To require zoning approval for signs in all zoning districts subject to the standards and requirements of this article.

To prohibit signs not expressly permitted by this article.

The regulations contained in this section shall apply to all signs in all zoning districts. No sign may be erected, placed, established, painted, created, altered, or maintained except in conformance with the standards, procedures, regulations, and requirements contained herein.

Method of sign authorization and approval. For the purposes of this chapter, signs shall be authorized for approval pursuant to the following:

Accessory uses. Signs shall be considered accessory uses (other than billboards) on the lot or site they are located and subordinate to the principal use of the lot. Signs shall be subject to Article III of this chapter in addition to the requirements of this article.

Principal uses. Billboards are considered the principal use of a lot or site on which they are located and shall comply with all the requirements of this article.

Alteration of sign face. The physical alteration of a sign face or supporting structure shall be considered the same as construction of a new sign which shall require zoning approval and conformity to all the requirements of this article.

Signs on public property. Any sign installed or placed on public property or within a public ROW, except in conformance with the requirements of this article shall be forfeited and is subject to confiscation in addition to other remedies the Zoning Officer shall have pursuant to this chapter.

Enforcement and remedies. Enforcement and remedies of this article shall be pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and any other enforcement or remedies pursuant to state and federal law.

Holiday decorations displayed for recognized state and federal holidays.

Official notices authorized by a court, public body, or public safety official.

Memorial or historical plaques.

Memorial signs and tablets when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other sculptured materials.

Flags of a governmental organization.

Signs authorized by the Township such as municipal gateway signs, street signs, safety control signs, and traffic control signs. Municipal gateway signs may contain advertising matter.

Public notice or public warning signs.

Auction, garage sale, or yard sale signs.

Address numbering.

Signs identifying property for sale or lease.

Construction signs (temporary, only during active construction).

Signs of any type placed on public property or parks property by authorization of the Township.

A-frame (sandwich board) signs shall only be permitted on sidewalks provided that only one such sign per premises shall be permitted and shall be located no closer to the street pavement than 15 feet. Such sign shall not obstruct pedestrian travel and shall be removed each evening upon closing. A-frame signs shall not exceed six square feet per side.

Signs announcing candidacy for public office on public property or in the public ROW. Such signs shall not be installed on utility poles, shall not be installed more than 30 days before the election to which they are relevant, and shall be removed within seven calendar days immediately following the relevant Election Day.

Temporary signs. A temporary sign not exceeding 16 square feet in total gross area for each exposed face may be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days and shall be removed within three days after the termination of the activity, service, project, or sale, provided the sign is safely installed and is consistent with the area where it is to be located. There shall be no more than two permits for temporary signs issued for the same premises within one calendar year. Temporary signs shall state the date on which it was installed, if known, and shall provide contact information, including a name and a telephone number, for a representative of the sign's owner.

Signs identifying on-premises home occupations which contain only the name of the business and/or owner. Such sign shall not exceed two square feet in area.

Signs erected by a public agency or utility providing warning or information to the public, and any signs erected by the Township or under direction of the Township.

Signs denoting the availability of property for lease or sale, located on the premises being leased or sold. The sign shall not exceed six square feet in area and shall be removed within seven days of the sale or lease of the property.

Flashing, blinking, changing, animated, inflatable, or moving signs (except digital signs and LED signs or billboards as authorized by this article).

Pennants (including "swooper flags").

Any sign containing information which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter.

Signs that resemble traffic signals or any sort of traffic device.

Signs that exhibit statements, words, or pictures of obscene or pornographic subjects as determined by the Board of Commissioners.

Off-premises signs (other than billboards).

Roof sign.

Signs on trees, utility poles, and/or traffic devices.

Signs that are hazardous to public safety and/or are located in the public ROW.

Signs or banners attached to a parked vehicle, van, or truck that advertise a business or service. This does not include vehicles, vans, or trucks that have business names or services detailed on them.

The name of the regulated establishment; and/or

One or more of the following phrases:

Primary signs for adult movie theaters may contain the additional phrase, "Movie Titles Posted on Premises."

Each letter forming a word on a primary sign shall be of a solid color, and each such letter shall be the same print-type, size, and color. The background on the display surface of the primary sign shall be of a uniform and solid color.

No materials, merchandise, film offered for sale, rent, lease, or loan or for view upon the premises shall be exhibited or displayed outside of a building structure.

