Aberdeen Township City Zoning Code
§ 25-5.18
Signs.
[Ord. No. 6-1988; Ord. No. 20-1992; Ord. No. 19-1993; Ord. No. 21-2010; Ord. No. 14-2012 §§ 2, 3; Ord. No. 12-2014; 2-16-2023 by Ord. No. 4-2023]
a.
General Provisions. No sign may be placed on or attached to a building or erected independently for any purpose other than to advertise a permitted business or use conducted on the same premises. No billboards shall be erected or replaced.
No signs shall be erected, altered or replaced which are not in accordance with the standards established in this Ordinance. Except for home professional offices and temporary real estate signs, the erection of any sign shall require a construction permit. No sign of any type shall be permitted to obstruct driving vision, traffic signals, traffic directional and identification signs, other places of business, other signs or windows of the building on which they are located. No sign shall be attached to trees, fence posts, stumps, utility poles or other signs but shall be free-standing or attached to buildings in an approved manner.
1.
Animated, Flashing and Illusionary Signs. Signs using mechanical or electrical devices to revolve, flash or display movement or the illusion of movement are prohibited.
2.
Height. No free-standing or attached sign shall be higher at any point than the roof line of the building, except that no sign shall exceed any lesser height if particularly specified in this section. In addition, no attached sign shall project into or hang over a street right-of-way, and no sign shall project beyond a building in a manner placing it above an area traversed by motor vehicles such as, but not limited to, driveways and parking areas. Where signs project beyond a building facade or wall over a pedestrian way, the lowest portion of the sign shall be at least eight (8) feet above the walkway.
3.
Free-standing signs shall be supported by one (1) or more columns or uprights which are firmly embedded in the ground. Exposed guy wires, chains or other connections shall not be made a permanent support of the free-standing sign.
4.
Illuminated signs shall be so arranged as to reflect the light and glare away from adjoining premises and away from adjoining highways. No sign with red, green or blue illumination in a beam, beacon or flashing form resembling an emergency light shall be erected in any location. Illuminated signs shall comply with the National Electric Code.
5.
Information and Direction Signs. Street number designations, postal boxes, on-site directional and parking signs, warning signs and signs posting property as "private property," "no hunting" or similar signs are permitted in all zones but are not to be considered in calculating sign area. No such sign shall exceed two (2) square feet in area.
6.
Maintenance. Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.
7.
Political Signs. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, it shall be lawful in any zone to erect, construct or display political signs directing attention to any candidate for public office or to any political party or any political campaign drive, movement or event, for a period of not more than ninety (90) days prior to, nor more than fifteen (15) days after, any general, special, primary or school board election. The erection of such signs shall not require site plan approval or a construction permit.
8.
Portable Signs. No sign shall be exhibited which is portable, i.e., fixed on a movable stand, self-supporting without being firmly embedded in the ground, supported by other objects, mounted on wheels or movable vehicles, or made easily movable in some other manner.
9.
Real estate signs temporarily advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premise or portion thereof shall be, if not attached to the building, set back at least ten (10) horizontal feet from all street lines. Such signs shall not exceed nine (9) square feet on each of two (2) sides and shall be removed at the expense of the advertiser within fifteen (15) days after the termination or completion of the matter or business being advertised. "Sold" signs shall be permitted between the signing of the contract of sale and the date of the legal closing. All such signs do not need a construction permit.
10.
Sign area shall be measured around the outside edges of a framed or enclosed sign or by the area utilized by isolated words and/or symbols, including the background, whether open or enclosed, but said area shall not include any supporting, framework and bracing incidental to the display itself. For signs with two (2) sides the maximum area requirement shall be permitted on each side. Signs with more than two (2) sides are prohibited.
11.
Temporary Signs. Interior window signs shall not be considered in computing the allowable signs provided, however, that such interior signs shall not exceed twenty (20%) percent of the total window area.
12.
Wall fascia or attached signs shall be firmly attached to the exterior wall of a building and shall not project more than fifteen (15) inches from the building.
b.
Permitted Signs.
1.
Residential Districts.
(a)
Churches, schools and institutional buildings. Two (2) announcement signs, each of which shall not exceed twelve (12) square feet in area. If not attached to the building, they shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height and shall be set back twenty (20) feet from all street lines.
(b)
Home professional office. One (1) unlighted or white lighted-from-within nameplate sign identifying the home office. The sign shall not exceed two (2) square feet in area and shall be attached flat against the building or free-standing (if free-standing, no higher than six (6) feet and set back from all lot lines ten (10) feet).
