Horsham Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXXIII
Signs
§ 230-205 Declaration of legislative intent.
It is recognized that signs perform important functions in identifying residences and businesses. It is hereby found and declared, however, that minimum control of signs is necessary to promote the health, safety, and general welfare by lessening hazards to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, by preserving property values, by preventing unsightly and detrimental development which has a blighting influence upon residential, business, and industrial uses, by preventing signs from reaching such excessive size that they obscure one another to the detriment of all concerned, and by securing certain fundamentals of design for the Township, except as otherwise permitted.
§ 230-206 General sign regulations for all districts.
A.
In all districts the following general sign regulations shall apply:
(1)
No sign shall be placed in such a position as to endanger traffic on a street by obscuring view or by confusing with official street signs or signals, by virtue of position or color.
(2)
No sign, other than official street signs, shall be erected or maintained within the legal right-of-way of a public road or street, or within the clear sight triangle at intersections as defined in Chapter 198, Subdivision and Land Development.
(3)
No sign shall project more than 2/3 of the sidewalk width over a public walkway, and the lower edge of the projecting sign shall be no less than nine feet above the walk level.
(4)
No sign shall project above the building height restriction for the zoning district in which located.
(5)
No animated, blinking, flashing, or revolving signs or lights shall be permitted except as provided in this chapter.
[Amended 9-27-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-13]
(7)
Signs painted on the exterior surface of a building or structure shall not be permitted.
B.
Materials:
[Added 9-27-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-13]
(1)
Signs shall be constructed only from wood, metal, stone or other appropriate material which have the general appearance of structures composed primarily of wood, metal or stone. Sign materials shall be consistent with and complement the original construction materials and architectural style of the building for which they are to be displayed.
(2)
Color. Each sign so erected shall contain a maximum of four colors, including black and white. In selecting the principal colors for a sign, colors which compliment the general tone of the building should be used. Business logos shall not be included in determining the maximum number of colors.
C.
Illumination of signs. Designation of signs based on illumination shall be as follows:
(1)
Internally illuminated sign: A sign designed to give forth artificial light directly (or through transparent or translucent material) from a source of light within such sign, including, but not limited to, neon and exposed-lamp signs. Illumination shall only be of an even intensity.
(2)
Externally illuminated sign: A sign illuminated with a light source of an even intensity and so shielded that no direct rays therefrom are visible elsewhere on the lot where said illumination occurs.
(3)
Flashing sign: An illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained in a stationary position and constant in intensity and color at all times when in use.
(4)
Nonilluminated sign: A sign which is not illuminated, either directly or indirectly, by an internal or external light source.
D.
Electrical connections.The electrical supply to all exterior signs, whether to the sign itself or to lighting fixtures positioned to illuminate the sign, shall be provided by means of concealed electrical cable. Electrical supply to freestanding signs shall be provided by means of underground cables. Applications for electrical permits shall be filed at the time of the sign permit application.
[Added 9-27-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-13[2]]
E.
Placement of signs. Designation of signs based on placement shall be as follows:
(1)
On-premises sign: A sign which directs attention to an activity conducted on the same lot.
(2)
Off-premises sign: A permanent sign directing attention to a business, person, event, commodity, service, etc., not necessarily sold or located upon the premises where the sign is placed. Such signs are also called billboards or outdoor advertising signs.
(3)
Advertising sign: An off-premises sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to a commodity, business, industry, home occupation or other similar activity which is sold, offered or conducted elsewhere than on the lot upon which a sign is located.
(4)
Business sign: An on-premises sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, industry or other activity which is sold, offered or conducted other than incidentally on the premises upon which such sign is located or to which it is affixed.
F.
Types of signs. Types of signs shall be as follows:
(1)
Freestanding ground sign: A self-supporting freestanding sign resting on the ground or supported by means of poles or standards in the ground. The height of freestanding signs shall be measured from the official street grade at a point nearest to the position of the sign.
(2)
Facade sign: A sign attached, painted or otherwise mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface. Facade signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface on which it is mounted and shall not project more than 12 inches from its surface.
(3)
Projecting sign: Any sign mounted to a wall or other vertical building surface other than a parallel sign. Projecting signs shall not project more than three feet from the wall or surface to which they are mounted nor in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
(4)
Roof sign: A sign erected on or above the roof or parapet of a building.
