Dormont City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
Signs
§ 210-501 Purpose and intent.
While signs are an available means of individual expression, their time, place, and manner can create visual disorder, leading to a diminution of aesthetic quality, property values, and public safety. Therefore, the regulation of signs within the Borough based on time, place, and manner, is intended to protect the residents, property owners, visitors of the Borough, and others from nuisances and safety risks associated with signs.
§ 210-502 Applicability.
The provisions of this article shall apply to all signs erected within the Borough that are directed to be viewed from any outdoor space(s). All erection, construction, reconstruction, enlargement, moving, altering or converting of signs in the Borough shall be performed in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
§ 210-503 General regulations and standards for all signs in all districts.
In this section, standards that apply to all signs in all districts are described.
A.
Measuring sign dimensions.
(1)
Sign height. The height of a sign shall be the difference between the 1) elevation of the highest point of the sign, including the bracket, supports, and sign face surrounds, and 2) the elevation of the finished grade at the base of the sign or the elevation of the crown of the adjacent public street, whichever is highest.
(2)
Measuring sign area.
(a)
For signs that include a sign frame or background around or behind the sign letters, designs or symbols, the sign area shall mean the area of the frame or background and contents therein, such as six square feet in the case of a two-foot-by-three-foot vinyl temporary yard sign.
(b)
For sign elements mounted directly on a principal or accessory structure’s architectural surface, such as in the case of letters mounted without a frame or background into a building’s brick facade, the sign area shall mean the area of the smallest rectangle that encompasses all of the letters, designs, and symbols of a sign.
(c)
The sign area shall not include any supporting framework or bracing that is incidental to the display, provided that it does not contain any lettering, wording, or symbols.
(d)
When two identical sign faces are placed back-to-back so that both faces 1) cannot be viewed from any one point at the same time, 2) are part of the same sign structure, and 3) are not more than 24 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed as the sign area of one of the faces.
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B.
Sign location and safe movement.
(2)
Traffic signs and signals.
(a)
No sign may, by its color, shape, positioning, or nature, obstruct the view of a traffic sign or traffic signal.
(b)
A sign may not use a color, shape, positioning, or message that could reasonably cause confusion with pedestrian or vehicular traffic directives.
(c)
No red, green, or yellow illuminated sign may be located within 300 feet of any traffic signal.
(3)
A sign shall not be located in a manner that interferes with the movement or visibility of pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, or other such users of the right-of-way.
(4)
A sign and its supporting structures shall not interfere with public utility equipment or communications lines or equipment that are either above or below grade.
C.
Consent. No sign may be permitted without the consent of the property owner or their authorized agent. If it is determined that a sign is or was erected without proper consent of the property owner or their authorized agent, the permit for such a sign shall be revoked.
D.
Public property.
(1)
A sign on public property may not project over a roadway or into a utility easement airspace.
(2)
A new permit for a sign located on public property will only be granted for a sign of the projecting sign type or of the sandwich board sign type.
(3)
A projecting sign must be affixed to a legal structure and affixed to a structure’s elevation that is set back less than five feet from a lot line abutting public property.
(4)
No sign is permitted on public property in the P-1 District.
E.
Conditional uses. For conditional uses in any district: sign types, sizes, location, and manner may be allowed or prohibited in association with such conditional use as determined by this chapter or by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
F.
Lots with multiple street frontages. For a lot with multiple street frontages, any sign allowance that allows sign counts or area based on street frontage shall apply to each street frontage. In this case, a frontage with a public alleyway does not constitute a street frontage.
G.
Changeable copy and electronic digital message sign features.
H.
Sign maintenance. All signs shall be maintained in safe and good structural condition, in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, and in conformance with this chapter at all times. Such maintenance includes replacement of all defective bulbs, parts, materials, painting, repainting, cleaning, and other acts required for maintenance of erected signs. If any sign does not comply with the above maintenance and repair standards, the Borough shall require its removal.
I.
Removal of unsafe, unlawful, or abandoned signs.
(1)
Upon written notice by the Borough, the owner, person, or firm maintaining a sign shall remove the sign when it becomes unsafe, is in danger of falling, becomes so deteriorated that it no longer serves a useful purpose of communication, is determined by the Borough to be a nuisance, or is unlawfully erected in violation of any of the provisions of this article.
(2)
The Borough may remove or cause to be removed the sign at the expense of the owner and/or lessee in the event the owner or the person or firm maintaining the sign has not complied with the terms of the notice within 30 days of the date of the notice. In the event of immediate danger, the Borough may remove the sign immediately upon the issuance of notice to the owner, person, or firm maintaining the sign.
J.
