1.
Any sign hereafter
erected, altered, painted, relocated, remodeled, enlarged or maintained
shall comply with the provisions of this section and other applicable
Borough ordinances. All signs, whether permanent or temporary, shall
require zoning and occupancy certificates, issued in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter.
2.
Every authorized
permanent sign shall be constructed of durable materials and maintained
in good condition and repair. If any sign deteriorates to an unsightly
or hazardous condition, the Zoning Officer shall order it repaired,
replaced or removed in accordance with the procedure specified in
§ 27-1401.3 of this chapter.
3.
If a use ceases
operation for a period of six months, all signs, including any supporting
structures, shall be removed. If the signs are not removed, the Zoning
Officer shall notify the owner, who shall have 30 days to remove the
signs. Failure to comply with the order shall be a violation of this
chapter.
5.
Expiration of
permits. Any permit issued for the erection, alteration, replacement
or relocation of any sign shall expire automatically within six months
of the date of issuance if the work authorized by the permit has not
been initiated and diligently pursued.
The following signs shall be exempt from the
requirements of this section, provided that the provisions of § 27-501.3C,
Clear sight distances at intersections, shall apply:
1.
Address numerals.
2.
Traffic, directional,
legal notices or similar instructional or regulatory signs erected
by a unit or agency of government.
3.
Flags or similar
emblems of a governmental, educational, religious or philanthropic
organization, which are displayed on private property, provided that
the flagpole or other supporting structure shall not exceed the applicable
height limitations of the zoning district.
4.
Window displays,
as defined herein, provided that they do not exceed 10% of the gross
surface area of all windows in an establishment.
5.
Memorial or historical
plaques, as defined herein.
6.
Holiday decorations
displayed for recognized federal or state holidays, provided that
they do not interfere with traffic safety or do not in any other way
become a public safety hazard.
1.
Location/placement.
A.
All signs shall
be located on the same lot containing the use or structure to which
the sign relates, except for authorized billboards and off-premises
directional signs, as defined herein.
B.
No sign mounted
on a building shall project above the highest roof beams of a flat
roof or the mean level of the highest gable or slope of a hip roof.
C.
No sign shall
be attached to a utility pole or tree, whether on private or public
property, unless specifically authorized by this chapter.
D.
No sign shall
be erected at a street or driveway intersection in violation of § 27-501.3C,
Clear sight distances at intersections.
E.
No sign shall
be erected in or projecting over any public right-of-way unless specifically
authorized by this chapter.
2.
Measurement of
sign area.
A.
Sign area shall
include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols,
together with related background areas on which they are displayed.
One freestanding sign may include several signs that are all attached
to one structure with the total sign area being the total area of
all signs on the structure.
B.
The sign area
shall not include any structurally supporting framework, bracing or
clearly defined wooden framing if such area does not include any display,
lettering or sign and if such area is clearly incidental to the sign
area itself.
C.
Where the sign
consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted directly
on a building or window, other than an illuminated background that
is a part of the sign, the sign area shall be the smallest rectangle
that includes all of the letters and symbols.
D.
In computing
the permitted sign area of a sign with two sides, the permitted total
sign area shall be based upon the sign area of only one side (the
larger of any two if they differ).
E.
Unless otherwise
specified, all square footages in regards to signs are maximum sizes.
The following types of signs are prohibited
in all zoning districts:
1.
Flashing or animated
signs, except time/temperature signs where authorized by this chapter.
2.
String pennants,
flags or banners, other than as temporary signs where authorized by
this chapter.
3.
Bare bulb or
light strings or search lights.
4.
Sandwich board
signs, other than as temporary signs.
5.
Portable or wheeled
signs.
6.
Signs which by
reason of color, shape, location or other characteristics, or signs
that use admonitions such as "stop," "go," "slow" or "danger" which
might be confused with legitimate traffic-control devices.
7.
Signs attached
to autos, trucks, vans, trailers or similar vehicles, other than as
temporary signs.
8.
Signs painted
on walls, chimneys or roofs of a building or fences or walls.
9.
Roof signs.
1.
Illuminated signs
shall be designed and placed so as not to interfere with, distract
or blind operators of motor vehicles or to create glare on adjacent
properties.
2.
Signs may be
illuminated either directly or indirectly in accordance with the regulations
for the zoning district in which they are located.
A.
Directly illuminated
sign. A sign designed to give forth artificial light directly (or
through a transparent or artificial material) from a source of light
internal to the sign, including neon and exposed lamp signs.