(5)
Portable sign: Any sign used for a short duration of time, including sandwich boards, posters, bunting and signs on wheels, and not permanently attached to the ground or to a building.
G.
Sign height.
(2)
A ground sign shall be measured from an elevation equal to the official street grade at a point nearest to the position of the base of the sign in vertical height to the top of the sign or structural support, whichever is higher.
(3)
A facade sign, projecting sign or roof sign shall be measured vertically from the outside ground elevation at the base of the building to the highest point of a letter or symbol or the top of the frame or structural support, whichever is higher.
(4)
A portable sign, when permitted, shall be measured and conform to the specifications and standards established for ground signs.
H.
Exempted signs. The following signs are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
(1)
An official governmental agency; highway route number, street name, directional or other traffic signs, including those on private or public property.
(2)
A sign indicating the prohibition or control of fishing, hunting, trespassing or signs indicating the private nature of a road, provided that the area of any such sign does not exceed one square foot and spaced no less than 100 feet apart along a street frontage and 50 feet apart along other boundaries.
(3)
A sign with an area not exceeding one square foot bearing only property number, street address, postbox numbers or the names of the occupants in residential districts.
(4)
A governmental flag or insignia, public monument, historic identification signs or plaques and municipal identification signs erected by or with the permission of a government agency.
(5)
One or more signs applied to a windowpane giving store hours or the name or names of credit or charge institutions, when the total area of all such signs does not exceed two square feet.
(6)
A sign which is a permanent architectural feature of a building or structure on the State or National Register of Historic Buildings or Places, such as a cornerstone or identifying letters carved into or embossed on a building, provided that the letters are not made of a reflective material nor contrast in color with the building.
(7)
An emblem, logo, insignia or badge only when displayed on a building to signify membership of or affiliation with any trade association, craftsman group, labor union, civic or fraternal group or similar organizations and not to exceed a total of one square foot on each facade of a building.
I.
Prohibited signs. The following signs, because of their inherent characteristics, could threaten the health, safety or welfare of persons in the Township and are prohibited:
(1)
A sign that uses any method of illumination that can cause glare.
(2)
Any sign erected within 75 feet of a public right-of-way or within 200 feet of a traffic control device which:
(3)
Any banner or sign hung across a public street or private property, except for such signs which are deemed to be of general benefit to the municipality or for public convenience, necessity or welfare.
(4)
A pennant which blows in the wind or a spinner which spins in the wind except when located inside a temporary fairground or when used in conjunction with a special event.
(5)
Any sign tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, hung, glued or otherwise attached to a tree, pole, stake, lightstand, fence or other object.
(6)
Any animated sign or object with flashing, blinking, or intermittent lighting, revolving, moving, sound-producing or animated parts, except as provided for in this chapter and barber poles.
[Amended 9-27-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-13]
(8)
Advertising vehicles.
(a)
Any vehicle or trailer which is parked on a public right-of-way or on public or private property so as to be visible from a public right-of-way, which has attached thereto or located thereon any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business or activity or service of any kind, is hereby deemed to be an advertising vehicle and shall be prohibited.
(b)
This section shall not prohibit any form of vehicle signage, such as a sign attached to a bus or a lettered motor vehicle where the vehicle is not used for the basic purpose of providing advertisement or direction as set forth above.
(9)
Roof signs.
§ 230-207 Area of signs.
A.
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, including any frame but not including any bracing or decorative trim which is incidental to the copy content of the display itself. If the sign consists of more than one section, all areas will be totaled.
B.
Where the sign consists only of individual letters or symbols attached to or painted on an approved surface, the area shall be considered to be that of the smallest rectangle or other shapes created by straight lines drawn tangent to copy extremities encompassing individual letters, words or graphic elements of the copy area of the sign.
C.
In computing square foot area of a double faced sign or multiple faced sign, only one side shall be considered provided all faces are identical in size. If the interior angle formed by the faces of a double faced or multiple faced sign is greater than 45°, then all sides of such sign shall be considered in calculating the sign area.
§ 230-208 Signs in residential districts.
In all residential districts, the following signs shall be permitted and no other:
A.
Official street and traffic sign, and any signs required by law.
B.
Professional, accessory use, home occupation, or name signs on the same lot with and indicating the name, profession, or activity of the occupant of dwelling, provided that the area of any one face of any such sign shall not exceed two square feet and provided that not more than one such sign shall be permitted for each dwelling.
