[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
All signs shall be under the jurisdiction and subject to inspection by the Construction Code Official of the Township of Union. Before any sign, fixed awing, canopy or projecting object is altered or erected upon, above or below any building or structure in the Township of Union, a permit shall first be obtained from the Construction Department, for which a fee shall be paid in accordance with the fee schedule of the Township of Union for sign permits. Before any permit shall be issued, an application, with two sets of plans showing the proposed construction of the sign and a statement of method of attachment, shall be filed in the office of the Construction Code Official. The requirements of this article shall be applicable to both temporary and permanent signs.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall have the following meanings.
AWNING SIGN
A sign that is mounted, painted or attached to an awning or other window or door canopy. Awnings may be fixed or retractable. The sign area of an awning is based on the total gross printed area.
BANNER SIGN
A cloth sign affixed along two or more sides to a frame or other means of support.
BILLBOARD
A commercial sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located.
CANOPY SIGN
See "awning sign."
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Signs limited to directional messages such as "one way," "entrance" and "exit."
FEATHER FLAG SIGN
Temporary advertising signs made of lightweight cloth that are supported by a lightweight freestanding pole or frame.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGN
A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental functions or required by law, ordinance or other governmental regulation.
GROUND SIGN
A freestanding sign, other than a pole sign, in which the entire bottom is in contact with or is close to the ground.
PEDESTRIAN SIGN
A sign not permanently attached to the ground or permanent structure and designed to be transported, limited to sandwich boards, A-frame signs, and easels.
PEDESTRIAN EASEL SIGN — A freestanding one-sided sign on a three- or four-legged upright supporting structure.
PEDESTRIAN POSTER STAND SIGN — A freestanding one-sided sign display.
PEDESTRIAN SANDWICH BOARD SIGN — A freestanding "A" frame type sign with one- or two-sided message area.
POLE SIGN
A freestanding sign which is permanently supported in a fixed location by a structure of one or more poles, posts, uprights, or braces from the ground and not supported by a building or base structure.
[Added 5-23-2023 by Ord. No. 5767]
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and that projects more than 12 inches from the facade of that building.
PYLON SIGN
See "pole sign."
[Added 5-23-2023 by Ord. No. 5767]
SIGN AREA
The entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim or molding, but not including the supporting structure or the unprinted area of an awning.
SUSPENDED SIGN
A sign hanging from a marquee, awning, porch or canopy.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign or advertising display designed or intended to be displayed for a short period of time.
WALL SIGN
A sign fastened to, or painted on, the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of, the sign and that does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign that is painted or mounted onto a windowpane, or that is hung directly inside a window, for the purpose or effect of identifying any premises from the sidewalk or street or for advertising special sales, events or products.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
A. 
For the purposes of this chapter, nonresidential properties shall include lots, structures, and parcels of record with any principal use other than or in addition to residential.
B. 
Off-site signage.
(1) 
Off-site signage, including billboards, are not permitted and shall not be erected in any zoning district within the Township of Union, and any attempt to convert existing static billboards to digital LED communication systems, or to employ heightened or changing graphics with more modern technology for such existing billboards, is also prohibited.
(2) 
Other than billboard signs as defined by this chapter, no sign may be placed on or attached to a building or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted business or use conducted on the same premises, and/or for uses permitted in residential zones as provided for in § 170-1404, subject to the provisions of said section.
C. 
Visibility and illumination.
(1) 
No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, other places of business, other signs or windows of the building on which they are located.
(2) 
All illuminated signs shall be either indirectly lighted or of the diffused-lighting type. No sign shall be lighted by means of flashing, LED, or intermittent illumination; however, backlit signs may be illuminated with LED lights. This shall include all lights used for the illumination of buildings or the areas surrounding them or for the illumination or display of merchandise or products as they are in the view of vehicular traffic using the roads or roads abutting such business properties. Floodlights used for the illumination of said premises or of any sign thereon, whether or not such floodlights are attached to or separate from the building, shall not project light above the highest elevation of the illuminated wall of the building. Nonflashing neon signs are permitted in windows only, said signs limited to two colors plus white with their bulbs being adequately covered. Said neon signs must not exceed four square feet per window and not more than one neon sign per 100 square feet of street front window. Use of LED lighting shall be prohibited from any window or door, and shall not be affixed to other areas of any structure or building, except when used as properly shielded backlighting for signs.