Any building or structure occupied as a sexually oriented establishment shall be windowless or have any opaque covering over all windows or doors of any area in which materials, merchandise or film are exhibited. No materials or film shall be visible from outside of the building or structure.

Injunction. A person who operates or causes to be operated a sexually oriented business without a valid permit or in violation of this chapter is subject to an action in equity or a suite for injunction as well as citations for violations of this chapter.

Computation of area of single-faced signs. The area of a sign face shall be computed by means of the smallest square or rectangle that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets this chapter and is clearly incidental to the display itself. Any digital portions of a proposed sign and/or a sign base that contains a message or logo shall be included in the calculation of the sign area.

Computation of area of multi-faced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back to back so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces. Any digital portions of a proposed sign and/or sign base that contains a message or logo shall be included in the calculation of the sign area.

Computation of height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of (1) existing grade prior to construction or (2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the zone lot, whichever is lower.

Within residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2, and R-3), all signs except those specifically exempted shall require a zoning/building permit. The following signs are permitted in residential zoning districts:

A name plate not exceeding two square feet in area containing only the name of the resident, the title of the person practicing a profession, name of building and name of agents, or any combination of the foregoing and placed directly against a building wall.

A ground/monument sign erected upon the premises of an educational, philanthropic or religious institution, including a church, hospital, or similar institution for the purpose of displaying the name of the institution and its activities or services, which shall be limited to one such sign. Pole signs are not permitted in any residential zoning district. Ground signs shall be located at least 10 feet back from the street ROW.

Residential development sign. One residential development sign not exceeding 32 square feet in total gross surface area per face, or two signs not exceeding 16 square feet in surface area per sign shall be permitted which identifies the name of the residential development. In the case of the residential development with more than one entrance, a sign or signs as permitted above may be paced at each entrance to the development. Pole signs are not permitted in any residential zoning district or PRD. Ground signs shall be located at least 10 feet back from the street ROW.

No sign shall be erected upon, or applied to, any roof. The term "sign" here shall not apply to a religious symbol, unaccompanied by lettering, when applied to the cornice, tower, or spire of a place of worship.

Illumination of signs of any kind in residential districts are prohibited.

Signs shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and shall be kept in good condition and maintained so as not to create hazardous or threatening conditions to the health or safety of persons in the vicinity of said sign or cause a public nuisance. The Township may take all lawful and proper actions necessary to revoke all permits and licenses issued for such sign and may order said sign removed or brought into compliance with the Township ordinances and regulations within 30 days of the date of issuance of such notice and order, in writing, by the Zoning Officer.

The following provisions identify the types of signs and sign areas permitted in the Commercial Industrial zoning district (C-2 district), unless otherwise provided for in this chapter.

Where more than one business or industry operates from a single building, each operation shall be permitted to have a wall sign, with the aggregate sign area(s) not exceeding the size specified herein.

Where more than one business or industry operates from a single building, only one freestanding sign is permitted, which shall meet the standards established herein. The sign may provide information pertaining to each operation located in the building.

For buildings which house more than one business or industry, one freestanding business directory sign shall be permitted which shall be a maximum of five feet in height and 16 square feet in area.

For sites in single ownership, on which more than one business or industry is located, a directional sign on each street frontage may be permitted, such sign not to exceed four square feet in size.

Wall signs.

Ground/pole sign.

Wall plaques.

Temporary signs.

Window signs.

Advertising on awnings and canopies.

Directional signs. Directional signs are permitted in nonresidential zoning districts as specified elsewhere in this chapter.

Digital display and message center signs (illuminated signs).

The following provisions identify the types of signs and sign areas permitted in the Mixed Use zoning district (MU district), unless otherwise provided for in this chapter.

Where more than one business or industry operates from a single building, each operation shall be permitted to have a wall sign, with the aggregate sign area(s) not exceeding the size specified herein.

Where more than one business or industry operates from a single building, only one freestanding sign is permitted, which shall meet the standards established herein. The sign may provide information pertaining to each operation located in the building.

For buildings which house more than one business or industry, one freestanding business directory sign shall be permitted which shall be a maximum of five feet in height and 16 square feet in area.

For sites in single ownership, on which more than one business or industry is located, a directional sign on each street frontage may be permitted, such sign not to exceed four square feet in size.

Wall signs.

