A. 
It is the purpose of these provisions to place limitations on the display of signs to insure that they will be appropriate to the community environment and functional for the intended purpose of identification, protection, or advertisement.
B. 
Signs shall only be erected and maintained when in compliance with the provisions contained herein.
A. 
Conformance with ordinances. Any sign hereafter erected or maintained shall conform to the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the municipal building code and any other ordinance or regulations of the municipality.
B. 
No more than one sign is allowed per lot for a single use and provided that the sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.
C. 
In the event of two or more business services on a single lot two signs not exceeding 32 square feet each may be shared by the businesses as determined by the lot owner.
D. 
Right-of-way restrictions. No sign other than an official traffic sign or similar sign shall be erected within nor overhang the right-of-way of any road unless specifically authorized by other ordinances or regulations of the municipality.
E. 
Limits on projecting signs. Projecting, under canopy, and fascia signs may project over public sidewalks or walkways and shall have a minimum ground clearance of 10 feet projecting signs shall not exceed nine square feet in area.
F. 
Clear view. No sign or sign structure shall be erected at the intersection of any street in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, nor at any location whereby reason of position, shape or color, it may interfere with or obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal, or device.
G. 
Changeable copy signs. Electrical message board and manual changeable copy back lit signs may be permitted only in the Village District. Electronic message boards shall have a minimum message interval of seven seconds between the start of displays in series.
H. 
Lighting. Any illumination must be nonglaring or shielded to prevent direct light from shining onto any street or adjacent property. Where practical, exterior lighting installations shall include timers, dimmers, sensors, or photocell controllers that turn the lights off during daylight hours or hours when lighting is not needed.
I. 
Sign maintenance. Every sign permitted by this chapter must be constructed of durable materials and kept in good condition and repair.
J. 
When any sign becomes insecure, in danger of falling or is otherwise unsafe or if any sign is unlawfully installed in violation of this chapter, it shall be removed upon written notice by the Zoning Officer, immediately in the case of imminent danger, and in any case not more than 30 days from the date of the written notice.
K. 
If the sign notice is not complied with, the Zoning Officer may remove or cause to be removed such sign at the expense of the owner or lessee.
A. 
Compliance. Unless specifically exempted (see § 420-8.7), a permit must be obtained from the Township for the erection and maintenance of all signs erected or maintained in the Township. Exemptions from the necessity of securing a permit, however, shall not be construed to relieve the owner of the sign involved from responsibility for its erection and maintenance in a safe manner and in a manner in accord with all the other provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Plans required. Before any permit is granted for the erection of a sign or sign structure, plans and specifications shall be filed with the Township showing the dimensions, materials, and required details of construction including loads, stresses, anchorage and any other pertinent engineering data. In the case of an off-premises sign the application for a permit shall be accompanied by the written consent of the owner or lessee of the premises upon which the sign is to be erected.
C. 
Permit required. No new sign shall hereafter be erected, constructed, altered or maintained except as herein provided and until after a permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer.
D. 
Sign alteration. No sign shall be enlarged or relocated except in conformity to the provisions of this article for new signs, nor until a proper permit has been secured. The changing of movable parts of an approved sign that is designed for such changes, or the repainting or reposting of display matter shall not be deemed an alteration provided the conditions of the original approval and the requirements of this article are not violated.
E. 
Fees. Permit fees to erect, alter or modernize a sign shall be in accordance with the fee schedule adopted by the Township.
A. 
The owner of the property upon which the sign is located shall be presumed to be the owner of all signs thereon unless facts to the contrary are brought to the attention of the Zoning Officer, as in the case of a leased sign or a ground lease for an off-premises sign.
B. 
For purposes of removal, the definition of a sign shall include all sign embellishments and structures designed specifically to support the sign.
All signs and/or sign messages shall be removed by the owner or lessee from the premises upon which the on-premises sign is located when the use it advertises is no longer conducted. Such removal shall be completed within 30 days of vacating the premises. If an abandoned sign has not been removed the Zoning Officer may cause the sign to be removed in accordance with § 420-8.5 above.
The provisions and regulations of this chapter shall not apply to the following signs; provided, however, said signs shall be subject to the provisions of § 420-8.8.
A. 
Real estate signs not exceeding 32 square feet in area which advertise the sale, rental, or lease of the premises, upon which said signs are located.
B. 
Professional nameplates not exceeding six square feet in area.
C. 
Bulletin boards not over 32 square feet in area for public, charitable, or religious institutions where the same are located on the premises of said institutions.
D. 
Signs denoting the architect, engineer, contractor, project sponsor or source of financing when placed upon work under construction, and not exceeding a cumulative total of 32 square feet in area per site.
E. 
Occupational signs denoting only the name and profession of an occupant in a commercial building, public institutional building, farm or dwelling house, and not exceeding six square feet in area.