D. 
Each sign shall have prominently displayed a permit number as assigned by the Construction Department indicating approval for erection.
E. 
Sign location.
(1) 
No sign shall be attached to trees, fence posts, stumps, utility poles or other signs, railway or road bridges, bridge supports or abutments, retaining walls, parking meters or water towers unless approved by the governing body.
(2) 
No advertising sign shall be erected or located on, within or over any public right-of-way unless otherwise permitted in this chapter.
(3) 
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.
(4) 
Signage may not be installed on accessory buildings.
F. 
Sign dimensions.
(1) 
The area of a sign shall be computed by means of the smallest polygon that contains the entire sign, excluding any supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental to the sign itself.
(2) 
For double-faced signs, the sign area shall be the area of one display face where the interior angle formed by the faces is 90° or less. Otherwise, the sign area shall include the area of all sign faces.
(3) 
Aggregate sign area shall be calculated as a percentage of the main facade of the principal structure.
(4) 
Measurement of height. The height of a pole or ground sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be considered to be the lower of existing grade prior to construction or the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filing, berming, mounding or excavation. Increasing grade to obtain a higher sign is prohibited.
(5) 
The maximum permitted area of any sign located anywhere in the Township shall be 50 square feet, unless otherwise provided. This provision shall not apply to signs in the Special Improvement District.
G. 
Exempt signs. 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) 
No fee shall be charged for a driveway directional sign.
(2) 
Temporary or permanent government, regulatory, and safety signs, approved by the governing body, not exceeding four square feet, shall be permitted in all zones.
(3) 
Signs which are required by any provision of law may be located in any zone.
(4) 
Official traffic and directional signs.
(5) 
Signs or banners advertising public or quasipublic events that are posted with the permission of the Township according to guidelines set by the Township and with a set time limit to their posting.
(6) 
Signs inside a building, or other enclosed facility, which are not meant to be viewed from the outside, and are located greater than three feet from the window.
(7) 
Holiday and seasonal decorations.
(8) 
Memorial tablets or signs, names of buildings and date of erection, when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed in bronze or other noncombustible materials.
(9) 
Address signs, including names on mailboxes and building numbers.
(10) 
Personal expression signs of any sign type, including flags, provided that they do not exceed three square feet in area per side, are noncommercial in nature, and not illuminated.
(11) 
Any flag, emblem or insignia or a governmental agency of the United States, New Jersey, Union Township, and flags of foreign nations.
(12) 
Incidental window signage including credit card logos, open/closed signs, and the like is permitted in one window per establishment, not to exceed 20 square inches.
H. 
Prohibited signs.
(1) 
Feather flag signs, moving, fluttering or rotating signs, including streamers, pennants and similar displays, are prohibited in all zones.
(2) 
Any sign that uses the words "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.
(3) 
Signs which display video, simulate the appearance of movement, or have flashing or intermittent lights.
(4) 
Signs on which the colors red, amber or green are used either in direct illumination or in high reflection by the use of special preparation such as fluorescent paint or glass, if located within 150 feet of a traffic light.
(5) 
No signs or illustrations or symbols shall be placed so as to interfere with the opening of an exit door of any building or so as to obstruct any window opening or to interfere with the use of any fire escape or to create a hazard to pedestrians.
(6) 
It shall be unlawful to use a vehicle or a trailer as a sign in circumvention of the requirements set forth in this chapter. Thus, any sign painted, attached or displayed on any vehicle or trailer whose primary purpose is advertisement of products or activity and directing people to a business or activity located on the same or other property shall be prohibited in all zones. This does not apply to a vehicle parked at a place of business or an owner's/driver's residence and is the primary means of transportation to and from his or her place of employment. This does not apply to any signage for vehicles required by state or federal law. Signs advertising to the public that the vehicle in question is "for sale" are not intended to be included in this regulation.
