East Manchester Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Signs
§ 255-62 Sign regulations.
[Amended 12-9-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-6; 5-13-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-5]
The purpose of this section is to promote and protect the public health, welfare and safety by regulating existing and proposed outdoor advertising and outdoor signs of all types. It also protects property values; creates a more attractive, economic and business climate; enhances and protects the physical appearance of the community, preserves the scenic and natural beauty of designated areas and provides a more enjoyable and pleasing community. It is further intended hereby to reduce sign or advertising distractions and obstructions that may contribute to traffic accidents, reduce hazards that may be caused by signs overhanging or projecting over public rights-of-way, provide more open space, and curb the deterioration of natural beauty and community development.
A.
Existing signs. Any sign which lawfully existed and was maintained at the effective date of this chapter may be continued, provided such sign is constructed of durable materials and is kept in good condition and repair.
B.
General regulations applying to all signs.
(1)
Determination of size.
(a)
The size of the sign shall refer to the area of the sign facing, including any border framing or decorative attachments. In the case of open signs made up of letters, figures and designs, the space between such letters, figures and designs shall be included. When such sign consists only of letters, designs or figures engraved, painted, projected or in any manner affixed on a wall, the total area of which such sign consists shall be considered the area of said sign.
(b)
Where a sign has two or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two such faces are placed back to back and at no point more than three feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal size. Structural members and supports required by building codes and not bearing advertising matter shall be excluded from the sign area.
(2)
Location/projection of signs.
(a)
Signs must be located so that they do not interfere with any clear sight triangle as defined by this chapter.
(b)
For all uses an advertising sign and a business sign must be at least 60 feet apart, and no sign exceeding 30 square feet in area may be located within 75 feet of a residential zone.
(c)
No sign may project over a public sidewalk area or over a public highway or street unless specifically authorized by other Township or state regulations.
(d)
Sidewalk signs shall be placed in such a manner so as not to extend more than three feet from the building line. In any event, a minimum four-foot pedestrian area must be maintained from the curb to the sign so as not to obstruct pedestrian traffic.
(e)
No sign may be attached to or interfere with any traffic regulation or street identification sign unless specifically authorized by other Township or state regulations.
(3)
Illumination of signs.
(a)
Flashing, rotating, and intermittent lights are not permitted.
(b)
Signs permitted in the residential zones shall be illuminated only by indirect lighting and shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(c)
A sign may be illuminated only if the lighting is so screened that it is not directed or reflected toward any residence within 100 feet or so it does not obstruct the vision of motorists.
(d)
Signs which are illuminated in the colors red, green, or amber, either by colored bulbs or tubing, or in high reflection by the use of special preparations such as fluorescent paint or glass, may not be located within a radius of 200 feet of a highway traffic light or similar safety device or from the center of any street intersection.
(e)
Nonresidential properties which generate more than five truck trips per day shall have an internally illuminated sign for identification of the primary access drive of the property.
(4)
Advertising painted upon or displayed upon a barn or other building or structure shall be regarded as an advertising sign board and the regulations pertaining thereto shall apply.
(5)
Nothing in these regulations shall be construed as prohibiting signs intended for viewing principally from within a building or signs temporarily attached to the inside face of a display window, announcing a sale or similar feature. Such signs shall be permitted in addition to any of the specific sign types designated on the charts to follow.
(6)
Buntings and pennants. Buntings and pennants are permitted only to announce the opening of a new business or industry, or in connection with a civic event, and must be removed after 30 days.
(7)
Construction and maintenance. Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition, and not allowed to become dilapidated.
(8)
Termination of enterprise. Upon termination or abandonment of a commercial or industrial use, all signs pertaining to the enterprise must be removed.
(9)
Signs not provided for herein shall be permitted only by special exception and shall be in general conformance with the district regulation in which it is proposed.
C.
Permit procedure
(1)
Application for permit. Application for the permit shall be made to the Township, in writing, upon forms prescribed and provided by the Township and shall contain the following information:
(a)
Name, address, and telephone number of applicant.
(b)
Location of building, structure, or land to which or upon which the sign is to be erected.
(c)
A detailed drawing or blueprint showing a description of the construction details of the sign and showing the lettering and/or pictorial matter composing the sign; position of lighting or other extraneous devices; a location plan showing the position of the sign on any building or land, and its position in relation to nearby buildings or structures and to any private or public street or highway.
(d)
Written consent of the owner of the building, structure or land to which or on which the sign is to be erected, in the event the applicant is not the owner thereof.
(e)
Such other pertinent information as the Township may require to insure compliance with this chapter.
(3)
Permit exceptions. The following operations shall not be considered as creating a sign and shall not require a sign permit:
(a)
Replacing copy: the changing of the advertising copy or message on an approved painted or printed sign or on a theater marquee and similar approved signs which are specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy.