B.
Indirectly illuminated
sign. A sign with a light or lights external to the sign, such that
the light shines on or illuminates the sign and in such way that no
direct rays therefrom are visible elsewhere on the property.
1.
Where a use fronts
on more than one public street, it may locate one sign on each street
frontage. Each sign shall comply with size and other applicable requirements.
The permissible sign size for one frontage shall not be combined with
that for the other frontage for the purpose of placing the combined
sign area on one frontage.
2.
On a corner lot,
an authorized real estate sign advertising the premises for sale or
lease may be placed on each street frontage.
3.
Double-faced
signs are permitted. In computing the square-foot area of a double-faced
sign, only one side shall be considered, provided that both faces
are identical. If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the
double-faced sign is greater than 45°, then both sides of such
sign shall be considered in calculating the sign.
1.
The following
signs are permitted in any zoning district subject to the stated requirements:
A.
Nameplate or
identification sign not exceeding 1 1/2 square feet and attached
to a wall of the structure, indicating the occupants of the structure,
the name and occupation for a permitted home occupation or, in the
case of a multiple-occupancy structure, the name of the building,
the owner and/or management agency.
B.
Off-premises
directional signs directing persons to the facilities of a nonprofit
organization (e.g., church, school, park, hospital), not to exceed
six square feet in area. Such signs may be erected on public or private
property, including a utility pole, subject to the approval of the
property owner.
C.
Directional
signs.
(1)
On-premises
directional signs displayed on private property, on lots containing
two or more residential buildings or on any lot containing a nonresidential
use.
(2)
On lots
with areas less than one acre, a maximum of four directional signs,
each of which shall not exceed four square feet in area shall be permitted.
(3)
On lots
with areas of one acre or more, a maximum of six directional signs,
each of which shall not exceed four square feet in area, shall be
permitted on the first acre. For each additional acre or fraction
thereof over one acre, two additional directional signs shall be permitted.
D.
"Warning," "no
trespassing," "private property" or similar signs displayed on private
property, not exceeding five square feet per sign. More than one sign
is permitted on a zoning lot.
2.
The above-listed
signs shall be nonilluminated in any residential district but may
be either nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated in any other zoning
district.
1.
Permitted signs
and size limitations.
A.
Identification
sign for a multifamily structure or development, subdivision (plan
of lots), church, public building/use or recreational facility, not
to exceed 20 square feet.
B.
Identification
sign for a school, hospital or nursing home, not to exceed three square
feet.
C.
Identification
sign for a day-care center, personal care boarding home, group care
facility or transitional dwelling, not to exceed 12 square feet.
2.
Regulations.
A.
All identification
signs shall be flush-mounted wall signs, except that a church, recreational
facility, public building/use, school, nursing home or hospital may
have one freestanding sign as an alternative to a wall sign.
B.
Where authorized,
a freestanding sign shall be set back at least 10 feet from any property
line or public right-of-way and shall not exceed 10 feet in height
(including sign and supporting structure).
C.
Signs located
in R-1 and R-2 Districts shall be nonilluminated only; signs in the
R-3 District may be either nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated.
D.
Any sign for
a legal nonconforming commercial or industrial use in a residential
district shall conform to the applicable standards for a sign in a
C-1 District.
1.
Permitted signs
and size limitations.
A.
One identification
sign for each business establishment which may be any one of the following:
(1)
A flush-mounted
wall sign, not to exceed one square foot for every two feet of building
frontage, but not more than 40 square feet.
(2)
An awning
or canopy sign; a marquee sign in the C-2 District only.
(3)
A permanent
window graphic, which is permanently painted or otherwise applied
to a window, not exceeding more than 10% of the total window area.
(4)
A freestanding
sign, not to exceed 20 square feet and subject to the provisions of
§ 27-909.2B.
(5)
Awning,
canopy, wall-mounted or freestanding signs may be directly illuminated,
indirectly illuminated or nonilluminated, except that in the C-1 District,
backlit signs shall not be permitted, and neon signs shall be limited
to business identification signs which are erected inside a window
instead of on the wall of the building and which are intended to be
viewed from the outside.
(6)
A projecting
sign which does not exceed 12 square feet shall be permitted in the
C-1 District, provided that a wall-mounted sign does not exist on
the building or is not proposed to be erected. The projecting sign
shall not be permitted to be directly illuminated.
(7)
Buildings
in excess of 38,000 square feet may have signs that vary from the
above standards when it can be demonstrated that special circumstances
exist, subject to the approval of the Borough Council.