C.
Sign for a school, church, hospital, sanitarium, club, or other institution of a similar nature, on the same lot therewith, for the purpose of displaying the name of the institution and its activities or services, provided that the area on one face of such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet, and provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected on any one street frontage of any property in single and separate ownership.
[Amended 9-27-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-13]
(1)
A ground sign may include a digital display which shall not exceed 16 square feet and shall satisfy all requirements of § 230-209C(1)(k).
(2)
The size of the digital display shall be included in the thirty-two-square-foot-maximum sign face area.
D.
Trespassing signs and signs indicating private ownership of roadways or other property, on the same premises therewith, provided that the total area on any one face of such sign shall not exceed two square feet and shall be spaced at intervals of not less than 100 feet of street frontage.
E.
Directional signs for churches, provided that the area on any one face of such sign shall not exceed two square feet, and provided not more than four signs may be erected in the Township.
F.
Other signs as follows:
(1)
A temporary sign for advertising the sale of the premises upon which the sign is erected, provided that the total area on any face of such sign on any one street frontage of any property in single and separate ownership shall not exceed six square feet.
(2)
A temporary sign for advertising on the premises, the sale or development of homes within a subdivision, provided that the area of any one face of such sign shall not exceed 32 square feet, and provided that not more than one such sign shall be erected with any such subdivision.
(4)
A temporary sign for advertising the rental of the premises upon which the sign is erected, provided that the total area on any face of such sign on any one street frontage of any property in single and separate ownership shall not exceed six square feet.
(5)
Development signs. one permanent sign per street frontage located adjacent to an access street or driveway not to exceed eight square feet or as may be permitted in the Schedule of Sign Regulations[1] shall be permitted for any residential development which shall contain only the name and/or address of the development to which the sign refers.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Sign Regulations is included at the end of the chapter.
G.
Auction sale signs. An auction sale sign shall conform to the provisions contained in Subsection F(1) of this section. However, a permit for such sign shall not be issued for a period greater than 45 days from the date of issuance.
H.
On-premises signs advertising agricultural products shall not exceed a total area of 20 square feet per sign and no more than two such signs shall be permitted per business establishment.
I.
Signs in connection with the identification, operation, or protection of any public utility, or municipal activity, on the same lot therewith, provided that the total sign area on any one street frontage of any property in single and separate ownership shall not exceed 20 square feet.
J.
Temporary sign of contractors, mechanics, painters, and artisans, erected and maintained on the premises where the work is being performed, provided that the area of any one side of any such sign shall not exceed six square feet, and provided that not more than one contractors' sign shall be erected on any property in single and separate ownership, and provided that such sign shall be removed upon completion of the work.
K.
Temporary signs.
(1)
Temporary signs advertising elections, fairs and social events shall not be erected within the Township prior to 45 days from date of the event and shall not exceed 16 square feet each. A permit is required and there is deposited with the Zoning Officer a sum of money, in lieu thereof a bond, of the amount and with surety as may be required by the Zoning Officer to guarantee the removal of such temporary signs within 10 days following the date of the event as advertised by said signs. There will be a $10 deposit per sign.
(2)
Signs for garage sales shall be limited to one on-premises sign per property not to exceed six square feet in size.
§ 230-209 Signs in nonresidential districts.
In nonresidential districts the following types of signs and no other shall be permitted:
A.
Signs permitted in residential districts subject to the same conditions and standards provided in § 230-208.
B.
On at least one sign, the street address number shall be displayed prominently.
C.
On-premises signs. Permitted signs as specified in the Schedule of Sign Regulations[1] may only identify the person, establishment, the principal product and/or price thereof and/or service available on the premises which contains the sign.
(1)
Freestanding ground signs.
(a)
Freestanding ground signs shall be limited to one except for a use which fronts on two or more streets, in which case a sign shall be permitted in each yard fronting on a street.
(c)
All freestanding ground signs shall be set back from side property line a minimum of 25 feet and a minimum of five feet from the legal right-of-way of any state, county, or municipal street. When signs are located within the ultimate right-of-way, relocation shall be at the owner's expense.
(d)
Where two signs are located on a property under single ownership, no freestanding ground sign may be placed within a thirty-foot radius of any other freestanding sign structure except directional signs as permitted in this chapter.
