The sign regulations of this Chapter are intended to protect and further the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Township; to maintain and improve the appearance of the Township; to conserve community character; to prevent traffic hazards; to provide safer conditions for pedestrians; and to promote economic development by regulating the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, size, location, and number of signs. It is further determined that to allow signs of excessive number and size in the Township would unduly distract pedestrians and motorists, create a traffic hazard, and reduce the effectiveness of signs needed to direct the public. These regulations are intended to provide reasonable identification of businesses and other uses within the community, but are not intended to serve as a means of advertising.

For the purposes of the provisions of this Chapter related to signs, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

Billboard means any structure, including the wall of any building, on which lettered, figured, or pictorial matter is displayed for advertising a business, service, or entertainment that is not conducted on the land upon which the structure is located or products not primarily sold, manufactured, processed, or fabricated on such land.

Business center means any two or more businesses which meet one of the following:

1.

Are located on a single parcel of property.

2.

Are connected by common walls, partitions, canopies, or other structural members to form a continuous building or group of buildings.

3.

Are under one common ownership or management and have a common arrangement for the maintenance of their common grounds.

4.

Share a common parking area.

5.

Otherwise present the appearance of a single, contiguous business area.

Business center sign means a freestanding or ground sign identifying the name of a business center or one or more individual businesses within the center.

Construction sign means a sign identifying the owners, contractors, architects, and engineers of a building(s) or development project under construction.

Directional sign means a sign which gives directions, instruction, or information relating to location of buildings, designated routes for pedestrians and vehicles and other information for convenience or safety, such as parking information signs or entrance and exit signs.

Freestanding sign means a sign not attached to a building or wall and which is supported by one or more poles or braces with a minimum ground clearance of eight feet.

Governmental sign means a sign erected or required to be erected by the Township, County, or by the State or Federal government.

Ground sign means a sign, the bottom of which is no more than 24 inches from the ground, which rests directly on the ground, or is supported by short poles or a base, and is not attached to a building or wall.

Political sign means a sign erected for a limited period of time for purposes of political campaigns for public office, for elections on public questions, or otherwise relating to public elections or public meetings held for the purpose of voting on or for public offices or public questions.

Real estate sign means a sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being available for sale, rent, or lease.

Sign means a device, structure, fixture, or placard using graphics, symbols and written copy designed specifically for the purpose of identifying an establishment, product, service, commodity, or activity, or displaying or depicting other information.

Sign area means the area within a single, continuous perimeter composed of any straight line geometric figure which encloses the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, logo, or any other figure of similar character.

Subdivision identification sign means a sign identifying or otherwise stating the name of a platted subdivision, site condominium development, apartment complex, manufactured housing community, or other residential development.

Temporary sign means a display, informational sign, banner or other advertising device with or without a structural frame and intended for a limited period of display, including seasonal produce sales and decorative displays for holidays, or public demonstrations.

Wall sign means a sign painted or attached directly to and parallel to the exterior wall of a building, extending not greater than 12 inches from the exterior face of the wall to which it is attached.

The following types of signs are expressly prohibited:

A.

Any sign that has flashing, or blinking lights, excluding time and temperature signs and barber pole signs, which are permitted.

B.

Signs imitating or resembling official traffic or governmental signs or signals.

C.

Any sign not expressly permitted by this Ordinance.

D.

Balloons, strings of light bulbs, pennants, streamers, or flags (other than those of a governmental nature not used for the purpose of business advertisement or attraction) hung to draw attention to a business or its merchandise on display.

E.

No business vehicle, which in the opinion of the Zoning Administrator has the intended function of acting as a sign, shall be parked in any area abutting a public or private road.

The following signs shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.

A.

Governmental signs.

B.

Signs for essential services.

C.

Historical markers.

D.

Memorial signs or tablets.

E.

Political signs, except that such signs shall be removed within the time stated in Section 19.05.

F.

Signs with an address and name of the owner or occupant, of not more than one square foot in area, attached to a mailbox, light fixture, or exterior wall.

G.

