Belleville City Zoning Code
§ 23-17.4
General Sign Provisions.
[Ord. No. 3134; amended 7-9-2019 by Ord. No. 3537; 10-13-2020 by Ord. No. 3598]
a.
Pre-existing Exemption. Any legally erected sign or sign structure which is non-conforming at the time of enactment of this chapter may be continued in use, maintained or structurally improved, but not enlarged subject to all provisions of the chapter.
1.
Sunset Clause.
(a)
After June 1, 2021: Any change in principal occupant, use or tenant triggering a new sign or sign face will require the sign to be up-dated or re-located to conform to the sign standards contained within this Chapter. If variances from the sign standards are sought, they shall be adjudicated by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment as authorized within N.J.S.A. 40:55D et al.
(b)
Before June 1, 2021: Any change in principal occupant, use or tenant triggering a new sign or sign face may be permitted to maintain the existing sign and/or location with review and approval from the Site Plan Subcommittee.
b.
Maintenance.
1.
Non-conforming signs or sign structures not maintained or not utilized, that is not containing messages as defined in § 23-5, Definitions, of this chapter, for a period of 60 days shall be considered abandoned and shall be removed from the premises.
2.
Upon failure to comply, the Zoning Official is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be leveled as a fine against the person, organization, business or if leased premises the owner of the premises, displaying or identified in such sign.
c.
Location and Measurement.
1.
No sign shall be located in the Clear Sight-Triangle.
2.
Except where otherwise provided, no freestanding sign or any part thereof shall be located closer than 18 feet to any lot line.
3.
All height limitations shall be measured from the ground level above which it is located to the highest part of the sign or its supporting structure, whichever is higher.
4.
Signs shall not extend above the height of the vertical wall to which they are attached.
5.
Signs shall not be attached to a cornice nor shall they interfere with facade composition of a building or cause the decorative detail of the facade to be removed or covered.
6.
For signs with two display faces, the maximum sign area requirements shall be permitted on each face.
7.
Signs containing only lettering and/or logo shall be measured by calculating the largest rectangular dimensions around the letters and logo. When there is a background to the sign message, either of solid color or design, the sign shall be measure from calculating the largest rectangular dimensions around the background and outer most edge of the sign design whether the background is projecting or flush with the building surface.
8.
Identification signs and logos visible through windows surface shall be measured by calculating the dimensions of the outer frame of the window and its frame.
d.
Temporary Sign Removal.
1.
Construction signs used as accessory to new construction or alteration on the premises are permitted only after a construction permit for said construction and sign has been issued and must be removed within 30 days of the completion of the alteration or renovation.
2.
Commercial Real Estate signs shall be removed within seven days after the consummation of lease, rent, or sale transaction.
3.
Banners are permitted for business openings and shall be removed after seven days.
4.
Any sign, now or hereafter erected or maintained, which does not represent a bona fide active business; notice of near future event; product sold; social event; political event or endorsement or business (yard or garage sale, flea market) event shall be removed within seven days after product sale conditions are no longer valid or event occurs, for a business, 30 days after such business ceases.
5.
Upon failure to comply, the Zoning Official is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be leveled as a fine against the person, organization, business or if leased premises the owner of the premises, displaying or identified in such sign.
e.
Sign Illumination.
1.
All permitted exterior signs may be illuminated only by an external light source, unless otherwise provided herein. The following requirements shall apply:
2.
Internally illuminated signs of any kind, whether freestanding or wall-mounted, shall be prohibited unless specifically permitted herein. The foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit "halo" signs utilizing a hidden light source which illuminates only the wall or other background to the sign message but not the face of the sign message.
3.
The light source of illuminated signs shall be shielded so that the light source shall not be visible.
4.
No illuminated sign shall be of such a color or located in such a manner as to be confused with or to diminish or detract in any way from the effectiveness of any traffic signal or similar official safety or warning device.
5.
No sign illumination or other illumination shall be used or designed for use as an attraction device in itself, but shall be used and designed for use solely to illuminate the sign to which it is accessory. The foregoing shall be construed to prohibit light bulbs, singly or in combination, used as an attraction device; strobe lights; black (i.e., ultraviolet) lights; string lights; flashing or moving lights of any kind; and similar uses of illumination as attraction devices.