Building Code compliance. To the extent that it is not inconsistent with this chapter, the present edition of the Standard Building Code, National Electric Code and other building and construction codes as adopted and modified by the Borough and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are incorporated as a part of this chapter as if fully restated herein for the same purposes stated in the purpose and intent subsection hereof and for the same purposes for which the International Building Code was promulgated and enacted, which purposes are expressly incorporated therein.
§ 210-504 Exempt sign types.
The following signs shall be exempt from the regulations in this article:
§ 210-505 Prohibited sign types.
The following sign types are prohibited in all districts:
A.
Portable or wheeled signs;
B.
Banners;
C.
Inflatable display devices of any kind;
D.
Searchlights, oscillating signs, moving signs, flashing signs;
E.
Signs on trees, signs on utility poles, signs on official traffic control devices;
F.
Signs that imitate traffic control devices;
G.
Strings of lights, flashers, pennants, or other display paraphernalia, except those displays specifically authorized by this article;
H.
Overhanging signs;
I.
Freestanding signs, other than monument signs and access signs;
J.
Signs on or affixed to vehicles and/or trailers that 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, that 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; and
K.
All sign types not expressly listed as permitted.
§ 210-506 Sign types.
The table below defines each sign type.
A.
Freestanding monument sign: a monument sign that contains only one distinct signage area within the sign face.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | NP | NP | NP | NP | P (with site plan only) | P |
Count | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) | — | — | — | — | 24 | 36 |
Sign height (maximum) (feet) | — | — | — | — | 6 | 8 |
Sign base materials | — | — | — | — | Brick or rock | Brick or rock |
Illumination | — | — | — | — | Direct | Direct |
Setback from right-of-way (minimum feet) | — | — | — | — | 9 | 10 |
B.
Wall (including marquee) sign: any sign attached parallel/flat to a wall, painted on the wall surface or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, that is supported by such wall or building, and that displays only one sign surface. No wall sign shall extend more than 14 inches from any wall, building, or structure.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | P only for accessory home occupations accessible from alley | NP | P | NP |
Count | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) (aggregate) | 5% of total facade but not more than 35% of height of facade measured from bottom to top of message | 5% of total facade but not more than 35% of height of facade measured from bottom to top of message | 1 | — | 5% of total facade but not more than 35% of height of facade measured from bottom to top of message | — |
Materials | Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view | Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view | Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view | — | Mounted on a raceway; painted directly on wall; supports and wiring components concealed from public view | — |
Illumination | Gooseneck or shadow | Gooseneck or shadow | None | — | Gooseneck or shadow | — |
Location and setback | Flush with wall not protruding more than 24 inches from wall (48 inches if marquee sign) | Flush with wall not protruding more than 24 inches from wall (48 inches if marquee sign) | Flush with wall abutting alleyway | — | Flush with wall not protruding more than 24 inches from wall (48 inches if marquee sign) | — |
C.
Projecting sign: any sign that projects outward from a building or other structure and extends more than 24 inches horizontally from the plane of the building wall. The signage area must not be parallel to the building.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | NP | P | P |
Count (per principal building) | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Location (minimum clearance above grade) (feet) | 9 | 9 | — | — | 9 | 9 |
Height (maximum) (feet) | 18 | 18 | — | — | 18 | 18 |
Extension beyond building facade (maximum) (feet) | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 |
Angle at facade (degrees) | 90° | 90° | — | — | 90° | 90° |
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) | 6 | 6 | — | — | 6 | 6 |
Materials | Wood; metal | Wood; metal | — | — | Wood; metal | Wood; metal |
Illumination | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes |
D.
Roof sign: a sign attached to or supported by the roof of a building, or a sign that extends into and/or above the immediately adjacent roofline of the building irrespective of attachment point, or a sign that wholly or partially encroaches upon any roofline of a building, or a sign attached to, encroaching into or extending above the sloping phase of a mansard roof or faux mansard roof, or any combination thereof.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | NP | NP | NP |
Sign height from base of sign frame to top of sign frame (maximum) (feet) | Equivalent to least floor-to-ceiling height of any floor in principal building | Equivalent to least floor-to-ceiling height of any floor in principal building | — | — | — | — |
Width (maximum) (feet) | 40 | 40 | — | — | — | — |
Illumination | Gooseneck or direct | Gooseneck or direct | — | — | — | — |
Setback from edge of roof (feet) | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
E.