B.
Identification
signs for a planned commercial development in the C-3 District in
accordance with the following:
(1)
One freestanding
sign which identifies the name of the development and/or individual
business occupants, not to exceed one square foot for every two feet
of building frontage in the development, but not more than 100 square
feet.
(2)
In addition
to the planned commercial development's principal identification sign,
each business within the center may be a flush-mounted wall, awning
or window sign in compliance with § 27-909.1A(1) through
(3) above.
(3)
Signs may
be directly illuminated, indirectly illuminated or nonilluminated.
C.
Identification
signs for multifamily or townhouse dwellings, church, public uses/buildings,
recreational facilities, group care facilities, personal care boarding
homes, nursing homes or transitional dwellings shall comply with the
requirements for an R-3 District.
2.
Regulations.
B.
When authorized,
a freestanding sign shall be set back at least 10 feet from a street
right-of-way and at 10 feet from any side lot line and shall not exceed
12 feet in height (including sign and supporting structure). A freestanding
sign shall not be closer than 50 feet to another freestanding sign
that is 12 square feet or more in area.
C.
Freestanding
signs may be either nonilluminated or illuminated directly or indirectly.
1.
General.
A.
Maintenance.
(1)
All signs
shall be properly maintained so as to present a legible appearance.
All signs shall be maintained in good repair. All inoperative, broken,
excessively weathered or faded signs shall be repaired or removed.
(2)
All temporary
signs shall be removed at the expiration of the event or sale for
which they were erected.
B.
Prohibited signs.
(1)
Flashing,
animated or moving signs (other than electronic time/temperature)
shall be permitted.
(2)
No sign
shall be erected or maintained so as to be distractive or hazardous,
or to obstruct visibility with respect to the safety of motorists
or pedestrians proceeding along any public way, or entering or leaving
a lot.
(3)
Banners,
streamers, pennants, balloons or flags intended for decorative or
ornamental use only. Flags intended to identify a use associated with
a governmental, educational, religious or philanthropic organization
shall be permitted, and flags and logos of area sports teams may be
used if approved by the Borough when fully integrated into the design
of the proposed establishment and when such use is consistent with
the proposed use of an establishment.
(4)
Billboards.
C.
Vacation. All
signs, other than the permitted "for sale" or "for rent" signs, shall
be removed from the zoning lot within 30 days of the closing or vacation
of any business formerly located in the WDD. Real estate signs may
be permitted for a maximum period of six months, extendable upon application
to the Borough.
D.
Exemptions. Traffic signs for all public and private streets, including but not limited to street names, stop signs and yield signs, shall be exempted from this § 27-910
E.
Off-premises
signs. Off-premises signs shall be permitted throughout the WDD.
F.
Overall development
signs. Signs containing the name of the overall development may be
located on the existing approximately two-hundred-fifty-foot-tall
steel stack located west of the Homestead High Level Bridge and on
monument signs, which shall be limited to 15 feet in height and located
at major entrances to the WDD. Additional signs announcing the entire
WDD development may be approved by the municipality.
G.
All signs (other
than real estate, development and temporary signs) must be able to
withstand at least one-hundred-mile-per-hour wind loads.
2.
Residential communities.
A.
The following
signs shall be permitted in any residential community, subject to
the following conditions:
(1)
Monument
signs. No more than one such sign at each approved intersection. Each
sign shall not exceed 50 square feet in total surface area per side
and shall not exceed 10 feet in height or be closer than 10 feet to
any public right-of-way. Letters shall not exceed 18 inches in height.
(2)
Identification
signs. Not more than one such sign shall be permitted at each multifamily
dwelling structure containing more than five dwelling units, clubhouse/leasing
office or any recreational facility ancillary to a residential community.
Each sign shall not exceed eight square feet in total surface area
per side and shall not be closer than 10 feet to any property line.
Such signs shall be permitted to display address information and hours
of operation.
(3)
Illuminated
signs. Externally or internally illuminated signs, provided that the
lighting source is not visible from any right-of-way and no glare
is generated by any such sign.
(4)
Directional
signs. No more than two directional signs are permitted at each approved
intersection. Any such directional sign may not exceed two square
feet in total surface area.
(5)
Real estate
signs. Real estate signs shall be limited to one such sign at each
approved intersection and may be located in a required front yard.
Such sign shall not exceed 10 square feet in total surface area, 10
feet in height and shall not be closer than five feet to any private
property line or public right-of-way.