(c)
Apartments, townhouses. Each development may have one (1) sign along each arterial or collector road which the tract in question abuts provided there exists at least two hundred fifty (250) feet of unbroken frontage. Such sign(s) shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height, shall be set back from the street rights-of-way and driveways at least thirty (30) feet, shall be set back from any property line a minimum of fifty (50) feet, shall not exceed an area of forty (40) square feet and shall be used only to display the development's name.
2.
(Reserved)
3.
Neighborhood Commercial "NC" District.
(a)
Attached signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted sign on each building facade with at least fifty (50) feet of street frontage. The total area of the sign shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the area of the face of the wall upon which such sign is attached or thirty (30) square feet, whichever is smaller. Where the building(s) is (are) designed for rear or side entrances, one (1) unlighted sign may be attached flat against the building at the rear and side entrances, each sign not to exceed an area equivalent to half that of the sign on the front of the building.
(b)
Free-standing signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted free-standing sign for each principal building or group of attached principal buildings.
4.
Highway Commercial "HC" and Conservation "CR" District.
(a)
Attached signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted sign on each building facade with one hundred fifty (150) feet of street frontage. The total area of the sign shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the area of the face of the wall upon which such sign is attached or fifty (50) square feet, whichever is smaller. Where building(s) is (are) designed for rear or side entrances, one (1) unlighted sign may be attached flat against the building at the rear and side entrances, each sign not to exceed an area equivalent to half that of the sign on the front of the building.
(b)
Free-standing signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted free-standing sign for each principal building or group of attached principal buildings (except auto service stations).
(1)
Height. Thirty-five (35) feet or the height of the principal building, whichever is shorter.
(2)
Setback. At least twenty (20) feet from all street lines and fifty (50) feet from all side property lines.
(3)
Area. One (1) square foot of area for every two (2) linear feet of unbroken frontage up to seventy-five (75) square feet.
(c)
Sandwich Boards. One (1) unlighted sandwich board sign for each principal building or group of attached principal buildings.
(1)
Design. Must be at least thirty (30) inches wide and forty (40) inches high and designed to withstand area wind loads.
(2)
Location. Must be located no further than five (5) feet from the front wall of the building.
(3)
Display. May be displayed outside during normal business hours. No sign may be placed outside overnight.
(4)
Fee. There will be a twenty-five ($25) dollar fee required along with a zoning permit.
5.
Regional Commercial "RC" District.
(a)
Attached signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted sign on each principal building facade with at least two hundred fifty (250) feet of street frontage. The total area of the sign shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the area of the face of the wall upon which such sign is attached or seventy-five (75) square feet, whichever is smaller. Where the building(s) is (are) designed for rear or side entrances, one (1) unlighted sign may be attached flat against the building at the rear and side entrances, each sign not to exceed an area equivalent to half that of the sign on the front of the building. Where more than one (1) use occupies a building, a sign not exceeding eight (8) square feet, identifying the name of the use, may also be attached at the entrance.
(b)
Free-standing signs. One (1) unlighted or lighted free-standing sign for each principal building or shopping center.
6.
Research Office "RO" Manufacturing "MFG" and Light Industrial "LI". Each principal building (including restaurants, taverns, hotel/motel complexes, manufacturing plants and wholesale or distribution centers) may have one (1) lighted or unlighted sign either free-standing or attached.
7.
Office Residential "OR" District.
(a)
Non-residential principal buildings which have frontage on Route 34 shall comply with the sign requirements specified for the Neighborhood Commercial District (subsection 25-4.6h). Such signs shall be located on building facades and/or free-standing along Route 34 only.
8.
Street Signs. Street signs shall be of a type approved by the Planning Board. The location of the street signs shall be determined by the Planning Board, but there shall be at least two (2) signs furnished at each intersection. All signs shall be installed free of visual obstruction.
c.
Temporary Signage.
1.
General.
(a)
Note that granting of approval for this use shall not establish a permanent preexisting right should this paragraph be modified or repealed.
(b)
Applicant shall complete an application, requesting zoning approval for all signs which includes, supplying a plot plan or site plan showing the location of the proposed signage, signs and a print to scale of the proposed signage, showing lettering, colors, and dimensions of the proposed signage.
(c)
Signage shall not be permitted to interfere with or obstruct any of the following: driver's vision, traffic signals, traffic directional signs, traffic identification signs, store windows and/or public rights-of-way.
(d)
Signage shall not be animated, flashing or contain moving letters or symbols.
(e)
Signs must be made of weather proof materials and be no larger than twenty-two by twenty-eight (22 x 28) inches.
(f)
Signage shall be securely fastened to the ground and must not be placed on trees and tree stumps, fence posts, utility poles and sidewalks or in public rights-of-way.
2.
