A. 
Contractors' signs: signs of contractors, architects, engineers, builders, mechanics or other artisans performing work on a property provided that the size of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet, not more than one sign for each such contractor, architect, builder, mechanic or other artisan shall be erected on any one property, and that such signs shall be removed within five days after the completion of work. For projects containing more than 20,000 square feet of floor area and where four or more contractors or trades are involved, a single sign may be displayed advertising all participants up to a maximum of 64 square feet. If the larger, multiple listing sign is used, smaller individual signs shall be prohibited. If a building fronts on two or more streets, a project sign may be displayed on each frontage.
B. 
Historic signs: signs identifying historical points of interest, places, events, or people provided that the sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be no closer than five feet from adjoining property lines. The size and location of any sign placed within the right-of-way of any public street or public alley shall require the approval of the City Engineer.
C. 
Identification signs for residential and related uses: signs displaying the street number or name of the occupant of the premises, or signs identifying a home occupation, including a day care home, provided that the sign shall not exceed two square feet, except that a sign for a day care home shall not exceed four square feet.
D. 
Noncommercial signs: signs containing noncommercial messages constituting a form of personal, political, religious, social or other expression and that are not advertising a product or service, provided that the sign has no internal illumination and the total area of all noncommercial signs on a single property shall not exceed 12 square feet.
E. 
Official signs: Official highway route number signs, street name signs, and other official directional and traffic signs may be erected and maintained in the interest of public safety or for traffic regulation.
F. 
Park and open space signs: Signs identifying public parks and recreation areas shall not exceed 75 square feet.
G. 
Real estate development and promotion signs: signs advertising the sale, development or proposed development of real property by a builder, contractor, developer, or other persons interested in such sale or development, provided that the size of such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet, not more than one such sign shall be erected for each 500 feet of street frontage, and that such sign shall be removed within 20 days after the last dwelling or other permitted use has been initially occupied. If a sign is advertising the development of more than 20,000 square feet of building floor area, the maximum sign area shall be 96 square feet along each street frontage.
H. 
Real estate "for rent" and "for sale" signs: signs advertising the sale or rental of real property, or signs indicating that such property has been rented or sold, provided that the area of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet, not more than one such sign shall be placed on any property held in single and separate ownership, and such signs shall be removed promptly within 20 days after the actual rental or sale of the property has been completed. If a sign is advertising the availability of more than 10,000 square feet of building floor area, the maximum sign area shall be increased to 50 square feet along each street frontage. Also, any existing lawful sign may be temporarily changed in message to advertise the availability of the property for sale or rental.
I. 
Temporary business or advertising signs: temporary signs advertising grand openings, special sales and events, provided such signs do not exceed the maximum permitted sign size for the premises as stipulated in § 255-19, are installed on the premises in accordance with § 255-12, Dimensions and location, and provided said signage is removed within 30 days of its placement or erection.
J. 
Temporary public signs: temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive, or event of a civic, philanthropic, educational, religious or other organization, provided such sign shall not exceed the greater of 50 square feet in area or the maximum size business sign permitted in the district as stipulated in § 255-19 and shall be removed immediately upon the completion of the campaign, drive or event.
K. 
Trespassing and other similar signs: Trespassing signs or signs indicating the private nature of a road, driveway, or premises; and signs prohibiting or otherwise controlling soliciting, fishing or hunting upon a particular premises may be erected and maintained provided that the size of any such sign shall not exceed four square feet.
L. 
Vacant lot or open space signs: Total signage on vacant lots or open space shall not exceed in total square footage the lesser of 50 square feet or 1.5 times the lineal feet of the lot line on each lot frontage. Signs advertising the sale or lease of the lot shall be in accordance with § 255-17H.
A. 
Identification signs for commercial uses: signs identifying a permitted commercial use of the premises, provided that the total square footage of all signs, excluding temporary signs, shall not exceed the total permitted signage as per § 255-19.
B. 
