[Amended 2-26-2001 by Ord. No. 01-02]
In all use districts within the Borough of Merchantville, signs
may be erected, altered, maintained, used, removed or moved, only
when in compliance with the provisions of this Article and any and
all other ordinances and regulations of the Borough of Merchantville
relating to the erection, alteration, maintenance, use, removal or
moving of signs and similar devices.
Any sign that is not expressly permitted by the ordinance or
regulation of the Borough of Merchantville shall be prohibited.
A.
The overall height of ground signs permitted herein shall not exceed
five (5) feet above the ground, except that signs over eighteen (18)
square feet may extend to an overall height of not more than ten (10)
feet above the ground, and an open space of at least three (3) feet
in height shall be maintained between the bottom of the sign and the
ground, provided that necessary supports may extend through such spaces.
B.
Identification signs for schools, churches, municipal buildings and
similar uses are allowed, provided that the size of any one (1) side
of any such sign shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet. Such signs
shall be limited to one (1) per street frontage.
C.
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it may cause danger
to traffic on a street by obscuring vision.
D.
All signs in any district shall comply with all provisions and requirements
of the Building Code of the Borough of Merchantville and its amendments
or supplements governing same, including the wind-load requirements.
E.
No portion of any sign erected in a residential district shall be
situated within two (2) feet of the back edge of the sidewalk.
F.
Illumination of signs. Signs with internal illumination are not allowed.
Only external illumination of signs by incandescent flood lamps is
allowed.
[Added 2-26-2001 by Ord.
No. 01-02]
A.
The following signs are permitted when located on the same lot or
property of the permitted use to which each refers:
(1)
One (1) nonilluminated or one (1) illuminated nonflashing white-light
sign on the grounds of a single-family dwelling, appertaining to professional
use, provided that the sign does not exceed three (3) square feet
in area and bears only the name and occupation of the practitioner.
(2)
One (1) nonilluminated sign affixed to the wall of a multiple dwelling
or a professional office use in the R-1 District, provided that each
sign does not exceed one and one-half (1 1/2) square feet in
area and bears only the name and occupation of the practitioner.
(3)
One (1) nonilluminated or one (1) illuminated nonflashing white-light
sign, appertaining to a multiple dwelling, provided that such sign
does not exceed six (6) square feet in area.
(4)
One (1) nonilluminated sign advertising the sale or rental of a building
or lot, provided that such sign does not exceed six (6) square feet
in area. In case such a building or lot fronts on more than one (1)
street, similar signs may be erected on each frontage.
(5)
One (1) nonilluminated sign bearing the words "sold" or "rented"
with the name of the person affecting the sale or rental, provided
that such sign complies with the regulations as provided in paragraph
(4) above, and provided further that such sign shall be removed within
seven (7) days after installation.
(6)
Nonilluminated signs bearing the name and profession or trade of
each firm performing construction or repair work on the premises,
provided that such individual signs do not exceed six (6) square feet
in area and are removed upon completion of the work.
(7)
For each street frontage, two (2) nonilluminated or two (2) illuminated
nonflashing white-light signs appertaining to a church, convalescent
or nursing home, school or other institution of a similar nature,
provided that such signs do not exceed a total of eighteen (18) square
feet in area per frontage.
(8)
For each street frontage, one (1) nonilluminated or one (1) illuminated
nonflashing white-light sign appertaining to a civic or service organization
or club, provided that such sign does not exceed twelve (12) square
feet in area per frontage.
(9)
One residential sign of professional appearance not to exceed 1.5
square feet in size attached to the dwelling, or to the dwelling's
mailbox, post or lamp post, which may set forth the names of the residents,
the address and street name and also may include a logo, symbol or
house number.
[Added 2-26-2001 by Ord.
No. 01-02]
(10)
One historical identification sign, which may identify an historic
structure or site, and may provide information about the significance
of the structure or site, and shall be posted by a governmental entity
or agency, or by the Merchantville Historical Society, the Camden
County Historical Society, the New Jersey Historical Society or the
Daughters of the American Revolution. Historical Identification Signs
shall not exceed 1.5 square feet in size.
