[1979 Code § 64-139; Ord. No. 10-97 §§ 86 — 89; Ord. No.
2011-12 §§ 1, 2; Ord. No. 2017-02]
a.
Permits for Signs. Except for signs as permitted in Subsections b, d, p, and r below, no sign shall be constructed or displayed unless a permit shall have first been obtained from the Construction Official and/or Zoning Officer, as applicable. If there is any question as to the suitability of any sign or as to its meeting the requirements of this chapter, either the Construction Official or the Zoning Officer may refer the application for the sign to the Planning Board, who shall submit a report of its findings to the Construction Official or the Zoning Officer, as the case may be, immediately after its first regular meeting following receipt of the sign application. Any sign permit issued by the Construction Official shall be put into effect or work commenced within one year after the date issued or the permit shall be null and void.
b.
Temporary safety, traffic, directional and warning signs approved
by the Governing Body shall be permitted in all zones.
c.
Any moving sign or device designed to attract attention, including
fluttering or rotating devices such as but not limited to pennants,
flags, propellers, discs, etc., are prohibited in all zones; provided,
however, that moving signs associated with the opening of a new establishment
may be permitted for a period not to exceed 15 days. No sign or advertising
structures may be erected which direct attention to a business, commodity,
service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than
upon the premises upon which the sign is located.
d.
Signs which are required by any provision of law and signs deemed
necessary to the public welfare by the Governing Body may be located
in any zone.
e.
No sign shall be placed as to interfere with or be mistaken for a
traffic light or similar safety device or interfere with traffic visibility.
f.
All illuminated signs must comply with the following regulations:
[Amended 5-20-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-05]
1.
All
lights used for the illumination of any sign shall be completely shielded
from view of vehicular traffic and shall be directed so as to prevent
glare onto adjacent properties. Lights used for the illumination of
said premises or of any sign thereon, whether or not such lights are
attached to or separate from the building, shall not project light
above the highest elevation of the illuminated wall of the building.
2.
External
neon signs are prohibited.
3.
No sign
shall be illuminated from an internal light source unless it complies
with the following requirements:
(a)
All internally illuminated signs shall be designed to minimize glare.
(b)
The light source shall not be visible from outside the sign and shall
be diffused to eliminate hot spots.
(c)
Internally illuminated signs may not be located within a residential
zone or within 100 feet of or an existing residence.
4.
Signs
utilizing digital/LED lettering, also known as "electronic message
boards (EMB)," may be permitted only following Land Use Board approval
via a site plan application.
g.
No sign as permitted shall extend or project above the highest elevation
of the wall to which it is attached nor shall any sign be erected
on or attached to the roof of a building.
h.
Any illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining roof lines,
doors, windows or wall edges of any building, except Christmas decorations,
is prohibited.
i.
Any sign that uses the word "stop" or "danger" or otherwise presents
or implies the need or requirement of stopping or caution or the existence
of danger or which is likely to be confused with any sign displayed
by public authority is prohibited.
j.
No banner-type sign shall be permitted in any location in the Township,
except where in celebration of public events or to call attention
to dates of holidays of public significance and in such cases only
when erected by the Township itself or authorized by the Governing
Body.
k.
The following exemptions shall apply only to the requirement for
a sign permit and shall not be construed as relieving the owner of
the sign from the responsibility for its erection and maintenance
in good and safe condition:
1.
Memorial tablets or signs, names of buildings and date of erection
when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or
other noncombustible materials.
2.
Traffic or other municipal signs, legal notices, railroad crossing
signs, danger signs and such temporary emergency signs as may be erected
by governmental or public utility employees in carrying out their
official work.
3.
Names on mailboxes.
4.
Signs used on property, warning the public against hunting or trespassing
thereon.
5.
Display of the national or State flag.
6.
Any flag, badge or insignia customarily displayed by any governmental
agency, civic, fraternal, religious or similar organization.
7.
Temporary displays or lighting as a customary part of holiday decorations.
l.
No advertising sign shall be erected or located on, within or over
any public right-of-way.
m.
There shall be permitted one wall or ground identification sign,
not to exceed 24 square feet, located on the premises of places of
worship; Sunday school buildings; public libraries; hospitals; museums;
art galleries; parish houses; buildings used exclusively by Federal,
State, County and local government for public purposes; public, private
and parochial schools; and public recreational and community center
buildings and grounds. No such sign shall be located closer than 15
feet to a property line or street right-of-way line.
n.
Wall or ground traffic directional and traffic safety signs containing
such wording as "one-way," "do not enter," "stop," "enter" and "exit"
may be located on a property in any zone, provided that the locations
and sizes of such signs are approved by the Planning Board.
o.
