The intent of these sign regulations is to:
A. Provide general standards for all signs within the Borough and specific
standards for signs in each zoning district.
B. Establish procedures for the review and approval of sign permit applications.
C. Regulate the location, size, construction, erection, alteration,
use and maintenance of signs.
D. Protect the safety and general welfare of the community through the
proper use and design of structures for outdoor advertising and graphic
communication purposes.
E. Promote the use of well-crafted signs in harmony with the architectural
and historical character of the Borough.
The following signs, exactly as herein described, are exempt
from the need to secure permits but shall still be subject to the
above general restrictions and standards:
A. Decorations for a recognized officially designated holiday, provided
that they do not create a traffic or fire hazard.
B. Official and governmental signs, which shall include safety signs,
trespassing signs, signs indicating scenic or historical points of
interest and traffic and public parking garage signs.
C. Signs designating the name of the owner or occupant of a dwelling
house, the address of such property or the private ownership of roadways
or other property, provided that:
(1)
Such sign is not in excess of two square feet in area.
(2)
Not more than one such sign is erected for each use.
D. Temporary yard sale or garage sale signs, provided that such signs:
(1)
Do not exceed two square feet in area.
(2)
Shall be removed within 24 hours after said sale.
(3)
Shall be located on the lot where the sale is being conducted.
E. Temporary signs, except for banners across streets, alleys and public
rights-of-way, which are provided for hereinafter, announcing a political,
public, educational, charitable, civic, religious or similar campaign
or event, provided that:
(1)
Each such temporary sign shall not cover any window area, nor
shall it exceed 28 square feet or 20% of the square footage of the
first-floor building facade, whichever is smaller.
(2)
Such sign may be erected for a period not to exceed 60 days
in any calendar year.
F. Window signs. Such signs shall be used to serve as an accessory sign
to the sign associated with the principal use.
(1)
Except for sexually oriented businesses, window signs shall
be permitted in the TC, CS and ID Districts and where nonconforming
commercial uses occur in other districts.
(2)
The total area of temporary or permanent window signs shall
not exceed 25% of the total glass area of the window in which they
are placed, except for grocery stores, food markets or pharmacies,
where the total area shall not exceed 35% of the total glass of the
window.
G. Informational signs, such as "entrance," "exit," "no parking," "visitor's
parking," "no trespassing," "keep off the grass" and the like on the
same lot as the use to which the sign relates or the prohibition of
the use to which the sign relates, provided that:
(1)
The area of said sign shall not exceed two square feet in area.
(2)
Such sign shall not contain any advertising.
H. Signs advertising the sale or rental of individual lots on the premises
upon which they are erected, or that said premises have been sold
or rented, when erected by a broker or other person interested in
the sale or rental of such premises, may be erected and maintained,
provided that:
(1)
The size of the sign is not in excess of six square feet.
(2)
Not more than one sign shall be placed upon any property in
single and separate ownership, such signs to be removed within 31
days after an agreement of sale has been executed.
I. Signs advertising the pending sale or development or rental of a
subdivision or land development on the premises upon which they are
erected, when erected in connection with the subdivision and/or land
development of the premises by a building contractor, developer or
other person interested in such sale or development, may be erected
and maintained, provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sign is not in excess of 16 square feet.
(2)
Not more than one sign shall be placed upon any property in
single and separate ownership, unless such property fronts upon more
than one street, in which event one sign may be erected on each frontage.
(3)
Such sign shall not be erected until the subdivision and/or
land development has received final plan approval.
J. Signs of mechanics, painters and other artisans may be erected and
maintained during the period such persons are performing work on the
premises on which signs are erected, provided that:
(1)
The size thereof is not in excess of six square feet.
(2)
Such signs may be placed during the conduct of the work but
shall be removed within 31 days of commencement of the work, unless
approved otherwise by the Zoning Officer.
K. Sidewalk sign. A limit of one sidewalk sign per business shall be
permitted within the Town Center District and may be placed within
the sidewalk, so long as each portable sign shall not exceed nine
square feet and a minimum clear walking width of four feet shall be
maintained. All such sidewalk signs shall be taken indoors at the
close of each business day.
L. Recreational field signs, provided that:
(1)
The signs are installed only on the portion of the fence in
the outfield;
(2)
The signs do not extend above the height of the fence; and
(3)
The total area of all such signs does not exceed 80% of the
total fence area.
