Lock Haven City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Signs
§ 410-95 Application.
Signs may be erected and maintained only in compliance with this chapter and any and all regulations of the City of Lock Haven relating in any way to the erection, location, size, height, use, number, lighting, operation, alteration or maintenance of signs.
§ 410-96 General intent.
The sign regulations, controls and provisions set forth in this article are made in accordance with an overall plan and program for the public safety, area development, preservation of property values and the general welfare of the City of Lock Haven and are intended to aid in traffic control and traffic safety; preserve and protect property values, lessen congestion of land and air space; provide against undue concentrations of signs which distract and endanger traffic safety and traffic flow; establish reasonable standards for commercial and other advertising through the use of signs in order to maintain and encourage business activity and area development; avoid uncontrolled proliferation of signs; recognize the rights of the public in roads, streets, highways; preserve the wholesome and attractive character of the City of Lock Haven and to recognize that the general welfare includes a community plan that shall be beautiful as well as healthy, spacious as well as clean and well balanced in its growth and development.
§ 410-97 Signs permitted in all zoning districts (unless where otherwise restricted).
Signs listed in this § 410-97 of this chapter are permitted in all zoning districts and shall not require permits and shall not be counted when calculating the number of signs on a premises. Such signs must conform with the general regulations for signs enumerated hereafter.
A.
Signs placed on premises where construction, repair, or renovation is in progress which shall not exceed 12 square feet in sign area. Such signs shall be removed within 10 days after final inspection.
B.
Signs indicating the occurrence of an event which is limited in duration. The sign area shall not exceed 32 square feet with no more than two signs per premises. Such signs shall be removed at the completion of the event.
C.
Government signs or signs erected under the direction of a governmental body such as traffic signs, safety signs, approved kiosk or trash receptacle signs and public area identification signs.
D.
Traffic, pedestrian or property functional on-premises signs such as parking, no parking, entrance, exit, telephone, rest rooms, etc., when the sign area is less than five square feet and bearing no commercial advertising. For sight distance situations, these signs shall be erected to a height either less than three feet or greater than eight feet from ground grade.
§ 410-98 Prohibited signs.
The following signs shall not be permitted, erected or maintained in any district:
A.
Any sign or sign structure which constitutes a hazard to public safety or health by interfering with the clear sight triangle as defined in Article XIX of this chapter.
B.
Signs which by reason of size, location, content, coloring or manner of illumination obstruct the vision of drivers or obstruct or detract from the visibility or effectiveness of any traffic sign or control device. Signs which contain or are an imitation of an official traffic signal.
C.
Any sign which obstructs free ingress to or egress from a fire escape, door, window or other required exitway.
D.
Signs incorporating misleading or confusing words to traffic. Such words, symbols, or phrases shall include "Stop," "Look," "Danger," etc., or hide from view any traffic street signal or sign.
E.
Signs painted on, attached to or supported by a tree, stone, cliff or other natural object.
F.
String lights or bare bulb illumination of signs other than temporary holiday decorations. New and used car lots are exempt from this regulation.
G.
Search lights, banners, streamers or balloons except for events pursuant to the requirements of § 410-97C. Automobile sales lots shall be exempt from the forty-five-day time period on banners and streamers, provided they are maintained in a safe condition.
H.
No loud, indecent, or obscene advertising matter shall be displayed in any manner.
§ 410-99 Signs requiring approval of a special exception.
The following signs may be permitted in Commercial and Industrial Districts with approval of a special exception and must adhere to the general and specific sign regulations of §§ 410-100 and 410-101 of this chapter:
A.
Flashing signs. Signs which flash, have moving illumination or which vary in intensity or which vary in color except for digital time and temperature devices and variable message boards.
B.
Portable signs (larger than eight square feet). Signs constructed on a movable or portable base, sled, trailer vehicles or devices of any type where the principal use of the base, sled, trailer vehicle or device is for the purpose of displaying a sign which is capable of being moved or transported from one location to another.
C.