(e)
Filling stations may in addition to allowable signage specified in the Schedule of Sign Regulations be permitted an additional sign module (for price information) with maximum total size of 15 square feet.
(f)
Theatres will be permitted an additional 25% of the size allowed under this article for the purposes of displaying the features being offered to the public commonly referred to as changeable copy or marquee area.
(g)
In the case of a shopping center, one freestanding ground sign per street frontage indicating the name of the center or similar use may be erected. No portion of such sign shall be higher than 25 feet above the ground.
(h)
In the case of a group of business uses other than a planned shopping center on a lot held in single and separate ownership, one freestanding sign per street frontage, including individual panels identifying different establishments at the location, may be erected. Size and height of such sign shall be in accordance with the Schedule of Sign Regulations.
(i)
In the case of industrial parks, office parks or large institutions which contain multiple buildings, directory signs as required throughout the site to provide for traffic orientation are permitted. Such signs must be freestanding and contain only the following: The name of the development or industrial park, names of the various firms, and suitable directional graphics. No one sign may exceed 24 square feet nor exceed a height of seven feet.
(j)
Traffic directional signs of any appropriate type designed to guide or direct pedestrians or vehicular traffic are permitted without restrictions as to number, provided such signs do not contain advertising copy and do not exceed two square feet on one side.
(k)
Digital displays and message center signs.
[Added 9-27-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-13]
[1]
Animated, flashing, revolving, scrolling, rotating, and oscillating style signs shall be prohibited. The copy or image on an internally illuminated LED, plasma, or similar style sign shall not change more than once per 30 seconds. All copy or image changes shall be instantaneous and shall not fade in or out of the digital active area.
[2]
All lighting shall be aimed, located, designed, fitted, and maintained so as not to present a hazard to drivers or pedestrians by impairing their ability to safely traverse the community and so as not to create a nuisance by projecting or reflecting objectionable light onto a neighboring use or property.
[3]
Any resulting glare generated by an on-premises advertising sign shall not exceed 1/8 footcandle, as measured on the ground at the curbline or shoulder, so as not to impair the vision of any motor vehicle's driver or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of his or her motor vehicle.
[4]
If digital display (including the sign structure) is capable of being dimmed, the illumination shall be dimmed at dusk to 1/2 the footcandle level emitted during the hours between dusk and 10:00 p.m. If the illumination of a digital display is not capable of being dimmed, the illumination shall be extinguished between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Digital signs along County Line Road and in any residential district shall not be operated between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following morning.
[5]
Internally illuminated LED, plasma, or similar style signs shall not exceed 7,500 NITS in the daytime or 500 NITS in the nighttime hours. These intensity levels shall be preset by the manufacturer and protected from end-user manipulation by password-protected software or other method determined appropriate by the Township. Annual recertification shall be required from the manufacturer and provided to the Township on the anniversary date of the issuance of the original sign permit to erect an electronic, changeable-copy, on-premises sign. In the event the manufacturer is no longer available for recertification, the annual recertification may be made by a person or entity deemed qualified by the Township.
[6]
On-premises digital display and message center signs shall contain advertisements for on-premises businesses only. No other profit or not-for-profit entity shall be advertised on the sign.
[7]
Both sides of the sign shall be identical.
[8]
The sign shall contain a default design which shall freeze the sign message in one position if a malfunction should occur.
[9]
The sign and any digital messages shall not create a safety hazard as determined by the Horsham Township Police Department or Code Enforcement Department.
[10]
Landscaping shall be provided at the base of the sign to the satisfaction of the Township to compliment the appearance of the sign and the property. The landscaping shall not interfere with the sight distance of any driveway.
(2)
Facade signs (parallel signs).
(a)
In the case of a shopping center or a group of stores or other business uses on a lot held in single and separate ownership, the provisions of this section relating to the total area of signs permitted on a premises shall apply with respect to each building, separate store, or similar use. Parallel facade signs shall be permitted for individual establishments.
(b)
Temporary window signs are permitted provided such signs occupy no more than 20% of the total area of the window in which they are displayed. Square footage allowances for temporary window signs are not included in computing allowances for permanent parallel facade signs in sections above. Permits are not required for temporary window signs.
(c)
The lettering on every parallel sign or other type sign supported on a building structure must be installed with a minimum space of two feet from the dividing line of a tenant area or a property line.
(3)
Projecting signs.
