Signs may be erected, placed, established, created, altered or maintained only in conformance with the standards, procedures, exemptions and other requirements of this article and any and all other ordinances and regulations relating to signs and similar devices. Zoning permits will be required for the erection, placement, establishment, creation, alteration or maintenance of all signs unless otherwise indicated in this article.

The effect of this article, as more specifically set forth herein, is as follows:

For purposes of applying the provisions of this article, parcels which are comprised of one or more individual lots of record, which are parts of a combined group of businesses operating under one general corporation or are part of a single land use, shall be regarded as a single parcel or lot. All signs, except where exempted, shall require a permit.

Any public notice or warning required by a valid and applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or ordinance;

Any sign inside a building, not attached to a window or door, that is not legible from a distance of more than three feet beyond the lot line of the property on which such sign is located;

Holiday lights and decorations with no commercial message; and

Traffic control signs on private property, such as "Stop," "Yield" and similar signs, the face of which meets Department of Transportation standard and which contains no commercial message of any sort.

Signs which incorporate in any manner flashing or moving illumination or with illumination which varies in intensity or varies in color, and signs which have any visible moving part, visible revolving part, visible mechanical movement of any description or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical pulsation. This does not include electronic signs as defined in this chapter.

Exterior or interior flashing signs or lights that are distracting to drivers of motor vehicles.

Any sign or structure which state of disrepair constitutes a hazard to public safety or health.

Signs which obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device on public streets and roads.

Any sign which obstructs free ingress or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exit way.

Signs which make use of words such as "stop," "look," "one-way," "danger," "yield" or any similar words, phrases, symbols, lights or characters in such a manner as to interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic.

Any obsolete sign (including the structural members of the sign), which is no longer licensed.

Signs on public property, public rights-of-way or utility poles that are not erected by a governmental body or utility company.

Strings of lights not permanently mounted to a rigid background, except those exempt under the previous section.

Inflatable signs and tethered balloons. Balloons or other inflated devices larger than two feet in diameter, whether inscribed or not.

Signs specially constructed and erected on motor vehicles for advertising purposes are prohibited. This does not include legally registered public transportation vehicles.

If a sign requiring a permit under the provisions of this article is to be placed, constructed, erected or modified on a property, the owner of the property shall secure a sign permit in accordance with the requirements of § 310-255.

No signs shall be erected in the public right-of-way except in accordance with § 310-264.

No sign permit of any kind shall be issued for any sign unless such sign is consistent with the requirements of this article (including those protecting existing signs) in every respect.

Applications. All applications for sign permits of any kind shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer on an application form or in accordance with application specifications published by the Township.

An application for construction, creation or installation of a new sign or for modification of an existing sign shall be accompanied by detailed drawings to show the dimensions, design, structure and location of each particular sign. One application and permit may include multiple signs on the same premises.

Fees. Each application for a sign permit shall be accompanied by the applicable fees, which shall be established by Township Board of Supervisors from time to time by resolution.

Completeness. Within five days of receipt of an application for a sign permit, the Zoning Officer shall review it for completeness. If the Zoning Officer finds that it is complete, the application shall be processed. If the Zoning Officer finds that it is incomplete, the Zoning Officer shall, within such five-day period, send to the applicant a notice of the specific ways in which the application is deficient, with appropriate references to the applicable sections of this chapter.

Action. Within 15 days of the submission of a complete application for a sign permit, the Zoning Officer shall either:

Inspection. The Zoning Officer shall cause an inspection of the premises for which each permit for a new sign or for a modification of an existing sign is issued during the six months after the issuance of such permit or at such earlier time as the owner may request. If the construction is not substantially complete at the time of the inspection, the permit shall lapse and become null and void. If the construction is substantially complete but not in full compliance with this chapter and any applicable building and electrical codes, the Zoning Officer shall give the owner or applicant notice of the deficiencies and shall allow an additional 30 days from the date of the inspection for the deficiencies to be corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected by such date, the permit shall lapse.

The owner of the premises, or the lessee of the property on which an off-premises advertising sign or billboard is erected and maintained, shall pay a fee for a registration certificate for each sign for which a permit is required. The fee for the certificate shall be paid biannually, the amount of which shall be in accordance with the sign fee schedule adopted by the Township.

The Zoning Officer shall be required to inspect each sign requiring a registration certificate and issue same, provided that the sign conforms to the provisions of this chapter and any other applicable Township ordinances and/or regulations. If the Zoning Officer determines that a sign has defects requiring repairs or that the sign violates any provision of this chapter, except in terms of any applicable nonconforming status, the Zoning Officer shall notify the owner or user of such sign in writing, indicating the defects and/or violations. The Zoning Officer shall not issue a renewal of a registration certificate until all repairs and/or corrections have been completed to his or her satisfaction, subject to the right of appeal.

Failure to apply for or obtain the registration certificate by any person or firm using and/or maintaining a sign requiring the issuance of the registration certificate shall constitute a violation of this chapter.

Registration certificates for off-premises advertising signs and billboards shall be renewed every two years upon payment of the certificate renewal fee.

All existing signs that do not conform to the regulations of this chapter must be licensed within 180 days after adoption of this chapter.

Nonconforming signs must comply with the regulations of this chapter if the sign is damaged or destroyed to the extent of 50% or more of its replacement value.

Nonconforming signs must comply with the regulations of this chapter if the use of the sign is abandoned for longer than one year.

No nonconforming sign may be expanded. Any nonconforming sign which becomes dilapidated, structurally unsound, or the nonconforming sign collapses, the sign shall be removed and replacement or reconstruction of the sign will not be permitted.

Any of the following shall be a violation of this chapter and shall be subject to the enforcement remedies and penalties provided by this chapter and by state law:

Illegally placed signs without permits may be removed by Township personnel and will be stored for a period of 10 days before disposal of such. Cost for removal and storage will be billed to the property owner or person responsible for the sign.

Computation of area of individual signs. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, triangle, rectangle or circle, or combination thereof, that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting bracing, or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets regulations of this chapter and is clearly incidental to the display itself. In computing total "sign area," the area of the faces of all sign displays shall be counted, and any neon tube, string of incandescent lights or similar device shall be considered as having a minimum dimension of three inches.

Computation of area of multifaced signs. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from any one point. However, when two identical sign faces are placed back to back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of only one of the faces.

Computation of sign height. The height of a sign shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of: 1) existing grade prior to construction; or 2) the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot be reasonably determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the normal elevation at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the grade of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the zone lot, whichever is lower.

Computation of maximum total permitted sign area for any property. The permitted sum of the area of all individual signs on a property shall be computed in accordance with the requirement in Tables 1 and 2. Lots fronting on two or more streets are allowed the permitted sign area for each street frontage. Unless otherwise provided for elsewhere in this chapter, the total sign area that is oriented toward a particular street may not exceed the portion of the lot's total sign area allocation that is derived from the lot, building or wall area frontage on that street.

Near driveways. There shall be provided and maintained at all driveways a sight triangle with a clear line of sight between points not less than 75 feet from the intersection of the center lines of the street and the driveway. No sign exceeding two feet of height above undisturbed grade shall be located or maintained in this sight triangle.

Near intersections. There shall be provided and maintained at all street intersections a sight triangle with a clear line of sight between points not less than 300 feet from the center line of each intersecting street. No sign exceeding two feet of height above undisturbed grade shall be located or maintained in this sight triangle.

All signs shall comply with applicable provisions of any building and electrical codes as adopted by the Township, including Chapter 110, Construction Codes, Uniform, of the Code of the Township of Leacock.

Except for banners, flags, temporary signs, portable signs, sidewalk signs and window signs conforming in all respects with the requirements of this section, all signs shall be constructed of permanent materials and shall be permanently attached to the ground, a building or another structure by direct attachment to a rigid wall, frame or structure.

All signs shall be kept in good condition and repair and shall not be allowed to become dilapidated.

