Elmer City Zoning Code
§ 25-18.1
Signs.
[Ord. No. 79-4 § 3.8; Ord. No. 2007-13; Ord. No. 2014-17 § 2]
a.
General Regulations and Requirements; Permit Required.
1.
Compliance Required; Conflicting Regulations. Any sign hereafter erected in the Borough of Elmer which is exposed to public view shall conform with the provisions of this section and any other ordinance or regulation of Elmer Borough, Salem County, or the State or Federal government relating to the erection, alteration or maintenance of signs. In the event of conflicting regulations, the most restrictive regulation shall prevail. Signs shall be considered accessory uses in all zoning districts when placed in conformance with the provisions of this section.
2.
Permit Required. No sign other than exempt signs shall be erected without first obtaining a sign permit from the Zoning Officer. Permit applications for signs shall be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing details of the sign, its size, and location on the building or lot. A color photograph of each existing sign on the property shall be submitted with the permit application. Fees for sign permits shall be paid in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by the Borough Council. In addition to other penalties for violations of this chapter, any illegal sign may be removed or confiscated by the Zoning Officer.
3.
Maintenance and Repair. All signs, flags, and banners as provided for in this section shall be kept in proper state of repair, in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code and other pertinent regulations. Signs that fall into a state of disrepair so as to become unsightly or to pose a threat to public safety will receive a warning via certified mail from the Zoning Officer, and if after 30 days the sign has not been removed, it may be removed by the Borough at the owner's expense.
4.
Nonconforming Signs. Nonconforming signs which are structurally altered, relocated or replaced shall comply with the provisions of this section. A change in copy is not an alteration or replacement in accordance with this section. Nonconforming signs must be maintained in good condition. If the use of a nonconforming sign ceases for a period of more than 180 days or if the premises upon which the nonconforming sign is located is abandoned, the nonconforming sign must be removed or replaced with a conforming sign.
5.
Public Right-of-Ways. No sign other than official traffic or other similar official signs shall be erected within or project over the right-of-way of any public street or sidewalk except as provided herein.
6.
Signs at Intersections. Signs shall not be located at the intersection of any streets within the triangular area formed by the right-of-way lines and a line connecting them at points 25 feet from their intersection. No sign may impede the safe vision of motorists and pedestrians or otherwise endanger their safety.
7.
Signs Exempt From Obtaining a Permit; Temporary Signs. The following signs are exempt from the need to secure permits:
(a)
Signs required by law.
(b)
Any sign or graphic integrated into or on a coin-operated machine, vending machine, gas pump or telephone booth.
(c)
Any sign carried by a person.
(d)
Decorations for any officially recognized holiday, provided that they do not create a fire or traffic hazard and provided that the decorations are removed within 30 days after the holiday.
(e)
Political signs associated with an election or referendum, provided that such signs are on private property, and are not placed more than 30 days before and removed within seven days after the day of voting, and not to exceed four square feet in size.
(f)
Temporary yard or garage sale signs, provided that such signs are erected on private property, are no more than four square feet in area, are erected no more than seven days before the sale and are removed within 24 hours after the sale.
(g)
Temporary real estate signs on the lot on which the real estate for rent or for sale is located shall be limited to one per lot frontage. The signs may not be more than four square feet and four feet high for residential property and eight square feet and six feet high for commercial property. They must be removed within 14 days of the sale or rental of the property. Open house signs are also permitted, but only on the day of the open house and not within the public right-of-way.
(h)
Temporary "grand opening" signs are permitted for an occupant of a shopping center or other single-use or multi-use commercial building. The sign may not exceed 20 square feet and may not be displayed for more than two weeks out of a calendar year. The sign must comply with all requirements to protect the public health and safety.
(i)
Temporary (30 days or less) banners advertising special events sponsored by or held by the Borough, County, school district, Fire Department, or the like.
(j)
American, State, County and Borough flags.
(k)
No trespassing signs.
(l)
Temporary farm stand signs during growing season.
(m)
Temporary signs of architects, engineers, contractors, mechanics, tradesmen or other engaged in construction work provided the size of such sign shall not exceed six square feet. One sign is permitted for each trade or profession. Such sign shall be in compliance with side yard setbacks and shall be set back 10 feet from the right-of-way. Such sign shall be located only on the property where such work is being performed and shall be removed within seven days of the completion of work.
8.
