Hillside City Zoning Code
§ 188-32.1
Temporary signs.
[Added 3-17-2015 by Ord. No. O-15-01]
A.
Real estate signs.
(1)
Temporary signs in the form of nonilluminated, real estate signs announcing the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is located and real estate signs announcing an open house are permitted in accordance with this subsection. The sign may be double-faced and, except as noted below, only one sign announcing the sale, rental or lease of the premises shall be permitted on each lot or parcel unless it fronts on more than one street right-of-way or property line unless attached to a portion of a building that may be nearer to said street right-of-way or property line. Temporary real estate signs announcing an open house may be located so as to provide directions to the open house, however in no event shall such signs remain in place for a period exceeding 24 hours. Real estate signs shall not be located so as to obstruct traffic in any way, and such signs shall not be located in any landscaped traffic island. Any temporary sign erected pursuant to this subsection may be erected on private property only with the authorization of the owner of the property. The maximum size of the sign shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
(2)
All real estate signs announcing the sale, rental or lease of the premises shall be removed within seven days after closing or settlement on said property or the execution of the lease. Temporary real estate signs announcing an open house or providing directions therefor shall be removed within six hours from the end of the open house event.
(3)
Developments with four or more homes for sale may be advertised on a sign not to exceed 24 square feet nor a height of 12 feet. One such sign shall be permitted on each frontage if the development fronts on more than one street. The sign shall be removed when all of the homes or lots have been initially sold or rented.
(4)
No "for sale," "for rent," "for lease" or similar real estate sign sign shall exceed six feet in height.
(5)
The advertised use of the structure shall be in accordance with the zoning in the district in which it is located.
(6)
Penalties. The penalty for a violation of this subsection shall be a fine of not less than $100 for each violation. Each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues shall be deemed a separate offense. Each sign erected in violation of this subsection shall be deemed a separate offense. The owner of any sign as identified on such sign shall be liable for any penalty assessed for any sign deemed to be in violation of this subsection.
B.
Public entities, charitable fund-raising and religious organizations. Temporary signs for advertising public functions or fund-raising events for charitable or religious organizations shall be permitted for a period of 30 days prior to and during the event and shall be removed within five days after the event. The sign shall be nonilluminated, not larger than 24 square feet in area, not exceeding eight feet in height and may be erected flat against the building or freestanding.
C.
Political signs.
(1)
Temporary political signs, and signs not related to a political campaign, but containing political expressions, may be erected for a period of 60 days. Campaign signs shall be removed within 15 days after the election. Political signs in residential zones shall not exceed 16 square feet, the dimension shall not exceed four feet on any side and they shall not exceed the height limitation for residential zones. Political signs in all other zones shall not exceed the maximum size and height limitation for the zone in which they are placed.
(2)
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-22.3, temporary political signs aiding or promoting the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate or providing political information on a political candidate or aiding the passage or defeat of any public question or providing political information on any public question shall clearly state on the face thereof the name and business or residence address of the committee, group or person that financed the temporary political sign and shall contain a statement that the temporary political sign has been financed by that group, committee or person.
D.
Relocation signs. Relocation information signs may be erected for a period not exceeding 30 days. Relocation signs shall be restricted to the present location of the relocating business and the future location of the relocating business. The signs, one each at the present and the future business sites, shall not be in excess of standards set forth for the zone in which the business is located.
E.
Construction signs. One sign announcing the name of architects, engineers and/or contractors, the building enterprise and related information shall be permitted at a site under construction, alteration or repair, provided that the sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area and that the sign shall be removed before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
F.
Window and interior signs. Permanent and temporary window signs and internal signs visible from the exterior of the building may be erected in conformance with the standards set forth under facade signs and other applicable requirements of this chapter. Temporary window signs and internal signs advertising or describing sales or special merchandise are permitted, provided that the same sign does not remain visible from the exterior of the building for a period of longer than 20 days and that all of the signs individually or collectively do not exceed 15% of all available window space or the wall on which the signs are located.
G.
