The intent of this article is to strike a reasonable balance between the need or desire to display public information on signs with the need or desire to minimize visual conflicts that can occur when placement of signs is not adequately controlled. Appropriate design, placement and maintenance of signage can complement the visual appeal of the community and facilitate safe and efficient travel within the Township. Absence of appropriate standards can allow development of signage that distracts or competes excessively for visual attention or that detracts from the desirable appearance of the community.

In addition to the words and terms included in Article II: Definitions, pictorial descriptions of certain sign types are defined in this section.

No sign shall be placed, erected, altered, enlarged or relocated until a permit for doing so has been issued by the Zoning Officer. A construction permit shall also be required unless the sign proposal satisfies exemption criteria listed in the building construction and safety standards. Applications shall be submitted on forms provided by the Township, shall indicate consent of the owner of the premises upon which the sin is to be located and shall be accompanied by supporting information that is sufficient to determine compliance with this article and any other relevant ordinances. Examples of supporting data that maybe required include a scale drawing with relevant dimensions noted to illustrate the proposed height, area, size and sign copy; a plot plan of the property on which the sign will be located to illustrate the position of proposed signs relative to buildings, structures, lot lines and right-of-way; illumination method and materials; and support systems, structural loads, stresses and anchoring details. Compliance with performance criteria may require certification by a registered design professional.

Signs and sign components may be removed for repair and maintenance, provided that they are restored to the same height, size, area and location authorized by permit. Repair and maintenance activities that do not affect the height, size, area or location of a sign do not require a zoning permit; however, if these activities affect structural or electrical components of the sign, a construction permit may be necessary.

No sign may be erected or maintained that may be confused with any authorized traffic control device.

Animated signs are not permitted in any district.

Changeable message signs are permitted in all zoning districts, subject to limitations contained in herein.

Every sign permitted by this article shall be kept in good condition and repair. When the Code Official determines that a sign is unsafe, unsecured, is a menace to the public or has been installed, erected or maintained in violation of any provision of this article, written notice shall be given to the owner of the sign, in accordance with herein. Said notice shall set forth a reasonable time period in which violation(s) shall be corrected. Immediate action may be required in the case of imminent danger to the public.

Any off-premises directional sign associated with a use that is not longer active, and any on-premises sign copy that no longer relates to a use conducted at the property on which it is located, except memorial signs, shall be covered or removed by the sign owner within 30 days after receipt of written notice from the Code Official, in accordance with § 203-1205 herein. Any obsolete sign structure that is not reused for a new sign within on year of such notice shall be deemed abandoned. Any abandoned sign and structure, and any temporary sign that is displayed beyond the permit time limit, shall be removed by the sign owner or property owner within 30 days of receipt of written notice from the Code Official, in accordance with herein. Upon failure to comply with a notice regarding an obsolete or abandoned sign, or a temporary sign that remains in place after expiration of the display time period, the Code Official is hereby authorized to cause removal or covering of obsolete sign copy, or removal of temporary and abandoned signs. Any expense incidental thereto shall be assessed to the property. When an obsolete or abandoned wall sign is removed, the wall of the building or structure on which it was attached shall be restored to resemble the appearance of the wall surrounding the sign location.

Placement standards.

Safety standards. No sign may be erected and maintained which:

Illumination standards.

Any sign lawfully existing at the effective date of this article that does not conform to the requirements of this article shall be considered nonconforming, and the nonconforming use, location, area, height and/or size may be continued until such time as replacement or rebuilding becomes necessary. Replacement of copy or panels upon which copy is displayed does not constitute replacement or rebuilding of the sign, provided that the structure supporting the copy or copy panels is not rebuilt or replaced, and the new copy or copy panels are not larger in any dimension than those being replaced.

When a nonconforming sign is replaced or rebuilt, the following limitations shall apply:

The area of a sign shall be the area of the smallest geometric figure, or the sum of the combination of regular geomatic figures, which comprise the sign face. The area of any double-sided or V-shaped sign shall be the area of the largest single face. Any portion of the sign face that displays a street address for the building to which the sign is associated shall not be included in the area calculation.

