Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Canonsburg City Zoning Code

ARTICLE 9

Signs

§ 170-901 Applicability.

This article shall apply to the placing, illumination, animation and maintenance of all signs that are visible from the public right-of-way.

§ 170-902 Locations of signs.

A. 
On-premises sign. A sign which directs attention to a person, business, profession, occupation or activity conducted on the same lot.
B. 
Off-premises sign. A sign which directs attention to a person, business, profession, product, occupation or activity not conducted on the same lot.

§ 170-903 Types of signs.

A. 
Attention-getting device. A pennant, flag, banner, valance, propeller, spinner, streamer, searchlight, balloon or other inflatable device, or similar object or representation of a product, vehicle, equipment or other advertising image or any ornamentation which is designed or used for the purpose of promoting, advertising or attracting attention.
B. 
Billboard. An off-premises sign which advertises an establishment, activity, person, product or service which is unrelated to or unavailable on the premises where the billboard is located.
C. 
Building sign. An on-premises sign permanently affixed to a building, including:
(1) 
Canopy (or "awning sign"). A sign that functions as a roof-like shelter, either permanent, retractable or removable, made of canvas or other material, that is affixed to a building or self-supporting and provides protection from sun, rain, snow and other elements, but excluding marquees.
(2) 
Marquee sign. A sign that is attached to, in any manner, or supported by a permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all of a building face and may or may not project over the public right-of-way.
(3) 
Projecting sign. A sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
(4) 
Roof sign. A sign or part of sign erected upon, against, or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet or cornice of a building.
(5) 
Residential identification sign. A sign containing only the name and address of the occupant of the premises, or in the case of a multifamily building, containing only the name and address of the building.
(6) 
Suspended sign. A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
(7) 
Wall sign. A sign attached to and erected parallel to the face of an outside wall of a building, projecting outward no more than six inches from the wall of the building.
(8) 
Window sign. A sign or group of signs affixed to the inside of a display window in a commercial establishment, which advertises a product or service available on the premises or which announces or promotes a special sale or special event.
D. 
Building marker. A historic or commemorative plaque, or a building name or cornerstone carved into a masonry surface.
E. 
Freestanding sign. An on-premises sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure, including:
(1) 
Ground (or monument) sign. A sign having a support structure that is a solid-appearing base constructed of a permanent material, such as concrete block or brick. All other freestanding sign types not meeting the definition of a monument sign shall be either a pole sign or a pylon sign.
(2) 
Pole sign. A sign that is supported from the ground by an exposed pole(s) or a three-dimensional support structure that is less than 1/3 the width of the sign face.
(3) 
Pylon sign. A sign that is supported by one or more structural elements which are architecturally similar to the design of the sign or where the support structure is more than 1/3 the width of the sign face.
F. 
Public sign. A sign of a noncommercial nature and in the public interest, erected by, or on the order of, a public officer in the performance of any public duty, such as official signs and notices of any public or governmental agency, or erected by or on the order of a court or public officer, including official traffic signs, public notices, government flags and other signs warning of hazardous or dangerous conditions. Such signs may be on-premises or off-premises.
G. 
Residential plan identification sign. A permanent wall or freestanding ground sign containing only the name and address of a housing plan or subdivision or a multifamily building or development.
H. 
Temporary sign. A sign that is not permanently affixed to the ground, building or structure and is temporary in nature, designed to be removed upon conclusion of an event or within a specified time period.

§ 170-904 Sign features.

Subject to the regulations contained in § 170-911, authorized signs may exhibit the following features:
A. 
Changeable copy. A sign whose informational content can be changed or altered by manual or electronic means. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a time and temperature portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this chapter.
B. 
Digital. A sign with a fixed or changing message composed of a series of lights, including light emitting diode (LED), which may be changed through electronic means without altering the face or surface of the sign.
C. 
Indirectly illuminated. A sign which is lighted by means of lamps or lighting devices external to and reflected on the sign, which lighting is stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times and which is shielded so that the illumination is concentrated on the face of the sign and there is no spillover of illumination or glare beyond the face of the sign.
D. 
Internally illuminated. A sign which is lighted by means of lamps or lighting devices internal to the sign, which lighting is either behind the face of the sign or is an integral part of the sign structure and the advertising effect.

§ 170-905 Prohibited signs.

