East Earl Township City Zoning Code

To recognize that signs perform an important function in identifying properties, businesses, services, residences, events, and other matters of interest to the public.

To set standards and provide controls that permit reasonable use of signs while restricting the potential adverse visual effects of signs on the character of the Township.

To control the size, number, height, location, and illumination of signs to reduce potential hazards caused by glare or obstruction of visibility, and to reduce visual clutter that results from competition among signs.

To encourage signs that are attractively designed in order to enhance the economic value as well as the visual character of the Township.

To establish criteria to encourage signs that are compatible with their surroundings, appropriate to the type of activity to which they pertain, complementary to the architecture of the buildings involved, expressive of the identity of individual proprietors or of an integrated development's identity and easily readable in the circumstances in which they are seen.

To not permit signs to become in any way a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic either directly or indirectly by virtue of exposing a pedestrian to danger as a result of concealing the presence of a pedestrian to vehicular traffic.

To regulate signs to minimize their negative impact on vehicular traffic. They must not cause excessive diversion of a driver's attention to the safe operation of his or her vehicle. They must not cause confusion on the part of the vehicle operator and they must not constitute any type of obstruction or distraction for the motoring public.

To not allow signs to have a direct impact on property values. It is the intent of these regulations to insure that the impact is positive. A negative impact would not be in the best interest of the general welfare of the community.

To encourage signs to convey the character of an area. It is the intent of these regulations to maintain signs that are appropriate to the various districts of the community, including but not limited to residential, commercial, industrial and recreational.

To enhance the community aesthetics as a means to promote economic development. A positive visual environment will promote the economic health of a community which in turn serves the citizens of the community.

To regulate signs so as not to cause an increase in traffic accidents.

To regulate signs so as not to be so attention-getting that they result in drivers being distracted.

No sign shall be erected, enlarged or relocated until a permit for doing so has been issued by the Zoning Officer, unless said sign is specifically exempted from permitting requirements as indicated elsewhere in this article.

Permit applications shall be on forms prescribed by the Township. At a minimum, all permit applications shall include a scale drawing specifying dimensions, materials, illumination, letter sizes, specific content, colors, support systems, and location on land or buildings, with all relevant measurements, and when applicable be of sufficient detail to conform to the requirements of the building code.

All signs shall reflect the general character of the neighborhood.

The areas surrounding all signs shall be maintained in a neat, clean, and attractive condition.

In addition to the other requirements of this article, every sign must be constructed of durable materials, kept in good repair, and remain in compliance with other applicable state and local codes and ordinances.

In addition to any other signs permitted by this section, each commercial or industrial property may display one corporate identity flag not to exceed 35 square feet with a company or corporate identification logo on premises on an approved standard flagpole.

Prohibited types of signs.

Other signs forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this article, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the Township shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.

No sign shall be affixed to a fence, utility pole or structure, or tree, shrub, rock, or natural object.

No sign shall be located within a street right-of-way, with the exception of official traffic signs and other official federal, state, county, or Township government signs.

Signs shall not be mounted on roofs or extend above the roof line, unless mounted on an extended wall above the roof line, in which case the sign may not extend above the top of said wall.

No sign shall be placed in such a position at any location that it will cause danger on a street by obscuring view.

No sign shall be located within the clear sight triangle of any street intersection.

No sign may be erected which is:

If the Zoning Officer finds that any sign is unsafe, insecure, is a menace to the public or had been constructed, erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall give written notice to the owner thereof in accordance with Article XXV herein.

Official traffic signs and signs erected or posted and maintained for public safety and welfare or pursuant to any federal, state, county or Township government function, law, bylaw, or other regulation;

Signs displaying the name and address of the occupant or historic significance of the dwelling, provided that the area of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet and not more than one such sign shall be erected for each dwelling unit, unless such property fronts on more than one street, in which case one such sign may be erected on each street frontage. Signs shall not be erected closer than 10 feet of the street right-of-way.

A bulletin board or similar sign not exceeding 20 square feet in display area, in connection with any church, museum, library, school, or similar public or semipublic structure, provided that the top of such sign shall not be more than eight feet above ground level, and provided that it complies with all other provisions of this chapter.

Directional signs solely indicating ingress and egress placed at driveway locations, containing no advertising material, and where display area does not exceed three square feet or extend higher than four feet above ground level. Such sign will comply with all other provisions of this chapter.

Signs relating to trespassing and hunting, not exceeding two square feet in area.

Holiday decorations displayed for recognized holidays except as they may interfere with traffic safety or in any other way become a public safety hazard.