Off-premises signs. Signs which are related to a business, use or product not on the property or in a structure on the property. Except as otherwise provided herein, such signs are limited to a maximum sign area of 32 square feet; must be either freestanding or wall type; and only one is permitted for every 60 feet of lot frontage; provided, however, every lot with less than sixty-foot frontage shall be allowed one sign. Off-premises signs located on buildings and above the first floor shall be permitted a sign area of 55 square feet. In the Industrial District, the sign area shall not exceed 672 square feet.
D.
Signs which have any visible moving part, visible revolving parts or visible mechanical movement.
§ 410-100 Signs in Commercial, Industrial and Public Institutional Zoning Districts.
A.
No more than five signs may be erected or maintained on any premises, except a premises on a corner lot may have one additional sign. Signs permitted in all districts shall not be counted in calculating the total. Premises having a public entrance at the rear or side may have an additional business identification sign for each entrance with sign area to be limited to one square foot per lineal foot of rear or side building dimension, but not to exceed a maximum of 32 square feet per sign. Each awning used as a sign shall be considered one sign and shall be included when calculating the total number of business signs, but not in the total square footage for sign area.
B.
The total sign area of all business signs per premises (excluding signs for rear or side entrances) shall not exceed two square feet per front lineal foot of the main frontage of the premises. A premises which is totally located within another building shall be permitted a total of 32 square feet of exterior sign area. No premises, however, shall be limited to less than 32 square feet of total sign area. For corner buildings, the front dimension shall be that towards the street with the greater right-of-way, unless obviously otherwise. If the rights-of-way are equal, the premises owner shall determine the front. In no case shall the total sign area per premises exceed 200 square feet.
C.
The total business sign area per premises with no building on the property shall not exceed one square foot per front lineal foot of the lot. No premises, however, shall be limited to less than 32 square feet of total sign area. For corner lots, the front dimension shall be towards the street with the greater right-of-way, unless obviously otherwise. If the rights-of-way are equal, the premises owner shall determine the front. In no case shall the total sign area per premises exceed 200 square feet.
D.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, signs for both on- and off-premises businesses shall be permitted in the Industrial District and in an area south of East Walnut Street, within 100 feet of the right-of-way line of Paul Mack Boulevard (S.R. 58 Spur G/S.R. 120); provided that the maximum permitted sign area of any wall sign or the total of all signs on a free standing structure shall not exceed 672 square feet with no single dimension exceeding 46 feet, with the minimum distance between signs being 500 feet.
§ 410-101 Signs in all zoning districts.
A.
Family day-care signs, home occupation signs and bed-and-breakfast signs:
B.
Specific sign regulations for residential zoning districts. Unless otherwise specified herein this chapter:
(1)
Limited to two per premises, except that corner premises or premises with public entrances on two or more public ways may erect three signs as detailed in § 410-97B.
(2)
In no case shall the total sign area per premises exceed 20 square feet.
(3)
Freestanding signs shall be limited to a maximum height of six feet.
(4)
The use of flashing, pulsating, and moving lights shall be prohibited.
(5)
The use of backlit and internally lit signs shall be prohibited.
(6)
The use of external lighting for signs shall be designed to prevent glare to adjoining properties by employing hooded, shielded, or screened fixtures that confine glare to the sign or site.
(7)
The use of external lighting for signs shall be extinguished at the time of closing such operation until the time of opening.
C.
Signs for businesses in other than Residential, Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts.
§ 410-102 Specific sign regulations for Commercial, Industrial and Public Institutional Zoning Districts.
A.
Projecting signs.
(1)
No projecting sign shall extend into the public right-of-way, except in those instances where the right-of-way extends to the building face or within five feet of the building face, in which case the sign may extend up to five feet from the building faces.
(2)
Signs up to and including eight square feet shall be at least eight feet above grade. Signs nine feet to 12 square feet shall be at least 10 feet above grade.
(3)
A sign area shall not exceed 12 square feet and the vertical dimension shall not be greater than six feet.