Identification signs for churches, schools, and other institutions: signs identifying a church, school, or other permitted institutional building or use, excluding hospitals, which are regulated by § 255-19J, Signs permitted in HC and DF Districts. The maximum total area of all signs oriented toward the primary front property line shall not exceed 1.5 square feet of signage for each linear foot of primary building frontage, provided that the maximum size of one sign shall not exceed 75 square feet. For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allocated an additional 75 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
C. 
Direction signs: signs which are used for directing patrons, members, or clients to locations off the main traveled streets, provided that such sign shall indicate only the name and direction of a business, service or facility, shall not exceed six square feet, with the exception of the HC District, which shall have a maximum 20 square feet, and shall not be located within the lines of any public right-of-way without approval of the City Engineer.
A. 
Signs permitted in R1 and R2 Districts. In the R1 and R2 Districts, only those signs listed in §§ 255-17 and 255-18 shall be permitted. Identifications signs for a permitted or nonconforming commercial use shall not exceed a total square footage of 20 square feet.
B. 
Signs permitted in all other districts. In addition to the signs listed in §§ 255-17 and 255-18, all other districts shall be permitted to have business or commercial advertising signs as provided for below. For the purpose of calculating maximum sign area or sign size, all business signs and commercial advertising signs are included, provided that signs listed in § 255-17 and billboards shall not be included in these calculations. Total maximum sign area per business or commercial property will be determined by multiplying the number of square feet of signage permitted for each lineal foot of primary building frontage in each district times the width of the primary frontage of a building containing a principal use. Maximum sign size for wall signs comprised solely of individual letters affixed to the building wall may be twice the maximum sign size stipulated below. Maximum signage for outdoor commercial uses, such as self-service gasoline stations or motor vehicle sales, will be determined by applying the sign square footage-lineal foot of frontage ratio established for each zoning district to the total lineal feet of lot frontage.
C. 
Billboards. Billboards shall be permitted in the C3, CM, and SM Districts and regulated in accordance with § 255-12D.
D. 
Signs permitted in R3 District.
(1) 
Type: business signs.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, awning, sidewalk.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 0.75 square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use or multiuse lots, not to exceed a total of 24 square feet.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 24 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 24 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
E. 
Signs permitted in R4 and RO Districts.
(1) 
Type: business signs.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, awning, sidewalk.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.0 square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use or multiuse lots, not to exceed a total of 40 square feet.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 30 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 30 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
F. 
Signs permitted in PO District.
(1) 
Type: business signs, commercial advertising signs.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, arcade, awning.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.0 square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use lots; 1.5 square feet per lineal foot for multiuse lots.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 50 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 50 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
G. 
Signs permitted in the MU, C1 and C2 Districts.
(1) 
Type: business signs, commercial advertising signs.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, arcade, awning, marquee, roof, sidewalk.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.5 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use lots; 2.0 square feet per lineal foot for multiuse lots.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 50 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 50 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
H. 
Signs permitted in CB and CB1 Districts.
(1) 
Type: business signs.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, awning, arcade, marquee, sidewalk.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.5 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use lots; 2.0 square feet per lineal foot for multiuse lots.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 50 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 50 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
I. 
Signs permitted in C3 District.
(1) 
Type: Business sign, commercial advertising signs, billboards as per § 255-12D.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, roof, awning, arcade, marquee.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.5 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use lots; 2.0 square feet per lineal foot for multiuse lots.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 100 square feet if the building is less than 300 feet from the property line. For buildings greater than 300 feet from the property line, the maximum size shall be 200 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 100 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
J. 
Signs permitted in HC and DF Districts.
(1) 
Type: business signs.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, arcade, awning, marquee.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.0 square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 75 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 75 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
K. 
Signs permitted in CM District.
