Bordentown City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Signs
[Amended 11-26-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-17; 2-24-1986 by Ord. No. 1986-3; 11-8-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-25]
§ 300-104 Sign regulations.
A.
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ATTACHED SIGN
Any sign erected, constructed or maintained on a building with the principal support of said sign being the building.
AWNING OR CANOPY SIGN
Any sign located on or affixed to an awning or canopy.
FACADE
The face of a building that is considered to be the architectural front and usually given special architectural treatment. The facade does not include roof designs.
FASCIA
The edges of a gas station's canopy which face outward.
FUNCTIONAL SIGNS
Directional, information or public service signs, such as signs advertising locations of rest rooms, telephones or similar facilities of public convenience, including entry and exit signs from parking areas. Functional signs shall not include any name, business, logo or message other than the directional or informational material as above.
MONUMENT SIGN
A sign, the bottom of which or integral support structure thereof, is flush with the ground throughout the entirety of vertical dimension.
B.
Permit requirements.
(1)
A zoning permit must be obtained prior to the erection, installation, alteration or relocation of any sign, except those signs permitted under § 300-104D below.
(2)
A building permit must be obtained prior to the erection, installation, alteration or relocation of any sign except as follows:
(a)
Nonilluminated functional/direction signs.
(b)
A change in the copy of an approved sign.
(3)
A certificate of conformance must be obtained after erection, installation, alteration or relocation of any sign to confirm that the property and the sign conform to and with the requirements of this § 300-104.
C.
Regulations applicable to alt signs in all zoning districts.
(1)
Computation of sign area. In administering this section, the area of any sign shall be computed as the total square foot content of the background upon which the lettering, illustration or display is presented, including in such background any decorative motif or moldings. If the lettering, illustration or display is not affixed to the background but is affixed directly to the wall of a building or other structure, the area of the sign shall be computed as the product of the largest horizontal distance and the largest vertical distance of the lettering, illustration or display. The supporting members of any sign, which are used exclusively for such purpose, shall not be included in the computation of the sign area. Signs having more than one display face may have the maximum area permitted on each face, provided that the faces are directly parallel to each other.
(2)
No sign shall be erected anywhere within the City except in accordance with the requirements and regulations of this section.
(3)
Any sign in existence at the time of the adoption of this section is entitled to remain so long as it is not moved, altered or replaced, in which event it shall conform to all the requirements of this section.
(4)
All signs shall relate to a use or activity located on the same lot. Signs related to activities off premises are prohibited.
(5)
No sign shall be placed in a position that will cause danger to traffic on a street or entering a street by obscuring the view of traffic on either street. In no case shall any sign, other than an official governmental sign or traffic control sign, be erected within the right-of-way of any street unless specifically authorized by ordinance or regulations of the City.
(6)
No private or commercial sign may be designed in such a way as to be potentially misunderstood as an official governmental sign.
(7)
The repainting, relettering or repair of an existing sign shall not constitute a new sign, provided said repainting, relettering or repair does not necessitate the removal of the sign from its supporting structures.
(8)
Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated, moving or projected signs of any type or signs which present an illusion of movement are prohibited. This prohibition shall not apply to static time and temperature displays.
(9)
Illuminated signs, where permitted, may be internally or externally illuminated so long as such illumination does not shine directly onto adjoining property or onto any street or highway.
(10)
Signs attached to any part of a building shall not extend above the roofline.
(11)
No sign may be erected within a clear sight triangle.
(12)
No permanent sign may be erected using freestanding poles as its primary support.
D.
Signs permitted in all districts without zoning permits.
(1)
Temporary signs locating and advertising subdivisions of land and projects requiring site plan approval which have received final approval by the City, provided that no such sign shall exceed 24 square feet in area, exceed two in number, nor be located closer than 20 feet to any street line. Such sign permits shall be valid for a period of six months, and then such signs shall be removed, unless the permit is renewed. Such signs shall be removed, in the case of land subdivisions, when either 75% of the lots created have been built upon or after 75% of the lots have been sold by the developer, which ever should occur first, and in the case of projects receiving site plan approval, upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(2)
Traffic control signage necessary for the sak and efficient flow of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic.