(a)
Projecting signs shall have a minimum clearance of nine feet between the bottom of the sign and the ground and, if projecting over a public sidewalk, may project not more than 2/3 the width of the sidewalk.
(b)
Projecting signs may exist in lieu of but not in addition to parallel facade signs or ground signs on a given premises. Where a premises is allowed two or more freestanding signs, however, the occupant may elect to substitute a projecting sign or signs for one or more of the freestanding signs.
(c)
Projecting directional signs of any appropriate type provided such signs do not contain advertising copy and do not exceed an area of two square feet on any one side.
(4)
Under-canopy signs.
(a)
Signs attached to the underside of a canopy shall have a copy area no greater than six square feet per side and a minimum clearance of eight feet from the sidewalk, and shall be mounted as nearly as possible perpendicular to the building face.
(b)
One under-canopy sign will be permitted for each entrance to a facility served by a canopy or other pedestrian walkway.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Sign Regulations is included at the end of the chapter.
D.
Off-premises signs (also known as "billboards").
[Amended 8-27-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-5]
(1)
Off-premises signs shall only be located along Easton Road (State Route 611) in the I-2 zoning district, County Line Road in the I-3 zoning district, or Bethlehem Pike (State Route 309), in the SC-1 or GC-2 zoning districts. Such signs are only permitted as a special exception.
(2)
All off-premises signs shall be erected upon land which is leased or purchased for the exclusive business purpose of advertising by sign. Off-premises signs shall not be erected upon or within any protected natural resource.
(3)
All off-premises signs shall be permanent freestanding ground signs. No off-premises sign shall be erected upon, painted on, applied to, attached to, and/or supported by a building, vehicle, bridges, or other structure.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(4)
Setbacks.
(a)
Right-of-way. No off-premises sign or any part thereof shall be erected or maintained closer than 25 feet to the edge of the roadway of State Route 611, State Route 309, or County Line Road. For purposes of this section, "roadway" shall be defined as the cartway and any paved or stone shoulder.
(b)
Side or rear yards. No off-premises sign or any part thereof shall be erected or maintained within 50 feet of any side or rear property line.
(c)
Cross streets. No off-premises sign or any part thereof shall be erected or maintained within 50 feet of the cartway of any private or public street other than State Route 611, State Route 309, or County Line Road.
(d)
Other signs.
[2]
The measurement between off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall be made between the two nearest points located on any portion of the signs.
[3]
No off-premises sign shall be located closer than 75 feet from any building, structure, or on-premises sign located on the same property.
[Added 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(e)
Residences. No off-premises sign shall be located closer than 250 feet to any residence located within a residential or mobile home zoning district, such measurement to be made between the two nearest points located on any portion of the sign and the residence.
(f)
Public and civic places. No off-premises sign shall be located closer than 200 feet to a lot occupied by a church, school, park, playground, open space, a structure identified as historic on the Horsham Township Zoning Map, or cemetery.
(g)
Other structures. No off-premises sign shall be located within 30 feet of any other structure.
(h)
Hazards. No signs shall be so located as to present a hazard to motorists or pedestrians.
(i)
No off-premises sign shall be located on a utility or access easement or right-of-way.
[Added 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(5)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no off-premises sign shall be permitted to exceed a maximum area listed below, including border and trim, but excluding supports. A sign may have two sides back-to-back or a V-shaped sign with a horizontal angle not greater than 45°. The calculation of the maximum area permitted under this section shall include all sides of an off-premises sign which contains advertising material.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(6)
Height. Off-premises signs shall not exceed 25 feet in height. The height shall be measured from the grade of the immediately adjoining street, road, highway, or alley to which the sign is oriented to the highest part of the sign.
(7)
No off-premises sign shall be permitted to exceed 40 feet in length, including border and trim but excluding supports.
(8)
Lighting and changeable copy.
(a)
Lighting. Illumination of off-premises advertising signs shall follow the standards and requirements of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and shall be subject to review and approval of the Township. To the extent that there is a conflict between a standard and/or requirement of the IESNA and the provisions of this section, the provisions of this section shall control. Illumination of all off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall be by external illumination or light emitting diode (LED) or similar style illumination only.
(b)
Animated, flashing, pulsating, revolving, scrolling, rotating, and oscillating style signs shall be prohibited. The copy or image on an internally illuminated LED, plasma, or similar style sign shall not change more than once per 30 seconds. There shall be no moving text, animation, or images on the sign. All copy or image changes shall be instantaneous and shall not fade in or out of the digital active area.