Ground/pole sign.

Wall plaques.

Temporary signs.

Window signs.

Advertising on awnings and canopies.

Directional signs. Directional signs are permitted in nonresidential zoning districts as specified elsewhere in this chapter.

No animated signs, no signs illuminated by a flashing, pulsating or intermittent source and/or no signs which create glare on adjacent properties or any adjacent street, shall be permitted.

Signs shall be placed no closer than 10 feet to any property line, or any ROW line, and shall not be erected over a street ROW.

In measuring the area of signs permitted under these regulations, the entire face of the sign (one side only), or, where the sign consists of raised letters, or a sign face of irregular shape, the sign area shall include the area of the smallest rectangle that can encompass the letters or sign face.

In the residential zoning districts, the maximum height of a sign shall be 15 feet. In all other zoning districts, in no case shall a sign be permitted to be placed higher than the existing building.

No sign shall be erected in such a manner that would obstruct vision, ingress, and/or egress, or interfere with traffic.

No sign shall be located to block doors, operable windows or fire escapes, or access to them; nor shall a sign be attached to a fire escape.

No sign shall be painted directly on a wall. Letters or other devices may be applied directly to a wall but shall not extend more than 12 inches from the wall.

Freestanding signs shall be permitted only on zoning lots with a minimum of 100 feet of street frontage.

Exterior political signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. All exterior political signs on publicly owned property shall only be erected a maximum of 30 days prior to the election and shall be removed within seven days of the election. Political signs on private property are exempt from these requirements.

Nonconforming signs, lawfully existing at the time of enactment of this chapter, although such sign does not conform to the provisions of this section, may continue to exist; however, if such nonconforming sign is discontinued or removed, any future sign on the same premises shall be in conformity with the provisions of this section.

All applications for permits for construction, installation, maintenance, repair, and/or modification of signs of any type or nature shall be submitted for review and approval or denial by the Township Zoning Officer, prior to commencement of any activity or work by the applicant or the applicant's representative or delegate concerning installation, construction or modification of such sign. The provisions of this section and all of its Subsections shall apply to, but are not limited to all replacement signs, new signs, changes or alterations to existing signs or signs which must be relocated for any reason.

A site plan or sketch, drawn to scale, shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer and shall depict the lot and building upon which the proposed sign will be located, and shall show all other buildings and structures located on said lot and their relationship to said sign. Information submitted to the Zoning Officer shall also include an application for sign permit, a written description of the materials and manner of construction and mounting of the sign, a description of the information and visual material to be included on all surfaces of the sign, a description of the illumination, if any, of the sign and one or more photographs of the proposed sign location from each approach from which the sign will be visible.

Signs not to constitute traffic hazard. No sign or other advertising structure as regulated by this chapter shall be erected in such a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision; or at any location where, by reason of the position, shape, or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device; or which makes use of the words "Stop," "Look," "Drive-In," "Danger," or any other word, phrase, symbol, or character in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead, or confuse traffic.

Material and Construction. All signs shall be securely built, constructed, and erected in compliance with all regulations and requirements of the relevant building codes, and in addition:

Internally illuminated signs.

Permits, inspection, and maintenance.

Billboards are permitted as a conditional use in the Commercial Industrial zoning district (C-2).

Billboards may be authorized by the Board of Commissioners as a conditional use upon a finding that compliance with the requirements of this chapter, as well as the following specific criteria, have been met by the applicant:

All billboards (including any and all supporting structures thereof) shall be dismantled and removed from the premises upon which they are located within 180 days of the cessation of use.

All billboards shall be maintained by their owner in a state of repair so that they are as safe and as functional as when originally installed.

No billboard shall be constructed or erected until an applicant thereof has made an application for same (which shall include a copy of a written lease for use of the land if the applicant is not the owner thereof) and paid the applicable fee thereof (as set by separate resolution of the Board of Commissioners) and received a permit thereof from the Township.

Prior to erection all proposed applicants for billboards shall be required to obtain any necessary permit from and to conform, in all respects, to any regulation thereof promulgated by an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including, but not limited to PennDOT.

Murals are permitted as a conditional use in the Commercial Industrial (C-2) zoning district.

Murals may be authorized by the Board of Commissioners as a conditional use upon a finding that compliance with the requirements of this chapter, as well as the following specific criteria, have been met by the applicant: