Article 25
Signs and Advertising Structures

§14-2501 Intent.

The purpose of these regulations is to permit signs or advertising structures that will not, by reason of their size, location, construction, or manner of display, endanger the public safety of individuals, confuse, mislead, or obstruct the vision necessary for traffic safety or otherwise endanger public health, safety, and morals; and to permit and regulate signs in such a way as to support and complement land use objectives set forth in this Chapter. Signs may be permitted only when in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter and any and all ordinances and regulations relating to the erection, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, relocation, replacement, alteration, or maintenance of signs and similar devices.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §2500)

§14-2502 Area of Sign.

1.    The area of a sign shall be construed to include the entire display surface and background, whether open or enclosed, which encompasses lettering, wording, designs, and symbols, but not including any supporting framework and bracing which is incidental to the display itself. The area shall be determined using the largest visible sign or silhouette area. When the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to or printed on a surface, the area shall be considered to be the smallest rectangular shape or shapes which can be drawn together to encompass all of the letters and symbols.

2.    All double-faced signs shall be considered as having one sign area, except double-faced “V” signs that have interior angles greater than 45 degrees.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §2501)

§14-2503 General Regulations.

All signs and/or other advertising structures, where permitted under the terms of this Chapter, are subject to the following:

A.    No sign shall be located, erected, constructed, reconstructed, replaced, altered, removed for repair, enlarged, or relocated until a permit is obtained from the Zoning Officer, except that no permit shall be required by this Chapter for the following signs:

(1)    Signs not exceeding 2 square feet in area and bearing only property numbers, postal box numbers, or names of the occupants of the premises.

(2)    Flags and insignia of any government, except when displayed in connection with commercial promotion.

(3)    Legal notices, official traffic signs, community facilities signs, municipality identification signs, noncommercial historical or geographical identification information or directional signs erected by government bodies. Such signs may be placed within the road right-of-way.

(4)    Geographical identification and greeting signs erected by civic and service organizations provided they do not exceed 4 square feet in area and are comprised of the organization’s standard emblem or seal.

(5)    Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings, except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.

(6)    Signs directing and guiding traffic and parking on private property, but bearing no advertising matter.

(7)    Temporary signs as described in §14-2504.A of this Chapter.

(8)    Signs identifying farms, farm associations, and agricultural products, provided that no farm or association identification sign exceeds 10 square feet in area and no more than one sign shall be erected per road frontage.

(9)    Hunting, fishing, and trespassing signs and signs indicating private ownership of roadways or property, provided that such signs do not exceed 2 square feet in area, and when erected along street frontage, the signs shall be spaced at intervals of not less than 100 feet.

(10)    Signs up to 4 square feet in area, which are necessary for the identification, protection, and operation of public utility facilities.

B.    Every sign shall be maintained in a safe, presentable, and good structural condition at all times, including the replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for the maintenance of said sign. The Zoning Officer shall require such maintenance, and in the event the sign owner fails to comply with said requirements, the Zoning Officer shall proceed against him as provided in §14-2801 of this Chapter. Any sign that pertains to a time, event, or purpose which no longer applies and has been abandoned, as specified in §14-2504.A of this Chapter, shall be removed by the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises on which the sign is located.

C.    All signs not owned by the person, firm, or organization advertising thereon shall carry a clearly legible imprint showing the owner’s name.

D.    No sign shall be illuminated as to have a glaring effect upon vehicular traffic. No sign shall be illuminated so as to constitute a nuisance. No sign shall contain moving parts or use flashing or intermittent illumination. The source off the light shall be steady and stationary.

E.    No sign shall be higher than 35 feet from the ground to the highest part of the sign.

F.    No sign shall be erected so as to obstruct entrance to or exit from a required door, window, fire escape, or other required exitway.

G.    No sign shall be erected that screens traffic signals or signs or utilizes red, green or amber lights or reflectorized material that creates a flashing action and is so located as to render ineffective and traffic sign or signal. Any sign that resembles an official traffic sign or signal, by way of its appearance or content, shall be prohibited.

H.    Unless otherwise provided, no sign shall be painted, pasted, or otherwise affixed to ant tree, rock, utility pole, hydrant, bridge, sidewalk, curb, or street.

I.    Unless otherwise provided, no portion of any sign shall be erected within or placed on any existing structure in the road right-of-way. Additionally, no portion of any sign shall be erected in the “clear sight triangle” as specified in §14-2207.

J.    Unless otherwise specified, all signs shall be on premises, and no sign shall be erected until a permit has been secured from the Zoning Officer and approval has been received from any other applicable State or local agencies.

K.    No sign shall contain obscene material.

L.    For the purposes of this Chapter, portable signs, if utilized, shall comply with the requirements for freestanding signs and shall be included in the calculation of the maximum allowable sign area for the use.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §2502)

§14-2504 Signs Permitted in All Districts.

The following signs are permitted in any zoning district:

A.    Temporary Signs Which Do Not Require a Permit.

(1)    Temporary signs of painters, mechanics, contractors, realtors, and the like not exceeding a total of 16 square feet in area, provided such signs are removed as soon as the work has been completed.

