A. 
No sign hereafter shall be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and any other Borough ordinances or regulations.
B. 
General repair and maintenance of any sign shall not, in and of itself, be considered a substantial alteration.
Words and phrases used in this article shall have the meanings set forth in this section.
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign or sign structure on a site which identifies a business that is not operating or does not offer services on the premises on which the sign is located.
ADDRESS SIGN
A sign indicating the number or other designation assigned to a dwelling, business or other structure for all purposes of location, mail delivery, and emergency services.
ADVERTISING VEHICLE
Any vehicle and/or trailer which has affixed to it any sign or advertising device which is parked on public or private property and visible from the public right-of-way, where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.
AWNING
An architectural projection or shelter projecting from and supported by the exterior wall of a building and composed of a covering of rigid or nonrigid materials and/or fabric on a supporting framework that may be either permanent or retractable.
AWNING SIGN
A building sign that is mounted, painted or attached to or integral to an awning.
BACKLIGHTING or SILHOUETTE LIGHTING
A method of internal illumination whereby the light sources is contained within the sign structure. Illumination is directed towards the building facade, thereby backlighting or silhouetting the sign itself.
BANNER SIGN
A sign with or without characters, letters, or illustrations applied to cloth, paper, fabric or other nonrigid material.
BEACON
A signaling or guiding device, typically characterized by a beam of light designed to attract attention from long distances.
BILLBOARD
A 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.
BUILDING SIGN
A sign attached to or supported by a building.
CAMPUS SIGN
Any on-premises sign that assists the flow or circulation of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
CANOPY, ATTACHED
A multisided overhead structure or architectural projection supported by attachments to a building on one or more sides and either cantilevered from such building or also supported by columns at additional points.
CANOPY, DETACHED
A multisided overhead structure supported by columns, but not enclosed by walls.
CANOPY SIGN
A building sign that is mounted, painted, attached to or integral to a canopy.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign that is designed so that characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged manually to change the message on the sign without altering the face or surface of the sign.
ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE-COPY SIGN
A sign that is designed so that characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged remotely by electronic or other means to change the message on the sign without altering the face or surface of the sign.
EXPOSED-TUBE-STYLE LIGHTING
A luminaire in which the light source consists of or is contained in an uncovered extruded cylinder or other shape which may be formed into geometric patterns, lettering, logos or emblems. This may include, but not be limited to, LEDs, exposed glass tube lighting, neon or rope lighting. This shall not include strings of incandescent bulbs.
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign lighted by a source outside the sign.
FESTOON LIGHTING
A directly illuminated sign, including a group of incandescent light bulbs either hung or strung overhead, located to attract attention or used to outline a sign or other structure, but not including festive lighting.
FLAG
Any fabric containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of the United States of America, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or the local municipality. A flag is not a sign.
FLASHING SIGN
A sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source or has a light source which is not stationary, varies in illumination intensity, or contains elements which give the appearance of any of the aforementioned.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A self-supporting sign detached from any building and which is supported by poles, posts, braces or other type of base on the ground.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGN
A sign which is owned, installed and maintained by the Borough of Franklin Park.
GROUND/MONUMENT SIGN
A freestanding sign which is completely self-supporting, has its sign face or base on the ground, and has no air space, columns or supports visible between the ground and the bottom of the sign.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A ground/monument sign placed at the entrance of a housing development.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed toward the sign.
INFLATABLE SIGN
A sign that holds its shape by receiving a one-time or continuous supply of air or other gas, including balloons.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign containing a source of light contained within the sign structure.
KIOSK SIGN
A sign consisting of three to five sides that list names of businesses or other directional information located on a property or in a building.
MARQUEE
An integral part of the building consisting of a roof, which is supported by the building and may also be supported by columns or piers, and includes porches, porticos and porte chocheres, but does not include canopies or awnings.
MARQUEE SIGN
A wall sign attached to a marquee.