Illuminated Signs. Illuminated signs in residential zoning districts and in all districts when the lot is immediately adjacent (including directly across a street) to a residential district must be turned off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This does not apply to residential nameplates.
9.
Ground and Freestanding Signs; Location Restrictions. All ground and freestanding signs must be a minimum of 100 feet from the nearest other sign, except for farm stands during the growing season.
10.
Architectural Details. Architectural details may extend up to 12 inches on the sides and top of the sign. For monument or ground signs, the architectural base may be up to 30 inches above grade. More expansive walls or architectural elements require site plan approval.
11.
Wall Signs. Wall signs shall be attached to the face of the building in a plane parallel to such face and projecting not more than 12 inches therefrom and shall not extend higher than the top of the parapet. Wall signs shall not cover wholly or partially any wall opening, including doors, fire escapes or windows, nor shall they extend beyond the ends of the wall.
12.
Locations with More Than One Use; Shopping Centers. Shopping centers or developments with more than one use on a site are permitted one ground or freestanding sign per street frontage for the entire site, which may include tenant panels. Individual tenants or occupants may have wall or facade signs or other attached signs in accordance with this section but may not have individual ground or freestanding signs.
13.
Address Required on Certain Signs. Ground or freestanding signs must have the address of the site identified prominently on the sign, except for farm stands during the growing season.
14.
Size; Computation Formula. The size of any sign shall be computed by multiplying its greatest height by its greatest length, exclusive of supporting structures.
15.
Signs Advertising Use or Product No Longer Available. Signs advertising an establishment or use no longer in existence or a product no longer available shall be removed within 14 days.
b.
Schedule of Sign Use and Bulk Regulations. Signs shall be permitted in each zoning district with the issuance of a zoning permit according to the following use regulations and other applicable requirements of this section:
1.
Words and Phrases Defined.
(a)
SIGN — Any visible object, device display or structure or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service event, location or position by any means, including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images, both commercial and noncommercial.
For the purpose of determining the number of signs, a sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing elements organized, related and composed to form a unit. Where matter is displayed in a random manner without organized relationship of elements or where there is a reasonable doubt about the relationship of elements, each element shall be considered to be a single sign. The surface area of a sign shall be computed to include the entire area within a parallelogram, triangle, circle or semicircle comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Frames and structural members not bearing advertising matter shall not be included in computation of the sign surface area.
(b)
SIGN, OFF-SITE (BILLBOARD) — A sign portraying information which directs attention to an idea, issue, point of view, candidate, entity, business, commodity, service, entertainment, product or attraction sold, offered, or existing elsewhere than upon the property where the sign is located.
2.
Permitted Signs in Residential Districts.
Use or Function | Type of Sign Permitted | Total Number of Signs Permitted | Maximum Size | Maximum Height (feet) | Minimum Setback1 (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nameplate for residence | Ground, hanging, wall | 1 per lot | 1 1/2 square feet | 3 for ground sign | 10 feet |
No Solicitation | Wall | 1 within 2 feet of front door | 1 square foot | N/A | N/A |
Permanent subdivision identification | Ground | 1 per entrance | 20 square feet | 6 | 10 |
Institutional uses, (school, municipal facilities, library, etc.), public parks and playgrounds, religious uses, child-care centers | Ground or facade | 1 per street frontage | 24 square feet | 8 for ground | 10 |
Farm Stand Permanent signs | Ground or facade | Maximum of 2 permanent signs | 24 square feet each | 6 for ground, not above roof for facade signs | 10 |
Farm Stand Temporary Signs | Ground or facade | As required for farm marketing | 16 square feet each | 6 feet for ground signs | N/A, but may not cause traffic or safety hazards |
NOTES for Permitted Signs in Residential Districts: |
|---|
1 Minimum setback applies to all property lines. |
3.
Permitted Signs in Nonresidential Districts.