Grand Openings. Temporary grand opening signage (signs, banners, flags, including flutter or feather flags, pennants and lawn signs) are permitted in the following zoning districts:
• | HC (Highway Commercial) |
• | RC (Regional Commercial) |
• | LI (Light Industrial) |
• | RO (Research Office) |
• | MFG (Manufacturing) |
(a)
Applicant shall complete an application requesting zoning approval at least six (6) weeks in advance of opening.
(b)
Content of signs are limited to the business or service.
(c)
No sign may be displayed on a roof top structure or parked vehicle, except that wrapped signage or magnetic signs are permitted on licensed operational vehicles.
(d)
Grand opening signs, flags, pennants, banners and lawn signs must be made of weather-proof plastic, cloth, vinyl materials or weather-proof poster board.
(e)
Grand opening signs may be placed at all store entrances for the business, and the location must be so noted on zoning application and plot plan.
(f)
Pennants may be hung from a finished façade to another nonpublic structure (i.e. light pole) on the property, with height clearance of fourteen (14) feet minimum. Temporary grand opening signs must be securely fastened to a building facade, and may not exceed ten (10%) percent of the area of the face of the wall upon which the sign is attached, or twenty-four (24) square feet, whichever is smaller.
(g)
With the approval of the Zoning Officer, temporary grand opening signs may be erected at any time prior to the grand opening; however, signage can only be in place for a maximum of fourteen (14) consecutive days. All temporary signage must be removed on or before the 15th day.
(h)
The fee for grand opening signs, banners, flags, pennants and lawn signs is fifty ($50) dollars.
3.
Lawn Signs. Lawn signs will be permitted in the following zoning districts:
• | HC (Highway Commercial) |
• | RC (Regional Commercial) |
• | LI (Light Industrial) |
• | RO (Research Office) |
• | MFG (Manufacturing) |
(a)
The maximum number of lawn signs shall be six (6).
(b)
Lawn signs must be on store owner's property, or landlord's property with their approval in writing.
(c)
With the approval of the zoning officer, lawn signs may remain in place for a two (2) week period each quarter, which may be broken up into one (1) week intervals. Lawn signs are to be used in combination with special events or grand openings. If used as a special event, lawn signs are limited to once per calendar quarter.
(d)
The fee for lawn signs is twenty-five ($25) dollars per two (2) consecutive weeks.
4.
Signage for Not-For-Profit Organizations. Signage for not-for-profit organizations will be permitted in the following zoning districts:
• | HC (Highway Commercial) |
• | RC (Regional Commercial) |
• | LI (Light Industrial) |
• | RO (Research Office) |
• | MFG (Manufacturing) |
• | R 50, R 60, R 70, R 75, R 100, (single-family residential zones) |
(a)
The maximum number of signs may be one (1) per street.
(b)
With the approval of the zoning officer, signs may be put in place two (2) weeks before the scheduled event and must be removed within three (3) working days after the event.
(c)
The fee for placement of signs for not-for-profit organizations will be waived.
5.
Prohibited Temporary Signage. Signage as listed below will not be permitted within the Township:
(a)
Blackboard type signs
(b)
(Reserved)
(c)
Advertising device type signs, such as blimps, balloons, blow ups
(d)
Animated signs
(e)
Live signs
(f)
Skins
If any of these signs or devices are used, you will be asked to remove them immediately. You may also forfeit your right to put up promotional signage in the next quarter.
6.
Special Events, Promotional Events. To accommodate the needs of Aberdeen Township business owners, churches and synagogues, special events, such as holiday or seasonal sales, promotional events, and anniversary celebrations will be permitted in the following zoning districts:
• | HC (Highway Commercial) |
• | RC (Regional Commercial) |
• | LI (Light Industrial) |
• | RO (Research Office) |
• | MFG (Manufacturing) |
• | R 50, R 60, R 70, R 75, R 100, (single-family residential zones) |
(a)
At least six (6) weeks in advance of the proposed event/promotion, the applicant shall complete an application requesting zoning approval.
(b)
Special events and promotional events may be held four (4) times per year, for a period of two (2) weeks during each calendar quarter and the two (2) week period may run consecutively or separately within the quarter.
(c)
With the approval of the Zoning Officer, the event must start on the day approved and end on the end date specified in the application and the set up for the event may be a maximum of two (2) days before the event, and must be removed within two (2) business days after the event. The Zoning Officer will coordinate with any Township agencies necessary to grant approval, such as Police, Fire or Board of Health. Once approval is given in writing to the applicant, with copies to other required agencies, if any, the applicant may proceed to prepare for the event.
(d)
The zoning fee is twenty-five ($25) dollars per two (2) consecutive weeks.