The following signs, exactly as herein described under each
specific district, are permitted, provided that a sign permit has
been obtained for said sign:
A. Neighborhood Conservation District. The following signs may be erected
and maintained in the Neighborhood Conservation Districts upon issuance
of a sign permit:
(1)
Signs for home occupations as permitted in this chapter, indicating
the name and/or professional activity of the resident practitioner,
provided that the size of any such sign shall not exceed two square
feet in area.
(2)
Signs for uses in the Professional Office Overlay District.
The size of such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(3)
Signs naming an approved subdivision or land development, provided
that:
(a)
Such sign does not exceed 16 square feet in area for each exclusive
entrance to a subdivision or other land development.
(b)
Such sign is restricted to the subdivision or land development
name.
(4)
Signs for a bed-and-breakfast facility, provided that the size
of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area.
(5)
Signs of schools, colleges, churches, hospitals, public libraries,
public parks or playgrounds, multifamily buildings containing 15 or
more dwelling units or other institutions and sites of a similar nature
may be erected and maintained on the premises, provided that:
(a)
The size of any such sign is not in excess of 20 square feet.
(b)
Not more than one sign shall be placed on a property in single
or separate ownership unless such property fronts upon more than one
street, in which event one such sign may be erected on each frontage.
(6)
Signs of fraternities and sororities may be erected and maintained,
provided that:
(a)
The permit application shall contain a letter from the Dean
of Students evidencing university recognition, chartering or acceptance.
(b)
Not more than one sign shall be placed on a property.
(c)
The sign must be rigidly affixed to the building and to all
supporting and framing structures, attachments and hardware.
(d)
The sign shall not exceed four square feet in area.
(e)
The sign shall not be illuminated.
(f)
Each fraternity/sorority shall be limited to one sign, irrespective
of the number of properties occupied.
(7)
Signs indicating the location of hospitals or other public service
institutions may be erected and maintained, provided that:
(a)
The number of any such signs to be erected by any one institution
or organization may be limited at the discretion of the Borough Council.
(b)
Written permission is secured from the owner of the property
on which the sign is to be erected.
(c)
The size of any such sign is not in excess of three square feet.
(8)
Business signs for nonconforming uses which are located in a
building sharing both a business and residential use and which indicate
the name or activity of the occupant of the building, provided that:
(a)
Such sign shall be considered as separate from the residential signs as provided for in §
112-703C;
(b)
Not more than one such sign shall be erected for each building;
and
(c)
Such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
(9)
Business signs for nonconforming uses which are located in a
building other than a residence and which indicate the name or activity
of the occupant of the building, provided that:
(a)
Not more than one such sign shall be erected for such use.
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed four square feet in area.
(10)
Only the following signs shall be illuminated in the residential
districts:
(a)
An identification sign of a physician, dentist, District Justice,
hospital and any such other person or establishment whose services
in an emergency are considered essential to public health, safety
and welfare.
(b)
An identification sign of a school, church or other similar
permitted use, provided that said sign is illuminated only between
the hours of dusk and 12:00 midnight, prevailing time.
(11)
Banners across streets, alleys and other public rights-of-way
shall be permitted to promote community events, such as sidewalk sale
days, the Annual Restaurant Festival, Old Fashioned Christmas and
events sponsored by the Chester County Hospital, Chester County Historical
Society, veterans' organizations or charitable, educational, fraternal,
civic or service organizations. Banners promoting business and commercial
enterprises are prohibited. Banners shall also be governed by the
following:
(a)
At least 30 days prior to the desired date of hanging a banner
over a public street or way, an applicant must complete and submit
a banner permit to the office of the Borough Manager for approval
by the Borough Council. Upon approval of a permit by the Borough Council,
a banner may be hung and displayed as set forth below.
(b)
The hanging of banners must be in complete conformance with
the application as submitted and as finally approved by the Borough
Council.
(c)
The hanging of banners is the sole responsibility of the applicant.
(d)
No banner may hang lower than 15 feet over the street or public
way.
(e)
No more than two banners may be displayed over any particular
street or public way.
(f)
Banners may not be hung more than 14 days prior to the date
of the event being advertised and must be removed no later than seven
days after the conclusion of the event being advertised.
(g)
Banners not removed within seven days after the advertised event
has concluded will be removed by the Borough, and the applicant shall
be liable for the actual cost of removal.
(h)
Banners hung across streets and other rights-of-way without
proper approval will be removed within two working days after the
person(s) or organization(s) responsible have been notified by any
means of communication. Failure to remove the banner(s) after notification
shall result in the Borough's doing so at a charge of the actual cost
of removal and fines as related to zoning violations.