(7) 
Canopy signs.
(8) 
Awning signs.
I. 
Temporary signs.
(1) 
Temporary signs shall not be mounted, attached, affixed, installed or otherwise secured in a manner that will make the sign a permanent sign.
(2) 
Temporary signs are prohibited in public rights-of-way.
(3) 
Temporary signs may be freestanding or attached to buildings.
(4) 
Temporary signs shall not be illuminated.
(5) 
The following types of signs qualify: freestanding sign, window sign, wall sign, banner sign.
(6) 
Temporary signs on properties for sale or lease (any zone district).
(a) 
Duration: This sign shall be removed 10 days after the execution of a contract or the expiration of the listing agreement.
(b) 
Number of signs per property: one per street frontage.
(c) 
On lots less than two acres:
[1] 
Maximum sign area: 10 square feet.
[2] 
Maximum sign height: four feet.
(d) 
On lots greater than two acres:
[1] 
Maximum sign area: 30 square feet.
[2] 
Maximum sign height: six feet.
(7) 
Temporary signs in residential zone districts.
(a) 
Duration: Temporary signs of greater than two square feet may be displayed up to a maximum of 30 consecutive days, two times per year.
(b) 
Maximum sign size: six square feet per sign and 24 square feet total.
(c) 
Maximum sign height: four feet.
(8) 
Temporary signs in nonresidential zone districts.
(a) 
Duration: Temporary signs of greater than two square feet may be displayed up to a maximum of 30 consecutive days, two times per year.
(b) 
On properties of less than five acres.
[1] 
Maximum sign size: six square feet per sign and 24 square feet total.
[2] 
Maximum sign height: four feet.
(c) 
On properties of five acres or more:
[1] 
Maximum sign size: eight square feet per sign and 32 square feet total.
[2] 
Maximum sign height: eight feet.
(d) 
All permits for signs in the Special Improvement District will require approval of the Special Improvement District's Building Codes Screening Committee as stipulated in § 170-2508F.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
A. 
A nameplate sign, situated within the property lines and bearing only the name and address of the principal occupant, provided that the sign does not exceed two square feet in total area.
B. 
Either one wall sign or one ground sign, not exceeding four square feet in area, advertising or indicating the home office or home occupation as permitted in the district. Any such ground sign shall be set back at least 15 feet from the street right-of-way.
C. 
An approved multifamily housing development may display one ground 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 said sign shall not exceed 35 square feet and shall be set back 15 feet from a street or property line.
D. 
Permitted or approved nonresidential uses in any residential zone district are allowed one wall or ground sign not exceeding 20 square feet. No such sign shall be located closer than 15 feet to a property line or street right-of-way line.
E. 
Open house directional signs.
(1) 
Open house directional signs shall be exempt from fees and shall not require a permit.
(2) 
Signs are not to be displayed before 11:30 a.m. and no later than 5:30 p.m.
(3) 
No more than one sign on a right-of-way or at any intersection or street corner.
(4) 
All open house directional signs will be uniform, without broker's name, and of sandwich A-frame construction. The sign shall not exceed six square feet in area and shall be neutral black and white in background, with block lettering and directional arrow. Only one sign shall be permitted at each location no matter how many realtors have open houses for that day. Generic signs shall contain the name of the company on the inside of each sign.
(5) 
No directional sign of any kind shall be tacked or stapled to a utility pole or tree.
(6) 
No directional signs shall be allowed on Chestnut Street, Morris Avenue or Stuyvesant Avenue.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
In the mixed use districts, only the following signs are permitted:
A. 
Signs as permitted and regulated in § 170-1404 above are permitted in connection with such uses when located in a mixed use district.
B. 
No signs shall be permitted which are not accessory to a business or use conducted on the property.
C. 
Wall signs. Wall signs are permitted on each commercial building wall that faces on a street or parking areas, 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 eight inches from the face of the building wall to which it is attached.