(2)    Temporary signs and banners of a noncommercial nature across public right-of-way are permitted provided (a) permission is obtained from the Borough Council, (b) they are erected in a location which will not cause a traffic hazard, (c) they meet safety standards and are maintained, and (d) they are removed when their temporary use is completed.

(3)    Temporary signs announcing a campaign, drive, or event of civic, philanthropic, educational, or religious organization. Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be removed within 48 hours after completion of the campaign, drive, or event.

(4)    Temporary signs directing patrons, members, audience, or customers to temporary exhibits, shows, events, or activities (e.g., yard sales, fruit sales, conventions, etc.). Such signs shall not exceed 12 square feet in area and shall be removed within 48 hours after completion of the campaign, drive, or event.

(5)    Signs erected in conjunction with a political election provided that all signs are removed within 48 hours after the date of the election.

B.    Off-Premises Directional Signs Which Require Issuance of a Permit.

(1)    Off-premises directional signs which are used to direct patrons, members, audience, customers, clients to service clubs, churches, commercial, industrial, institutional, or other organizations may be erected subject to the following requirements:

(a)    A sign shall indicate only the name of the organization and the direction to the facility.

(b)    Except at intersections, no sign shall be placed within 200 feet of another sign associated with the same principal use.

(c)    All signs shall be placed within 2 miles of the use and no more than six signs for each principal use may be erected within the borders of the Borough.

(d)    All signs shall consist of dark lettering on a light background, excluding standard issue signs. The signs shall not exceed 3 square feet in area, and no moving parts, flashing lights, or any type of illumination shall be permitted.

(e)    At intersections of public streets, no more than one signpost accommodating all directional signs may be erected per corner. Said posts shall not exceed 6 inches in width and shall not be less than 3 feet nor greater than 8 feet in height above ground. No more than one sign per principal use may be attached to any sign post and no portion of any sign shall be erected within the “clear sight triangle” as specified in §14-2207 of this Chapter.

(f)    Application for off-premises directional sign permits shall include a map indicating location of placement requests and the land owner’s written approval, name to be placed on the sign, and distances from the facility to each sign.

C.    One name plate for a home business, provided that the sign does not exceed 4 square feet in size and identifies only the name of the occupant and title of the business. If lighted, the sign shall be illuminated without objectionable glare. No displays or changes in facade shall indicate from the exterior that the building is being used for any purpose other than that of a dwelling.

D.    Guest Homes. One freestanding or projecting sign for each road frontage. Sign shall be no larger than 6 square feet in area and shall identify only the name of the guest home and its proprietor(s).

E.    One institutional sign and/or one bulletin board for places of worship, schools, day care centers, hospitals, nursing or convalescent homes, special care residential communities, retirement complexes, libraries, museums, social clubs, and similar uses, provided each sign or bulletin board does not exceed 16 square feet in area and is located no closer to a road right-of-way than one-half the depth of the existing front yard or 25 feet whichever is less. If lighted, it shall be illuminated without objectionable glare. Additionally, if such property fronts on more than one street, each street frontage may contain the above mentioned signs.

F.    Subdivision Signs.

(1)    Temporary. A sign advertising lots for sale, giving prices, dimensions, services, etc., and which shall be removed within 30 days of the sale date of the last lot.

(2)    Permanent. A sign containing only the name of the development or subdivision and designed to be permanently affixed to the land.

One sign per road frontage may be permitted provided the sign is placed at an entrance to the subdivision, is located on the property to be subdivided and does not exceed 24 square feet in area. No portion of any sign shall be erected within the “clear sight triangle” as specified in §14-2207.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §2503)

§14-2505 Signs in Residential, Conservation Recreation, and Agricultural Districts.

The following types of on-premises signs may be permitted in residential, conservation recreation, and agricultural districts unless otherwise prohibited:

A.    Signs for the advertisement of agricultural businesses as follows:

(1)    For each property involved in agri-business, one sign may be erected, provided no sign or portion thereof shall be located closer to the road right-of-way than one-half the depth of the existing front yard or 25 feet, whichever is less.

(a)    Wall or projecting sign–maximum sign area shall not exceed 16 square feet.

(b)    Freestanding sign–maximum sign area shall not exceed 25 square feet.

B.    Signs for nonconforming commercial or industrial uses as follows:

(1)    For each property involved in a commercial or industrial use, a total sign area of 30 square feet shall be permitted. No sign or portion thereof shall be located closer to the road right-of-way than one-half the depth of the existing front yard or 15 feet, whichever is less.

(a)    Projecting sign–maximum sign area shall not exceed 12 square feet.

(b)    Freestanding sign–maximum sign size shall not exceed 16 square feet.

(c)    Wall or window sign–maximum sign size shall not exceed 12 square feet.

C.    Signs as permitted in §14-2504 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §2504)

§14-2506 Signs in Commercial and Industrial Districts.