(6)
Development
signs.
(7)
Other than
real estate and development signs, signs shall not include identification
of the owner, developer, builder or realtor.
B.
Exceptions.
Signs may vary from the above standards when it can be demonstrated
that special circumstances exist, subject to approval from the Borough.
3.
Commercial, office
and industrial uses.
A.
Permitted sign
area of each sign in a commercial, office or industrial use shall
be 10% of the total area of the front building facade of that use
(building height x building width x 0.10 = permitted sign area). Permitted
sign area shall be increased by 25% for uses having frontage on more
than one public right-of-way. Permitted sign area may be used for
any of the following signs:
(1)
Flush-mounted
wall sign. Not to exceed 75% of the total permitted sign area. Such
signs may be located on any wall and shall be architecturally integrated
into the overall design of the building.
(2)
Pylon signs.
Individual user/tenant panels shall not exceed 250 square feet of
sign area per side. Such signs shall be limited to users/tenants situated
on parcels equal to or greater than three acres in size. There shall
be no more than one pylon sign at each approved intersection.
(3)
Monument
signs. These shall be limited to 50 square feet of sign area per side
per each street frontage. Such signs shall be limited to users/tenants
situated on parcels less than three acres in size.
(4)
Menu boards.
In addition to other signs, a fast-food restaurant may provide a menu
board for drive-through customers. A menu board shall not be located
within the required front yard setback area, shall not exceed 20 square
feet in total surface area and shall not impede the safe flow of traffic.
(5)
Automobile
service stations.
(a)
Not
more than two price signs may be attached to the permitted monument
sign. The area of these signs shall be included in the total permitted
sign surface area. The total surface area of all monument signs for
each automobile service station in the WDD shall not exceed 50 square
feet per side.
(b)
Additional
signs are permitted on the canopy above the gasoline pump islands,
provided that they do not extend beyond the edge of the canopy and
are no higher than the height of the canopy at its highest point.
The total surface area of all permitted monument and canopy signs
shall not exceed 200 square feet.
(c)
State
inspection shingles, where applicable, shall not exceed 24 inches
by 26 inches in dimension and may be flush-mounted on the structure.
B.
The following
signs shall be permitted but will not count towards permitted sign
area.
(1)
Protruding
no greater than 10 square feet.
(2)
Development
signs.
(3)
Temporary
signs. Temporary signs may be permitted for a period not to exceed
14 consecutive calendar days and not more than 28 calendar days in
any one calendar year. There shall be no limit as to the number or
size of temporary signs, except that such signs must be located on
the lot of the establishment whose opening, sale or ownership is being
advertised, and that such signs shall not constitute a hazard or impediment
to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(4)
Directional
signs. No more than two directional signs are permitted at each approved
intersection. Any such directional sign may not exceed two square
feet in total surface area.
(5)
Awning signs. Signs on awnings are exempt from the limitations imposed by this § 27-910 regarding the location of the signs with respect to an approved intersection. An awning sign shall be affixed flat to the surface of the awning, shall not be illuminated and shall indicate only the name and/or address of the business and shall otherwise conform to the regulations outlined under this § 27-910.
(6)
Marquee
signs. One such sign shall be permitted for each use and shall not
exceed one foot in depth or five square feet in area per side.
(7)
Real estate
signs. These shall be permitted for each use, may be located in a
required front yard and shall be limited to 10 square feet in area
per side and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from any property
line.
C.
Pylon signs shall be limited to 500 square feet of total sign area per side in size. Notwithstanding any other provision of this § 27-910, no more than four pylon signs in the WDD within the Borough of Homestead and no pylon sign shall exceed the maximum height of 60 feet.
D.
Monument signs
shall be limited to 50 square feet of total sign area per side on
no more than two sides and a maximum height of 10 feet.
E.
Exceptions.
Signs may vary from the above standards when it can be demonstrated
that special circumstances exist, subject to approval from the Borough.
4.
Location of signs.
A.
All portions
of pylon signs shall be set back a minimum of 30 feet from any approved
intersection and right-of-way.
B.
All portions
of monument signs shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any
approved intersection and right-of-way.
C.
A sign shall
be placed so as not to interfere with the safe, regular and orderly
flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
D.
Flush-mounted
signs shall be permitted on all sides of a building, provided that
they are in conformance with the requirements contained herein.
E.
Monument signs
shall be permitted in any yard area, provided that they are in conformance
with the requirements contained herein.
5.
Illumination.
A.