Commercial temporary signs. The construction, erection, replacement or alteration of any temporary sign advertising a grand opening, anniversary sale, moving sale, liquidation, going-out-of-business or similar temporary special event for a commercial purpose, which shall be known as a "commercial temporary sign," shall be prohibited unless the commercial entity first obtains a permit from the Zoning Officer and pays the applicable fee required by this subsection. It shall be unlawful for any person to install, maintain, erect, replace, alter or display within the Township any commercial temporary sign as defined herein without first obtaining a permit. In addition to the sign requirements applicable for the particular district within which the sign is erected, all commercial temporary signs shall also comply with the following standards:
(1)
One temporary sign not exceeding 24 square feet designed to advertise a grand opening celebration of a commercial establishment may be erected and maintained on the commercial premises which is the subject of said grand opening celebration for a period of 14 days prior to said event and for seven days thereafter. Streamers, pennants, balloons and other like accessory decorations may also be erected during the above time period.
(2)
One temporary sign not exceeding 24 square feet designed to advertise a special sales event may be erected and maintained on the commercial premises conducting said event for a period not in excess of 30 calendar days. The erection of a temporary sign advertising a special sales event shall be limited to four events per year per commercial establishment.
(3)
Where the commercial premises fronts on Route 22, the area of temporary signs shall not exceed 36 square feet.
(4)
Temporary signs shall not be so installed as to create a traffic or fire hazard to create a condition that adversely affects public safety.
(5)
Temporary signs not permitted by these regulations or the Land Use Ordinance of the Township (Chapter 188 of the Township Code) are prohibited.
(6)
Applications for a permit to install a temporary sign shall be made to the Zoning Officer at least 10 days prior to the commercial event or sale and shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:
(a)
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
(b)
The name or names of the owner of the premises and location of the building, structure or lot upon which the banner is to be installed.
(c)
Written consent of the owner or authorized agent of the building, structure or land on which the banner is to be displayed.
(d)
The date(s) of the commercial event to be advertised on the temporary sign.
(e)
The date when the temporary sign is to be installed.
(f)
The date when the temporary sign will be removed.
(g)
Chart or drawing attached to the application showing that the temporary sign will not interfere with traffic or the safety of persons using the premises.
(h)
A statement by the applicant swearing to the truth of the information contained in the application by affidavit or certification.
(7)
The Zoning Officer, upon finding that the information contained in the application is true, shall issue the permit.
(8)
Fees for a commercial temporary sign permit: $150. One hundred dollars of the permit fee of $150 is refundable if the applicant has complied with all provisions of this section, including but not limited to the timely removal of said commercial temporary sign.
(9)
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $100 for a first offense and shall forfeit the refundable portion of the permit fee, unless no permit fee was paid, in which case the fine for such first offense shall be $200. Second and subsequent offenders shall be fined not less that $250 and shall forfeit the refundable portion of the permit fee, unless no permit fee was paid, in which case the fine for such second and subsequent offenses shall be $350. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(10)
It is the duty of the Zoning Officer to enforce these regulations and the penalties hereunder and to investigate all such signs which are alleged to be unsafe, a menace to the public, or erected or displayed in violation of the provisions of this section.
H.
Other temporary signs. Non-profit and public entity organizations and agencies shall be permitted to erect or display a temporary sign which shall comply with all standards and application procedures as set forth in Subsection G of this section, but shall be exempt from payment of permit fees.
J.
Illegal signs. Any sign erected or applied in violation of this chapter shall be removed within 10 days after receipt of written notification from the Zoning Officer of the violation by the property owner or the person, group of persons, business, enterprise or organization that erected or applied the sign. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the Township reserves the right to remove any temporary sign, including, but not limited to, temporary political signs, "for sale" signs, temporary commercial signs and related advertising materials, that have been erected or applied on public property or in the public right-of-way immediately upon the determination by the Zoning Officer that the same is in violation of this chapter, in which case the cost incurred by the Township for the removal of the illegal temporary sign shall be paid by the person, group of persons, business, enterprise or organization that erected or applied the sign or, in the case of a temporary political sign, paid by the individual, organization or political campaign committee named on the temporary political campaign sign as being responsible for providing funding for the sign.