[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011; by Ord. 2011-06, 11/14/2011; and by Ord. 2016-05, 11/14/2016]
1. The following
regulations shall apply to all permitted sign uses.
A. Location.
The main supporting structure of all signs shall be set back in accordance
with the minimum requirements established in the appropriate Section
of this Part for the specific type of sign and the district in which
it is to be located. In no case however, shall any freestanding sign
be located closer than five feet to any side or rear property line
or be situated within any public right-of-way, except traffic signs
or signs that are required in connection with the provision of Township
services. No sign shall be painted, erected, affixed or maintained
on a tree, stone or other natural object.
B. Sign
Area. Sign area shall include the entire face of a single side of
a sign, including all framing, trim and border area, but excluding
any supporting framework or bracing. (A double-faced sign shall be
considered a single sign.) Where a sign consists of individual letters
or symbols attached to a building, wall or window, the area shall
be considered to be the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric
shape which encompasses all of the letters and/or symbols.
C. Illumination.
Illuminated signs shall not cause excessive glare or other disturbance
which would be incompatible with the nature of the surrounding neighborhood
or which would in any way impair the vision of passing motorists.
Illuminated signs shall not be animated.
(1)
(a) Direct Illumination. Illumination provided either directly or through
transparent or translucent material from a source of light within
a sign including, but not limited to, neon and exposed lamps.
(b) Indirect Illumination. Illumination provided by a light which is
shielded so that no direct rays are visible from elsewhere on the
lot where the sign is located. Where such shielding is incomplete
or defective, the illumination shall be deemed to be direct illumination.
(2) Subject to the requirements of §
27-1005, changeable copy (automatic) signs may be permitted in the Commercial and Industrial District by conditional use.
D. Traffic
or Visual Obstruction. No sign shall be erected at the intersection
of a street which could obstruct a motorist’s clear vision.
If located within the direct line of vision of any traffic control
signal, no sign shall have red, green or amber illumination. In addition,
no sign shall cause a visual obstruction for property owners in the
Township.
E. Attachment.
All signs shall be constructed and securely fastened in a manner which
will prevent their displacement by the elements and prevent collapse.
Wall signs may not project more than 18 inches from the surface to
which they are mounted or attached nor in any way interfere with normal
pedestrian or vehicular traffic. No such sign shall extend more than
18 inches above or beyond the top or the edge of the wall or surface
to which it is mounted.
F. Anchoring.
All ground signs shall be anchored, weighted, spring-loaded or otherwise
designed to minimize wind action. The application for such signs shall
indicate the method of anchoring to be employed.
G. Access.
No sign shall be erected or maintained which prevents free ingress
and egress from any door, window or fire escape, or which prevents
free access from one part of a roof to any other part. No sign shall
be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
H. Construction
and Maintenance. All signs permitted under this Chapter must be constructed
of durable material and shall be adequately maintained to present
a legible appearance and avoid deterioration, decay or other conditions
which could endanger the public health, welfare or safety. Each sign
and all appurtenances shall be removed when the circumstances leading
to its erection or display no longer apply.
I. Landowner’s
Permission. No sign shall be displayed upon private or public property,
other than on that of the applicant, without first being permitted
by the owner or agent thereof, with the exception of political or
other temporary signs. Written consent or a copy of the lease shall
be presented with an application for a zoning permit.
J. Nonconforming
Signs. Signs existing at the time of passage of this Chapter which
do not conform to the requirements of this Chapter shall be considered
nonconforming signs, and once removed, shall be replaced with only
conforming signs. Nonconforming signs may be painted, repaired or
maintained, provided such maintenance or repair does not extend the
dimensions of the existing sign.
K. Temporary Event Signs. (See also Subsections
L and
M below for specific types of temporary event signs.) Temporary signs which are to be erected for a legally permissible special event or purpose may be permitted in any zoning district, subject to the following restrictions.
(1) No more than four such signs referring to a single temporary event
may be permitted.
(2) The size or area of each sign shall not exceed the size or area set
forth for permanent signs in the district where they are located.
(3) Such signs shall not be located within any public right-of-way, without
prior approval of the Township Supervisors.
(4) Temporary event signs shall not be displayed for more than 30 days
prior to the event.
(5) The signs shall be removed by the property owner or applicant within
seven days after the event has occurred.
L. Garage,
Porch or Yard Sale Signs. Signs advertising garage, porch or yard
sales or similar periodic events may be permitted subject to the following
requirements.
(1) Such signs shall not exceed four square feet in area.