Dilapidated or damaged signs shall be promptly repaired. Repairs shall be completed within 90 days of notice by the Township. Signs constituting a hazard shall be repaired within 24 hours. Failure to repair said sign shall result in an automatic revocation of the permit.

Illumination. Any illuminated sign or lighting device shall employ only lights emitting a constant intensity, and no sign shall be illuminated by or contain flashing, intermittent, rotating or moving light or lights or contain any other moving element, except to show time and/or temperature. In no event shall an illuminated sign or lighting device be so placed or so directed as to permit the beams and illumination therefrom to be directed or beamed upon a public street, highway, sidewalk or adjacent premises so as to cause glare or reflection that may constitute a traffic hazard or nuisance.

No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a street.

No sign or sign-bearing structure other than official traffic signs and public utility facilities shall be erected within or extend into the right-of-way of a street except as authorized in this article.

No sign shall be higher than the height limitations of the particular zone in which it is located.

Utility pole placement. All signs shall adhere to Act 360 of the State of Pennsylvania, which controls the placing of signs on utility poles.

Permanent signs. Permanent signs, including:

Temporary signs. Temporary signs in accordance with the requirements of Table 2.[1]

Emergency signs. Emergency warning signs erected by a governmental agency, a public utility company or a contractor doing authorized or permitted work within the public right-of-way.

Other signs forfeited. Any sign installed or placed on public property, except in conformance with the requirements of this section, shall be forfeited to the public and subject to confiscation. In addition to other remedies hereunder, the Township shall have the right to recover from the owner or person placing such a sign the full costs of removal and disposal of such sign.

No person, group, business, organization or entity may erect or maintain any temporary sign without first obtaining a temporary sign permit from the Zoning Officer, except exempted signs as described in § 310-252.

Temporary signs must meet all requirements of this chapter with the following exceptions: A-frame signs and movable signs are permitted as long as the sign is secured and would not be easily blown down by normal wind currents.

Balloons containing advertisement, hot-air balloons or other inflatable objects are permitted as temporary signs for a maximum of seven calendar days per year. However, they must be secured and not create a safety hazard. The sign area will be considered as zero.

No temporary sign may be placed so as to impede the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicle traffic, nor shall such signs impede the sight of or cover any existing business sign and traffic control sign or any entrance or exit to any property or business.

The time limit for temporary signs is 60 days per calendar year per business or other entity. Such entity must obtain a separate permit for each time period that the sign is on display. The duration of each time period must be declared by the permittee and will be specified on the permit. Multiple signs may be approved under one permit.

Temporary sign permits must be obtained prior to the display of any temporary sign. Should a permit not be applied for before the sign is erected, the ensuing permit would be dated retroactive to the first day of the sign's display.

If a sign is not removed at the end of the permitted duration, such time period will be deducted from the permittee's total maximum temporary sign allowance of 60 days.

A temporary business may have a temporary sign for the duration of the valid temporary business license, not to exceed a maximum of 13 weeks.

Off-premises advertising signs.

Billboards.

If the off-premises advertising sign or billboard is lighted, a nonglare lighting fixture designed for outdoor use shall be used.

Small off-premises signs, for directional purposes, not to exceed four square feet nor more than three feet above ground level shall contain no advertising other than the name of the applicant. Such signs shall be attached to existing signs if possible.

Applicant must furnish a copy of agreement with the property owner on which the off-premises advertising sign or billboard is proposed to be located as part of any off-premises advertising sign or billboard application.

Act or simulated acts of sexual intercourse, masturbation, sodomy, bestiality, oral copulation, flagellation, or any sexual acts which are prohibited by law.

Scene wherein a person displays the vulva or the anus or other genitals.

Scene wherein artificial devices are employed to depict or drawings are employed to portray any of the prohibited signs, photographs or graphic representatives described above.

Any other graphic illustration pertaining to specified sexual activities and/or specified anatomical areas.

Freestanding signs, with all parts, braces and supports thereof, shall be located entirely behind the property line and shall not project over the public right-of-way or other adjoining lands.

No individual business or other enterprise within a shopping center may erect or maintain a freestanding sign.