[Added 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(c)
All lighting shall be aimed, located, designed, fitted, and maintained so as not to present a hazard to drivers or pedestrians by impairing their ability to safely traverse the community and so as not to create a nuisance by projecting or reflecting objectionable light onto a neighboring use or property.
(d)
Any external illumination shall be shielded as necessary to direct light onto the sign without spill-over on any side of the sign. Any resulting glare generated by an off-premises advertising sign shall not exceed 1/8 footcandle, as measured on the ground at the curbline or shoulder, so as not to impair the vision of any motor vehicle's driver or otherwise interfere with a driver's operation of his or her motor vehicle.
(e)
If an externally illuminated, outdoor, off-premises advertising sign (including the sign structure) is located on Bethlehem Pike or Easton Road and the external illumination is capable of being dimmed, the external illumination shall be dimmed at dusk to 1/2 the footcandle level emitted during the hours between dusk and 10:00 p.m. If the external illumination of an off-premises outdoor advertising sign located along Bethlehem Pike or Easton Road is not capable of being dimmed, the external illumination shall be extinguished between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Externally illuminated signs and. internally illuminated LED, plasma, or similar style signs along County Line Road shall not be operated between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following morning.
(f)
Internally illuminated LED, plasma, or similar style signs shall not exceed 5,000 NITS in the daytime or 250 NITS in the nighttime hours. These intensity levels shall be preset by the manufacturer and protected from end-user manipulation by password protected software or other method determined appropriate by the Township. Annual recertification shall be required from the manufacturer and provided to the Township on the anniversary date of the issuance of the original sign permit to erect an electronic changeable copy off-premises sign. In the event the manufacturer is no longer available for recertification, the annual recertification may be made by a person or entity deemed qualified by the Township.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(g)
One message may be brighter than another, but each individual message must fit on one screen.
[Added 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(h)
The sign shall contain a default which shall freeze the sign message in one position if a malfunction should occur.
[Added 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(9)
No mobile or portable off-premises signs shall be permitted.
(10)
Landscaping, design and buffering.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(a)
The owner of any existing or proposed off-premises outdoor advertising sign permitted pursuant to this chapter shall maintain a landscaped buffer area along all sides of the supporting structures of the sign and extending a minimum of 10 feet in all directions.
(b)
(c)
The buffer area shall be maintained in good condition at all times and, if possible, shall contain a variety of evergreen plantings to provide a visual buffer.
(d)
Trees removed greater than four inches in diameter for construction of the sign shall be replaced on-site at a ratio of one replacement tree for each removed tree using native species no less than three inches in diameter.
(e)
All off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall be supported by a monument-style base and side supports, both of which shall be stone or brick.
(11)
Construction and maintenance standards.
[Amended 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(a)
All off-premises signs shall be maintained in good condition. The structural components of the sign shall be maintained to ensure their integrity and to prevent the possible collapse of the sign. Any damage to the structural components shall be repaired within 24 hours. The face of the sign shall be blank or shall show the full advertisement. Signs having ripped, defaced, or partial advertisements shall be immediately repaired by having the advertisement restored to its original condition, removed, or covered. Signs which are not in operation or maintained in good condition for a period of 90 days shall be removed at the owner's expense.
(b)
All off-premises signs shall be constructed in accordance with industry-wide standards established by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and the Institute of Outdoor Advertising, or their successor organizations. All off-premises advertising signs shall be structurally sound and maintained in good condition in compliance with the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
(c)
Every three years, the owner of the off-premises sign shall have a structural inspection made of the sign by a licensed engineer registered in Pennsylvania and shall provide to the Township a certificate certifying that the off-premises sign is structurally sound.
(12)
Prohibitions:
(a)
There shall be no noise or audio emissions from the sign.
(b)
No image shall be transferred by any means beyond the perimeter of the off-premises sign face.
(c)
No sign image shall be interactive, display interactive messages or three-dimensional images.
(d)
Off-premises signs having flood lighting shall be so shielded that the source of the light shall not be visible from any point beyond the boundary of the lot on which the off-premises sign is erected.
(e)
Off-premises signs shall not depict images or messages which, if in book, magazine or movie form, could not knowingly be sold to a minor under 18 years old without violating the criminal laws in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(f)
The addition of any digital display to a nonconforming off-premises sign is prohibited.
