[Amended 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
This chapter is enacted for the purposes set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-2. The purpose of the sign provisions of this chapter is to set forth guidelines for any sign erected, altered, posted, painted, maintained, used, removed or relocated in Maple Shade, balancing the legitimate needs of the business community and others for signage and the need to protect the aesthetic character and appearance of the Township as well as public health and safety. All signs shall comply with the provisions of this chapter and any and all other ordinances and regulations of the Township.
From and after the effective date of this chapter, the use of all land and every building or portion of a building erected, altered with respect to height and area, added to or relocated, and every use within a building or use accessory thereto, in Maple Shade Township shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Any existing building or structure and any existing use of a building or land not in conformity with the regulations herein prescribed shall be regarded as nonconforming but may be continued, extended, repaired, or changed subject to the special regulations herein provided with respect to nonconforming buildings or uses.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any statute, other ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions than this chapter, the provisions of such statute, other ordinance or regulation shall be controlling.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases shall be construed throughout this chapter to have the meanings herein indicated. Other words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-3 to 40:55D-7. The singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular. The word "used" shall include the words "arranged," "designed," or "intended to be used." The word "building" shall include the word "structure." The present tense shall include the future tense.
ACCESSORY BUILDING
A building subordinate to the main building on a lot and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of the main building.
ACCESSORY USE
A use subordinate to the main use of land or of a building on a lot and customarily incidental thereto.
ADULT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
A live performance, act, or dance, including go-go dancers, strippers, or similar entertainers.
ALTER
To change in any fashion, including but not limited to repainting, resurfacing, and retettering, but not including repairing or performing other maintenance.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP
A business setting new and/or used automobiles.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
AWNINGS
A roof-like cover that projects from a facade of a building for the purpose of shielding a doorway or window from the elements.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
BANNER
A display of any nonrigid fabric or material such as canvas, vinyl, or cloth.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
BARROOM/BAR
A tavern or similar establishment whose main feature is a bar for the consumption and sale of liquor. A barroom/bar differs from a nightclub or cabaret.
BILLBOARD
Any sign which advertises a business, product, activity, organization, event or service located, sold, or offered at locations off-premises.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
BUILDING AREA
The aggregate of the maximum horizontal cross-section areas, excluding cornices, eaves and gutters, of all buildings on a lot.
BUILDING LINE
The line parallel to the street line at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the required from yard.
BUSINESS OFFICE
A building or portion of a building where the sale of nontangible goods or real estate is sold to the general public. Business offices include real estate, insurance, securities and travel offices.
[Added 2-21-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-1]
CABARET
A restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment usually including music, and dancing, exhibitions, or other forms of amusement. A cabaret is sometimes referred to as a "nightclub."
CANNABIS BUSINESS
Any person or entity that holds any of the six classes of licenses established under the Act.
[Added 4-25-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-07]
CANOPY
See "awning."
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
CHECK CASHING NOT ASSOCIATED WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Check and short-term lending businesses and/or services are not considered commercial banks, credit unions or other financial institutions.
[Added 8-1-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-23]
CLIENT-BASED SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER
A type of general office consisting of a facility that provides on-site assistance to persons with limited ability for self-care. This term includes a facility that provides assistance for psychological, psychiatric and/or medical problems, employment, welfare and other similar forms of assistance.
[Added 2-21-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-1]
DWELLING
A. 
SINGLE-FAMILYA building on a lot, designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for one family.
B. 
TWO-FAMILYA building on a lot, designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for two families.
C. 
MULTIPLE or APARTMENTA building on a lot, designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for three or more families.
ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION
An assemblage of equipment for purposes other than generation or utilization through which electric energy in bulk is passed for the purposes of switching or modifying its characteristics to meet the needs of the general public, provided that in residence districts an electric substation shall not include rotating equipment (except as is incidental to the operation of the substation as such), storage of materials, trucks or repair facilities, or housing of repair crews.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, place, suspend or affix.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED
Artificial illumination outside the display portion of a sign.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
FACADE
The front, side or rear surface of a building's usable interior space measured by its width times its height.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
FACADE SIGN
A sign fastened to or depicted on the facade of a building in such a manner that the facade becomes the supporting structure for the sign.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
FAMILY
Any number of persons living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign, not including a "sidewalk sign," not attached to a building, which is erected, constructed or maintained on a post or pole or other bracing or supporting device whose purpose it is to support the sign.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
FUEL SERVICE STATION
A business whose primary function is the sale of fuel for motor vehicles.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
HEIGHT OF BUILDING
A building's vertical measurement from the main level of the ground abutting the building to a point midway between the highest and lowest points of the roof, provided that chimneys, spires, towers, elevator penthouses, tanks and similar projections of the building, and structures supporting utility or transmission facilities, shall not be included in calculating the height.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED
Artificial illumination contained within the display portion of a sign.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
LINEAR LOT WIDTH
The distance between property side lines measured along the right-of-way of the street.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
MOBILE SIGN
A sign that is not permanently attached to a building or structure or permanently affixed to a freestanding structure.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
MULTIPLE-OCCUPANCY SIGN
A sign relating to a complex containing multiple occupancy and displaying the names, professions and interests of the various tenants.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
MUNICIPAL OR GOVERNMENTAL OFFICE
A building or portion of a building which shall include offices for the Township, the county, the state and/or for the federal government, excluding client-based social service providers.