The following types of signs may be permitted in commercial and industrial districts unless otherwise prohibited:

A.    Signs for the advertisement of agri-business as permitted in §14-2505.A of this Chapter.

B.    For individual commercial, office, institutional, and industrial uses, signs shall be limited to a maximum total sign area of 250 square feet per street frontage. All signs shall be on-premises signs, and shall be either wall, projecting, roof or freestanding signs which comply with the following standards:

(1)    One wall sign for each road frontage provided it is attached to the wall of the principal building and projects horizontally not more than 12 inches therefrom and occupies not more than 15 percent of the total area of the front of the principal building. It shall not project more than 3 feet above the roof line or parapet wall.

(2)    One projecting, marquee or roof sign for each road frontage provided it shall not project beyond a vertical plane 2 feet inside the road right-of-way line and does not exceed 20 square feet in area. Said signs shall not exceed a height of 35 feet.

(3)    One freestanding sign for each road frontage, provided it does not exceed 60 square feet in area. It shall not extend beyond a vertical plane 2 feet inside the lot from the road right-of-way line and shall not exceed a height of 35 feet.

C.    In cases where multiple commercial, industrial, or office uses exist as a homogeneous, cooperative unit (e.g. a general shopping district, shopping center or mall, office complex, industrial park, etc.) the identification sign for the entire district, center, mall, complex, or park shall be permitted subject to the following conditions:

(1)    Such identification signs shall be freestanding signs, not attached to any building, and shall contain only the name and/or logo of the district, center (mall), complex, or park.

(2)    A maximum of two such signs shall be permitted for any one district, center (mall), complex, or park.

(3)    The maximum size of the identification signs shall not exceed 250 square feet per road frontage; however, an additional 250 square feet of sign area (per road frontage) may be attached to the identification sign structure and utilized for a listing of individual stores or businesses within the district, center, mall, complex, or park and/or a changeable copy sign. The additional sign area allowed for listing stores and/or businesses shall be located below the identification sign.

(4)    Individual signs for each store or business within a shopping district, shopping center (mall), or industrial park shall comply with the requirements of paragraphs .B(1) or .B(2).

(5)    The height of all signs and their supporting structures shall be a maximum of 35 feet as measured from the ground.

(6)    Commercial signs located in the interior of shopping centers (malls), office complexes, etc., are exempt from the maximum size limitations.

D.    Off-premises billboards and advertising sign boards may be erected and maintained; provided, the total display area of all such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet for each 10 feet of road frontage, and the total display area of any sign shall not exceed 200 square feet in area. Said signs shall not be placed less than 100 feet apart nor within 100 feet of existing billboards or advertising sign boards. No sign or portion thereof shall be located closer than 25 feet to the road right-of-way and shall not exceed 35 feet in height.

E.    Signs as permitted in §14-2504 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §2505)

§14-2507 Nonconforming Signs.

Any sign erected, constructed, replaced, altered, enlarged, or relocated before June 11, 2001, that would not otherwise be permitted under the terms of this Chapter, may remain and continue to be used, maintained, and repaired provided:

A.    A nonconforming sign shall not be replaced, altered, relocated, or reconstructed except to bring the sign into total compliance with the provisions of this Chapter.

B.    A nonconforming sign may be used, maintained, and repaired subject to the following requirements:

(1)    Maintenance and repair of a nonconforming sign is permitted when said activities are necessary to maintain the sign in a presentable, functional condition. Maintenance and repair activities shall not include alterations, relocation, or reconstruction but may include replacement of defective parts, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for the maintenance of said sign. Prior to the removal of a nonconforming sign for maintenance, repair or message change, a permit shall be secured from the Zoning Officer. Said permit shall allow the applicant to re-erect the repaired or remessaged nonconforming sign within 30 days of issuance. If the nonconforming sign is not erected within the specified time, it shall lose its nonconforming status and any successive sign shall conform to all applicable ordinance requirements.

(2)    Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit the change in advertising, identifying, or directional message of a nonconforming sign so long as the change does not involve any alterations, relocation, or reconstruction of the nonconforming sign. Message changes of a nonconforming sign that are a result of a transfer in ownership of the premises on which the principal use is located, excluding contract advertising signs, shall be prohibited and any successive sign shall conform to the ordinance requirements. If the message change requires removal of the sign, a permit shall be secured as in the above subsection.

(3)    A nonconforming sign, which has been damaged or destroyed by fire, explosion, accident, or calamity, to an extent that is greater than 50 percent of the sign or sign value, may not be repaired except in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. A nonconforming sign that has sustained less than 50 percent damage of the sign or sign value may be repaired provided:

(a)    The repaired sign is virtually unchanged, except for building materials and message, or is less nonconforming than the original sign.

(b)    Repair is completed within 60 days from the date of damage. Failure to repair within 60 days shall result in the loss of nonconforming sign rights and any successive sign shall conform to all applicable ordinance requirements.

(4)    When a nonconforming sign has been demolished or destroyed by deterioration or removal, or has been moved from its location for reasons other than for an approved repair, maintenance, or a change in message, said sign shall not be reconstructed or replaced except in complete conformity with the provisions of this Chapter.

C.    A nonconforming sign which pertains to a time, event, purpose, or use which no longer applies, has been abandoned or changed, shall be removed by the owner of the sign or the owner of the premises on which the sign is located.

D.    Proposed signs that are associated with a nonconforming use shall conform to the regulations of the district in which the sign is located.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §2506)