All signs not expressly authorized under this article or exempt
from regulation hereunder in accordance with the subsequent sections
are prohibited in the Township. Prohibited signs shall include, but
are not limited to:
A. All illegal signs and all signs not in compliance with this chapter
or any other ordinance or regulation of the Township.
B. Signs not in good repair.
C. Signs interfering with or impeding drivers' vision, including line
of sight or vehicular traffic or safety signs.
D. Any sign erected closer than five feet to any underground utility
line.
E. Obsolete signs and abandoned signs. Each sign shall be promptly removed
when the circumstances leading to its erection no longer apply.
The following types of signs are permitted in all districts:
A. "For sale" and "for rent" signs as hereinafter specially regulated
in each district.
B. Political posters and placards, which shall be removed by the person
erecting such sign, the person responsible for the land on which it
is erected or the candidate or party upon whose behalf the posters
and placards are erected, within seven days after the election.
C. Public service signs of such size and type and in such locations
as required to satisfy the public need in any district, including:
(1) Convenience signs identifying location of rest rooms, freight entrances
and parking areas.
(2) Government signs for the control of traffic and other regulatory
purposes.
(3) Public transit service signs.
(4) Public utility information signs and community special event signs.
(6) Signs erected by a public agency in the performance of a public duty.
(7) Signs indicating scenic or historic points of interest.
(9) "No trespassing" signs and "no hunting" signs.
(10)
Directional signs without advertising, as may be deemed necessary
for the reservation of the public health or safety.
(11)
Directional signs with advertising and having a maximum size
of no more than three square feet per entrance or exit.
The following types of signs are permitted in residential districts.
A. Residential identification signs on residential structures:
(1) Maximum number of signs per building is one sign, or two if building
is on a corner lot.
(2) Maximum size per sign is 1 1/2 square feet.
B. "For sale" and "for rent" signs.
(1) Maximum number of signs per building is one sign, or two if building
is on a corner lot.
(2) Maximum size per sign is 10 square feet.
(3) Minimum distance of the sign from another lot is 15 feet.
C. Institutional identification signs on institutional or public buildings:
(1) Maximum number of identification signs per building is two signs.
(2) Maximum total area of signs is 32 square feet.
D. Institutional directional and informational signs on institutional
or public buildings:
(1) Unlimited number of signs.
(2) Maximum size of each sign is three square feet.
E. There shall be not more than two identification signs erected by
churches, schools or other similar institutions, each of which shall
be located on the premises and shall not exceed 32 square feet in
area. Additional directional and informational signs may be erected
on such premises as necessary, each of which shall not exceed three
square feet in area.
All nonconforming signs in existence prior to the effective
date of this chapter are permitted to continue, provided that no such
sign shall be:
A. Changed, altered or expanded in any way which increases the sign's
nonconformity or replaced by another nonconforming sign, except that
copy may be changed on an existing sign.
B. Relocated, except in conformance with the requirements of this chapter.
C. Reestablished after it has been removed or is an abandoned sign.
Where a ground sign is permitted and the width of the sign at
its base would extend beyond the bounds of an established or proposed
bufferyard, the bufferyard must be expanded in a "cut out" so that
the entire base of the sign is within a contiguous landscaped area
with a minimum distance of two feet from the edge of the base of the
sign to the edge of the landscaped bufferyard area. The "cut out"
must be circular or semicircular in shape unless the lot shape and/or
public right-of-way does not allow for this shape; in which case,
the "cut out" should be rounded in shape.
The following signs shall be exempt from regulation under this
chapter:
A. Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal,
state or local law, regulation or ordinance.
B. Any sign inside a structure 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. Works of art that do not include a commercial message.
D. Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message.
E. Memorial signs or tablets denoting the date of erection of a building.
F. Auctions, 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 at which the event will take place and removed within
48 hours of the conclusion of the event.
G. Signs and banners erected by a governmental body or under the direction
of such body.
H. Community special event signs announcing a nonprofit event of a civic
organization for noncommercial purposes, where such sign does not
exceed four square feet in area and banners no more than 60 square
feet in area, 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.
Temporary political signs posted or erected on public property
located within the Township are subject to the following general requirements:
A. Number of signs. No more than one temporary political sign shall
be placed on public property on each leg of the intersection of roads
or streets for any one candidate or issue.
B. Area. Temporary political signs on public property shall not exceed
an aggregate gross surface area of 12 square feet per sign.
C. Height. Temporary political signs shall not project higher than four
feet, as measured from the base of the sign or grade of the nearest
adjacent roadway, whichever is higher.
D. Timing. Temporary political signs may be erected or maintained for
a period not to exceed 30 days prior to the date of the election to
which such signs are applicable and shall be removed within seven
days following the termination of the election.
E. Illumination. No temporary political sign shall be illuminated in
any manner.
F. Required consent. The Township reserves the right to deny a request
to post any temporary political sign on public property and to require
the removal of any temporary political sign at any time whatsoever
whenever such temporary political sign poses a threat to the public's
safety, health and welfare. Specific prohibitions include, but are
not limited to, the following:
(1) Temporary political signs shall be prohibited within five feet of
the edge of the paved surface of any road or street within the Township.
(2) Temporary political signs shall be prohibited along any road or street
within the Township where it would obstruct the clear sight distance
of traffic, and no temporary political sign shall be placed in such
a position that it will cause danger to traffic on a street by obstructing
the view.
(3) No temporary political sign or sticker shall be posted, nailed, wired,
attached or affixed to any public property, including, but not limited
to, traffic signs, structures or devices, traffic control boxes, guardrails,
telephone poles, utility posts or Township street signs.
No temporary political sign shall be placed or erected on any
private property without first obtaining permission from such property
owner.
Every prohibited temporary political sign is declared to be
a public nuisance, and the person or persons having authority over
the public or private property may remove the same or cause it to
be removed immediately at the reasonable expense of the person placing,
maintaining or erecting the temporary political sign.