It is the intent of this article to place reasonable standards on the erection and maintenance of signs within Hamilton Township. Furthermore, It is the intent of this article to achieve the following:
A. 
Allow for signs as a means of visual communications while creating standards that ensure the overall quality of those signs, minimize any adverse effects of such signs on nearby properties, and enhance the economic value of the Township.
B. 
Maintain and enhance the aesthetic qualities of Hamilton Township by requiring signs to be designed of sizes, shapes, and styles complimentary to the character of the Township.
C. 
Allow signs in all zoning districts that balance the needs of individual landowners with the desire of the community to perpetuate an attractive, livable environment.
D. 
Maintain adequate traffic safety standards by minimizing the negative sensory impacts of excessive signage as well as minimizing signage conflicts with necessary traffic control signs and equipment.
E. 
Encourage signage that will meet the needs of motorists traveling on the Township's roadways, while prohibiting signage that would be distracting to motorists.
The following regulations shall govern signs in all districts:
A. 
No sign shall be erected, enlarged, or relocated until either a temporary or a permanent sign permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer. Applications shall be on forms provided by the Township. All applications shall include a scale drawing specifying dimensions, materials, illumination, letter sizes, colors, location on land or buildings, and all other relevant information. No permit shall be required for copy or text changes on a changeable copy sign.
B. 
Permanent signs shall be securely and permanently attached to their support structure, a building, or the ground.
C. 
No sign shall be permitted that produces direct or reflected glare visible from any residential property or from any street or roadway.
D. 
All signs associated with a residential development shall be landscaped. Acceptable landscaping materials include ground cover, mulch, shrubs, and/or trees in addition to stones, gravel and other hardscape materials. A landscaping sketch shall accompany the sign permit application.
E. 
Unless otherwise permitted within this chapter, a sign shall only include information related to the property on which it is located.
F. 
Signs shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be maintained in good condition and repair.
G. 
When a sign becomes unsafe, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the property owner or lessee to repair or remove the unsafe sign in accordance with § 150-112.
The following types of signs and/or sign design features are prohibited in all districts:
A. 
Flashing signs and/or flashing and/or rotating lights, including searchlights, beacons, lasers, and similar lights.
B. 
Revolving, rotating, or otherwise moving signs.
C. 
Streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons, or similar items, except for those associated with a temporary event or campaign.
D. 
Animated signs that include moving, sequential, intermittent, flashing, oscillating, or rotating elements. Time and temperature displays may be permitted provided they do not include any of the aforementioned prohibited elements.
E. 
Signs that imitate official traffic signs or signals or other governmental signs that use the words "stop," "caution," or "danger," that use red, green, or yellow lights resembling traffic signals, or that resemble traffic control signs in terms of size, shape, or color.
F. 
Signs that advertise products or services that are in any way illegal.
G. 
Signs that include words, phrases or pictures which are considered to be vulgar, obscene or pornographic. This prohibition only applies to signs which, taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest in sex; which portray sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and which, taken as a whole, do not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
H. 
Signs that emit smoke, vapors, particles, sounds, odors or open flames.
I. 
Sign that advertise or identify a business or organization that is either defunct, no longer located on the premises, or located on a property separate from the property on which the sign is located.
J. 
Any vehicle or portion thereof to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the displaying of such sign no longer is incidental to the vehicle's primary purpose, but becomes the primary purpose in itself.
A. 
The following types of signs are exempt from § 150-100A, provided the sign meets all other applicable sections of this article:
(1) 
Official road and traffic signs and any other signs required by law.
(2) 
"No trespassing" signs, signs indicating private ownership of roads and/or property, and similar signs, provided that such signs are spaced at intervals of no less than 50 feet and do not exceed two square feet in area.
(3) 
Freestanding signs designating the entrances and exits to commercial and industrial establishments.
B. 
All exempt signs shall comply with the applicable standards in this article.
A. 
Temporary signs shall be exempt from the requirements of § 150-100A, provided the sign meets all other applicable sections of this article.
B. 
All temporary signs shall comply with the applicable standards in § 150-113A.
C. 
Temporary, unlighted real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises upon which they are erected, provided that they are placed on a property under single ownership, and that such signs are removed not more than five business days following the sale or rental of the premises.
D. 
Temporary, unlighted signs of contractors, painters, or similar artisans, erected on the premises where the work is being performed, provided that such sign shall be erected on any property under single ownership, and that the sign shall be removed within one day of the completion of the work.
E. 
Temporary, unlighted yard or garage sale signs, provided that such signs shall not be displayed for more than 48 hours of each calendar month.