(3) 
The bottom of said sign shall be at least eight feet above the ground level or sidewalk below the sign if it extends more than three inches from the face of the building wall.
(4) 
The height of any such sign shall not exceed four feet. The total of the widths of any such signs shall not exceed 75% of the width of the building wall to which attached.
(5) 
The total area of any such sign shall not exceed 10% of the area of the building wall, including window areas to which they are attached. The maximum size of a wall sign in multitenant office buildings shall not exceed 10 square feet per tenant and shall not be located above the first story. These signs may be in addition to the sign announcing the name of the building, which shall conform to all provisions listed above. The maximum size of a wall sign in multitenant buildings occupied by retail stores shall not exceed 25 square feet per tenant and shall not be located above the first story.
D. 
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 four feet above the ground level below the sign, and such sign shall be elevated no more than one foot above grade.
(2) 
No such sign shall exceed a width of four feet.
(3) 
Said sign shall be at least 15 feet from a street right-of-way or property line.
(4) 
When used as a directory sign of the tenants occupying a building or site, the allowed display area of said sign shall be uniformly divided and equally shared by all tenants. No add-on signs or additional square footage for sublet use shall be allowed.
E. 
Pole signs. Provided that there is no ground sign, a commercial property having a street frontage of at least 300 feet shall be permitted one pole sign, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1) 
Said sign shall contain only the name of the commercial property or facility or the brand or the manufacturer's name of the principal product sold or the service rendered.
(2) 
The top of the sign shall not extend more than 20 feet above the ground surface below the sign. The ground may not be artificially raised in order to increase the height of the sign.
(3) 
The total area of said sign shall not exceed 50 square feet.
(4) 
The bottom of said sign shall be at least 15 feet above the ground level below the sign.
(5) 
Subject to the requirement in Subsection E(4) 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. Such signs shall be uniform in size so as to be shared equally by all tenants. No add-on signs or additional square footage for sublet use shall be allowed.
F. 
Suspended signs. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a commercial building containing an overhang along the building wall and over a sidewalk shall be permitted signs as follows:
(1) 
One sign suspended from or attached to the ceiling of the overhang for each business establishment, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(a) 
Said sign shall be located in front of the commercial establishment.
(b) 
Said sign shall be erected perpendicular to the face of the building wall.
(c) 
The bottom of said sign shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk below the sign.
(d) 
Said sign shall not extend beyond the overhang.
(e) 
Said sign shall not exceed 10 inches in height or four feet in width.
(f) 
Said sign shall contain only the name of the commercial establishment or the name of the principal product sold or service rendered.
G. 
Window signs.
(1) 
Window signs shall have a maximum size not to exceed 25% of the window area. Only one such sign shall be allowed in each window.
H. 
Directories and menus located at a building's main entry are permitted, and may not exceed three square feet.
I. 
Uniformity of signs. If a building contains more than one establishment, the signs shall be uniform in terms of design, colors, height or background, style and height of lettering and position on the building wall. In the case of a new sign for an individual establishment in a preexisting multiuse building, the new sign shall be consistent with the design of existing signs; where a uniform pattern has been established, the new sign shall, to the greatest extent possible, follow the pattern of the existing sign or signs which most closely fulfill the objectives of these regulations. The owner as well as individual tenants of multiuse buildings shall be responsible for compliance with these regulations.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
A. 
All sign types permitted in mixed-use zone districts are permitted in Downtown Core and Downtown Transition Districts, in addition to the following sign types.
B. 
Pedestrian signs, permitted without a permit, provided the pedestrian sign meets the following criteria:
(1) 
Pedestrian signage may be erected by the business as determined appropriate for the needs of the business, placed directly in front of the business, adjacent to the entrance.
(2) 
No more than one pedestrian sign may be erected per business.
(3) 
Pedestrian signage may be displayed in front of a business only during open hours and shall be removed when the business is closed.
(4) 
Sign frames, posts and bases shall be made of wood or metal.
(5) 
Signs nay not exceed a maximum frame dimension of 24 inches by 36 inches.
(6) 
Message area of the sign face shall be enclosed by a clearly discernible border at least one inch in width.