Customary warning or "no trespassing" signs, not more than one square
foot in area, may be displayed in any zone.
p.
Not more than four signs advertising the sale and price of seasonal
farm produce, provided that the total area of such signs does not
exceed 32 square feet, are permitted in all zones.
q.
A temporary sign advertising the prospective sale or rental of the
premises upon which it is located, not to exceed six square feet in
area, and provided that it shall be maintained and removed within
seven days after consummation of a lease or sale transaction, is permitted
in any zone.
r.
Overhanging signs, attached and perpendicular to a building are prohibited.
s.
Any strings of lights or illuminated tubing outlining property lines,
open sales areas, wall edges, roof lines, doors or windows or a building
are prohibited in all zones.
t.
Any portable sign, including any sign displayed on a vehicle when
such vehicle is used primarily for the purpose of such display, is
prohibited in all zones.
u.
Temporary signs for advertising public functions or fundraising events
for government, nonprofit or charitable organizations shall be permitted
in all zones provided the nonprofit or charitable organization is
registered with the Zoning Officer on an annual basis. Registration
will include proof of nonprofit or charitable status. Said signs shall:
1.
Include the specific date(s) of event and contact number.
2.
Not exceed 16 square feet in area.
3.
Not exceed a height of four feet.
4.
Not be illuminated.
5.
Not be placed on trees or poles.
6.
Be located close to the property line.
7.
Be put in place no earlier than 14 days before the event.
8.
Be removed no later than the Monday following the event.
Failure to honor these regulations shall cause the Zoning Officer
to remove the sign(s), revoke registration, and impose a fine of $5
per day per sign.
[1979 Code § 64-140; Ord. No. 10-97 § 90; Ord. No. 09-18; Ord. No. 2017-02]
In the AR and R Districts, only the following signs shall be
permitted:
a.
A name plate sign, situated within the property lines and bearing
only the name and address of the principal occupant, provided that
the sign does not exceed 72 square inches in total area.
b.
Either one wall sign or one ground sign, not to exceed four square
feet in area, advertising or indicating the home or office of a member
of a recognized profession or home occupation as permitted in the
district.
c.
One sale or rent sign erected only on the property to be sold or
rented, but not to be placed on any tree and not to exceed four square
feet in area. No fee or permit shall be required for such sign.
d.
Approved residential housing developments may display one freestanding
identification sign at each street entrance to the development, designating
only the name of the development, the address and name of the owner
and the names of any buildings located therein, provided that the
area of the sign shall not exceed 35 square feet and shall be set
back 15 feet from a street or property line. Provided however, that
all such signs shall be removed and the area restored (graded, planted
and/or seeded) within 90 days of the date of the issuance of a Certificate
of Occupancy for the last residence to be constructed therein. Provided,
additionally, that the maintenance guarantee required by § 30-13.1k
to be posted with respect to all public improvements shall not be
released until all such signs shall have been removed.
e.
Conditional uses and permitted farming uses may display one freestanding
identification sign, not to exceed nine square feet in area, designating
the name of the use and the address and name of the owner. The sign
may be placed in the front yard, but not closer than 15 feet to any
street right-of-way or property line as designated on the adopted
street plan. A freestanding identification sign shall not exceed one
square foot in area per linear foot of setback from the property line
but in no event shall be closer than 15 feet to any street right-of-way
or property line as designated on the adopted street plan.
[1979 Code § 64-141; Ord. No. 10-97 § 90; Ord. No. 2017-02]
In the RB and NC Districts, signs, as permitted and regulated in § 30-83.2, are permitted and, in addition, the following signs:
a.
Wall Signs. Wall signs are permitted on each commercial building
wall that faces on a street, subject to the following limitations
and requirements:
1.
Not more than one wall sign on each such wall shall be permitted
for each business establishment or use located in the building.
2.
No such sign shall extend farther than six inches from the face of
the building wall to which it is attached.
3.
The bottom of the sign shall be at least 10 feet above the ground
level or sidewalk below the sign.
4.
The height of any such sign shall not exceed five feet or 25% of
the height of the building wall to which it is attached, whichever
is the lesser.
5.
The total of the widths of any such signs shall not exceed 75% of
the width of the building wall to which they are attached.
6.
The total area of any such signs shall not exceed 10% of the area
of the building wall, including window area, to which they are attached.
In addition, the maximum permitted sign area for wall signs shall
be reduced by the area of any projecting sign erected on the building
wall.
b.
