Lancaster Township Butler County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Signs
§ 300-27 General regulations.
The following general sign regulations shall apply:
A.
Where a sign is permitted by provision of this chapter, it shall be construed to permit a double-faced sign. Each face of a double-faced sign may equal the maximum size permitted for the particular type of sign under this chapter.
§ 300-28 R-1, R-2, and CN District requirements.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
In the R-1, R-2, and CN Districts, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply:
A.
One identification sign for a multifamily dwelling, not to exceed 12 square feet.
B.
One bulletin board per church or similar place of worship, not to exceed 30 square feet.
C.
Temporary, nonlighted real estate sign, not to exceed 30 square feet.
D.
Directional sign, not exceeding 1 1/2 square feet.
E.
Traffic control signs installed and maintained by the Township, county, commonwealth, or any other governmental authority.
F.
Residential street signs are not permitted to be illuminated.
H.
Billboards are specifically prohibited in the R-1, R-2, and CN Districts.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
I.
All signs shall be nonflashing and nonanimated, signs not attached to a building shall be set back at least 15 feet from a road right-of-way line, and no sign shall project above the roof or be mounted on a building above the eave line of a roof.
J.
Signs used to identify the name of a residential development and located at the principle entrance of such development shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
External illumination of such signs shall be designed, directed, and located so that only the sign is illuminated with ground lighting. No light shall emanate past the sign or illuminate any other adjacent structure or property.
(2)
Maximum number of signs per entrance on an arterial or collector street and not at a connecting street between developments: 2.
(3)
Maximum area: 30 square feet, with a supporting structure no more than 200% greater than the sign area, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.
(4)
Maximum height: six feet.
(5)
Minimum front, side, and rear yards: five feet.
(6)
Shall contain no commercial message.
§ 300-29 V, MU, and I District requirements.
In the V, MU, and I Districts, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply:
A.
Any sign permitted in R-1 District.
B.
One business or identification sign, not to exceed one square foot for every two linear feet of frontage occupied, but not to exceed 60 square feet for any one business.
C.
One business or identification sign for a group of three or more businesses on one parcel or tract, not to exceed 120 square feet.
D.
Billboards. Billboards are permitted only in the I District and must meet the following requirements:
(1)
Location.
(a)
The billboard shall be located within 75 feet from the right-of-way line of Interstate Route 79.
(b)
No freestanding, off-site billboards shall be erected in such a manner as to block the view from the road or street of any existing business sign, logo sign, residential or nonresidential structure, or limit or reduce the light and ventilation requirements under any applicable building code.
(c)
The billboard shall be set back a distance of 300 feet from any existing residence, or public or semipublic structure.
(d)
No such freestanding billboard shall be constructed within the clear site triangle of the public street or road on which it is situated and shall not in any case obstruct or impede traffic safety.
(e)
No freestanding, off-site billboard shall be erected within 500 feet of the boundary line of the R-1 or R-2 Districts.
(f)
Freestanding, off-site billboards shall maintain a lateral minimum spacing of 3,000 feet between billboard structures.
(2)
Size and height.
(a)
Billboards shall have a maximum allowable gross surface area of 376 square feet per sign face, including any border and trim.
(b)
Billboards shall have a maximum of two sign faces per structure.
(c)
Sign faces may be placed back to back or in a V-shaped configuration.
(d)
Sign faces shall not exceed 35 feet to the top of the sign.
(e)
The maximum height of the freestanding, off-site structure shall be 40 feet as measured from the finished grade of the site to the highest point of the billboard.
(3)
Construction methods.
(a)
A billboard structure shall have a maximum of one vertical support column.
(b)
The billboard face shall be independently supported and have vertical supports of metal which are galvanized or otherwise treated to prevent rust and corrosion.
(d)
A billboard with display lighting shall be constructed so that it does not produce glare upon adjoining property or roads and shall not exceed a maximum footcandle of 1.5 upon the adjoining property.
(e)
The billboard sign face or structure shall not have flashing lights or emit noise. Display lighting shall not cause distraction, confusion, nuisance, or hazard to traffic, aircraft or other properties.
(f)
The use of colored lighting is not permitted.
(4)
Maintenance.
(a)
The base of the billboard structure shall be permanently landscaped with suitable shrubbery and/or bushes, at least three feet in height, and placed in such manner as to screen the foundation of the structure.
(b)
All cut-and-fill areas shall be permanently seeded with grass or planted with shrubbery.
(c)
The billboard structure, landscaping and area surrounding the sign shall be maintained by the owner of the sign in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition and shall be kept free and clear of all obnoxious substances, rubbish and weeds.
(d)
The billboard structure shall be entirely painted every three years.
(e)
Every 10 years, from the date of issuance of the building permit or the effective date of this chapter, the owner of the billboard structure shall have a structural inspection made of the billboard by a qualified Pennsylvania registered engineer or architect and shall provide the Township with a copy of the certificate from the engineer or architect certifying that the billboard is structurally sound.
(f)
All billboards are subject to annual inspections conducted by the Township to determine compliance.
(g)
Billboards using removable paper or other similar materials shall be maintained in such a condition as to eliminate loose or frayed material protruding or hanging from the structure.
E.
All signs in the V, MU, and I Districts shall be nonflashing and nonanimated. If illuminated, they shall utilize reflected or refracted light in such a manner as to not detrimentally affect adjacent property.
F.
Signs not attached to a building shall be set back at least five feet from the road right-of-way or any required buffer area. Freestanding signs shall not exceed 15 feet in height. Signs mounted on a building shall not project above the ridgeline of a sloping roof or above the eave line of a flat roof.
§ 300-30 A&D district requirements.
In the Access Management and Design Overlay District, the following signs shall be permitted and the following regulations shall apply:
A.
Wall-mounted, interior illumination signs shall not exceed 10% of the wall surface (10% coverage), to a maximum of 50 square feet, whichever is less.
B.
Monument (interior illumination) signs shall not exceed 32 square feet, with a maximum height of eight feet to top of sign. Monument signs shall be located outside of the road right-of-way and allow for a clear sight triangle from the entrance/exit.
C.
Freestanding signs shall have a maximum of 100 square feet. Freestanding signs shall be located outside the road right-of-way and allow for a clear sight triangle from the entrance/exit.