MOVING OR ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign or part of a sign that changes physical position by any movement or rotation or that depicts motion through the change of position of text, images or graphics. Such motion shall include, but not be limited to, visual effects such as dissolving and fading text and images, running sequential text, graphic bursts, lighting that resembles zooming, twinkling or sparkling, changes in light or color, transitory bursts of light intensity, moving patterns or bands of light, expanding or contracting shapes, and similar actions. "Moving or animated sign" may include a flashing sign or electronic changeable-copy sign.
MULTITENANT BUILDING
A nonresidential building which provides occupancy for two or more tenants.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A lawfully existing sign that complied with the Zoning Ordinance at the time the sign permit was issued but does not meet the current zoning requirements.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
A sign not located on the premises where a business, person, activity or service is located.
PATHFINDER SIGN
A municipally owned and maintained sign directing traffic to, from or within a region within a municipality or providing information for a commercial, residential or industrial development.
PENNANT/STREAMER
Any lightweight plastic fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire or string, usually in a series and designed to move in the wind.
POLE/PYLON SIGN
A freestanding sign erected on a pole, poles, pylon or pylons, where the bottom edge of the sign face is five feet or more above the ground.
POLITICAL SIGN
Any sign that advertises a candidate or an issue which is to be voted on in a local, state or federal election process.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign that is intended to be moved easily and is not designed to be permanently affixed into the ground or to a structure.
PREMISES
The contiguous land in the same ownership or control, which is not divided by a street.
PROJECTING SIGN
A building sign that is projecting perpendicularly from the facade of a building more than 12 inches from the face of the wall.
PROJECTION SIGN
A sign which reproduces a remote image, by optical or any other means, on any surface.
PUBLIC WAY
Any corridor designed for vehicular or pedestrian use that is maintained with public funds.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A temporary sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease or sale.
ROOF SIGN
A building sign that is erected on or attached to a roof or signs attached to a building that project above the highest point on the roofline.
SAFETY CONTROL SIGN
A public safety sign pursuant to federal, state or local public safety regulations.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN
Signs which provide a menu option for a particular use and which are displayed only during normal business hours.
SIGN AREA
The smallest quadrangle encompassing the entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim, molding, background and the supporting structure situated above the lowest edge of the sign face.
SIGN BASE
The support on which a sign face stands.
SIGN FACE
The area or display surface, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim or molding, used for the message on a single plane.
SIGN HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the lowest finished grade elevation directly beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign, including all decorative embellishments.
SIGN or SIGNBOARD
Any writing, printing, painting, display, emblem, drawing, graphic, electronic display, computerized display or other device designed to be viewed by the public, designed and intended for advertising, and the structure supporting the display.
SINGLE-TENANT BUILDING
A nonresidential building that provides occupancy for one tenant.
SITE DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A sign indicating that the premises is in the process of being subdivided and/or developed for the construction of dwellings or other buildings.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign erected for a limited time for a specific promotion.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL SIGN
A sign having length, width and depth and including spheres. Rectangular or square signs with a thickness of less than 13 inches are not considered three-dimensional signs.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN
A sign regulating traffic.
WALL SIGN
A building sign that is painted on, attached to or affixed to a building or structure, flat against the wall surface, in such a way that only one face of the sign is visible.
WINDOW SIGN
A building sign, picture, symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service that is permanently affixed inside a window or upon the windowpanes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
The following signs shall meet the requirements of the chapter but do not require permits or fees:
A. 
Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
B. 
Any sign outside or inside a structure and not attached to a window or door that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the lot or site on which such sign is located.
C. 
Flags, as defined herein.
D. 
Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message, but only between November and January.
E. 
Memorial signs or tablets denoting the date of erection of a building.
F. 
Auction, garage or yard sale signs, provided that they do not exceed five square feet and are removed as soon as the event or activity has occurred, and provided that they shall not be permitted to be erected more than seven days prior to the event and only permitted at the site where the event will take place.
G. 
Banners erected by a governmental body or under the direction of such body.
H. 