The following signs shall not be permitted in any zoning district:
A. 
Attention-getting devices, unless approved as a temporary special event display;
B. 
Off-premise signs, with the exception of billboards, in accordance with § 170-911A;
C. 
Signs featuring animation of any kind;
D. 
Signs on trees, utility poles or official traffic control devices or signs;
E. 
Signs which imitate traffic control devices;
F. 
Signs painted on walls or chimneys of a building or on fences or walls;
G. 
Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers which are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property, other than temporarily for overnight storage on the site of a business or for maintenance, repair, loading, unloading or rendering a service at any location, which are visible from the public right-of-way and where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.

§ 170-906 Permit required.

A. 
Except as otherwise provided in § 170-907, no sign may be constructed, erected, moved, enlarged, illuminated or substantially altered except in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with a sign permit issued by the Zoning Officer. Repainting or changing the message of the sign shall not, in and of itself, be considered a substantial alteration.
B. 
All sign applications must be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing the exact size, shape and dimensions of such sign, the lighting plan for such sign and its proposed location or placement upon any structure or property.
C. 
A fee, in accordance with the Borough's fee schedule, as amended, shall accompany each application.
D. 
In the case of a lot occupied or intended to be occupied by multiple business enterprises (e.g., a shopping center), sign permits shall be issued in the name of the lot owner or his agent rather than in the name of the individual business enterprise requesting a particular sign.
E. 
Any permit issued by the Borough for the erection, alteration, replacement or relocation of any sign shall expire automatically within six months of the date of issuance if work authorized by the permit has not been initiated and diligently pursued.

§ 170-907 Signs exempt from permit requirements.

The construction or display of the following sign types will be permitted without a permit. Exempt signs shall, however, conform to all other applicable regulations:
A. 
Official traffic signs.
B. 
Government/regulatory signs.
C. 
Directional signs.
D. 
Public signs which are erected or required by government agencies or utilities, including traffic, utility, safety, railroad crossing, and identification signs for public facilities.
E. 
Flags, provided that they meet the following:
(1) 
The flag and flagpole shall not be located in any required yard setbacks;
(2) 
The height shall not exceed 30 feet above grade level;
(3) 
No more than two flags per lot in residential districts and no more than three in all other districts;
(4) 
The maximum size of the flag shall be 24 square feet in residential districts and 35 square feet in all other districts;
(5) 
Flags containing commercial messaging may be used as a permitted freestanding or projecting sign, and if so, the area of the flag shall be included in and limited by the computation of allowable area for signs on the property.
F. 
Residential identification signs, provided they do not exceed two square feet.
G. 
Signs inside a building or other enclosed facility, which are not meant to be viewed from the outside.
H. 
Holiday and seasonal decorations.
I. 
Legal notices.
J. 
Building markers.
K. 
"No trespassing," "no hunting," security and warning signs or private property signs, provided they do not exceed two square feet.
L. 
Temporary signs on residential properties, that are noncommercial in nature, not illuminated, contain no offensive or obscene language and do not exceed six square feet in size.

§ 170-908 General sign regulations.