(2) Signs shall not be erected more than two days prior to the sale or
activity, without the prior approval of the Township Supervisors.
(3) Signs shall be removed within 24 hours following the date of the
sale.
M. Political
Signs. Political signs may be permitted in any zoning district, subject
to the following regulations.
(1) A zoning permit shall not be required for the erection of political
signs in the Township.
(2) Signs shall not exceed four square feet in area per sign face and
shall not have more than two faces.
(3) Signs shall not endanger the public nor be located within the right-of-way
of any public street.
(4) Signs may be erected 60 days prior to the election date and must
be removed by the applicant within seven days after the election.
(5) The Township shall have the right to enter upon any premises and
remove signs that are not in compliance with these regulations without
notice.
N. Zoning
Permit. A zoning permit shall be required for the erection or alteration
of all signs, with the exception of temporary event signs meeting
the requirements of §27-1002K and L above and those signs permitted
in §27-1003A, General Signs in the A-R Agricultural-Rural District
and Residential-Suburban Districts.
O. Fees.
Fees for the issuance of zoning permits for signs shall be paid to
the Township upon filing of an application for such use and shall
be in accordance with the schedule of fees established by resolution
of the Township Supervisors. No fee shall be charged for any permit
connected with the erection of a sign necessary for the benefit of
the public.
[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011; and by Ord. 2016-05, 11/14/2016]
1. The following
signs may be placed or located in the A-R or R-S Zoning Districts,
subject to the specified requirements.
A. General
Signs (Free-Standing or Wall Signs). No more than one of each of the
following nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated signs may be permitted
on a property at any one time (except trespassing signs), unless such
property is situated on a corner and fronts on two streets, in which
case one of each sign may be erected on each frontage.
(1) Name plates, identification signs, or similar signs. (Maximum size–200
square inches.)
(2) Trespassing signs. (Maximum size–two square feet.)
(3) Sale and rental signs. (Maximum size–six square feet.)
(4) Home occupation signs bearing the name and occupation of the practitioner.
(Maximum size–six square feet.)
(5) Signs advertising the sale of farm or nursery products raised on
the premises. (Maximum size–12 square feet.)
(6) Signs of schools, churches, governments and similar institutions.
(Maximum size–20 square feet.)
(7) Signs of mechanics, painters, or other artisans while performing
work on same premises. (Maximum size–12 square feet.)
(8) Signs directing individuals to the location of service clubs, churches
or other nonprofit organizations. (Maximum size–20 square feet.)
(9) Development signs, erected by the developer, builder or realtor,
advertising the sale or development of the premises upon which they
are located. (Maximum size–20 square feet.)
(10) Development signs indicating direction and location of a development,
not situated upon such premises. (Maximum size–six square feet.)
B. Location.
Permitted signs may be located in any portion of a required front
yard, but shall be no closer to the adjoining street right-of-way
line than 10 feet. (See also §27-1002A.) No sign shall be erected
however which will effectively limit proper sight distance for safety
purposes and no such sign shall exceed five feet above the average
grade of the site.
[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011; and by Ord. 2016-05, 11/14/2016]
1. The following
signs may be placed or located in the R-U Zoning District, subject
to the specified requirements.
A. General
Signs. Those signs permitted in §27-1003A., General Signs in
the AR and R-S Districts.
B. Business
Identification Signs (Free-Standing or Wall Signs). Where proposed
in conjunction with a permissible commercial use or activity in the
R-U District, business identification signs may be erected, subject
to the following requirements.
(1) No more than one non-illuminated or indirectly illuminated business
identification sign may be erected and maintained on a lot in the
R-U Zone.
(2) Business identification signs, either freestanding or wall signs,
shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.
(3) Freestanding business identification signs shall not exceed 15 feet
in height above the average grade of the site nor be located closer
to the ground than 10 feet (measured from the lowest part of the sign)
when in a parking, vehicular or pedestrian circulation area, unless
they are resting on the ground.
C. Location.
Permitted signs may be placed within any required front yard, however
general signs shall be no closer to the adjoining street right-of-way
line than 10 feet and business identification signs shall be set back
a minimum of 15 feet from the edge of the adjoining street right-of-way.
(See also §27-1002A.) No sign shall be erected however which
will effectively limit proper sight distance for safety purposes.
[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011; and by Ord. 2016-05, 11/14/2016]
1. The following
signs may be placed or located in the Commercial or Industrial Zoning
Districts, subject to the specified requirements.
A. General
Signs. Those signs permitted in the §27-1003A, General Signs
in the A-R and R-S Districts.
