In all zoning districts within the jurisdiction
of this chapter, signs may be used, erected, maintained, altered,
relocated, removed or demolished only in compliance with the provisions
of this article and any and all ordinances and regulations of the
municipality relating to the use, erection, maintenance, alteration,
moving or removal of signs or similar devices.
The following regulations shall be observed
for all signs in all zoning districts in the municipality.
A. Only signs which promote or draw attention to a product,
article of business or service offered, sold or rendered at or in
the place or premises where such sign is located shall be permitted
in the municipality.
B. Any sign located along the right-of-way of a state
or federal highway shall comply with any more restrictive requirements
of the state and federal government relating thereto.
C. No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger
traffic by obscuring view or by confusing with official street signs
or signals because of position, color or reflective surface.
D. Except in the case where a local right-of-way abuts
a structure, only traffic signs and similar regulatory notices of
a duly constituted governmental body are permitted within a street
right-of-way.
E. Except in the case where a local right-of-way abuts
a structure, no sign other than those of governmental authority shall
be erected or maintained nearer to a street line or lot line than
a distance equaling the height of the top of the sign.
F. Except in the case where a local right-of-way abuts
a structure, no sign other than those of a governmental authority
shall be permitted within a distance of 20 feet from the intersection
of any ultimate right-of-way line and the edge of a private accessway,
unless the sign is situated at least eight feet above the level of
the street center line.
G. Except for within the Village Commercial (VC) Districts,
there shall be a minimum distance of 20 feet between any side property
line and sign erected under the provisions of this article.
H. No sign shall project over a public walkway, except
where a local right-of-way abuts a structure, or signs of governmental
authority. For those exceptions where a sign is permitted, the lowest
edge of such sign shall be at least eight feet above the sidewalk
elevation.
I. All signs must be contained within the building height
restriction of the zoning district.
J. Only one sign of a permitted type shall be erected
on any one premises held in single and separate ownership unless such
premises fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign
may be erected on each street frontage.
K. Every permitted sign must be constructed with durable
materials, must conform with the requirements of the BOCA Building
Code and must be kept in good condition and repair. Any sign which
is allowed to become dilapidated may be removed by the Township at
the expense of the owner or lessee of the property on which it is
located.
L. Lights illuminating signs shall be so arranged so
that the source of light is not visible from any point off the lot
and that only the sign is directly illuminated.