(4)
Only one projecting sign per premises, except that corner premises or premises with public entrances on two or more public ways may erect an additional projecting sign toward each public way.
C.
Freestanding signs.
(1)
Every part thereof shall be located entirely behind the property line and shall not project over public right-of-way or other adjoining lands.
(2)
The sign area shall be limited to a maximum of 55 square feet, and a single dimension shall not exceed 11 feet.
(3)
No premises shall contain more than one freestanding sign, except that corner premises or premises with a public entrance to two or more public ways may erect an additional freestanding sign for and toward each public way.
D.
Roof signs.
(1)
Prior to installation, an engineer's or architect's certification must be provided to insure installation will comply with local building codes and standard installation practices. Thereafter, an annual certification by an engineer or architect shall be submitted stating that the sign still satisfies all local code requirements.
(2)
Illuminated roof signs must be UL-approved.
(3)
All roof signs must be constructed to withstand the pressures as calculated in the following table:
Effective Velocity Pressures for Ordinary Buildings and Structures | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic Wind Speed (mph) | |||||||||
Height (feet) | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
Less than 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 27 |
30 to 40 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 27 | 31 | 36 |
40 to 75 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 29 | 34 | 40 |
75 to 125 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 28 | 34 | 41 | 49 | 58 |
175 to 225 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 24 | 31 | 38 | 46 | 54 | 64 |
225 to 275 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 26 | 33 | 41 | 49 | 59 | 69 |
275 to 325 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 28 | 35 | 43 | 52 | 62 | 77 |
325 to 375 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 29 | 37 | 45 | 55 | 65 | 77 |
375 to 425 | 12 | 17 | 23 | 31 | 39 | 48 | 58 | 69 | 81 |
425 to 475 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 32 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 72 | 84 |
475 to 525 | 13 | 18 | 25 | 33 | 42 | 51 | 62 | 74 | 87 |
527 to 575 | 13 | 19 | 26 | 34 | 43 | 53 | 64 | 76 | 90 |
575 to 625 | 14 | 20 | 27 | 35 | 44 | 55 | 66 | 79 | 92 |
625 to 675 | 14 | 20 | 28 | 36 | 46 | 57 | 69 | 82 | 96 |
675 to 725 | 14 | 21 | 28 | 37 | 47 | 58 | 70 | 83 | 98 |
725 to 775 | 15 | 21 | 29 | 38 | 48 | 59 | 72 | 86 | 100 |
775 to 825 | 15 | 22 | 30 | 39 | 49 | 61 | 73 | 87 | 102 |
(4)
One roof sign shall be permitted for every 200 feet of building frontage; provided, however, that every building with less than 200 feet of frontage shall be allowed one roof sign.
E.
The use of external lighting for signs shall be extinguished at the time of closing such operation until the time of opening. Portable signs are allowed in private entrances or on private property. Such sign shall be limited to two per premises and shall be limited to eight square feet and may also be located on public sidewalks. Portable signs larger than eight square feet are allowed for special events by written approval of the Zoning Officer. Such use is allowed for a period of two weeks and no more than four times per year.
§ 410-103 Permits and fees.
B.
An application for a sign permit shall be made on a form provided by the Zoning Officer. Any additional relevant information and material may also be required by the Zoning Officer.
C.
Permits are valid indefinitely unless the sign is structurally altered, moved or replaced. A new permit is required prior to any structural alteration, movement or replacement, and its issuance by a Zoning Officer can only be made when such signs comply in every respect with all applicable provisions of this chapter.
D.
Exceptions to permits are as follows:
(1)
Replacing copy or advertising message on an approved sign such as a billboard, theater marquee or similar approved sign device which is specifically designed for the use of replaceable copy. This provision does not apply to painted lettering, symbols, etc., which utilizes a building for the sign surface. Any such sign shall be considered a new sign and requires a permit.
(2)
Maintenance, including cleaning and normal repair, unless a structural change is made.
(3)
Signs in existence when this chapter was adopted, unless they are structurally altered, moved, replaced or painted.