Independence Township Beaver County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Sign Requirements
§ 200-29 Authority.
Signs may be erected and maintained only when in compliance with the provisions of this article and any and all other ordinances and regulations of this Township which may be applicable.
§ 200-30 Exclusions.
The following signs shall be permitted in all districts and shall not be subject to the provisions of this article unless otherwise specifically cited herein:
A.
Signs of a duly constituted local, state or federal governmental body, including traffic or similar safety and regulatory devices, legal notices, railway warning signals, memorial signs or tablets; (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
B.
Small signs with a surface area not exceeding three square feet, displayed for the direction or convenience of the public which identify landmarks, parking areas, convenience facilities and similar features; (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
C.
One temporary nonlighted sign on a construction site, not exceeding an area of 32 square feet, denoting engineer, architect, contractor or funding agencies and related information regarding the development. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
§ 200-31 Permitted signs: A-1 and R-1 Districts.
In the A-1 and R-1 Districts, the following requirements shall apply:
A.
The following signs shall be permitted:
(1)
One permanent identification sign for each dwelling unit, which may cite the name of the occupant, address and other distinguishing features of the structure or property. Such signs shall not exceed two square feet in area. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(2)
One temporary nonlighted real estate sign pertaining to the sale, lease, hire or rental of property on which the sign is displayed, not to exceed six square feet in area. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(3)
One announcement sign designating a bed-and-breakfast, professional uses, group residential facilities, day-care or home occupations, provided all such signs shall be limited to three square feet in area.
(4)
One permanent announcement sign erected by churches, schools, hospitals, funeral homes, cemeteries, municipal facilities, business activities or similar permitted uses, which may include any appropriate message, provided that the area of such sign shall not exceed 24 square feet in area.
(5)
Temporary signs advertising a garage sale, street fair or other temporary activity, or a temporary sign directing persons to the location of such activity. Signs must be removed within 24 hours of termination of the activity and shall not exceed 12 square feet in area. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(6)
Signs relating to the sale of farm products produced on the premises in A-1 Districts shall be limited to a total of two such signs that do not exceed a cumulative total of 24 square feet in area. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(7)
Temporary signs relating to the sale of agricultural products produced on the premises in residential districts shall be limited to a total of two such signs that do not exceed a cumulative total of 10 square feet in area. Such signs shall be displayed only when seasonal sales are taking place and removed when not applicable. (NOTE: No zoning permit required.)
(8)
Signs for private and commercial recreation in A-1 Districts shall be established in accordance with the following requirements:
(a)
Signs shall be limited to the immediate site.
(b)
Signs shall relate only to the activities at the immediate site.
(c)
There shall be no more than two signs at each business site.
(d)
Individual signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area.
(e)
Signs mounted or painted on a wall, canopy or other portion of a principal site structure shall not protrude more than 18 inches beyond the wall on which said signs are mounted.
(9)
Signs in all A and R Districts shall be located a minimum distance of four feet from the street or road right-of-way if no sidewalk exists, and two feet from the inside edge of the walk, if such a walk exists.
(10)
The bottommost part of a sign shall not be more than two feet above ground level, except signs attached to a building. No sign shall project above a roof or be mounted on a building above the eave line of a roof or extend above a public sidewalk.
§ 200-32 Permitted signs: C-1, and C-2 Districts.
In the commercial districts, the following requirements shall apply:
B.
Business signs shall have an aggregate area not greater than 1 1/2 square feet for each foot of width of the principal building on the premises.
(1)
Individual signs shall not exceed 32 square feet in area.
(2)
No sign shall directly face an adjoining residential district.
(3)
Signs shall be located a minimum distance of 10 feet from the street right-of-way line.
(4)
No sign shall be mounted on a building above the eave line of a roof, or extend above a public sidewalk or vehicular right-of-way.
§ 200-33 Signs in shopping centers and integrated industrial areas.
Business signs established for shopping centers and integrated industrial areas shall meet the following criteria:
A.
B.
Signs per unit of use, affixed to the subject premises, within the site shall be limited to one square foot of sign area per lineal foot of frontage, up to a maximum of 100 square feet of sign area.
C.
Signs shall be located a minimum distance of 25 feet from the public street right-of-way line.
D.
No sign shall be set closer than 50 feet of a rear or side property line.
§ 200-34 Portable or mobile signs.
Portable or mobile signs and other similar advertising displays may be used for special sales, announcements and related purposes, subject to the following provisions:
A.
Display area of such signs shall not exceed 32 square feet.
B.
No portion of the sign or its supporting structure shall occupy a public right-of-way.
C.
All lighting and illumination restrictions which apply to displays, signs and structures under this chapter shall apply.
D.
Permits for the placement of such signs shall be issued for a maximum of 30 consecutive days and may be renewed no more than one time during any consecutive one-hundred-eighty-day period.
§ 200-35 General standards.
The following standards shall apply to signs in all zoning districts of the Township:
A.
No sign shall be located or constructed to obstruct or interfere with any traffic control signal, sign, device or intersection sight triangle.
B.
All signs shall be constructed of durable materials; shall be kept in good condition and repair; and shall not be permitted to become unsightly or dilapidated.
C.
No sign shall be permitted that is deemed to constitute a hazard of any kind.
D.
Signs shall not be attached to utility poles except when authorized for public purposes by the pole owner.
E.
A sign shall be removed within 30 days when the circumstances that led to its erection no longer apply or if safety violations occur. Circumstances that dictate sign removal shall include, but not be limited to the following:
(1)
The creation of a safety hazard.
(2)
Dilapidation.
(3)
Vacancy or termination of the subject business for more than 90 days.
(4)
Legal transfer of ownership of a property that involves a change of name or business activity.
(5)
The completion of an event, business transaction or other activity for which the sign was originally installed.
(6)
Any illegality under the provisions of this chapter or regulation of a duly constituted governmental authority.
F.
Signs shall be subject to the following regulations:
(1)
All lighting and illumination of signs shall conform to regulations regarding traffic hazards as specified in local and state regulations, and shall not cause undue distraction, confusion or hazard.
(2)
Signs or devices with flashing, moving or similar lighting or animation are prohibited in all zoning districts.
G.
Business signs shall be located only on the premises of the business or industry that they advertise.
§ 200-36 Permits.
B.
Each application for a permit shall be accompanied by a drawing to scale showing the proposed sign, the size, general characteristics, method of illumination, the exact location of the sign in relation to the lot and structure involved and other data as may be required by the Zoning Officer.
C.
A fee shall accompany each application for a permit. Such fees shall be established by resolution of the Township Board of Supervisors.