A. 
Conformance.
(1) 
No new sign shall be permitted on any property unless every sign on the property shall be in conformance with this section. A sign which is not expressly permitted is prohibited.
(2) 
Signs existing at the time of passage of this chapter which do not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs. However, nonconforming signs may be repainted, repaired (including lighting) or replaced, provided such repainted, repaired or replaced signs do not exceed the dimensions of the existing sign. Copy may also be changed.
(3) 
Nonconforming signs once removed physically may be replaced only with conforming signs; every sign erected shall also comply with the requirements for the zoning district in which said sign is erected.
(4) 
A sign or any part thereof shall be confined to the property to which it is located.
(5) 
No sign shall be erected containing information on it which states or implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted under the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Digital signs and electronically changing message signs.
(1) 
All messages, images, or displays on a digital sign or electronically changing message sign shall remain unchanged for a minimum of 10 seconds, except signs with a changeable sign area of less than 30 square feet in a commercial district may change a minimum interval of every six seconds. Billboards containing digital or changeable copy shall remain unchanged for a minimum of 30 seconds.
(2) 
The time interval used to change from one complete message, image or display to the next complete message, image or display shall be a maximum of one second.
(3) 
There shall be no appearance of a visual dissolve or fading, in which any part of one message, image or display appears simultaneously with any part of a second message, image or display.
(4) 
There shall be no appearance of flashing or sudden bursts of light, and no appearance of video motion, animation, movement or flow of the message, image or display.
(5) 
The intensity and contrast of light levels shall remain constant throughout the sign face.
(6) 
Each digital sign or electronically changing message sign shall be equipped with automatic day/night dimming software, to reduce the illumination intensity of the sign from one hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise.
C. 
Illumination.
(1) 
Illumination shall be directed upon the sign face and not towards adjoining properties or streets.
(2) 
Lighting shall be stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times. Flashing or oscillating signs shall not be permitted.
(3) 
The intensity of any source of illumination of any sign, whether indirect or internal, shall be controlled so as to not exceed a maximum of 1.0 footcandle at the property line.
D. 
Lots with multiple street frontage. In all zoning districts, lots fronting on more than one street shall be permitted to have one of each type of sign which is authorized for the lot on each street frontage.
E. 
Maintenance and inspection. All signs shall be constructed of a durable material and maintained in good condition. Any sign found to be in an unsafe condition upon inspection shall be declared to be a public nuisance and the Zoning Officer shall give notice to the owner, in writing, in accordance with this chapter, to repair or remove the sign within 10 days. Upon failure of the owner to comply, the Borough shall remove the sign at the owner's expense.
F. 
Removal of signs. Whenever any business is discontinued or vacated, all signs relating to the discontinued or vacated business shall be removed within 30 days of the vacation or discontinuance of the business. Upon failure of the owner to comply, Borough may remove the sign at the owner's expense. The Borough may lien the property for the cost of removing the sign and all legal fees and costs incurred with filing and enforcing the lien.
G. 
Setbacks. Freestanding signs shall not project into a street or alley right-of-way and shall be set back a minimum of five feet from back of curb or edge of pavement.
H. 
Visibility.
(1) 
No sign shall be erected within or project into the lines of a street right-of-way, except traffic signs and similar regulatory notices of a duly constituted governmental body.
(2) 
No artificial light or reflecting device shall be used as a part of a sign where such light or device interferes with, competes for attention with, or may be mistaken for a traffic signal, or in any other way would be a detriment to public safety.
(3) 
Signs shall not be located in the clear sight triangle prescribed in § 170-504.

§ 170-909 Computation of sign area and height.

The following principles shall control the computation of sign area and sign height:
A. 
The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle or combination thereof 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 land use ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself.
B. 
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 are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
C. 
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.

§ 170-910 Sign types permitted.

Signs shall be allowed on private property in the Borough in accordance with, and only in accordance with, Tables 9.1 and 9.2, unless the sign is specifically exempt from the permit requirements as outlined in § 170-907.
A. 
If the letter "P" appears for a sign type in a column, such sign is permitted in that district, subject to the regulations contained in § 170-911.
B. 
If the letter "N" appears for a sign type in a column, such a sign is not allowed in the land use district represented by that column under any circumstances.
Table 9.1: Permitted Signs in Residential Districts
Type
C
R-1
R-2
R-3
Billboards
N
N
N
N
Building
Canopy
N
N
N
N
Marquee
N
N
N
N
Projecting
N
N
N
N
Roof
N
N
N
N
Suspended
N
N
N
N
Wall
N
P
P
P
Window
N
N
N
N
Freestanding
Ground
P
P
P
P
Pole
N
N
N
N
Pylon
N
N
N
N
Residential Plan Identification
N
P
P
P
Table 9.2: Permitted Signs in Mixed Use and Nonresidential Districts
Type
MU
CBD
C-1
OI
I-1
Billboards
N
N
N
CU
N
Canopy
N
P
P
P
N
Marquee
N
P
P
P
N
Projecting
P
P
P
P
N
Roof
N
P
P
P
P
Suspended
P
P
P
N
N
Wall
P
P
P
P
P
Window
N
P
P
N
N
Ground
P
P
P
P
P
Pole
N
N
P
P
P
Pylon
N
N
P
P
P
Residential Plan Identification
N
P
P
N
N
Construction
P
P
P
P
P
Development
P
P
P
P
P
Portable
P
P
P
N
N
Real estate
P
P
P
P
P
Real estate open house
P
P
P
P
P
Special event display
P
P
P
P
P

§ 170-911 Regulations by sign type.