Temporary event signs and banners announcing a nonprofit event of a civic organization for noncommercial purposes, where such sign does not exceed 32 square feet in area and for a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the start of the event and removed within three days after the conclusion of the event.
I. 
Address signs.
J. 
Traffic control signs meeting federal, state and/or local regulations.
K. 
Safety control signs meeting federal, state and/or local regulations.
L. 
Governmental signs, including pathfinder signs.
M. 
Political signs, provided that such signs are located outside of the public right-of-way, on private property, and do not block a motor vehicle driver's visibility.
N. 
Signs erected on agricultural land to promote the raising and selling of crops, vegetables or fruits or to promote other agricultural functions by the property owner directly to the public. Said signs must be located on the landowner's property and must not block a motor vehicle driver's visibility.
A. 
All signs not expressly authorized under this chapter or exempt from regulations hereunder in accordance with previous sections are prohibited in the Borough. Prohibited signs shall include, but are not limited to:
(1) 
Beacons.
(2) 
Moving or animated signs.
(3) 
Flashing signs.
(4) 
Portable signs.
(5) 
Marquee signs.
(6) 
Roof signs.
(7) 
Pennants.
(8) 
Strings of light, except those exempt under § 212-2303D.
(9) 
Inflatable signs and tethered balloons.
(10) 
Temporary signs, except those otherwise permitted under provisions of this chapter.
(11) 
Projecting signs.
(12) 
Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health.
(13) 
Signs which, by reason of size, location, coloring or manner of illumination, obstruct the vision of drivers, either when leaving a roadway or a driveway, or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets.
(14) 
Any abandoned sign which no longer identifies a bona fide business.
(15) 
Signs painted on or attached to or supported by a tree, utility pole, stone cliff, or other natural object.
(16) 
Banners, except as provided for in § 212-2303G.
(17) 
Festoon lighting.
(18) 
Awning signs.
(19) 
Canopy signs.
(20) 
Advertising vehicle.
(21) 
Projection signs.
(22) 
Sandwich board signs.
(23) 
Three-dimensional signs.
(24) 
Traffic-control signs not meeting federal, state and/or local regulations.
(25) 
Electronic changeable-copy signs, except as provided for in § 212-2309.
B. 
Except as specifically permitted elsewhere in the Borough's codified ordinances, no sign shall be erected:
(1) 
In the public right-of-way or public easement, except for those placed by an authorized governmental agency.
(2) 
At any location where, by reason of position, shape, wording or color, it interferes with or obstructs the view and/or movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(3) 
Which may be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device.
(4) 
In a yard and/or parking lot area of a business establishment other than those specifically permitted under the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
No sign shall project into or over any public right-of-way or easement, except as specifically permitted elsewhere in this chapter.
A. 
The area of a sign shall be construed to include 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.
B. 
The area of a sign painted upon or applied to a building shall be considered to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs or symbols, together with any backing associated with the sign.
C. 
Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on a surface, building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape that can enclose such letters or symbols.
D. 
In computing square foot area of a double-faced sign, only one side shall be considered, provided that both faces are identical. If the interior angle formed by the two faces of the double-faced sign is greater than 45°, then both sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the sign area.
A. 
The illumination from any sign may not cause any reflection or glare upon a public way, street, highway, sidewalk or adjacent property.
B. 
Sources of illumination shall be hidden from view.
C. 
If a sign is internally illuminated, at least 75% of the sign face must be opaque.
D. 
Signs consisting of individual letters that are internally illuminated must be illuminated through backlighting or silhouette lighting.
E. 
No illuminated sign, whether internally or externally illuminated, shall cause glare or other disturbance which would be incompatible with the nature of the surrounding area.
F. 
All lighting shall be effectively shielded to avoid impairing the vision of passing motorists.
A. 
The height of freestanding signs shall be measured from the average grade at the sign to the top of the sign. Freestanding signs shall not overhang sidewalks.
B. 
Parallel signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which they are mounted or shall not project more than six inches from its surface.
C. 