F. 
Memorial signs or tablets, names of building and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material.
G. 
Directional or informational signs of four square feet or less.
H. 
Off-premises signs of four square feet or less with the written consent of the landowner.
I. 
Holiday or special event signs or decorations and temporary business signs that are erected for a period not exceeding 60 days in duration.
J. 
Public signs or notices, or any sign relating to an emergency.
K. 
Window signs.
L. 
Religious, governmental, charitable or fraternal signs not exceeding four square feet.
M. 
Political signs. Such signs shall not be erected more than 45 days prior to the election or referendum concerned and shall be removed seven days following such election or referendum. Political signs may be placed only on private property and only with the permission of the property owner, and shall not exceed 32 square feet in sign area. No deposit is required for political signs.
A. 
Signs that obstruct a clear view to and from traffic along any street right-of-way, entrance, or exit.
B. 
Signs painted or mounted on rocks or other natural features. No signs other than nameplate/address signs less than four square feet shall be affixed to trees or to yard or landscape rocks. "Posted" property signs may also be affixed to trees.
C. 
Signs located in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal or device; obstruct or interfere with the driver's view of approaching, merging, or intersecting traffic; no signs that are lighted in such a way so as to cause glare or impair driver visibility.
D. 
Signs that resemble, imitate, or approximate the shape, size, form or color of traffic signs, signals, or devices.
E. 
Signs erected, relocated, or maintained in such a way that prevents free ingress or egress from any door, window, or fire escape; and attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
F. 
Animated, flashing (not applicable to electronic message board signs), revolving and/or rotating signs.
G. 
Mobile signs not specified in § 420-8.7, Signs not requiring permits, or which cannot conform to all requirements for permitted signs.
The following signs are allowed in all zoning districts:
A. 
All signs not requiring permits (see § 420-8.7).
B. 
One construction sign for each street frontage of a construction project, not to exceed 32 square feet in sign area in residential zones or 60 square feet in sign areas in all other zones. Such signs may be erected 15 days prior to beginning of construction activity and shall be removed 15 days following completion of construction activity.
C. 
Two nonilluminated real estate signs per lot or premises, not to exceed 16 square feet in sign area. Such signs must be removed 15 days following sale, rental or lease.
D. 
Two temporary special events signs and decoration per premises as allowed by the Zoning Administrator for special events, grand openings, or holidays, subject to the following regulations:
(1) 
Such signs and decorations may be erected 30 days prior to a special event or holiday and shall be removed seven days following the event or holiday, unless authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board for a longer period of time.
A sign with a fixed message or an electronic graphic display (see § 420-2.2 for definition) stating the name of an advertised product or name(s), directions to a business and information concerning the business located off-premises (from the sign location). Requirements are as follows:
A. 
The maximum sign area for such a sign shall be 32 square feet.
B. 
For an electronic graphic display sign the minimum message interval shall be seven seconds between the start of displays in series.
C. 
Highway billboard signs shall be allowed only in the Conservation Open Space District.
D. 
The minimum separation between off-premises advertising signs shall be 500 feet.
E. 
The top of such sign may not exceed a height of 20 feet above the road grade adjacent to the sign.
F. 
There must be no exposed connecting wires.
G. 
Such signs shall not be located upon a public right-of-way.
H. 
Compliance with Penn DOT regulations shall be secured when applicable.
Sign Type
Further Information See Section
Zoning District
Conservation Open Space
Residential
Village
*Address, nameplate or identification signs
§ 420-8.7B
P
P
P
*Community bulletin board sign
§ 420-8.7C
P
P
P
*Contractor or construction sign
§ 420-8.7D
P
P
P
Freestanding sign
§ 420-8.2
X
X
P
Highway billboard sign
§ 420-8.10
P
X
X
Individual letters or symbols
§ 420-8.2
X
X
P
*Memorial signs
§ 420-8.7F
P
P
P
*Occupation signs
§ 420-8.7E
P
P
P
*Off-premises, directional, and information sign
§ 420-8.7G
P
P
P
*Political signs
§ 420-8.7M
P
P
P
Projecting sign
§ 420-8.2
X
X
P
*Public signs
§ 420-8.7J
P
P
P
*Real estate signs
§ 420-8.7A
P
P
P
*Religious, governmental, charitable or fraternal sign
§ 420-8.7L
P
P
P
*Temporary business sign
§ 420-8.7I
P
P
P
*Temporary sign for holidays or special events
§ 420-8.7I
P
P
P
Wall sign, facia sign
§ 420-8.2
X
X
P
*Window sign
§ 420-8.7K
P
P
P
NOTES:
*
Signs not requiring permits (see § 420-8.7).
P - Permitted sign
X - Not permitted