Township of North Coventry, PA Chapter 293 Signs, Temporary

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of North Coventry 7-10-2017 by Ord. No. 145. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Zoning  — See Ch. 370.

§ 293-1 Applicability.

Any temporary sign hereafter erected, altered, or maintained shall conform with the provisions of this chapter and any other applicable articles, ordinances, or regulations of the Township of North Coventry.

§ 293-2 General provisions.

A. Temporary signs shall be permitted for the following purposes:

(1) Public or community events, political events or campaigns, charitable fundraising events, conventions and religious events or any notice of general public interest.

(2) Public auctions and sales for the disposal of real estate, personal or corporate property or merchandise.

(3) Business or commercial signs for advertising on the premises such events that are considered to be necessary for the conduct of business beyond the normal day-to-day operations, such as grand openings, going-out-of-business, bankrupt or fire sales. Signs advertising daily specials or other ordinary incentives to purchase or participate are permitted.

B. Authorized temporary signs, except for signs advertising daily specials or other ordinary incentives to purchase or participate, may be displayed 30 days prior to the advertised event and must be removed within 72 hours after the close of the event. The person or entity erecting and maintaining a temporary sign acknowledges, by so erecting and/or maintaining such sign, that the sign is to be removed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and failing to do so, the Township may cause the sign to be removed and seek administrative costs for the removal and disposal of such sign.

C. Unless expressly provided otherwise herein, the size, construction, location and use of temporary signs shall not exceed the limits of a permanent sign for the location as set forth in the North Coventry Zoning Ordinance.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 370, Zoning.

D. Temporary signs shall be placed so as not to obstruct access to or from any door, window, fire escape or ventilating equipment, nor be attached to any standpipe or fire escape.

E. Such signs shall be placed so as not to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic or create a safety hazard.

F. No temporary signs shall be posted on the property of another without the express written consent of the property owner.

G. No offsite temporary sign shall advertise for the sale or lease of real estate outside of the Township. An offsite temporary sign is a commercial advertising sign that advertises the sale and business activity or event that is to take place at the premises where the sign is located.

H. No temporary sign shall be flashing, rotating, or a revolving sign.

I. No temporary sign shall be suspended between two points and/or lighted by a series of lights.

J. No temporary sign consisting of either pennants or spinners shall be suspended between two points except as approved by the Board of Supervisors.

K. No temporary sign shall be erected, painted, or drawn on a tree or rock or other natural feature.

L. No temporary sign shall be a banner sign or sign of any other type across a public street unless authorized by the Board of Supervisors and PennDOT if such road is a state road.

M. No temporary sign shall contain information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of the North Coventry Township Zoning Chapter.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: See Ch. 370, Zoning.

N. No temporary sign shall be an electronic sign.

§ 293-3 Temporary signs not requiring a permit.

The following temporary signs shall not require a permit if erected in compliance with the following regulations.

A. Temporary signs of contractors and artisans, erected and maintained on the premises during the period of their work, one such sign per trade, each having an area not more than six square feet.

B. Temporary yard or garage sale signs, provided they do not exceed four square feet in area, are erected no more than two days before the first day of the sale, and are removed within two days after the sale. No more than three temporary off-premises signs shall be permitted and permission shall be obtained from the landowner to post such signs.

C. A sign, bunting, or pennants announcing the opening of a new business or industry provided they are removed within seven days of the opening day or first day of business.

D. Temporary window signs announcing a drive or event of civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization, less than four square feet, placed in a store or office window.

E. Real estate signs shall be permitted, subject to the following standards:

(1) Real estate signs shall not exceed six square feet in area in residential districts and 24 square feet in area in all other districts.

(2) Corner lots may have one such sign for each street frontage.

(3) Such signs shall be located on the property for which they are advertising.

(4) Such signs shall be removed within five days after a final settlement or rental agreement has been reached.

F. Construction/development signs shall be permitted, subject to the following standards:

(1) Construction/development signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area in residential districts and 35 square feet in area in all other districts.

(2) Corner lots may have one such sign for each street frontage.

(3) Such signs shall be located on the property to which they relate.

