[Amended 2-7-1985 by Ord. No. 85-01; 12-21-2000 by Ord. No. 00-04; 7-7-2005 by Ord. No. 05-04; 8-20-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-07; 1-16-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-01]
The following regulations shall apply to all districts:
A. 
No sign shall be erected within the lines of a street right-of-way; except traffic signs, regulatory notices, informational signs, message boards or digital displays of a duly constituted governmental body.
B. 
No sign having a distracting effect on motorists on adjacent highways shall be permitted, including those which flash, move, oscillate, or rotate.
C. 
No sign shall be erected which emits smoke, visible vapors or particles, sound or odor.
D. 
No sign shall be erected or operated in a manner which may be mistaken for a traffic signal.
E. 
No sign shall be erected containing information that implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter.
F. 
No roof sign shall project above the main peak or cornice line of a building to which a sign is affixed.
(1) 
Floodlighting of any sign shall be arranged so that the source of light is not visible nor glare is detected from any property line or vehicular access and that only the sign is illuminated.
G. 
A freestanding sign and projecting sign shall not be utilized together to identify the same establishment on the same street frontage unless for multiple uses on a single lot where the freestanding sign collectively denotes a number of uses.
H. 
No sign, including political signs and temporary removable yard or garage sale signs, and hunting and trespassing signs, shall be placed on any tree, utility pole or upon rocks or natural features.
I. 
Backlighting of signs shall not project luminance or glare levels exceeding the criteria of § 167-66 of the West Brandywine Township Code.
J. 
Sign lighting where permitted shall be extinguished at 11:00 p.m., or within 30 minutes of the close of business, whichever is later.
K. 
No sign other than official traffic signage shall be permitted in the right-of-way of any public street, unless specifically permitted in this chapter.
Every permitted sign shall be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition, safe from hazards, nuisances and collapse. When any sign becomes dilapidated, the owner shall receive notice by the Township Zoning Officer to remedy the situation within 30 days. Should the remedy not occur within this time frame, the Township shall remove the dilapidated sign at the expense of the owner or lessee of the property on which it is located.
A. 
No permit shall be required before erecting any of the following signs, provided they conform to all the provisions established under § 200-121:
(1) 
Information or public service signs, including those for public telephones, public conveniences, and signs advertising meeting times and places for nonprofit service or charitable organizations, not exceeding three square feet in area.
(2) 
Official traffic signs.
(3) 
On-premises regulatory or informational signs required by federal or state law or regulation governing a permitted use.
(4) 
Hunting and trespassing signs not exceeding two square feet in area.
(5) 
Signs indicating the private nature of a drive.
(6) 
Temporary real estate sales or rent signs not exceeding nine square feet in area, provided they are removed within 14 days of the signing of an agreement.
(7) 
Memorial or historic markers not exceeding nine square feet in area.
(8) 
Temporary yard or garage sale placed on the property on which the sale is occurring, provided that the sign does not exceed four square feet in area and is removed within 48 hours of the completion of the sale.
(9) 
Temporary contractor signs for work being performed not exceeding nine square feet in area, provided they are removed within 14 days of the work completion date.
(10) 
Informational signs, message boards or digital displays erected by the Township.
(11) 
Political and personal viewpoint signs not exceeding nine square feet in area.
B. 
Subject to approval of the landowner, the Township Board of Supervisors may authorize the placement and construction of township informational signs, welcome signs, directional signs or historical markers, notwithstanding any regulation or limitation otherwise contained in this chapter.
The following regulations shall apply to all districts:
A. 
Temporary signs shall be displayed for less than 60 days.
B. 
Temporary signs shall comply with the following:
(1) 
Display of signs for more than 60 days will require conversion to permanent sign status or shall be removed by the installer/applicant.
(2) 
The site or building on which the sign was erected shall be restored to its original condition upon removal of a sign.
C. 
Temporary signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.
D. 
Any freestanding temporary sign shall be located at least 10 feet from any lot line, and shall not impede any traffic sight distances.
E. 