Temporary yard and garage sale signs of four square feet in size or less, located on the property on which the sale is conducted, during the time the sale is conducted.

H.

Window signs provided the total area of all signs within one foot of the window shall not obscure more than 50 percent of the window area.

I.

Flags or insignia of any nation, State, local government, community organization, or educational institution.

A.

It shall be unlawful for any person to erect, place, maintain, or continue a sign upon any lands in the Township except in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.

B.

All signs shall be stationary, securely anchored or fastened to the ground or structure and shall be designed and constructed to withstand a 90-mile-per-hour ground wind load.

C.

Signs shall pertain only to the business or activity conducted on the premises, except for political signs, community special event signs, and billboards.

D.

Real estate signs shall not exceed four square feet in sign area and be removed within 30 days after completion of the sale or lease of the property.

E.

Political signs shall not exceed four square feet in sign area and be removed within five days after the election or referendum to which the sign refers.

F.

No sign shall be placed in, or extend into, or obstruct clear vision in any public right-of-way.

G.

The leading edge of the sign shall be a minimum of two feet from the road right-of-way.

H.

Construction signs are permitted subject to the following restrictions:

1.

One construction sign may be erected on the site where work is scheduled to begin.

2.

Construction signs shall not be larger than 32 square feet in sign area and shall not exceed eight feet in height.

3.

Construction signs shall not be erected until a building permit has been issued for the building or project which is the subject of the proposed sign and construction activity has begun.

4.

Construction signs shall be removed within 15 days after the issuance of any occupancy permit for the building or structure which is the subject of the construction sign.

I.

Community special event signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in sign area and may be permitted for a period not to exceed 30 days for any single event. No more than five such signs shall be permitted for any single event and such signs shall be removed within two days of the end of the event.

J.

On-site directional signs shall not exceed four square feet in sign area per sign, shall not be higher than three feet, and shall not be located closer than five feet to any right-of-way line. No more than two directional signs per road frontage are permitted for any property or use.

K.

Off-site directional signs of up to 16 square feet in sign area provided they:

1.

Are not located in the road right-of-way;

2.

They do not block clear vision;

3.

They are consolidated with other signs at the off site location to prevent clutter of the landscape.

L.

No wall sign shall project above the roof line.

M.

Temporary signs are permitted subject to the following restrictions:

1.

A temporary sign shall only be displayed upon receipt of a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator.

2.

No temporary sign shall be displayed on any one lot or parcel for more than 30 consecutive days for any one permit period and no more than two permits shall be issued for any lot or parcel during any calendar year.

3.

Upon expiration of the permit, the sign shall be removed by the permit holder.

4.

No temporary sign shall exceed 32 square feet in sign area.

5.

No temporary sign shall be closer than five feet from any right-of-way or property line.

6.

All temporary signs shall be designed and constructed to withstand a wind pressure of not less than 30 pounds per square foot of area.

N.

Pole signs shall have a clear space of at least eight feet between the grade and the bottom of the sign to permit an unobstructed view for motorists and pedestrians.

A.

Every permanent sign in existence at the time of adoption of this Ordinance which does not conform to the height, size, area, or location requirements of this Chapter is deemed to be nonconforming.

B.

Nonconforming signs may not be expanded, enlarged, or extended, but they may be maintained and repaired so as to continue their useful life.

C.

A nonconforming sign may be diminished in size or dimension, or the copy on the sign may be amended or changed, without adversely affecting the status of the sign as a nonconforming sign.

D.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Ordinance, any nonconforming sign in existence in any residential zoning district at the date of enactment of this Ordinance shall, at the expiration of two years from such date, become a prohibited and unlawful use and shall be discontinued.

In addition to the requirements in Section 19.05, the following signs are permitted in agricultural and residential zoning districts:

In addition to the requirements in Section 19.05, the following signs are permitted in commercial zoning districts:

In addition to the requirements in Section 19.05, the following signs are permitted in the Industrial District:

Sign requirements for planned unit developments may be modified by the Planning Commission where such modification is consistent with the intent and purpose of this Chapter and the objectives of the PUD Chapter.