[Added 2-26-2001 by Ord.
No. 01-02]
B.
Signs necessary to public welfare, posted or erected by public authority,
or advertisements required by law are not intended to be regulated
by this chapter.
[Added 2-12-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-03]
There shall be no sign permit required for any of the following
kinds of signs:
A.
Commercial informational signs.
B.
Legal nonconforming signs.
C.
Official signs.
D.
Political signs.
E.
Residential signs.
F.
Temporary signs.
G.
Temporary interior advertising signs.
H.
A-frame signs.
I.
Bill-of-fare signs and/or menus.
J.
Flags.
K.
Signs relettered on the same signboard using the same colors and
fonts.
L.
Any mobile sign, except that a business may have one A-frame sign
immediately adjacent to its property unless the business faces multiple
streets, in which case the business may have one A-frame sign per
adjoining street.
[Added 2-12-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-03]
A.
Restaurants shall be permitted to display either Subsection A(1) or (2) below, in addition to their primary sign with restaurant name and description:
(1)
A menu of food and/or beverages placed in the restaurant window
or a bill-of-fare/menu sign in a display case mounted on the exterior
of the restaurant building facade. Such window menu or display case
shall not exceed 1.5 square feet in area.
(2)
A bill of fare of food and/or beverage offerings on a freestanding,
one-sided easel/pedestal, a double-sided A-frame sign or on a one-sided
wall-mounted board with erasable text wherein such text shall not
exceed six square feet in area and shall be removed at the end of
the business day. White boards are not permitted on freestanding signs
or wall-mounted signs.
[Added 2-12-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-03]
A.
One flag shall be permitted for each storefront or building.
B.
Any displayed flag shall be installed so that the bottom edge of
the flag shall be at least seven feet above the pavement, walkway,
sidewalk, and/or step.
C.
The flag may be displayed only for decorative purposes and/or for
an expression of patriotism.
D.
The flag may be displayed on a flagpole mounted to the exterior of
a building or storefront or mounted freestanding.
E.
The flag dimensions shall not exceed three feet in width, five feet
in length and a total area of 15 square feet.
F.
A sign permit is not required for the display of a flag.
G.
This section does not apply to and does not prohibit and/or regulate
the display of flags on a single-family residence, two-family residence
and on any federal, state, or local governmental structure or building.
A.
Scope. In the B-1 and B-2 Districts, signs may be erected, altered,
maintained, used, removed or moved only in compliance with the provisions
of this section. Approval of a sign may be granted only when such
sign conforms to the historical or distinctive character of the building.
B.
General regulations.
(1)
Allowed signs. Overhanging signs, building face signs, window and
door glass signs, freestanding signs, temporary signs, directional
signs and traffic control signs are allowed as specifically provided
herein.
(2)
Restrictions applying to all allowed signs.
(a)
Signs may be placed only on the principal frontage of a building
facing a public street or public parking lot having a principal entrance
used by the public. The use of allowable signs by first floor uses
and by those uses which lie above or below the first floor are limited
as specifically set forth herein. A first floor use located at the
intersection of two (2) public streets shall be allowed to place signs
on each of the two (2) street frontages, with each street frontage
regulated separately.
(b)
Total area. The total area of all signs on each street frontage
shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the width of the street facade
of the building multiplied by twelve (12) feet. [e.g., a building
which is twenty-five (25) feet in width at the street frontage is
multiplied by ten percent (10%), resulting in two and one-half (2 1/2)
feet, which is then multiplied by twelve (12) feet, yielding a total
allowable sign area of thirty (30) square feet.] Where there are multiple
tenants on the first floor of a building, the sign area limitation
shall apply to that portion of the first floor street frontage which
is occupied by the use which proposes the sign. Directional signs
which are less than three (3) square feet and traffic control signs
which conform to New Jersey Department of Transportation requirements
shall be permitted but shall not be included in the calculation of
total sign area.