Indirectly illuminated
signs are permitted, provided that the lighting source for indirectly
illuminated signs shall not be visible to vehicular traffic on public
or private roads.
B.
Internally illuminated
signs are permitted. No glare shall be generated by any such sign.
C.
Electronic time/temperature
signs are permitted subject to the other regulations of this chapter.
1.
Permitted location
and size.
A.
Billboards,
as defined by this chapter, shall be permitted in the C-1 and C-3
Districts only.
B.
The size of
any one billboard shall be limited to a maximum area on one square
foot of sign area for every foot of property frontage on the street
right-of-way, but in no case shall the sign area exceed 300 square
feet.
2.
Regulations.
A.
A sign structure
shall contain no more than one billboard.
B.
No billboard
shall project above the ridge line of a sloping roof or the eave line
of a flat roof, if attached to a building.
C.
No billboard
shall exceed 35 feet in height if freestanding, as measured at ground
level at the base of the sign.
D.
No billboard
shall be closer than 500 feet to any other billboard, church, school,
recreational facility (public or nonprofit), residential district
or located in such a way that the advertising face is visible from
a residential district.
E.
No billboard
shall be painted directly on the wall of any building.
F.
There shall
be no more than one billboard structure placed on a zoning lot.
G.
No billboard
shall be located within 100 feet of the nearest edge of any street
right-of-way, except that any billboard located along and visible
from a highway which is designated as part of the federal interstate
or primary aid highway system shall comply with the applicable state
regulations for outdoor advertising signs and shall obtain the required
permits from PennDOT.
H.
All applications
for the erection of a billboard shall be accompanied by evidence of
property ownership or a lease or other permission from the landowner
to erect the billboard.
I.
Billboards may
be illuminated subject to the following:
(1)
Flashing,
moving or intermittent light or lights are prohibited.
(2)
Signs shall
not cause glare or impair the vision of the driver of any motor vehicle
or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of a motor vehicle.
(3)
Signs shall
not be illuminated so as to interfere with the effectiveness or obscure
an official traffic sign, device or signal.
J.
Billboards which
use removable paper or other materials shall be maintained in such
condition as to eliminate loose or frayed material protruding or hanging
from the structure. All paper and other waste materials shall be removed
from the site and disposed of properly whenever any sign face is changed.
K.
The vertical
supports shall be capable of enabling the entire sign face to withstand
a minimum one-hundred-mile-per-hour wind load. Structural design computations
shall be made and certified by a registered engineer and shall be
submitted to the Borough with the application for the permit to erect
or alter the sign.
Temporary signs, including real estate, special
event and political signs, development, temporary, as defined herein,
shall be permitted subject to the following requirements:
1.
Permits shall
not be required for any temporary sign, except the temporary special
event display.
2.
No temporary
sign shall be illuminated.
3.
One temporary
special event display sign, as defined by this chapter, shall be permitted
to be erected on the face of a public building, church or building
housing a nonprofit organization, provided that the sign shall not
exceed 40 square feet, and provided that the sign is displayed for
a period no longer than 15 days and is removed within five days following
the event that it is erected to promote.
4.
Temporary special
event displays, as defined by this chapter, shall be permitted for
retail establishments, provided that:
A.
No more than
two signs or banners shall be permitted on any establishment at any
one time.
B.
The temporary
special event display signs shall be securely attached to the building
or to the supporting structure of a freestanding pole business identification
sign.
C.
Temporary special
event display signs shall be displayed for a period not exceeding
30 days, either consecutively or cumulatively, in any six-month period.
D.
The aggregate
surface area of all temporary special event display signs shall not
exceed 40 square feet per establishment.
E.
Portable or
wheeled signs shall not be considered temporary special event display
signs.
5.
One temporary
real estate sign or development sign advertising the sale or lease
of the property on which the sign is located shall be permitted, provided
that the surface area of any sign shall not exceed six square feet
in any residential zoning district or 32 square feet in any other
zoning district. Such signs shall be removed within 30 days of the
sale, lease or completion of development of the property.
6.
One temporary
construction sign announcing the names of contractors, mechanics and/or
artisans engaged in performing work on the premises shall be permitted
on a lot, provided that the sign shall not exceed 12 square feet in
area and shall be removed immediately upon completion of the work.
7.
Temporary political signs erected during a political campaign shall be permitted, provided that they are not of a type restricted by § 27-904 of this Part, and provided that the surface area of such signs shall not exceed four square feet, and the signs shall be removed within five days after the election for which they were erected.
