) 
From any other billboard (whether such is located in the Borough of Waynesboro or otherwise) on the same side of the roadway: 1,000 feet.
(c) 
From any other billboard (whether such is located in the Borough of Waynesboro or otherwise) on the opposite side of the roadway: 600 feet.
(d) 
From the street right-of-way: 50 feet.
(9) 
The maximum height of a billboard shall not exceed 25 feet, as measured from the grade of the roadway from which the face of the billboard is principally visible, and the bottom edge of the billboard shall be no less than eight feet above the elevation of the adjacent roadway, which height shall be sufficient to prevent unauthorized access upon the billboard.
(10) 
A buffer yard shall be required between a billboard and any adjacent lot(s). Such buffer yard shall be a minimum of 40 feet.
(11) 
The land area utilized for a billboard shall not be otherwise required to support another underlying use upon such lot, including, but not limited to, buffer yard, parking area or setback necessary to any preexisting use upon such lot.
(12) 
All displays on the face of a billboard shall be stationary. Moving, rotating, revolving, or oscillating signs or displays shall be prohibited.
(13) 
Except as otherwise specifically provided within this subsection, illumination of advertising signs shall comply with the requirements of § 295-103.
(14) 
Illumination of the display shall be designed so that it shall be focused on the face of the display itself so as to prevent glare upon the surrounding area. All sources of illumination shall be external and equipped with shields to prevent spillage of light off the display.
(15) 
Except as otherwise may be specified herein, all billboards shall comply with the land development standards contained in Chapter 250, Subdivision and Land Development.
(16) 
Billboards (including any and all supporting structures thereof) shall be dismantled and removed from the premises upon which they are located within 180 days of cessation of use.
(17) 
Billboards shall be constructed to all applicable structural standards for such devices, and all applications for the conditional use approval shall verify compliance with such standards as documented and sealed by a registered engineer.
(18) 
Billboards shall be maintained by their owner in a state of repair so that they are as safe and as functional as when originally installed.
(19) 
No billboard shall be constructed or erected until an applicant thereof has made an application for same (which shall include a copy of a written lease for use of the land if the applicant is not the owner thereof) and paid the applicable fee thereof (as set by separate ordinance or resolution of the Borough Council of the Borough of Waynesboro) and received a permit thereof from the Borough.
(20) 
Billboards shall be permitted only if the provisions of the Outdoor Advertising Control Act of 1971, Act 160, 36 P.S. § 2718.101 et seq., have been met.
(21) 
Before any billboards are erected, the appropriate state and/or federal permits that are required for the erection of a billboard shall be obtained and copies of the same shall be filed at the Borough Office prior to issuance of a signed permit by the Borough.
(22) 
Off-premises advertising signs shall be permitted at an athletic field with a fenced in area used and/or operated by the local school district and/or associated with a nonprofit entity. Such off-premises advertising sign must be located inside and attached to the fence.
B. 
Off-premises mobile signs shall be permitted provided they comply with the following criteria:
(1) 
All lots upon which off-premises mobile signs are to be located shall be on lots which have frontage:
(a) 
Along S.R. 0016 in the General Commercial District west of Frick Avenue;
(b) 
Along S.R. 0316 in the General Commercial District north of Grandview Avenue; and
(c) 
Along S.R. 0997 in the General Commercial District north of King Street.
(2) 
All off-premises mobile signs shall be set back from the below described items as follows:
(a) 
From a roadway intersection: 500 feet.
(b) 
From any other off-premises mobile sign (whether such is located in the Borough of Waynesboro or otherwise) on the same side of the roadway: 1,000 feet.
(c) 
From any other off-premises mobile sign (whether such is located in the Borough of Waynesboro or otherwise) on the opposite side of the roadway: 600 feet.
(d) 
From the street right-of-way: 50 feet.
(3) 
Off-premises mobile signs shall not be illuminated.
(4) 
Off-premises mobile signs shall not be located in the same location or on the same lot for more than 10 days in a calendar month.
(5) 
The owner of the real property where the off-premises mobile sign is to be located must consent, in writing, to the off-premises mobile sign.
Scoreboards are permitted in all districts, provided they conform to the following criteria:
A. 
Only one scoreboard per athletic field and/or venue may be erected on the premises.
B. 
Scoreboards may only be permitted when authorized as a conditional use by the Borough Council of the Borough of Waynesboro.
C. 
Size. Such signs shall have a total maximum size area of 500 square feet with a maximum height of 30 feet.
D. 
Primary purpose. The primary purpose of such signs shall be to transmit the time and/or score and/or any other relevant information regarding such athletic event or any other event taking place to the spectators at the event.
E. 
Accessory use. Such signs shall be permitted to have an accessory use of advertising for off-premises businesses and/or entities; provided, however, such accessory use shall be limited to 25% of the total sign area and in no case shall the size of any single accessory use exceed 25 square feet. This accessory use may include an electronic message board.
F. 