A. 
Billboards.
(1) 
Billboards shall only be permitted as a conditional use in the zoning districts specified in Table 9.2, provided the site is within 30 feet of an interstate.
(2) 
Billboards shall not exceed a maximum of 300 square feet on each of the two sides, with a maximum length of 20 feet and a maximum width of 15 feet. If the interior angle within the inside of the two attached sides of a sign is greater than 30°, then the maximum sign areas shall apply to the total of the two sides and no billboard shall have more than two sides.
(3) 
Billboards shall not exceed a maximum height of 95 feet above the grade. The height shall be measured from the grade of the property to the highest part of the sign, including any lighting or portion of the support structure.
(4) 
Billboards shall not be located closer than 20 feet from any property line, and shall not be located closer than 25 feet, nor further than 75 feet, from any street or road to which the billboard is oriented, measured from the ultimate right-of-way of such street or road. Billboards may not be closer than 500 feet from another Billboard measured linearly on the same side of the street or road to which the billboard is oriented.
(5) 
More than one billboard shall be permitted per tax parcel, but such signs shall be no less than 500 feet apart.
(6) 
Billboards may contain digital and/or changeable copy messages, subject to the regulations of § 170-908B of this chapter.
(7) 
All billboards shall be structurally sound and maintained in good condition. If the signs are not structurally sound or maintained in good condition, the signs shall be immediately repaired or removed at the sole cost and expense of the owner of the sign. If a billboard is determined by the Borough to be structurally unsound or in poor condition, the Borough shall notify the owner of the property on which the sign is located and provide the owner 60 days' written notice via certified mail, sent to the owner's last known address, to repair or remove the sign. If the billboard is not repaired or removed within 60 days of the date of the notice, the Borough may remove the sign, and the cost thereof shall be paid by the owner of the property on which the billboard is erected. The Borough may file a lien against the property or take any action permitted by law to collect the cost of removal if it is not paid by the owner of the property.
(8) 
Landscaping.
(a) 
Trees greater than four inches in diameter removed for access to or the construction of a billboard shall be replaced on-site at a ratio of one replacement tree for each removed tree using native species no less than three inches in diameter (See Appendix A for a list of approved tree/plant species.)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(b) 
A continuous landscaped buffer shall be planted along every side of the supporting structure of the billboard and extending a minimum of 10 feet from the supporting structure in all directions. Plantings shall consist of at 75% evergreen materials and shall provide an immediate visual screen of 50% or greater 10 feet from the ground or at the base of the billboard, whichever is higher.
(c) 
All landscaping shall be maintained in good condition. If any approved landscaping is found by the Borough to be in poor condition, the Borough shall notify the owner of the property on which the billboard and landscaping are located and provide the owner 60 days' written notice via certified mail, sent to the owner's last known address, to correct to the condition of the landscaping to the satisfaction of the Borough. If the condition of the landscaping is not corrected within 60 days of the date of the notice, the Borough may perform such work as is necessary to bring the landscaping into good condition in accordance with the conditional use approval, and the cost thereof shall be paid by the owner of the property on which the billboard and landscaping are located. The Borough may file a lien against the property or take any action permitted by law to collect the cost of any corrective action taken by the Borough if it is not paid by the owner of the property.
(9) 
All billboards shall be identified on the structure with the name and address of the owner of each sign. Any billboard located within an area that is regulated by Chapter 445 of the Pennsylvania Code shall further be identified with a permit number or tag issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
(10) 
A billboard shall be considered a discontinued sign if it has carried no message for a period of 180 consecutive days, or if such billboard no longer identifies a bona fide business, commodity, service, entertainment or facility, or if more than 50% of the message on such billboard has deteriorated to the point that it is not clearly discernible from the road or street to which it is oriented. A billboard that has been discontinued shall be presumed to be abandoned and shall constitute an illegal sign. Any period of time for which the discontinued use of a billboard is proved to be caused by government actions, labor strikes, material shortages or acts of god, and without any contributing fault of the owner of the sign or user of the sign, shall not be calculated toward the number of days of discontinued use. Any discontinued billboard shall be removed at the expense of the owner of the sign. In the event that the owner of the sign cannot be ascertained after the Borough's reasonable inquiry, the discontinued sign and structure shall be removed at the expense of the owner of the property on which the sign is erected.
B. 
Building signs.
(1) 
Canopy (or awning) signs.
(a) 
Shall be securely fastened by metal supports to the building surface and meet all applicable building codes.
(b) 