B. Business
Identification Signs (Free-Standing, Wall Signs or Roof Signs). Where
proposed in conjunction with a permissible commercial use or activity
in the Commercial or Industrial Districts, business identification
signs may be erected subject to the following requirements:
(1) No more than two non-illuminated, indirectly illuminated or directly
illuminated business identification signs, either freestanding, wall
signs, or roof signs, may be erected and maintained on a property
in the Commercial or Industrial District.
(2) Freestanding business identification signs shall not exceed 50 square
feet in area. Wall or roof signs shall not exceed 50 square feet in
area. Total sign area per lot shall not exceed 100 square feet.
(3) Business identification signs advertising commercial or industrial
complexes or shopping centers accommodating three or more businesses
shall not exceed 250 square feet in area. Signs identifying individual
businesses within the complex shall be affixed to the individual units
and shall not exceed 50 square feet in area.
(4) Freestanding business identification signs shall not exceed 20 feet
in height above the average grade of the site nor be closer to the
ground than 10 feet (measured from the lowest part of the sign) when
in a parking, vehicular or pedestrian circulation area, unless they
are resting on the ground.
(5) Freestanding business identification signs may be placed within any
required front yard, but shall be set back a minimum of 15 feet from
the edge of the adjoining street right-of-way. (See also §27-1002A.)
No sign shall be erected however which will effectively limit proper
sight distance for safety purposes.
(6) Business identification wall signs shall not be affixed to or painted
on the inside or outside of windows.
(7) All applicable provisions of the State’s Outdoor Advertising
Act of 1971, as amended, 36 P.S. §2718.101 et seq., shall be
adhered to where signs are to be erected in areas adjacent to highways
in PennDOT’s primary and interstate highway system. Any individual
desiring to establish a sign in these areas shall contact PennDOT’s
Division of Outdoor Advertising to determine if the State’s
regulations will affect his proposal. A copy of PennDOT’s determination
shall accompany all applications for signs in such areas, and a copy
of the State permit, where required, shall be submitted to the Township
prior to initiation of construction or erection of the sign.
C. Billboards
or Advertising Sign Boards (Free-Standing Signs). Billboards or advertising
sign boards may be erected and maintained on a property in the commercial
or industrial district in accordance with the standards listed below.
(1) Billboards or advertising sign boards shall not exceed 150 square
feet in area.
(2) Billboards or advertising sign boards may be either non-illuminated,
indirectly illuminated or directly illuminated. (See also §27-1002C.)
(3) Billboards or advertising sign boards shall not exceed 30 feet in
height above the average grade of the proposed site nor be located
closer to the ground than 10 feet (measured from the lowest part of
the sign) when in a parking, vehicular or pedestrian circulation area,
unless such signs are resting on the ground.
(4) Billboards or advertising sign boards shall be situated at least
25 feet from the edge of the right-of-way of the adjoining street.
No such sign shall be erected however which would effectively limit
proper sight distance or obstruct a driver’s vision within the
required clear sight triangle of an intersection. (See §27-505.3.)
(5) Billboards or advertising sign boards shall be located no closer
than 750 feet (measured on the same side of the street) to any other
such sign, except for vertically double signs. (See also §27-1002D.)
(6) All applicable provisions of the State’s Outdoor Advertising
Act of 1971, as amended, 36 P.S. §2718.101 et seq. shall be adhered
to where signs are to be erected in areas adjacent to highways in
PennDOT’s primary and interstate highway system. Any individual
desiring to establish a sign in these areas shall contact PennDOT’s
Division of Outdoor Advertising to determine if the State’s
regulations will effect his proposal. A copy of PennDOT’s determination
shall accompany all applications for signs in such areas, and a copy
of the State permit, where required, shall be submitted to the Township
prior to initiation of construction or erection of the sign.
[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011; and by Ord. 2016-02, 5/9/2016]
Same as the underlying district, except that no sign may impede
natural drainage or the flow of water. Where approval is needed from
PennDOT, the requirements of that agency shall be met prior to the
issuance of a zoning permit.
[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011; and by Ord. 2016-02, 5/9/2016]
No signs, except “no trespassing” signs with a maximum
size of two square feet, shall be permitted in the FW District except
as might be necessary by Federal, State or local governments to protect
the health, safety and welfare of the people. If such signs are necessary,
they shall be designed and placed so as not to impede the natural
drainage or flow of water. Where approval is needed from PennDOT,
the requirements of that agency shall be met prior to the issuance
of a zoning permit.