[Ord. 273, 2/16/1982; as amended by Ord. 452, 5/21/2013]
1. 
Location of Signs. A sign may be erected on a lot only if it conforms to this Chapter.
A. 
Public Right-of-Way. In no case, except for a banner sign, shall any sign other than highway or traffic signs be erected within or project out into the present or future right-of-way of any street or within 10 feet of the shoulder or curb, whichever is greater.
B. 
Entrance or Exit to a Building. No signs shall be erected or installed in such a way as to block or obstruct any exit or entrance, including emergency exits or entrances of any building or other structure, nor shall any sign obstruct or interfere with or be attached to any part of any fire escape or fire tower.
C. 
Signs on Public Property. No signs shall be erected or maintained on any property owned by the Borough except with the express permission of the Borough given by the Council at its duly convened public meeting.
D. 
Signs Placed in a Parking Area or Fire Lane. No sign shall be erected or maintained in any parking space or any fire lane so as to obstruct or impede or impair the free use and access of such parking space or fire lane.
E. 
Signs That Cause Traffic or Pedestrian Hazards. No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will be a danger to traffic on a street, traffic entering a street or pedestrians. No sign shall obstruct the sight lines of pedestrians or motorists using a street. All signs shall conform to the following standards:
(1) 
No sign shall obstruct a driveway or the sight distance from any vehicle entering or leaving a driveway. The minimum setback from a driveway shall be 10 feet from the nearest edge of the driveway to the nearest position of the sign.
(2) 
No sign shall be located in a manner that blocks or obstructs any bicycle rack or curbside car vehicle door opening area.
(3) 
Setback and Height Restrictions.
Proposed Distance From the Outside Edge of the Shoulder or Curb (feet)
Minimum Setback From Driveway (feet)
Minimum Height Restriction (feet)
Greater than 20
5
0
Less Than 20
10
5
2. 
General Sign Design Standards.
A. 
For lots with more than one frontage onto a public right-of-way, signs for each frontage shall be calculated separately.
B. 
Each sign shall be erected so that it can be seen most easily from the public right-of-way for which it was calculated.
C. 
A freestanding or projecting sign having two sides back-to-back on a horizontal angle of 180° or any V-shaped sign with a horizontal angle not greater than 90° is entitled to the maximum calculated sign area on each side.
D. 
A sign supported by more than one means (therefore, neither a freestanding, wall nor projecting sign) shall have its area and height calculation determined by that portion of the sign which has the most restrictive standards.
E. 
The maximum sign area shall include all framing, border and trim, but it shall not include the structural supports.
F. 
The maximum and minimum height of a freestanding sign shall be measured from the elevation of the shoulder of the road. In the case where there is a sidewalk the height of the sign shall be measured from the elevation of the sidewalk.
G. 
For a projecting wall sign, the maximum height shall be determined by the height of the facade of the building or the maximum building height permitted in this Chapter, whichever is smaller.
3. 
Copy Area Calculation.
A. 
The copy area of all signs, except those listed below, shall not exceed 75% of the total area of the sign.
B. 
The following signs are exempted from this copy area restriction:
(1) 
Window signs.
(2) 
Single-occupancy residential signs.
(3) 
Wall signs consisting of single and separate letter or script without an enclosed background, so that the entire will functions as the background of the sign.
(4) 
Temporary A-frame signs, as defined under §27-1213.1.
4. 
Maintenance. All signs must be constructed of durable materials and must be kept in good condition and repair at all times.
[Ord. 273, 2/16/1982; as amended by Ord. 452, 5/21/2013]
1. 
All new signs shall have a sign permit indicating compliance with the requirements and regulations of this Chapter. No sign, except for those exemptions designated below, shall be erected or altered until such a permit has been issued.
A. 
Exemptions. The following signs shall be exempt from the requirements for a sign permit, provided that they conform to the requirements and regulations of this Chapter and have no electrical parts or usage:
(1) 
Any sign listed in §27-1203, Signs permitted in all districts.
(2) 
A permanent residential sign.
(3) 
A temporary real estate sign.
(4) 
A temporary mechanic’s or artisan’s sign.
B. 
Application Requirements.
(1) 
To obtain a sign permit, an applicant shall make application on a form provided by the Borough, accompanied by any applicable permit fees.
(2) 
A sketch of the proposed sign(s), including the follow information:
(a) 
The name and address of the owner.
(b) 
The name and address of the applicant.
(c) 
The date and scale (at 1/8 inch per foot or greater).
(d) 
The overall design and dimensions of the sign.
(e) 
The location of the lot, building and proposed sign in relation to each public right-of-way, building and driveway.
(f) 
An elevation of the building facade (1/8 inch or 1/4 inch equals one foot), including the location, height and dimensions of the proposed sign(s).
(g) 
The copy area and ratio to sign area.
(h) 
All applicable sign requirements.
C. 
Non-Transferability. Sign permits are not transferable. Changes in ownership/operation require re-application for a sign permit.
D. 
Compliance and Outstanding Violations. A permit may be given to an applicant only if all other existing signs located on the premises comply with the requirements contained within this Chapter and are not the subject of any outstanding sign violations.
[Ord. 273, 2/16/1982]
Any sign existing and lawful at the time of the passage of this Chapter that does not conform in use, location, height or size with the regulations of the district in which such sign is located shall be considered a nonconforming sign and may continue in such use in its present location until replacement or rebuilding becomes necessary or two years from enactment of this Chapter, whichever is sooner; at which time a zoning permit will be required and the sign brought into conformity with this Chapter.
[Ord. 273, 2/16/1982]
As used in this Part 12, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AREA OF A SIGN
Includes all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing which are incidental to the display itself.
BILLBOARD
Outdoor advertising sign; not permitted.
COPY
Any letter, number, symbol, figure, character, mark, plan, design, picture, stroke, stripe, trademark or combination thereof.
COPY AREA OF A SIGN
The actual area taken up by the letters, numbers, words and symbols on a sign, computed by drawing parallel lines as close as possible around the letters, numbers, words and symbols.
EAVES
The lowest horizontal line of a sloping roof.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, hang, suspend, affix, alter, structurally repair, remove, relocate, demolish, modernize or to paint on a wall.
FRONTAGE
The portion of a premises which abuts a public right-of-way measured in linear feet.
OCCUPANT (OCCUPANCY)
The legal account of a building or premises licensed to engage in a business, occupation or profession or exempt from license due to governmental, educational, religious or other privileged status.
(1) 
OCCUPANT, MULTIPLE
Two or more occupants per a premises or lot.
(2) 
OCCUPANT, SINGLE
Only one legal occupant per a premises or lot.
PARAPET
The top of a building wall or facade which is raised above the roof.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
PORTABLE SIGN
See “temporary signs.”
PREMISES
Any individual tax map parcel within the Borough as determined by the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds.
ROOFLINE
The highest continuous horizontal line of a roof. On a sloping roof, the roofline is the principal ridge line or the highest line common to one or more principal slopes of roof. On a flat roof, the roofline is the highest continuous line of the roof.
SIGN
Any copy so constructed, placed, attached, painted, erected, fastened or manufactured in any manner whatsoever, which is used for the attraction of the public to any place, subject, person, firm, corporation, public performance, article or merchandise and is displayed in any manner whatsoever which can be seen from the right-of-way of a public street or highway, including permanent window signs placed inside windows to attract attention of those outside in the public right-of-way.