(1) 
Type: business signs, commercial advertising signs, billboards as per § 255-12D.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, awning, marquee, roof, sidewalk.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.0 square foot for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use lots; 1.5 square feet per lineal foot for multiuse lots.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 75 square feet if the building is less than 300 feet from the property line. For a building greater than 300 feet from the property line, the maximum size shall be 150 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 75 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
L. 
Signs permitted in SM District.
(1) 
Type: business signs, commercial advertising signs, billboards as per § 255-12D.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, monument, awning, marquee, roof.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.5 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use lots; 2.0 square feet per lineal foot for multiuse lots.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 150 square feet if the building is less than 300 feet from the property line. For a building greater than 300 feet from the property line, the maximum size shall be 300 square feet.
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted an additional 150 square feet of signage, provided that the additional signage is oriented toward the additional street.
M. 
Signs permitted in the CO Campus Overlay District.
(1) 
Type: business.
(2) 
Structure: wall, projecting, freestanding, arcade, awning, marquee and roof.
(3) 
Maximum sign area per primary building frontage: 1.5 square feet for each lineal foot of building frontage for single-use lots; 2.5 square feet per lineal foot for multiuse buildings.
(4) 
Maximum sign size: 75 square feet if visible from a public street. Wall signs comprised solely of individual letters affixed to the building wall may be twice the maximum size allowed in Subsection M(3).
(5) 
Corner and double frontage lots: For each additional street frontage, the property shall be allotted additional 50 square feet of signage, provided that the signage is oriented toward the additional street.
(6) 
Campus directional signs: Signs intended to direct persons to campus facilities shall be freestanding and not exceed eight feet in height and not more than 20 square feet in area. No more than two directional signs shall be permitted per building or location such as an athletic field. Directional signs shall be in addition to the maximum sign area as per Subsection M(3).
(7) 
Campus identification signs: In addition to the permitted signage for buildings, the campus may have one freestanding sign at each public vehicular entrance and one for a single pedestrian entrance. Campus identification signs shall be limited to 80 square feet.
(8) 
Electronic message board or illuminated signs: One sign shall be permitted for each principal building provided the sign is located at least 100 feet from an adjacent residential district. When an electronic or internally illuminated sign is part of a campus identification sign, the total signage of the campus identification sign shall not exceed 80 square feet per sign side and the two faces shall be in compliance with § 255-10, Computation of sign size.
(9) 
Freestanding and monument signs: All freestanding signs shall meet the height and setback requirements of this chapter as well as any sight triangle requirement.
A. 
Historic District. No sign permit shall be issued for a sign located within the City of Lancaster Historic District prior to the review and comment of the Historical Architectural Board of Review (HARB) and issuance of a certificate of appropriateness by the Lancaster City Council.
B. 
CB and CB1 Districts. No sign permit shall be issued for a sign within the CB and CB1 Districts, excluding the Historic District, prior to the review and approval of the Sign Commission. The review by the Sign Commission shall not apply to signs allowed by § 255-17. No sign permit shall be issued for signs found to be unacceptable by the Sign Commission. Any appeal of the Sign Commission's decision shall be made to City Council.
A. 
Sign Administrator. The Sign Administrator may grant modification requests for increases in the size of individual signs when the applicant illustrates that the larger sign is appropriate to the size of the building and/or its proximity to the public right-of-way as well as its context in the immediate neighborhood, provided that the increase does not exceed the maximum allowed size by more than 25%.
B. 
Sign Commission. The Sign Commission may grant modifications for the following when it determines that there is no detrimental impact on public health, safety and welfare and that the modification will have no negative impact on the building, lot, or immediate neighborhood:
(1) 
Requests that exceed the limitation for approval by the Sign Administrator;
(2) 
Requests that have been denied by the Sign Administrator;
(3) 
Requests to exceed the total allowed signage;
(4) 
Requests for modifications of regulations other than sign size.
C. 
Appeals. Except as provided in § 255-20B, any and all appeals from any decision of the Sign Commission may be taken in accordance with the Local Agency Law[1] of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 2 Pa.C.S.A. § 551 et seq.