B. Commercial service and industrial districts. The following signs
may be erected and maintained in the CS and ID Districts upon issuance
of a sign permit:
(1)
Any sign permitted in a Neighborhood Conservation District which relates to a use permitted in the CS and ID Districts or a condition of sale, rental, direction and the like as set forth in §
112-702.
(3)
Signs advertising one business or industrial use when located
on the lot where such use is conducted, provided that:
(a)
Not more than one ground sign or pole sign shall be permitted
upon each street on which the use has frontage. Such sign shall not
exceed 32 square feet in area and shall be set back a distance of
not less than 10 feet from the street right-of-way line; or
(b)
Not more than three wall signs, the total signage of which is
not to exceed 10% of the facade area on which the sign is located
or 32 square feet, whichever is less.
(4)
Signs advertising two or more businesses or industries on a
lot held in single and separate ownership on the lot where such uses
are conducted, provided that:
(a)
Not more than one ground sign or pole sign shall be permitted.
The total area of such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet for one
business or industry; however, up to four additional square feet may
be added for every additional business or industry, but in no case
shall such sign exceed 40 square feet. The structural backing for
all such signs shall be uniform, and no sign may extend in any direction
beyond the outside edge of the backing; and
(b)
Not more than one wall sign per business or industry shall be
permitted. No such sign shall exceed eight square feet.
(5)
In the case of an automobile service station, four accessory
signs may be erected and maintained, provided that each such sign
does not exceed four square feet in area.
(6)
All signs in the CS and ID Districts may be illuminated, subject to the requirements of this Article
VII.
(7)
Signs for sexually oriented businesses in the CS District shall
not depict specified sexual activities, persons in a state of nudity
or seminudity or specified anatomical areas.
(8)
Billboard signs shall be permitted in the CS District as the
sole principal use of a lot, provided that such signs meet the following
requirements:
(a)
Not more than one billboard sign shall be permitted on a single
lot.
(b)
The minimum net lot area must be 500 square feet.
(c)
The lot shall not contain any other buildings or structures,
except those necessary for the operation, maintenance or security
of the billboard sign.
(d)
The total height of any billboard sign shall not exceed 20 feet,
measured from the average ground level to the top of the sign, including
all structural components. There shall be a minimum of 10 feet of
clearance (not including structural ground supports) under the lower
edge of the signboard.
(e)
A billboard sign structure may have no more than two sign faces
of equal size, shape and dimension, and the total display area of
a billboard sign shall not exceed 72 square feet on one side, including
border and trim, but excluding supports.
(f)
No portion of a billboard sign shall be located closer than
10 feet from the right-of-way.
(g)
No billboard sign shall be located within the safe clear sight
distance or safe stopping distance of a signalized intersection, which
distance shall be determined in accordance with applicable PennDOT
standards.
(h)
No portion of a billboard sign shall interfere with or obstruct
vehicle traffic, travel or ingress and egress to a public street.
(i)
No billboard sign shall be located closer than 500 feet to any
other billboard sign.
(j)
A billboard sign structure may contain only one sign or advertisement
per face. No part of the sign shall extend beyond the borders of the
signboard structure.
(k)
Billboard signs shall conform to the applicable illumination
standards.
(l)
Billboard signs may have changeable copy which shall conform
to the applicable standards.
(m)
All billboard signs shall be maintained in good condition. The
structural components of the sign shall be maintained to ensure their
integrity and to prevent the possible collapse of the sign. Signs
having ripped, defaced or partial advertisements shall be immediately
repaired by having the advertisement restored to its original condition,
removed, or covered.
(n)
All billboard signs shall be set back at least 100 feet from
any property zoned residential and all property where a residential
use is located.
C. Institutional District. The following signs may be erected and maintained
in the IS District upon issuance of a sign permit:
(1)
Any sign permitted in a Neighborhood Conservation District which
relates to a use permitted in the IS District or a condition of sale,
rental, direction and the like.
(2)
Signs advertising one institutional use when located on the
lot or tract where such use is conducted, provided that:
(a)
Not more than a combination of two ground signs or pole signs
shall be permitted along each street on which the use has frontage.
Such sign(s) shall not exceed 24 square feet in area and shall be
set back at least 10 feet from the street right-of-way line and shall
be separated at least 100 feet from one another, measured along the
street line.
(b)
Not more than two wall signs attached to a facade of a permitted
principal building shall be permitted, neither of which shall exceed
24 square feet in area.