(b)
Maintenance: painting, repainting, cleaning and other normal maintenance and repair of a sign or a sign structure unless a structural change is made.
(c)
Window signs and signs exempt under the definition of "signs" in this chapter are also exempt from permit requirements.
(4)
Revocation of permit. No sign, whether new or existing, shall hereafter be erected or altered, except in conformity with any provisions of this chapter. However, notwithstanding any provisions contained herein, the sign must be kept clean, neatly painted and free from all hazards, such as but not limited to faulty wiring, loose fastenings, and must be maintained at all times in such safe condition so as not to be detrimental to the public health or safety. In the event of a violation of any of the foregoing provisions, the Township shall give written or personal notice specifying the violation to the named owner of the sign and the named owner of the land on which the sign is erected, sent to the addresses as stated in the application for the sign permit, to conform or remove such signs. The sign shall thereupon be conformed by the owner of the sign and the owner of the land within 30 days from the date of said notice. In the event such sign shall not be made to conform within 30 days, the Township shall thereupon revoke the permit, and such sign shall be removed by the named owner of the sign and/or the named owner of the land.
D.
Violations. Any sign erected on or after the effective date of this chapter which does not comply with the applicable provisions of this section shall be removed by the owner of the premises upon which such sign is located after written notice in accordance with § 255-77C of this chapter. The Township, upon determining that any such sign exists, shall notify the owner of the premises, in writing, to remove the sign within 30 days from the date of such notice. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the prescribed time, the Township may remove or cause removal of such sign, and shall assess all costs and expenses incurred in said removal against the land or building on which the sign is located.
(1)
If the Township shall find that any sign regulated by this chapter is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, written notice may be given to the named owner of the sign and the named owner of the land upon which the sign is erected, who shall remove or repair the said sign within 30 days from the date of said notice. If the said sign is not removed or repaired within the time period, the Township shall revoke the permit issued for such sign, as herein provided, and may remove or repair said sign and shall assess all costs and expenses incurred in said removal or repair against the land or building on which such sign was located.
(2)
The Township may cause any sign which is a cause of immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
§ 255-63 Permitted permanent signs.
Only the types of permanent signs listed on Chart A,[1] which follows, shall be permitted throughout the Township. Permanent signs must conform to the standards set forth in Chart A, as well as satisfy the general regulations of § 255-62B.
[1]
Editor's Note: Chart A is included at the end of this chapter.
§ 255-64 Permitted temporary signs.
[Amended 11-13-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-5]
Only the types of temporary signs listed on Chart B,[1] which follows, are permitted throughout the Township. Temporary signs must conform to the standards set forth in Chart B, as well as satisfy the general regulations of § 255-62B. Temporary signs not expressly permitted may be removed summarily by the Township without notice, and the owner of the temporary sign or person placing the sign may be assessed the costs of removal.
[1]
Editor's Note: Chart B is included at the end of this chapter.
§ 255-65 Advertising signs.
Advertising signs shall be permitted in the Industrial and Commercial Zones subject to the provisions of § 255-62B and the following criteria:
A.
Only one advertising sign per lot shall be permitted.
B.
No advertising sign shall exceed an overall size of 75 square feet for a commercial use, or 150 square feet for an industrial use, nor exceed 35 feet in height.
C.
No advertising sign shall be located within 300 feet of another advertising sign.
D.
All advertising signs shall be a minimum of 50 feet from all side and rear property lines.
E.
All advertising signs shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from any street right-of-way line.
F.
No advertising sign shall obstruct the vision of motorists or adjoining commercial or industrial uses which depend upon visibility for identification.
§ 255-66 Portable signs.
Portable signs shall be permitted in the Commercial and Industrial Zones subject to the provisions of § 255-62B and the following criteria:
A.
A sign permit must be obtained from the Township Zoning Officer. For charitable and nonprofit organizations the fee will be waived.
B.
No flashing lights are permitted.
C.
Only one portable sign shall be permitted per street frontage with a minimum setback from the right-of-way of 10 feet or the building face.
D.
The placement of the sign shall not be located on the lot for more than 30 consecutive days per event. In addition, the placement of the sign may not exceed two events per year. However, special event signs for charitable or nonprofit organizations would be exempt from the requirement of only two placements per year.
E.
The maximum height allowed shall be 10 feet, and the maximum projection from any building shall be 12 inches.
F.
Removal shall occur within 15 days after the event.
G.
The maximum size permitted shall be 32 square feet; such area shall not be included in the computation of maximum surface area for any other type of permitted sign.
H.
The placement of such sign shall not interfere with traffic or with sight distance at street intersections and accesses to the public right-of-way.