Canopy signs may not extend above the parapet wall and shall maintain a clear height of eight feet above the ground level.
(c) 
No portion of a canopy or awning may extend more than five feet from the building facade.
(d) 
No portion of a canopy or awning may be located within the public right-of-way.
(e) 
If canopies and awnings are used as the primary building sign, the area of such sign may not exceed 25% of the surface of the canopy or awning or six square feet, whichever is less.
(f) 
If canopies and awnings are used as a secondary sign in addition to a wall sign, lettering may be placed on the edge of a canopy or awning hanging perpendicular to the street if the lettering is nine inches or less in height.
(2) 
Marquee signs.
(a) 
One marquee sign shall be permitted on a lot occupied by one or more authorized nonresidential uses.
(b) 
Marquee signs shall not exceed 10% of the area of the building wall to which the marquee is attached up to a maximum of 100 square feet.
(c) 
Marquee signs shall be permitted over the public right-of-way clear of street trees and streetlighting but shall be no closer than two feet to the back of curb.
(d) 
A minimum overhead clearance of eight feet from the sidewalk to the bottom of the marquee structure is required.
(e) 
Marquee signs may contain changeable copy or digital signs.
(f) 
A marquee shall allow for clear visibility of traffic signals and regulatory signs.
(3) 
Projecting signs.
(a) 
One projecting sign shall be permitted on a lot occupied by one or more authorized nonresidential uses.
(b) 
Shall be securely fastened by metal supports to the building surface and meet all applicable building codes while maintaining a clear height of eight feet above the ground level.
(c) 
Projecting signs shall extend no more than three feet from the facade of the building.
(d) 
The maximum area of projecting signs shall be no more than six square feet.
(e) 
Permissible sign area shall be calculated the same as wall signage and shall be considered inclusive of the total wall sign area allowance for the building.
(4) 
Roof signs.
(a) 
A building more than 40 feet in height may display one roof sign in addition to other permanent building signs allowed by this chapter, provided that the aggregate graphic area of roof signs and building signs does not exceed 100 square feet.
(b) 
A building up to and including 40 feet in height may display a roof sign in lieu of other permanent wall signs allowed by this chapter.
(c) 
A roof sign permitted under either condition, whether a part of the initial design of the building or an addition after the building has been constructed, shall be designed to appear as an integral part of the supporting building.
(d) 
The structural support for said sign shall be enclosed to form a background for the sign copy.
(e) 
Sign copy shall be limited to the identification of the building, use or principal activity within the building.
(f) 
A roof sign shall not extend beyond the vertical boundaries of the wall with which it is associated.
(g) 
The combined height of the building and the roof sign shall not exceed the height limitations of the underlying zoning district.
(5) 
Suspended signs.
(a) 
One suspended sign shall be permitted on a lot occupied by one or more authorized nonresidential uses.
(b) 
Shall be securely fastened by metal supports to the supporting structure at no less than two points and meet all applicable building codes while maintaining a clear height of eight feet above the ground level.
(c) 
The maximum area of suspended signs shall be no more than six square feet.
(d) 
Permissible sign area shall be calculated the same as wall signage and shall be considered inclusive of the total wall sign area allowance for the building.
(6) 
Wall signs.
(a) 
The maximum area of wall signs, including religious symbols for places of worship, along the frontage of any building shall be equal to one square foot of signage for each one linear foot of building frontage, but shall not exceed 50 square feet nor any greater limitation established in this chapter.
(b) 
All wall signs shall be oriented to face the street by being mounted on the building facade generally parallel or perpendicular to the street.
(c) 
In residential districts, the following regulations for wall signs shall apply:
[1] 
One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated wall sign shall be permitted for authorized nonresidential uses.
(d) 
In all other districts, the following regulations for wall signs shall apply:
[1] 
One indirectly illuminated or internally illuminated wall sign shall be permitted for authorized nonresidential uses.
[2] 
For buildings with multiple tenants, one additional wall sign may be permitted to be used as a directory sign, provided such signs do not exceed 24 square feet and shall be located within six feet of the doorway serving such uses. Such signs may include changeable copy.
(7) 
Window signs.
(a) 
Permanent window signs shall not exceed 15% of the area of the window through which the sign may be seen, or six square feet, whichever is less.
(b) 
Permanent window signs shall be "see-through" with a transparent background.
(c) 
Permissible sign area shall be calculated the same as wall signage and shall be considered inclusive of the total wall sign area allowance for the building.
(d) 
Businesses shall be permitted to erect one or more temporary window signs on each window of the premises, but the total area of all window signs in any one window shall not exceed 10% of the area of that window. Such temporary window signs shall be displayed for no longer than 30 days.
C. 
Freestanding signs.
(1) 
Ground (or monument) signs.
(a) 
All lots must have at least 80 feet of street frontage in order to display a ground sign.
(b) 