Zone | Use | Type of Sign | Total Number of Signs Permitted | Maximum Size | Maximum Height (feet) | Minimum Setback (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All non-residential1 | Any permitted | Facade or wall | 1 per street frontage on principal structure | 10% of facade area or 80 square feet, whichever is less | N/A (may not extend above roof) | Same as building |
All nonresidential except GB and HB | Any permitted but not part of a shopping center or planned development | Ground or monument | 1 per street frontage | 24 square feet | 6 | 10 |
GB, HB | Any permitted but not part of a shopping center or planned development | Freestanding (or pole) or ground (or monument) | 1 per street frontage | 50 square feet | 16 for freestanding; 8 for ground | 15 |
All nonresidential except GB and HB | Shopping centers | Ground or monument | 1 per street frontage | 50 square feet | 8 | 15 |
GB, HB | Shopping centers | Freestanding (or pole) or ground (or monument) | 1 per street frontage | 80 square feet | 16 for freestanding; 8 for ground | 20 |
All nonresidential | Any permitted | Window signs | 1 per street frontage | No more than 25% of the window area | N/A | Same as building |
GB,C/LI | Gasoline filling stations only | Canopy signs | 1 per street frontage | 21 square feet | Minimum clearance for vehicles, 10 feet | Same as building |
All nonresidential | Only if a wall sign is not proposed, and only on the vertical hang | Awning signs | 2 per street frontage | No more than 25% of the awning area, and letters not more than 5 inches | 15 | Same as building |
All nonresidential | Office or industrial parks or shopping areas with more than four tenants | Directory signs | 1 | 16 square feet | 6 | 25 from right-of-way |
NOTES for Permitted Signs in Nonresidential Districts: |
|---|
1 For the purposes of the sign regulations, "all nonresidential" means all nonresidential zones, including those residential zoning districts in which nonresidential uses are permitted as a conditional use. |
c.
Design Regulations.
1.
A total increase in size and height up to 10% may be allowed for monument or ground signs that are designed with carved or sandblasted copy and borders.
2.
Freestanding and ground signs shall have a landscaped area around the base. The landscaped area shall be a minimum of 1.5 times the area of the sign. For example, a twenty-four-square-foot sign must have a minimum of thirty-six-foot landscaped area at the base. The landscaping should include evergreen shrubs and ground cover and seasonal flowers.
3.
There should be a consistent sign design theme throughout a particular project. The design theme should include style of lettering, illumination, color, height, construction material, size, and type of pole or structure. Color of letters and background should be carefully considered in relation to the color and material of the buildings and where the signs are proposed to be located. Signs should be a subordinate feature of the plan relative to the principal structure. The design of a sign must be integrated into the design of the building to which it relates. Adjacent property owners should also seek harmony in design with the neighboring properties.
4.
Signs must be located on a lot so that they are not within the public right-of-way and do not interfere with sight distances at street intersections or ingress and egress points to a lot. Signs intended to be seen from a vehicle should be perpendicular on the line of travel, while signs designed to be read by pedestrians can be parallel with walkways.
5.
Sign Lettering. The standard letter height for directional signs is a letter size of two inches plus one additional inch for each 25 feet of viewing distance. A sign designed to be read from 100 feet away should have letters of at least six inches.
d.
Prohibited Signs. Any other provisions of this section notwithstanding, the following signs shall be prohibited in all zoning districts unless otherwise specified:
1.
Signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic signal or hide from view any traffic street signal or sign or that have any characteristics that are likely to confuse or dangerously distract the attention of the operator of a motor vehicle.
2.
Signs which are designed to move, either by mechanical or other means.
3.
Signs which contain or consist of banners, posters, pennant ribbons, streamers, strings of light bulbs, spinners, or other similarly moving devices (this does not include permitted flags).
4.
Signs which flash or scroll, except for time and temperature indicator.
5.
Electronic message boards are only permitted within the C-2 Zoning District, may not change message more often than every 30 seconds, may only have one color, may not be more than 24 square feet in area, may not contain more than two lines of text and must be approved as part of a site plan.
6.
Signs which emit odors or smoke or produce noise or sounds capable of being heard even though the sounds produced are not understandable.
7.
Silhouetted or three-dimensional signs, e.g., signs lacking a background and having letters, figures, or devices silhouetted against the sky or other open space not a part of the sign, and/or signs in which objects or representational devices are present in the round or other than in a vertical plane.
8.
Any freestanding sign or any sign projecting from a building, within a triangular area bounded by the intersection of two right-of-way lines and a line connecting points 30 feet from such intersection along the right-of-way lines, whether existing or shown on the Master Plan or in sight clearance triangles specified in other regulations.
9.
Signs located or placed on any tree, telephone or utility pole, light standard or upon rocks or other natural features.
10.
Tubes of lighting or strings of lights may not outline the rooflines, doors, windows or wall edges for advertising purposes. This provision does not apply from Thanksgiving Day through January 25 (during the Christmas season).
11.
Portable signs, such as those on wheels.
12.
Signs projecting above the roof or the main cornice line of the building to which it is affixed.
13.
Off-site signs.