Window sign (including doors sign): any sign that is placed on, in or intrudes over a window opening or upon the panes of glass, either inside or outside the building, and is oriented to be viewed from the exterior of the structure. Customary displays of merchandise behind a store window are not considered window signs. Any sign within 24 inches of the inside surface of a window and facing the outside will count toward the allotment of total permitted window signage.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | NP | NP | NP |
Front facade window coverage (maximum) (percentage of total front facade glazing) | 15% | 15% | — | — | — | — |
Decals | NP | NP | — | — | — | — |
Painted window signs | 15% | NP | — | — | — | — |
Illumination | NP | NP | — | — | — | — |
F.
Painted mural: a large picture/image (including but not limited to painted art) that is painted, constructed, or affixed directly onto a vertical building wall, that may or may not contain text, logos, and/or symbols.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | NP | P | NP |
Off-site advertising permitted | NP | NP | — | — | NP | — |
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) | 1/8 of the total facade wall area not including the area of glazing | 1/8 of the total facade wall area not including the area of glazing | — | — | 1/8 of the total facade wall area not including the area of glazing | — |
Illumination | Indirect | Indirect | — | — | Indirect | — |
G.
Sandwich board: a single or double-faced, hinged or unhinged, temporary sign designed to be used on a sidewalk or pedestrianway.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | P | P | P |
Sign area (maximum aggregate) (square feet) | 6 | 6 | — | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Board width (maximum) (inches) | 24 | 24 | — | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Board height (maximum) (inches) | 36 | 36 | — | 36 | 36 | 36 |
Materials | Wood; metal | Wood; metal | — | Wood; metal | Wood; metal | Wood; metal |
Duration (maximum) (hours per day) | 12 | 12 | — | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Illumination | NP | NP | — | NP | NP | NP |
H.
Awning sign: any sign painted on, or applied to, an awning. Lettering, logos, or symbols are permitted on the valance and sloping portion.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | NP | P | NP |
Count (per entrance) | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
Sign area (maximum) (as percentage of awning area) | 75% valance; 25% sloping portion | 75% valance; 25% sloping portion | — | — | 75% valance; 25% sloping portion | — |
Materials | Metal supports; vinyl face | Metal supports; vinyl face | — | — | Metal supports; vinyl face | — |
Lettering height (inches) | 16 valance; 8 sloping portion | 16 valance; 8 sloping portion | — | — | 16 valance; 8 sloping portion | — |
Illumination | Direct | Direct | — | — | Direct | — |
I.
Temporary sign: a nonpermanent sign that may be erected for identification purposes for a new business for 60 days prior to the installation of a permanent sign.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | NP | NP | P |
Sign area (maximum aggregate) (square feet) | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | 12 |
Sign height (maximum) (feet) | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | 6 |
Materials (sign and supports) | Vinyl face; metal supports | Vinyl face; metal supports | — | — | — | Vinyl face; metal supports |
Setback from right-of-way (minimum) (feet) | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 |
Duration (maximum number of consecutive days displayed) | 90 | 90 | — | — | — | 90 |
Illumination | NP | NP | — | — | — | NP |
J.
Access sign: signs that direct traffic or pedestrians towards a point of interest that are visible from a public right-of-way.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | NP | NP | NP | P |
Count (maximum) (per vehicular access point) | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) (per sign) | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | 4 |
Sign height (maximum) (feet) | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 3 |
Setback from right-of-way (maximum) (feet) | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | 4 |
Illumination | P | P | — | — | — | P |
K.
Entranceway sign: a sign that is located on a wall immediately adjacent to the primary entrance of a building.
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District | ||||||
Regulations | TO | C | R-A | R-S | R-C | PA |
Permitted | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Count (maximum) (per primary exterior entranceway) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Sign area (maximum) (square feet) (per sign) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Position | Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door | Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door | Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door | Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door | Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door | Must be positioned on entry door or within 3 feet of such door |
Illumination | P | P | NP | NP | NP | NP |
§ 210-507 Sign illumination types.
A.
Changeable copy features are categorized as either 1) channel letter features or 2) electronic message center features.
(1)
Channel letter changeable copy features are signs or portions thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged manually without altering the face or surface of the sign.
(2)
Electronic message center (EMC) features are signs or portions thereof designed so that the characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged automatically on a lamp bank.
B.
A sign with changeable copy features contributes to the total allowable sign area for that sign type.
C.
A changeable copy feature may not exceed 30 square feet on any sign.
D.
Video, scrolling, noise, and flashing features are prohibited.
E.
Changeable copy features may only be located on monument signs in the following districts:
Changeable Copy Feature | District | |||||
Transit-Oriented (TO) | Commercial (C) | Residential Alley-Loaded (R-A) | Residential Street-Loaded (R-S) | Residential Collector Streets (R-C) | Public Amenities (PA) | |
Channel letter | P | P | NP | NP | NP | P |
Electronic message center (EMC) | P | P | NP | NP | NP | P |