[1]
The area of a sign shall be calculated by multiplying its greatest
width by its greatest height, including any frame but exclusive of
any device solely providing support. For signs which consist of letters
or other graphics applied directly to a building surface, the area
shall be calculated by enclosing the letters or other graphics with
the smallest rectangle which can contain all the letters or other
graphics and calculating the area of the rectangle by multiplying
its width by its height.
[2]
A registered trademark, logo or iconographic sign shall be a
part of the sign or separate from the principal sign as a second sign.
The area of this type of display shall be considered as a part of
total sign area allowed and shall be determined by enclosing it with
the smallest rectangle which can contain the display and calculating
the area of the rectangle by multiplying its width by its height.
This separate calculation of sign area for a trademark, logo or iconographic
sign can be applied even if the display item is an integral part of
a single sign with other information.
[3]
Two-sided signs shall be measured by using the surface of one
(1) side only. Signs with more than two (2) sides shall be measured
by using the surface of the greatest number of sides which is visible
at one (1) time.
(c)
Professionally made signs only. Only signs created and built
by professional sign fabricators are allowed.
(d)
Illumination of signs. Signs with internal illumination are
not allowed. Only external illumination of signs by incandescent flood
lamps is allowed.
(e)
Sign content. The sign copy or message allowed on signs is limited
to the following:
(f)
Lettering style and sign graphics. Lettering for primary copy
shall be of a serif, script or other decorative lettering style. Lettering
for secondary copy may be of any lettering style.
(g)
Materials for signs. Signs shall be made of durable materials
such as steel, bronze, copper, aluminum, painted or preserved wood
or other material which can be shown to be durable. Plastic may be
used for incidental components of signs, including applied letters
and graphics or as a facing applied to a panel of a durable material.
Plastic may be used for structural components of signs or for panels
forming or supporting the sign's display area, provided that the plastic
is shown to be durable, suited for the intended use and compatible
in appearance and intent with the durable materials listed in the
first sentence of this subsection.
(h)
Structural requirements. All signs shall be of sound construction
and shall be permanently affixed to either the ground or building,
as defined for each particular allowable sign, in a manner conforming
with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.
(i)
Maintenance. All signs shall be periodically maintained by the
owner of said signs in order to assure that the signs are not dangerous
to the safety of others. If a sign is determined to be unsafe by an
enforcement official of the Borough of Merchantville, it shall be
repaired by the owner of said sign within fourteen (14) days of a
notice requiring said repair. Otherwise, said unsafe sign shall be
immediately removed by the owner. If said unsafe sign is not removed
by the owner, the borough shall be empowered to remove said sign and
to assess the owner of said sign an administrative fee of one hundred
dollars ($100.), a sign removal fee of an additional one hundred dollars
($100) and those fines which are otherwise authorized by this chapter.
Signs which do not conform with the requirements of this chapter and
which are in an unsafe condition and cannot be repaired or which have
been displaced from their structural supports shall not be permitted
to be restored or replaced unless they are brought into compliance
with the standards of this chapter.
(j)
Abandoned uses. All signs and their related supporting structures
which pertain to a use or business which is no longer in existence
or operation at that location shall be removed within thirty (30)
days from the date said use or business ceases to exist or operate.
If said signs are not removed by the owner, the borough shall be empowered
to remove said signs and to assess the owner of said signs an administrative
fee of one hundred dollars ($100.), a sign removal fee of an additional
one hundred dollars ($100) and those fines which are otherwise authorized
by this chapter. Subsequent uses or businesses shall make an application
for a new sign. All variances granted from this code, or nonconforming
characteristics of the preexisting sign, shall not be allowed to continue
or apply to any new signs. This shall apply whether or not a prior
owner has complied with this regulation by removing the preexisting
sign.
(k)
Real estate signs. Real estate signs are permitted in the B-1
or B-2 District in accordance with the following requirements:
[1]
They shall not be illuminated.
[2]
They shall not pertain to any property other than the one at
which it is posted.
[3]
They shall not exceed six (6) square feet in area.