The area of a sign shall be construed to include all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with the background whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, but not including any supporting framework and bracing incidental to the display itself.

Where the sign consists of individual letters or symbols attached to a building, wall or window, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols.

Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area, except where two faces are placed back to back and are at no point more than two feet from each other. In this case, the sign area shall be taken as the area of either face, and if the faces are unequal, the larger shall determine the area.

The height of a sign shall be measured from the average ground level beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign. The ground level shall be the lower of the ground level existing at the time of construction or the ground level existing prior to construction and prior to any earth disturbance at the site. This prior ground level may be established by any reliable source, including, without limitation, existing topographic maps, aerial photographs, photographs of the site or affidavits of people who are personally familiar with the site. No person(s) shall artificially increase the maximum height of a sign by altering the grade at the base of the sign by any means.

No sign together with any supporting framework shall extend to a height above the maximum building height allowed in a district, unless there is a height limitation identified for a specific sign cited elsewhere in this article.

All electrically illuminated signs shall be designed and constructed to the standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters and shall comply with the requirements of the applicable building code.

Internally illuminated signs are permitted.

Messages or announcements displayed on an LED or equivalent/similar message board sign or a sign of similar technology shall be changed no more frequently than once every 10 seconds. Elapsed time between such changes shall be no longer than one second.

The light from any illuminated sign shall not adversely affect the vision of operators of vehicles moving on public or private streets or parking areas, any residential district, or any part of a building or property used for residential purposes.

Externally lit signs shall be illuminated only with steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely onto the sign without causing glare.

Illuminated signs shall not be permitted to shine onto residential properties and public rights-of-way.

Business signs in other than commercial and industrial districts shall not be illuminated when the business is closed, unless the illumination is for security purposes.

Neon window signs may be permitted in cases where they are custom designed to be compatible with the building's historic and/or architectural character and exterior color.

No lighting shall be permitted to outline buildings or structures or parts thereof through the use of exposed neon tubing, strings of lights or other means with the exception of customary holiday decorations which may be installed 30 days prior to and removed not later that 21 days after the holiday.

Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:

Home occupation sign.

Awning.

Billboard signs.

Temporary construction sign.

Freestanding.

LED message board signs (or signs of similar technologies).

Moveable (sandwich board) signs.

Multiple signs.

Off-premises signs.

Political signs.

Portable signs.

Projecting signs.

Sale/rent/lease.

Subdivision signs.

Temporary signs and banners.

Wall signs.

Window signs.

Commercial Neighborhood District. The goal in this district is to ensure visual compatibility with existing scale and character of the surrounding area. The signage must also be readable by pedestrians and people in slow-moving vehicles.

Other commercial and industrial districts. The goal of these districts is to provide legible signage for auto-oriented commercial and industrial facilities while moderating visual competition.

Agricultural and residential districts. The most important goal of these districts is to maintain their character and scenic open space. Special care must be taken in the style, location, design and use of materials for signs.

Conservation/open space districts.

Any sign lawfully existing at the time of the passage of this chapter that does not conform with the regulations of the district in which such sign is located shall be considered nonconforming and may continue in their present location until replacement or rebuilding becomes necessary, at which time a zoning permit will be required and the sign brought into conformity with the chapter.

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this chapter to the contrary, no expansion of a nonconforming sign shall be permitted.

No nonconforming sign may be reestablished after it has been discontinued for 90 days.

A nonconforming sign which is partially or entirely damaged or destroyed may be rebuilt, provided that the reconstructed sign shall not be larger than the prior sign and that the reconstruction shall begin within 90 days from the time of damage to the sign.

A sign may be erected to advertise a nonconforming building or use, provided a special exception is granted by the Zoning Hearing Board, and provided the application conforms to the applicable conditions and requirements for special exceptions pursuant to this chapter, any other conditions or requirements imposed by the Zoning Hearing Board and the requirements listed below:

A sign shall be considered abandoned:

After 180 days, any sign which advertises business or service no longer in existence on the premises shall be considered to be abandoned. Signs that are abandoned shall be removed by the persons responsible for the erection and/or maintenance thereof within 30 days after notice of the abandonment to such persons by the Zoning Officer. For political signs that are abandoned, the county political organizations for the party to which the candidate belongs shall be responsible for the cost of removal of signs by the Township. If such persons fail or refuse to remove such abandoned signs after the notice aforesaid, the Zoning Officer may remove the signs at the expense of the property owner or the persons responsible for the erection and/or maintenance thereof.

In addition, any sign installed or placed on public property or within any public right-of-way that is not in conformance with the requirements of this section shall be forfeited to the public and subject to removal. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the Township shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.