(7) 
Electronic signs and backlit signs are prohibited. Message cannot automatically change.
(8) 
The background colors of the sign shall be black, white or natural.
(9) 
Signs shall not be located in a way that obstructs passing pedestrians.
(10) 
No signs may be displayed when ground is covered with snow.
(11) 
Any signage not displayed in compliance with the above criteria shall be deemed a violation and subject to code enforcement action and/or removal.
C. 
Projecting signs are permitted in the Downtown Core and Downtown Transition Districts, provided they meet the following criteria:
(1) 
No more than one projecting sign may be erected per business per street frontage.
(2) 
Projecting signs shall be erected perpendicular to the face of the building wall.
(3) 
Projecting signs shall have two faces, only one of which shall be measured in computing sign area.
(4) 
Projecting signs shall not exceed four feet in width and 12 square feet in area.
(5) 
Projecting signs shall read only the name of the commercial establishment, or the name of the principal product sold or service rendered; business symbols or logos are permitted.
(6) 
The bottom of the projecting sign shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk.
(7) 
Projecting signs shall not be mounted or projected above the first floor level.
(8) 
Projecting signs must conform to special standards developed by the Special Improvement District, including shapes, sizes, and materials.
(9) 
Projecting signs shall be permitted in addition to any other sign types also permitted by the Code with the business district.
(10) 
Projecting signs shall be externally illuminated by means of a directed light.
(11) 
Projecting signs shall not be less than two feet from the side lot line of any parcel, and no two projecting signs shall be closer than 10 feet from one another.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739; 5-23-2023 by Ord. No. 5767]
The following sign types are permitted in the CC and C/I Districts:
A. 
Signs as permitted and regulated in § 170-1404 above are permitted in connection with such uses when located in a CC or C/I District.
B. 
No sign shall be permitted which is not accessory to a use conducted on the property.
C. 
Wall signs, subject to the following:
(1) 
Each building may contain one wall sign which must be permanently attached or constructed with the building and does not extend more than one foot from the facade of the building.
(2) 
The total sign area shall not exceed 50 square feet or 10% of the gross area facade to which it is attached, whichever is greater.
(3) 
No part of a wall sign shall extend beyond the wall of the structure to which it is affixed.
(4) 
The bottom of said sign shall be at least 10 feet above the ground level below the sign.
(5) 
The height of any such sign shall not exceed five feet or 20% of the height of the building wall to which it is attached, whichever is the lesser.
(6) 
The total of the widths of any such signs shall not exceed 50% of the width of the building wall to which they are attached.
(7) 
On buildings with frontage facing a second public right-of-way, a secondary wall sign is permitted, with a maximum permitted sign area of 25 square feet or 5% of the gross area facade to which it is attached, whichever is less. The height of any such sign shall not exceed five feet or 20% of the height of the building wall to which it is attached, whichever is less.
D. 
Ground signs, subject to the following:
(1) 
Each property may display one ground sign.
(2) 
Said sign shall be located at least 15 feet from a street right-of-way or property line.
(3) 
Said sign shall be located at least 50 feet from the point of intersection of any two street lines.
(4) 
The top of the sign shall not extend more than 10 feet above the ground surface below the sign.
(5) 
Said sign shall not exceed an area of 60 square feet.
E. 
Pole 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 pole sign, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(1) 
Sign content is limited to the name of the commercial property or facility or the brand or the manufacturer's name of the principal product sold or the service rendered.
(2) 
In the case of multiple tenants in a shared building or site: 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. Such signs shall be uniform in size so as to be shared equally by all tenants.
(3) 
The top of the sign shall not extend more than 20 feet above the ground surface below the sign. The ground may not be artificially raised in order to increase the height of the sign.
(4) 
The total aggregate sign area shall not exceed 50 square feet per side. Signs may have two display sides.
(5) 
The bottom of said sign shall be at least 15 feet above the ground level below the sign.
F. 