Freestanding signs shall not be placed as to obstruct sight distance.

An under-canopy sign shall be considered as and meet all the regulations of a projecting sign.

Projecting signs shall not project more than five feet beyond the building line in the direction of the street nor shall any portion of a projecting sign be closer than two feet to the plane of the vertical face of the street curb or curbline.

Projecting signs shall not have any portion less than 10 feet above grade level.

No individual business or other enterprise within a planned center may erect or maintain a projecting sign.

An under-canopy sign shall not project more than 10 feet beyond the building line in the direction of the street, nor shall any portion of an under-canopy sign be closer than two feet to the plane of the vertical face of the street curb or curbline.

Under-canopy signs shall not have any portion less than 10 feet above grade level.

No more than one roof sign shall be erected and maintained on a single premises.

A roof sign shall not project higher than the top of the roofline. Roof signs are prohibited on flat roofs.

Canopy signs, awning signs, marquee signs, parapet signs and exterior window signs shall be classified as wall signs for the purposes of this chapter.

No wall sign, except for parapet signs, shall extend above the top of the wall upon which it is placed.

No wall sign, or any part thereof, shall project more than 12 inches from the wall upon which it is mounted. If external lighting is used, reflectors must be 10 feet above the surface of the sidewalk, equipped with wire mesh guards in order to protect pedestrians passing underneath. Canopy, awning and marquee signs are exempt from this subsection.

No wall sign shall extend laterally beyond the extremities of the wall to which it is attached.

Sidewalk signs shall be permitted only in the Village (V) Overlay, (C-1) and (C-2) Commercial Zones.

Sidewalk signs shall not exceed 48 inches in height and 36 inches in width.

Sidewalk signs shall be nonilluminated.

Only one sidewalk sign shall be permitted per premises.

Sidewalk signs shall be removed from the sidewalk during the overnight hours.

No sidewalk sign shall block the flow of pedestrian traffic or create a hazard for persons with disabilities, nor shall a sign be placed at any bus stop, loading zone or driveway, or block corner visibility for drivers. Furthermore, no sidewalk sign shall be fastened to any tree, utility pole, parking meter, street sign or other structure.

Individual stores located in a planned center may not have freestanding signs or projecting signs.

Individual stores may have exterior signs only if the store has a direct exterior door. Such signs may be either wall signs or under-canopy signs (where a canopy exists).

A planned center is permitted to have an entrance sign designated for the name of the center. This sign may also be used as a directory (menu board) sign. This sign area is counted separately from the individual stores' signage.

A planned center must have access to and/or frontage on a major collector road to qualify for an entrance sign.

Only one freestanding sign per major entrance at a major collector road (a maximum of three signs), bearing the name of the planned center, may be erected on the lands occupied by the center and subject to the provisions contained herein.

Planned center signs shall only be permitted by special exception.

Such signs shall be limited to a maximum size of four square feet in area.

All such signs shall be permitted only on the premises where the event or activity is to take place.

Only one such sign may be erected on any one piece of property, unless such property fronts on two or more streets, in which case one sign is authorized on each street frontage.

Such signs may not be erected more than one week prior to such event and activity.

All such signs shall be removed within 24 hours after the event or activity advertised thereby has occurred. Signs which are not removed within the time limit may be removed and discarded by the Township, and the Township may recover a fee equal to the cost of removal and discarding.

In no case shall signs be permitted to remain on the property in excess of 10 calendar days.

Electronic (LED) signs shall be permitted only by special exception.

Electronic (LED) signs shall be permitted only at planned centers in the C-2 Zone and at public facilities, as defined in this chapter.[1]

Such signs shall not exceed 16 square feet in area.

Such signs may contain messages for the planned center or of an individual tenant of the center, or for the public facility.

Such signs shall not contain flashing or intermittent lighting.

Commercial and/or informational messages shall be changed at intervals of not less than 15 seconds.

The sign owner or lessee shall provide, when requested by local government officials, a display for emergencies such as AMBER Alerts, weather alerts and/or public announcements.