Banner. A sign utilizing a flexible substance on which copy or graphics may be displayed and which is not permanently mounted.

Billboard sign. A sign that is freestanding, which exceeds 36 square feet per face (sign area) and which is not an official sign or a directional sign specifically permitted by this Chapter. Billboard Signs are permitted solely in the I-2 Light Industrial District and the I-C Industrial Commercial District.

Building face. The vertical area of a particular side of a building, but not including the area of any slanted roof.

Business sign. A sign for a permitted use, including a nonconforming use, conducted on the premises, which sign shall identify the written name and/ or the type of business and/or an article for sale or rent on the premises or otherwise call attention to a use conducted on the premises.

Freestanding sign. A sign which is self-supporting upon the ground or which is primarily supported by poles attached to the ground and not primarily supported by a building.

Height of sign. The vertical distance measured from the average ground level surrounding a sign to the highest point of the sign and its supporting structure. Religious symbols, when not accompanied by lettering, shall not be restricted by the sign heights of this article when attached to a tower or spire of a place of worship.

Identification sign. A sign for a permitted use, including a nonconforming use, conducted on the premises displaying the name of the premises.

Illuminated sign, internally. A sign illuminated by light from within the sign rather than a source adjacent to or outside of the sign. A sign within a display case with lights only shining onto the front of the sign shall be considered to be externally illuminated.

Instructional sign. A sign conveying instructions with respect to the use of the premises or a portion of the premises on which it is maintained or a use or practice being conducted on the premises.

Marquee sign. Any sign attached to, in any manner, or made part of a marquee.

Nameplate sign. A sign only indicating the name and/or address of an occupant.

Political sign. A sign which indicates the name, cause or affiliation of a person seeking public or elected office or on which reference is made to an issue for which a public election or referendum is scheduled to be held.

Portable freestanding sign. A freestanding sign which is readily portable and has no means of attachment to a structure or the ground, but which is held in place solely by gravity.

Projecting sign. A sign other than a wall sign that is attached to or projects more than 12 inches from a building face or wall or from a structure whose primary purpose is other than the support of the sign.

Sign size or sign area. The area of the sign facing, including any border, framing or decorative attachments. In the case of freestanding letters, it shall be the area contained between the highest and lowest point of any letters and the extremity points of the first and last letters.

Temporary sign. A sign intended to display messages of a transitory or temporary nature. Portable signs or any sign not permanently embedded in the ground, or not permanently affixed to a building or sign structure that is permanently embedded in the ground, are considered temporary signs.

Wall sign. Any sign attached parallel to, but within 12 inches of, a wall and not extending beyond any edge of the wall, painted on the wall surface or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface.

Window sign. A sign which is readily visible and can be at least partially read from an exterior lot line and which is attached to a window or transparent door or that can be read through a window or transparent door.

Any permitted sign meeting one of the preceding classifications may be a changeable-message sign, provided it complies with § 255-224.

Any permitted sign meeting one of the preceding classifications may be a scrolling sign, provided it complies with § 255-224.

All signs, as the same are defined in § 255-12 of this chapter, shall be subject to the provisions of this article.

Exempt signs. The following signs shall not be considered as subject to these regulations:

Any sign placed on or over a public sidewalk, except as noted hereafter.

Any sign which flashes, moves, blinks or emits smoke, steam, or other visible particulates or odor. For the purposes of this prohibition, a sign is considered to be flashing, moving or blinking if the sign, content or display moves or changes at an interval more frequently than once every 30 seconds.

Any sign that projects above the roofline of the building on which it is mounted.

Spinners, pennants, streamers and any moving object used for commercial advertising purposes, whether or not any of the aforesaid items contain a message; except that banners and flags are permitted when authorized under any other pertinent provision of this article.

Flashing, electronically changing messages; blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except those portions of sign which indicate time and temperature changes. This restriction specifically includes window signs and signs on mobile stands. This shall not prohibit Christmas lighting or displays.

Flashing, blinking, twinkling, animated or moving signs of any type, except changeable-message signs or scrolling signs in compliance with § 255-224.