Temporary signs do not require permanent foundations, but shall be installed such that they do not fall down over the property boundary or within a right-of-way area.
F. 
Temporary political and personal viewpoint signs not otherwise exempt may be displayed, erected subject to receipt of a temporary sign permit.
A. 
Distances. All distances provided for in this article shall be measured from the nearest edge of the sign or sign structure. Distances shall apply in all cases, including locating new signs, in relationship to currently existing nonconforming signs.
B. 
Window signs. Unless further restricted by district regulations, window signs shall not exceed 25% of the glass area of the window in which placed.
C. 
Projecting signs. Projecting signs mounted to a wall or other vertical building surface by a post shall project no more than two feet. No part shall be less than eight feet nor more than 12 feet above the ground or walkway level.
D. 
Freestanding sign. The height of freestanding signs shall be measured from the ground level to the topmost portion of the structure.
In any residential district only the following signs shall be permitted. No sign shall be illuminated directly or indirectly, except permitted business, industrial or commercial uses which may illuminate sign(s) during hours of operation. Only one sign shall be permitted on a parcel for each permitted use, unless a parcel fronts two streets, in which case the parcel may have one sign located along the frontage of each street.
A. 
Name and address signs for farms and farmstands shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.
B. 
Signs denoting the name of a subdivision or development not exceeding 32 square feet in area.
C. 
Public utility identification signs relating to the identification, operation or protection of any public utility, not exceeding four square feet in area, or sized in accordance with the regulatory requirements of the public utility.
D. 
Signs associated with permitted special exception uses not exceeding 20 square feet in area, unless a larger sign(s) is approved by the Zoning Hearing Board as part of the special exception decision.
[Amended 8-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-04]
In the Rural Mixed Use District and General Commercial District, the following signs shall be permitted:
A. 
Any sign permitted under § 200-126.
B. 
Window signs.
C. 
Directional signs and monument signs not exceeding six square feet in area.
D. 
Directory signs relating to a group of stores or business establishments on a single lot or tract, provided that only one directory sign shall be permitted for a unified development (such as a shopping center, planned commercial development, planned commercial/institutional development) and the sign shall not exceed 200 square feet in area and 25 feet in height.
E. 
On-premises business signs, accessory to a permitted use, provided that the following conditions are met:
(1) 
Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed four square feet in area for each linear foot of building wall. Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed 100 square feet in area. Their maximum height shall be 25 feet above ground level.
(2) 
Freestanding signs not exceeding 110 square feet in area and 25 feet in height.
(3) 
Projecting signs not exceeding 10 square feet in area.
(4) 
Canopy signs not exceeding 10 square feet in area.
(5) 
Spanner signs at a convenience store with gasoline sales not exceeding 10 square feet in area.
In the Limited Industrial District the following signs and no other signs shall be permitted.
A. 
Any sign permitted under §§ 200-126 and 200-127.
B. 
Directional signs not exceeding 24 square feet in area.
C. 
Industrial park sign and directory relating to a group of industrial activities within a unified development.
D. 
Business or industrial sign, accessory to a permitted industrial use, provided that the following conditions are met:
(1) 
Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed four square feet in area for each linear foot of building wall. Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed 120 square feet in area.
(2) 
Freestanding signs shall not exceed 100 square feet in area. The maximum height of freestanding signs shall be 25 feet.
In the Medical Service-Institutional (MSI) District, the following signs and no other signs shall be permitted.
A. 
Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed four square feet in area for every linear foot of building wall. Wall-mounted signs shall not exceed 100 square feet in area. Their maximum height shall be 20 feet above ground level.
B. 
Freestanding signs not exceeding 100 square feet in area; the maximum height of freestanding signs shall be 16 feet.
C. 
Directional signs and monument signs within a single sign not exceeding six square feet in area.
[Amended 8-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-04]
A. 