F. 
Temporary signs announcing or advertising any fund-raising or community campaign or event may be permitted on nonresidential properties only for a total period not to exceed 30 days in any calendar year, providing such signs are removed within 10 days following the conclusion of the campaign or event. This provision is not intended to infringe upon any rights protected by the First Amendment.
G. 
Temporary, unlighted, manually changeable copy advertising signs, provided that such signs are displayed no more than two times during a single calendar year, that the duration of each display does not exceed 30 days, and that such signs are strongly anchored to prevent movement of the signs by wind, water, or other forces of nature.
H. 
Portable signs including "A-frame" signs, sandwich boards, and sidewalk or curb signs shall not obstruct any public right-of-way, and shall be displayed during the normal hours of operation of the business for which the sign applies.
A. 
Signs legally existing at the time of enactment of or amendment to this chapter which do not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs.
B. 
Nonconforming signs may continue to be used and may be modified or replaced, provided that the modified or new sign does not increase the nonconformity in any way.
C. 
Any nonconforming sign shall be removed within 30 days if the use for which it was erected no longer exists.
A. 
No sign shall be located within a PennDOT or Township road right-of-way, except an official road sign, traffic sign, and any other sign required by law.
[Amended 4-5-2021]
B. 
No sign shall be located in an easement for stormwater, public water, public sewer, or similar use.
C. 
No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, fence, tree, fire hydrant or other object not intended to hold a sign.
D. 
Freestanding signs shall be set back 10 feet from side and rear property lines.
E. 
Sign setback distances shall apply to all portions of the sign and the support structure.
F. 
No sign shall be located so as to block a sidewalk, fire escape, access door or any other area designed for pedestrian use.
G. 
A sign located over a pedestrian area shall be at least 10 feet above the walking surface.
H. 
A sign located over a vehicle driving area shall be at least 18 feet above the driving surface.
I. 
No sign shall be located so as to interfere with the clear sight distance regulations of the Hamilton Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 120, Subdivision and Land Development.
J. 
No sign shall be placed within the clear sight triangle of any intersection as per the requirements of § 120-21F, nor at any other location that could obstruct or impair a motorist's clear vision. In addition, no sign shall be located where it could be an impediment to pedestrian traffic.
[Added 4-5-2021]
K. 
All applicable state regulations shall be met where signs are proposed in areas adjacent to highways included in PennDOT's state-owned highway network. A written copy of PennDOT's determination shall accompany all applications for signs in such areas.
[Added 4-5-2021]
All permanent signs including but not limited to monument signs, pole signs, wall signs, projecting signs, and window signs shall comply with the following dimensional standards:
A. 
Sign area. The area of a sign shall be the area of the smallest rectangle, triangle, circle, or irregular shape that will encompass all letters, symbols, figures, designs, or other display elements of the sign.
(1) 
When the sign is a separate unit, the area shall include any borders, framing, trim, background, and space between elements. Structural support members shall not be included unless they contain design or display elements.
(2) 
When the sign consists of individual elements attached to or painted on a wall or otherwise has no definable edges, the area shall include all color, artwork, or other means used to differentiate the sign from the surface to which it is attached.
(3) 
The maximum area of a sign shall be applied to each sign face, provided that the faces are no more than five feet apart at any point.
B. 
Sign height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the average ground level beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign.
(1) 
The ground elevation at the base of a sign shall not be artificially increased so as to increase the maximum height of the sign.
(2) 
No sign shall exceed the height limitation of the zoning district in which it is located.
(3) 
Wall signs and projecting signs shall not extend higher than the top of the wall to which they are attached.
(4) 
Wall signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any facade or other surface to which they are mounted and shall not project more than 12 inches from its surface.
(5) 
Projecting signs shall not extend more than four feet from the wall or surface to which they are mounted.
(6) 
Projecting signs shall not interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and shall not be less than eight feet six inches above the pavement or ground.
(7) 
The maximum spread between sign faces shall be 60°.
(8) 
Maximum 3:1 structure to sign area ratio. All monument and freestanding signs shall be incorporated into required landscaping.
A. 
Signs may be illuminated, unless otherwise prohibited herein, only to the extent that is necessary to be seen and read at night at a distance not to exceed 250 feet for signs of 10 square feet or more in area, and at a distance not to exceed 125 feet for signs of less than 10 square feet in area.
B. 
In no case shall such lighting be permitted that either directly or indirectly produces glare affecting neighboring residential properties or traffic on adjoining roads. The light from an illuminated sign shall not adversely affect the safe vision of operators of motor vehicles on nearby roads, driveways, and parking areas or any part of a building used for residential purposes. Special attention shall be paid to the proper shielding of externally illuminated signs.
