Cresskill City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIII
Signs
§ 275-49 Applicable regulations.
The following supplementary sign regulations shall apply.
§ 275-50 Permit required.
[Amended 1-1-1995 by Ord. No. 94-16-1116[1]]
No sign, advertising display or structure, poster, device, awning or decorative and/or functional articles that would otherwise impede pedestrians shall be erected, moved, enlarged or reconstructed except by permit of the Building Inspector and in accordance with this section and § 275-75 and with any other applicable sections of this chapter.
§ 275-51 Prohibited signs.
The following types of signs or artificial lighting are prohibited:
A.
Billboards.
B.
Fluttering, rotating or other moving signs set in motion by movement of the atmosphere.
C.
Flashing or intermittently lighted signs, signs designed to be illuminated in changing degrees of intensity and any illuminated tubing or strings of lights outlining roof lines, doors, windows or wall edges of any building. These prohibitions shall not apply to Christmas lighting.
D.
Signs having red, amber or green as part of their color scheme when such signs are located within 75 feet of a traffic signal, or the word "stop" shall not be permitted on any sign within 50 feet of a street line.
E.
Roof signs or signs that extend past the roof or wall parapet level or beyond the ends of a wall.
F.
Signs attached to or placed upon a building in such a manner so as to obstruct any door, window or fire escape or any window or door leading thereto or any ventilating system, nor shall any sign be attached in any form, shape or manner to a fire escape.
G.
Pylon or pole signs more than 25 feet in height and closer than 18 inches to any property line or pylon signs on any use other than a gasoline station.
I.
Any wall sign extending more than 12 inches beyond the building or attached to a wall at a height of less than seven feet, if not projecting, or less than 10 feet above the grade line, if projecting, or less than 15 feet six inches above the grade line of any alley.
§ 275-52 Duration of permits.
A.
Permits for temporary signs shall authorize the erection of such signs and their maintenance for a period not exceeding six months.
B.
In case of a request to erect and maintain a temporary advertising sign, the application shall also contain an agreement, on the part of the person, firm or corporation requesting such permission, that the temporary advertising sign will be removed within five days after the termination of the temporary permit. Such application shall also contain a consent of the owner of premises in question to the Borough and its servants, agents and employees, after the expiration of such five-day period wherein such temporary advertising sign should have been removed, to enter the premises in question where the temporary advertising sign has been erected and to remove the same. Each application for permission to erect and maintain a temporary advertising sign shall also be accompanied by an agreement to deposit with the Borough such sum as may be required by the Mayor and Council to cover the cost of removal of the temporary advertising sign after the period allowed by permit has expired. In each case where a temporary permit to maintain the advertising sign has expired and such temporary advertising sign shall be removed within five days after the expiration of the permit, the money deposited to cover the cost of removal of such advertising sign shall be returned to the person, firm or corporation depositing the same.
C.
A permit for a temporary sign to advertise property for sale or for rent shall expire within 14 calendar days after the premises is sold or rented.
[Added 11-5-1986 by Ord. No. 86-30-947]
§ 275-53 Construction and erection.
A.
Temporary signs shall be constructed of materials approved by the Building Inspector. Where they are to be erected as wall signs, they are to be of approved noncombustible materials or fire-retardant cloth or approved plastic material and shall be erected with wire or steel cable. No string, rope or wood slots will be permitted for anchoring such sign to a building. The provisions of § 275-51D are applicable to temporary signs as well.
B.
Attachments and materials.
(1)
All wall signs shall be securely fastened to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.
(2)
All permanent signs shall be constructed of noncombustible materials; provided, however, that facings, letters, figures, decorations and structural trim thereof be made of approved combustible materials or of porcelain, enamel, glass or other hard materials.
(3)
Illuminated signs produced in quantity, other than signs custom-built for specific locations, shall be constructed in accordance with the Standard for Electric Signs, U.L. 48, of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., and bear the label of the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc.
(4)
The Building Inspector may, in his discretion, require an inspection and a certificate of approval of the wiring from the Middle Department Rating Association or similar rating organization for any sign illuminated by electric lights before it has been placed in operation.
C.
Directory/tenant signs.
[Added 5-7-1997 by Ord. No. 97-10-1167]
(1)
When more than one company occupies the same building a directory/tenant sign may be used. If such a sign is used, no other sign will be permitted.
(2)
A directory/tenant sign must, in addition to meeting all requirements of this chapter, conform to the following:
(a)
It shall be at least five feet from the nearest public right-of-way line.
(b)
The top of the sign shall be no more than six feet above the ground.
(c)
It shall be no more than six feet in length.
(d)
The height of the sign board shall be no more than three feet.
(e)
The maximum sign area shall not exceed 16 square feet.
(f)
The minimum letter size shall be 3 1/2 inches.
(g)
The maximum letter size shall be six inches.
(h)
No illuminated sign shall be permitted wherein a focused ray of light can shine into the eye of motor vehicle drivers or passersby.
§ 275-54 Alterations.
A sign which was erected before the adoption of these requirements shall not be rebuilt or relocated without conforming to the requirements of this chapter. A permit shall be obtained before altering or relocating any sign.
§ 275-55 Maintenance.
A sign, together with all its supports, braces, guys and anchors, shall be kept in good repair and in a proper state of preservation. The Building Inspector may order the removal of any sign that is not maintained in accordance with the provisions of the chapter.
§ 275-56 Exemptions.
The flag, pennant or insignia of any nation, state, city or other governmental agency; municipal signs necessary to the public welfare of the Borough; and temporary flags, signs or banners erected in connection with a political campaign do not require a permit in order to be displayed. However, this does not relieve the owner of such flag, pennant, insignia or sign from the responsibility for its erection and maintenance in safe conditions.
§ 275-57 Insurance.
A permit shall not be issued until a certificate of insurance shall have been filed with and approved by the Borough Clerk, said certificate covering workmen's compensation, comprehensive public liability in the limits of $50,000 for injuries to one person in each occurrence and $100,000 for injuries to more than one person in each occurrence and property damage in the amount of $25,000 in each occurrence and $50,000 aggregate. Such insurance shall save the Borough harmless and indemnify the Borough from and against any and all claims, suits, actions, costs, counsel fees, expenses, damages, judgments and/or decrees arising from injury to or death of persons or damage to or destruction of property occasioned, in whole or in part, as the result of the work performed or omitted to be performed by the applicant or his contractors, subcontractors, employees or agents in connection with the installation, erection and maintenance of signs in accordance with this chapter by reason of faulty erection, demolition, repairs, removal or defects in or collapse of any sign. The certificate shall also state that the policy shall not be canceled or in any manner amended without giving the Borough Clerk five days' written notice thereof.