Intent. The intent of this section is to provide appropriate regulations for billboards and electronic billboards and to:
(1) 
Support the First Amendment rights of advertisers to promote legal products and services while retaining the sense of community and protecting the character of the Township;
(2) 
Ensure that billboards are provided for in the Township and located safely and appropriately where they can be viewed by the traveling public with the least distraction and degradation to the public safety;
(3) 
Provide billboards and electronic advertising in a manner demonstrated to be compatible with the historic, natural and rural character of the Township in terms of size, location, visual prominence from areas other than the adjacent highway, and materials and finishes used in construction;
(4) 
To prevent billboards and electronic advertising from having a negative impact on neighborhoods (particularly residentially zoned or used properties) in terms of visual blight, light pollution, or decreased property value;
(5) 
To prevent billboards and electronic advertising from having a negative impact on designated historic sites or structures in terms of visual blight, light pollution, or decreased property value;
(6) 
To advance the mission of the International Dark-Sky Association and maintain the Township's nighttime environment by reducing light pollution through lighting practices that provide:
(a) 
Energy savings resulting in economic and environmental benefits;
(b) 
Superb nighttime ambience and quality of life;
(c) 
Conservation of nocturnal wildlife and ecosystems;
(d) 
Safeguarding of scientific and educational opportunities such as astronomy;
(e) 
Preservation of cultural heritage and inspiration for the arts;
(f) 
Increased visibility, safety, and security at night by reducing glare; and
(g) 
Protection of human health.
B. 
Criteria for billboards. Billboards shall only be permitted by special exception, subject to the applicant establishing compliance with the following criteria, together with all applicable criteria in Zoning Ordinance § 200-146:
(1) 
Billboards may only be erected and maintained in the LI Limited Industrial and MSI Medical Service Institutional Zoning Districts, limited to those properties with frontage on state roadways.
(2) 
Size. The display face of a billboard shall not exceed 50 square feet in area, unless the applicant can establish before the Zoning Hearing Board during the special exception hearing that the content of the billboard could not be read from any point along the road frontage and that the permitted size is not adequate for the conveyance of any advertising messages to passing motorists. If the applicant is able to establish the above, then the billboard shall not be permitted to exceed 300 square feet in area, but in any event shall be no larger than is necessary to be read and conveyed to passing motorists. If present, nondisplay physical borders around the display image shall not exceed six inches on a side.
(3) 
Billboards shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
(4) 
Billboard to billboard setback. Billboards shall be set back a minimum of 1,000 feet from any other billboard.
(5) 
Setback from road right-of-way. Billboards shall be set back from the right-of-way a minimum of 40 feet. No part of a billboard shall be set back more than 70 feet from the nearest street right-of-way.
(6) 
Setback from street intersections. All billboards must be set back at least 500 feet from all street intersections, measured from the point of intersection of the center lines of the intersecting streets or traffic merging lanes.
(7) 
Setback from residential dwelling unit. Except as governed by a greater setback required herein, all billboards must be set back a minimum of 150 feet from the boundary of the R1, R2, R3 and R4 Zoning Districts and 500 feet from the boundary of any property on which a residential dwelling unit is situated. Moreover, the applicant must establish that the billboard will be screened such that the face of the billboard will not be visible from an existing residential dwelling unit. With respect to such setback as applied from any existing residential dwelling unit, the 150-foot setback may be reduced if the owner of such dwelling unit agrees in writing to the placement of such sign as memorialized by an easement filed with the Chester County Recorder of Deeds.
(8) 
Public health, safety and welfare. The applicant shall bear the burden of establishing that the proposed billboard will not create a public health, welfare or safety concern.
(9) 
Billboard design. The billboard structure shall be designed as an architecturally decorative feature or shall be screened with vegetation. In no case shall the supporting structure be designed to increase the apparent size of the billboard or to otherwise increase its visual prominence.
(10) 
Structural engineer. The applicant shall be required to submit an attestation from a structural engineer, registered in Pennsylvania, to certify that the proposed billboard is properly constructed pursuant to all applicable codes, to certify the viability of the construction of the foundation and erection of the structure for the proposed billboard. The applicant shall further submit a report from an engineer to set forth the wind tolerances of the proposed billboard.