C. 
Lighting of billboards and off-premises signs shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) 
No revolving or rotating beam or beacon of light that simulates any emergency light device shall be permitted as part of any off-premises sign.
(2) 
Flashing devices shall not be permitted on an off-premises sign. However, illuminated signs that indicate customary public information, such as time, date, temperature, or other similar information, shall be permitted.
(3) 
External lighting, such as floodlights, thin line, and gooseneck reflectors, are permitted, provided that the light source is directed on the sign face and is effectively shielded so as to prevent beams of light from being directed onto any portion of a street.
(4) 
The illumination of any sign shall be diffused or indirect in design to prevent direct rays of light from shining onto residential districts.
A. 
Signs with an electronic process or remote control shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) 
All messages/displays shall remain unchanged for a minimum of five seconds.
(2) 
The time interval used to change from one complete message/display to the next complete message/display shall be a maximum of one second.
(3) 
There shall be no appearance of a visual dissolve or fading, in which any part of one message/display appears simultaneously with any part of a second message/display.
(4) 
There shall be no appearance of flashing or sudden bursts of light, animation, movement, or flow of the message/display.
(5) 
Any illumination intensity or contrast of light level shall remain constant.
A. 
All permanent signs shall comply with the additional standards in § 150-113B.
B. 
Any freestanding sign proposed for a commercial use shall be landscaped. Acceptable landscaping materials include ground cover, mulch, shrubs, and/or trees. A landscaping sketch shall accompany the sign permit application.
C. 
Any freestanding sign proposed for a commercial use, developed in accordance with Article XI of this chapter, shall be incorporated into the landscaping required for the site.
D. 
Where permanent commercial signs use indirect lighting, the light source shall be shielded to prevent glare visible from adjoining residential properties and from adjoining roads.
A. 
In addition to the standards in the table in § 150-113, all off-premises signs or billboards shall be in compliance with the following requirements:
(1) 
Off-premises or billboard signs shall be located no closer than 1,500 feet from other off-premises or billboard signs. The distance between said signs shall be measured linearly, along the shortest route.
(2) 
No off-premises sign shall be located closer than 300 feet from any existing dwelling on an adjoining residential lot.
(3) 
A V-type or back-to-back off-premises sign shall be considered one sign.
(4) 
No off-premises sign shall be located in such a manner as to obscure or otherwise physically interfere with the effectiveness of an official traffic sign, signal, or device or obstruct or physically interfere with a driver's view of approaching or intersecting traffic.
(5) 
Lighting of billboards and off-premises signs shall comply with the requirements in § 150-107 above.
(6) 
The following off-premises signs are prohibited:
(a) 
Signs that have sign faces in a side-by-side or high/low fashion.
(b) 
Signs that advertise defunct businesses.
(c) 
Signs that are not securely fixed on a substantial structure.
(7) 
All applicable state regulations shall be met where signs are proposed in areas adjacent to highways included in PennDOT's state-owned highway network. A written copy of PennDOT's determination shall accompany all applications for signs in such areas.
[Added 4-5-2021]
A. 
Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.
B. 
All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the current Building Code of Hamilton Township.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 56, Uniform Construction Code.
C. 
The structural elements of all off-premises signs or billboards shall be of metal construction.
A. 
Upon termination or abandonment of a use or activity for which a sign was intended, all signs pertaining to the use or activity must be removed by the person who benefited, owned or was responsible for the sign.
B. 
An abandoned sign is a sign that is located on and/or related to a use which has become vacant and unoccupied for a period of more than six months; was erected for an occupant or business unrelated to the present occupant or business; or which relates to a time, event or purpose which is past.
C. 
Whenever the Township removes or causes to be removed a sign pursuant to this section, the cost of such removal shall be paid by the owner of the property on which such sign is or was located. The cost of removal shall be certified to the Township Engineer. Upon filing of such certification, the Township shall cause 30 days' written notice to be given by certified mail to the person or persons against whose property an assessment has been made. The notice shall state the amount of the assessment and the time and place of payment, and shall be accompanied by a copy of the certificate. The expense of such notice shall be borne by the Township. The amount assessed against the real estate shall be a lien from the time of filing of the certificate with Township and, if not paid within the time stipulated, a claim may be filed and collected in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.
A. 
Regulations for exempt and temporary signs.