Ground signs shall not exceed five feet in height, which includes the base used for the sign.
(c) 
Ground signs shall not exceed 30 square feet.
(d) 
The base of ground signs shall be surrounding with a minimum of one foot on each side of the sign of ground cover and/or evergreen landscaping.
(e) 
Ground signs may incorporate digital and/or changeable copy, subject to the regulations provided in § 170-908B.
(f) 
Ground signs shall be permitted to be indirectly illuminated or internally illuminated.
(g) 
In residential districts, the following regulations for ground signs shall apply:
[1] 
One freestanding ground sign shall be permitted on a lot occupied by one or more authorized nonresidential uses.
[2] 
No sign in a residential district shall be directly or indirectly illuminated between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
(h) 
In all other districts, the following regulations for ground signs shall apply:
[1] 
One freestanding ground sign shall be permitted on a lot occupied by one or more authorized nonresidential uses.
(2) 
Pole signs.
(a) 
Pole signs shall not exceed 30 feet in height, which includes the base used for the sign.
(b) 
The sign face(s) for pole signs shall not exceed 30 square feet.
(c) 
The base of ground signs shall be surrounding with a minimum of one foot on each side of the sign of ground cover and/or evergreen landscaping.
(d) 
Pole signs shall be permitted to be indirectly illuminated or internally illuminated.
(3) 
Pylon signs.
(a) 
Pylon signs shall not exceed 10 feet in height, which includes the base used for the sign.
(b) 
Pylon signs shall not exceed 30 square feet.
(c) 
The base of ground signs shall be surrounding with a minimum of one foot on each side of the sign of ground cover and/or evergreen landscaping.
(d) 
Pylon signs shall be permitted to be indirectly illuminated or internally illuminated.
(e) 
In the C-1 Commercial District, the OI Flex Office/Industrial District and the I-1 Industrial District, the following regulations for pylon signs shall apply:
[1] 
One pylon sign shall be permitted on lots occupied by multiple tenants, such as shopping centers or business/industrial parks.
D. 
Residential plan identification signs.
(1) 
One nonilluminated or indirectly illuminated permanent wall or freestanding ground residential plan identification sign containing only the street address and/or name of a residential subdivision plan or multifamily building or development shall be permitted, provided the sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.
(2) 
A sign identifying the name of a residential subdivision may be affixed to a freestanding decorative wall, rather than to a building wall, provided that the decorative wall meets all applicable ordinance requirements and does not obstruct visibility for traffic entering or leaving the plan in compliance with the clear sight triangle required by § 170-504.
E. 
Temporary signs.
(1) 
Real estate signs.
(a) 
One nonilluminated temporary real estate sign shall be permitted on each lot provided the sign shall not exceed six square feet when located in any residential zoning district and shall not exceed 20 square feet in any other zoning district. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the sale or rental of the property on which it is located.
(b) 
One nonilluminated temporary real estate open house sign shall be permitted on each lot, provided the sign shall not exceed four square feet and shall not be displayed more than two hours prior to the open house and shall be removed within two hours after the open house concludes.
(2) 
Development signs. One nonilluminated temporary development sign shall be permitted on each lot, provided the sign shall not exceed six square feet when located in any residential zoning district and shall not exceed 20 square feet in any other zoning district. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the sale or rental of the last lot or completion of the proposed construction in the development.
(3) 
Construction signs. One nonilluminated temporary construction sign announcing the names of contractors, mechanics or artisans engaged in performing work on the premises shall be permitted on a lot, provided the sign shall not exceed six square feet hen located in any residential zoning district and shall not exceed 20 square feet in any other zoning district. Such sign shall be removed within 30 days of the completion of the work.
(4) 
Portable signs.
(a) 
The sign must be within 15 feet of the front door of the place of business.
(b) 
Each storefront is allowed one sign and in no case shall a storefront be allowed more than one sign.
(c) 
The location of the sign must not block or restrict passageway along the sidewalk to less than four feet in width, block the ingress/egress to any building, interfere with vehicular traffic flow, or block required parking spaces.
(d) 
The sign is limited to a maximum area of 10 square feet and a maximum height of four feet.
(e) 
The sign must be adequately weighted and shall not be illuminated, animated, or electrically powered in any way. Signs must be made of durable materials designed to withstand exterior conditions.
(f) 
The sign is allowed only during the sign owner's business hours and must be moved inside when the business is not open.
(g) 
All signs must be located on an adjacent sidewalk.
(5) 
Temporary special event signs. One nonilluminated temporary special event display sign, as defined by this chapter, shall be permitted to be erected on the face of a public building, church or building housing a nonprofit organization, provided that the area of the sign shall not exceed 40 square feet, and provided the sign is displayed for a period no longer than 30 days and is removed within five days following the event that it is erected to promote.