Signs that are of such character, form, shape or color that they imitate or resemble any official traffic sign, signal or device that have any characteristics which are likely to confuse or distract the operator of a motor vehicle on a public street.

Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking, twinkling or electronically changing messages.

Signs that use reflective materials to give the appearance of flashing, blinking or twinkling.

Balloons of greater than five cubic feet that are tethered to the ground or a structure and are primarily intended for advertising purposes.

Signs permanently affixed, placed, maintained, erected, constructed or displayed upon any public property, public street, public sidewalk, public right-of-way, tree, utility pole, stone, cliff and other natural objects; except those signs erected by a governmental body or so placed by order of a governmental body. For purposes of this section, the term "governmental body" shall include the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Cumberland, Borough of Carlisle and all of their lawfully constituted commissions, authorities, boards and departments.

Professional, accessory use, home occupation or name signs on the same lot indicating the name, profession or activity of the occupant of the dwelling, provided that the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet, and provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected for each permitted use or dwelling.

Institutional signs.

Directional signs. Directional signs for places of worship when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board, provided that the area of any one such sign shall not exceed six square feet.

Real estate signs as follows:

Public utility sign. Signs in connection with the identification, operation or protection of any public utility or municipal activity, on the same lot therewith, provided that the total sign area on any one street frontage of any property in single and separate ownership shall not exceed eight square feet. If the public health or safety would require additional or larger signs, the Zoning Hearing Board may grant additional sizes or larger size signs.

Contractor's sign. Temporary signs of contractors, mechanics, painters and artisans, erected and maintained on the premises where the work is being performed, provided that the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed 12 square feet, and provided that not more than one such sign for each contractor shall be erected on any property in single and separate ownership, and provided that such sign shall be removed within 30 days after completion of the work.

Special events sign. Temporary signs advertising fairs, social events, auction sales, yard sales and the like shall be permitted, provided that each such sign shall not consist of more than two sides of a square footage per side not to exceed 32 feet, and provided that such sign shall be erected not sooner than 20 days prior to the event advertised, that such sign shall be removed within 10 days following such event, and provided that in no instance shall any sign be maintained for a period of time in excess of 30 days. One such sign may be erected for each 100 linear feet of lot frontage on a public street; provided, further, however, that nothing herein shall apply to signs respecting public elections, political candidates or issues.

Rental sign. For garden apartment or rental developments, one sign identifying the name of the development and the name of the owner, manager, realtor or person to contact, telephone number and the number of units available, not exceeding 16 square feet on any one face and 32 square feet total area may be permitted, but no more than one sign may be erected facing on each street serving the development.

Apartment building sign. One sign on each separate apartment building identifying the building, provided that the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed eight square feet.

Any sign, except billboard signs, permitted in any district, provided that the use to which it refers is permitted in the district in which the sign is located.

Each business or commercial establishment may erect advertising signs under any of the following provisions:

Shopping center signs. In addition to such signs as are permitted for individual establishments, there shall be permitted one freestanding sign on each frontage street, indicating the name of the shopping center, names of various establishments and schedules of events in the shopping center. This sign shall not exceed 150 square feet in size, per face of the sign; provided, further, however, that no individual establishment shall be permitted to erect an individual freestanding sign under § 255-220B(1).

Auto service station signs. This use will be allowed one sign in addition to all other signs allowed in commercial districts to identify the price and type of fuel sold by the service station. In addition, two portable signs not exceeding eight square feet on each face may be displayed on the premises for the purpose of advertising the cost of fuel or other products or services. The total area of such sign shall not be included in calculating permitted sign size.

Any sign, except billboard signs, permitted in any district, provided that the use to which it refers is permitted in the district in which the sign is located. Billboard signs are permitted in the I-2 Light Industrial District and the I-C Industrial Commercial District, subject to the provisions of § 255-221.1.

One or more signs for the purpose of identifying the use or occupancy of such, provided that the total area of such signs does not exceed one square foot of area for each one linear foot of building frontage along the street on which said signs are displayed, and provided that the total area of such signs does not exceed 200 square feet, and provided, further, that not more than 50 square feet of the permitted sign area may be on signs located within the required minimum front yard.