Sign illumination. Such sign shall be permitted to be externally illuminated by electricity, gas, or other artificial light, including reflective or phosphorescent light; provided, however, any illumination shall include lighting devices such as any light, string of lights, or group of lights located or arranged so as to cast illumination on the scoreboard. Such scoreboards shall be located in a position that minimizes the illumination of the scoreboard on neighboring and/or adjacent properties. Total illumination shall not exceed 0.30 lumens at the property line.
G. 
Location. A scoreboard shall be located on premises of any athletic field located at a property owned by a municipal entity, school district, and/or owned and operated by a nonprofit corporation.
Electronic message centers are permitted provided they conform to the following conditions:
A. 
Only one electronic message center may be erected on the premises.
B. 
Electronic message centers may only be permitted as a conditional use by Borough Council.
C. 
Message change. The electronic message center must be programmed so that the displayed message does not change more frequently than one time per seven seconds. In measuring the interval, the seven-second interval will begin when the text or image is first visible and end when the same text and/or image is no longer visible.
D. 
Electronic message centers must be programmed to display static images only. No flashing, blinking, moving, or other distracting features are permitted.
E. 
Electronic message centers shall not flash, scroll, twist or otherwise move during the change of message.
F. 
The electronic message portion of a business sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in size.
G. 
An electronic message center shall not project beyond the property line.
H. 
An electronic message center shall not be erected within 20 feet of an intersection.
Protruding signs are permitted provided they conform to the following conditions:
A. 
Only one protruding sign may be erected on the premises.
B. 
Protruding signs may only be permitted as a conditional use by Borough Council.
C. 
Protruding signs shall not exceed 15 square feet per face.
D. 
Protruding signs may only protrude off the building and/or structure a maximum of six feet.
E. 
Protruding signs must be located a minimum of 10 feet off the mean ground.
Mean ground is the average of the finished ground level at the center of all exposed walls of the building. Where walls are parallel to and within five feet of a sidewalk, the sidewalk shall be considered the mean ground level.
F. 
Protruding signs shall not be mounted over and/or covering any window on the second floor or higher.
G. 
The sign area of the protruding sign shall be considered cumulatively with the sign area of any attached business sign or freestanding sign, which sign(s) shall not exceed the maximum sign area permitted as determined by the maximum sign area building frontage equation.
For signs requiring permits, the following requirements shall apply prior to the erection of said signs:
A. 
Permit applications.
(1) 
Application for a sign and/or zoning permit shall be made from the Zoning Officer of the Borough of Waynesboro.
(2) 
Application shall be made on a form to be provided by the Borough and shall contain the following information and documentation:
(a) 
The name(s) and address(es) of the sign owner and property owner.
(b) 
A drawing to scale, showing the location of the sign with reference to the adjoining lot lines and streets.
(c) 
A drawing to scale, showing all dimensions of the sign. The drawing shall also contain an accurate representation of advertising or informative contents of the sign.
(d) 
A description of the construction materials of the sign, its manner of installation, and a description of the building and/or structure that the sign shall be erected.
(3) 
Each application shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee, as established by the Borough Council.
B. 
All applications shall be reviewed and permits issued by the Zoning Officer. No sign permit shall be issued, except in conformity with the regulations of this article, except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board, pursuant to the procedures established for the issuance of a variance.
C. 
Permit issuance. Following permit application approval, a sign permit will be issued by the Zoning Officer upon receipt of all required fees.
D. 
Upon obtaining a sign permit, the applicant shall obtain a building permit from the Borough Office and follow the necessary procedures to obtain a building permit as outlined in the application and as requested by the Borough.
E. 
If there is any change in location or dimensions of any sign or in advertising or informative contents of a sign, a new permit shall be required.
F. 
Revocation of permits.
(1) 
All permits shall be subject to revocation upon 15 days' written notice for violation of any provision or upon change of information provided in the application.
(2) 
Revocation of a permit shall not be cause for refund of the permit fee.
A. 
Floodlighting shall be so shielded that the source of light shall not be visible from any point of the lot on which the sign, building or structure being illuminated is erected and so that only the sign is directly illuminated.
B. 
All electrified or lighted signs, internally or externally, shall comply with Chapter 123, Uniform Construction Codes, and require an electrical permit and an approved inspection, except the simple plug-in type sign which uses an electrical outlet and which is purchased UL-approved.
C. 
There shall be no illumination of a flashing, intermittent or moving type and such illumination shall not change color or intensity.
Any and all signs found to be dilapidated (reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay, as from age, wear, misuse, or neglect), deteriorated (made or became lower in character, quality or value) or otherwise found to pose a risk to public health, safety, and welfare by the Zoning Officer shall be subject to the following regulations:
A. 
If a sign is declared to be dilapidated, deteriorated, or otherwise found to pose a risk to public health, safety, and welfare by the Zoning Officer, it shall be either repaired or removed at the owner's expense within 30 days after appropriate notice has been given from the Zoning Officer; provided, however, in the event that the Zoning Officer determines that a sign poses and imminent or immediate risk of harm to public health, safety, or welfare it shall be immediately removed by the owner.
B. 
Failure to comply with this provision will mean that the dilapidated or deteriorated sign, regardless of its conformity or nonconformity, is subject to removal by the Borough and the owner shall be billed for the cost thereof.