(3)
Functional signs not exceeding three square feet in area nor three feet in height.
(4)
Signs incident to the legal process such as legal notices, condemnation or quarantine signs.
(5)
Temporary signs of artisans and contractors, provided said signage does not exceed an area of 12 square feet, does not exceed a height above grade of four feet and is removed within 24 hours of completion of work.
(6)
Temporary signs announcing any educational, charitable, civic, religious, political or similar event for a consecutive period not to exceed 31 days before the event and seven days after the event. The size of all temporary signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area and six feet in height. The number of temporary signs shall be limited to one sign per property and shall contain no commercial message or logo. Temporary signs shall be made of wood, plastic, or paper-based material and shall not be illuminated. The person or organization erecting the sign shall be responsible for taking the sign down within the allowed time limit.
(7)
One temporary sign advertising hiring of employees which shall only be a plastic or wooden type sign, which shall not exceed eight square feet in area and shall not be installed within any local, county or state right-of-way. A temporary hiring sign shall be limited to a maximum time period of 30 calendar days and for no more than four time periods during any one calendar year.
(8)
Temporary real estate signs, provided said signage does not exceed an area of 12 square feet, does not exceed a height above grade of four feet and is removed within 24 hours of settlement or the execution of a lease.
E.
Flagpoles. Flagpoles may be installed on a lot in any zone following the issuance of a zoning permit, provided they meet the following requirements.
(1)
No more than one flagpole may be installed on any lot.
(2)
The front and side yard setbacks applicable to flagpoles shall be 1/2 of the applicable minimum building front and side yard setback; provided, however, that no flagpole may be installed or erected in any required buffer area.
(3)
The maximum height of flagpoles is the maximum height for buildings permitted in the zoning district in which the flagpole is erected.
F.
Sign regulations applicable to specific zoning districts.
(1)
Signs in residential zones. The following signs shall be permitted in the R-1, R-2, R-3 and PLD Zoning Districts and shall comply with the following regulations.
(a)
One nameplate sign containing the name and/or address of the resident, which shall not exceed one square foot in area.
(b)
Any residential subdivision shall be permitted to install one monument sign as an entry marker in accordance with the following:
[1]
Signs shall be illuminated by external low level, ground-mounted spot lights.
[2]
Sign may be no larger than 32 square feet.
[3]
If the sign is to be installed by the developer, it must be shown on the final subdivision plat and located on a private lot or parcel or within the common areas owned and controlled by the homeowners' association applicable to the development.
[4]
The homeowners' association shall be solely liable for all maintenance, repair, utility cost and insurance for such sign. The sign and all adjacent landscaping shall be kept in a well maintained state.
[5]
The provisions applicable to such sign in the homeowners' association governing documents must be reviewed and approved by the City Solicitor.
[6]
The homeowners' association documents must give the City the right and power but not the obligation to maintain the sign if the homeowners' association fails to maintain the same and to assess the owner of the lot on which the sign exists for the costs to complete such maintenance and repair.
[7]
If the sign is installed upon the application of the homeowners' association, the applicant shall execute an agreement containing provisions similar to Subsections F(1)(b)[4] and [6] above as a condition of such approval. The form of agreement shall be approved by the City Solicitor.
[8]
The sign must be located outside of all applicable clear sight triangles.
(c)
One sign not exceeding two square feet in area advertising roomers or boarders.
(d)
One sign advertising professional uses or home occupations, not exceeding one square foot in area.
(e)
Professional uses in addition to the sign permitted in the front yard area may have one additional sign attached to the building in which the professional use is located not exceeding six square feet in area.
(2)
Signs in Local Commercial (LC) Zones and historic districts. The following regulations shall govern the size and placement of signs in the Local Commercial Zone:
(a)
Each commercial property may have one attached sign, to be either mounted flush against or attached in a perpendicular manner to a wall.
(b)
Attached signs that are placed flush against a wall may not exceed 15% of that wall's surface area.