(11) 
Landscape plan. The applicant shall submit a plan prepared by a landscape architect showing landscaping proposed to be installed to screen and buffer the billboard. Existing vegetation on and around the proposed billboard shall be preserved to the greatest extent possible. All proposed landscaping shall comply with the requirements of the Township's Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[1] Applicants shall submit a visual survey from mutually agreed upon vantage points in order to support the proposed landscaping plan's mitigation of visual impacts.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 167, Subdivision and Land Development.
(12) 
Electrical service. All billboards shall be serviced by underground electrical wiring.
(13) 
Access. Billboards shall be properly and adequately secured to prevent unauthorized access, with such features as a locked ladder way.
C. 
Criteria for electronic billboards. Electronic billboards shall only be permitted by special exception, subject to the applicant establishing compliance with the following criteria, together with all applicable criteria in Zoning Ordinance § 200-146:
(1) 
Electronic billboards may only be erected and maintained in the LI Limited Industrial and MSI Medical Service Institutional Zoning Districts, limited to those properties with frontage on state roadways. Electronic billboards shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
(2) 
Electronic billboards shall have dimming capability to allow adjustment of the electronic sign brightness when required by the Township to compensate for local ambient conditions.
(3) 
Electronic billboards shall be set back from the right-of-way a minimum of 20 feet. No part of an electronic billboard shall be set back more than 60 feet from the nearest street right-of-way.
(4) 
Electronic billboards shall not be located within 1,000 feet of an intersection, interchange or traffic-merging lanes.
(5) 
Electronic billboards may not contain any fading; flashing; modulating; scrolling; moving lights; text or graphics; any full-motion video; or any visible change during the change interval period.
(6) 
Change interval. Electronic billboards shall have a minimum of 12 seconds between message changes.
(7) 
Transition interval. Electronic billboards must provide a maximum transition interval of one second.
(8) 
Electronic billboard lighting shall be automatically extinguished so as to not operate before 7:00 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m. On/off lighting control shall be by programmable controller with astronomic dial and semiannual time change control, and spring or capacitor or battery memory storage of clock settings during power outages.
(9) 
Illumination and sign face brightness shall be automatically controlled so that at no point on the electronic sign or billboard shall the luminance exceed 100 cd/m2 nits with a full white board face during hours of darkness. In addition:
(a) 
The electronic billboard nighttime light output shall be capable of being further dimmed if the Township so requires, when lighting is judged by the Board of Supervisors to create a nuisance or hazard.
(b) 
If requested by the Township, the landowner shall be responsible for verifying that the sign face luminance does not exceed the level on the approved permit and in this chapter, and Township shall be offered the opportunity to witness the taking of the reading.
(c) 
If sign face brightness is determined by the Township to be excessive, the landowner shall be required to take appropriate corrective action at no expense to the Township.
(d) 
In sign face all-white mode, face correlated color temperature, CCT, shall not be in excess of 3,000K.
(e) 
Where located in an area with existing high ambient light levels but not visible from a residential use, the Township, at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors, may permit a sign-face brightness not exceeding 150 cd/m2 (nits).
(10) 
The electronic billboard shall contain a default mechanism that will freeze the sign display in one position if a malfunction occurs, or shut down and show "full black" on the display.
(11) 
Message sequencing shall be prohibited.
(12) 
No electronic billboard shall shine or reflect light into adjacent residences.
(13) 
The electronic billboard nighttime light output shall be capable of being dimmed if the Township so requires, to the extent that the illumination is deemed to constitute a nuisance or a hazard to the public.
(14) 
Electronic billboards must be oriented so that they are perpendicular to the adjacent roadway.
(15) 
Externally illuminated electronic billboards shall be lighted by fixtures mounted at the top of the sign and aimed downward. Such fixtures shall be automatically extinguished between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and dawn, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter.
(16) 
Electronic billboards shall not resemble or simulate any warning or danger signal or any official traffic control device, sign, light, or emergency vehicle lights.
