Aldan City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Signs
§ 256-41 Scope and applicability.
A.
Purpose. The purposes of the regulations contained in this chapter are to:
B.
Conformance. Any sign hereafter erected or maintained shall conform with the provisions of this chapter and any other ordinance or regulations of the Borough of Aldan relating thereto. Replacement signs and major repair of signs shall require conformance to this chapter.
C.
Permit required.
(1)
A sign permit is required for any sign not excepted by Subsection C(2).
(a)
A permit shall be required prior to the erection, alteration or placement of any sign, building, structure or portion thereof, prior to the use or change in use of a building or land and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use.
(b)
Applications for permits shall be made to the Borough on such forms as may be furnished by the Borough. Each application shall contain all information necessary to ascertain whether the proposed erection, alteration, use or change in use complies with the provisions of this chapter; the information displayed by the sign shall be accompanied by a scaled drawing to show compliance with this chapter.
(c)
Written consent of the owner of the property on which the sign is to be located shall accompany the application when the applicant is other than the owner or the tenant responsible for maintenance of the building.
(d)
No building or zoning permit shall be issued until the Zoning Officer has certified that the proposed sign, building or alteration and the proposed use of the property complies with all the provisions of this chapter.
(3)
Each sign shall comply with the standards of this chapter, whether or not a sign permit is required.
D.
Nonconforming signs.
(1)
Signs existing at the date of enactment of this chapter and which do not conform to the requirements of the chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs.
(2)
Once a nonconforming sign is removed, it may be replaced only with a conforming sign.
(3)
Except as provided in Subsection D(4), nonconforming signs (including existing lighting) may be repainted or repaired, provided that such repainted or repaired sign does not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign; wording must not be changed.
(4)
Nonconforming signs over three years of age shall be replaced and conform to the provisions of this chapter.
§ 256-42 Signs in residential districts.
The following types of signs shall be permitted in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Zoning Districts:
A.
Official traffic signs.
C.
Identification signs for schools, churches, hospitals and similar permitted uses other than dwellings, provided that:
D.
Identification signs for multifamily dwellings or apartment houses, provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 20 square feet.
(2)
Not more than one such sign shall be placed on 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.
(3)
Only multifamily dwellings of 10 or more units shall be permitted to have signs.
E.
Real estate signs, including:
(1)
Signs advertising the sale or rental of premises, provided that:
(a)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
(b)
Not more than one such sign shall be placed on premises held in single and separate ownership unless such premises front on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be placed on each street frontage.
(c)
Sold signs must be removed within two weeks.
(d)
Rental signs must be removed immediately after execution of lease.
(3)
No real estate or other sign shall be erected containing information which states or implies that a property may be sold or used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter. Any such misrepresentation shall be considered a violation of this chapter and such sign shall be subject to immediate removal from the property.
F.
No trespassing sign or sign indicating the private nature of a driveway or premises, provided that the size of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet.
G.
Artisans' signs, provided that:
(1)
Such signs shall be erected only on the premises where such work is being performed.
(2)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet.
(3)
Such signs shall be removed promptly upon completion of active work.
(4)
Artisans working on developments must include their sign on the same signs permitted in § 256-42E(2).
H.
Bulletin board signs for churches and schools, provided that the sign area does not exceed 20 square feet.
I.
Signs on nonconforming use premises, provided that:
(1)
The total area of all such signs relating to a single use at the effective date of this chapter or at the effective date of any amendment of this section by which any sign shall be made nonconforming shall not be increased.
(2)
No such sign shall be changed or replaced except when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board.
§ 256-43 Signs in business districts.
The following types of signs shall be permitted in the B Business District:
A.
Any sign permitted in a residential district which relates to a use permitted in the district.
B.
Real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of premises, provided that:
(1)
The size of any such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet.
(2)
Not more than one such sign shall be placed on premises held in single and separate ownership unless such premises fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be placed on each street frontage.
(3)
Sold signs must be removed in two weeks.
§ 256-44 Signs in business and industrial districts.
The following types of signs shall be permitted in the B Business and I Industrial Districts:
A.
Industrial and business or related signs in conjunction with a permitted use, provided that:
(1)
The total sign area on one side of all signs placed on a lot or facing any one street frontage of any one premises shall not exceed one square foot for each linear foot of building frontage.
(2)
The total sign area on any one freestanding sign structure shall in no case exceed 40 square feet.
(3)
No more than one freestanding sign structure may be permitted on each street frontage, relating to and directing persons to the B Business or I Industrial District as a whole.
§ 256-45 Temporary signs.
A.
Real estate. A temporary sign may be permitted within the property lines, advertising the prospective or completed sale or rental of the premises upon which it is located, provided that such sign shall be maintained and removed within seven days after consummation of the lease or sale transaction.
B.
Construction sites. A nonilluminated temporary sign (developer/contractor sign or mechanic/subcontractor/other artisan sign) may be permitted on a construction site, provided that such sign shall be removed within seven days after completion of the construction work.
§ 256-46 General sign regulations.
The following restrictions shall apply to all permitted sign uses:
A.
No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic by obscuring the view.
B.
No sign other than signs authorized by § 256-41C(2)(b) shall be erected within the lines of any public street or public sidewalk or shall be closer to a curb than 10 feet.
C.
No stringing of light bulbs or placing of luminaries which create the same effect, no animated signs, no signs that revolve, swing or have movable parts or have flashing lights or reflectors shall be permitted and no advertising sign, banner, pennant balance, spinners or display constructed of cloth, canvas, wallboard or other like materials shall be erected, suspended or hung on any property or placed across a public street or highway.
D.
No sign shall project over a public sidewalk.
E.
Each sign must be maintained in good condition and repair.
F.
If a sign has become dilapidated, the Zoning Officer shall notify the owner or the leasee of the property to correct the conditions within 30 days. The owner or leasee may appeal the decision of the Zoning Officer to the Zoning Hearing Board within the same time period.
G.
If, after 30 days, the condition has not been corrected and the notice has not been appealed, the Zoning Officer may cause the dilapidated sign to be removed at the expense of the owner or leasee.
H.
If the Zoning Officer determines that the conditions of the sign pose an imminent danger to the public safety, he may order the sign removed immediately. The owner or leasee shall have a right of appeal after the fact to the Zoning Hearing Board.
I.
All signs shall be made a harmonious part of the architectural design of a new commercial construction or major alteration of existing buildings. Drawings submitted for sign permits shall show size, location and illumination in detail.
J.
Any sign shall be erected only on the premises where the related business or use is located.
K.
No such sign shall be illuminated except by self-contained lighting within the sign itself or ground lights.
L.
No sign shall project above the parapet or roof of a building.
M.
No sign shall be painted on any wall surface.
N.
The area on one side of a directional sign shall not exceed six square feet.
O.
Projecting signs are prohibited.
P.
All signs shall be securely mounted or fastened to the building upon which they are erected or, if freestanding, must be securely and safely installed in the ground. The installation of all signs must be approved by the Building Inspector.
Q.
No freestanding sign structure shall exceed 25 feet in height in nonresidential districts and eight feet in height in residential districts.
R.
The Council may authorize civic, charitable or community signs where appropriate.
S.
Signs should be designed in such a way as to be consistent with the architecture and landscaping of the building.
T.
No sign shall be painted, pasted, placed on any tree, telegraph, electric light or public utility pole or upon a natural feature.
U.
Freestanding signs, when permitted by this chapter, shall not exceed one such sign per lot, per tract or parcel regardless of the number of establishments occupying said tract or parcel.