Wall-mounted signs shall not project more than two feet from the wall or surface to which they are mounted, shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which they are mounted, shall be at least eight feet to the bottom of the sign above the ground level immediately below, and shall not in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
A. 
All signs in R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Residential Districts shall be reviewed and approved by the Building Inspector/Zoning Officer based upon the following criteria:
(1) 
Residential developments shall be permitted to have one housing development sign per entrance to the development.
(a) 
A housing development sign shall be limited in height to not more than six feet above the natural grade and shall be limited to 32 square feet in area. Housing development signs shall be located within a sign easement and outside the triangle of sight. Housing development signs shall be subject to the criteria and standards of this chapter and additional standards of the governing body.
(b) 
Housing development signs shall be indirectly illuminated or lighted by the general lighting of the area. The area around the housing development sign shall be landscaped and maintained by the developer or the homeowners' association in accordance with the standards of this chapter. Any such signs shall be erected in a permanent easement.
(2) 
Nonilluminated signs displayed strictly for the direction, safety or convenience of the public, including signs which identify restrooms, telephone booths, parking area entrances or exits, freight entrances or the like, provided that the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
(3) 
On a residential property, one nonilluminated sign may be posted in conjunction with doorbells or mailboxes, provided that the area on any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 36 square inches.
(4) 
On a residential property, one sign for home occupation may be posted, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed 200 square inches.
(5) 
One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated sign may be posted on a property for a permitted institutional use (per § 212-404), provided that the area on any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet. Electronic changeable-copy signs are not permitted.
(6) 
On a residential property, one nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated sign in connection with a lawfully maintained nonconforming use, provided that the area on any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet.
(7) 
One nonilluminated real estate sign may be posted on a property, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet and such sign shall be removed upon settlement or rental of the property.
(8) 
On a residential property, one temporary nonilluminated site development sign, provided that the erection of any such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and shall be removed not more than 20 days after the sale or lease of the last unit.
(9) 
Signs announcing no trespassing; signs indicating the private nature of the road, driveway or premises; and signs controlling the fishing or hunting on the premises may be posted on a property, provided that the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 200 square inches.
(10) 
Temporary nonilluminated off-premises signs shall be subject to the following requirements:
(a) 
Permission is granted by a property owner, in writing, that a sign shall be erected.
(b) 
Signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
(c) 
Signs shall not be posted earlier than four weeks before the occurrence of the subject exhibit, show or event and shall be removed within one week after the termination of the exhibit, show or event.
(11) 
Temporary off-premises real estate signs shall be permitted on Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and weekends beginning 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning and ending 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening. These signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. Multiple posting of the same sign is prohibited at any given location.
B. 
General regulations in residential districts.
(1) 
Freestanding signs shall not exceed six feet to the top of the sign.
(2) 
Wall signs or portions of such signs shall not be located more than 12 feet above the ground level immediately below such sign.
A. 
All signs permitted in § 212-2308A shall follow the standards prescribed therein except as otherwise provided in this section.
B. 
All signs in M-1, M-2 and M-3 Mixed-Use Districts shall be reviewed and approved by the Building Inspector/Zoning Officer based upon the following criteria:
(1) 
Single-tenant commercial buildings shall be permitted to have one building sign per street frontage. Multitenant buildings shall be permitted to have one building sign per tenant.
(a) 
The total area of the building sign(s) shall not exceed one square foot for each foot of length of the front building wall or length of that portion of such wall which is devoted to such establishment. The total area of building sign(s), however, shall not in any case exceed 60 square feet.
(b) 
If such an establishment does not occupy any floor area on the ground level of the building other than the entranceway, the maximum sign area per foot length of the front building wall or portion shall only be 1/2 square foot.
(2) 
Single-tenant buildings shall be permitted to have one freestanding sign. Multitenant buildings shall be permitted to have one freestanding sign.
(a) 
Freestanding ground/monument signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area and five feet in height.