(c)
Signs mounted perpendicular to a wall may not extend more than three feet from that wall and may not have an area greater than six square feet.
(d)
The bottom of a sign mounted perpendicular to a wall shall be at least seven feet above the sidewalk.
(e)
If a commercial use has a secondary entrance, one additional attached sign is permitted at that entrance, provided it is mounted flush against the wall and does not exceed four square feet in area.
(f)
Window signs are permitted, providing said signs do not exceed 10% of the window area.
(g)
Awning or canopy signs. Each commercial storefront may have one awning or canopy sign subject to the following conditions:
[1]
Only one such sign is permitted per storefront, on the first floor only.
[2]
Sign letters and characters shall be painted or sewn on. Maximum letter height shall be nine inches.
[3]
Maximum lettering area shall not exceed 1/2 square foot for each linear foot of building frontage or 16 square feet, whichever is less. Inclusion of the premises' street address on the awning or canopy shall not be counted towards the maximum permitted sign area or number of signs.
[4]
Awning or canopy signs attached to the same building must be the same shape, color and height, regardless of individual business ownership or tenancy in the building.
[5]
Awning or canopy signs may not extend outward from a building's facade more than four feet and may not encroach into a public right-of-way unless said sign is at least seven feet above any sidewalk.
(3)
Signs in Highway Commercial (HC) Zones and Commercial Industrial (CI) Zones. The following regulations shall govern the size and placement of signs in the Highway Commercial and Commercial Industrial Districts:
(a)
Any business establishment may display one monument sign and one attached sign mounted flush to its facade. The maximum area of any monument sign shall be the lesser of 1/2 square foot per each lineal foot of front building elevation or 54 square feet, and may not have a vertical dimension in excess of six feet above grade; the maximum area of any attached sign shall not exceed 15% of the area of the facade to which it is affixed.
(b)
In the case of a shopping center or multiple occupant/tenant (MOT) commercial development, the development shall be permitted one monument sign per driveway, but not to exceed two and not exceeding 72 square feet in area and a height above grade of 10 feet. Each tenant shall be permitted to display one attached sign not to exceed 15% of the facade area attributable to each individual tenant use.
(c)
No monument sign shall be erected closer than 10 feet to any property line.
(d)
The height of any attached sign shall not exceed 10% of the height of the wall to which it is attached, except that such sign can be at least two feet in height. The maximum width of any attached sign shall not exceed 50% of the width of the wall to which it is attached or 12 feet in width, whichever is less.
(e)
No attached sign shall extend farther than six inches from the face of the wall upon which it is attached. Where a sign extends more than three inches from the face of the wall, the bottom of such sign shall be at least eight feet above ground level. Any attached sign overhanging a public or private walkway shall not extend more than three inches from the face of the wall to which it is attached.
(4)
Signs in automotive service stations and public garages. The following signs, in addition to the foregoing signs, shall be permitted in connection with an automotive service station or public garage, subject to the following regulations:
(a)
A ground-mounted combination identification and price sign not exceeding a vertical dimension of eight feet nor an area of 64 square feet. Said sign shall be placed at least 10 feet from any property line.
(b)
Where a canopy is provided over pump islands, the company logo may be placed on any two sides of the fascia. Each logo may not cover more than 10% of the fascia side to which it is affixed.
(c)
Signs or lettering displayed over individual entrance doors or bays consisting of the words washing, lubrication, repairs or such other legend related to the functions performed in such location, provided that there shall be no more than one such sign over each entrance and the area of any such sign does not exceed six square feet.
(d)
The customary lettering or other insignia such as company logo which are an integral part of any gasoline pump, together with any signs located thereon dealing with the product dispensed therefrom, a price indicator and any other sign which may be required by law.
(e)
Other signs describing, locating and identifying other services or products dispensed, such as air, water and oil, provided that such signs shall not exceed one square foot in area.
(f)
Nonilluminated credit card signs indicating those credit cards which are honored at such establishment, provided that no individual signs shall exceed two square feet in area.