[Added 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
(13)
Public service announcements. The owner of every off-premises sign utilizing a digital display shall coordinate with the local authorities to display, when appropriate, emergency information important to the traveling public including, but not limited to, Amber Alerts, or alerts concerning terrorists attacks or natural disasters. Emergency information messages shall remain in the advertising rotation according to the protocols of the agency that issues the information.
[Added 2-12-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-02]
§ 230-210 Permits; insurance; fees; nonconformiities; removal.
A.
Permit issued; term. It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector, upon the filing of an application for an erection permit, to examine such plans and specifications and other data and the premises upon which it is proposed to erect the sign or other advertising structure, and if it shall appear that the proposed structure is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter and all other laws and ordinances of Horsham Township, he shall then issue the erection permit. If the work authorized under an erection permit has not been completed within six months after date of issuance, the said permit shall become null and void.
B.
Insurance and bond requirements.
(1)
Every applicant for a permit to erect, install or repair a sign located within the ultimate right-of-way of an official street shall, before a permit is granted, present to the Building Inspector the following insurance certificate in a form satisfactory to the Township: public liability in the amount of $25,000; property damage, $50,000.
(2)
Every applicant for a permit referred to herein shall, before the permit is granted, file with the Building Inspector a continuing bond in the penal sum of $1,000, executed by the applicant and a surety company to be approved by the Township Manager and conditioned for the faithful observance of the provisions of this chapter and all amendments thereto, and of all laws and ordinances relating to signs and other advertising structures, and which shall indemnify and save harmless Horsham Township from any and all damages, judgments, costs, or expense which the said Township may incur or suffer by reason of the granting of said permit. Any person lawfully maintaining a sign or other advertising structure regulated by this chapter at the time of the enactment of this chapter shall, within 30 days after said enactment, comply with all the provisions set forth in this section. A liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state of Pennsylvania conforming to this section may be permitted in lieu of a bond.
C.
Permit fee. Every applicant, before being granted a permit hereunder, shall pay to the Township a permit fee as set forth by the Township Council.
D.
Annual inspection; fees therefor. The Building Inspector or his nominee shall inspect annually, or at such other times as is deemed necessary, each sign or other advertising structure regulated by this chapter for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same is secure or insecure, and whether it is in need of removal or repair; and to meet the expense of such inspection the permittee thereof shall pay to Horsham Township an inspection fee as set forth in the fee schedule established by the Township Council.
E.
Permit revocable at any time. All rights and privileges acquired under the provisions of this chapter, or any amendment thereto, are mere licenses revocable for cause or violation of this chapter, at any time by Horsham Township, and all such permits shall contain this provision. Every permit issued hereunder shall be renewed on or before January 1st of each year.
F.
Unsafe and unlawful signs.
(1)
If the Building Inspector shall find that any sign or other advertising structure regulated herein is unsafe or insecure, or is a menace to the public, or has been constructed or erected or is being maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter, he shall give written notice to the permittee thereof. If the permittee fails to remove or alter the structure so as to comply with the standards herein set forth within 10 days after such notice, such sign or other advertising structure may be removed or altered to comply by the Building Inspector at the expense of the permittee or owner of the property upon which it is located.
(2)
The Building Inspector shall refuse to issue a permit to any permittee or owner who refuses to pay costs so assessed. The Building Inspector may cause any sign or other advertising structure which is an immediate peril to persons or property to be removed summarily and without notice.
G.
Nonconforming signs. Every sign or other advertising structure for which a valid permit had been issued prior to the adoption of this chapter which violates or does not conform to the provisions hereof, may be retained, even if a new insert or face is installed of the same size in or on the existing sign; provided, however, if the sign is relocated or replaced, it shall be made to comply with all provisions of this chapter. Nonconforming temporary signs or signs for which no permit was obtained shall be removed within 90 days from adoption of this chapter.
H.
Removal of certain signs. Any sign now or hereafter existing which no longer advertises a bona fide business conducted, or a product sold, shall be taken down and removed by the owner, agent, or person having the beneficial use of the building or structure upon which such sign may be found within 10 days. Upon failure to comply with such notice within the time specified in such order, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to cause removal of such sign, and any expense incident thereto shall be paid by the owner of the building or structure to which the sign is attached.