This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The City of
Lancaster Sign Ordinance."
The City is authorized to adopt this chapter pursuant to applicable
Pennsylvania law including, but not limited to, 11 Pa.C.S.A. § 12435.
The Council of the City of Lancaster finds and declares that
the provisions of this chapter are enacted for the following reasons:
A. To protect public health, safety and general welfare.
B. To protect and enhance Lancaster City's physical attractiveness
and historic quality.
C. To enhance Lancaster's economic environment by promoting and
regulating signage that enables businesses and institutions to bring
adequate public attention to their locations in a manner that is compatible
with immediate surroundings.
D. To avoid and reduce sign or advertising distractions and obstructions
that may contribute to traffic accidents, create hazards for pedestrians,
and impede the travel path for persons with disabilities.
E. To prevent visual blight caused by excessive signage cluttering building
facades and public rights-of-way.
Within the City of Lancaster signs shall only be erected, altered,
maintained or used in accordance with the provisions of this chapter,
and shall require sign permits in accordance with the fee schedule
established by resolution of City Council. In addition to the sign
permit, which addresses compliance with this chapter, a separate building
permit, with an additional fee requirement, may be required for electrical
signs, for freestanding, projecting, wall, and roof signs, and for
other signs of a structural or combustible nature. Both a sign permit
as per this chapter and a building permit shall require the satisfactory
completion of an application form as provided by the Sign Administrator
and the Codes Compliance Administrator. Permits must be obtained by
the installer of the sign or by the property owner/occupant prior
to the installation of the sign.
Sign permit fees shall be paid by the applicant at the time
of filing a sign permit application with the Sign Administrator. Application
fees for sign permits as per this chapter shall be based upon a schedule
established by City Council resolution.
In their interpretation and application, the provisions of this
chapter shall be minimum requirements. Wherever the requirements of
this chapter are at variance with the requirements of any other lawfully
adopted rules, regulations, ordinances, deed restrictions or covenants,
the most restrictive, or that imposing the highest standards, shall
govern.
Article
IX, Signs, of Chapter
300, Zoning, of the City Code is hereby specifically repealed, as well as all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith; provided that sign applications currently filed with the Zoning Officer or for which permits have been issued prior to adoption of this Chapter
255 shall be processed and reviewed under the Zoning Ordinance sign regulations in place at the time of sign application. However, the repeal shall in no manner be construed as a waiver, release or relinquishment of the right to initiate, pursue or prosecute, as the case may be, any proceeding at law or in equity, including criminal or civil proceedings, pertaining to any act done which would have constituted a violation of the ordinances or parts of ordinances repealed hereby, or their applicable predecessor ordinances, and all provisions of said repealed ordinances shall remain in full effect and force, and not repealed hereby, as they pertain to said acts.