(17) 
Electronic billboards shall be set back from the right-of-way a minimum of 15 feet, or a distance equivalent to 1.1 times their height, whichever is greater. No part of an electronic billboard shall be set back more than 60 feet from the nearest street right-of-way.
(18) 
Electronic billboards shall be subject to all applicable rear and side yard building setbacks. No portion of any sign shall project over a lot line, and in no case shall be within a setback area from the rear or side yards equivalent to a distance of 1.1 times the height of the sign.
(19) 
A sign permit applicant must obtain all necessary outside agency approvals prior to erection of an electronic billboard, including, but not limited to, approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, as may be required. The applicant is required to provide the Township with any such agency approvals prior to the issuance of a permit for a sign. PennDOT and any outside agency approval shall not constitute Township approval.
(20) 
The owner and/or operator of any billboard or electronic billboard shall provide (and maintain with) the Township with their current address and contact information.
[Added 8-7-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-04]
A. 
Intent. The intent of this section is to provide appropriate regulations for electronic signs and to:
(1) 
Support the First Amendment rights of advertisers to promote legal products and services while retaining the sense of community and protecting the character of the Township;
(2) 
Provide electronic advertising in a manner demonstrated to be compatible with the historic, natural and rural character of the Township in terms of size, location, visual prominence from areas other than the adjacent highway, and materials and finishes used in construction;
(3) 
To prevent electronic advertising from having a negative impact on neighborhoods (particularly residentially zoned or used properties) in terms of visual blight, light pollution, or decreased property value;
(4) 
To prevent electronic advertising from having a negative impact on designated historic sites or structures in terms of visual blight, light pollution, or decreased property value.
B. 
Criteria for electronic signs.
(1) 
Electronic signs shall have dimming capability to allow adjustment of the electronic sign brightness when required by the Township to compensate for local ambient conditions.
(2) 
Electronic signs shall be set back from the legal right-of-way a minimum of 10 feet.
(3) 
Electronic signs may not contain any fading; flashing; modulating; scrolling; moving lights; text or graphics; any full-motion video; or any visible change during the change interval period.
(4) 
Change interval. Electronic signs shall have a minimum of 12 seconds between message changes.
(5) 
Transition interval. Electronic signs must provide a maximum transition interval of one second.
(6) 
Illumination and sign face brightness shall be automatically controlled so that at no point on the electronic sign shall the luminance exceed 100 cd/m2 nits with a full white board face during hours of darkness. In addition:
(a) 
The electronic sign nighttime light output shall be capable of being further dimmed if the Township so requires, when lighting is judged by the Board of Supervisors to create a nuisance or hazard.
(b) 
If requested by the Township, the landowner shall be responsible for verifying that the sign face luminance does not exceed the level on the approved permit and in this chapter, and the Township shall be offered the opportunity to witness the taking of the reading.
(c) 
If sign face brightness is determined by the Township to be excessive, the landowner shall be required to take appropriate corrective action at no expense to the Township.
(d) 
In sign face all-white mode, face correlated color temperature, CCT, shall not be in excess of 3,000K.
(e) 
Where located in an area with existing high ambient light levels but not visible from a residential use, the Township, at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors, may permit a sign-face brightness not exceeding 150 cd/m2 (nits).
(7) 
The electronic sign shall contain a default mechanism that will freeze the sign display in one position if a malfunction occurs, or shut down and show "full black" on the display.
(8) 
Message sequencing shall be prohibited.
A. 
Applications. Applications for sign permits shall be filed in duplicate on forms furnished by the Township. Application shall be accompanied by detailed plans and specifications and such other information deemed necessary by the Zoning Officer to determine the location and details of construction.
B. 
Inspection. Signs shall be subject to an annual Township-wide inspection by the Zoning Officer.
C. 
Temporary sign permits. A temporary sign permit shall be validated for any length of time up to 90 days from the date of issuance. Three such permits may be issued for a single sign on a consecutive basis.
D. 
Permit fees. No permit to erect a sign shall be issued until the appropriate fee has been paid. The fee schedule for West Brandywine Township shall be adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The fee schedule shall be made available to the public upon request.