(4) Such signs shall be removed within 20 days after the final inspection by the Township Building Inspector or 18 months after the erection of the sign, whichever comes first.

G. Political signs shall be permitted as temporary signs, provided that:

(1) Signs shall not exceed four square feet in area, except at a polling place, in which case no sign shall exceed 24 square feet in area.

(2) Signs shall be removed within seven days after the election or referendum.

(3) Any site or building on which the sign is erected shall be restored to its original or better condition upon removal of the sign.

(4) No person shall post any sign of any kind whatsoever upon private property without the permission of the property owner.

(5) Political signs are expressly prohibited on any Township-owned property or Township-designated open space. The only exception is on election days, when political signs are permitted for that day and only at polling places.

H. Municipal signs, emergency posting or signs by the police or Township, and approved temporary signs by the Township including the Norco Fire Company Fair and the Coventry Woods Festival and other municipal event signs.

§ 293-4 Temporary signs requiring a permit.

The following temporary signs require a permit and shall be erected in compliance with the following regulations:

A. Temporary signs announcing special events or the temporary lawful sale of products, goods, and/or services, such as the sale of Christmas trees, shall be permitted, provided that:

(1) Permits shall run for a one-month period. Temporary window signs, as described in § 293-3C above, shall not require a permit.

(2) Signs shall comply with all pertinent regulations applicable to permanent type signs. Sign permits shall be issued only when the use proposed is permitted by the underlying zoning district.

(3) No such sign shall be posted earlier than three weeks before the occurrence of the event to which it relates.

(4) Signs shall be removed upon expiration of the permit or within one week after the date of the special event or the last day of sales, whichever comes first.

(5) Any site or building on which the sign was erected shall be restored to its original or better condition upon expiration of the permit.

B. Any business, individual or organization may display a special-event sign. A maximum of two special-event signs may be displayed for up to 30 days prior to a special event no more than three times per year.

C. Portable signs.

(1) A portable sign which is a type of temporary sign, with or without display or legend, which is self-supporting without being firmly imbedded in the ground, or is fixed on a movable stand or mounted on wheels or movable vehicles, or made easily movable in some other manner. Portable signs also include search light stands and hot air or gas filled balloons or such other aerial signs or devices.

(2) Portable signs shall be allowed only for temporary display and shall be subject to the following provisions:

(a) Permits shall be issued for a one-month period for portable signs. Permits for portable signs shall be issued no more than twice in any one calendar year.

(b) No more than one portable sign shall be allowed per premises.

(c) In addition to the payment of the permit fee for the portable sign, the applicant must deposit in escrow as established by the Township fee schedule, as a guarantee that the portable sign shall be removed at the end of the authorized period. If not removed within 10 days of the permit expiration date, the Township shall remove the sign and keep the sum necessary from the escrow amount to cover the expense incurred in removal.

(d) Portable signs shall comply with all pertinent regulations applicable to permanent type signs permitted in the underlying district, including maximum area and height requirements for ground signs. Portable signs shall not be permitted in the residential or farm-residential districts.

§ 293-5 Violations and penalties.

Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township before a district justice, pay a fine of not more than $500, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees as allowed, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this chapter. No judgment shall be imposed until the date of determination of the violation by the district judge. The Township may also enforce judgment pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure and the appropriate officers or agents of the Township including the North Coventry police officers or Code Enforcement Officers who are hereby authorized to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith. Each day the violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.

§ 293-6 Miscellaneous.

A. Severability. The provisions of this chapter are severable, and should any article, section, subsection, paragraph, clause, phrase, or provision of this chapter be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole or any part or provision thereof other than the part so declared to be invalid.

B. Savings clause. This chapter shall not affect any act done or any offense committed prior to its effective date, nor affects and action to enforce any prior ordinance to punish any offense against a prior ordinance, nor any conduct that is protected under the Pennsylvania and/or United States Constitutions.

C. Permits. Applications for temporary signs requiring permits shall be made by using the application form prepared by the Township. Permit fees shall be established by resolution duly adopted by the Board of Supervisors and amended as necessary.

D. When effective. This chapter shall become effective five days after adoption.