[4]
They shall be removed within seven (7) business days after the
closing or settlement on said property or the execution of a lease.
(3)
Prohibited signs.
(a)
Colored, flashing, blinking, twinkling, internally lit, animated
or moving signs of any type or signs which present an illusion of
movement are prohibited. Signs which incorporate a clock with conventionally
moving hands and signs which incorporate digital time and temperature
displays are permitted as part of an otherwise allowable sign as set
forth herein, and the sign area for the portion of the sign which
includes such an item shall be computed in the same manner as a sign
that incorporates a logo.
(b)
Exposed-tube neon signs are prohibited. However, those which
reflect the period of an historically significant building may be
acceptable, but in no case shall lettering exceed six (6) inches in
height nor shall said sign exceed three (3) feet in width.
(c)
No sign shall be erected or maintained on a lot, tract or parcel,
including any improvement thereon, unless the message on the sign
directly relates to the use of said lot, tract or parcel.
(d)
Flags, banners, strings of banners, pennants, pinwheels, A-type
signs, sidewalk signs, curb signs and similar advertising devices
and search lights, balloons or other gas-filled figures are prohibited.
(e)
Portable signs are prohibited.
(f)
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it causes or
is likely to cause danger to vehicular or pedestrian traffic on any
street, sidewalk or right-of-way. No sign other than an official sign
may be placed within the right-of-way of any street within the borough.
However, overhanging signs shall be permitted to extend from the building
into the right-of-way in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(g)
No sign shall be attached, affixed or painted on trees, fences,
rocks, curbs, walks, hydrants or benches, except for warning signs,
as defined herein, such as "No trespassing." No sign of any type shall
be attached to utility poles.
(h)
No billboards, billboard-type signs or rooftop signs shall be
erected or maintained on any lot or in any location within the borough.
(i)
No vehicle shall be regularly parked, stopped or located in
such a manner as to be used as or considered as a sign.
C.
Specific regulations for allowed signs.
(1)
Overhanging signs.
(a)
General. One (1) overhanging sign is allowed per principal street/ground
floor use. Overhanging signs are allowed only for uses which are at
the street or ground floor. The supports for overhanging signs shall
be made of metal with the design in keeping with the character of
the district.
(b)
Area. Overhanging signs shall be no more than six (6) square
feet.
(c)
Position. Overhanging signs shall be hung perpendicular to the
building face and shall be positioned so that the maximum projection
from the outer edge of the sign to the front plane of the building
does not exceed three (3) feet. The distance between the ground and
the bottom of the sign shall be no less than nine (9) feet. Overhanging
signs shall be permitted to extend beyond the front lot line.
(2)
Building face signs.
(a)
General. For a single above-street use, a building face sign
may identify the name of the business. For multiple above street uses,
a building face sign may identify only the name and address of the
building. Awnings and signs on awnings, which are included in the
definition of building face signs, may not be illuminated.
(b)
Area. All building face signs shall be included in the total
sign area.
(c)
Position. For principal street/ground floor uses, signs shall
be painted, applied or fastened securely to the face of the building
in a position corresponding to the space occupied by the use. For
above-street uses, building face signs shall be placed adjacent to
the door serving the lobby or stairway which is the primary entrance
to the space occupied by the use. In any event, no portion of any
sign shall be higher than eighteen (18) feet above ground elevation.
Awnings shall be permitted to extend beyond the front lot line.
(d)
Signs on awnings. Building face signs may be placed only on
the flap of awnings. Flaps shall extend no lower than eight (8) inches
below the bottom frame of the awning, and no lower than seven and
one-half (7 1/2) feet above the ground. The flap shall be considered
to be the length of awning fabric which extends below the lowest framing
member of the awning and shall be unrestrained at the lower edge of
the flap. Any portion of an awning which is fastened to a frame at
the bottom edge of the fabric shall not be considered a flap.
(3)
Window and door-glass signs.
(a)
General. Only one (1) window or door-glass sign is allowed per
use per principal street frontage. Window and door-glass signs shall
be painted on the window glass or consist of permanently applied plastic
film.