Covered walk signs. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a commercial building containing an overhang along the building wall and over a sidewalk shall be permitted signs as follows:
(1) 
One sign suspended from or attached to the ceiling of the overhang for each business establishment, subject to the following limitations and requirements:
(a) 
Said sign shall be located in front of the commercial establishment.
(b) 
Said sign shall be erected perpendicular to the face of the building wall.
(c) 
The bottom of said sign shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk below the sign.
(d) 
Said sign shall not extend beyond the overhang.
(e) 
Said sign shall not exceed 10 inches in height or four feet in width.
(f) 
Said sign shall contain only the name of the commercial establishment or the name of the principal product sold or service rendered.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
Uses shall be permitted one wall or ground sign not exceeding 20 square feet. No such sign shall be located closer than 15 feet to a property line or street right-of-way line.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
Cemeteries shall be permitted one wall or ground sign not exceeding 20 square feet. No such sign shall be located closer than 15 feet to a property line or street right-of-way line.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739]
A. 
Permitting.
(1) 
Permit application. Application for sign permits shall be made by the owner of the premises and the person responsible for the erection of the sign, and both shall be responsible for compliance with the terms as herein set forth. Application shall be made on forms available from the Construction Code Official and shall be accompanied by a fee as established by the Township.
(2) 
Issuance of permit. It shall be the duty of the Construction Code Official to examine the application and other data regarding the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign, and if it shall appear that the proposed structure is in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and all other laws and ordinances of the Township, he shall then issue the sign permit along with a permit tag to be attached to the sign. The sign permit shall be issued or denied within 45 days of the date of application.
(3) 
Duration of permit. If the work authorized under a sign permit has not been completed within four months after date of issuance, the permit shall become null and void.
B. 
Sign removal and repair.
(1) 
Unsafe signs. Whenever, in the opinion of the Construction Code Official, any sign becomes unsafe or endangers the safety of a building or premises or endangers the public safety, the Construction Code Official shall send a registered letter to the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises on which the sign is located, ordering that the sign be made safe or removed within five days of receipt of the letter. If the permittee fails to remove, alter or repair it within 30 days after the notice, the sign may be removed, altered or repaired in order to comply by the Construction Code Official at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located. The Construction Code Official shall cause any sign or sign structure to be removed summarily and without written notice if it is an immediate peril to persons or property by virtue of its construction or moorings.
(2) 
Obsolete signs. Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted or a product sold or is not used for a permitted use hereunder shall be taken down and removed by the permittee, owner, agent or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure or land upon which such sign may be found within 10 days after written notification from the Construction Code Official, and, upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Construction Code Official is hereby authorized to cause removal of the sign, and any expense incidental thereto shall be paid by the permittee or owner of the building or structure to which the sign is attached.
C. 
Nonconforming signs.
(1) 
The failure to keep a nonconforming sign painted or in good repair for a period of six months shall constitute abandonment, and such sign may not be reused and must be removed.
(2) 
The structural alteration of a nonconforming sign shall only be permitted if said alteration brings the sign into conformance with this section.
[Amended 8-23-2022 by Ord. No. 5739; 5-23-2023 by Ord. No. 5767]
A. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this article, motor vehicle service stations may display only the following signs:
(1) 
One ground or pole 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.
(2) 
Signs shall not exceed 30 square feet in area on a side.
(3) 
Signs shall have a minimum setback of five feet from any property line.
(4) 
No sign shall obstruct visibility for vehicles.
(5) 
Pole signs shall have a height limit of not less than 10 feet or more than 15 feet above the ground; ground signs shall not exceed six feet in height from grade.
(6) 
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, that the letters thereof shall not exceed 12 inches in height and that such letters shall be limited to a single line.
(7) 
When convenience retail is present accessory to an automobile service station, one wall sign in accordance with the standards in the mixed-use signage section is permitted.
(8) 
Pump-mounted fuel price information signs are permitted as follows:
(a) 
Only one fuel price informational sign shall be permitted per fuel pump.
(b) 
Fuel price informational signs shall be limited in size to an area of 216 square inches in accordance with state and federal regulations.
(c) 
Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the advertisement of fuel prices on any other sign meeting the requirements of this section.