[Added 2-21-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-1]
NIGHTCLUB
A place of entertainment usually serving food and liquor, having a floorshow and providing music and space for dancing; differs from barrooms by use group definitions in the BOCA National Building Code.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign that does not meet the criteria of this chapter for any reason such as, but not limited to, size, location, construction, attachment or affixture to building or ground.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
OFF-PREMISE SIGN
Any sign located on a lot other than the lot occupied by the use, event or product which said sign identifies.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
PARKING SPACE
An open space or a garage on a lot, used for parking motor vehicles.
PARTIAL DESTRUCTION
Damage or destruction resulting from fire, explosion, flood, windstorm, or act of God in which, in the opinion of the Construction Official, the cost of repair does not exceed 60% of the value of replacing the entire structure not including the cost of the foundation unless the foundation is involved in the repair.
PERMANENT SIGN
Any sign or sign structure which is permanently affixed or installed and is intended for tong-term use.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
PERMITTED NONCONFORMING SIGN
See § 205-64D(1) of this chapter.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
PERMITTED PERMANENT SIGN
Any sign which was erected in conformance with the Maple Shade Sign Ordinance in effect at the time it was erected; erected pursuant to a variance; or erected before there was a Sign Ordinance in effect in the Township.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
PRIVATE GARAGE
An accessory building used for the storage of not more than three motor vehicles owned and used by the owner or tenant of the premises, provided further that one motor vehicle owned and used by persons other than the owner or tenant may be stored in lieu of one of the owner/tenant vehicles. Not more than two commercially registered vehicles may be stored in a private garage.
PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
A building or portion of a building where a member of a recognized profession sells services to the general public. Professional offices include doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant offices and other similar offices.
[Added 2-21-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-1]
PUBLIC GARAGE
A building, not a private garage, used primarily for the storage and/or repair of motor vehicles of any type or ownership.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A sign erected by an owner of real property or a licensed real estate broker designating the property upon which it is situated "for sale" or "for rent."
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE
The edge of the sidewalk, if existing, nearest the building or residence; if there is no sidewalk, 10 feet from the edge of the street nearest the building or residence.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
SIDEWALK SIGN
Temporary, portable, double-sided or sandwich-type sign, rectangular in shape, the size of which may not exceed 2 1/2 feet wide by four feet high.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
SIGN
Any item, device or structure containing a logo, graphics or lettering of any style intended to convey information.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
SINGLE AND SEPARATE OWNERSHIP
The ownership of a lot by one or more persons, partnerships or corporations, which ownership is separate and distinct from that of any adjoining lot.
STREET LINE
The dividing line between a lot and the outside boundary of a public street, road or highway legally open or officially plotted by the Township or between a lot and a private street, road or way over which the owners or tenants of two or more lots held in single and separate ownership have the right-of-way.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION
Any change in or addition to the supporting members of a building or structure, such as bearing wall partitions, columns, beams or girders.
TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE
A building and its equipment erected and used for the purposes of facilitating transmission and exchange of telephone or radio-telephone messages between subscribers and other business of the telephone company, but in residence districts not to include public business facilities, storage of materials, trucking or repair facilities or housing of repair crews.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign which is not permanently attached to a building structure or permanently affixed to a freestanding structure and which is erected for a limited period of time in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 11-5-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-14]
TRAILER CAMP
A lot or premises used for occupancy by two or more trailers or any other vehicles used for living or sleeping purposes.
YARDS
A. 
FRONTThe required open space, extending along the street line throughout the full width of the lot, exclusive of overhanging eaves, gutters, cornices and steps.
B. 
SIDEThe required open space, extending along the sideline of the lot throughout the full depth of the lot, exclusive of overhanging eaves, gutters, cornices and steps.
C. 
REARThe required open space, extending along the rear of the lot throughout the full width of the lot, exclusive of overhanging eaves, gutters, cornices and steps.
D. 
IMPERVIOUS COVERAGESurface coverage not permitting the infiltration of water and causing surface runoff to include buildings, structures, parking and traffic circulation areas, sidewalks, and other inorganic impermeable surfaces regardless of void ratios.