(b)
Area. For principal street/ground floor uses, window signs shall
not exceed forty percent (40%) of the window area, and the area of
the window sign shall be included in the total sign area allowed herein.
For uses above the ground floor, window signs shall be no more than
thirty percent (30%) of the overall window area. Door-glass signs
shall be no more than thirty percent (30%) of the overall glass area,
and they shall be included in the total sign area allowed herein.
(c)
Position. Window signs shall be placed only on fixed, nonoperable
window panes.
(4)
Freestanding signs.
(a)
General. Freestanding signs shall be permanently attached to
the ground. One (1) freestanding sign is allowed per building. Freestanding
signs are only allowed where the building occupied by the use is thirty
(30) feet or more from the street frontage of the lot on which the
building sits.
(b)
Area. Freestanding signs shall be no more than fifteen percent
(15%) of the area of the wall of the building facing the street frontage
of the lot on which the building sits nor shall it exceed twenty-five
(25) square feet. The area of the wall shall be considered to be the
width of the street facade of the building multiplied by twelve (12)
feet.
(c)
Position. Freestanding signs shall only be placed on land owned
or leased by the person. Freestanding signs shall not exceed ten (10)
feet in height, and all portions of the sign shall be set back from
the sidewalk a minimum of two (2) feet.
(5)
Temporary signs.
(a)
General. Temporary signs are allowed only within the window
area of principal street/ground floor uses. They shall be typed, typeset
or brush lettered or shall use decorative hand calligraphy or hand
lettering which is presented in a form which is compatible in appearance.
Ordinary handwritten signs are not allowed.
[1]
Intermittent display. Temporary signs displayed on an intermittent
basis are allowed without application to the borough and within the
limits set forth herein. The intermittent display of temporary signs
is limited to a maximum of twenty-one (21) days of display, with a
minimum period of twenty-one (21) days between such displays. The
dates of the period of display shall be posted on the temporary sign.
[2]
Continuous display. Where continuous display of temporary signs
is desired, it shall be limited as set forth herein. The temporary
sign display area shall be identified within a designated window.
This area shall be marked with an unobtrusive black line inked onto
the window surface. Temporary signs are not permitted outside this
display area. When there are continuous displays of temporary signs
without the designation of a display area, and without the review
and approval of such a display area by the borough, the party shall
be informed by the borough of the requirement for a designated display
area and shall make application to the borough for the designation
of such a display area.
(b)
Area. Temporary signs shall occupy no more than thirty percent
(30%) of the area of the window in which they are displayed. Temporary
sign display areas shall occupy no more than thirty percent (30%)
of the area of the window in which they are designated.
(c)
Position. Temporary signs shall be placed along the lower edge
of the window in which they are displayed. Temporary sign display
areas shall occupy the bottom area of the window in which they are
designated.
(d)
Special events. Any person may have one (1) temporary sign permit
for an unusual commercial event, such as a grand opening. Said temporary
sign or signs shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the width of
the street facade of the building multiplied by twelve (12) feet for
that portion of the building to which the sign is attached, and said
sign shall not exceed in length the width of the street facade of
the building. Said temporary sign or signs shall be attached to the
building and shall not extend more than eighteen (18) inches from
the facade, and they shall not extend above the roofline of the building.
No more than three (3) such signs shall be permitted under any temporary
sign permit. Such permit shall be valid for no less than fifteen (15)
consecutive days, and it shall not exceed a total of thirty (30) days
in any two (2) consecutive six-month periods. At least six (6) months
shall elapse between the starting dates of such permits.
Signs relating solely to the candidacy of any person for a public
office or pertaining to a public question which will appear on a ballot
shall be permitted, provided that such signs shall be displayed no
earlier than four (4) weeks prior to any election in which such person
is a candidate or such issue is submitted to the voters, and the sign
shall be removed within five (5) days after the election. Any sign
erected pursuant to this section shall be unlighted and shall not
exceed nine (9) square feet in area. No more than one (1) sign shall
be permitted on any lot.