Ground Signs. One ground sign shall be permitted for each commercial
building, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
1.
No such sign shall extend more than eight feet above the ground level
below the sign. A freestanding identification sign shall not exceed
one square foot in area per linear foot of setback from the property
line but in no event shall be closer than 15 feet to any street right-of-way
or property line as designated on the adopted street plan.
2.
No such sign shall exceed a width of six feet.
3.
The sign shall be at least 15 feet from a street right-of-way or
property line.
4.
The sign shall be at least 50 feet from the point of intersection
of any two street lines.
c.
Freestanding Signs. Provided that there is no ground sign, a commercial
property having a street frontage of at least 300 feet shall be permitted
one freestanding sign, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
1.
The sign shall contain only the name of the commercial property or
facility or the brand or manufacturer's name of the principal product
sold or the service rendered.
2.
The sign shall be located at least 15 feet from a street or property
line, but not less than the height of the sign.
3.
The height of the sign shall not exceed 25 feet.
4.
The total area of the sign shall not exceed 80 square feet.
5.
The bottom of the sign shall be at least 10 feet above the ground level below the sign, including any sign permitted in Subsection c6 below.
6.
The surface or display area of the sign shall not exceed 10 feet
in either height or width.
7.
Subject to the requirement in Subsection c4 above, one sign for each business establishment located on the premises may be suspended below the principal sign surface. Each such sign shall contain only the name of the business establishment, and each such sign shall not exceed one foot in height and five feet in width.
d.
Covered Walk Signs. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a commercial
building containing a canopy or overhang along the building wall and
over a sidewalk shall be permitted one sign suspended from or attached
to the ceiling of the canopy or overhang for each business establishment;
subject to the following limitations and requirements:
1.
The sign shall be located in front of the commercial establishment.
2.
The sign shall be erected perpendicular to the face of the building
wall.
3.
The bottom of said sign shall be at least 10 feet above the sidewalk
below the sign.
4.
The sign shall not extend beyond the canopy or overhang.
5.
The sign shall not exceed 10 inches in height nor four feet in width.
6.
The sign shall contain only the name of the commercial establishment
or the name of the principal product sold or service rendered.
e.
Signs for Motor Vehicle Service Stations. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions, motor vehicle service stations may display only the following
signs:
1.
One freestanding or pylon sign advertising the name of the station
and for the principal products sold on the premises, including any
special company or brand name, insignia or emblem, provided that each
such sign shall not exceed 60 square feet in area on a side and shall
be erected not less than five feet from the property line and not
less than 10 nor more than 25 feet above the ground.
2.
Directional signs or lettering displayed on the building wall over
individual entrance doors or bays, consisting only of the words "washing,"
"lubrication," "repair," "mechanic on duty" or other words closely
similar in import, provided that there shall be not more than one
such sign over each entrance or bay and the letters thereof shall
not exceed 12 inches in height, and provided that letters shall be
limited to a single line.
3.
Customary lettering on or other insignia which are a structural part
of a gasoline pump, consisting only of the brand name of gasoline
sold, lead warning sign, a price indicator and any other sign required
by law, and not exceeding a total of three square feet on each pump.
Signage shall be measured to include all that area which is designed
to attract attention of the motoring public to the sign including
background, logos and lettering.
f.
Other Signs. Also permitted are the following signs:
1.
Lettered window signs in any commercial or industrial district, not
to exceed 25% of the individual window area.
2.
One "opening," "closing," "under new management" or similar sign
in any commercial or industrial district, not to exceed 30 square
feet or displayed for more than 30 days, provided that a sign permit
is issued.
[1979 Code § 64-142; Ord. No. 7-81; Ord. No. 10-97 §§ 92
— 96; Ord. No. 2017-02]
In the AI Districts, only the following signs are permitted:
a.
Wall Signs. Each industrial building may contain one wall sign, subject
to the following limitations and requirements:
1.
The sign is permanently attached or constructed with the building
and does not extend more than one foot from the facade of the building.
2.
The total advertising space of a sign attached to a building shall
not exceed 300 square feet or 10% of the gross area facade to which
it is attached, whichever is less. No sign shall extend beyond the
face of the building.
3.
The bottom of the sign shall be at least 10 feet above the ground
level below the sign.
4.
The height of any such sign shall not exceed five feet or 25% of
the height of the building wall to which it is attached, whichever
is the lesser.
5.
The total of the widths of any such signs shall not exceed 75% of
the width of the building wall to which they are attached.
b.
Ground Signs. Each industrial property may display one ground sign,
subject to the following limitations and requirements:
