Allow for signs as a means of visual communications while creating standards that ensure the overall quality of those signs, minimize any adverse effects of such signs on nearby properties, and enhance the economic value of the Township.

Maintain and enhance the aesthetic qualities of Hamilton Township by requiring signs to be designed of sizes, shapes, and styles complimentary to the character of the Township.

Allow signs in all zoning districts that balance the needs of individual landowners with the desire of the community to perpetuate an attractive, livable environment.

Maintain adequate traffic safety standards by minimizing the negative sensory impacts of excessive signage as well as minimizing signage conflicts with necessary traffic control signs and equipment.

Encourage signage that will meet the needs of motorists traveling on the Township's roadways, while prohibiting signage that would be distracting to motorists.

No sign shall be erected, enlarged, or relocated until either a temporary or a permanent sign permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer. Applications shall be on forms provided by the Township. All applications shall include a scale drawing specifying dimensions, materials, illumination, letter sizes, colors, location on land or buildings, and all other relevant information. No permit shall be required for copy or text changes on a changeable copy sign.

Permanent signs shall be securely and permanently attached to their support structure, a building, or the ground.

No sign shall be permitted that produces direct or reflected glare visible from any residential property or from any street or roadway.

All signs associated with a residential development shall be landscaped. Acceptable landscaping materials include ground cover, mulch, shrubs, and/or trees in addition to stones, gravel and other hardscape materials. A landscaping sketch shall accompany the sign permit application.

Unless otherwise permitted within this chapter, a sign shall only include information related to the property on which it is located.

Signs shall be constructed of durable materials and shall be maintained in good condition and repair.

When a sign becomes unsafe, the Zoning Officer shall give written notice to the property owner or lessee to repair or remove the unsafe sign in accordance with § 150-112.

Flashing signs and/or flashing and/or rotating lights, including searchlights, beacons, lasers, and similar lights.

Revolving, rotating, or otherwise moving signs.

Streamers, pennants, spinners, reflectors, ribbons, tinsel, balloons, or similar items, except for those associated with a temporary event or campaign.

Animated signs that include moving, sequential, intermittent, flashing, oscillating, or rotating elements. Time and temperature displays may be permitted provided they do not include any of the aforementioned prohibited elements.

Signs that imitate official traffic signs or signals or other governmental signs that use the words "stop," "caution," or "danger," that use red, green, or yellow lights resembling traffic signals, or that resemble traffic control signs in terms of size, shape, or color.

Signs that advertise products or services that are in any way illegal.

Signs that include words, phrases or pictures which are considered to be vulgar, obscene or pornographic. This prohibition only applies to signs which, taken as a whole, appeal to the prurient interest in sex; which portray sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and which, taken as a whole, do not have serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

Signs that emit smoke, vapors, particles, sounds, odors or open flames.

Sign that advertise or identify a business or organization that is either defunct, no longer located on the premises, or located on a property separate from the property on which the sign is located.

Any vehicle or portion thereof to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that the displaying of such sign no longer is incidental to the vehicle's primary purpose, but becomes the primary purpose in itself.

The following types of signs are exempt from § 150-100A, provided the sign meets all other applicable sections of this article:

All exempt signs shall comply with the applicable standards in this article.

Temporary signs shall be exempt from the requirements of § 150-100A, provided the sign meets all other applicable sections of this article.

All temporary signs shall comply with the applicable standards in § 150-113A.

Temporary, unlighted real estate signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises upon which they are erected, provided that they are placed on a property under single ownership, and that such signs are removed not more than five business days following the sale or rental of the premises.

Temporary, unlighted signs of contractors, painters, or similar artisans, erected on the premises where the work is being performed, provided that such sign shall be erected on any property under single ownership, and that the sign shall be removed within one day of the completion of the work.

Temporary, unlighted yard or garage sale signs, provided that such signs shall not be displayed for more than 48 hours of each calendar month.

Temporary signs announcing or advertising any fund-raising or community campaign or event may be permitted on nonresidential properties only for a total period not to exceed 30 days in any calendar year, providing such signs are removed within 10 days following the conclusion of the campaign or event. This provision is not intended to infringe upon any rights protected by the First Amendment.

Temporary, unlighted, manually changeable copy advertising signs, provided that such signs are displayed no more than two times during a single calendar year, that the duration of each display does not exceed 30 days, and that such signs are strongly anchored to prevent movement of the signs by wind, water, or other forces of nature.

Portable signs including "A-frame" signs, sandwich boards, and sidewalk or curb signs shall not obstruct any public right-of-way, and shall be displayed during the normal hours of operation of the business for which the sign applies.

Signs legally existing at the time of enactment of or amendment to this chapter which do not conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered nonconforming signs.

Nonconforming signs may continue to be used and may be modified or replaced, provided that the modified or new sign does not increase the nonconformity in any way.

Any nonconforming sign shall be removed within 30 days if the use for which it was erected no longer exists.

No sign shall be located within a PennDOT or Township road right-of-way, except an official road sign, traffic sign, and any other sign required by law.

No sign shall be located in an easement for stormwater, public water, public sewer, or similar use.

No sign shall be attached to a utility pole, fence, tree, fire hydrant or other object not intended to hold a sign.

Freestanding signs shall be set back 10 feet from side and rear property lines.

Sign setback distances shall apply to all portions of the sign and the support structure.

No sign shall be located so as to block a sidewalk, fire escape, access door or any other area designed for pedestrian use.

A sign located over a pedestrian area shall be at least 10 feet above the walking surface.

A sign located over a vehicle driving area shall be at least 18 feet above the driving surface.

No sign shall be located so as to interfere with the clear sight distance regulations of the Hamilton Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[1]

No sign shall be placed within the clear sight triangle of any intersection as per the requirements of § 120-21F, nor at any other location that could obstruct or impair a motorist's clear vision. In addition, no sign shall be located where it could be an impediment to pedestrian traffic.

All applicable state regulations shall be met where signs are proposed in areas adjacent to highways included in PennDOT's state-owned highway network. A written copy of PennDOT's determination shall accompany all applications for signs in such areas.

Sign area. The area of a sign shall be the area of the smallest rectangle, triangle, circle, or irregular shape that will encompass all letters, symbols, figures, designs, or other display elements of the sign.

Sign height. The height of a sign shall be measured from the average ground level beneath the sign to the highest point of the sign.

Signs may be illuminated, unless otherwise prohibited herein, only to the extent that is necessary to be seen and read at night at a distance not to exceed 250 feet for signs of 10 square feet or more in area, and at a distance not to exceed 125 feet for signs of less than 10 square feet in area.

In no case shall such lighting be permitted that either directly or indirectly produces glare affecting neighboring residential properties or traffic on adjoining roads. The light from an illuminated sign shall not adversely affect the safe vision of operators of motor vehicles on nearby roads, driveways, and parking areas or any part of a building used for residential purposes. Special attention shall be paid to the proper shielding of externally illuminated signs.

Lighting of billboards and off-premises signs shall comply with the following requirements:

Signs with an electronic process or remote control shall comply with the following requirements:

All permanent signs shall comply with the additional standards in § 150-113B.

Any freestanding sign proposed for a commercial use shall be landscaped. Acceptable landscaping materials include ground cover, mulch, shrubs, and/or trees. A landscaping sketch shall accompany the sign permit application.

Any freestanding sign proposed for a commercial use, developed in accordance with Article XI of this chapter, shall be incorporated into the landscaping required for the site.

Where permanent commercial signs use indirect lighting, the light source shall be shielded to prevent glare visible from adjoining residential properties and from adjoining roads.

In addition to the standards in the table in § 150-113, all off-premises signs or billboards shall be in compliance with the following requirements:

Signs must be constructed of durable materials, maintained in good condition and not allowed to become dilapidated.

All signs shall be constructed in accordance with the current Building Code of Hamilton Township.[1]

The structural elements of all off-premises signs or billboards shall be of metal construction.

Upon termination or abandonment of a use or activity for which a sign was intended, all signs pertaining to the use or activity must be removed by the person who benefited, owned or was responsible for the sign.

An abandoned sign is a sign that is located on and/or related to a use which has become vacant and unoccupied for a period of more than six months; was erected for an occupant or business unrelated to the present occupant or business; or which relates to a time, event or purpose which is past.

Whenever the Township removes or causes to be removed a sign pursuant to this section, the cost of such removal shall be paid by the owner of the property on which such sign is or was located. The cost of removal shall be certified to the Township Engineer. Upon filing of such certification, the Township shall cause 30 days' written notice to be given by certified mail to the person or persons against whose property an assessment has been made. The notice shall state the amount of the assessment and the time and place of payment, and shall be accompanied by a copy of the certificate. The expense of such notice shall be borne by the Township. The amount assessed against the real estate shall be a lien from the time of filing of the certificate with Township and, if not paid within the time stipulated, a claim may be filed and collected in the same manner as municipal claims are filed and collected.

Regulations for exempt and temporary signs.

Regulations for permanent signs.