(b) 
A multitenant building shall be permitted, by conditional use, one additional freestanding sign. The sign permits shall be issued in the name of the lot owner or his agent rather than the name of the individual business enterprise requesting a particular sign. The sign shall be a ground/monument sign. The area of said sign shall not exceed 32 square feet, and the height shall not exceed five feet.
(c) 
"Office Space Available" or "For Rent" signs shall not exceed 10 square feet in size.
(3) 
Automotive service stations are permitted one pole/pylon sign at a height not to exceed 15 feet from the top of the sign to the curb, which may include an electronic changeable-copy sign to display current prices. Such stations shall be permitted, by conditional use, one additional ground/monument sign not to exceed 20 square feet in area and not to be higher than five feet in height.
(4) 
Signs for multitenant buildings located within 500 feet of an interstate interchange shall be permitted, subject to the following conditions:
(a) 
One ground/monument sign not to exceed five feet in height from the top of the sign to the curb;
(b) 
Each interior business shall be permitted one illuminated building sign, the total area of which shall not exceed 1.6 square feet per one foot of length of the front building wall or length of the portion of such wall which is devoted to such establishment. Corner buildings shall be divided by the total square feet of the signage permitted by the two sides. The total surface area of said signs shall not, however, exceed 60 square feet; and
(c) 
One additional building sign for the overall development is permitted, provided that it shall not exceed 25 square feet in area.
(5) 
Governmental signs are permitted in M-1, M-2 and M-3 Mixed-Use Zoning Districts and are subject to the following criteria:
(a) 
The area of the signs may not exceed 200 square feet;
(b) 
Signs may be electronic changeable-copy signs. If the sign is an electronic changeable-copy sign, it shall not exceed 150 square feet in area; and
(c) 
Signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height.
(6) 
Billboards shall be permitted, provided that they meet the following requirements:
(a) 
No billboard sign shall exceed 250 square feet in area. Billboards with electronic changeable copy shall not exceed 100 square feet in area;
(b) 
All illuminated billboard signs shall be indirectly illuminated;
(c) 
Billboard signs are permitted in the M-3 Mixed-Use District only;
(d) 
No billboard shall be erected or maintained on a zoning lot abutting or on a zoning lot opposite a frontage in an R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 District;
(e) 
The average measurement from the bottom of the sign face to the ground level immediately below the billboard shall not exceed 25 feet;
(f) 
No billboard shall in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
(g) 
All billboards shall be approved by the Zoning Officer in compliance with the provisions of this article;
(h) 
No billboard's sign face shall be located closer than five feet from a street or property line; and
(i) 
No billboard shall be erected within 500 feet of an existing billboard in the same direction of travel along a public way.
All signs, except those included in the exempted section,[1] require a sign permit in accordance with the Borough's permit application requirements and will include at least the following standards:
A. 
A scaled site plan;
B. 
Sign illumination plan;
C. 
Colored, scaled construction drawings of the proposed sign and all its elements; and
D. 
A digital photograph depicting the proposed sign location, with the proposed sign depicted in the photograph.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 212-2303, Signs exempt from regulations.
Maintenance standards.
A. 
Signs shall be maintained in a safe and secure condition, in compliance with all building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this chapter.
B. 
All signs except temporary signs shall be constructed of durable material and kept in good condition and repair.
Signs existing at the time of passage of this chapter and which do not conform to the requirements of the chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs and once removed shall be replaced only with conforming signs; however, nonconforming signs shall be repainted or repaired or poster panels may be changed, provided that such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign.
A. 
No signs, except those of a duly constituted governmental body, including traffic signs and similar regulatory notices, shall be allowed within public rights-of-way.
B. 
No portion of any freestanding or projecting sign shall be located over the public right-of-way. If this requirement cannot be met, then freestanding or projecting signs shall be prohibited on such properties.
All signs over six square feet in overall area shall require the issuance of a zoning permit before erection or replacement.
A sign face must be removed within 15 calendar days of final closure of the business, loss of lease, the vacating of the premises, or any event where the services are discontinued, or any event where the subject, business or service ceases to operate or occupancy is terminated on the premises on which the sign is located.