(3)
Two accessory signs may be erected and maintained for each individual
institutional use, provided that any such sign does not exceed four
square feet in area.
(4)
All signs in the IS District may be illuminated, subject to
applicable standards.
D. Town Center District. The following signs may be erected and maintained
in the TC District upon issuance of a sign permit:
(1)
Any sign permitted in the Neighborhood Conservation District
which relates to a use permitted in the TC District.
(2)
A wall sign advertising one Town Center use, when located on
the lot where such use is conducted, provided that:
(a)
Not more than one wall sign attached to the wall of a permitted
principal building shall be permitted for each tenant or business,
in compliance with the following:
[1]
Total sign area of all wall signs shall not exceed one square
foot per linear foot of wall facing the street, not to exceed 24 square
feet.
[2]
Buildings with more than one wall facing a street may have signs
as limited above on each wall facing a street.
(b)
No such sign shall cover any windows or walls of any part of
the building not devoted to the use to which the sign relates.
(3)
If a ground sign is erected, such sign shall not exceed 20 square
feet and shall be set back a distance of not less than five feet from
the street right-of-way line.
(4)
If a pole sign is erected, such sign shall not exceed 20 square
feet and shall be set back a distance of not less than five feet from
the street right-of-way line.
(5)
All signs in the TC District may be illuminated, subject to
applicable standards.
(6)
Projecting signs in accordance with this article, provided that
only one sign per 25 feet of frontage shall be permitted.
E. Mixed-Use District. The following signs may be erected and maintained
in the MU District upon issuance of a sign permit:
(1)
Any sign permitted in a Neighborhood Conservation District which
relates to a use permitted in the MU District.
(2)
No signs may be erected or maintained in the MU District unless
such signs shall advertise the permitted business activity conducted
on the premises. No off-premises signs shall be permitted.
(3)
Signs advertising one business when located on the lot where
such use is conducted, provided that:
(a)
Not more than one ground sign shall be permitted upon each street
on which the use has frontage;
(b)
Such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area; and
(c)
Such sign shall be set back a distance of not less than 10 feet
from the street right-of-way line.
(4)
Signs advertising two or more businesses on a lot held in single
and separate ownership on the lot where such uses are conducted, provided
that:
(a)
Lots with 100 feet of street frontage or more may have two ground
signs on each street where there is 100 feet or more of frontage.
(b)
For lots with less than 100 feet of street frontage, only one
ground sign shall be permitted.
(c)
The maximum size of the ground sign shall be 40 square feet.
(5)
Municipal and governmental uses when located in the MU District
may erect and maintain any of the following signs:
(a)
Not more than one ground sign shall be permitted upon each street
on which the use has frontage. Such sign shall not exceed 32 square
feet in area and shall be set back a distance of not less than 10
feet from the street right-of-way line.
(b)
Wall signs advertising one governmental use shall be permitted,
the total area which shall not exceed 60 square feet.
(6)
All signs in the MU District may be illuminated.
The following requirements shall apply to signs for which a
permit is required as set forth in this article:
A. All sign approval permits shall be filed on application forms provided
by the Borough and administered by the Zoning Officer.
B. All sign approval permit applications shall disclose the following
information in duplicate:
(1)
A description of the size, shape, color, material, supports,
anchoring, weight and height of the sign, as well as the intensity
of illumination.
(2)
An architectural elevation, drawn to scale, of the sign, indicating
the proposed style of the letters, words, symbols or other graphics
and the proposed size, dimensions, shape, color, material, supports,
anchoring and height of the sign.
(3)
A plot plan, drawn to scale, showing the proposed sign location
with respect to the property lines and the building(s).
C. Written consent of the landowner, if different from the applicant,
shall be provided.
D. All applications for sign approval permits shall be accompanied by
a check to cover the required fee as set forth in the Fee Schedule
for signs established by the Borough Council.
E. The Zoning Officer shall process applications for sign approval permits
within 30 days from the date of the filing of a complete application
with the required fee, unless provided for otherwise herein.
F. The Zoning Officer shall inspect and approve the installation of
the sign and shall make periodic inspections to determine conformity
of signs to these regulations.
G. In determining the appropriateness of the proposed sign, the Zoning
Officer shall determine the following:
(1)
That the sign meets all the restrictions, standards and sign
area requirements set forth in this article.
(2)
That the sign has a reasonable location, scale and proportion
in relation to buildings, doors, windows and pedestrian and vehicular
access.
All applications for permits shall be accompanied by a fee in
accordance with the Fee Schedule for the same established by the Borough
Council.