Sign Type
Maximum Number of Signs
Maximum Sign Area
Minimum Setback from ROW
Maximum Height
Districts Permitted
Official road and traffic signs
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
All districts
No trespassing signs and similar signs
N/A
2 s.f.
N/A
N/A
Entrance and exit signs (directional sign)
1 per access point
4 s.f./side
Up to but not within ROW.
No sign shall be located within a clear sight triangle.
3 feet
Real estate signs
1 per 200 feet of road frontage
6 s.f./side; 12 s.f. total
Contractors, painters or similar artisans signs
1
6 s.f./side; 12 s.f. total
Yard or garage sale signs
2
4 s.f.
Temporary campaign or event signs
N/A
N/A
N/A
Changeable copy advertising signs
1
30 s.f./side; 60 s.f. total
6 feet
Portable signs, commercial uses only
1/business
2 s.f./side; 4 s.f. total
3 feet
B. 
Regulations for permanent signs.
[Amended 11-6-2017 by Ord. No. 150-113.B; 4-5-2021]
Sign Type
Maximum Number of Signs
Maximum Sign Area
Minimum Setback from ROW
Maximum Height
Districts Permitted
Other
Home occupation signs
1 per property
6 s.f./side; 12 s.f. total
Up to but not within ROW.
No sign shall be located within a clear sight triangle.
6 ft. except wall sign or projecting sign
AP, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, MU
Signs identifying name and entrance of residential development
1 monument or freestanding at each principal entrance
50 s.f./side
Max. 2 sides
6 ft. measured to top of sign structure
AP, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, MU
Maximum 60° spread between sign faces.
Max. 3:1 structure to sign area ratio.
Signs identifying name and entrance of civic/institutional use
1 monument or freestanding at each principal entrance
Sign on the same lot as a single business to which the sign refers
1 freestanding; 2 when frontage on 2 public roads, a maximum 3 wall signs, 1/facade
Freestanding: 75 s.f./side; 150 s.f. total; wall sign 1.5 s.f./1 linear foot wall facade or the lesser of 400 s.f.
30 ft.
C
Freestanding or monument signs incorporated into required landscaping.
Max. 3:1 structure to sign area ratio.
Signs within a shopping center
1 monument or freestanding sign to identify the name and entrance of shopping center
100 s.f./side; 200 s.f. total
Monument: 15 feet; freestanding: 30 feet
C
Sign for individual establishment within shopping center
1 wall sign
1.5 s.f./1 linear foot wall facade or the lesser of 400 s.f.
N/A
N/A
C
Designed to be visually compatible in terms of color and material with building in plaza
Sign on the same lot as a single business to which the sign refers
1 monument; 2 when frontage on 2 public roads, a maximum 3 wall signs, 1/facade
Monument: 50 s.f./side; 100 s.f. total; wall sign: 1.5 s.f./1 linear foot wall facade or the lesser of 400 s.f.
Up to but not within ROW.
No sign shall be located within a clear sight triangle.
Monument: 6 ft.
EI
Maximum 60° spread between sign faces.
Max. 3:1 structure to sign area ratio. All monument and freestanding signs shall be incorporated into required landscaping.
Business/industrial park: entrance identification sign
1 monument sign per entrance, max. 1 per road frontage
50 s.f./side; 100 s.f. total
EI, C
Individual business sign
1 wall sign; or 1 freestanding sign; or 1 monument sign
Monument or freestanding sign: 50 s.f./side; 100 s.f. total; wall sign: 1.5 s.f./1 linear foot wall facade or the lesser of 400 s.f.
Up to but not within ROW.
No sign shall be located within a clear sight triangle.
Monument: 6 ft.
EI
Maximum 60° spread between sign faces.
Max. 3:1 structure to sign area ratio. All monument and freestanding signs shall be incorporated into required landscaping.
Directional sign
1 monument sign at each internal intersection
25 s.f./side; 50 s.f. total
Off-premises directional signs
Multiple signs shall not be closer than 1,500 feet
16 s.f./side
6 ft.
All districts
Illumination shall be prohibited. See § 150-110
Billboards
1 per property; V-type or back-to-back considered 1 sign
300 gross s.f. per side; 48 feet maximum length; temporary embellishments to not exceed 20% of gross area
50 ft.
45 ft. to top of sign face
C, EI
See § 150-110
Signs identifying name and entrance of agri-tourism enterprises
1 monument or freestanding at each principal entrance
50 s.f./side; max. 2 sides
Up to but not within ROW. No sign shall be located within a clear sight triangle.
6 ft. measured to top of sign structure
AP, RR, RC, MU
Maximum 60° spread between sign faces. Max. 3:1 structure to sign area ratio.