Height.

The following signs shall be exempt from zoning permit requirements but must conform to all the requirements of this article. Construction permits may be necessary.

Freestanding signs. Any freestanding sign, unless permitted in a public street right-of-way, is limited to a height of 3.5 feet when located less than 10 feet from a public right-of-way. Specific zoning district height limits apply when such signs are places at least 10 feet from a street right-of-way. No freestanding sign may be located within five feet of a side or rear property line, nor in such a manner that it interferes with a traffic control device or a driver's view of approaching, merging or intersecting traffic.

Memorial signs. Freestanding memorial signs are limited to 10 square feet per face, with a maximum of two faces. When affixed to the surface of a building, they shall either be cut into exterior masonry facing, or constructed of durable noncombustible material and fastened to the exterior surface of the building. Memorial signs affixed to building surfaces are limited to 10 square feet and one such sign per street frontage.

Portable signs are only permitted as temporary signs and shall comply with temporary sign placement provisions contained herein.

Changeable message signs. Nonresidential uses in all residential zoning districts my install changeable message signs in accordance with other provisions of this article, provided that activation of message change is by manual means. Changeable message signs may be either electrically or manually activated in commercial or industrial districts. Electrical activation may include projection or rotation of sign copy, or electronically programmed message changes. Scrolling message changes are permitted, but flashing and animated signs, as defined herein, are prohibited.

Building signs. Such signs may not project horizontally beyond or vertically above the face of the building upon which they are displayed. Panels, cabinets and individual copy elements may not extend perpendicular from the building face more than 15 inches, unless classified as, and subject to limitations, for projecting signs contained in herein.

Projecting signs. Signs attached to buildings and having copy elements displayed perpendicularly to the building face may project more than 15 inches from the building face, provided that:

Outdoor advertising signs. Signs classified as billboards are only permitted in the CG, LI and GI Districts, subject to the following limitations:

Window signs. Such signs that are designed so they can be legibly viewed from adjacent property or public street right-of-way shall be classified as building signs, and the area of these window signs shall be included in the total window sign area permitted on the property. Incidental and regulatory signs are exempt from the requirement. No more than 30% of the area of a window may be covered with window signs that are classified as building signs.

Development identification signs. Freestanding signs that identify shopping centers or groups of related buildings, such as residential subdivisions, institutional campuses, industrial or business parks and office and apartment complexes, may be installed in addition to any identification signs that may be permitted for individual buildings or uses, provided that the following limitations are met:

Incidental signs. These signs are limited to two faces per sign. The sign area per face shall be limited to four square feet in residential districts and six square feet in all other districts.

Regulatory signs. These signs are limited to two faces per sign. The sign area per face shall be limited to four square feet in residential districts and six square feet in all other districts, except where a larger size is mandated by regulations promulgated under authority of state or federal statues or by judicial order.

Off-premises directional signs. These signs must be freestanding signs. They are intended to guide motorists to residential developments and nonresidential development destinations that do not have readily apparent access or visibility from a public street. The following limitations apply to off-premises directional signs:

The purpose of these regulations is to allow signs that are customary and reasonable for the variety of dwelling unit types permitted in these districts, and to allow signs for permitted nonresidential uses that sufficiently identify these uses in a manner that is compatible with predominantly residential uses. Signs in all the residential use districts shall be subject to the following limitations:

Temporary signs provide an alternative or supplement to permanent signs for communicating information to the public. Their messages are generally applicable for a limited time, and the signs are not permanently fastened to the ground or a structure.

Noncommercial signs, structures, materials (e.g., air-filled figures, strings of holiday or twinkle lights, ornaments, cut-out figures, etc.) that are temporarily displayed. Seasonal decorations shall not be placed in any way that affects traffic safety or visibility. They shall not pose a hazard or threat to public safety, and shall not negatively affect surrounding properties, neighbors, etc. They shall not advertise any type of business sales, marketing, grand opening or other commercial event.