Billboard signs, subject to the following provisions.

The total area of the sign shall not exceed 50 square feet, and the sign shall have no more than two sides.

The sign shall not be of a type prohibited under § 255-218 of this chapter.

The sign shall be placed only on private property abutting an arterial street, with the owners' consent, and shall not be placed within the public right-of-way.

The sign shall not be placed in a residential zoning district.

The applicant for the conditional use may be any organization(s) eligible for inclusion on the sign, and the applicant shall be responsible for its placement and maintenance in a safe and attractive condition, for review of requests for inclusion on the display and for affixation of qualifying insignia upon the display.

The number and concentration of signs permitted as conditional uses hereunder shall be strictly limited for aesthetic reasons.

A sign permitted as a conditional use hereunder shall be removed at such time as it is no longer being used for the aforesaid purpose or as it falls into a state of disrepair or otherwise is not in conformity herewith or any term of use specified by the Borough Council in granting the conditional use expires, whichever first occurs.

The applicant shall provide the Borough with a certificate of general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $500,000. Said insurance to be maintained for the life of the sign.

Parking and traffic control signs, not exceeding six square feet, where such signs are authorized by the Zoning Officer on the advice of the Chief of Police or by the Borough Council. Said sign shall not describe any products of said business.

Traffic control, parking or signs identifying services of hospitals or medical centers may be authorized by the Borough Council.

Special information signs. These shall include only the following: men, women, restrooms, hours of operation, credit cards accepted and the name of credit card, membership in state or national organizations, revolving red- and white-striped barber poles, state inspection station, gasoline pump identification, gallon register and identity of type of work done in a service area. Such signs shall be permitted only where attached to the building or equipment. No letter in excess of nine inches vertical height shall be permitted in such signs. The total area of such signs shall not be included in calculating permitted areas.

Garage sale signs. Up to two auction, yard or garage sale signs per event, provided that each does not exceed four square feet in area and are removed within 48 hours after a sale.

Political signs. Political signs, provided that they do not exceed four square feet in area, are placed on private property not more than 60 days prior to the election or referendum and are removed within 10 days after an election or referendum. No political sign shall be placed on Borough property, except as hereafter provided, or on any property or pole for which permission has not been received from the owner. On election days, political signs may be placed on Borough property being used as an official polling place. Such signs may be placed no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the election and must be removed no later than 8:00 a.m. the day following the election. Larger signs for political purposes shall be considered off-premises signs and regulated as such.

One freestanding sign not exceeding 50 square feet shall be permitted for each entrance to a subdivision consisting of more than 10 lots, provided that such sign shall identify or express solely the name of the subdivision and any trademark attributable to such subdivision.

Signs not visible from beyond a lot line.

Temporary signs of real estate lender(s) erected and maintained on the premises securing the loan(s), provided the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet, provided that not more than one such sign for all lenders secured by such property shall be erected on the property, and provided further that such sign shall be removed within 30 days of erection or display.

In any residential district, no signs may be illuminated, and no sign shall be a changeable-message sign or scrolling sign. In the Historic Preservation District, no sign shall be a changeable-message sign or scrolling sign.

In any nonresidential district, any permitted sign may be illuminated.

Any floodlighting of any sign in any district shall be so shielded that the source of light shall not be directly visible without adequate diffusion from any point off the lot on which the sign, building or structure being illuminated is erected and so that only the sign is directly illuminated.

Changeable-message signs and scrolling signs shall comply with the following:

Except as hereinafter provided, no sign shall be erected or maintained except pursuant to the provisions of a permit. Fees for permits are set forth in Chapter 120, Fees, of the Code of the Borough of Carlisle. The following signs shall not require a permit:

Sign permits.

Any aggrieved person has all rights provided by law to request a variance to any provision of this article.

The variance requirements of Act 247 shall apply.[1]

Maximum height. No sign shall exceed the maximum height restriction for the particular type of sign structure and zoning district established below:

Minimum height. Signs shall be raised above the ground level as needed to ensure proper sight distances along any street.